tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80173362605597304652024-03-14T05:18:28.543-05:00Emma Riley Sutton Travels OklahomaEmma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-59588344958920415852011-01-22T07:40:00.002-06:002011-01-22T08:40:27.963-06:00Stopped SnowingYes, it finally stopped snowing. And, sneeting. Yes, sneeting is a word and you can ask <a href="http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?s=7449859">Gary England</a> if you don't believe me. Looking out my window, I see about two inches of snow. It was more in some areas and less in others.<br />
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I watched the radar as this snow storm moved northeast. The ticker on the weather channel said "Snow storm stretches from Oklahoma to Maine." Maine? Oklahoma and Maine are not normally used in the same sentence when it comes to weather. That was a first for me. Thankfully, this storm is dumping more snow in Maine. Sorry, Maine, but I like clear roads.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRL_7c9yE4QoDud270SRGNcGV5k0XKdNCQri8WoSBVvRgJ1sHO38rt8Oz1wjbhd_CVccvTMHFQEM31W5JkiR5ZBKOglswVInXDbdvfAGXt5uN50Yq0J3BaWW7ZMXWEZcvzElR9aAVu4DL/s1600/100_0626.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRL_7c9yE4QoDud270SRGNcGV5k0XKdNCQri8WoSBVvRgJ1sHO38rt8Oz1wjbhd_CVccvTMHFQEM31W5JkiR5ZBKOglswVInXDbdvfAGXt5uN50Yq0J3BaWW7ZMXWEZcvzElR9aAVu4DL/s320/100_0626.jpg" width="320" /></a>I woke up last night to the sound of thunder and sneet hitting the roof. As much as I don't like "winter precipitation," it is much better than the tornado sirens going off. As with all Okie weather, you never know what tomorrow holds. It could be tornadoes; stranger things have happened.Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-21970368227222665202009-12-07T08:02:00.006-06:002009-12-07T08:26:56.551-06:00Christmas Lights: Downtown Oklahoma City All A-Glow<span style="font-family:arial;">You can't keep every GPS device ever created. There is nothing as wonderful as getting lost in a construction zone in downtown Oklahoma City. No, I haven't lost my mind. A few days ago, we were zigzagging down one way streets downtown amidst all sorts of construction and saw the most beautiful sites. If we had GPS, we would have missed it all. What were those beautiful sites? I'd be more than happy to explain...<br /><br />Downtown Oklahoma City was caught up in the Christmas spirit! Lights were twinkling and sparkling everywhere. The trees in The Myriad Botanical Gardens were covered in lights of all colors. Entire sides of buildings were draped in Christmas lights. Despite the craziness of the construction, we continued to drive around the area - caught up in the warmth of the holiday season.<br /><br />Exactly where these lights were located, I can't tell you. It was quite late at night and seeing the exact street signs wasn't a priority. I can, however, give you directions. Heading east on Reno Avenue, take the first left after The Myriad Botanical Gardens. Then take the first left that is just north of the Gardens. Continue zigzagging through the construction and one way streets and you will see more than your share of gorgeous Christmas lights.<br /><br />Siobhann, our four year old daughter squealed and clapped her hands in delight at all the lights. She even thanked Santa for hanging all those lights in her <a href="http://www.daughterwrite.blogspot.com/">letter to him</a>. Unfortunately, due to traffic, I wasn't able to take any photos. I plan to go back one evening, very soon, and capture those lights on film. It will be well worth the trip from Stillwater. Especially with Siobhann with me!<br /><br />It is a glorious way to get into the Christmas spirit. We sang Christmas carols all the way home. Yes, an hour of Christmas carols at the top of our lungs. No radio to help us with the words. The only conversation between my husband, daughter and myself was which carol to sing next.<br /><br />Long story short, wherever you live in Oklahoma, it is well worth the drive to Oklahoma City to see these lights. I'm not sure, but I think there is a good chance that as Christmas gets closer even more lights will be added. Load up as many people as you can, turn off your GPS devices and bring your cameras; enjoy downtown Oklahoma City all a-glow!<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma travels,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-62650136164719449322009-12-02T03:28:00.005-06:002009-12-02T04:01:11.153-06:00A Good Okie Wine<span style="font-family:arial;">I'm a baseball connoisseur, not a wine connoisseur. I know what I like and I know what I don't like. That's all that matters to me. I have varied tastes. I love the fruity ones and the spicy ones. A rich dry wine is perfect for me as is sharply sweet wine. Thankfully, I found a rather interesting wine made right here in Oklahoma. After one glass, it became one of my favorite wines of all times. I'm talking about the jalapeno raisin wine from the Plain View Winery in Lahoma.<br /><br />If you are looking for fancy "wine words," you won't find them here. I've never written a wine review. In fact, I don't think I've ever seriously read a wine review. I simply drink wine occasionally and I finally found one that is worth writing about.<br /><br />This jalapeno raisin wine is unlike any wine I've ever tasted before. It isn't spicy and it doesn't have the "jalapeno heat" I was expecting. It is warm though. The aftertaste has a bit of the jalapeno heat I was expecting, but it is very subtle. It isn't something you would notice unless you were really paying attention to it. I suppose the sweetness of the raisin balances the heat and the fruitiness. It reminds me of a smooth bourbon, but with the texture of a wine.<br /><br />What should you drink it with? I don't have a clue. I drank my with a combination pizza from Mazzio's. I tend to drink wine I like with food I like. Yes, I mix red wine with fish and white wine with steak. Hey, I'm the one drinking the wine and eating the food. Why shouldn't I eat and drink what I like?<br /><br />I've made that about as clear as mud, haven't I? Let me make it a little bit clearer. It is a good wine and you should try it. Be careful, though. Never drink and drive or operate machine. Sorry, you've probably heard that before. And, if you aren't old enough to drink, don't do it. For the record, my mom hat never comes off. You should know that this wine has quite a kick. One glass and I was done. I had a second because I was at home and it tasted so good! So...<br /><br />If you're ever in Lahoma, stop in the Plain View Winery and pick up a bottle or two. Stop into your local liquor store and see if they carry it. A little FYI - the Browns Bottle Shop in Stillwater is where I bought it. They even offered a 10% discount off all Oklahoma wines. I now know where I'm shopping for all my Okie wines.