July Trip to OKC

Frank and I visited our daughter and her family in Oklahoma City July 16th through July 25th. This trip was very quilt intensive and had been planned to coincide with Robin's guild's biannual quilt show. This post has an overview of our stay and the highlights that were not overly quilt focused. I published other quilt related posts for those aspects of the trip in my DianeLoves2Quilt blog.

Wednesday July 16: Arrival
Our flight from San Jose CA via Phoenix arrived mid afternoon. Jeremy, Autumn, and Isaiah picked us up from the airport. Jeremy had taken a break from helping Robin tape out the floor areas for the vendor booths for her guild's quilt show. She was vendor chair. 

July 16th was also Isaiah's 10th birthday and so we celebrated with a cake, candles, and opening gifts shortly after getting to their house once Robin joined us.

Then I gave Robin the quilt I'd been working on. I had made it from the T-shirts from her childhood years. My post about Ski's Tees was published on July 17th, the day after I presented it to her.

Thursday July 17: Post Travel Day of Rest

Thursday Frank and I chilled and unpacked at home while Robin and Jeremy did quilt show prep. The vendors would be moving in their wares and setting up their booths at one end of the fairgrounds building. The quilts would be being hung for display on the remaining larger section of the building. One lady fell from a ladder while hanging a quilt, hurt her head (it was bleeding), and also injured her back and part of her hand. Jeremy is still certified as a paramedic from his first responder and fireman days. Another guild member was a retired ER head trauma nurse. Together they went to her aid until an ambulance could take her away. They later heard back that she had a cracked vertebrae, but no brain injury, and is recovering. Never a dull moment ...

Also, while the big roll up doors to the large commercial building were open, a bird flew in. Lots of failed efforts were made to shoo him out. No one wanted to risk bird poop on their quilts, fabrics, or other selling stock. Eventually the bird flew into the men's room and one of the vendors happened to be in there. He contacted security who gave him permission to open the window and let the bird escape. At last! Another non-dull moment ...

Friday July 18 and Saturday July 19: COQG Show +
Both days were heavily involved with quilt show visiting. Robin would go in earlier before opening to handle any potential vendor issues. Friday I attended with Robin and Autumn. In the afternoon Robin got a phone call from Jeremy that she was not supposed to relay to me. Frank had asked Jeremy to take him to an ER with abdominal pain. Not a critical intestinal blockage but strong discomfort never the less. Scans confirmed surgical intervention was not needed and with some medicinal intervention Frank was feeling better by evening. Yet another non-dull moment...

Saturday Jeremy took his mom and Isaiah to the show in the morning. Frank felt better enough to go to the show with me Saturday afternoon. Frank and I stayed till closing and even got to watch some of the take down maneuvers for the quilt displays and vendor booths. Robin and Jeremy were tied up with aiding and organizing a smooth vendor exit. Photos of both our days, with a selection of the quilts and a video of the take down, is available in my August 6 blog post titled OKC Quilt Show. This is the shirt Jeremy wore that got rave reviews. He was a VERY involved husband.

In the hubbub of our arrival I never gave Autumn her special socks. When I did, she wore a big smile, tried them on, and ran off to show them to one of her friends. For a near teenager, this was great praise and a thank-you. She liked being set apart for learning to play the saxophone.

Sunday July 20: Relaxing then Drive to Hennessey
Sunday morning we got up late and relaxed, Robin still busily working away at email business as follow-up from the show. Late afternoon Robin and I left for our three day quilt class in Hennessey, OK. The ride was a 72.5 mile drive north to our hotel The Sleep Inn and Suites.

The drive was across flat, peaceful, lands with views of windmills, cattle, and trains.

The Sleep Inn and Suites was only a few blocks away from where we would be taking our class. We checked out the class venue and were able to drop off our sewing machines and tools and fabric. Folks were still in there sewing late at night. They shared with us an access code to be able to get in to the building at the rear of Prairie Quilts any time of night should the sewing bug bite win out over sleep. We set up our machines and workspace and then headed to the hotel. We'd brought enough food to snack on and had eaten just a couple of hours ago so we were good to settle in for the night. 

Monday July 21 through Wednesday July 23: In Class
Breakfast was provided the next morning so let the quilting begin! After our first day in class with Jacqueline de Jonge at Prairie Quilts, we learned that no restaurants are open in Hennessey on Mondays. We were grateful for the fantastic lunch the retreat services had served. That evening we drove to the "adjacent" town of Kingfisher, 18 miles due south on Route 81, the only road to there, and ate at a place called Stack Grill. Robin's meal was OK, but my fried chicken meal was so dry I told them it was inedible. They comped me for half of it and asked if there was anything else they could do. I said, "Yes. Make the cook try to choke it down." I had assumed that out in the middle of the country, fried chicken would have been a good choice, like ordering seafood at a restaurant with a view of the ocean. My mistake. However, the evening was not lost. After dinner, we did go back to the retreat center, since it was open 24 hours, and did some more sewing.

