Wow, when you wake up in the morning, you never know what kind of excitement might greet you during the day! We made the jump to hyperspace: not once, but twice!
The car ride started simply enough. We were going to pick up some guacamole and queso to take to a dinner. We were driving up Riverside Drive and – well, take a look:
If I didn’t know better, I would have thought we were still in downtown Tulsa, but I guess we traveled really far away – maybe to a parallel galaxy or something. That must be some really good queso and guacamole!
I’ve heard someone say that making the jump to hyperspace isn’t like dusting crops. I’ve never “dusted crops” (unless that’s one of those nice ways to say something else), but I can’t imagine it could be any more exciting!
We’ve been taking our morning walks in the neighborhood for the last couple of weeks. We were going to head over to the Gathering Place this morning, because Wednesday is the day they reserve especially for dogs. I’ve never been there, and I was so excited, I don’t think I slept very much. Since I was up early, I figured my brother would be, too. He didn’t seem quite as excited as me, but he got up anyway, and we headed up Riverside Drive.
Well, I guess the Gathering Place folks are not morning people. It was closed! Maybe the sun was not technically up yet, but there was definitely light. We weren’t sure when it would open, so we decided to walk the tried-and-true Utica Square-to-Temple Israel-to-Cascia Hall-to-Nakatomi Gardens circuit.
After being gone for a couple of weeks, it’s always nice to get reacquainted with all the good smells. Plus, there are so many new ones! You know what I mean, right?
One great new smell: bacon! The Wild Fork was open for breakfast and, when we got out of the car, it hit us like a breath of fresh air! I don’t think the Gathering Place has bacon.
Temple Israel’s garden was beautiful, but their sprinkler system was going full blast, so we side-stepped it and headed toward Cascia Hall. There was a good crowd at St Rita’s Chapel for early morning church. Maybe one day I can go inside. I promise not to sniff around too much.
There was a group of young folks getting ready to play tennis. And we saw a sign we had never noticed before.
Oops! There goes our shortcut. Oh well, it’s a nice walk the longer way around – and more new smells!
After a quick swing through Nakatomi Gardens, we got back to Utica Square. My friends weren’t open at Anthropologie yet – they always come out to say “hi” if we’re there during business hours – but I think my brother finally understands why I always plop down in front of their door. Their air conditioner runs full blast and it comes out of the gap between and under the doors like an icy jet!
My brother calls peaches “God’s Candy”. I appreciate the clarification, because I always thought that was a little piece of Egg McMuffin that someone dropped on the ground. But, we all know that God has more than one favorite. He’s God, after all!
There were a lot of people buying peaches. Luckily, I didn’t have to bring my wallet. I even got to walk around in the orchard.
I thought I looked like Indiana Jones in search of treasure, but when the fruit started dropping out of the trees, I didn’t want to be Sir Isaac Newton!
The Livesays have a little schooner in their yard. I would like to take a ride in it sometime. Fortunately, though, no one wanted to hitch me up to it, because I had already had my exercise for the day.
These little wagons were more my speed.
If you’re near Porter, come on out and enjoy Summer – by the bushel!
I never even thought about hockey pucks having names, but ours is Alexa and my brother talks to her a lot. He asks her to add things like butter, bacon, and (my personal favorite) dog treats to our shopping list. That’s one less thing for me to have to remember. She can turn lights on and she even must be friends with all kinds of musicians. On many evenings, if my brother is going to be gone a while, he’ll ask her to get Brad Paisley and, a few seconds later, there he is singing to me for the evening!
Here’s something I thought about the other day: remember to always say “please” and “thank you”. Otherwise, you might forget to do that when you talk to people or dogs who don’t look like hockey pucks.
Alexa must work out a lot. She is a lot harder than other hockey pucks. The first (and last) time I tried to pick her up, my teeth were surprised. Now, she lives up on the top of the bookcase. I miss seeing her on the table.
Every once in a while, you just need a little sprucing up to give you a new lease on life. I got to go to the barber shop!
