Patches

Patches, the Crazy Quilt Buffalo, was painted by Oklahoma City artist Clint Stone as part of the our city's public art project, "Spirit of the Buffalo."

You can read more about the Spirit of the Buffalo project at the official website.

create

I saw this sign in the window of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art located at 415 Couch Drive.

We search for the truth

A rescue worker painted this on the side of the Journal Record Building in April 1995. You can see this wall at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, beside the Survivor's Tree.


We search for the truth.
We seek justice.
The courts require it.
The victims cry for it.
And God demands it.

Gates of Time

This photo is another that I took at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. It shows one of the Gates of Time, the 9:01 side, the side that represents the peaceful minute in time before the bomb went off and forever changed our city and the lives of so many.

Field of Empty Chairs

I took this photo at the Field of Empty Chairs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Each chair represents one of the 168 lives lost on April 19, 1995.
See the smaller chair in the left corner of the photo? Nineteen small chairs represent the children who lost their lives in the bombing.

Seeing the chairs lined up in nine rows, representing the nine floors of the Murrah Federal Building, knowing that each chair was etched with the name of a person who lost their life on that horrible day, always gives me pause for a few moments. I believe this scene has a similar effect on most people. Each person I saw was quiet, reverent, and thoughtful as they walked through the chairs and gazed upon the Gates of Time.

gratitude

This photo was taken at the Oklahoma City National Memorial

The inscription on the wall encircling the Survivor Tree, facing the Rescuers' Orchard, reads:
To the courageous and caring who responded from near and far, we offer our eternal gratitude.

music hall

This weekend, you can see performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Oklahoma City's Civic Center Music Hall.


Should be a great show. I'll be there tonight.

centennial clock

I love seeing these centennial clocks throughout downtown Oklahoma City. They're replicas of the clocks that adorned towns throughout Oklahoma at the time of statehood in 1907.

Stanley Draper

This statue of Stanley Draper can be seen in front of the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City. Mr. Draper was also known as "Mr. Oklahoma City," because of all he did for the city during his forty-eight years with the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

Triumph

Inside the building right next to the bird with the apple (posted below), I saw this sculpture. The girl playing a violin is what drew my eye. My youngest daughter plays viola.

As I was looking at it through the glass and trying to figure out how to get a good photo without glare, a guard from inside the building came out and said that we could come inside to take photos if we wanted. Wasn't that nice?

Tux

This penguin, Tux, can be seen on Main Street near the corner of Robinson Avenue in Oklahoma City.

clouds

Clouds reflected on windows of an office building at Robinson Avenue and Main Street in Oklahoma City.

raven with apple

When I was walking down Main Street toward Robinson Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City this afternoon, I saw a little park across the street. When we walked over, I saw this statue. Two wooden benches were nearby with shade trees behind them. I can imagine taking a break from working in one of the buildings and sitting on one of the benches and reading a book for a few minutes, can't you?

holiday greetings fence

This fence can be seen from 63rd street going toward Midwest Blvd. in Oklahoma City. I used to drive past this house going to and from work each day, but now only see it once in a while. Before each holiday, the owners change the design in their fence to another holiday greeting. The designs are made with plastic cups.

I always look forward to seeing the next design and they always bring a smile to my day.

Mosaic mural at ballpark

This is one of the three mosaic murals that can be seen by the home plate entrance of Bricktown Ballpark, at the corner of Mickey Mantle Drive and Reno Blvd. in Oklahoma City. I've looked for information about the artist online, but haven't found anything yet. Information about the artist is probably posted near the murals, but I was across the street when I took the photo and didn't see it.

ballpark buffalo

This buffalo can been seen in front of the Bricktown Ballpark, at the corner of Mickey Mantle Drive and Reno Blvd. in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Half Blood Prince

Tonight, I took the kids to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It was really a great movie, probably my favorite so far. The kids loved it too.

airplanes

On the north side of Tinker Air Force Base, along I-40, civilians can look at retired airplanes. This one is my favorite. I like the little flag on the tail. :)

It's so hot outside

Today as I drove home from work, the car showed that the outside temperature was 107 degrees Fahrenheit. When I parked in the shade when I got home, the temperature magically dropped to 104 degrees. Still smoldering hot.



