Category: Summer

Porch Sitting

~ Crystle ~ 4 Comments

Hey folks!

Summertime means we all enjoy a bit of porch sitting. But if you’re anywhere near Oklahoma, that’s a near impossibility. It’s been so hot around here all anyone can do is porch sit in the living room. With iced anything. What a disappointment.

Nevertheless, we can all appreciate a lovely porch when we see one. While passing through Chama, NM, I found this porch: of my dreams!

I love yellow and turquoise, especially together, and if you take a look in that window’s reflection you’ll get a taste of the gorgeous mountain view.

So on this hot weekday I offer you porch peace, because porch sitting is just a reminder to treat a portion of each day like a little slice of retirement.

Colorado Holiday

~ Crystle ~ 2 Comments

Hola Todos!

We are finally back from our Holiday. We had a very rainy time in Colorado, wrought with flash floods and mosquito assaults. We nevertheless had a wonderful time improvising our vacation to accommodate the climate.

We started out hiking 10 miles into the back country among the Aspens. Mosquitoes and rainstorms turned the evening hours into useless daylight, so we smoldered cedar to keep the critters away. The rain was a fortunate intern. Turns out you can buy incense that imitate this scent, we purchased it and are currently enjoying it!

This photo does not do the atmosphere justice.

I can’t believe how trusting the insects are in the San Juans! This particular butterfly was playful, he must have thought our colorful fabrics were some sort of wonderful flower. Sorry to disappoint!

All good hikes go hand in hand with good naps.

Did I mention how curious the wildlife is out there? They are certainly busy bodies.

Never before have I seen wild daisies!

We ended up hiking the Continental Divide, it wraps around this entire valley and exceeds the adjacent continents. It was like the Lord of the Rings journey in North America.

We nibbled on wild raspberries and strawberries. They were tart but that’s typical for this time of year. It was truly delightful to grab snacks on the way up a mountain.

This final photo is to say that I have far too many photos to explain the entire story and time line behind it. I will follow up with more details on each photo series in this synopsis, promise. Just know that every time a bell rings, a Cadillac gets half buried in Amarillo, Texas.

Okie Noodling 2011

~ Crystle ~ 14 Comments

Hey Folks!

I hope everyone is familiar with a little Oklahoman tradition called Noodling, and for those of you who are not, I will explain. There exists a small portion of courageous Oklahomans who love the sport of barehanded cat fishing. That’s right, these folks like to wade the shorelines of creeks, rivers, and lakes to find large, unpretentious catfish. They are fearless.

The annual Okie Noodling Festival held in Pauls Valley, OK has accumulated quite the cult following. I for one have conflicted emotions about the treatment of the catfish, but I also get caught up in the quirkiness of the event. It’s the same way I feel about reality television.

Take a look to see what I mean:

I guess this year Pabst Blue Ribbon had quite the role in sponsoring the event.

This young man won fourth place for one of his fine catches. He looked like he was having way too much fun in the fish tank!

Guess what catfish? Noodling has now been legalized in Texas, warn your southern kinfolk!

Blossom wanted to get a picture with the Okie Noodling Queen. Ahh, look at us; brushing elbows with Oklahoma Royalty. Maybe one day you can get all hot and dusty and experience the catfish aroma of the Okie Noodling Festival!