Hope

This is the "Survivor Tree" at the OKC National Memorial. It's a living reminder of of hope, life and improbable survival in times of tragedy and hardship. 

Storm skies

This is what the skies looked like in my front yard the day the tornado hit in Edmond. I love clouds like this. On a serious note, the same line of storms hit 90 miles south of OKC in a little town called Lone Grove, right at sundown and killed eight people in a trailer park. The town has been devastated but Oklahomans have a seemingly unending ability to dig deep, pull together and help each other again, again, and again. In Edmond, a mini market in the neighborhood, when they got their power back, provided free hot food to the first responders or anyone who had been displaced by the storm. The Red Cross set up a shelter the night of the tornado but by the 10 p.m. news, they had shut it down because everyone had been provided a home in which to go stay.

Early storm

This is the storm that's just hitting my house right now. The little bit of red just above the fence line is a lightning strike. A line of thunderstorms from Texas to Kansas hit this afternoon that spawned tornadoes in metro OKC, including one that was on the ground for ten minutes. There were no deaths reported so far and only three minor injuries, even though one man in a trailer was sucked through a window and thrown outside. The line has finally hit my little town, thankfully after dark where tornado activity is much less prone. I do have a storm shelter, but I don't think it will be necessary. However, with all the lightening, I think I will post this as quickly as possible and shut off my computer. The "storm season" is a month away.

Colorful OK

Downtown OKC has some very colorful areas. This was taken from the Bricktown canal boat in the summer.

Winter baby

I almost missed this little guy as I was driving past. He lives just around the block from me and looks like he's pretty new in town.

Conductor

In front of the Civic Music Center, this statue is dedicated to the conductors. And there he stands, wistfully conducting to the day.

Bricktown

A one-time view of Bricktown for me, from this height, and still under ice.

A bird's eye view

This shot was taken from the 34th floor of the Chase building in downtown. The edge of Bricktown is just off to the very bottom left. There are still remnants of the sleet storm on the ground and tops of the buildings.

Hall of Mirrors

This is one lamp in the Hall of Mirrors inside the Civic Music Center in downtown OKC, reflected in the mirror. I love the art deco style.

Checking out the inside

This is the inside of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel. The front door is ahead and a little to the left. The view that's straight ahead is a cozy sitting area just between the restaurant and the entryway that looks out onto the street. The check in desk is just beyond the first pillars and to the left. The restaurant is to the extreme left, up at the front of the hotel. I think you can barely see the beginning of the top of the ceiling but I don't think I could capture the feeling of how spacious, yet intimate the room feels, due to the rugs and the large pillars. 

Skirvin Hilton

This is the Skirvin Hilton, One Park Ave (isn't that a great address), recently renovated and my favorite hotel. Until last night I had never been in it but I just love the unique look and feel of it. I hope some day to try the restaurant and maybe the piano bar, Park, that are housed there.

Downtown OKC

Oklahoma City has a particularly pretty downtown area. I haven't posted enough pictures of it because I don't really live very close but we were out today looking at wedding venues for my son and his fiancé, so I will have some interesting pictures to post in the next few days.

OU phone booth

I visited the University of Oklahoma campus last week. It's a very beautiful campus, scattered with sculptures and trees, and oddly enough, red phone booths. When was the last time you saw a phone booth? 

With eyes on the horizon...

Not being able to be in Washington D.C. with the two million people watching in person, I watched history in my living room with my dog, Ozzy, on my knee.

An enoooormous head

This caught my eye as I drove through a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood two blocks from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, in the yard of the Firehouse Art Center, but I didn't know that then. I just saw a house with a huge head in the front yard. I love college towns. 

Sculpture

This sculpture is in the courtyard of the Firehouse Art Center in Norman, OK. The building is right next door to the park where the art is displayed that was posted yesterday.

Norman park

This park is close to the OU campus in Norman, 15 miles south of OKC. There is an Art Center adjacent to the park with several interesting pieces which I will be posting in the next few days. Check out the two eyes in the back, just above the park sign.

Windmill

Great sky, windmill - seems like Oklahoma to me.

Fire

I took a roundabout route to get breakfast this morning so was surprised to find my regular way home on fire in not one but two places. There were fires in the grassy area between the freeway and the service road. Emerging from the smoke on the other side I found a police car parked with his lights going, watching. Not a runaway burn then. As I slowed and stopped to take photos I couldn't help but think of the terror of the people who live through wildfires. I can't even imagine. As I drove through, these flames in places were a foot from my car but never over the top of it. The images of last year's firestorms were in my mind on the rest of my drive home. I smelled of smoke for hours.

Long distance

The tractor is in a field behind my house, but it's actually about five or six houses away.

A picture of happiness

This is Ozzy, and he loves his blue baseball coat, as you can tell by the very big grin on his face. That grin just says pure joy to me, cause he know dress up means going outside, and Bye Bye!!!

Too true

This plaque is on the wall of the Tres Sueños Vineyard. It was just too perfect to pass up.

Where in the world?....

A pyramid in Egypt? 

Nope...

a rooftop in Moore, Oklahoma.

OK vineyard

This is Tres Sueños Vineyard, in Luther, which is east of OKC, just 14 miles outside the metro area. In the back is a stand of huge pine trees, perfect for outdoor weddings or other occasions. The place is guarded by a pair of extremely friendly house cats.

Wind chime

I just liked the angles on this shot. This wind chime was handmade in Colorado and has a beautiful tone. Unfortunately it now resides on the ground next to the back door because the wind never stops in Oklahoma! I figured if the wind chime annoyed me then it must really bother my neighbors and I did the thoughtful (and sanity preserving) thing and took it down.

Weeping Jesus

I think by far this is the most outstanding image I posted this past year. This statue stands outside the Oklahoma City National Memorial, where the Murrah Building stood. It's across the street, looking away from the memorial, covering his eyes in grief. It's very powerful, as is the memorial itself.