OKC Trip 2019

We were already going to Oklahoma City for the annual Friends of the Metropolitan Library book sale, so Amos took Friday off and we made a weekend of it!

Off we go!  Amos being silly.

Had to stop for provisions...

Turnpike construction

Time for surgery...

Amos gave me this Bible a few days before we got engaged (we added the Ralston later, haha!).  I dropped it a few times over the years, and the spine finally came off, so it was time to get it rebound.

Very large press...

Super Cao Nguyen!  The biggest Asian grocery store I've been in!

I went here a few times when we lived in Oklahoma City.

More provisions...

We have our pho and ramen supplies! :D

Amos was excited about these seaweed snacks.  They tasted like shrimp...or the ocean.

A T-Rex and a good sign...

Hello, poor cow, carved into the concrete

Waffle Champion in Midtown, recommended by Beau and Chrissie

Amos had chicken and waffles and I had the Florentine (tomatoes, eggs, spinach, goat cheese, etc.).

When in town for a book sale, one must also visit Half-Price Books. :D

WinCo!

The bulk section!

More provisions!

[Not pictured: A stop at Duluth Trading Company.  Ooops.]

I love the Loft Outlet store!

City Bites!  I get the California Club sandwich, and Amos gets a sandwich or a baked potato.

We've had a $10.00 gift card for Coldstone for about five years, but there aren't any stores in Tulsa...finally used it up!

Our hotel had a very nice breakfast!  The thing with whipped cream is actually a waffle boat!

We're here, we're here!

Friends!

Amos, me, Tasha, Rachelle, Amelia (belonging to Tasha), and Brittany

Lots of people, even more books

Parked in (why?!?)

Our finds! CDs

Science fiction

Misc.

Kids' books

More kids' books and audiobooks

Don't judge a book by its silly movie cover.  Take it off and see what's underneath!

Wow!

Everyman's Library!  For $1.00!

We went to Earl's.  The internet was down, so they couldn't run cards and they couldn't open the cash register.  Employees were running back and forth from the back room with cash and handwritten orders.  Amos had already gotten a drink, but they gave it to him for free when we decided to go somewhere else...

...like a different City Bites! :D

Last stop: Dunkin' Donuts!

Up to...

Danielle said my blog misses me; I am afraid she is right.

So, what have I been up to?

On Wednesday, I passed the one-year mark at my job.  I have now worked at an oil-gas-rock quarry-farm-ranch-who-knows-what-else office for a whole year, and, amazingly, I don't feel like I want to quit.  I considered not taking the job if it was offered to me, but I am so glad I did.

Little-known fact: The best falafel I've ever eaten was purchased from a food cart in Bethlehem.

Amos: But you don't really like falafel.
Me: I know, but it was the best one I've ever had!

Maker of the best falafel in the world!

Bethlehem field...where are the sheep and the angels?!

Glory to God in the highest!

The muffin choices today are buttermilk spice (pretty good; we'll see how they taste after they've been in the freezer for a week :P) and banana chocolate chip (I remembered to add the eggs at the last minute!).

Next up for today...make a last-minute present for Amos, organize/decorate my bullet journal, listen to more of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry and Dumbledore are off to find a horcrux!), eat lunch, and hopefully read some of Lila or The Secret Keepers (a new book by Trenton Lee Stewart!).

Alabama in May

Amos and I journeyed out to Alabama for my cousin Aimee's wedding.  Here is a photo post of our trip...
First off, the flora.

Tons of Queen Anne's Lace along the freeway in Mississippi

Alabama Blue

My mom says there is a specific color blue for the summer skies in Alabama

Oh, hello!
(Flora AND fauna!)

Grapevines create a chorus line at Aimee and Daniel's wedding venue

My Aunt Brenda is a master gardener!  One of her many hydrangea

A huge magnolia near Grandmother's house

Mimosa, an icon of the South

Some purple flower

Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jerry's woods

And now, the fauna...

About to cross the Mississippi into Tennessee!  No good pics of the river... :P

I've always loved this Cape buffalo.
Granddad shot him on one of his African safari trips.

Daniel, in blue, with his brother, mom, and sister, helping with the rehearsal
dinner preparations

Cambodian chicken curry - so good!

Amos, Mr. Lighting Expert, replaces the ballast in the mud room light fixture
while Uncle Jerry holds the light and provides moral support ;)

Amos hands off Bailey's balloons after Chelsea
made sure she wasn't dying from a mortal wound.

Daniel and Aimee, working on boutonnieres

Awwww!  Daniel likes Aimee. :)

More flower deliberation with a skeptical Aunt Brenda and Emily

Mother and daughter: Grandmother and Aunt Brenda :)

Father and daughter: Mom and Granddad :)

Aimee is so excited!

The next day, pre-departure

Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jerry

Cousins!  Emily, me, Aaron, Aimee, Lydia, and Seth :)

Daniel with Addi and Bailey, new nieces :)

How cute is this?!?!
Addi watches a toad that Aunt Brenda extracted from her plants

Heading home...with a blue filter??

Elizabeth at work at FamilyLife

College friends :)

Grandmother and I

This last picture is the last picture of Grandmother and me. Grandmother died last Saturday from acute leukemia.  She was a fun, sweet lady, infinitely generous and loving.  Amos and I stayed at her house for this trip, and the most striking thing about her home was the myriad of family pictures.  Pictures on the walls, pictures on the dresser, pictures in boxes, pictures on side tables, pictures on shelves, pictures in calendars, pictures on the fridge.  Grandmother loved her family very much, and we will all miss her very much.