Oklahoma Cottonwood Trees

Oklahoma Cottonwood trees are doing their thing.  It looks like little angels floating down from heaven in the sunlight, but they are the devil when your air conditioner's condenser gets plugged up with them.  I'm talking about the fluffy little parachutes that drop the seed down from the eastern cottonwood tree which is also known as the Populus deltoides. 

Every year, I try to wait until they have fallen to clean up our condensers so that the fluffy little buggers won't stop them back up.  A lot of the time, it's very hot when it's time to complete the preventive maintenance.  But even if you have home warranty, it will not cover a plugged condenser.  Usually they can be rinsed out of the condensing unit by a professional or someone who knows what they are doing.

Some years they are very sparse and hardly noticed.  Other years they come down like a blizzard and pile up everywhere.  Some people probably experience allergies from them.  It makes my nose itch just thinking about them.  They remind me of the little fluffy things in Avatar when I saw it in 3D.

The cottonwood is the Nebraska State tree.  Oklahoma is fortunate to have the red bud tree for their state symbol.  A lot of people don't know this, but as a small child, I was shown that you could cut a small branch of a cottonwood tree at the rigid joint and you can see a small star in the middle.  

The cottonwood typically lives for 70 to 100 years, but can live up to 400 years with the right genetics and proper environment. They can grow up to 100 feet to the top of the canopy and have a trunk as big as 5 - 6 feet wide.  The female trees produce the cottony seed.  This of course means the males are not messy.

More about life in Oklahoma by:

Dreams Do Come True

Digging it in Oklahoma

Digging it in Oklahoma this weekend, we had started a remodel on the back yard.  The bushes and vines had been neglected way too long and the removal process brought about a trip to the country to recycle the organic overgrowth. 

It took several hours to drag the plant life around to the front and slowly compact it into the truck.  It was a great opportunity to get some sun and start to develop a tan for the summer.  The weather was great with the Oklahoma sunshine beaming down, yet it was still cool enough that it wasn't uncomfortable. 

 

Upon leaving Warr Acres, we decided to stop and and have lunch at Ann's Chicken Fry on Route 66.  If you have not had the pleasure of eating a chicken fried steak at Ann's, you might want to check into it.

  As we pulled into Ann's just west of Maxey's Cycles we noticed the dealer had a band playing, and what appeared to be some of the girls from a local restaurant chain outside to help entertain customers and passers by.  I carefully snapped a shot or two as we left the restaurant thinking about sticking around a little while and watching the band. 

But we were on a mission to get the truck emptied and to have an early Mothers Day with my mom.  We proceeded down Hefner Parkway south and made our way through Tri-City,Newcastle, Blanchard, and past Middleburg. 

Finally upon arrival at the farm, we were met by what appeared to be bull headed pet.  He was basking in the sunlight just outside the house.

We spent several hours at the farm and started our way back home.  We saw many small additions south of Blanchard, with only a few houses.  We saw a pasture full of Oklahoma buffalo, and lots of other things as we cruised down the Oklahoma Highway.

As we got back to Warr Acres, we couldn't help but take a picture of the duck family as they waddled down the street.  The little ducklings are growing fast, and will soon be on their own.  Just like many of the Oklahoma High School Graduates that are finishing their last year in high school this month.

It was a very good day.  What started out about work, turned into a vacation trip.  Seeing a lot of interesting places and things in Oklahoma, and leaving me with lots of thoughts and ideas about the future.  It had been a great Saturday in Oklahoma.  Just doing what Oklahoma does.  That's why we are Digging it in Oklahoma.

  Bringing you good news about Oklahoma,

Rick  Jackson 

Dreams Do Come True

Company work ethics are amazing

Company work ethics are amazing.  Not because of the average performance of employees in the United States, but because of my observations of the employees in the local work force.

With immigration being a big topic these days, and the unemployment rate being at an all time high, I would want to be a valued employee.  After all, there are lines of people looking for jobs.

But I see so many employees that don't seem to have any initiative to sustain their positions at the workplace.  I notice it in the local markets when I go shopping.  It appears to be worse in the larger companies and Federal and State agency's.  I see a lot of (it's not my job).  I hear a lot of (I don't know).  I see employees surfing the Internet and chatting in general with other employees.  Often it is very difficult to get good customer service.

When the Oklahoma Real Estate market began to slow down, I took a job as a Service Manager for a company the sells and services ice machines in Oklahoma.  I was fortunate to have the qualifications to get a job due to my experience at another company of similar services. 

I had started on the ground floor and learned everything I could about the previous company.  I worked hard at getting my designated job complete so that I could dabble in other areas of the company. I never felt that it wasn't my job to pick up trash or help a customer that was waiting.  As positions opened up above me, I found myself qualified to fill the spot. I had became versatile and flexible.

It's beyond my comprehension that employees complain about their wages, expect more out of life, while they cheat the company they work for out of time and quality labor.

It's no wonder there is such a political struggle with people from other countries wanting to come to America to make money and American Companies wanting good employees that will work for less.

I take a lot of pride in my work ethics at my day job, and as being an Oklahoma Realtor.  To me, it's about putting your company first when your on their time.  It's about putting your client first when you are working for them.

I hope our future generation learns from what our country is going through now.  There is a new group of Americans graduating every year.  I hope they have the work ethics our country needs.

