An Oklahoman in Okehampton

January 2010....It feels so strange to write that.  A new year to start new things...which, by the way I have done. 

After my mom died in December, I was looking for a way to ease the sadness and guilt I was feeling for not being with her.  One day I spotted her paint box in the back of my wardrobe and pulled it out.  I left it sit for a long time before opening it and discovered that action alone was some comfort to me.

I could almost hear her say "Remember when we used to paint together?"  It's been at least 30 years since I had picked up a brush...and I began wondering if that was what I was supposed to do now.

A few arguments with myself later...I went to a local art supply shop in town and began wandering around looking at things.  There it was again...the feeling that someone was telling me "You can do this again."  Hmmmmmn....I wonder....  I left there quite a bit poorer and with a heavy tote bag just full of watercolour supplies.

Since that day, little by little I'm producing paintings...with the help of some good lessons on CD.  It's been very theraputic and really feels good to be doing this again.  Of course I'm not showing them off...no one would at this stage...but Dave thinks I'm underestimating myself.  I say it's lack of confidence.  However....I'm enjoying it, and just may try to put one of two paintings on an online gallery I've found...it's free, so nothing would be lost if no one buys one.  It may be good for me to see my work on line and compare it with other beginners.  Who knows...I just may be a millionaire one of these days.  (Yeah...and the moon is made from green cheese too!) 

I'll close for now...time to wrap up the day.  I'll write again soon...take care all.

Just a short note this time.  I've received news from family in the states.  My dear mother has died.  It seems as though these events have routinely happened during the holiday season, and it's a little hard to bear.  Christmas has lost a little of it's glitter at the moment, but it doesn't dull my wish for everyone to have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

You probably won't be hearing from me till after the first of the year....I'm sure everyone has a lot going on.

See you in the new year...

Hello all

My birthday has come and gone...and a wonderful one it was!  Many cards, and a special honour by being asked to light a candle in the Advent wreath at Sunday's church service.  That event meant a lot to me.  I've never done anything like that and it's just another thing that has made my move here so great.

The Christmas lights are up in town, and we've had Edwardian Night.  There seem to be more lights this year.  I think people are using lights to lesson the emotional effects of the recession.  It's hit this country hard and people are looking for ways to "make it feel better."  I even saw a news report on TV about neighbors than had banded together to decorate each house in their neighborhood with "American style" lighting displays.  They did a good job..and loads of people were coming to see.  Outdoor decorating has seldom been done in UK, and it's good to drive around and see lights up.  Almost feels like home.

I have our house decorated.  I've always loved victorian Christmas decorations, and this year is no different.  Dave even admits it's pretty.  And that's a big statement coming from him!  I brought my creche from home and it's lovely seeing it out again on the mantle.

Dave is working Christmas this year. :-(  Not my idea of fun...however I am having dinner with friends and that will help.  The day after Christmas is Boxing Day...the fox hunt....and a big meal...we'll have our little Christmas then.

February brings our first wedding anniversary!!!!  Can you believe it?  Dave told me at the beginning that "we'll be saying hasn't time flown?"  I didn't believe him...but it has.

It has been such a good year....with more to come.

I feel like it's time for a few "musings."  It's the last day of November.  It's finally turned cold (at least it feels cold to me) and we're supposed to have a little frost tonight.  I was out in my garden for a while today....All the plants are looking a little shop worn and are finally going to sleep for the winter...although there are some plants here that are perfectly happy during the winter and persist in blooming anyway.

I have all my bulbs in the ground...and am making plans for a few changes next spring.  Sounds like the typical gardner doesn't it? 

This has been a good year....we've gotten a lot accomplished.  I'm keeping up with news from home, and my mother isn't doing well.  She finally had to be moved to a nursing home and already has had one trip to the hospital.  It's hard to know about it and not be able to be with her.

In church last sunday we lit our first Advent candle.  There will be other Christmas services as time goes on and I'm really looking forward to it.  This coming Thursday evening we will have Edwardian Night.  The road through town will be closed, all the shops will be open late and offering goodies to eat and drink, the Christmas lights are up and there will be a carol service and hog roast.  It's a great time to be out with everyone and enjoy the atmosphere.  I'll be able to have hot roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and generally wax nostalgic.  I know it's old fashioned, and there's no glitz, but who needs it anyway?  It's just so pleasant to be able to do something like this and let the rest of the world go by.  It may rain (it did last year) but no one seems to mind...we do it anyway and have a great time.

I have my 67th birthday coming up....hmmmmn...do we really need to talk about that?  funny thing about age....it happens whether we like it or not!  I've certainly learned a lot about myself in the year I've been here...some good, some bad, some....well... they just don't matter....

More later...

Hey everyone,

As of today, I've been here one year!  Can you believe it?  It almost seems that I've been here longer than that in some ways.  I guess that's because I'm getting used to everything.  Matter of fact...yesterday while I was doing my errands in town, a woman stopped me stating she was lost and could I give her directions?  Believe it or not I was able to!!!  It made me feel like a "town chick" for sure.

