Outside, inside

Outside:: Snow. Snow tamped down and made slick by the weight of sleds. Snow formations like desert sands. Snow mounds atop fence posts like scoops of ice cream. Snow melting into my boots on the porch. Snow, brilliant white, blinding us.

Inside:: Cozy bedtime stories about snow and winter critters. A window seat to gaze at the birds in the snow as we prepare for future snowbound excursions.

You can't beat winter, so you might as well join it... what wintertime rituals are you enjoying right now?

Time Marches On

Ten years gone by in a flash. Who could have guessed the changes that have taken place,in the world as well as our family. No-one knows what the next ten years may bring but I'm sure we'll do our best to survive.
So long to those we loved and lost. We miss you and will always hold you close in our hearts. Welcome to all the new faces joining the clan; new-born, married or joined by love, we're glad to have you with us.
Hopefully the coming decade will be one of happiness and well-being for all.

The 2000 time capsule was opened the first week of 2010. A list of the contents follows:December 31st 1999 Tulsa world, Nowata Ironmen Football 1999 Special Edition, Nov 1998 Rolling Stone Magazine, State Highway 20 Project article, January 2000 Tulsa Kids Magazine, Oklahoma Runner Magazine (Jan/Feb 2000) Runners of the Year Pete Orban & somebody else, Newspaper article about the future of Microsoft, 30 key events of the 20th century,Open Letter to "OSU Family" concerning need to upgrade athletic facilities, Handwritten note from Alex and Jan Gramblin, Note from Cathy with latest info about WildOrbans, Kale's Merry Christmas anagram, Pokemon card, college basketball card, Rugrats the movie coupon book, 1999 dime, nickle and penny, Sam Orban's library card, 3 model rocket photos, 1st 5 'state' quarters(Connecticut,Delaware,New Jersey,Pennsylvania and Georgia), school photo of Andrea Orban, Soccer photo card of Paul Orban "Little Giants", J&J Cornerstone Construction business card, L.e.i. jeans lable, Ty Beanie Baby tag, two noise makers,Hotwheels 1970 Plymouth Barracuda , McDonald's Toy Story 2 toy(Bullseye),1999 Georgia and Pennsylvania quarters,Steff's ABC charm, Happy New Year's note with photos from Emerson Samulski in envelope with mars Rover Sojourner stamp and pathfinder cover, Indispensable Guide to the year 2000, old style 20 dollar bill with handwritten note, small notepad with WildOrbanRanch data, and 3 floppy disks with pictures of our home, pets etc taken by Jaime.
We're planning on loading the contents back in the capsule to be placed in some dark corner for another ten years, as well as filling a 2010 version to be closed hopefully by the end of January. If anyone has anything to add please let me know.
Happy New Decade!

Turning Back

I had the "Techs" at Digital Deja'Vu scan some of my old 35mm negatives to see if there was anything worth keeping. Pretty much all of it is worth keeping but now I've got the new problem of sorting and filing, which has always been one of my weaknesses. Still, it's fun to look back 15 years. Next, to drag out the really old stuff from before kids and even back to the 70's.
I promised an update on the 2000 time capsule and I'm working on something to list or display the contents. We'll be closing it as well as a 2010 version, both of which will be opened after New Year's Day 2020. Anybody got a contribution?
Hope everyone's 2010 has gotten off to a great start. The Wild O's are A-OK for the time being and looking forward to good times ahead.

Sundog

Friday morning, temperature 5 degrees F.

Sundogs are formed by plate shaped hexagonal ice crystals in high and cold cirrus clouds or - during very cold weather - by ice crystals called diamond dust drifting in the air at low level.(Wikipedia)

Black Eyed Peas

Tradition. Just one of many but it's the one I grew up with. Only one problem. I don't like black eyed peas much so I try new combos. Margret gave me a recipe last year for black eyed pea salsa - eaten with chips - it's pretty good AND HOT. This year I was in a soup mood - so here is the 2010 recipe.

1 onion chopped
4 T butter
Saute onion and butter until wilted a little
3 small smoked ham hocks
4 c water -
cover and simmer 1 hour - then add
1 bag frozen black eyed peas
3 potatoes, washed and cut into bite sized peices
12 baby carrots
4 tsp chicken soup stock powder
1/2 tsp thyme leaves
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Cover and simmer another hour (add more water to cover veggies) - or until potatoes, peas, and carrots are soft. Adjust salt and pepper if needed and serve with jalepeno corn bread.

It's New Years

We had a wonderful new years and I hope that that is the same for the rest of you, and a toast to the new New Years to come.

P.S. the blue moon was very cool.