Oklahoma State Fair 2007

This is Oklahoma's Centennial Year. Thus, we were moved to check out the state fair. We enjoyed the people-watch (confirming the new, national obesity data). We think people will wear a t-shirt that says almost anything. It's a good sign, at least, that most of these folks are able to READ. Jules found the SPAM truck -- but we missed the freebies here. Gosh -- it seems that Hormel is everywhere (not just Fremont and Lubbock)!

We Caved In For a Footlong

As far as the food options went, it was pretty normal state fair fare. We had all the usual food choices -- like funnel cakes, spiral fries, cotton candy, turkey legs, corn on the cob, and fried confections (Oreos, Twinkies, etc.). The longest lines were waiting for Indian tacos. We decided it would be OK to share a footlong corndog -- especially since we last had one at the Southplains Fair (in Lubbock) in 1996. It tasted every bit as good as we remembered!

Jump! The Ultimate Dog Show

We had a good time walking around the animal barns -- horses, steers, sheep, and pigs. Those
4-H kids are such nice, wholesome kids and work so hard at getting their animals to show well. We watched them in the showerstalls and on the grooming tables. An angus steer is quite beautiful just after a blow-dry! Our favorite, though, was the dog show. This kid rescues sheep dogs -- active, high-jumping sheep dogs! Here you see Hyper Hanna at about 4 feet off the ground in anticipation of a frisbee throw. Her finale was catching 10 in a row!

Noble County, Oklahoma

Grandma Doris was a wise woman. She thought to keep the mineral rights to those properties she once owned and later sold. One of those properties is situated in Noble County, Oklahoma. Here (to the left) you see the 160 acres that Jules and her siblings inherited from Grandma Doris -- not the property, just the mineral rights. (Gosh! This property is just 15 miles from our new Stillwater residence.) Within the next few years we will know whether or not we've struck oil or gas. (Note that the neighbors to the right got lucky!) Here's hoping gas prices continue to rise! Heh, heh, heh.

Stillwater, OK

We've moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma -- and fortunately this is our temporary home. We will live here until we sell our Lubbock home. (We have sworn off listening to NPR's reports of the slumping real estate market.) In the meantime, we are renters. That means, we will live with this chipped sink until whenever. (We took this photo as a record of the dozen or so photos documenting the condition of this rental property.)

The Door

Yes, this is our exterior apartment door. Yes, that is daylight you see coming in under the door. We expect that the manage-ment plans to replace this door -- since only a few crickets are coming in now. We do think this will pose a greater health risk once the mice find this welcoming opportunity to come in out of the cold when fall arrives. Time will tell.

Brother Jim

Jon's brother Jim lives in Denver. He has MS and has lost some ground recently. We made a mid-July trip to Denver to help Jim re-locate and to learn more about his current housing needs. In this photo, Jon's brother Bill and Jules visit with Jim about which Mexican restaurant we will visit for lunch. Though Jim has earned a reputation as the "Break-Out Kid" (somehow finding his way out of his care facility and onto cross-town buses), on this occasion we found it wise to select from the fine restaurants near Jim's new home in Southwest Denver.

Sunken Gardens 2007

We visited the Sunken Gardens in Lincoln, Nebraska during July. These gardens have been here for a long time -- Jules remembers visiting this same garden with her grandparents in the late 1950's. Most recently, the gardens were closed for re-construction. Thus, we were glad to gain access this year. Note that the garden is planted in a green and purple color palate for 2007!

Lea's Kids

Let's see. Anna rode her bike. Claire was on roller blades. Mary walked Sadie (the dog) and Sophia and Frank tagged along on foot (with all other responsibilities having been allocated). It was one, very hot day -- but these faces seem to be the routine when one brings out a camera. We figure this portrait will be worth big bucks as a component to someone's graduation or wedding slideshow!

Sadie the Dog

Sadie, Lea's new-found-lab-love, is enrolled in some doggy-discipline classes. For a puppy, Sadie minds pretty well -- until the sprinklers turn on. She has a hard time remembering the rules when something else fun comes up.