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-14344814558519389232009-11-05T03:29:00.003-06:002009-11-05T04:13:57.214-06:00Marriage Okie-Style<span style="font-family: arial;">"My husband wore a lot of pink underwear and ate a lot of beans that rattled," Nina told me after church one afternoon. "I got married when I was 14 and he has put up with a lot." She proceeded to tell me her entire story.<br /><br />As a wife and mom, her story fascinates me as much as it did when she first told me. I was barely sixteen and thought I was in love. Filled with humor and grit, I learned a lot about the woman who sat in the fourth row from the front of our church. Nina was a woman everyone should meet.<br /><br />Married at 14 and a mom at 17, Nina's life wasn't as easy for her and Ben. He was 18 when they married. He worked in the oil fields in southern Oklahoma and was gone for weeks at a time. Nina finished high school and became a housewife in the time she wasn't in school or doing her homework. She missed Ben, but knew this was their lot in life.<br /><br />"I threw potatoes at him when he'd complain about my cooking," she laughed. "I moved from Momma's kitchen into my own and didn't have a clue about cooking. It takes more than three minutes to cook a three minute egg."<br /><br />I had to laugh at that. She was one of the best cooks our church had. People paid top dollar for her pies and cakes at the bake sales we had. Her taco casserole and her potato salad were always the first to disappear whenever we had our monthly potlucks the last Sunday of the month.<br /><br />"I'm surprised my first kids lived," she announced. "Do you know once colic starts, it doesn't go away until the start school?"<br /><br />I knew all five of Nina and Ben's kids. All were active in our church. I even went to school with her youngest daughter. She and I are still close. All five of them graduated from high school, three of them with honors. Those same three went on to college, each earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees.<br /><br />Nina and Ben pinched their pennies and bought a house of their own. She described it as a three bedroom dump. She was thankful that it was well off the road and back in the hills, convinced the county would have condemned it if they had known anyone lived there. Especially a 17 year old mom with a husband that spent more time on an oil rig than at home.<br /><br />"The living room floor caved in one day," she told me. "Ben was away and Dana was crawling not too far from where it fell in. I didn't know what to do. We didn't have a phone so I took boards off the porch and patched it the best I could. I couldn't tell my Daddy. He's shot me and Ben for sure for buying such a house."<br /><br />Once again, they scrounged and saved. They turned it into a seven bedroom, five bathroom farmhouse with the biggest kitchen I've ever seen. I was a bride's maid in that house twice. Several people had in our community held their weddings there.<br /><br />"Ben and I fought all the time the first five years. I'd threaten to go home to Momma and he'd toss me the car keys." She shook her head. "He put up with a lot of teen-age junk. I was married and didn't have a date to the prom; Ben was working that week-end. That can still get ugly if he misses the clothes hamper."<br /><br />They had been married about 30 years by that time. Together, Nina and Ben teach the young married Sunday school class. If anyone knew how to stay married, those two do. I told her that not too longer as we talked about our lives as married women and mothers.<br /><br />"I don't know how to make a marriage work," she said, cutting me off quickly. "We mostly tell them what not to do. I tell them to get in the Bible and stay there. And, laugh at each other. Not with each other, but at each other. Marriage is funny and anyone crazy enough to do it needs to be laughed at."<br /><br />Pink underwear and beans that rattle. I guess that is what makes a marriage work. The Bible and laughter helps as well. That crazy woman Nina. Threatening to go home to Momma and complaining about a dateless prom from many, many years ago. I don't know how folks do marriage other places, but that is marriage Okie-style. Maybe my husband and I could improve our marriage if I threw potatoes.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-8760029511358961142009-10-31T11:52:00.004-05:002009-10-31T12:17:17.893-05:00Paranormal Activity<span style="font-family: arial;">Seeing today is Halloween, my thoughts turn to the paranormal. It is, after all, the day when all the ghosts, goblins and spirits are suppose to be the most active. I don't know how much of that I actually believe. I do know that I can't help but to think about my visit to the Pawnee Ranch and Museum. Truth be told, I can't get it out of my mind. That was first time I had ever known I had been, without any doubt, involved in some sort of paranormal activity.<br /><br />Until that day in Pawnee, I had never believed in ghosts or spirits wandering the earth. My faith tells that when people die, they immediately go one place or another. Granny taught me that. I was raised on it. What happened to me didn't shatter my faith in God or Heaven or Hell. It made me consider other options that might explain the paranormal activity I had witnessed.<br /><br />If anything, my Pawnee paranormal activity strengthened my faith. I believe in angels and demons. They walk every step with us. They are assigned to each of us. Angels are there to lead us, guide us and to protect us. Demons are there to get us into as much trouble as they can, to throw stumbling blocks at us to get us off our perfect path. I have dealt with both angels and demons in the past. I understand them and their purpose. There is no mystery, if that is what caused the paranormal activity at the Pawnee Ranch and Museum.<br /><br />Do angels and demons linger after we are gone? Do they stick around, waiting for their next assignment? If the answer is yes, that almost explains the paranormal activity I was witness to. I don't have to ponder energy and ghosts. I can simply tell myself that those assigned to help us and hinder us are waiting for their next job.<br /><br />There are a few problems I have with angels and demons being the cause of the paranormal activity. In the past when I've experienced the presence of angels and demons, I had a sense of good or evil - depending on what was with me at the time. I felt neither one when I was in Pawnee. It was neither comforting or scary. Another problem is why would angels care if I took photos? I wasn't going to use the photos for something that was wrong. Based on that, my theory of angels or demons causing the paranormal activity is blown out of the water. It would be impossible.<br /><br />I really want answers as to what caused the paranormal activity at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum. I'll keep trying to figure it out. Maybe I'll find some sort of answer somewhere, someday. Until then, I will have to accept that paranormal activity can't always be explained.