A Scary Walk Home

It was a busy day. Up early to make it to a before school meeting. Then school until 3:30. Change clothes and dash into Lawton to exercise. Home to change back into original clothes then walk to school to attend a PhotoShop class held in the school library. I opened the doors at 5:30, class started at 6:00. I stayed until 7:00 and then went to a meeting at church. The meeting lasted until almost 9:00. Walked back to school to collect my things and set the alarm. Then headed to the house. The school is a block west of the church. The church is north of my house on the same block. Not a long walk. Nice cool fall weather. All was well, until I rounded the corner of the church. That's when a big black rottweiler came out of nowhere barking and growling and running at me and running around me. I yelled at him to go home. He lives across the street from me with several other dogs. The sheriff has been called numerous times but they can't really do anything and we don't have police in our town. I started to walk on home as the dog continued to bark. I could hear him coming closer so I turned around, pointed at his house and screamed, "GO HOME!" That just brought the other dogs over. Now I had the big black dog and medium sized fluffy dog (cute but rude) barking their heads off and two littler dogs watching. I told them all to go home and quit barking. I was in front of the house next door and I was so happy to see the neighbor's front door open. Collin stood there, probably wondering if he should go get his pellet gun. He's the same teenager who helped me with the snake ordeal. Then the people across the street opened their door (the dogs' owner) and yelled for the dogs to come home. Strange how those dogs will obey a little 2nd grade girl, but they did. I thanked Collin for coming to my rescue and hurried home. I was a little shaky when I got inside and more than a little upset. It is safer to walk the streets of New York City than it is in rural Oklahoma. The sheriff will be getting another call tomorrow.

Plarn Purses

Last summer, in Kansas for a Tompkins family reunion, we went to church at the St. John United Methodist Church. That's where I was baptized as a baby! Somehow we met a woman who had a crocheted purse made out of plastic "WalMart" bags. It was too too cute. She gave us a little lesson after church on how to make one. She so enjoyed our time together that she came to the reunion to show us some of her other bags.

I began making my first bag (the one on the right) as soon as I got home. The one on the left is my second creation and the one in the middle is a Trick-or-Treat bag for Owen. If he doesn't want to use it, then I will put my treats in it to give out to the little goblins. Any suggestions for my next project?

Plarn n. PLastic yARN

Flowers for Mari

......................................................................................................................

Swarovski

Susan makes gorgeous earrings. I asked for black and white and got these beautifully wonderful pair. They are made with Swarovski beads, something I'd never heard of until Susan told me about them. You know how that goes? When you hear about something new then that something pops up over and over leaving you to wonder, "How could I not have heard of it before?" I started seeing Swarovski everywhere...in craft stores, on jewelry displays and even a whole store in an upscale mall!

Susan made an angel magnet for Gran. I received it today and can't wait to see Gran open it.

Encyclomedia

It's library conference time again. Instead of staying downtown at a hotel across the street from the convention center, I decided to be frugal and get a room 15 miles away for almost half price ($67 a night instead of $139). BUT, this morning, the 15 mile drive took 1 1/2 hours. Pouring rain and traffic. I sat in Oklahoma City traffic for 45 minutes as everyone was searching for a place to park. Sitting and not moving for 15 minutes at a time, I decided to create a rain hat since I didn't have an umbrella. I first put my hair up in a pony tail then put on my ball cap. I had a fun plastic bag left over from the Cops and Kids picnic last Saturday in Lawton that I used to cover my cap and make a little shelter for my head from the rain. I looked at myself in the visor mirror and thought, "I've gotta have a picture of this." You gotta do something while sitting surrounded by other non-moving cars. What do you think? Fetching?

I finally made it to the convention center having missed the first class. I made it in time to visit the exhibits and get lots of freebies (pencils, pens, pedomiters, rulers, plastic cups, color books, big plastic paper clips...) then off to the second class: EBSCO database.

Next up, join Carrie for the 21st Century Grant luncheon. The speaker was Keith Jackson, former OU football player (1984-1987) and NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers. He got a Superbowl ring with one of those teams. I thought some of you football fans would enjoy a picture of me with Keith. He was a great motivational speaker and Christian man making a difference in the world. Beyond football, he now works with teenagers at risk, getting them through high school and into college.
Me and Keith

Symmetry

Is it left brain or right brain to look for patterns around you? Whichever, that's me. I had a very symmetrical afternoon. I went to the post office to mail a letter. It cost 62 cents. I paid with 2 quarters, 2 nickles, 2 pennies. Then, on my way to OKC, I got a coffee at Starbucks that cost $2.22. Symmetry again! I paid with 2 one dollar bills, 2 dimes and 2 pennies. So, what's so special about that? I'm not sure, but it must be something.

The Sky is God's Canvas

Coming home from Wichita Falls on Labor Day after leaving Mari & Shawn at the Wichita Falls Airport, we drove through a little rain on the Interstate. When the skies cleared, there was the most amazing rainbow that nearly filled the sky. It was a complete rainbow that touched the ground on the left and spread across the sky meeting the ground again on the right. Each ROYGBIV color was a bright and distinct band of its own. It would have been a perfect subject to do a photoshop panoramic picture, but we were in a hurry to get home and I didn't think of it. Words will have to do.

Later that night after I completed the school newsletter I walked out into the night and there waiting for me was another sky work of art starring the moon. It was a 3/4 moon shining big and bright white like a full moon does. It was framed by clouds that made the rest of the sky completely black. The spot light was on the moon. Wispy black clouds floated in front of the moon like a shredded spider web. It could've been a Halloween decoration, but a lovely awe inspiring one. Before I could get my camera out, the clouds moved and the moon disappeared. I didn't think I could get a good picture anyway. Even in the best of situations, photographs don't do the original justice.

I hope you will take time to visit the free art gallery in the sky. God is an awesome artist!