In Company with Friends 2021

How Covid19 brought us together in 2021 is really quite simple. Two events added to our lives immensely: friends gathering, and traveling.  Once we were vaccinated (later boosted) our lives felt a tremendous relief, like an opening in the clouds. 

In June, Manon Bradbury and Victor Kubbeh visited from California. The rains of the day sent us to the  National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum  rather than the golf course, and it couldn't have been better. The Prix de West exhibit brought awe to our conversations with the vastness of the West, the colors of the skies, the land, the waters, the details found in a small spaces, the reflection of color, the movement of animals on canvas, sculptures that seemed to fly to jump, the portraits that stepped out of the picture and shared their stories. A day of delight ended in a home cooked meal, conversations about life and memories.  Our friends were on their way north the next day. Ten thousand miles and three months later they arrived home in LaQuinta, California. Imagine the stories they can share. 

Yes, my friends and I were overly enthused about the opportunity to play Oak Tree National this spring, thanks to a package I bid on in a fundraiser. When that spring day turned to winter, the four us said sure we can play in the North Wind and enjoy it. Even the pro mentioned that the pros from Southern Hills, Cary Cozby and group had cancelled. Not us.  

We played a zesty nine holes and laughed out loud as we tried to play our shots into the wind, downwind and not into the water or other hazards, or topped the ball down the fairway. After nine holes we were worn out and drug ourselves into the golf shop. Steve Kimmel, congratulated us and handed me a new coupon to play the course again when summer arrived. We took him up on the offer, sat down for lunch and listened as Steve regaled us in golf stories about Oak Tree. We returned in July on a warm nearly perfect day and still laughed ourselves silly. Shows you how much fun four women can have hitting that tiny round golf ball.  

Jack and I managed to play as much golf as time, yard work, and stiff joints allowed. 

September brought more friends and memories. Kathy and Jim Thomas from Hutchinson came down to play golf and tour a few museums. Once again the art and sculptures at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum left as spell bound. I can't imagine life without art to remind us of who we are, who we were, and of all of the creative spaces in between. 

We then toured the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum for the first time. How can I describe it, as we had no words in our vocabulary to explain the events we all witnessed in 1995.

When Pat French arrived we never slowed down. Another visit to the Oklahoma Memorial gave me the opportunity to read more about the event and learn of its aftermath.  The touching tribute to the people who lost their lives will live with us forever. 

The big event, of course, was not the golf course, which was fun, but the
football game between Nebraska and the University of Oklahoma. Pat bought herself tickets close to the fifty yard line, while we sat in our corner seats above the ponies. 

It was over a decade ago when we made the drive to Lincoln to watch our Sooners take on the Cornhuskers. Pat could give you the dates and scores of all of the games and who played what.  I can send you to the website. I remember the people, the stadium, and the walk around campus. Memories.....

Looking at the wagon ruts in the Red Rock Canyon. 

Stormy, the bison observed by Ruth Ann and A.J. 

Lucky for us we also get to be grandparents to Lora and Tony Walenz's grandchildren who live not far from us. Not only do we get to visit with the kids but we also get to see more of Tony and Lora, our friends from Hutchinson. Lora and I often play golf together here in Norman or in Hutch. Miles and years apart only make friendships deeper.

My sister, Jonya, officially retired from full-time teaching Spanish in June, which gave us opportunities to be together.  In October we went to Miami, Oklahoma for her 51st Miami High School reunion. Many of her classmates had older brothers and sisters in my class of '65, so the reunion was sweet for me as well.

Driving home we took Route 66 to Tulsa and spent an afternoon at the Will Rogers Museum. History is so enlightening but the old movie of   Will Rogers' Rope Tricks  kept me glued to the screen watching over and over. I would like to have enjoyed dinner with Will Rogers. As he said, "I do not make jokes. I watch the government and report the facts."

In Tulsa we stopped for two nights, so we could visit friends from years gone by, and of course, eat our way through current conversations and memories. On the last day of our travels, we played golf at Cedar Ridge Country Club with Rebecca Mirjanick Davis. Our father taught all three of us to play golf.  Rebecca and I were in awe of the natural rhythm with
which my sister swings on the golf course. Jonya didn't even have a matched set of clubs, caused from thirty years of not playing golf. Rebecca loaned her clubs as needed, and then helped her select the right club for the shot. Jonya's natural swing out shined anything Rebecca and I could have hit that day, and we've played for forty years and more. It was a thing of beauty, one of God's many ways of giving us gifts and grace. What better way to end a season of golf than to see three grown and graying women play golf together, as they had sixty years before. (Ok, so now I can cry.)   

Mirrors reflecting art in and around people. 

On a lighter note, four of us from our Readers in the Rough book club traveled to Dallas to see the The Van Gogh Immersive Show. I've never witnessed art coming to life like modern technology can create. The walls move in out and around with Van Gogh's wheat fields, skies, furniture, sailing ships, and portraits. Find a site near you and go...2022 it's worth the drive if you can just imagine. 

