SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

 Spring in Texas is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen!  The wild flowers are gorgeous and when you come upon huge patches of them along the road, it stops you in your tracks!  I had to make a quick road trip to Wichita Falls yesterday and here are some of the sights I saw along the highway!!
Happy Spring!!!

                       INDIAN PAINTBRUSH

Texoma Cowboy Church

Bluebonnets

WEEKEND OF THE ARTS

Our Inaugural exhibit for the Western Trail Art Association, was presented by the Western Trail Historical Society and held this past weekend at the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus, Oklahoma.  WTAA recently formed in October 2011 to promote art and tourism in the states that the Great Western Cattle Trail went through in the late 1800's.  Being an officer (Secretary), it was GREAT fun to attend, exhibit and sell my jewelry and meet some wonderful people! 

THE MUSEUM OF THE WESTERN PRAIRIE

On site at the museum, is the original ranch house for the "Cross S" ranch, located just southwest of Altus.  Each stone was marked, cataloged, loaded on pallets, relocated to the museum grounds and rebuilt as an exact replica. Behind the structure is a staircase leading to the top floor.  It's an amazing piece of history and creates a perfect showpiece for the museum. 

In the span of a little more than one hundred years, southwest Oklahoma has changed from a homeland of the Kiowa, Comanche and Plains Apache to an area of prosperous farms and growing communities.

The grounds (courtyard) also feature an historic half-dugout, an operating windmill, farm implements and a carriage barn with additional displays.

 

Saturday night, artists, Laura Gillis, Gloria Lamar and I stopped for a quick pose! 

The art show exhibited great versatility from oils, to watercolors and pastels, to acrylics, jewelry and sculpture!  During the weekend prior to the show, several of us gathered to hang the pieces, using genuine cowhides, Mexican serapes and handwoven rugs as the backdrops for the art. It looked spectacular! 

Friday night was the "by invitation only" exhibit, for Museum board members etc...It was a very classy event with delicious hors d'oeuvres, cold beer and several selections of white wines.  Saturday night, the exhibit was open to the public, with tables outside in the courtyard!

One of my jewelry display cases and another pose!

All of the museum people were incredibly friendly and I felt honored to be a part of their wonderful event!

Live music by a local group softly billowed through the gallery - it was fabulous! On Saturday night, the band was set up outside in the courtyard and was simply glorious!

Several hundred people meandered through the galleries of the museum on both Friday and Saturday nights. Many purchases were made and it was a delightful time for all! My jewelry did VERY well and I was shocked and thrilled at the final outcome!

SLIGHTLY SWITCHING GEARS: FROM CULTURED ART EXHIBITS TO YOUTH SEASON WILD TURKEY HUNTS! 

Zack and Dyke went hunting on Sunday afternoon and Zack bagged 2 good sized Toms with his 20 ga.

It was a GREAT weekend - full of excitement, friends, fabulous weather and overflowing blessings!   Next weekend, I am participating in the first COWBOY TRUE art show in Wichita Falls.  Stay tuned for more postings, photos and fun!

SPACE and GROWTH

Finally, a space has opened to greet another posting. 

 Time = space.

Space = reflection.

Reflection = growth. 

I have come to hold firmly to the belief that growth can sometimes bring unforseen storms.  But the best part is that those very storms arrive in our lives with the promise of healing on the other side.  With that, I am reminded of a powerful and oh so true quote that I read somewhere..."When you're going through something difficult and don't know where God is, remember, the teacher is always quiet during the test." 

The last few months have certainly held some marvelous miracles, clarity of the heart and strength in the soul. 

Around the farm: Dyke's 100 broilers are quite possibly going to eat us out of house and home...they're ravenous, feathered blobs of chicken fat just perched on the cusp of obesity! There aren't enough crumbles to satisfy them!    

As the days wane into weeks, these lil' fellas certainly have "pooched" into spectacular eating machines!

SPRING BREAK IS HERE - and even the dogs enjoy the sun-splashed days!

Dyke took Zack and Jody on an overnight camping and fishing excursion on the other side of Wichita Falls...

Gear was checked, rechecked, packed and finally it was departure time!

With Jake and Talia in from college, their time at home was far and few between, spending a lot of time down at the river and OF COURSE...no time was allowed for mom to take a picture of them...Jake is soooo camera shy!

Here are some pics from the fishing excursion:

So manly, so redneck, so stinky!!!!

Yes, we do have some redneck-ness...these lovely fish heads will soon grace the fenceline to the east...I'm not sure why fisherman hang giant catfish heads on their fenceposts...but they do...is it like they're marking their territory? Strange!

Boone - Jake's pup certainly has grown since Christmas!

 Trying to sneak a pic of Jake, Talia, Zack, Cory and Jarod!  They're getting organized for a 4-wheelin' day at the river!

 Of course, Jake wanted no part in a "posed" photo...so Cory and Jarod took matters into their own hands!

Ahhh, to be 19 again!

So, with the days spent whatever way each person chooses, there's plenty of resting, eating, and just "being"...together.