Cash Only - Get A Horse

It isn't often that a "cash only" sign appears. Usually, this sign indicates that the computers have crashed. On Sunday, my husband and I happened upon this sign being applied with tape to the door to our local QuikTrip. What was interesting was the utter chaos and fear that this seemingly innocuous sign created in the few customers who had already filled up their vehicle with varying amounts of gasoline. "What do I do now?" said a woman. She was quite frustrated and upset. She had NO cash! The ATM was not operating, and she had no way of paying her bill. Eventually, the young people running the store sent her on her way with an IOU (hand written on a piece of paper).

I started thinking about how exciting technology is. Exciting, that is, until it breaks down. People just don't know what to do. This reminded me of an old expression. This expression came about when the automobile came on the scene as the latest technological gadget. Those who couldn't catch up with the forward thinkers quickly yelled at those broken down at the side of the road, "Get a horse!"

Sometimes I, too, feel like those fossils when things comes screeching to a halt because the computers go down, even for a few minutes. It's easy at those times to feel the stress of trying to keep up with the Age of Technology! It's funny how basic things really never change. So, for now, I plan to continue to carry a little pocket money so I don't do a tailspin when I see a sign that reads, "CASH ONLY." It's my own way of saying, "Get a horse!"

Just Walking Through the Capitol

 



Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry with Special
Olympics Oklahoma athletes' Chris Paynter,
Blake Reynolds and Heather Hancock.
Governor Henry presented the athletes
with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day
Proclamation for September 25, 2010.
The athletes presented the Governor with
 a Special Olympics Oklahoma shirt.



I was at the Oklahoma Capitol last week for a meeting with Governor Brad Henry. He was presenting Special Olympics Oklahoma with a proclamation for Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day, September 25, 2010. 



After the presentation, I was walking through the Capitol and took a few minutes to take some photos of the dome, the front of the Capitol and the Hall of Governors.



This is the inside of the dome. I thought it made
an extremely interesting geometrical photo.





 

Taking this photo brought back a funny memory...
This is the hall of Governors "past". Years ago, my friend Kay
and I came to the Capitol on a Saturday with my husband's
Boy Scout troop. While they were off touring the building, Kay
and I ended up in this hall. She started doing pirouettes down
the hall. I followed her doing the same. Now, we can always
say that we danced before the governors! I'm sure the guys
on the security cameras that day got quite a laugh. But,
no one can laugh with me better than my friend Kay.


PG







You're NOT a Nobody

I work part time on my artistic endeavors; but, I work full time at Special Olympics Oklahoma. Last week, Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes were invited to come to a closed practice of the OU Sooners in Norman for an autograph session. The Special Olympics athletes were having a good time meeting the players and getting autographs. Toward the end of our time with the Sooners, one of the Special Olympics athletes turned to me and asked me to sign her football. I laughed and said, "Oh, honey, I'm just a nobody."  One of the young OU players overheard this and looked me in the eyes and said, "Oh, no, no, no...you are not a nobody." I laughed and took my Sharpie with the lid on, and signed her football with invisible ink. The OU athlete smiled.

Later, what he said really stuck in my head. I hadn't really meant I was a "nobody" in general, just in that setting. However, I thought about how important it is that in every setting "I'm NOT a nobody." That young football player has his OU football season ahead of him and all that that entails. However, he has the right frame of mind. Unfortunately, I didn't know this young player or catch the significance of looking at his jersey number. I was just caught up in the moment. He touched my life profoundly, though, by reminding me that we are all equally important and that "I am NOT a nobody."

I pray for great success in this young man's future. He's grounded in what's important. OU has invited Special Olympics Oklahoma athletes for special autograph sessions every year for many years. This year, I was impressed that although these student athletes had just spent a long time practicing in the heat, they and Coach Stoops took the time to come to the sidelines, greet a bunch of Special Olympics athletes, sign autographs, pose for photos and treat each Special Olympics athlete with respect. With their actions, the OU Sooners were saying to all of us, "You are NOT a Nobody."

BOOMER SOONERS!

PG

Pretty New Green Things

It's been so hot in Oklahoma in August, that we wanted to bring a little green into our shop. We just added a lot of new hand wrapped rings in our Etsy shop. And, following the "green" theme, we've created some new hand painted and designed gift boxes, too.

Pretty soon it will be time to start designing for Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas. Cooler weather will be here soon. Thank goodness!

PG

Luscious, Delicious, Gorgeous PURPLE Wonderland

One of my hand designed gift boxes was featured in an Etsy Treasury yesterday.

I feel like a celebrity!

Check out all of the other pretty purple and indigo items that were also featured in the Wonderland..Wow...Stunning treasury by following this link. http://tinyurl.com/2fmbkc8   Get ready to enter a fairy-tale WONDERLAND. Get ready to say, "WOW." Get ready to breathe in the word, "Stunning!"

OK, so I like a little drama. What girl doesn't? (Intense color...DRAMA!)

PG

P.S. Perhaps I should have said I like a LOT of DRAMA!

Fun Etsy Site

I found the cutest shop on Etsy today. Quilt Sew Cover Covers for Books and More. The item that caught my eye was a Cats Paperback Book Cover. Love, love, love this design and it's very affordable. Just $9. What a good gift idea.


