Memorial Day 2013

This is part of a poem I learned in seventh grade, and which is always with me when I see those graves with the flags planted on them.

"....between the crosses, row on row,

  that mark our place....

  We are the dead, short days ago, 

  we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

  loved and were loved, and now we lie

  In Flanders fields."

They gave everything...

MY Annie Oakley

This is a picture of my Annie Oakley from 1950's Saturday morning kid shows.  Once for Xmas, my mom made me a "cowgirl skirt" and vest with fringe on them; she used a stencil and painted a small horse on the front of the vest.  I also got my handy six-shooters and a cowgirl hat....and the hat had her ACTUAL signature on the hatband!  I was one happy little cowgirl!  I practiced my quick draw alone and with combinations of my sisters.  I also practiced drawing and shooting from different positions, creeping quietly and slowlyyyy  up behind people, jumping out of and off of trees, rocks,whatever.  I was especially good at dying.... melodramatic?....unexpected?....slow?....fast?....painful?  And, best of all, the one where you look dead and not moving.... and then....suddenly.....you stagger up and weave around shooting your gun while the others try shoot you actually dead. Which, of course, creates a deep need for "thespianism" from the future corpse.

I had a lot of fun and I absorbed a lot of power being Annie Oakley.  I never did learn to shoot while standing on my horse's back....however, I did destroy the arms of the couch while trying. And I've given myself credit for effort....Annie would want it that way!

Deep Thoughts

You may not control all the events

that happen to you,

but you can decide 

not to be reduced by them.

                                                     Maya Angelou

Cowgirls Are Better Than Cowboys!

I've been super busy today, but for me finally.  I've been able to get more done to close down my old business....and, oh, it feels so good.  It's hard to imagine how much more time and energy I'll have.  I was thinking today about my "hero" as a little girl, Annie Oakley.  I didn't know anything about the "real" one, but I loved the one on television.  She could stand up on a running horse, hit anything she aimed at, and was braver and smarter than all the males.  She was a good role model for me since the only others were housewives (who really seemed to like being in the kitchen). The following are some of my small cowgirl collages:

    AND, while not cowgirls, I think this fits here:

Happy Trails!

Mother's Day! Where Did The Time Go?

Here's a small piece I made for my daughter a long time ago, called "Love You Forever," after a book I used to read to my kids.

How could THESE.......                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

   

       
Turn into THESE?!