We next toured the Van Gogh exhibit of Olive Trees and science at the Dallas Museum of Modern Art. We topped off our trip with a night at the Warwick Melrose Hotel, and spent Friday touring the George W. Bush Library and the gardens at the Dallas Arboretum. We were four women without children, and I believe we enjoyed the pumpkin patch with nearly the delight of the little ones. 

Letty, Leah Jackson, Susan Allgood, Rowena Shuma

My wish for you is to enjoy everyday of 2022, and take time to enjoy lunch with someone special. 

Stormy

Stormy Weather on the horizon.

My little sister, Jonya Lee (Stormy) Stapp, says that I have a storm magnet inside of me.  Wherever, we go it seems that storms are attracted to me. 

She is entirely wrong and I have spent decades trying to convince her that she is the storm magnet. After all, Mr. Jack Horner, manager of Woolworth's Five and Dime Store in Miami, Ok. in the 1950's would not have named my sweet darling blue eyed-brunette-haired little sister "STORMY" if she hadn't caused such temper tantrums and crying fits on the floor of the dime store when she didn't get what she wanted.  She is the reason that storms appear so often when we are together.

The End of story #1, she wrote with a smirk. 

The second Stormy in my life began the decades of reading horse and dog stories that broke my heart. Stormy, Misty's Foal;  Misty of Chincoteague; Black Gold, and all books by Marguerite Henry opened the floodgates of emotions that I discovered were real, even though they were caused by stories in a book, on pages, on paper, not in my backyard. That story never ends.

Imagine to my surprise to meet a real life Stormy, on the prairie in 2015. Stormy, the bison bull was born during an ice storm in 2013 and abandoned by his mother. Luckily, the herd's owners realized the situation and rescued the newborn bison. In the beginning he drank eight quarts of goat's milk a day.  

Stormy loved the warm sunny porch of his new home. 

Hearing of my friend's new family member, a group of retired teachers made our way to visit James and Sandy Stepp at their farm, Sandy Springs Farm.

By then Stormy ruled the ranch and all of its surroundings. He made his home wherever he went and he was no longer small. 

Stormy in the banquet barn, 2015

Six years have passed and there is a bigger "Stormy" on the horizon, who roams his own prairie. 

Stormy, front left and his herd.

In early June our grandchildren Ruth Ann and A.J. Walenz and mother, Katy and I drove out to Sandy Springs Farms to see up close real live bison. Stormy had grown into a  massive full adult bison (James said that people just want to call them buffalo, so they gave up and went along with the popular name.**) James explained that at  2,200 pounds Stormy was considered small by standard bull bison. 

Stormy still is comfortable with James walking beside him and scratching his head, but James no longer attempts to ride on Stormy's back, as he did the first four years. Stormy still likes to have his giant head scratched as the kids found out.  Ruth Ann stuck her hand into his forehead and coarse thick warm hair covered her hand all the way to where a watch band might be on her wrist before she touched his forehead. Tempted to pull out some of his hair for a souvenir, James offered to pick up bison hair off the trail, so the kids could take on his hair. 

Ruth Ann reaching through Stormy's hair to touch his forehead. 

A.J. wanted to go under the fence like James....

There is a new bison in the family. Her name is Daisy. She currently lives beside the house in her very own garden of red clay, flowers, a porch for shade, and an open gate to the back pasture so she can roam as she pleases. 

Daisy

Abandoned at birth like Stormy, she was sent to live with James and Sandy by another person who raises bison. Daisy is still skittish of people, but not dogs and cats.  She will walk up to James when he arrives with the 8 quart jug of goat's milk, and drink from the bottle he holds.

James holding 8qrt of goat's milk. 

Like all days and stories we must come to an end.  With a full belly Daisy and James can relax. As for us, with two young children we continued on to picnic at Red Rock Canyon and found even more adventures. 

James and Daisy napping after a hard day's work. 

The two weeks of downpours and stormy weather seem to have faded away, and the sun and clouds are clear today. In Oklahoma stormy weather is never far from the horizon, just like our stories.  

*On a side note my mother often sang the old songs, the songs my ears still enjoys, like Stormy Weather by Lena Horne

** The difference between bison and buffalo: Generally, the buffalo has a larger body than the bison. The buffalo also has bigger horns. The bison has a larger head used to forage for feed during the winter months. The buffalo also has a smooth coat while the bison has a shaggy winter coat. The bison has stocky legs, and a hump on its back which helps hold the musculature of their large head.Bison information

For more stories like this one click on these links below:

Out Standing in the Field  

Pioneer Courage  

I really did this.

I climbed on Stormy's back.

and didn't have time to hold on

before he took off. Thank you

James Stepp for saving my butt.