Lately I've been looking for something to do during the upcoming winter months.  Working in the garden certainly won't be much of an option.  (Although I do have seedings started in my greenhouse for Spring)  I'm still into a lot of photography, but wanted to do something else that was still creative.  I was looking at my mother's paint box that I brought with me when I moved, and decided to use it for my own purpose. 

Long story short...I've gotten back into water colour painting.  I have hundreds of photos to use as subject matter and have already done one small painting.  I guess it wasn't too bad considering I haven't picked up a brush in about 25 years.  I'm self taught, and have found several good lessons on line.  So.....here we go!

Dave seemed to be impressed with the first one...he says it looks like a scene from the Moorlands.  That certainly gave me a boost since that's the subject I was trying to paint.  I suppose if someone recognises what you've painted..you just may be on the right track..right?

This coming Friday we're going to go to our grandson's first birthday.  It seems like we're having several "firsts" recently.  Sunday was Rememberence Day here.  It's the equivalent to Memorial Day in the US.  There were church services and a parade through our town.  That was another first for me.  Remembering the troops has always been important to me...and it was interesting to take part in the day in my adopted country.

For the most part, it has been a very good year.  We're very very happy, and yes I do miss some things about Tulsa...mainly the Autumn...it's always been my favourite time and I think I'm feeling a little nostalgic.  I miss the brilliant colours on the trees.  There's colour here, but not like in Tulsa....

We're also starting to make our plans for our visit back to Tulsa next September.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone...but NOT looking forward to getting up at 3am to start those long flights.

Time to close this book.  I'll. write more later.

To try and bring y'all up to date since Sharon's last entry, summer has now gone and we are well into autumn (fall) .... cooler, duller, and less daylight hours ......... already looking forward to next year !!!

We have visited a Military Heritage Day at Okehampton Camp ........ a fun day out with glorious weather. Amongst much other stuff, a display of old military vehicles included some WW2 US vehicles, and Sharon got some authentic looking photos.

At the beginning of September, Sharon and a neighbor went to Plymouth Navy Days, a bi-annual event held in HM Naval Base Plymouth.......... she got to see lots of ships (including getting on a few), lots of military displays involving the Royal Marines, Royal Navy, submarines, helicopters, assault boats, etc. Unfortunately I was working this day, so collected a very tired wife at the end of the day for the journey home !!!

During September, we also spent a weekend in Warwickshire, visiting the Irish Draught Horse Society Breed Show. I've been their webmaster for a lot of years, and although I've spoken to lots of them by e-mail, there are many that I hadn't met. It was great to meet them all, and of course they all wanted to meet 'the wife' !! A really fun weekend, and once again blessed with glorious weather.

During October, I took Sharon around the Naval Base for another look at the ships, submarines, etc. We also visited the gazebo on 'King's Hill', from where King George the Third reviewed the fleet in  1820, and the 'Hangman's Cell', (in)famous for it's part in the Napoleonic Wars.

Sharon went to 'Goosey Fair' in Tavistock, an annual tradition since 1105, with a girlfriend (once again I was working), and once again I collected a 'very tired wife' on the way home.

Throughout this time we have had various day trips on Dartmoor, including a day at Castle Drogo, and a memorable visit to Buckfastleigh Abbey. On wet or windy days, a trip to a Garden Centre for lunch is one of Sharon's favorites.

Needless to say, all the photos taken of the above probably total over 1,000 !!!

For many years I have regularly attended the 'Holiday On Ice' show, and Sharon and I attended it earlier this year. A couple of months ago I received an e-mail asking if we would like to appear in the commercial for the new show. Of course we accepted !!! We duly attended, along with approx. 30 others, and had our ten minutes of 'lights & cameras'...... now we wait and see. They seemed to like what we did though.

Throughout this whole period we have been having a new insulated roof fitted to the house. This has completely scrambled our TV signal, just at the time of the UK digital changeover. Total chaos !!! This resulted in us having to get a new external aerial (which is now done), and we are now receiving many more channels and programs - including some that Sharon used to watch in Tulsa. Finally, about three days ago, the scaffolding from this was removed, and we are now flying our combined US/UK flag outside the front door.

Last weekend was Okehampton Carnival ....... for once, the weather stayed dry !!!

To wind this epic up .......... some weeks ago Sharon found a church that she is pleased with - I won't say any more now, as I'm sure that she will want to. I attended last week for the first time (due to work commitments), and found it very warm and welcoming.

So much has happened since either of us last wrote ....... I don't know where the time has gone !!! In a couple of weeks Sharon will have been here a year, we will have been married nine months, and our grandson, Alfie, will be celebrating his first birthday.

Life just keeps getting better and better ........... today, on TV, we heard a saying that kinda sums things up .....
...........'Perpetual Bliss' !!!!