Eclipse of the Moon, September 27, 2015

We sat in the parking lot next to our duplex and watched much of the eclipse last night. It was surely beautiful!  These rare occurrences in nature are quite phenomenol to us.  We did not get a good picture on our only camera (our I-phone), but we found the top and bottom pictures online and Tamara sent us the beautiful temple picture.

This photo was taken in Kansas, but it reminds us of Oklahoma, with the John Deere tractors and the landscape. The moon didn't appear this large to us, but we have driven in the country at night where the moon was huge and beautiful, just like this!

 Tamara sent us this picture of the moon behind the Gilbert, AZ Temple

This beautiful picture looks the most like what we saw last night. What a beautiful sight!

Ada Water Tower -- New Paint Job!

This water tower has a history! We understand that it was used as a water tower during the Panama Canal construction, then loaded onto a train in pieces and shipped to Ada.

 The tower is now blue and there is a worker on the top working on the roof.

 New clean look!  You can see it from quite a distance as you approach Ada. It looks much cleaner and spiffier! 

Amish Fair, Clarita, OK, September 12, 2015

Every year in the Spring and in the Fall, the Amish have a huge fundraiser for their schools all over the area. We were able to participate for a few hours Saturday morning and really enjoyed ourselves. They have numerous booths, pounds of homemade baked goods, homemake ice cream, burger, fries, and auctions.  These are just a few pictures of the numerous tents set up for the various fund raising activities. 

It is common to see a John Deere tractor anywhere.

Auction items set up on tables. Different auction begin at different times, including the livestock and handmade quilts.

Pies are on the left and other baked goods on the tables.

Amish lady selling breads.

Amish men heating up the fryers.  If the men are married, they have beards. If not married, they are clean shaven.

Auctioning off household goods. We purchased a couple of crocks and a "cafe" sign for our kitchen at home.

They make ice cream by hooking up the ice cream freezers to pulleys and running them off the motor of the tractor. Quick ice cream without much effort!

Ada Churches

These Churches are a block from our home in any direction!

This is the Episcopal Church, one of my favorite structures architecturally.

 Ada First Baptist Church, and some of their transportation vans that pick up people for church.

Our alley view of the Ada Baptist Church. Our little duplex is on the left. As you can see, it takes the whole block. There is another building across from this one.

Walk out our back door and 30 steps, you're inside the Baptist Church!

 United First Methodist Church and van. The Church takes up a whole block.

 There is also a First Christian Church that but I didn't snap the picture

This is our Church building. It is located 4 or 5 from us. It was purchased from another church and remodeled inside. There are stairs that many of the elderly people cannot manage, and the handicap restrooms are upstairs! Other than that and all the hallway congestion, it works!

Golfing with the Zone Leaders, August 2015

Elder Lemmert between Elder Hightower and Elder McGinnis, the Zone Leaders of our Pauls Valley Zone. This is at Pigskin's Restaurant.

 Elders Hightower, Lemmert and McGinnis, Purcell Gold Course

 Sister Lemmert was the chauffeur.

Elders Lemmert, Hightower and McGinnis.  Elder Hightower and Elder Lemmert tied for top score.

A Missionary First for Us!

A member asked us to take her coffee pot away for her. She didn't want to "just throw it away", so she gave it to us to toss for her!  We gladly took it off of her hands, but we did make a trade....coffee and coffee maker for a loaf of banana bread. She thought that was a great deal!  In fact, so did we!

Monday, the 200 mile round trip drive!

Lake Thunderbird is a larger lake east of Norman, OK. As we were driving to Shawnee, we came upon this lake, which is one the largest lakes we've seen in Oklahoma. There is a earthen dam at the south end.

A working barge on the lake.

The funny little lopsided dock on the lake, next to the boat launch.

Earthen dam

Tecumseh water tower, south of Shawnee, OK.