Take a Monday
I would uproot my life for anyone I love on a normal day, so when asked if I wanted to go on a hike on a Monday at Osage Hills State Park — easy decision.
Knowing that it (was) August in Oklahoma and my previous history with hiking in Oklahoma in August — I mentioned to Aaron, Amanda, and Leah on Sunday that we would need to take precautions for seed ticks. I tried balancing the line of not scaring anyone from getting on trail, but also suggesting some seriousness. Just grab the bug spray, consider long pants, tall socks. Everything will be fine.
On Monday, Leah and I filled up our coffee cups, loaded up Mack (the dog) and headed to Bartlesville, OK to Aaron and Amanda’s for our first hike with them. If you have ever hiked with me, you know that I send out a Christmas card with my top ten adventures along with a list of every person who hiked with me that year. Adventures may be few in the year 2020, but I successfully added 4 new names to the adventure roster: Aaron, Amanda, Caroline and Vivi McDonald.
Side note: I should probably include Camden even though he took a spill on his knee moments before we headed out that left him at home icing and elevating, sadly missing out on the adventure.
There were lots of flowers still in bloom at Osage Hills State Park, and not a soul on the trails. We hiked the Creek Loop Trail, and the little trail to the creek bluffs — an easy 3 mile hike with a wide trail and minimal tall grasses to hike through, lowering our chances of seed ticks. We stopped for wild flowers, tiny lizard-y, salamander-y creatures, and to poorly identify trees, plants, and lichen for the girls.
After the hike, we went into Pawhuska to check out the Pioneer Woman’s stores and have some P-Town ‘za. I had never gone to any of her restaurants or shops because they draw large weekend crowds — but Pawhuska on a Monday is worth the trip.
High notes: Garlic Knots, the Butterfly Martini, Potato Leek Pizza & crisp mushroom chips on the Steakhouse Pizza.
After lunch, we went into another PW creation, Charlie’s Sweet Shop where I got to have Huckleberry Ice Cream for the 2nd time in a month, and IN OKLAHOMA.
After ice cream and some window shopping, I sat with the girls below the county courthouse and checked their ankles for seed ticks. We scraped off several, and talked about why I knew so much about things… my answer being that I do not know that many things and that some things I say are made up. I had a great time with Vivi and Caroline — it’s always fun getting to know and be around the Reese Great-Grandkids that I do not see as much.
We just hung out the rest of the afternoon at the house, talking and having delicious Outpost Coffee. Amanda is the type of mom-adult I would like to be someday. She sent both of us home with bone broth and chicken rice soup, which was delicious and made a perfect lunch at work the next day.
That’s all. I hope that you can take a Monday soon.
XOXO, Jo