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-81299848339421804952009-10-22T16:25:00.006-05:002009-10-22T17:27:57.950-05:00Oklahoma State of Mind<span style="font-family:arial;">I recently received a sweet "tweet" from one of my Twitter friends about this blog. The Twitterer tweeted, "</span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">It put me in an Oklahoma state of mind." I'm not sure what others consider an Oklahoma state of mind, but I know what it means to me...<br /><br />I go back in time to gardening with my Granny. We'd poke holes in the red dirt and drop little seeds into it. We'd pull crab grass from around that little patch of Heaven and watch all the vegetables grow. We grew the best tomatoes, green beans and sage ever. I can't find anything that compares to those veggies.<br /><br />I see myself sitting on my Granddad's lap, driving around the farm on his riding lawn mower. It was a red and there was barely enough room for him, but he always made space for me. I learned to drive on the red lawn mower. We'd drive around for hours, waiting for Granny to call us in for supper.<br /><br />An Oklahoma state of mind is huddled in the cellar listening to the wind blow and praying we'd still see the house and barns once we heard Gary England say it was safe to come out. I can see the coal oil lamps flicker against the whitewash on the walls. I can hear my Granny read from the Bible about how Jesus calmed the seas and how His eye is sparrow. "God didn't give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind," my Granny would quote. "I'm not afraid of the storm. I have a sound mind and that is why we are in the cellar."<br /><br />I can't leave out driving to Rush Springs to "pick a good'en." Yes, watermelon is one of my weaknesses. We'd get the best one we could find and drive to a park in Duncan. There we would eat our watermelon and watch the birds in the trees and the squirrels dart around gathering food for the winter. Even the ants couldn't ruin our day. My grandparents had a plan; they would leave a piece of watermelon for the ants a few feet away and those ants wouldn't bother us.<br /><br />For all of my breaks in college, I'd fly home. I'd watch the travelers at Will Rogers World Airport come and go with all their luggage. I'd make up stories for them, pretending I knew why they were their and what their plans were. That was a great way for me to create characters for all the writing I did. Hugs and kisses with tears of joy and sadness were seen all over the airport.<br /><br />There is also piling up in the back of a pick-up and driving to the high school football games on Friday nights. "We're big B-I-G and we're bad B-A-D and we're boss B-O-S-S, B-O-S-S, boss!" we'd chant as we pulled into the town of the losing team. I was blessed to attend a school that won state championships year after year.<br /><br />I remember sitting in the shade of a blackjack tree and watching the clouds. I could see all sorts of shapes and the wind moved the clouds about. Sometimes I'd be in my tree swing, wishing I could swing high enough to jump in the back of the fluffy white turtle cloud. The sun would set and all the colors would swirl around. I'd jump out of the swing into a pile of leaves and run inside to wash up for supper - Granny's soup with homemade biscuits or a big pot of beans. Unless she fixed a "real supper" which is a lot like the holiday meals I cook today. I wish I could make fried chicken, meatloaf and pork chops with all sorts of vegetables and desserts for one meal. My modern life doesn't afford me that luxury.<br /><br />Oh, the fried pies. I still don't know how Granny made them. She'd go out and pick peaches, apricots and apples and, the next thing I knew, we had fried pies. She made jams and jellies from all the fruit as well. I opened the last jar of her apricot preserves a few years ago. My daughter loved it. It was my favorite as well. There was never a recipe written down so I wont' be able to even try to reproduce her masterpiece. She never used recipes. She could just look at whatever she was cooking or baking and now what and how much to add.<br /><br />I can't leave out my great-uncle's tent revivals he would have in my grandparent's backyard. We'd place long boards on cement blocks for pews. "Heaven's high and Hell's hot, I'm gonna preach," my uncle would say. He was a fiery Pentecostal preacher that walked the talk he talked. Folks would drive for miles to hear him preach. You'd have to get there early to find a seat. I remember the family picnics before those revivals. It seemed the Riley clan came out of the woodwork to hear him preach. He traveled around the country and seeing him was a real treat; he only made it home once or twice a year, if that. He preached well into his nineties.<br /><br />An Oklahoma state of mind is driving to downtown Oklahoma City and going to the National Oklahoma City Memorial. I remember bringing supplies to those who were helping rescue people. I saw the paws of dogs bleeding as they searched for survivors of the bombing. People huddled in small groups. Some sang hymns and others just stood silently, waiting for the impact to finally hit them. Folks came from all over to help us. And, we helped ourselves. We banded together and did what we could - still reeling from the shock of the situation.<br /><br />The smell of a cotton field puts me in an Oklahoma state of mind. I don't see many of them anymore, but I remember them. I also remember the stories about picking cotton my family told me. How the dust bowls hit and some of the men set out to California to be "prune pickers." They worked hard and sent back the money they earned to keep their families and farms going during those dark days. Those stories give me hope. No matter how tough the times are now, I know we will make it through. If they could make, we can as well.<br /><br />A woman in our community was diagnosed with cancer. Her husband, an oilfield worker, had been laid off and the temporary job he was working didn't offer health insurance. We had countless bean suppers, garage sales and the like to raise money for her treatment. We put together an old-fashion "singing." The Riley boys, my cousins, brought in their guitars, fiddles and other instruments to play and sing. There were lots of other talented folks showed up to "pick and sing" for this lady and her medical needs.<br /><br />Yes, these are all things that put me in an Oklahoma state of mind. Little pieces of my past that lets me know I'm an Okie. Lets me know I'm proud to be an Okie. I often wonder if other people feel as strongly about their home as I do. Do folks in other states have such stories to tell? Do they understand their rich heritage and use it to make a better tomorrow for themselves and their families? I'm a bit partial so it is hard for me to believe that they have such a history, a history that can put them in to such a wonderful state of mind.