I think this "should be" a relatively normal day. I have to take JoAnn and Aolani to my mil's house this morning - they are spending the night. Dinner with Jesse's & JoAnn's aunt and uncle was very nice last night. I kept the menu simple and made meatloaf, hash brown cheese casserole, green beans, and corn. Peach sherbet for dessert.
Soooooooooooooo, without further delay . . . I will tell you about our Saturday night dinner after a full day of sitting through our foster care class!
You would think that after driving to Amarillo on Tuesday and driving back on Wednesday would have been enough sitting (almost 4 hour drive each way). And, you would think sitting on Saturday in an all day foster care class would have been even MORE than enough sitting.
BUT, "spontaneous Jesse" decided after class, we should drive to a town (close to an hour & a half - one way) where we love to eat at an Italian restaurant. So . . . we did. Yes, more sitting!!!
His friend Steve joined our family and JoAnn (Aolani was visiting her dad all week-end) shortly after our class ended and we made (deep breath, let it out slowly) yet another road trip, but this time for fantastic food!
To pass the time, I took the camera and shot pictures of "gorgeous" Oklahoma's flat scenery that stretches for miles and miles and is occasionally broken up with a cow here and there, some "interesting" houses, and, well, the typical stuff you see while driving through Oklahoma.
To get to Marlow, you take the Lawton exit from Oklahoma City and then the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. Just getting to the turnpike takes 30 minutes of driving time from our house. We also noticed a sign that we thought might cut that 30 minute drive time in the future - Highway 4. We may try that the next time we drive down there to eat.
There are tons of RV and mobile home sales lots in Oklahoma. I have no idea why. With all the high winds and tornadoes, I'm always amazed at those who choose mobile homes, where the potential is greater of losing all of your possessions. Houses can't always withstand tornadoes, but the percent of damage lessens.
Once you leave the "exciting" city full of mobile home sales lots, etc. you see exactly what you see when going/returning from Amarillo - miles and miles of flat road. I think this trip to Marlow is a little more interesting. There are some cities in between to break up the monotony and more people live in the vast flat areas than on the Amarillo I-40 route.
On the south side of Oklahoma City is Oklahoma City Community College. It's one of the last things you see before hitting the flat road of highway driving.
The college was a last minute touch of "life" and then the long stretch of a drive began. Lots of highway and, quickly, we were all wearily reminded of the recent Amarillo drive!
We saw some "pretty" and then some "fixer upper" homes as we drove LOL!!!!
Other typical things you would see, when driving through Oklahoma, is houses that are small with very large barns and an occasional oil well pumping in a field.
But, it felt more like this was ALL we really saw!!!
There were pretty farms and some odd things we couldn't identify.
And, the clouds, once again, were beautiful.
There are more ponds when you head south, as opposed to western Oklahoma.
And, then, more of this (!!!!!!!!!!)
and lots of this!!!!! LOL
We saw calves and cattle farms, which meant we were getting close to where people ACTUALLY live!!! LOL
Then the sign I always love to see . . . The one that welcomes you to Rush Springs, Oklahoma - home of the watermelon capitol of the state and watermelon festival. Rush Springs means we are VERY close to Marlow!
Sure enough, there it was - FINALLY!!!!
As you first enter Marlow, it looks like any other typical small town.
With the typical small town establishments. What town would be complete without these familiar stores???!!!
But, Marlow is actually a very pretty and quaint town with many interesting, old houses that line the main street that carries you in and out of Marlow.
Unfortunately, due to the setting sun, I was beginning to get a glare from the passenger side window. It was too hot, muggy, and the evening was beginning to bring out unwanted mosquitoes, so I didn't roll the window down.
The streets are lines with lots of trees (where the bottom half of the trunks are ALL painted white). There are quaint street lamps (which I succeeded in cutting off with the camera, but it was the only street lamp picture I took).
Lots of greenery on the downtown streets EVERYWHERE, something Oklahoma City lacks.
But the best part . . . we had arrived at our destination. Giuseppe's!!!
The restaurant occupies an old bank building (notice the old-fashioned wood trim and door) and it is family owned, open for business only 3 days a week.
We've never had a bad meal there and they always recognize us as the people who drive all the way from Oklahoma City to eat!
Inside, the heat and air ducts are exposed from the high ceilings and ceiling fans help to move the air. There are brick walls everywhere; which, I suppose, was built to help make the original bank more secure and maybe as a firewall. They even sell t-shirts as souvenirs! Interesting tiles fill the ceiling.
Steve (our heat and air friend) was the man with us and he is a few years older than me. He almost slugged Jesse when Jesse asked him if he could still work one of those old cash registers! He and I aren't THAT old! But, as a child, I do remember some old stores having similar cash registers.
The name Whitaker is tiled on the floor as you step through the threshold of the front door. I don't know the history of the building, but assume it might have been the name of the bank.
The restaurant was full and Jesse begged me not to take pictures while we were eating, even though every plate/bowl of food was delicious to look at. PLUS . . . the wine cellar is the old bank's vault right in the middle o the eating area, too cool to not take pictures; but, I acquiesced. I told him I HAD to take pictures of the restroom. What is it with me and restrooms these days???? LOL
I love the brick walls that are VERY worn, and the wood walls are the old small, skinny panels with shiny lacquered white paint.
I felt more freedom to take pictures INSIDE the restroom because I was aware Jesse could see my flash going off from the hall to the restroom and I didn't want to embarrass him!
I was fascinated with the old style of doors, as well as the hinges and door knobs. The paint was cracked and that made it even more old-timey!
The door even had a KEY HOLE for one of those old large keys to lock and unlock it. How cool is that??!!!
Music from "The Godfather" and solos sung by Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra played throughout the restaurant during our entire meal. That being said, what Italian restaurant restroom would be complete without a portrait of both singers on the wall next to the mirror and sink?!!!
As we were seated, I noticed a ceiling fan OUTdoors and some carved columns with beautiful iron work. I investigated the outside after we left the restaurant and found what looked to be another door, now boarded shut, but can't figure out why there were three columns so close. Seems someone walking in would have had to dance their way around one side or the other of those massive columns to avoid hitting them. Maybe people were "smaller back then" and it wasn't a problem!
It was too dark to take pictures on the way home, but they would have only been a repeat of what we saw on the way to the restaurant, anyway.
After the grueling day Monday and all our bad news, I was VERY glad to have leftovers from Giuseppe's for our dinner! Two days old, but still VERY tasty! In fact, JoAnn and I ate the last of it for lunch yesterday!
And, THAT (the trip) was the most pleasant thing that happened in these past seven very hard days of Jesse's and my life!
Letting out a BIG BREATH (to relax), breathing slowly (as directed by Lori K), and moving on to shower and have breakfast . . . I'll say good-bye for now!
Be blessed ~
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