Since it was so hot, I didn't want to heat up the kitchen by using the stove or oven, so I stopped by one of our favorite places for dinner.


The steak sandwiches from this place are phenomenal. Definitely not diet-friendly, but completely delicious.

Del Rancho has been around since 1959 and can be found in twelve locations: eleven in Oklahoma (nine of those are in the Oklahoma City metro area) and one in Texas.

Pops

This photo was taken in front of Pops in Arcadia, Oklahoma. This big soda bottle is lit up at night and is a lovely sight to see.

Arcadia is a few minutes northeast of Oklahoma City. Pops is located on Route 66, also known as historic U.S. Highway 66 which goes from Chicago to Los Angeles.

view in the mirror

The Department of Public Safety in my side mirror, as we were leaving the parking lot after completing the paperwork to get oldest daughter's driver's permit yesterday.

Arrows

These arrows can be seen when leaving Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, OK. I've searched to find the artist who designed the arrows or a story behind their placement, but cannot find anything. I like to imagine that a really big warrior shot them and they landed right in the bulls-eye, which happens to be along the road that exits the airport.

Did you know that Oklahoma is a Choctaw word that means land of the red people?

water taxi

A fun way to see the canal in Bricktown (downtown Oklahoma City) is by water taxi tour. In my experience, the Water Taxi Ambassadors (as they're called on the water taxi website) share lots of trivia, information and stories about Oklahoma City and the latest developments in Bricktown.

Sonic

The headquarters for Sonic Industries, Inc. (Sonic Drive-In) are located in downtown Oklahoma City.

I'd like to talk to their marketing team sometime about happy hour. They say that happy hour (half-priced drinks) is from 2pm to 4pm. Since that's two hours, I think it should be called happy HOURS, not happy HOUR. It should not matter to me, actually, since the only thing I drink from Sonic is water, but it does.

What say you? Hour or hours?

Spirit of the Buffalo

Today, I saw a buffalo that I've not noticed before. He lives by the canal in Bricktown between Bass Pro and Toby Keith's Bar and Grill. The buffalo looks a little worn (weathered), but is still beautifully majestic. This large herd of one hundred buffalo painted/decorated by Oklahoma artists are located throughout Oklahoma. Many of them are in the Oklahoma City area.


You can read more about the Spirit of the Buffalo project at the official website.

Oklahoma Land Run Monument

Today, I went downtown to walk around the Oklahoma Land Run Monument. It's off of Reno and Lincoln Blvd., behind the Bass Pro Shop.

I'm amazed by the detail in each sculpture, the expressions on the settlers' faces, the strain on the horses faces and in their bunched muscles. Each time I visit, I notice something new.

These sculptures represent the April 22, 1889 Land Run. Settlers lined up and when they heard the gun shot at high noon, they took off on their horses and with their wagons and families and staked their claims. The settlers who crossed the line early were called Sooners. That's why Oklahoma is called The Sooner State.

Although the Land Run Monument is not yet completed yet, the sculptures are amazing and definitely worth a look. According to Paul Moore's website (the sculptor from Norman, OK), the completed monument will include:

38 people, 34 horses, 3 wagons, 1 buggy, 1 sulky, 1 dog, 1 rabbit and 1 cannon.

This cowboy's hat was blown off and he's reaching back for it. I love the details.

Crestview Farms

Crestview Farms is the farm (CSA) where we get some of our vegetables each week. The farm is in Edmond, which is north of Oklahoma City. They also sell produce at the OSU-OKC Farmers Market each weekend.

You're a Grand Ole Flag

Today was spent with family, the way our holidays generally are, the way I like to spend holidays. The kids played on the Wii, Mom made homemade ice cream and Dad grilled burgers and hot dogs. The weather was nice enough to eat dinner out on the porch. We laughed and laughed as the dogs ran around barking at the sounds of fireworks in the distance. It was a perfect afternoon.

I saw this flag fluttering in the wind as I was driving out to Mom and Dad's house. It reminded me of why we are celebrating today.

Freedom.

I'm thankful for freedom every day. For those who fought and died to give us freedom, and for those who are willing to fight and die for our freedom to this day, thank you.