April 20, 2016
This weekend is the spring Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride and the Kiwanis club members have been working with Jeff Fritz to get this one off the ground. It looks like the weather is going to be sunny and dry. We've had some rain off and on over the past couple of weeks, so it's been touch and go. Fritz reported today that he thought we could have as many as 150+ registered riders, plus their family members who come to camp out, enjoy the park, and eat the delicious meals provided. This is the oldest horse trail ride in the state of Oklahoma. Andy discovered two film reels while helping a friend clean out their building, and he took them to the Oklahoma Historical Society to see if they could be watched. One was from 1949 Round-up Club, and the other was from 1953. The Society was able to restore about 15 minutes from one reel and 11 minutes from the other. The footage is now in digital format. We watched today at the weekly Kiwanis meeting and it was fascinating. It was a page out of history come to life.
It's been a busy month so far at the Chaparral Retreat. We had a house concert one weekend, and have served pizza dinners on two weekends as fundraisers for Phoenix Circle Foundation. The Retreat is booked for the next two weekends. Then, on May 1, we have local talent Katie Ballew and her friend Kelly performing a house concert. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough to sit outside. It is such a different atmosphere than sitting in a theatre, a different experience. We also have a group called My Politic booked for May 16.
In the planning stages are a community garden at the First United Methodist Church, thanks to a grant from the OSU Extension Service; and the Scissortail Arts Day scheduled for May 28, that will provide a half day of fun activities for kids (and adults) on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Watonga used to have a "Pioneer Day" festival over Memorial Day weekend every year, but that faded away in the last few years. Our economic development advisor tells us that it is a good idea for a small town like ours to have more than one festival a year, to bring tourism. So, a couple of local businesses and a couple of arts supporters are putting on the first annual Scissortail Arts Day this year. It will only be one-half day, but will dovetail with a couple of Vacation Bible School activities. Watch for details.......
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Friday, April 8, 2016
Today is "Dog Farting Awareness Day"
From THATMUTT.COM -- April 8 is Dog Farting Awareness Day.
Ah, finally, a day we can unabashedly talk about dog farting!!
Our estate hound Skeeter has had this problem since he began taking steroids after having two blood transfusions. We thought it would be a temporary situation, but no, we have had to tolerate his random and uncontrollable "outbursts" daily for the past two years. BUT it is worth it-- he's an old boy and still active and we are thankful for every day he is still with us. Today I will not give him any s**t about his smelly emissons.
Our estate hound Skeeter has had this problem since he began taking steroids after having two blood transfusions. We thought it would be a temporary situation, but no, we have had to tolerate his random and uncontrollable "outbursts" daily for the past two years. BUT it is worth it-- he's an old boy and still active and we are thankful for every day he is still with us. Today I will not give him any s**t about his smelly emissons.
Monday, April 4, 2016
I'm still trying to catch up on the news!
Sometimes I post on the "chaparrallbb.blogspot.com" blog, and sometimes I post here.
I just want to give a shout out to the musicians and special friends who have come out to the Chaparral Retreat, just north of the town of Watonga and one mile from Roman Nose State Park, and supported my passion and pet project, the Phoenix Circle Foundation [in no particular order (but remember these names!!)]
Merry Ellen Kirk
Gentry Counce
Vernon Brickman
Katie Ballew-Lyle
Nathan Brown (former Oklahoma poet laureate)
Caroline Cotter
Stephen Hunley (and his lovely wife Elizabeth)
Brian Pounds
The Oven (wood-fired pizza dinners) is now open, and the next scheduled dinner is for April 16.
On May 1, the singing duo Katie Ballew and Kelly will give a House Concert, and My Politic is scheduled to play on May 16.
We are working on the plans for a community garden, the Scissortail Arts Day festival, and looking forward to the upcoming Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride. It's a busy time of year!!
/Linda
I just want to give a shout out to the musicians and special friends who have come out to the Chaparral Retreat, just north of the town of Watonga and one mile from Roman Nose State Park, and supported my passion and pet project, the Phoenix Circle Foundation [in no particular order (but remember these names!!)]
Merry Ellen Kirk
Gentry Counce
Vernon Brickman
Katie Ballew-Lyle
Nathan Brown (former Oklahoma poet laureate)
Caroline Cotter
Stephen Hunley (and his lovely wife Elizabeth)
Brian Pounds
The Oven (wood-fired pizza dinners) is now open, and the next scheduled dinner is for April 16.