<br /><br />I'm ending it here. I could keep going, but I can't see the computer screen or keyboard through my tears. They are happy ones, though. I have really put myself in an Oklahoma state of mind.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-25658028333774380532009-10-19T09:54:00.005-05:002009-10-19T10:27:29.397-05:00Sad, Sad Saturday<span style="font-family: arial;">It isn't just a football game to me. I am in way to deep with the whole rivalry between OU and "that team" from the wrong side of the Red River. I have been for years. I remember...<br /><br />Packing up and heading out with my parents down I-35 to watch the game as a child. That was back in the day. Back when Barry Switzer was the coach and the wishbone reigned supreme. We'd leave on Friday morning and make a week-end of it. Those days are gone, long gone.<br /><br />I miss the ground game. The whole passing game is so boring. I want to see the action of ducking and dodging and running around. Watching the ball fly through the air isn't the same thing to me. Not that I am such a big football fan. I just love my Sooners.<br /><br />I never got into football, except for my Sooners. I'm a "Crimson and Cream" gal. I love to watch them play. I always have. There is something about my team. I don't understand the game. In fact, it was just a few weeks ago I learned what "holding" was. I'm such a girl; they all seemed to "holding each other."<br /><br />I think I regret not graduating from the University of Oklahoma. It was my dream to go there. I got a sweet deal from Smith my junior year in high school and that is where I ended up. Not exactly the college life most people dream of. No football Saturdays. No giant campus to get lost in, both literally and figuratively. I opted for the quiet campus without boys far from home and beloved Sooners. is amamazing what a great scholarship will entice one to do.<br /><br />I did manage to pick up a few extra hours at OU after I graduated. It wasn't the same, but I was Sooner for 15 hours. I was a little too old for the "college life" by then, but I did have an active imagination. I lived that life in my mind as I sat in the OU library, watching the "youngsters" doing whatever they were doing.<br /><br />Saturday wasn't the greatest day for me. The loss hit home, but not as close as the memories I have as well as the ones I don't have that I want. I thought about Barry Switzer on thfield, , leading the Sooners to anher vicictory. I thought about the homecomings I missed. I remembered sitting in the stands, screaming at the top of my lungs. I thought about that little garage apartment I lived in during college, in a state that didn't broadcast OU games. I dreamed of living in a crowded dorm with a bunch of girls.<br /><br />There is next year. I may make that drive down I-35. I'll have to get to some more home games. Of course, I could always go back to get my Master's degree. Yeah right. I am done with school. Then again, my daughter will be looking for a college in about a dozen years or so.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-68528192982031361912009-10-16T18:27:00.004-05:002009-10-16T18:50:05.561-05:00Backseat Perspective<span style="font-family: arial;">Off to Oklahoma City we went. Started much too early in the morning, but we had a big day planned and needed enough time to get everything finished.<br /><br />My daughter was sitting in her car seat, buckled up properly and positioned in the middle of the seat. Still sleepy, she looked around the car as if she had never seen it before. Her Daddy and I were buckling ourselves up when we heard a sleepy voice from the backseat.<br /><br />"That's something you don't see everyday," she quipped excitedly.<br /><br />Still in our driveway, we were surprised by her comment. What could she possible see that she doesn't see every day of her life?<br /><br />"What do you see?" I asked, looking around our front yard.<br /><br />"I can see my breath," she answered. "It is all white and puffy."<br /><br />Ah ha, proof that we are in the middle fall and well on our way to winter. It was a cool morning and, she was right, seeing your breath isn't something you see every day.<br /><br />As home schooling parents, we jumped on this opportunity to explain condensation, weather and the different seasons. We happily made our way to OKC, teaching away.<br /><br />Oklahoma is blessed to have four distinct seasons. I can't imagine living somewhere that doesn't. Autumn is my favorite of all seasons. It reminds me of getting ready for bed. Nature begin to slow down for its winter nap. The colors are spectacular. I love the different shades of orange, red, greens and brown. To me, the autumn sunsets are the best. The sky explodes all sorts of different colors and coordinates them with the colors of the leaves and grasses.<br /><br />"Momma, look at the trees," she said, pointing at the multi-leaved trees. "They weren't all different colors last time. The sap must be getting cold."<br /><br />Yes, she was paying attention. We had just explained how the leaves turned colors in the fall.<br /><br />"Autumn is like spring," she explained. "We get to see all sorts of colors, not just green."<br /><br />Right again.<br /><br />Most people do not realize that Oklahoma has foliage. So be it our foliage isn't as pronounced as other places, but it is there. All you have to do take time to look for the beauty around you. It comes in all shapes, sizes and colors.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-46751250390865854272009-10-07T20:16:00.002-05:002009-10-07T20:39:33.440-05:00Watching It Slip Away<span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday, my family and I took a little day trip to <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/RedCarpetCountry.aspx">Red Carpet Country</a>. Drove a few hours simply to see what we could see. It is one of the many joys of living in Oklahoma; you can drive just a little ways and see completely different scenery.<br /><br />It was an overcast day and the breeze was brisk, so we rolled the windows down to enjoy the fresh air. We turned off I-35 onto a smaller state highway. My daughter was busy pointing out all cows, trees and ponds. That quickly turned into the "Find The Color" game. She gives us a color and we have to look for it as we drive by.<br /><br />Driving into the sunset is no fun for my husband, so we pulled onto the side of the road so we could turn around. It was time to go home anyway. Before we had a chance to head back, the sky became to fascinating to only see it in our rear mirror. We all got out of the car and sat on the hood of the car and watched the sky explode into all sorts of colors.