Tuesday Rooster's
After our second day of class on Tuesday, we asked for eating suggestions. Folks told us that there was a gas station that made excellent burgers, "the best they'd ever tasted".  As a "bonus" there was a fly swatter at every table. We found it a few blocks away and went inside. We then swiftly came back outside and searched for someplace else to eat. 

Instead, Robin drove 2.6 miles south but still in Hennessey to a restaurant, Rooster's, that we had passed the previous night but it had been closed. It looked pretty shabby from the outside but we were told the food was good and not to let the appearance dissuade us.

Once inside we agreed it was clean plus the decor and table tops were kinda cute. There was a pretty expansive salad bar where we were invited to help ourselves while waiting for our entrées. 

The food was good and plentiful. For one of my sides I ordered corn nuggets, wondering what they were. What they were, was DELICIOUS! They looked like tater tots but they were breaded corn. By goggling corn nuggets I learned that corn nuggets are bite-sized fritters, made from a simple batter filled with sweet corn kernels. They fry up crispy and golden on the outside, with a tender, soft interior. These nuggets likely originated in the South, inspired by dishes like hush puppies and other types of fritters. They must be a middle of the country thing because I looked for them at a store once I returned to California and they were not available in my locale.

On our way out, Robin and I posed for pix of "chicks among the chicks". Rooster's was a fun place and a happy, lucky find.

On the way to Rooster's I had spotted metal sculptures of cattle in a field near the road. After our meal we looked for them on the way back and could not see them. They were in a pasture that was a bit depressed below road level. Robin made a U-turn and humored me by backtracking in the opposite direction so I could take some photos. 

Upon research I learned that this prominent cattle sculpture in Hennessey, Oklahoma is located in Bull Foot Park. Bull Foot Station in Hennessey, once a re-supply stop on the Chisholm Trail, is now a park with a cattle drive sculpture garden. This park holds historical significance as a former supply and watering point for drovers on the Chisholm Trail. The sculpture itself is a representation of the historical cattle drive that once passed through the area. These metal sculptures were quasi-two dimensional and not as powerful and extensive as the three dimensional bronze sculptures in Oklahoma City depicting the land rush. These cattle however, were worth taking note for their historical significance and for the just plain whimsy they provide seeing them scattered across the field. 

For comparison here is a photo of part of the Oklahoma Centennial Land Run Monument. This sculpture was erected in 2019 and features either 45 or 47 bronze statues, each one being "one-and-a-half times life-size". The work depicts "horsemen and wagons racing over the Oklahoma landscape", with a total area slightly "larger than a football field".

Wednesday Final Day of Class and Drive Home
Robin and I told our husbands that three days of quilting in a row was a lot and that we would probably head home early on the final day, if we stayed at all. We stayed. We stayed for the entire three day class.  The following photo shows our progress and the post in my DianeLves2Quilt blog dated 8/7/25 tells more details.

Thursday July 24:  Games and Prep to Leave
Both Robin and Jeremy had to work so Frank and I were at their home with the kids. Autumn was ensconced in her room most of the time as befits someone within months of turning 13. Isaiah had video games to keep him engaged. Frank and I needed to pack. We did take breaks though and played Quirkle with Isaiah; he was within one Quirkle of winning per the score sheet. Later when Robin was home we did a jigsaw puzzle.

Friday Jul 25: Posed Photos and Travel
Robin came home from work on her lunch time to take Frank and me to the airport. We posed for commemorative photos on the front porch: Frank and me with Robin and then Frank and me with Autumn and Isaiah.

Then we present the hug series. Jeremy was at work and so missed out on the love fest but we'd said our goodbyes to him earlier in the morning.

Our flight home was to be direct with only one stop in Phoenix. That changed though and so we had to get off and switch planes. The flight number stayed the same but the physical plane was different and left from a nearby gate. We thought this to be a somewhat weird turn of events, but not an unexpected glitch in travel plans. Apparently there was something wrong with the plane we'd been on initially. Ignorance is bliss. We flew back to San Jose relatively on time and took an Uber home from the airport.

Trip Aftermath
We rested up on Saturday, and on Sunday we were to go bowling with Alex. There was one more lingering memento from the trip. Vintage Crafts & Gifts from Typer TX was one of the vendors from the quilt show. Robin bought a stuffed rabbit for Alex. It was a big hit. The bunny even went bowling with us.

