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@ pixabay 1083643
Splat begins his journey through Kansas & Oklahoma!

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@ Kansas Crop Duster

Blue And Gold Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Kansas Crop Duster
Hundreds of acres of Kansas wheat crops are easily dusted with this Boeing Stearman biplane. Wave to the pilot and he will dip his wings to say hello back to you.

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@ pixabay 1651379
Pronghorn antelopes, American bison, armadillos, and coyotes are just a few of Oklahoma’s mammals.

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@ pixabay 1730073
Oklahoma is one of America’s top producers of petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas.

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@ pixabay 1802082
The name 'Oklahoma' comes from two Choctaw words – okla meaning "people" and humma meaning "red". So the name means "Red People". The name was approved in 1890.

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@ pixabay 2139864
The state can be divided into 10 different geographic regions.
1. The Ozark Plateau is in the northeast. It includes a bit of the Ozark mountain range, which has ridges, steep valleys, caves, and sinkholes.
2. In the northeast is the Prairie Plains, fertile farmlands where animals graze.
3. In the southeast is the Ouachita Mountains region, which includes Ouachita National Forest (part of this forest is also in Arkansas.)
4. East-central Oklahoma contains the Sandstone Hills region that has low, rocky hills.
5. In south-central Oklahoma, the Arbuckle Mountains are one of North America’s oldest ranges, at 1.3 billion years old. They’ve been heavily eroded.
6. Travel southwest to reach the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, the state’s biggest wildlife refuge.
7. The Red River Valley runs along Oklahoma’s border with Texas.
8. In addition to the Red River, which forms the wiggly boundary between the two states, this area has sandy, fertile soil and some forests.
9. In the center of the state is Oklahoma’s largest land region, the Red Beds Plains, with gentle hills made of red sandstone and shale. Farther west are the Gypsum Hills, low hills capped with up to 20 feet of sparkling gypsum, a soft mineral.
10.The High Plains are flat grasslands in the northwest. They include the Oklahoma panhandle, the 34-mile-wide strip that stretches west beneath Colorado. This is the highest and driest part of the state.

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@ pixabay 231605
1. The bread twist tie was invented in Maysville. (Blest be the tie that binds!) 2. The shopping cart was invented in Ardmore in 1936. 3. The nation's first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City in 1935. 4. The first Girl Scout Cookie was sold in Muskogee in 1917.
WKY Radio in Oklahoma City was the first radio station transmitting west of the Mississippi River. Oklahoma has the largest Native American population of any state in the US. Oklahoma has produced more astronauts than any other state. 13. Oklahoma has more man-made lakes than any other state (including Caddo County's Fort Cobb Lake). 14. During the "Land Rush," Oklahoma City and Guthrie went from vast, open prairie to cities of over 10,000 in a single day. The aerosol can was invented in Bartlesville. The highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was in Moore Okla., on May 3, 1999 during the Oklahoma City F-5 tornado. Wind speed was clocked at 318 mph.

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@ Mustangs, Kansas
The first people may have arrived in what’s now Oklahoma 30,000 years ago. Many thousands of years later Native American tribes including the Plains Apache, Caddo, Comanche, Wichita, Kiowa, and Osage lived on the land. Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado traveled to the region in 1541 searching for fabled cities made of gold. By the 1700s both Spanish and French explorers and traders had come to the area. Both France and Spain controlled parts of the area for some time. Then in 1800, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte acquired the land from Spain. Three years later, he sold the Louisiana Territory (a huge swath of land that includes present-day Oklahoma) to the United States. In the 1830s many Native Americans were forced to leave their homelands in the eastern United States and relocate in what’s now Oklahoma, which was then called Indian Territory. In the 1890s part of Indian Territory became Oklahoma Territory. Then in 1907 the Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were combined again to become the state of Oklahoma. Today members of over 30 tribes still live in Oklahoma.
Mustangs, Kansas
Wild horses could not take me away, though they may blow me away as they gallop past. Thousands of wild mustangs roam the plains in Kansas, though they are not truly classified as wild, the only true wild horse in the world is the Przewalski's horse, which is found in Mongolia.

