Up with Trees?

Does anyone else get the irony with this sign? Tulsa has these signs scattered throughout the city, mainly among the busiest streets and highway sections. The signs are advertising that a certain group donated the money to plant trees in that certain area, in this case it is from The Helmrich Foundation. (I am not sure what that foundation is for, now I will have to look it up.) The irony with the sign is that its suppose to b e supporting the planting of trees, all the while the sign is made of wood.

This is just one example of the blatant facades our government(s) have no problem putting on if the public is going to be stupid enough to accept. When did Americans stop thinking? When did we stop taking the actions of our government seriously enough to hold the officials accountable? When did people stop being active participants of their communities so that they could be sure that their best interest were kept in mind?

My guess is that it happened some where between "Leave it to Beaver". "The Andy Griffin Show", "The Brady Bunch", MTV, and reality television. Perhaps its time that American turned off its televisions and started re-envisioning tighter communities and the rebuilding of a government that actually thinks about what is best for its people instead of whats best for turning revenue.

Oklahoma Food Cooperative

The Oklahoma Food Cooperative
(I found the link to this site through the Oklahoma Homeschool blogger. To find the homeschool blogger for your state click the blogger link and replace "Oklahoma" at the end with the name of your state. I find this website extremely helpful in finding local events and organization.)

It is to late for me to join this year, and most of you will probably think the same. However, every Oklahoman reading the blog should seriously consider joining next year and/or pass the word about the organization.

It is important to support local growers. These people are your friends, family, neighbors and so on, and they are just trying to make a living like you are. So instead of contributing to China, Mexico, Canada, or anywhere else your grocery products may come from make an effort to buy locally. Not only will you be supporting local farmers, your city, and your state, but also the country and a healthier future for your children.

Antoine-Louis Barye

While talking about French sculptors I thought it would be worth mentioning that the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, is hosting and exhibit on the works of Antoine-Louis Barye. It is a fantastic exhibit and I encourage everyone in the area to visit it. (My Husband and I have already been twice.) The exhibit will be showing until September 2. Also, just as a helpful hint, The museum is free to the public the second Saturday of the month, you may want to
call and double check this because it does change from time to time depending on funding available.

Just to prove the sculptures are worth seeing in person here are some pictures (which in no way give the sculptures justice).

Theseus Killing the Minotaur


















Read the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.




Elephant Sculpture














(The exhibit has one of Barye's sketches of a dead elephant. ---He studied in a "zoo" where he could watch the dead animals be dissected and study the movements of living ones. How unfortunate that in today's zoos people only go to look at the animals for a brief period of entertainment, not to actually study the animals in any significant way. Its sad that we think its okay to lock up nature for our amusement.)


Pair of Candelabra












(This was probably my favorite piece of the whole exhibit. Erik and I brainstormed some possible meanings behind the different symbols used. In the little time we had to study the sculpture we decided that a simple explanation was that the sculpture was a picture of man's muses. This may be wrong, especially since it is probably oversimplified, that is exactly why I need a copy of these candelabras for myself.)

Frederic Bartholdi

I bet most of you don't know who Frederic Bartholdi is, but you would recognize his work if you saw it. Frederic, also know as Amilcar Hasenfratz, was a French sculptor born this day in 1834.

So what is his most famous piece of work?



Here are some websites with Statue of Liberty information:

Statue of Liberty Facts

Statue of Liberty National Park

Statue of Liberty Earth cam

State of Liberty at Enchanted Learning
(Home school site)

Birthing Culture

(Contributed by Erik Nordskog)

One of the most dissatisfying part's of American life is the lack of any real culture. If you ask most people what it means to have "culture" they always respond with comments about other people's culture but not their own. Thus, they avoid the confrontation of their own lack of culture. I asked one friend what her idea of American culture was and she replied "BBQ and Country Music." This is not culture. Culture is not a single food but becomes cultural when developed into a cuzine that is wrought over time from a group of people who share the same values and ideas about life.

Since most American's have European roots, perhaps we should look back across the sea to the people that we come from and see if they can give us some hints as to what creating some culture might look like.

"The Stranger"

The Stranger within my gate, He may be true or kind, But he does not talk my talk -- I cannot feel his mind. I see the face and the eyes and the mouth, But not the soul behind.

The men of my own stock, They may do ill or well, But they tell the lies I am wonted to, They are used to the lies I tell; And we do not need interpreters When we go to buy or sell.

The Stranger within my gates. He may be evil or good, But I cannot tell what powers control -- What reasons sway his mood; Nor when the gods of his far-off land, Shall repossess his blood.

The men of my own stock, Bitter bad they may be, But, at least, they hear the things I hear, And see the things I see; And whatever I think of them and their likes They think of the likes of me.

This was my father's belief And this is also mine: "Let the corn be all of one sheaf -- And the grapes be all one vine, Ere our children's teeth are set on edge By bitter bread and wine."

-Rudyard Kipling

The Emperor's New Clothes

The beauty of the stories that come from Indo-European culture is that, though modern people say that they are meant for children, they have lessons in them that adults can take into consideration during their day to day lives.

I especially like "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen because in today's society we are ruled by a mob mindset. People are fed their ideas and opinions through the television and other media sources and they hardly ever second guess what the are told. Even more rare than second guessing the media is when a person stands up and says what they know is true even though everyone else is happy to go along with a lie to avoid confrontation.

What is really special about this story is that the one person to stand up to speak the Truth is a child. Oddly enough, though adults like to think they know more then their children a lot of times its the children that do the right thing with out second guessing themselves, or rather, without considering how it will affect their social appearance. I love that about children, and I think it is something we should all strive for: stating and upholding the Truth even when its not what we want or its unpleasant.

You can read "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen by clicking here.

Richard Wilson

Today if Richard Wilson were still alive he would be 293 years old. Wilson was born August 1, 1714 in Penegoes, Montgomeryshire. He originally started as a portrait painter, studying in Venice. Upon returning to Britain he started painting landscape, and became very successful. Unfortunately though, like most talented artist he died poor and unpopular on May 15, 1782 at the age of 68 in Colomendy, Denbighshire.

Here are some of his paintings.

Lake Albano and Castel Gandolfo














Lake Avernus

View in Windsor Great Park