Pacific Grove Trip

After our somewhat discombobulating trip to Albuquerque that included a hospital stay for Frank (post for 3/19/2025) Frank and I wanted to take a short jaunt to check out our travel-ability. There was a quilt show in Pacific Grove so we drove the two hours down Friday morning May 2nd, stayed overnight in a strikingly pretty Victorian, and drove back on Saturday late afternoon. We had a bonus going to Pacific Grove on the weekend we did. May 3-4, 2025 was the community’s Good Old Days celebration with a parade and street vendors.

On our drive down we passed a billboard advertising Carl Jr.’s restaurant in Monterey. I remarked to Frank, “Oh, look. Carls Jr.’s! We have not eaten there in years. They have baked potatoes. Let’s go there for lunch. We have to pass through Monterey on our way to Pacific Grove, anyway.” Well 15 minutes or so later we did drive by and this is what we saw. 

We later learned that there had been a very recent huge fire April 3rd that collapsed the walls and pancaked the roof down on the crumbling remnants of the restaurant. We tentatively wondered if this was an omen of sorts for our trip.

But we forged ahead. Here we are cruising down Lighthouse Avenue at a speed the local wildlife would allow, trailing after a mother doe and her fawn. We were to later learn from a booth at the street fair that this is a typical sight at certain times of the year.

Once we'd parked, we enjoyed a pleasant lunch at Aliotti’s Victorian Corner in Pacific Grove on the corner of Lighthouse Avenue and Fountain Avenue.

Our check-in time to our lodging at the Pacific Grove Inn was not until 4:00 pm, so after lunch we strolled over to wander through Quilts by the Bay. The quilt show was held in an historic building called Chautauqua Hall which was a short walk from the restaurant, down Lighthouse Ave to 16th Street. We browsed the show for a couple of hours. The show displayed over 200 quilts. I captured images of, and commented on, about 10% of them in my DianeLoves2Quilt blog post published 5/6/2025.

After the show we walked back and picked up the car parked near the restaurant and drove over to check in at the Pacific Grove Inn. We inwardly groaned when we realized our chosen room was on the third floor and there was no elevator. We also learned that we were the very first customers to occupy the newly renovated suite. One of the designers greeted us at our car and she generously offered to help us carry up our bags. For once we had packed light, knowing we planned to be gone for just one night. The young woman cheerfully whipped Frank's suitcase off the back seat and then our jaws dropped when we saw it had not been zipped back closed. Everything got dumped unceremoniously in the street at the curb. After we all scurried to pile it back in, we transported our stuff up the stairs into the newly appointed rooms.

We had half of the third floor. In the turret at the left was a twin bed, in the double window mid-section was a couch and sitting area. In the far right corner with the triple window and side small double window was the main bedroom with a queen size bed. Behind four small doors were hidden respectively a toilet, a bathtub, another toilet, and a closet. Lots of doors! The master main bedroom and the couch sitting area each held a fireplace.

The preceding photo collage shows the suite layout from the inn's website but not the actual decor. The place had been newly renovated and the website of photos had not yet been updated. Frank and I were the very first people to stay in that room post new design. It had a fresh, brighter look. We settled in briefly and then walked a few blocks over to dinner, 0.2 miles away at La Mia Cuchina for a great Italian dinner.

The next morning check out was at 10:00 am. We packed up and as we were loading the car at 9:58 we heard distant music. It was the Good Old Days parade and the route ran along Pine Street, right past the front of the Pacific Grove Inn. We pulled up a seat at the curb and enjoyed the nostalgic display of small town showmanship. The parade was a decent size and took about 30 minutes to file by. I took photos of many of the entries. Leading off at 10:05 was the representation from all the branches of military in the area, especially the Presidio and Navel Post Graduate School in neighboring Monterey.

10:08 Next came the first and very oldest fire engine in Pacific Grove followed by the newest fire engine in Pacific Grove.

10:13 This book mobile was just too colorful and happy to go unnoticed. According to the Pacific Grove Public Library site, the book mobile was making its debut at the Good Old Days celebration.

This project is supported by donations to the PGPL Friends and Foundation & by funding provided in part by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

10:15 I chuckled when I saw these guys from Everyone's Harvest dressed up in green outfits as peas in a pod, an avocado, an ear of corn, and a pickle. Monday is Pacific Grove's day to have a certified farmers' market.  Volunteers from the group walked the sidelines of the parade handing out free clementines, and man... were they tasty! Per the non-profit organization website:

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

10:16 VFW post 6849 (aka named in honor of  local hero Lt. Billy Paulsen Jr. Post 6849) from Spreckles CA, about 20 miles away, sent a bright yellow corvette.  I had to take this picture for my son Dan who dreams of owning a Corvette of his own someday. 10:18 Following was a rolling ad for an upcoming car show of - I am guessing - similar specialty cars

10:20 The nearby town of Watsonville sent a band, and the 10:21 nearby military installation sent an array of vehicles. The vehicles were later parked in the side streets of the downtown Pacific Grove area for people to climb on and explore during the street fair. Let's hope the emergency brake set was set on each one!