First off, there were two other Golden Retrievers when I got there, so we had our own, private waiting room. Fun times!
It had been a while since I got a trim. The pile of fur on the floor was bigger than some of the other dogs that were in the place.
Before I show you the finished product, here’s a flashback to a couple of months ago, when my Older Brother tried to give me a bath. Bless his heart; he did his best, but I don’t think either of us enjoyed the experience.
Kind of like what Mark Twain said about baptizing a cat.
On the other hand, take a look at the groomer’s handiwork. Poetry in motion!
They cleaned up my “potty area” and gave me a nice, patriotic bandana around my neck. I call it the Reverse Mohawk: party in front, business in back!
Whether you call it the barber shop, the day spa, the beauty parlor, or the groomer, give yourself a treat. It’ll lift your spirits!
Bass Pro Shops, that is. Every time we go through Memphis, I get to go inside the big pyramid on the river. There are waterfalls, fish, and all kinds of things to smell. I’ve been told it looks like the start of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World.
Well, did you know that there’s one in Tulsa, too? Bass Pro, I mean; not Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s not in a tall pyramid, but it also has waterfalls and ponds with fish. It also has more light, and there are those magic rooms that you can walk in, the doors close, and when they reopen, you’re somewhere else! Have you ever been in one of those? They’re amazing!
I like our boat in the District, but these would be nice for finding more fish that I could be friends with.
Speaking of which – when we got inside, I made a beeline for the fish area!
We took one of the magic rooms and, before you know it, we were upstairs, looking down on the store.
Wow! There were things I missed when I was looking at the fish.
…because we need a little Christmas, right this very minute…
Let’s roll out the holly! This is one of my favorite days of the year!
From now on, we’re getting closer to Christmas than farther away from it.
By a cool coincidence, the Feast of St John the Baptist is also six months away from Christmas. Just like Christmas comes right after the shortest day of the year (so that the Light is coming into the world), John the Baptist’s birthday comes right after the longest day of the year (so when he says, “I must decrease and He must increase” he really means it).
So crank up the carols, light the lights, and party like it’s Christmas morning! And let’s hope the next six months just keep getting better and better!
On our early morning walk, a pleasant surprise. While we were strolling, the clouds suddenly moved in and, just as we were about as far from the car as we could be, the heavens opened up. What fun! At least for me.
As we approached the driveway into Nakatomi Gardens (my Older Brother will need to explain why he calls it that), we came across a nice bit of flowing water. Naturally, it called my name…
Now I know how golden nuggets felt during the California Gold Rush.
I was content to just relax in the flow, but there must have been some flooding downstream, because my Older Brother kept telling me to dam up the water, or words to that effect. It must have been serious, because the longer I stayed there, the louder his voice got. I was only too happy to oblige, and who knows what kind of disaster was averted.
Father’s Day this year is Sunday, June 21st. Let’s show all the Dads how much we appreciate their example, sacrifice, love, and even their bad jokes! In honor of our Dads’ senses of humor, Winston will be weighing in with his favorite Dad Jokes.
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We know how much Dad will appreciate a gift that is made in the USA. And, we’re in luck, because there are so many great Dad-approved products that are made right here in America; many more than appear below. What we’ve tried to do with this list is to put together a representative sample of (mostly) moderately-priced items – with the added benefit that everything appearing below is available on Amazon Prime. You can jump right to a specific category or can scroll down to see everything, including Winston’s puns.
Dad’s car is the epitome of multi-functionality. It serves as everything from mobile dining room to concert hall to field hospital. He hauls around baseball teams, Girl Scout cookies, and bags of mulch.
On the short list of Fathers’ Day car accessories are these floor mats and liners. They’ll catch anything a fishing trip or soccer practice can throw at them, then be washed down and look great for date night with Mom.
When you link to these products, make sure that you fill in all the information for Dad’s car and truck (make, model, year) and choose the color you want.
Everyone knows that Armor All makes some great liquid protectant. They also make some great, very reasonably priced, one-size-fits-all floor mats.