Camp Cornhusker 2007

Frank invited Poppy to accompany him on a weekend campout at Camp Cornhusker – located near Pawnee City, Nebraska. Here, Frank surveyed our equipment prior to setting up camp. Frank stood still long enough for this picture.

Rockets Away!

Frank and Poppy built a rocket together. Frank was initially disappoint-ed that he did not get the rocket kit he wanted. But as it turned out, their rocket fired higher than any of the others!

Suspended Foot Bridge

Walking the bridge took some practice but Frank easily mastered the necessary skills. You can’t bounce around or play on this bridge! (Note: This was the route to the rifle and archery ranges!)

Rifle Range

Frank showed himself to be an excellent marksman. He really has good focus and concentra-tion when it comes to hitting a target.

Bow and Arrow

Frank is a veteran on the archery range. Having been there before, he knew the correct stance and procedures. There was still a short fishing trip and a quick canoe ride to fit in before the dinner bell rang. Whew!

Sundown

After campfire, Poppy was ready to get some shut-eye when the lights went out. Just as they were falling to sleep, Frank called out, “I found a tick.” Sure enough, one had crawled into his bag with him.

Saunders County

In July, we visited our 40 acres north of Lincoln. Our "farm" is situated just north of Lincoln and west of Wahoo along Hiway 79 at J Road. That's just 1 mile out of cell phone range. Our grass is growing taller each year. We still dream of a log home on one knoll and this would be our view

City Farmers

Our farming amounts to digging out invasive plants like musk thistle and spraying or pruning out volunteer trees in the grassland. We also gather up old fence and trash along the way.

At the Zoo, Zoo -- 2007

Our grand daughter, Anna, is in her second year as a Zoo Crew kid. These select kids are assigned to work in the petting zoo area. They mostly talk to the zoo-goers, walk goats around on leashes, and generally insure that nobody gets hurt! The last time we visited, Anna was working in the pony ride arena. Sometimes Anna is assigned to the Critter Center where they have some pets (like rabbits), wild animal pelts to feel, plaster casts of animal tracks to observe.

At the Bug House

The Bug House is another hands-on area of this zoo – where they have neat Plexiglas cages that are full of all sorts of things. Our other grandkids, Mary and Frank, are naturals in the Bug House. Mary particularly likes the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, “Aren’t they neat, Grandma?” These kids enjoy their family membership. They know the trails at the zoo backwards and forwards since they live just a short walk or bike ride away.

Who Eats What?

Older Zoo Crew kids are paid to work in the Bug House. They know their insects – but they have learned not to question grandson Frank. He is a voracious animal-book-reader who is particularly interested in animals’ predatory habits. Frank’s favorite insect is the African Millipede. “I bet this would make a good meal for a Meerkat, Poppy.” And this news, just in – Mother and Father Crocodile shared a chipmunk snack today. Lucky, observant Frank!

Berkshire Shareholders' Meeting, 2007

We met a lot of interesting people at the May 2007 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. The meeting began with a cocktail party at Borsheim’s jewelry store that seemed more like a giant tailgate party. We made a lot of “new best friends” while we waited in line for food and beverages. Some people actually shopped.

Jon and Jules With Credentials

We arrived early on Saturday, the big meeting day – so we would be sure to get seats on the floor. Rain or shine – the company movie would begin at 8:30 AM in the Qwest Center. Following that, all 27,000 of us engaged in 5 hours of uncensored Q & A with Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. There was good humor throughout the day-long exchange of wisdom and candor. We heard from two Mr. Buffets that morning; singer Jimmy Buffet claimed he was heir-apparent.

Warren and Charlie with JT

Jon saved his questions for later during a perusal of the meeting vendors. There we could mingle with the Fruit of the Loom quartet, shake hands with an Acme brick, try on Justin boots, buy a Dairy Queen Dilly Bar, have your picture taken with the GEICO gecko, and browse the See’s Candy displays. All invited vendors are companies owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

Dinner at Gorat's

We will never know if these are the finest steaks in the world. On this weekend, though we had made dinner reservations far in advance, the management was simply not able to handle the pouring rain and the popularity of this favorite Buffet hangout. Everybody wanted to eat at Gorat’s -- and it seemed everybody had a reservation!