<br /><br />The wind was moving the clouds around and my daughter was awe-struck. We started pointing all to all the different shapes the clouds were making. This was a favorite game of mine as a child. Still is today.<br /><br />I can sit for hours, watching the clouds. My imagination can come up with all sorts of different objects the clouds look like. My daughter, obviously related to me, began to do the same thing. She saw all sorts of things as the clouds swirled above us and the sun set in front of us.<br /><br />"Momma, it looks like Ming-Ming," she giggled, pointing to a duck-shaped cloud. No matter where we go, The Wonder Pets from Nick Jr. are never too far away.<br /><br />The colors in the sunset were amazing. Pinks, oranges, reds and blacks were mingled together. We leaned against the windshield of the car and watched the sun dipped below the horizon. The colors changed as the sun slipped away.<br /><br />Cars passed by as we watched the sunset. I'm sure they wondered why this family was three was cuddled up on the hood of our car.<br /><br />"Momma, I don't think they see what we see," my daughter said as one car went by. "If they could, they would have to stop. They are missing Jesus paint the sky."<br /><br />Yes, they were missing that. They were also missing a great way to end a terrific "family day." I'm sure they had places to go and people to see; our lives are so busy now days. I hope they will be able to stop, like we did, and watch the sunset. I hope they are surrounded by people they love when they are able to stop. Those few moments we shared as the clouds swirled around us and the sun set are priceless to us.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling.<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-84938191829930620882009-10-02T20:19:00.011-05:002009-10-07T20:42:09.555-05:002009 Oklahoma State Fair<span style="font-family:arial;">I rolled myself home from the 2009 Oklahoma State Fair, full of all the "fair food" I could have eaten one day. Actually, I think I ate more than I could have in one day.<br /><br />I was also packing memories that will last me a lifetime. Even without all the <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/2009OklahomaStateFair.aspx">photos of the fair</a> I took. I met some great folks, saw some great sites and had a terrific time. I would say "just like every year," but, somehow, it gets better every year.<br /><br />I met Froggie. He is a member of "Bikers Against Child Abuse" (<a href="http://www.bacausa.com/">BACA</a>) and a genuinely nice man. We talked as we watched my daughter on the carousel. He told me had just left court; he had been there helping a child that had been abused. I learned a lot about BACA as my daughter waved from her purple horse.<br /><br />I saw the livestock that was about to be shown. I met a very sweet bull named "Sanddollar Charger" who stole my heart. I didn't know bulls could love having their pictures taken so much. He had to have known what a camera was because he really hammed it up for me. Hammed it up! He's a bull. Sorry, I shouldn't laugh so hard at my own "funnies."<br /><br />The "nursery" was great. We say baby goats (triplets) that were two days old and piglets that were four days old. We watched a baby chick hatch. The three of us stood in awe as another life entered the world. My daughter announced she wants baby pigs to live in our house. That was when we knew it was time to go to the insect exhibit. The beehive was fascinating, but she didn't want one of those at home.<br /><br />My husband dragged me and my daughter out of the petting zoo. I knew he would have to that. She loved the camel and thought he was much softer than the sheep. She and I are both curious why a kangaroo and a turtle shared living quarters. They got along great, but it was an unusual combination.<br /><br />I rode all the rides. I even got on the swings with my daughter. I can ride any roller coaster, "spin in tight circles" ride and the "drop you millions of feet" rides, but I don't do well on the ones where my feet dangle. Strange, I know, but that is me. I need to have a "Zipper" installed in my backyard. I could ride that one forever.<br /><br />Of course, there was the food. I won't tell you how many of each I had, but I overly-enjoyed all the stuff they had to offer. I would love to have the recipe for fried Oreos and fried Twinkies. Why they aren't a food group all to themselves is a mystery to me. You can't live without them. I did eat some healthy stuff as well. The turkey legs were great as was the corn on the cob.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the fair is over for this year. It was much more fun than last year which was much more fun than the year before. I sincerely hope I never get to old for the fair. I don't see how.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-1334841396464609152009-09-22T01:36:00.004-05:002009-09-22T01:58:12.194-05:00Headed To the Oklahoma State Fair<span style="font-family: arial;">I am so looking forward to tomorrow! I love going to the fair in <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/OklahomaCity.aspx">Oklahoma City</a>. It is one of the few times I get to be a kid again. Of course, this time I am on official business for my <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/default.aspx">website</a>. I'll try to remain professional as I ride the rides and eat all the great food.<br /><br />Oh, the food...I can eat fair food all the time. Funnel cakes. Cotton candy. Those giant turkey legs. Corn on the cob. Hot dogs. Snow cones. I'll probably gain 50 pounds in one day, but I don't care. It isn't like I can go to the fair all the time; it only happens once a year.<br /><br />Don't tell anyone, but my favorite part of the fair is the petting zoo. I leave smelling like a barn. I hope my husband doesn't make me ride on top of the car on the way home. One year, I was able to feed baby animals (goats, calves, foals and the like) with a bottle. That was a thrill. My daughter is going to love it. I'm not sure who is going to be harder to pull away from there. Probably me. My daughter is much better at following directions than I am.<br /><br />I also love to look at all the exhibits. The quilts have always fascinated me. I will never understand how all those intricate designs are made. My granny was a quilter. She had the big wooden whatever-you-call-them hanging from her bedroom ceiling year round. She tried to teach me, but I was more interested in looking through her button box and all the fabric. She told a story for each one. I have all those memories, but no quilt to call my own. I'll take the memories any day.<br /><br />Of course, I get to meet great folks. I will strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Everyone is so friendly. How can they not be? It is one of the happiest places on the planet. Maybe I will even run into some old friends there. It has happened before. I can think of so many friends from school I've lost track of over the years.