August 2018 – Pink Hat Gypsy

If you love Georgia O’Keefe art or if you just want to see beautiful mountains then go to the little town of Abiquiu, New Mexico and visit Georgia O’Keefe’s beautiful home and surrounding property.

Near the Abiquiu Inn you can purchase tickets ($35.00) that includes the shuttle bus drive over, a knowledgeable guide (we had brilliant Brenda) who knew all things Georgia and had a true passion not only for her art but knew about the beautiful little town and natural back drop that surrounded the home.

The home is very simple, almost sparse, but the true beauty comes from the views one gets from the enormous picture windows that are in every room.

Our guide would hold up pictures of paintings, then point to the inspiration that Georgia had to inspire her.

I knew very little about this iconic artist prior to my visit to Abiquiu, but now I not only know more about her, but I have an appreciation for the way that she captured the beauty in everything from spectacular mountains, to small doors.

We were told stories of how she used all the fruits and vegetables in her meals, this woman was no starving artist, yet she made sure everything in her garden was put to use and that she could not use immediately was canned and saved.

They do not allow photographs to be taken in the home, but you may take as many pictures of the surrounding property as you wish.

After your tour, if your hungry visit The Cafe Abiquiu, the menu is filled with delicious looking meals, I chose the Grilled Cheese Sandwich with tomatoes made panini style.

Wonderful day with my dear friends Patrice and Elizabeth plus a delicious meal, who could ask for more!

In a serene park in the middle of Oklahoma City, there sits 168 empty chairs.

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The chairs face a reflecting pool between to large walls, one wall says 9:01 the other 9:03.

It’s all very simple but the impact is enormous. At the base of each chair is the name of one of the victims of The Oklahoma City Bombing,

If you close your eyes you can almost imagine them sitting as people pass by hoping that what visitors see and experience will somehow help to heal any anger they have in their hearts making the world a more peaceful place.

This memorial is all about healing. 9:01 signifies the innocence of the city before the bomb went off, and 9:03 signifies the time that the healing began.

An enormous oak tree, named The Survivors Tree provides shade and a place to reflect for visitors, This tree was once called an eyesore, but with love is now beautiful and purposeful.

If you visit, take time to go into the museum, where you not only hear the story of the tragic events of April 19, 1995, but you also hear about how the world came together to try to help the survivors, the victims families and the city. We were a world at its best and worst following the tragedy. The stories you hear will change your life.

We had less then 24 hours to see as much of Oklahoma City as possible and while we only scratched the surface of this town, we did take in a few sights.

The State Capitol.