Since I just lost my precious little Pouncer last week, this site brought a cheery smile to my face. And, if you look at my blog, you will realize that I'm a nut for color!


Check out her shop. Quilt Sew Cover. If you like sweet little gifts for $20 or less, this is a nice place to shop.


Of course, the little Cat Book Cover now belongs to me, but she has a lot of other cute items.


PG

Selecting Stones

Selecting stones at The Dam Store when leaving Estes Park. We all had a great time on our Colorado adventure. We're all back in Oklahoma. We're suffering with 105 degrees today. We'll be making some new creations with the treasures we found on our vacation because, basically, it's just too darn hot to go outside!

PG

I Had To Say Goodbye Today

I found this pitiful kitten 15 years ago. She was shivering and soaking wet hiding under a car. She wrapped herself around my heartstrings immediately. She's been my constant companion ever since. It was time for her to rest, but it just came too, too soon. I will miss her.

To my little Pouncer Cat:
I pray God gives you plenty of Tuna to eat, robust chin scratches, a warm fluffy bed on a pedestal, a beautiful yard to explore with plenty of green luscious grass to munch on, fluttering butterflies to chase, a glorious sunrise and a gentle sunset. I shall miss you my sweet, sweet girl. Until we see each other again. Goodbye.

Dear God:

Thank you for bringing Pouncer to me and enriching my life. We had a wonderful time together. Please take care of her now. I know she will make you smile.

Amen,

Praying Girl

It's Too Hot

It's too hot in Oklahoma to do much of anything outside. Alysia's been busy working inside on new rings for the store. Staying inside, staying cool.

These are two of my favorites. We'll be adding these to our shop and many more very soon.  

This one's called Candy and it looks good enough to eat!

PG

Proud as a Peacock

I love Peacocks and their magnificent feathers. They are an exceptionally beautiful bird. "The pride of the peacock is the glory of God," a quote by William Blake. I don't know if I totally agree with Blake, but it's an intriguing thought none the less.

Some interesting people I knew a long time ago kept Peacocks as watchdogs. When I visited, I found out very quickly that they (the Peacocks, not the people)make a horrible noise.


Later in life, I took an online art course. The artist lived in the country and he had Peacocks. They (again the Peacocks, not the artist) were making noise all through the lessons. After a while, I just got used to that noise. It's hard to describe, but they definitely get your attention.


If I ever get my dream cottage in the woods, I'm going to have Peacocks as pets. In the meantime, I'm using Peacock feathers in some of my jewelry gift box designs. I really love the bright iridescent colors. In my opinion, and I have a lot of opinions, rich turquoise and deep purple are just natural colors to group with the Peacock feathers. Perhaps I like these feathers because the Peacock appears to be a very proud and arrogant bird. That pretty much sums me up, too. I'm not too "proud" that I'm proud, but it's the truth. I'm always waiting to fall off my perch! Now that would be a horrendous sound (that would be me, not the Peacocks).

PG

Bubbles of Color

Just when I least expect it, I find glorious colors in the simplest things. I was at a child's birthday party Sunday, and the kids had left their bottles of bubbles outside. The bright colors just caught my eye.


A new inspiration for a new jewelry gift box. I just love these bright colors--red, green, orange and blue.


The photo that I took just brings a smile to my face. I can hear the laughter of the children playing in the yard, the splashing water, the sunshine. Isn't it funny where we find inspiration for art? The process always amazes me.


PG

Can't Sleep

I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30 p.m. My husband woke me up around 9:00 p.m. I got up from the couch, walked the short distance to the bedroom and settled in for a good night's sleep. Well, that was the plan anyway. After an hour of tossing and turning, I finally just got up.

The body is tired, but the brain just won't shut down. Where's the "sleep" switch? It's now three hours later and I'm still wide awake. If I go to bed now, I might get in five hours of rest before I have to start the new work week. At least the dog has sympathy for me. She's at my feet just staring at me. STARING AT ME! Now, that gives me the creeps. I suppose she has insomnia, too, BUT QUIT STARING AT ME!


I wish i s;dgsdfu, you know .a.....a um get sleepyyyyyyyys....zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Think On Top of the Box

I've always been one who likes to "think outside of the box," coming up with new ideas. After seeing some of my daughter's jewelry designs, I decided to change my tact and "think ON TOP of the Box." I've been creating like crazy on top of jewelry gift boxes ever since.

I paint the boxes with acrylic paint, then put a nice laquered finish on them with varnish. Then the FUN begins. I start creating unique designs for each one of the boxes. "Daylight" is my latest creation. I fastened elongated beads to the top of the box and then added some feathers so it looks like a flower. Then I attached some blue glass beads threaded on wire in a spiral in the middle. What a delight it is to see the final results.

These feathers just happen to be Mallard duck feathers. I've started playing with designs using different types of feathers and the results are beautiful. Just wait until you see the ones I've created with Peacock feathers!

I can't wait to get home from work every day so I can start working on new designs. There's no limit to what my imagination can come up with. I'm having a blast!

PG