<br /><br />I can't wait to take all the photos I can possibly take. My memory card only holds 715 photos and I hope that will be enough. I may stop and get another memory card. I'm going to be a photo-taking fool. There is so much to see and I want to have memories for a lifetime. I also want to have some nice ones to add to my website. Yes, the Oklahoma State Fair is another reason to visit Oklahoma!<br /><br />The bag is packed and all of our clothes are laid out. The only problem I'm having is falling asleep. I'm too excited to sleep. I can't wait.<br /><br />Perhaps my next post will be that of an adult. Well, no. I'll have to tell everyone about my day at the fair. Maybe the post after my fair post.<br /><br />Let me be a kid for a while. We all need that. The Oklahoma State Fair is the perfect place to do that. If you see a grown woman, skipping through the crowd and pointing at everything that catches her eye, it is probably me. Stop and say "Hey!" I'd love to meet you.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-214183630079572102009-09-18T12:45:00.006-05:002009-09-18T13:55:06.960-05:00Saturday Road Trips To Healdton as a ChildMy Granddaddy would call early Saturday morning, asking one question, "You ready to go, Sugarfoot?"<br /><br />We were on our way to the lake. Leaving Oklahoma City, we head south on I-35. Drive through <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/Moore.aspx">Moore</a> and past the exit to Draper Lake, pass the exit to <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/Norman.aspx">Lake Thunderbird</a> in Norman and take the Maysville exit. We were headed to Healdton Lake.<br /><br />It wasn't just a day at the lake. It was an entire day in Healdton. To me it was the greatest place world in world spend the day. The drive was more than worth getting up early on a Saturday morning.<br /><br />My Granddaddy would pull his old blue pick up into the little store in Antioch. My Granny would hand me a five dollar bill and inside I'd run. We needed two Cokes and one Dr. Pepper as well as six bags of peanuts and two beef jerkies. Once back in the truck, we'd pass out the snacks. My grandparents drank the Cokes and I had the Dr. Pepper. My Granddaddy would tear three of the bags of peanuts. We'd quickly drink some of our soda and then pour the peanuts in the glass bottles. Then back on the road. We still had to get to <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/CitySuggestion.aspx">Healdton</a>.<br /><br />My Granddaddy and Granny would tell me stories about when they were my age. I loved sitting between them, drinking my Dr. Pepper with peanuts and eating my beef jerky. I heard all about picking cotton, gathering eggs and surviving this thing they called The Great Depression.<br /><br />Time flew by and soon we were at the intersection in <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/ArbuckleCountry.aspx">Ratliff City</a>. We'd wave at folks we didn't know and my anticipation would increase by the second. Only about 10 more miles to Healdton.<br /><br />We'd stop in the Wooldridge grocery store. Granny and I would get out to do our shopping as my Grandaddy talked to whoever pulled up next to his truck. Granny and I would head straight to the back of the storey store. We were going to get some bologna. Not just any bologna, in a package. Mr. Wooldridge would cut it from a huge block behind his meat counter. He would cut it really thick and wrap it in white paper.<br /><br />As he cut the bologna, we'd shop. Over to the north side of the store,cut it fro out the watermelon, usually straight from <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/GreatPlainsCountry.aspx">Rush Springs</a>, or some cantaloupe. We'd buy all sorts of vegetables, too - tomatoes, carrots, celery and radishes. Back to the meat counter and we'd grab a loaf of bread, several more sodas, a bag of ice and some mustard. Checking out, we had all we needed for a great lunch.<br /><br />By the time we reached the Comanche Y, I could barely sit still. We'd take that long curve a few miles further south and we were in Healdton. Past the Otasco and Ben Franklin, we head for Healdton Lake.<br /><br />We'd spend the rest of the morning looking for interesting rocks and pretty flowers. By noon all three of us were starving. Granddaddy would get the plastic forks and knives from the glove compartment and we'd eat lunch.<br /><br />Not once did we ever go swimming. I didn't know how and it seemed a little a strange to get in the water when there were so many interesting things to do along the shore. We'd look robins, <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/FAQ.aspx">scissor-tail flycatchers</a> and mockingbirds. Occasionally, we'd get a glimpse of a cardinal or bluebird. My favorite bird, sparrows, were always around.<br /><br />We'd leave Healdton and head to the Healdton Oil Museum. Granddaddy would show me all the pictures of the old equipment he used working in the oil fields. Granny would cry and tell me about a childhood friend or distant relative that lost a finger or his life working in an oil field somewhere in Oklahoma. My grandparents would talk to the folks coming and going into the museum; they swap stories of "back then" and how things had changed so much.<br /><br />Much too early, it was time to head back home. We'd take pass the Comanche Y, Wooldridge's store and the intersection at Ratliff City. Soon we'd be waving good-bye to Antioch. Back on I-35, this time heading north, we'd be home in no time.<br /><br />Many of you may wonder what is so significant about those little road trips. That is easy to explain. My family and I make that some trip as often as we can now, but it is so much different. The store in Antioch was closed years ago. We now pull into the convenient store at the intersection in Ratliff to buy our sodas and peanuts. They certainly taste different in plastic bottles. The Wooldridge store is also closed so we buy our lunch at the grocery store in Healdton, packaged sandwich meat. Thankfully, the watermelon is still from Rush Springs.<br /><br />I tell my grandparents stories to my daughter and husband. My husband never worked in the oil field so he finds their stories almost as captivating as I did. My daughter points at the Comanche Y the way I did. She knows we are almost there. We stop at the Healdton Oil Museum first. We all know how to swim so we spend the afternoon at the lake instead of the morning.<br /><br />I have yet to tell my husband it would be faster to take the Springer exit off of I-35. If I did that, I'd miss out on all the memories. He probably knows it anyway. He understands the importance of me going the same way. It wouldn't be a trip to Healdton if we did it another way.<br /><br />Ya'll need to wander down that way, the same way, we do. It is a little off the beaten the path, but the road is good and the scenery is beautiful. Keep in mind I am biased, though. Share your family's stories as you go. Make some new memories to share on your next trip. Double check to make sure your watermelon is from Rush Springs. They grow them better there.