Dear Kinfolks,

My previous family blogs were about our “granddaddy’s” and their colorful backgrounds, both within and outside the law.  I have always been fascinated  with our hardy ancestors who in the 1800’s,  pioneered the land openings of Oklahoma and Texas.  Today, I have fast forwarded a few generations to Papa Jim Anderson and his grandkids.

Around 2003 we purchased 3 plus acres of Stillwater land, filled with cedars, brush and poison ivy.  Jane could visualize our new home sitting next to Cedar Lake.  Jim could visualize 3 plus acres of cedars, brush and poison ivy!

PAPA  JIM’S VISION                                                          JANE’S VISION

On one of my trips to our acreage, three of my grandsons asked if they could come along and go fishing.  We stopped at Walmart and purchased the best $4.50 fishing rods and reels that they offered.  After buying some worms (Hayden thought they were his new pets) we proceeded to Cedar Lake.  I showed the boys  a good fishing spot and then I took off with my brush cutter to do some clearing. 

Soon after, Andy yelled “Papa we caught a fish”.  I told them to put it on a stringer and went on brush cutting.   Again I heard “Papa we caught a BIG fish”…..  put it on the stringer.  When I heard the third “Papa we caught a really Big fish”, I thought I should go investigate what they called a big fish.  I have lived on Cedar Lake now over 10 years, I watched many fine fishermen in their boats and fine fishing rods come and go,  but I have never seen anything on their stringers like what the boys had caught with their $4.50 rods.   

Andy, Hayden and Adam with their Cedar Lake prize catch.

Their “big” fish were really big!  A five pound bass, a five pound catfish and a three pound bass.  I crowned them the CEDAR LAKE FISHING CHAMPS.

After dark we headed back to Enid and I listened to their tall fishing stories all the way back.  When we arrived home the boys asked “can we eat the fish TONIGHT”?  I hope they did not see the expression on my face when I thought about cleaning and frying the fish after 10 pm.  We did and they tasted great.

LIFE IS GOOD…..ITS JUST THAT SIMPLE

Papa Jim