On May 1, the singing duo Katie Ballew and Kelly will give a House Concert, and My Politic is scheduled to play on May 16.
We are working on the plans for a community garden, the Scissortail Arts Day festival, and looking forward to the upcoming Roman Nose Hills Trail Ride. It's a busy time of year!!
/Linda
The Oven is Open
The Chaparral Retreat hosted a pizza dinner fundraiser for Phoenix Circle Foundation on Saturday, April 2. It was a "full house", with some returning guests to the B&B, visitors to Roman Nose State Park, visitors to Whirlwind Winery, and locals who had not been out to The Oven before. One couple was celebrating their 22nd anniversary.
Saturday was the first of what will be a full spring and summer (and maybe fall) of events at the Chaparral Retreat, including live music programs. The evening was cool but not cold. We sat on the patio and ate, visited, laughed, told stories; some stayed later and relaxed in front of a roaring outdoor fireplace. Ah, the scent of a wood fire brings back memories of camping with the kids, Boy Scout outings, and hiking trips in New Mexico. At my age now, I am glad I can enjoy a fire outside and sleep indoors on a nice bed!
We raised some money for Phoenix Circle Foundation and brought awareness of the need and benefit of the arts in rural Oklahoma. Thanks to all who came and shared the evening with us. If you can't make it to one of our fundraisers but want to make a tax-deductible donation, you can send a check to Phoenix Circle Foundation at PO Box 427, Watonga, OK 73772 [as I write this, I realize I've been listening to the KOSU radio pledge drive for the past four days!]. We will be glad to send you a receipt. PCF is listed with the IRS, the State of Oklahoma, and Guidestar as a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization.
We welcome comments or reviews by visitors, on our facebook pages, by private message, on TravelOK, TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Air bnb, and Red Carpet Country Travel Guide website. We appreciate your support and feel so blessed to meet new people and make new friends. I am thankful that we get to share the beautiful property owned by Andy's family, and am especially happy that the property has been kept in the Barrett family. Come see us sometime! /Linda
Saturday was the first of what will be a full spring and summer (and maybe fall) of events at the Chaparral Retreat, including live music programs. The evening was cool but not cold. We sat on the patio and ate, visited, laughed, told stories; some stayed later and relaxed in front of a roaring outdoor fireplace. Ah, the scent of a wood fire brings back memories of camping with the kids, Boy Scout outings, and hiking trips in New Mexico. At my age now, I am glad I can enjoy a fire outside and sleep indoors on a nice bed!
We raised some money for Phoenix Circle Foundation and brought awareness of the need and benefit of the arts in rural Oklahoma. Thanks to all who came and shared the evening with us. If you can't make it to one of our fundraisers but want to make a tax-deductible donation, you can send a check to Phoenix Circle Foundation at PO Box 427, Watonga, OK 73772 [as I write this, I realize I've been listening to the KOSU radio pledge drive for the past four days!]. We will be glad to send you a receipt. PCF is listed with the IRS, the State of Oklahoma, and Guidestar as a qualified 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization.
We welcome comments or reviews by visitors, on our facebook pages, by private message, on TravelOK, TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Air bnb, and Red Carpet Country Travel Guide website. We appreciate your support and feel so blessed to meet new people and make new friends. I am thankful that we get to share the beautiful property owned by Andy's family, and am especially happy that the property has been kept in the Barrett family. Come see us sometime! /Linda
Friday, April 1, 2016
Tourist season in northwest Oklahoma.
Who remembers swimming in this spring-fed pool at Roman Nose State Park?
My husband grew up one mile from this park, on Hwy 8A outside of Watonga, OK. The first time he brought me from Texas to meet his family, we went out to Roman Nose State Park and I saw this swimming hole. It was beautiful. Now I live in that family home and we call it the Chaparral Retreat, a Bed & Breakfast. The swimming hole has been "updated" but the park is still a natural wonder. The swimming pool opens on Memorial Day weekend.
The B&B is open year'round. We serve wood-fired pizza dinners, host Oklahoma House Concerts, and have fundraisers for charitable and educational causes. The property is also available for rental for private parties, reunions, etc. Check us out at www.chaparralbb.com or any of our Facebook pages.
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