10:25 A cluster of classic cars streamed by. 10:26 Trailing and therefore not a pace setter for the parade was a mini-herd of about six sheep that zig-zigged their way down Pine Street, directed by a sheep dog, very serious about his job.

10:28 Shortly following after the ovine display and demo, was a  Pacific Grove police cruiser to signify the end of the parade.  The address of the Pacific Grove Police Station was 580 Pine Ave; Pacific Grove Inn was across the street at 581 Pine Ave.

We did plan our trip well. All the places we wanted to visit were all within a less-than-1-mile walk. On the following map, the inn was at the lowest point and the parade route down Pine passed right in front. The quilt show we'd seen on Friday afternoon at Chautauqua Hall and the restaurant La Mia Cucina where we ate Friday evening were in the upper left corner of the map. On our way to the Good Old Days street fair on Lighthouse Avenue, we stopped at Back Porch Fabrics on Grand just a block in from Lighthouse Avenue, which runs diagonally.  My Diane Loves2Quilt post for 5/7/25 describes our stop at the fabric store on our way to the street fair.

We strolled down Lighthouse Avenue, browsing the occasional shops on the sides and peeking in on the lightly-crowded vendor tables interspersed in the middle of the street. This particular store Tessuti Zoo had strong bright colors and unique intriguing pieces of art to ogle. The store's Facebook page is so true when it states:

For the wild and whimsical in gifts, clothing, jewelry, art quilts, furniture, dolls, toys, books, home decor and so much more, visit Tessuti Zoo in Pacific Grove.

At the corner of Lighthouse Avenue and 16th Street, just a block away from where we'd toured the quilt show the day before, we had lunch at Winston's. I wished I'd known when we were there that it was situated in the historic Winston Hotel of Pacific Grove. I'd have paid more attention to the architecture. This article on the development of Pacific Grove includes a section on the expansion of the business district citing the Winston Building as significant. 

... opened for business on May 28, 1904. It included a bakery and ice cream room in its basement, while the first floor included a “women’s exchange” with a dining room on the kitchen. The second floor featured sixteen bedrooms and apartments, as well as a social hall. A large sitting room with balcony was located on the 3rd floor.

After lunch we walked a few blocks up 16th Street and one block over on Pine to reach our car parked in the lot at the Pacific Grove Inn. With the street fair and parade activities going on, parking was a scarce commodity. We were fortunate to have booked our lodging where we did. Not only did we have a place to sleep, but we also had the convenience of a parking spot. We knew that the house was an old Victorian but we learned just how old from the inn's website:

The Pacific Grove Inn is a Historic Boutique Inn that provides attractive accommodations. Our Sea Captain Frank Laverne Buck and Apothecary Joseph Tuttle establishments were built in 1904 and 1908, respectively. They were remarkably sophisticated for their time and place in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each of our guest rooms and suites offers modern amenities, including a flat-screen TV, and free WiFi. Pacific Grove Inn blends old-world charm with modern-day luxury, including private porches, balconies, and an entrance with views of the Monterey Bay.

I took a final photos of the inn and of our feet at the concrete engraving in front of the inn to prove we'd "been there, done that".

F.L.BUCK stands for Frank LaVerne Buck. The Pacific Grove Inn is the former Frank LaVerne Buck House built in 1904. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986:

It was the home of city civic leader Frank LaVerne Buck (1849-1931), a native Midwesterner who was involved in the dairy and egg businesses. The home is historically important as the only known surviving example of the work of local architect Robert C. Gass, and is one of only a few well-preserved Victorian houses in Pacific Grove. The front staircase and other woodwork in the house was completed by carpenter C.E. Hovey, who is known for craftsmanship in the area. Among its prominent exterior components is the fenestration, which features leaded glass and Palladian windows.

Frank and I realized that yes, we could travel again, but that planning made things go more smoothly.  "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything" is most famously attributed to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Our planning for everything to be in close proximity worked out great; yet we had not set up a timed plan. We felt free to wander and enjoy ourselves without a strict schedule or predetermined itinerary. This small overnight trip to Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula was a successful test case. We have renewed faith in indulging in the occasional getaway. Small additional detail ... we also had a highly enjoyable time!