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley SuttonEmma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-7964095380675975082009-09-05T16:40:00.005-05:002009-09-05T21:17:47.177-05:00Peace of Mind is Worth the Price<span style="font-family:arial;">Packed up the car and headed to <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/Guthrie.aspx">Guthrie</a>. Known as "The <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/AccommodationSuggestion.aspx">Bed and Breakfast</a> Capital of Oklahoma" and I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Among other things. As the first capital of Oklahoma, the city is rich in history. I also thought I might even find the grave of one of the Doolin or Dalton gang that is buried there.<br /><br />As usual, I never thought about having car insurance. I have the proof in the glove compartment and have never had an accident. It is just there - just in case. I'm not even sure if I have a good company or not. I've never used them. They are rated high on the insurance rating scale and that is good enough for me. Plus, the insurance rates are really cheap. I love saving money, especially on something I have to have and never have used.<br /><br />I headed down 1-35 towards Guthrie. My radio played softly in the background. My thoughts were on what I would find in Guthrie and traffic. It is Labor Day week-end, after all. Traffic was much lighter than I thought I would be. I guessed folks were at the "big football game" in <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/Stillwater.aspx">Stillwater</a> - OSU was playing the Georgia Bulldogs or still having fun at the lake or something else equally interesting. I know the Sooners aren't in <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/Norman.aspx">Norman</a>; they will be beating some team later today somewhere south of the Red River.<br /><br />I'm in the right lane, the slow lane. "The Driving Miss Daisy Lane" as my husband calls it. I'm always in that lane. Despite having driven this stretch of I-35 for years, I like to be able to take an exit should I see something interesting. I never when something will catch my attention and turn into a "<a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/OklahomaPhotographs.aspx">photo op</a>."<br /><br />I can't even tell you what kind of a car it was. It was coming up fast behind me. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">It was a little red one; that's all I know. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, I also know it was in my lane, right up next to my driver's side door. Without time to remember what I learned years ago in driver's ed, I whipped the wheel to the left and slammed on the brakes. The little red car kept going, with the dotted line centered between the tires. I heard its peppy little horn blast as it almost sideswiped me.<br /><br />I'm sitting on shoulder, heart racing. My feet (yes, both of them) were still planted on the brake and my hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles were white. They weren't shaking. The rest of my body was, but not my hands; there were clinging to the steering wheel for dear life.<br /><br />Putting the car in park, I start to breathe again. I glance over at the glove compartment. Not sure why, I reached over and opened it. My proof of car insurance on top of the maps and other necessities. I pull it out and look at it. My car insurance expires at the end of the month.<br /><br />Still shaken from my near miss, I take the next exit and head home. Guthrie will still be there. At that moment, I wanted to get home, get online and pay my car insurance premium. I know I have 25 days to pay it, but I do a lot of driving. As busy I am, I might forget. As usual, I will pay for the next six months. It is cheaper that way, in the long run, and peace of mind is well worth the price.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-8970556875451651162009-09-04T20:39:00.004-05:002009-09-04T21:22:29.085-05:00Back to The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum<span style="font-family: arial;">Wanting to get to the bottom of this little mystery, I packed up my notepad and my camera and back to Pawnee I went. I was hoping to gain a little more insight to my previous adventure...<br /><br />The staff greeted me, remembering me and my experience. Once again, just as before, I felt very welcome and comfortable. Into the mansion I went, both with an open mind and an open heart. I wasn't sure what I would or would not see, but I was determined to enjoy whatever happened to me there.<br /><br />I turned on my camera and clicked away. No funny, floaty, filmy lights in my camera's view finder. I did feel a bit strange, but I think that is understandable. I noticed all the pretty items on display - the paintings, the china, the Tiffany lamps. Once again, I was taking it all in. I made my way up the staircase. The eyes of the Indian in the painting followed me, but his eyes follow everyone. Most eyes in painting do that anyway.<br /><br />At the top of the stairs, I turned to the toy room. There was the old train set Pawnee Bill and May's son played with behind the red rope. Sitting behind the train set and slightly off to the side was a little boy. Plain as day. I guessed him to be about six years old, give or take. He was wearing blue jeans and a light cotton shirt. I could see the dirt on his bare feet.<br /><br />I know there shouldn't have been a little boy playing back there. No is allowed past the red rope. I closed my eyes tightly and opened them slowly. I looked again, more closely this time. He was still there.<br /><br />Feeling foolish, I waved at him. He waved back at me, grinning ear to ear. Not just any wave, though. He waved at me as if he was thrilled to see me. Maybe he was waving at me because he was thrilled to be seen. I knelt down on one knee and waved again. He waved also, more enthusiastically than he did the first time.<br /><br />I took the picture of the playroom. He sat there smiling, more interested in his toys than with me. I made my way down the stairs and then outside. I was leaving with more questions than answers.<br /><br />Back in the museum, I told the staff what I had seen. They smiled and nodded. I was told I was the only adult they knew of that had seen the little boy.<br /><br />I told the staff good-bye, drove through the Pasture Exhibit, and then started back home. The first time I left the museum, I didn't have any regrets. I was leaving with regrets this time.<br /><br />All the way home and even now, several hours later, I regret not talking to the little boy. I don't think he would have spoken to me, but there are things I would like for him to know.