Author Archives: Franci

New Life to an Old Bank Building – Part 1

Black and White Line drawing of 210 E. Broadway Seminole, OK. Artist unknown.
Drawing of 210 E. Broadway Seminole, OK. (artist: Judy Phelps)

The “Bank Building” as we like to call it is located on the corner of Main Street and Broadway in Seminole, Oklahoma. A small town by many standards but great in heart, high school football and Oklahoma spirit.

The building was originally built to be a bank, First National, years later it held art council events. It has since housed a bakery, flower shop, hair salon, clothing boutique, and various other retail shops and offices. The upstairs held law offices and most recently an apartment style living space.

This building has been in my family for many years. We acquired it after it was no longer a working bank. I was a child at the time and I remember going upstairs with my siblings to the “offices” shortly after it was purchased and playing with the old bank paperwork pretending to be a teller.

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Hello and Happy Friday

Hydrangeas in full bloom with pink and purple blossoms.

School is in session! (virtual from home)

We’ve jumped fully into video Teams meetings, submissions of Schoology assignments and emails galore. I am extremely grateful for the amazing teachers that work tirelessly. I know they’ve had to learn new platforms, methods, and curriculum to educate our children from a distance. Their creativity, patience and enthusiasm help me to feel as if this will all be okay. I see my kids are learning– really learning from a teacher on a computer screen and my heart swells with thankfulness that we live in a time in history where this is even possible.

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How I Became a Bookworm

Originally published July 13, 2011, updated August 14, 2020

A stack of colorful books on a white surface in a room with a brick wall.

The Growing Up Years and Books

Earlier in my life, there was no way I’d call myself a bookworm, although I’d always wanted to be one. During my younger years, I did not enjoy reading but I loved books. I remember sitting on the floor at my grandmother’s house being mesmerized and a little scared by the pictures in the 3D version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I remember loving Tales from AESOP which my kids read today. Later in my upper elementary years, it was The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins. I didn’t read a lot of chapter books growing up, maybe just a handful. My attention span was short, reading didn’t come easy and I simply liked to do other things.

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