Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Victorian Lady of Jenks, Oklahoma

This is the front of the Victorian Lady Bed and Breakfast where
Ron and I spent our anniversary celebration. It is in Jenks, a town just south of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Victorian Lady,  was a welcome retreat from the July heat.
 Well-kept flowerbeds cheered us as we were greeted by the proprietor, Deena Slass.
Inside she served us chocolate covered strawberries with dark chocolate. They were sumptuous.
And beautiful.
These lace curtains hung in the front bedroom.

Footboard of the bed in our room, a hope chest, and jewelry/photo box.

More Chocolate covered strawberries. ( My sister says Chocolate is not capitalized, but I beg to differ.)

An oil lamp over the dining table.
Decorative trim
A fine old clock
This piece was designed to hold nuts or fruit and the cones live flower blossoms.
Bed skirt of crocheted lace
Rocking chair fit for a queen
Lace bedspread

Headboard in another room.

This headboard was in the room we stayed in. I loved the wood floors, the paint color here and the wallpaper borders.
Coffee  service in candlelight
One of many paintings and art pieces with lovely old frames.
Blueberry Coffee cake is a favorite at this bed and breakfast.
Good to the last crumb.
Peach topped French toast was served for breakfast.
Plant in the kitchen some kind of violet.
Embroidered pedal covers on a parlor organ.
I loved this headboard and I love the blue walls.
Vases of peacock featheres were in many of the rooms.
Lots of Lace and artistry.
 Thanks to the Victorian Lady in Jenks for a wonderful visit.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Life of Roses

 Pink-Eyed Roses
 Fresh from the greenhouse. Bright and willful,
 Wrapped in buttery yellow parchment,
 Ready to please
 Strong
Self-Confident 
 Soften with age in a few swift-passing days,
 Yet beautiful and joyful with life
 Begin to mellow, to lose intensity
 Unfurling, gradually losing their grip on life 
 Softly saying their farewells
 Holding still the fragrance of all they know
Fragile and sweet to the end.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

One ought, every day at least,to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Hollis Table

        
       This is my friend from Claremore, Carol A. Round. Some of you may recognize her face or name from the daily newspaper. Carol writes a weekly inspirational column that is found in Okmulgee's Daily Times and several other papers across north east Oklahoma. She joined me for a salad lunch before we headed out on our trip to Texas last Friday. 


We attended a writer's workshop at Cross Timbers church in Keller, Texas Saturday taught by Karen Power and Frank Ball. We had plenty of time on the 6 hour ride to talk about our writing projects, our children, and our homes (and Carol's dog, Taco!) 


The workshop was well worth the expense and the drive. I trust we will both progress and improve because of the information we gleaned in the classes. Also, meeting so many other writers is a blessing and encouragement.


Carol has two books which are collections of her reader's favorite columns. She is working on a third. Doesn't she look bright and friendly and like someone who has a lot to share?

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Tyler Texas Rose Gardens


The Tyler Rose Gardens



This past week, we had a wonderful time visiting the Tyler Rose Gardens in Tyler, Texas. The roses were a week or so past their prime, but still beautiful. Of course, there were many other flowers besides the roses - lilies, camellias, daisies, hydrangeas, nasturtiums, columbines, snapdragons, and more. I could have stayed there for weeks! We had a nice lunch on a perfect sunny warm breezy day.We sat under huge shade trees with the scent of roses wafting around us, birdsong and the company of family. What a nice day to remember. Come walk with us.

Pink Persuasion 
Yellow rose of Texas

Candy Apple Red


Red bunch roses

Dancing musical fountains

The Gazebo and pond
Roses 
Koi in the pond 

 Footbridge over the pond
Lazy yellow /pink roses
A beautiful fushia pink 
My favorite 


Consider the lilies and then you will know! 

I think lilies must be God's favorite because the Bible says Solomon in all his splendor was not arrayed like one of these.
Picnic in the park 
Japanese Maple
Petunias! 
Magnolia leaf in the grass 
Seven Sisters 

Daisies 



Hollyhocks 


Pink rose bud 
Magnolia blossom 
Pretty Brenna Elise

 Father and Son -- Ron and Quinton
Alton
Those three sure love their dad. 
 Quinton Riley Hollis


Cosmos


Easter Lily
White Rose of Sharon
Violets and caladiums
Yellow Columbine

Nasturtiums 





Lilies

Nasturtiums 
Brenna and her Dad


Hydrangea
Ron and I stopped for a rest by the lily pond
Boy with a frog statue in a lily pond

Seven Sisters Roses






Alton and pink sweetpeas 
Alton and Brenna 

Leader and not-so-sure follower 
Pink Dreams 
Pathways in the park
Crape Myrtle 
Hydrangea 

 Hydrangea
 Twisted crape Myrtle
Family on the bridge
Fountains
Wild pink







Ruffled square-dancing skirts


Nacogdoches Yellow rose

Pink with yellow center
Hydrangea




Yellow light from the center


Party Pink
A lovely white rose

Peaches and Cream

Passionate Pink