Husky Liners offers some superior floor mats. They are pricier than the Armor Alls, but they are custom-fitted and will wear very well. Be sure to input the proper car and truck information when ordering.
This liner kit from Rugged Liner will catch and hold just about any mess that can be dragged in on it.
Weather Tech offers this, more reasonably priced, trim-to-fit option. It’s very easy to follow the pre-scored lines to get a great fit for whatever Dad drives.
Why did the football coach go to the bank? To get his quarter back.
This category is full of American-made opportunities! So much so that we’ll be devoting an entire post to Cookware in the near future. When thinking of something for Dad, though, Lodge Cast Iron in the iconic choice. Lodge has been making cast iron cookware in Tennessee since 1896. Their products proclaim “America” whether you encounter them on a chuck wagon, a gourmet restaurant, a tailgate, or Grandma’s kitchen. I still cook on a Lodge skillet that was my Grandmother’s, and every meal brings with it memories, love, and molecules from every other meal cooked on it since the early 1900’s.
If your Dad does not yet have a piece of Lodge cookware, this cast iron skillet is the go-to choice, without a doubt. And when you go to the link, you’ll find other options as to size and shapes.
If Dad already has the skillet, then a nice addition would be this enamel coated cast iron casserole. Again, there are many size options when you click on the link. This product line fits in with those of Le Creuset and Staub, but Lodge’s has a much more reasonable price tag.
What did the fisherman say to the magician? Pick a cod, any cod.
I love all my Tervis Tumblers! I can fill one with iced tea and lots of ice, leave it in the car in the sweltering Oklahoma heat while I take an hour and a half walk, and come back to cold refreshment, ice cubes and all. The choices of drinkware are almost endless. I have just listed three options, but when you click on the link, you’ll be able to shop the Tervis universe for all kinds of sizes, shapes, and logos. Tervis has licensing rights from just about every professional and collegiate sports team on the planet, so chances are that you’ll find Dad’s favorite teams.
This a great tumbler with Baby Yoda from The Mandolorian. As we mentioned above, the design choices are almost endless.
Dad’s own private Margaritaville just got cooler. Whether he’s firing up the grill or just chillaxin’ in a chair, he’ll appreciate these tumblers helping to set the mood.
Winston’s personal favorite. These dogs will bring a smile to Dad’s face every time he takes a sip.
An accessory for the Tervis, or any other drinkware. These reusable straws are made by The Last Straw. They are made from titanium, have straight and angled sections, and come with a cleaning brush that will keep them like new for years to come.
Which is faster, hot or cold? Hot, because you can catch a cold.
Like so many of the other types of products featured here, there are great American-made options in flashlights. To stay focused, however (no pun intended), we’re showing three flashlights from Maglite. Founded by Anthony Maglica in 1955, Maglite is a great American story. Their flashlights are rugged and reliable.
This light is a great one to have on hand. It can fit in a car’s console, a backpack, or the kitchen drawer.
With this set, Dad’s flashlight can always stay charged. Very handy if the family hasn’t made the regular Costco run to stock up on batteries.
This is the flashlight most people think of when the name Maglite comes to mind. It has a great beam and, with its size and heft, can double as a Billy Club.
I like elevator jokes because they work on so many levels.
Whether working in the garage, the yard, or out on the ranch, Dad can always use a pair of good gloves. These two options from Carolina Glove are representative of many more choices available when you visit the link.
As the name implies, these gloves are practically impervious.
If Dad goes through a lot of gloves, these cowhide leather ones should have him covered. The price may seem a little steep, but it’s for 24 gloves (a dozen pair of them).
It’s inappropriate to make a ‘dad joke’ if you’re not a dad. That would be a faux pa.
We thought long and hard about including grills on this Fathers’ Day list. On the one hand, they are the stuff that Fathers’ Day dreams are made of. On the other, they are generally going to be a big-ticket item, and we thought we’d focus on more reasonably-priced options. Besides, we recently reviewed made-in-the-USA Kamado cookers and we’ll be reviewing outdoor grills in general in the near future. However, we thought this grill accessory was pretty cool, and it may be one that Dad didn’t even know he needed.