<br /><br />I would love for him to know how nice it was for me to see him. It was lovely to see him playing and being happy.<br /><br />I also think he needs to know that the lady who walks through his home all the time is there to help care for his home and all the things in it. She is sharing his life and the lives of his parents with people who might never understand their importance if not for her.<br /><br />I would also like for him to know that all the people who visits him home will not bother him or his things. They are there to learn about what life was like "way back then." I want him to feel secure in the thought that those who work at the museum will do everything they can to make sure that the mansion, all its contents and the ranch are well taken care of.<br /><br />Yes, I wanted to have a conversation with a little boy that no one else saw. And, yes again, I don't believe what I saw him.<br /><br />I guess I am going to have to roll with this one. I still don't believe in ghosts. I know the mansion isn't haunted and that evilness is not all around. I also know I saw a little boy playing where a little boy was not suppose to be. I know in my heart of hearts, down in my soul - deep in my bones - he waved at me.<br /><br />Somethings just aren't meant to be understood. My adventures at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will have to fall into that category. Truth be told, I don't really want to understand it. I just want to live with the fact that I saw what I saw. No one has to believe me. I don't even have to believe me.<br /><br />I hope to go back and visit again. Should I see the little boy again, I will stop and talk to him. Maybe tell him he should play outside a little, watch the buffalo do whatever it is that buffalo do and go in the museum to see all the things that his Momma and Daddy held so dear. Of course, make friends with the folks who work there. I am sure they will love him as much as they love the ranch and museum.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017336260559730465.post-14678288423251756372009-09-03T15:29:00.006-05:002009-09-05T16:39:41.475-05:00Visiting the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have visited many museums, all over the country, in my life. Despite this, nothing compares to my recent trip to Pawnee in <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/GreenCountry.aspx">Green Country</a>, the northeast corner of Oklahoma. In the past few weeks, since starting my <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/default.aspx">TravelsOklahoma</a> website, I have been visiting several museums each week. <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/MuseumSuggestion.aspx">The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum</a> appeared to be "normal" on the outside, but that certainly wasn't the case.<br /><br />The museum was full of fun and interesting items about Pawnee Bill, his wife May and their wild west show. Despite being a small museum, there was a lot of information to take in. Well taken care of by a staff that loves the museum, I felt welcomed - almost as if I were visiting someone's home. Walking around, waiting for the tour to of the home to start, I learned so much about Oklahoma, Pawnee Bill and life.<br /><br />Once the tour of the home started, I was surprised by how well it was maintained and the lovely artwork and furnishings. As a member of the press, I was allowed to take photographs inside the home. Sort of. That is where this trip to a museum gets a bit more than strange...<br /><br />In the view finder of my camera, I was seeing strange purple filmy and floating lights. I laughed about this as I explained I was probably catching the motion detectors in place behind the ropes that kept visitors from the antiques in the room. I was perfectly content with this explanation; I could have lived my entire life believing that was what I was seeing.<br /><br />"The motion detectors are on the floor," the tour guide explained, pointing to them inches above the beautiful floors. She was right. Why did she have to right? I preferred my explanation to the unusual lights I was seeing.<br /><br />Not wanting to speculate as to what my camera was picking up, I continued the tour. I was enthralled by the Tiffany chandeliers and gorgeous artwork. Upstairs an antique train set that was played with by Pawnee Bill and May's son caught my eye. Putting the experience of the purple lights behind me, I pulled out my digital camera to take a picture. No funny purple lights in this room. I pushed the button to take the photo and nothing happened. I looked at the camera - no memory. My memory card holds more than 700 photos. I was not out of memory.<br /><br />The tour continued. I didn't want to appear uncomfortable (spooked?) to the others on the tour with me. I tried not to think about what had happened. Stepping outside the home, I looked at my camera. The message I was out of memory had disappeared.<br /><br />"Come back and try again," the tour guide suggested.<br /><br />I stepped back inside the house and the memory had, once again, disappeared.<br /><br />"I'm being asked very politely not to take pictures," I stammered to the tour guide, who smiled understandingly.<br /><br />I made my way back to the museum where I was greeted with "Are you okay? Do you need anything?" by the woman at the desk. I was fine. All I needed was directions to the Pasture Exhibit. I wanted to see the buffalo that still lived on the ranch.<br /><br />I drove around the half mile dirt road in the pasture. I saw cattle and draft horses. Towards the end of the exhibit, I saw the buffalo. There were several buffalo calves in the herd. Once again, I got out my camera, thinking I would be able to take a few photos of the baby buffalo. The batteries were dead.<br /><br />Once back in my hometown, I went to the store where I had purchased the camera less than a month ago. The batteries were removed and worked fine in a camera they had behind the counter. A technician looked at my camera. The technical term she used was "fried" when she checked both the camera's internal memory and the memory card. She placed my "fried camera" in a box and gave me a new one. Thankfully, it was still under warranty.<br /><br />I offer no explanation as to what happened that Saturday in Pawnee. I don't believe in ghosts. Well, I don't think I believe in ghosts. I am currently re-examining my views on that subject.<br /><br />By the way, I am going back to the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum. Once I recover from my last visit. I am going to try to take more photos to add to the slide show at <a href="http://travelsoklahoma.net/default.aspx">TravelsOklahoma</a>. We will have to wait and see how that works out.<br /><br />Happy Oklahoma traveling,<br /><br />Emma Riley Sutton<br /></span></span>Emma Riley Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235696214043611011noreply@blogger.com0