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People come from around the world each summer to see Native American artwork and dance performances at the annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival in Oklahoma City.

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@ Heart Shaped Hole,Kansas
Pronghorn antelopes, American bison, armadillos, and coyotes are just a few of Oklahoma’s mammals.
Heart Shaped Hole,Kansas
At some point, when this was a living tree a branch was either cut off or snapped off naturally. Over time the tree died and all that is left is this part of the trunk with an interesting hole.

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@ pixabay 4568729
Oklahoma is one of America’s top producers of petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas.

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@ Sunflower, Kansas' State Flower
"What is the capital of Kansas?" queried Splat.
"Topeka!" responded Amethyst.
Sunflower, Kansas' State Flower
There are more than 70 different varieties of sunflowers, so no matter which variety of sunflowers you choose to plant, you will be growing the state flower of Kansas.

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@ Oklahoma Huckleberries
Oklahoma is one of America’s top producers of petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas.
Oklahoma Huckleberries
Looking like little clusters of wild blueberries, huckleberries taste a little like them, but bring their own party to your mouth!

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@ Oklahoma Horse Barn
In the northeast part of the state, cedar, maple, oak and walnut trees grow. Cottonwood, the state tree, crops up throughout the state. But Kansas is covered in a lot of grass: the west grows buffalo grass; the Southeastern Plains have bluestem grass, switch grass, and Indian grass; and the Great Plains grow bluegrass. Common wildflowers include sunflowers, verbena, purple coneflower, prairie phlox and prickly poppy.
Oklahoma Horse Barn
Come closer and don't forget to share that apple when you get here. I love nose skritches and to be brushed. You brought a brush, right?

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@ Oklahoma Marmot
Oh look ... you won a Frontier pet!
Oklahoma Marmot
Fuzzy little chonks, these ground rodents are cuter than the button that claims all the fame. Chirping to warn of danger to the pack, you'll want to take one home, but don't. Just snap the awwweee photos and move on!

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@ Oklahoma Buffalo Reflection
The state can be divided into 10 different geographic regions.
1. The Ozark Plateau is in the northeast. It includes a bit of the Ozark mountain range, which has ridges, steep valleys, caves, and sinkholes.
2. In the northeast is the Prairie Plains, fertile farmlands where animals graze.
3. In the southeast is the Ouachita Mountains region, which includes Ouachita National Forest (part of this forest is also in Arkansas.)
4. East-central Oklahoma contains the Sandstone Hills region that has low, rocky hills.
5. In south-central Oklahoma, the Arbuckle Mountains are one of North America’s oldest ranges, at 1.3 billion years old. They’ve been heavily eroded.
6. Travel southwest to reach the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, the state’s biggest wildlife refuge.
7. The Red River Valley runs along Oklahoma’s border with Texas.
8. In addition to the Red River, which forms the wiggly boundary between the two states, this area has sandy, fertile soil and some forests.
9. In the center of the state is Oklahoma’s largest land region, the Red Beds Plains, with gentle hills made of red sandstone and shale. Farther west are the Gypsum Hills, low hills capped with up to 20 feet of sparkling gypsum, a soft mineral.
10.The High Plains are flat grasslands in the northwest. They include the Oklahoma panhandle, the 34-mile-wide strip that stretches west beneath Colorado. This is the highest and driest part of the state.
Oklahoma Buffalo Reflection
A reflection of time gone by, thundering herds that ruled the plains, standing alone, but never alone.

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@ Oklahoma, Flag
In the northeast part of the state, cedar, maple, oak and walnut trees grow. Cottonwood, the state tree, crops up throughout the state. But Kansas is covered in a lot of grass: the west grows buffalo grass; the Southeastern Plains have bluestem grass, switch grass, and Indian grass; and the Great Plains grow bluegrass. Common wildflowers include sunflowers, verbena, purple coneflower, prairie phlox and prickly poppy.
Oklahoma, Flag
Always, country to the top, and proudly wave the state flag of Oklahoma.

