Home Again

For all 12 of you who have been wondering what the heck happened to me and why I haven't been posting, I was out of town on vacation and have just returned to the blogosphere. I went to the exotic Oklahoma City for a whirlwind tour of all the Sooner State has to offer. You're probably thinking any state with a lame nickname like the Sooner State doesn't have much to offer. Au contraire, mon amies. I provide you with a run-down of Le Grande Tour as provided by Katy Dwyer (formerly Ross).

1. The Overholser Mansion ~ an early 20th century mansion preserved with the furniture and belongings of the Overholsers. Only four people ever lived in this home and it has been beautifully preserved and maintained.

2. The OK City Museum of Art ~ featuring a lovely exhibit of late 19th to early 20th century narrative art.

3. Bricktown ~ similar to San Antonio's Riverwalk in concept. Everything is red brick and old or built to look old. Lots of restaurants, shops and fun atmosphere.

4. The Myriad Botanical Gardens ~ lovely grounds and walking trails in the heart of the city.

5. Stillwater, OK ~ home of the charming little campus of Oklahoma State University. Great town square with cute little shops and boutiques. And don't forget Eskimo Joe's! Yes, I got a t-shirt.

6. Tres Suenos Winery ~ this was probably the most fun part of the trip. The winery and vineyard was out in the middle of nowhere down this seemingly endless red dirt road. Once we finally found it, we spent a delightful afternoon learning how the wine is made and then tasting all the different varieties the winery offers. Plus the little old guy running the tasting bar was adorable.

7. Dinner at Nikz ~ a very classy restaurant in OK City. It sits atop an office building and slowly revolves giving a wonderful view of the lights. Perfect dim lighting, clubby feel, jazz music and dance floor, cocktails and outstanding food.

8. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum ~ this place was huge and had artifacts and art from every aspect of the Westward expansion. Lots of native american art and clothing, western art, mythology of the west and portrayals of the west in cinema. Plus a mock-up Old West town, outdoor gardens and sculptures and a large collection of Frederic Remington's art.

Plus we did plenty of shopping in downtown Edmond as well as multiple stops at Starbucks and other coffee shops and strolls and drives through pleasant little neighborhoods and shopping districts. Altogether a relaxing and stimulating trip with a wonderful friend.