Tuffy Mat makes this very nice mat. It goes under the grill and keeps everything from hot coals to marinades to meat juices from getting on the deck or patio. It could be worth its weight in gold if it stopped an errant ember from landing on a wooden deck. It’s also comfortable to stand on while grilling.
A good knife is definitely a Dad thing. Here are three American manufacturers.
This folding knife from Bear & Son Cutlery has a good look and a nice heft to it.
Dad can channel his inner Navy Seal with this Emerson Knife.
W R Case & Sons actually started as “Case Brothers” in 1889. Then, one of the brothers continued the family tradition with his sons. This is a great pocket knife, with two blades.
This is another Case pocket knife. The body is made of bone.
What’s an astronaut’s favorite part of a computer? The space bar.
Whether it’s igniting kindling, starting sparklers, shooting off firecrackers, or illuminating a cave a la Indiana Jones, Dad can always use a lighter. Zippo lighters has been in business for 88 years and recently celebrated their 600 millionth lighter manufactured. They are refillable and will last for years to come.
The classic Zippo lighter: sleek and minimalist. Like so many other items in this review, when you click on the link, you’ll find a dizzying number of design options.
I could tell a joke about pizza, but it’s a little cheesy.
Dad’s a man on the go. He might sometimes require some specialty gear to go camping, skiing, or hunting, but he usually doesn’t need much to transport his stuff. Here are a couple of travel ideas.
This shaving kit from Duluth Pack has a sturdy leather outside and a waterproof inside.
Ridge Wallet has reimagined the wallet. It has a tough exterior and the RFID blocking technology keeps all of Dad’s credit card information safe.
What’s the best way to watch a fly fishing tournament? Live stream.
There are some great, made-in-America shaving accessories out there. When it comes to razors, however, I have only found one brand where every component (including the blades themselves) are made in the USA. That makes the choice very easy. The good news is, they’re great!
The M5 Magnum by Personna. American through and through. This price is for 8 blades: about one-third of what you’d pay for more well-known brands, which aren’t made in the USA.
I always like the “Close Shave America” ads by Barbasol. It is a great American company, and their shaving cream – while playing a key role in “Jurassic Park” – is also my favorite. You can’t go wrong with Barbasol.
We started this review with the idea of narrowing down some Fathers’ Day gift ideas for you. I hope we succeeded in making your selections a little easier. We’ll finish this post with something a Dad can never have too many of … tools. We’ve focused on three companies, even though there are many more made-in-the-USA tool manufacturers. These companies offer some products that are unique to them, and I think Dad would appreciate all three.
Channel Lock made its name with adjustable, locking pliers. This three-pack will get you through any small to medium size needs.
This Channel Lock set makes a good gift. There are two pairs of the classic Channel-Lock pliers, two pairs of standard pliers, and a needle-nose pair.
Here is an axe by Estwing. It has a great, balanced feel and will last for a very long time.
This rock pick by Estwing is a sentimental favorite of mine. I received this model from my Dad over a half-century ago. I still use it, and it’s cool to see that the model still looks exactly the same.
Here’s a hammer by Estwing. It has a great handle and will most likely last forever.
Toolcard Pro makes a 40-in-1 toolcard. If you can think of a tool function, it can probably do it. While you wouldn’t want to use this on long-term, big projects, it is a great item to have on hand to measure, tighten, cut, and perform other jobs.
This is the same Toolcard Pro with the addition of a money clip. I guess that makes it a 41-in-1 tool!
I made a pencil with two erasers. It was pointless.
Christmas came early! I went out this morning for my constitutional, and what to my wondering eyes did appear…
A big stick! It’s like it had dropped down from Heaven, overnight. I felt like a Jedi with a lightsaber, or maybe a twirler – just imagine if both ends had been on fire.
Well, that’s all I wanted to share for now. I hope something drops down from Heaven for you today!