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@ Oklahoma Sunset
The name 'Oklahoma' comes from two Choctaw words – okla meaning "people" and humma meaning "red". So the name means "Red People". The name was approved in 1890.
Oklahoma Sunset
Streaks of color fill the dusk, painting memories of gold, shifting like the sands on shore.

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@ Oklahoma Oil Well at Sunlight
Cimarron County, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the U.S. bordered by 4 separate states - Texas, New Mexico, Colorado & Kansas.
Oklahoma Oil Well at Sunlight
Dawn creeps slowly over the Eastern horizon, lending beauty to the ever working pump jacks in the fields, that create an artistry to man and machine.

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@ Oklahoma Prairie Grass
People come from around the world each summer to see Native American artwork and dance performances at the annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Prairie Grass
Whispers of wind flit in and out of the blades of grass, dancing and weaving against a backdrop of softening sunlight before dipping into darkness.

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@ Oklahoma Sunrise at the Paddocks
"Have you seen our tour guide, Splat?" queried Cloudi Joybird.. "It says 'Descend 650 feet beneath the earth to experience Strataca, Kansas’ underground salt museum. It’s part of a working salt mine, whose salt was formed about 275 million years ago.' "
"Wow!" remarked Splat, round-eyed.
"Just think of that when you're sprinkling salt on your chips this lunchtime!" said Cloudi Joybird..
Oklahoma Sunrise at the Paddocks
Shaking the morning dew from glossy coats, swishing manes and tails, warming up with the sun to make gallop to greet the new day!

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@ Oklahoma Brewing Storm
The first people may have arrived in what’s now Oklahoma 30,000 years ago. Many thousands of years later Native American tribes including the Plains Apache, Caddo, Comanche, Wichita, Kiowa, and Osage lived on the land. Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado traveled to the region in 1541 searching for fabled cities made of gold. By the 1700s both Spanish and French explorers and traders had come to the area. Both France and Spain controlled parts of the area for some time. Then in 1800, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte acquired the land from Spain. Three years later, he sold the Louisiana Territory (a huge swath of land that includes present-day Oklahoma) to the United States. In the 1830s many Native Americans were forced to leave their homelands in the eastern United States and relocate in what’s now Oklahoma, which was then called Indian Territory. In the 1890s part of Indian Territory became Oklahoma Territory. Then in 1907 the Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were combined again to become the state of Oklahoma. Today members of over 30 tribes still live in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Brewing Storm
The ominous clouds gather over the Red River, promise of fury in the darkening horizon, the slight smell of ozone from lightening strikes not yet seen, seek cover soon!

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@ Oklahoma Deer
People come from around the world each summer to see Native American artwork and dance performances at the annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Deer
Rarely seen during the day, masters of camouflage, you have to look twice before you realize the silent visitors are here to observe you as well.

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@ Oklahoma Light Show
Oklahoma State bird: scissor-tailed flycatcher
Oklahoma Light Show
With nothing but the waiving grains to break the horizon, you're in for front row seating to the spectacular show of light.

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@ Oklahoma Collared Lizard
Splat has now completed his journey through Kansas & Oklahoma! As he prepares to go home, he receives a wonderful gift!
Old Green Caboose And Road Runner
Hurry, grab my wing, and up we go. Whew! You made it. I usually prefer to run everywhere, but my friend—the coyote—wanted me to lend a wing with this train run today. It feels odd sitting in this here old caboose. It looks right good though; we recently gave it a lick of green paint to spruce it up. So, where are you going? Are you just sightseeing? There is an old ghost town along the way; do you mean to stop off there? Have you travelled by train before? Sorry for all the questions. I am usually running too fast to stop and spin a yarn.

Oklahoma Collared Lizard
Wild and free, me! I love to skittle around on the rocks and bask in the sun! I have some relatives who decided to take the comfort of being pets, maybe someday I'll go that route, but now, I'll make my own rules.
Splat has enjoyed his journey through Kansas & Oklahoma, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy a journey through the American Frontier!