Good Luck America
From:
Dreams Do Come True

Oklahoma High School Graduation time

It's Oklahoma  High School Graduation time again. It's the day when you head across the stage into the rest of your life.  Nancy and I are proud of you and wish you much success in your journey through life.  You are America's future in the present. We hope all your dreams do come true. 

Below are some of the dates that I've been able to confirm in Northwest Oklahoma City and Edmond area when Graduation Ceremonies will occur.  If you have any information about a graduation, please post the school, time, and place into a comment.
  
Deer Creek High School
6:00 p.m. May 15     
Cox Center

Moore Schools
Westmoore High School
7:00 p.m. May 18
Cox Convention Center

Putnam City High School
7:30 p.m. May 21
Putnam City Stadium

Putnam City West High School
8 p.m., May 22
Cox Convention Center

Putnam City North High School
6 p.m., May 23
Cox Convention Center 

Keeping you informed about life in Oklahoma by:
Dreams Do Come True

The Edmond Jazz Lab

The Edmond Jazz Lab is great place to go hear some get down jazz music. We went a few weeks ago and had a great time.  It was the 2nd or 3rd time we have attended.  The University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Lab is located at 100 East 5th Street, in  Edmond, Ok.

Tonight my lovely wife and daughter went to hear the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The girls looked happy as they took off.  I hope they have a great time.
The atmosphere is great and HIDEAWAY PIZZA  caters to those within the establishment. Tickets are very reasonable and the sound is great.

That's life in Oklahoma:
Rick Jackson

Oklahoma Liberties Continue

Oklahoma Liberties continue in spite the bitterness I hear coming from around our Nation. I am around people each day in different places that show a fear concerning the state of the Nation. These fears are not fictitious. There are forces at work trying to turn our Government into a power that would determine what our liberties would be. This evil exists in all countries. Please take a moment to thank our troops for what we have.

Without blaming or taking sides with any particular office leader, political party, or religion, I would like to focus on the liberties we still have.

Like so many others, I don't want to loose my freedom of choice. Freedom is probably something that we don't think much about, because we are so engulfed in the fruits of our freedom. This thought came to me as I was trying to decide what shirt to wear. We still have the freedom to wear an out of style coat and tie. We have the freedom to wear an obnoxious t shirt from the 1960's. Anyway, most of us in Oklahoma are thankful for this freedom. Sure, many of us have to wear uniforms if we are fortunate enough to have a job. Some religions, which we have freedom of, mandate their believers to wear certain clothes. People incarcerated in Oklahoma have little choice of what to were, and I guess some of the private schools have special dress codes, but in general, we wear what we feel is appropriate without facing the consequences of breaking the law.

A lot of our freedoms and liberties are determined by what we do with our time and our life style. Freedom of speech is a powerful tool. It can be just as devastating as it can be constructive. The news ratings depend on how the facts are put into perspectives. Facebook is a good example of freedom of speech.

I probably listen to too much talk radio. I also watch Oklahoma TV stations and listen as they display a perception of events that are taking place in the Oklahoma City area where I live.

I know there are many people in Oklahoma that are struggling and hurting for jobs, health assistance, and keeping their homes. As in all of the United States, we may have seen better times. I also know there were far worse times that I haven't had to live through.

What I do know is. I've never heard the Liberty Bell ring any louder that it is now. Oklahoma will speak up. We will fight to preserve our freedom, liberty, and justice for all.

I hope all the states in this country will support each other and still remain united to the cause that our Forefathers put together so well. I stumbled across a couple of videos on You Tube that related to Patrick Henry's famous quotation,"Give me liberty, or give me death". What a concept? Are we afraid to speak up, or are we just too polite?

From the Desk of: Rick and Nancy Jackson

As residents and Realtors of Oklahoma City, we just want to keep you informed as we see it. We would love to hear from you and what it's like in your area. Feel free to post a comment.

Oklahoma City's First Day of Spring

Here we are, living in Oklahoma City with snowfall on the first day of spring. Just yesterday I was out in a long sleeve shirt taking pictures of the construction of I-40 and enjoying the sunshine. I was thrilled about the progress of Oklahoma City's new bridges, walkways, and overpasses. Oklahoma City's I-40 project seems to be going really well in spite of the harsh winter we've had. Just a couple of weeks ago, I got up on Saturday and went down town and took some pictures of Oklahoma City's new Devon Tower as it is being built. The weather was great that day. I think all the good weekends we have had since 2010 started can be easily counted on the fingers of one hand.

This morning I get up, and there is snow on the ground and the temperature has dropped below the freezing mark. The poor robins look confused. This has been a very cold and wet winter in my book. I'm ready for a nice weekend that will allow some motorcycling, tennis, or any type of outdoor recreation. Luckily we got some steaks grilled yesterday while it was still nice.

I'm not going to complain. I'm just expressing myself to keep from shouting. I am enjoying the time with my granddaughter playing WII. Taking a break now and then to check out face book or post a blog. Looking at some of those pictures we took on vacation might help.
Oh, the memories of the good times. These are the memories. These are the good times.
The one thing you have to love about Oklahoma is the weather is never the same very long at a time.

written by:
Rick Jackson
www.OkcRick.com