Editorial fall fun
have I mentioned that Fall is my favorite time of the year?. When I say Fall, I really mean October through S oDecember. Not only is the weather usually perfectly dynamic, but the season is packed full of festivities and
holidays. I have to mention that the transition times between holidays needs to be a little longer. One day there are grave yards and grim reapers on lawns - the next Reindeer and Nativities. I try to make this time of year last as long as possible. My thought is to do as much as I can while I can, but what happens is that my family and I stay so busy that the season just flies by! Below are activities my family enjoys doing this time of year, and although they might not be exactly for you, they are easily customized or interchangeable. Point is get out and enjoy the world around you. Staying inside is for January and February. Go hunting. This is one activity that definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a hunter introduce a friend or youngster to the sport. Having no property of my own, I’ve always relied on public lands and recently the success of drawing in on a controlled hunt. For all of you hunters reading this who don’t put in for the controlled hunts; do so. Even those who have leases and private lands should apply for controlled hunts, because the registration fee is at least a small donation to the ODWC. This October I was lucky enough to draw into the McAlester Army Ammunitions Plant and it was an experience to say the least. I might have lasted until the last day had I not been sleeping on the ground, infested with seed ticks, fighting off wasps, stepping on copperheads, and trying to stay hydrated. Overall I would do the hunt again, but only later in the hunting season. Check out the local attractions. So it has become an annual tradition with my family to go to the Halloween Festival at the Castle At Muskogee. Halloween may not be everyone’s favorite holiday, but the atmosphere is something like that out of a movie set. Plus, this attraction offers festivals during Christmas and other times of the year as well. Literally, there is something going on every weekend during October. Speaking of October, Oktober Fest is something I’ve always wanted to attend. There are usually several local varieties, and I would suspect they all have something good to offer. Get outdoors and visit a state park. There are many parks and recreational areas in Oklahoma, and I’ve only begun to scratch their surface. This fall my girls went to a smaller state park, Red Rock Canyon near Hinton. Although small and seemingly forgotten, its landscape is completely unique. Of course there are always scenic drives to take. Pretty much the entire eastern half of the state offers beautiful fall foliage to view. You don’t have to be an outdoor enthusiast to enjoy nature. Fall is one of the best times to enjoy Oklahoma landscapes, so grab a flannel and go! Boomer Sooner or Go Pokes which ever works for you. I usually try to make it to a couple of college football games every season. Even if you’re not a sports fan, the spectacle that these games offer is something to be seen at least once. Pick up pecans. This is an activity I’ve been doing for the last decade out of necessity. However, I’ve started to enjoy looking for pecans. I think their color and taste is representative of the weather. When it comes to picking up pecans there are usually plenty for everyone. I get the fact that they are a source of food and shade but who’s bright idea was it to plant them in town? My back yard is pretty much a giant pecan tree which sheds the equivalent of a small tree on a weekly basis. Still though I save money, and on good years even make a little. Reed Boettcher Happy Holidays! - Editor
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GPL fall/winter 2017
