I’m not getting any younger. I don’t know who is, but it is becoming obvious that life is getting shorter and not longer. No, I’m not sick, but my house is cluttered with things I don’t use and maybe never needed. I cleaned out my parent’s house when they died, and I know what a chore it is. My children will someday be faced with the same thing. With that in mind, I’m beginning to clear out the clutter. My house is large and that only makes the problem bigger. I can and do stuff things in closets, attic and garage that are no longer needed.
Next year my blogs will center around cleaning out my life; physically, emotionally and spiritually. It needs to be done.
Yesterday I helped a friend with a yard sale. She is clearing out too. I took some of my own things I didn’t need and added them to her piles. It was cold and foggy in Enid until after noon. We sat on the lawn chairs wrapped in blankets drinking coffee waiting on just the right person for just the right item. We had two carloads of people on a scavenger hunt. They were thrilled at the stuff we had to sell! It was just what they were looking for! One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
The crowds weren’t huge, but she got rid of a lot of stuff and we bagged the rest up for donation to a local thrift store. They always welcome the items and will pick up. That was a good thing for us.
But yesterday was good for me. I cleaned out some things and it made me look at the unnecessary stuff in my house. I will continue to clean out. It has me in a cleaning mood.
I still have not finished winterizing the front flower bed and winter is coming.
I’m clearing! (and burning calories).
Fall is upon us. The temperatures fell this week and my basil and cannas are worse for wear. I made pesto at the last minute to save as much basil as possible and I have faith the cannas will be back in the spring. I have a great Chicken Caprese recipe to try out tonight. Cool weather makes me want to cook – and eat. So, I must exercise more to counter act the inevitable.
I viewed the original manuscript typed by Dr. Angie Debo for And Still the Waters Run at the OSU library this week. It was her most controversial book and almost not published because of the content.
Warm afternoons turned into cool mornings in the forests of southeast Oklahoma last weekend. But we are Vikings. We can take it! The storms overnight turned over a few tents – but the damage was minimal. 
Many years ago, on a weekend trip to southeastern Oklahoma, I encountered the Heavener Runestone. I wandered around the park and stared at the stone in awe. There is more than one school of thought about the origin of the Heavener Runestone – but the one I love the best is the idea that Vikings explored America before Columbus.
I have the honor of leading a discussion group this week with the Enid Public Library’s “One Book, One Community” on Saturday, October 7, 2017, 9:00 a.m. at the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma in Enid. Like minds all over Enid, Stillwater and other communities will be discussing the life and literature of Angie Debo, Oklahoma historian. There are several opportunities for you to get involved in this worthwhile project. There will be programs about her life and works and discussions about the book Prairie City: The Story of an American Community. It was one of thirteen books she published about Oklahoma. The final gathering will be at the Enid Symphony Hall with a performance by Will Hill, “Legends Nagonagogee.” 
I used to listen to retired folks say they are so busy these days, they don’t know where the time goes.
Red dust covered the back window, forcing me to use the much-neglected side mirrors. Gravel roads on the prairie – a great improvement over the ruts formed by mud and covered wagons – dirtied only the outside of the car. The occupants remained clean and cool under the air conditioner on padded seats.
and church,
we drove to the local cemetery. Her headstone said it all: “Angi Debo, Historian, Discover the Truth and Publish it.”
Peggy Chambers "Views from the Hammock" site 