Golden Driller

The Golden Driller is reportedly the largest free-standing statue in the world. He is 76 feet tall, so high that he rests his right hand atop an actual production oil derrick. Built of iron and concrete, he weighs nearly 22 tons and is expected to survive 200 mph tornadoes. He was declared Oklahoma's official state monument in 1979, and the plaque at his base dedicates him "to the men of the petroleum industry who by their vision and daring have created from God's abundance a better life for mankind."

There is surprisingly little room between the Golden Driller and the parking lot, and standing near his base provides a steep and somewhat saucy angle. Every few years some official talks of moving him deeper into the Fairgrounds, where he would be less likely to alarm passing motorists. But The Golden Driller remains where he has been for over 40 years, guarding the entrance to the International Petroleum Exhibition Building, which showcases trucks with three-story-tall tires and the latest models in back yard derricks.

Today was a windy day in Oklahoma.  We visited the RV and Boat Show and I shot this photo of the Golden Driller.  He was built in 1953.
****Disclaimer***I know this is not the largest statue in the world.  Not by far.  This was just information about the driller from an old article.  :))

Wordless Wednesday-101 Ranch

Only remnants of the past 101 Ranch

This is the White House foundation

The floor of the store

For more Wordless Wednesday click the link.

Wordless Wednesday-Shrunken Heads

Head shop

Two heads are better than one!

For more Wordless Wednesday go here.

These heads brought to you by Woolaroc.

Lunch with Swampy

What a great delight to get to meet and visit with Swampy and her Little Miss P.  We had lunch together at Frank and Lola's restaurant.
This is the very first time I have been able to meet another blogger.  I tried to find a way to meet Bossy but it didn't work out.  I must tell you that after 1-1/2 years of reading Swampy's blog and her comments to others and me, I felt completely at ease.  It was like meeting someone you already knew to some degree.  She made me feel very welcome and we visited and had lunch together with Little Miss P.  I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did.  It certainly made my day!  It's such a small world after all.  When you think of all the people that are connected to other people, really we are just degrees away from knowing many people.  

Something funny that we have in common is my nickname and her dog's name, Junebug.  My middle name is June and my dad always called me Junebug.  My mother's middle name is June also, but at least she was born in June.  I passed the middle name on to my oldest daughter too.  

Now isn't everyone envious that I was able to meet Swampy?  If you noticed that road trip she made recently I think half the country could have met her!  (ha ha)  I count myself lucky and can't wait to see her again someday.

Talimena Scenic Drive

This was a beautiful trip. I did not make this video. But we did drive this road two weeks ago. It was beautiful.  I can't wait to go back again.  This is Rich Mountain in Arkansas and Winding Stair Mountain in Oklahoma.  The tops of these mountains are about 2500 feet.  The pine trees are fantastic and the leaves changing color of the other trees are too.  This road is 54 miles through the tops of these mountains.  Highway 1 in Oklahoma and Highway 88 in Arkansas.  From Mena, Arkansas to Talihena, Oklahoma.  Well worth the trip.

John Mayer Live

My daughters and I are going to Dallas to see John Mayer in concert.
We're going to stay a couple of days and do some shopping at the
Galleria too.

The Road of Life

It goes in both directions. 


It takes you along for the ride.


It is a wonderful trip.  Happy New Year 2008!

Dune buggies

Our last dune buggy

Little Sahara
Does sand get in your eyes?
Yes! And every other crevice you have!

Climbing a dune

Our second buggy

Big VW motor, not stock anymore
My hubby builds every bit of it

Our first dune buggy

New paddle tires, uncut

I sewed the little cover on top!
That was my contribution.

Me and dune buggy
These were the days before children. We spent every week-end we could
going to Little Sahara, camping out. We belonged to SBOT (Sand Buggies
of Tulsa) and had lots of fun. Late 70's, early 80's.
The most beautiful and fun part of the dunes is when
you go out at midnight with a full moon and little twinkle
lights on top of your antenna and no head lights. There
are a trail of twinkle lights going to the top of the dunes
and over and all you can see is twinkle lights disappearing.
The thrill of going over the top of a dune with no backside
and flying off into the air! Such a rush! I would have dreams
about it for several nights later and could just close my eyes
and envision it all over.

Popeye the Sailor Man

Popeye
Our road trip many years ago took us through Arkansas and Missouri,
I believe this Popeye was located in Sprngdale, Arkansas.
We drove our converted van and camped out everywhere.
My husband is very talented. He put paneling and carpet
in the van and made a bed in the back. I sewed curtains
and made cushions for it out of fur. We had a little
moon roof that he installed. Oh, the talent! The
side of the van had an eagle on both sides made
out of racing stripe tape (made by hubby). If you enlarge
picture perhaps you can see it. It was irridescent. Also,
as you can see I didn't wear enough clothing, remember please
this was the middle 70's and I was not as bright as I am now!

Road Trip to Wichita

Disclaimer: No one was hurt during this mock terrorist attack in Wichita!
See the camera man on top of the building?

This training demonstration or enactment must have been a big deal in Wichita. My husband goes to this location quite often because of his job and we just happened to see this training going on. We were told they blew up the building and women were screaming on top of the roof waiting to be rescued by helicoptors and firemen.

Thank goodness it was just practice training.
Oklahoma already experienced a real one.

Welcome to Oklahoma! Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain!

Tank farm-black gold, Texas tea
There were hundreds of these.

I wonder if the brown one is chocolate milk?

Refinery-where would we be without them? Certainly not driving gasoline and diesel vehicles.

Stacks and stacks of steam

And just who is responsible for this?

Six mile stretch of long, unwinding road

Silo imploded?

Water tower

Very old house

Old antique store

1902 Bank Building before statehood



I have so many great pictures of this bridge!

Arkansas River

Farm tractor

Arkansas River Bridge

Rural Road Trip to visit daughter

Old school house
Former chicken house factory

World's only main street well

War memorial

Bigheart Oklahoma

Woolaroc

Original 66

Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower

Frank Phillip's home

Beautiful weeping willow. You should have seen this shining and blowing in the wind!

Beautiful house my son wanted to buy! (someday?)

High School

College daughter attends (last year!! woohoo!!)