The fall was hard but it could have

hurt more than my pride 

Outstanding in the Field

Sandy Springs Farms, location of OSIF

There we were, out standing in a field with vistas of red rocks, roaming buffalo, and the aroma of fresh foods being cooked.  How lucky is that?  I consider myself a survivalist cook--simple basics.    However, because Jack and I have been fortunate enough to travel from coast to coast and Japan to Switzerland, I have acquired a delightful pursuit for delicious meals and exotic flavors.  When Katy and Shaun discovered this special meal called "Outstanding in the Field" http://www.outstandinginthefield.com/ I couldn't resist the temptation to travel with them, and partake in an open-air feast with food fresh from the land  prepared by Russ Johnson & Jonathon Stranger, two chefs from Ludivine's in OKC.http://ludivineokc.com/

Arriving early at Sandy Springs Farms
( http://www.sandyspringsfarms.com/) 

James riding his pet buffalo, Stormy

allowed us time to roam the red hills, see the buffalo, and tour the barn, which is set up with a large kitchen and meeting area.  Katy and I had visited there a few years ago for a basket weaving class, and thoroughly enjoyed our day learning to weave a

Katy and Letty completed their baskets.

basket one step at a time, and then enjoying the evening meal with the weavers and James and Sandy Stepp.


Once the guests had arrived James introduced us to their pet buffalo, Stormy.  They have raised him since birth when his mother abandoned him.  So at two years old his is quite used to James being near him and riding him.  As a group most of us watched Stormy from outside the fence, but a few of us eager souls walked inside his gate to touch him.  Perhaps because James has known me for nearly thirty years, he turned and asked if I would like to ride Stormy.  Without hesitation I said, "Yes."  (That was the younger Letty from thirty years ago who responded, not the sensible one who has a bad back!)  But I did reason with this logic, "I once passed up a chance to drive a combine, and I've never had that chance again.  This might be my only chance to sit on top of a buffalo."  That was all I did.  With James' leg to stand on I heaved my right leg over Stormy's back, and I was there on his back. Before I could breathe a sigh of relief Stormy, took a sudden move forward, and I took a sudden slide backwards.  James, to the rescue, threw his body on the ground behind Stormy and me.  Consequently, my bottom hit James' belly,  my feet hit the ground, and I was fine.  I'm sure James was more bruised than I, and Stormy was content!

Sheila & Joey Dills Tulsa

I digressed with stories, but then again meeting new friends from across the Midwest and seeing old friends is really why we come together, that and to eat deliciously prepared food.  The day started with hor dourves of reuben profiteroles, rabbit rillette dolmas, and eggplant rollatini.  The profiteroles were my favorite, and then I read the menu! No one complained, but rather we laughed at our taste buds, we liked the Wichita Buffalo Co. bison tongue reuben profiteroles.  I knew my taste buds and imagination were in for a thrilling day after enjoying the appetizers with  water and a glass of wine.

After several hours of roaming like the buffalo, getting acquainted with new people, discussing ways of preparing foods we meandered down to the grass covered lowlands where our tables were set.  We gathered with new people in tables set for eight.  With each table of eight having its own server.  There was no rush and we all took the time to chat and relax as we dined on succulent foods.  Reading the menu below, I hope, will convince you to go online and find this great event somewhere near your home or state.

OSIF   Wednesday, October 9, 2014
hosted by Wichita Buffalo Co. at Sandy Springs Farms, Hinton, Oklahoma

Wichita Buffalo Co. bison tongue reuben profiteroles
rabbit rillette dolmas
Leatherwood Farm eggplant rollatini
2013 Lady Hill Winery Pinot Gris,
Willamette Valley, Oregon,  Selection of COOP Ale Works Beer

salade de Ponderossa Farms gesiers confit de canard,
Scissortale Farm live baby red Russian kale,
grapefruit-sage-squash seed oil vinaigrette
2013 Lady Hill Wintery Radical Vine Sauvignon Blanc,
Columbia Valley, Washington

Wichita Buffalo Co bison cubanelle relleno,
purple hull-wagyu tallow refritos,
fresh Whitmore Farms corn grits, green pepita mole
2012 Lady Hill Winery Ad Lucem Daystar Red,
Columbia Valley, Washington

roasted suckling OSU Hog Farm & Walnut Creek Farm pig,
Crow Farm duck fat sweet potato mash, grilled onions, smoked elephant garlic-parsley sauce
2012 Lady Hill Winery Procedo Proprietary Red,
Columbia Valley, Washington

Jonathan's Livesay Orchards apple crisp with
buttermilk ice cream, smoked whiskey caramel.

Oh, my!  

Message from the Founder

In the summer of 1999, I came up with the idea of setting a long table on a farm and inviting the public to an open-air feast in celebration of the farmer and the gifts of the land. I decided to call this idea Outstanding in the Field. I thought a big table, carefully composed alongside the ingredients for the evening’s feast would inspire both a conversation at the table and a broader discussion about food, community and the meaning of place. A traveling feast with a central vision of farmers, chefs, cheese makers, ranchers, foragers and winemakers in delicious communion with the people they sustain. It would be a terrific challenge to bring this message to the field and to the world — it would also be a lot of fun and adventure.

It’s been 15 years since we set the first table near Santa Cruz, California at Andy Griffin’s Mariquita Farm. Since then, we’ve organized more than 600 Outstanding in the Field events, made ten coast-to-coast tours of North America, visited 45 of the United States and set our table in a total of nine countries. 60,000+ people have come out to the farm — or ranch, or sea cove, or vineyard, or rooftop, or sea cave — to understand, learn from and celebrate the farmer.

See you on the farm!

Jim Denevan