Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation donations needed for uninsured /under-insured children with brain tumors & cancer - Donate at: www.OKBTF.org

To all of my Fellow Blogger Friends & Family

2016 Year-End Donations for the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation are needed.

(This is the real reason for the season)

Donate at www.OKBTF.org

No donation is too small.

Let's help Nancy and the OKBTF impact more lives before year-end.

Let's bring more smiles to the beautiful young faces with your tax deductible donation.

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The Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation 501(c)3 has been providing help and hope for thousands of Oklahoma families for the last 16 years. 

As we enter our 17th year we are excited to continue making a difference in the lives of brain tumor and child cancer families across the state.  Every penny you give, stays right here in Oklahoma to support Oklahoma families. 

This year has been especially difficult for the organization. State budget cuts to mental health services and a struggling economy has resulted in a 40% reduction in revenue.  We need your support more than ever!

The OKBTF is the only licensed nonprofit outpatient mental health provider that focuses on meeting the needs of cancer patients through counseling, case management, support service programs and support groups designed to address family’s individual needs.  These services are provided completely at no out-of-pocket costs to the families we serve.  We need your help to continue providing these no-cost services and support.

We respectfully request an investment in our programs and services that support uninsured and under-insured Oklahomans with brain tumors and children with cancer.

As we approach the season of gratitude, please consider investing in the Oklahoma Brain Tumor Foundation.  Someone’s life will be changed by your generosity. 

   

Sincerely,

Nancy Miller

Founder and President

Www.okbtf.org

African Mud Bath for Ugandan Buffalo Photo by Patricia (PattyCake) Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

African Mud Bath for Ugandan Buffalo Photo by Patricia (PattyCake) Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Water Buffalo cooling off with a Beauty Bath of Mud at Paraa Lodge in Northern Uganda.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder :)

Lechwe Deer @Paraa Lodge Uganda Africa Photo by Patricia (PattyCake) Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

Lechwe Deer @Paraa Lodge Uganda Africa Photo by Patricia (PattyCake) Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Wonder if the deer here are looking at us------ as we are looking at them?

Camel through the eye of a lens.... Photo by Patricia (PattyCake) Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

Camel through the eye of a lens.... Photo by Patricia (PattyCake) Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God
Matthew 19:24

This is the purity and innocence of Africa untouched by man.

The First True Soldier...Native American Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

The First True Soldier...Native American Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: HONORING OUR VETERANS - STAND DOWN 2016

HONORING OUR VETERANS - STAND DOWN 2016

You can read the story that I wrote in its entirety on the front cover page in the November 15th Veterans Tribute edition of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune newspaper. (continued on page 8)

Link to story:
https://www.c-a-tribes.org/sites/www.c-a-tribes.org/files/Nov.%2015%2C%202016_0.pdf

50,000 plus homeless veterans today are sleeping on the American streets every night according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.  Native Americans whose members form 1.7% of the US active duty forces are twice as large as their 0.8% US population.  Of that 1.7% Native American soldiers --- 26% of these veterans are homeless and poor.

America is the greatest nation in the world.  We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Who are the brave? They are the proud men and women that are in the armed services that keep us safe and protect us from the known and unknown terrors of the world.  They are the men and women that are enlisted in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard.  They are our family members---- our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children.  We are able to go about our daily lives and live in this land of the free because of these brave men and women that protect us here in the United States and abroad in over 100 countries.

The 2016 Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down was held at the Cox Convention Center November 4, 2016.

The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribe sponsored the Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down event. Stand Down is a nationwide event for the homeless. Stand Down is unique in that it is for all Military Veterans. No one was turned down for any service.

Pictures from this event can be found at:  http://pattycakegreetings.smugmug.com/Cheyenne-and-Arapaho-2016

THANK YOU VETERANS FOR YOUR SERVITUDE....SEMPER FI !

SkyDance - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

SkyDance - Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: SkyDance Pedestrian Bridge above Interstate 40 in downtown Oklahoma City has become one of the city's most unique landmarks.

The design is inspired by the 'sky dance' of the scissor-tailed flycatcher, Oklahoma's state bird.

Just caught a fast glimpse / pic as I was travelling underneath it tonight!!...

Will have to come back and catch it in its full color changes real soon!! 3

Taken with Nikon D7100

HappySmile of the African Water Buffalo Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

HappySmile of the African Water Buffalo Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Check out this pic that I shot in Uganda, Africa at Paraa Lodge.....couldn't believe that I caught this moment ---- A water buffalo with the black birds that have landed on him --- they are there to eat the insects off of him.

He looks like he is liking it ---kinda smiling. Also check out the horns they are smiling also.

Camera - Nikon D7100 Lens - Tamron AF LD 200-400mm

Birds of a Feather The American Flamingo Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

Birds of a Feather The American Flamingo Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Photo taken at Oklahoma City Zoo

Caught the morning light on 9/27/16

Nikon D7100
Tamron 18-200 Macro Lens

Kissing Flamingos - Let's Be Friends Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

Kissing Flamingos - Let's Be Friends Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Hello....Can we be friends?
Kissing American Flamingos at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden​. I fell in Love with these Flamingos at the #okczoo.

Photo taken at Oklahoma City Zoo

Caught the morning light on 9/27/16

Nikon D7100
Tamron 18-200 Macro Lens

Supermoon...the day after Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

Supermoon...the day after Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: My Moon Shot 10/17/16 9:35pm - Nikon D7100 - Tamron lens AF LD 200-400mm
Missed SuperMoon...still got a good shot...

A Walk in Nature's Beauty Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

A Walk in Nature's Beauty Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: Pretty as a picture. A walk in nature's beauty is so peaceful.

GOD's creation ....managed by man.

Tony's Tree Plantation - Oklahoma City, OK

Shadow Fishing-The Shadow of Their Smile Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot

Shadow Fishing-The Shadow of Their Smile Photo by Patricia Smith — National Geographic Your Shot: 'FISHING AT SUNSET' - Hefner Lake

I wonder if they are catching anything?

HONORING OUR VETERANS - STAND DOWN 2016 by Patricia Smith, Freelance Writer - Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune

HONORING OUR VETERANS - STAND DOWN 2016

You can read the story that I wrote in its entirety on the front cover page in the November 15th Veterans Tribute edition of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune newspaper. (continued on page 8)

Link to story:

https://www.c-a-tribes.org/sites/www.c-a-tribes.org/files/Nov.%2015%2C%202016_0.pdf

50,000 plus homeless veterans today are sleeping on the American streets every night according to the Department of Veteran Affairs. Native Americans whose members form 1.7% of the US active duty forces are twice as large as their 0.8% US population. Of that 1.7% Native American soldiers --- 26% of these veterans are homeless and poor.

America is the greatest nation in the world. We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Who are the brave? They are the proud men and women that are in the armed services that keep us safe and protect us from the known and unknown terrors of the world. They are the men and women that are enlisted in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard. They are our family members---- our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children. We are able to go about our daily lives and live in this land of the free because of these brave men and women that protect us here in the United States and abroad in over 100 countries.

The 2016 Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down was held at the Cox Convention Center November 4, 2016.

The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribe sponsored the Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down event. Stand Down is a nationwide event for the homeless. Stand Down is unique in that it is for all Military Veterans. No one was turned down for any service.

Pictures from this event can be found at: http://pattycakegreetings.smugmug.com/Cheyenne-and-Arapaho-2016

THANK YOU VETERANS FOR YOUR SERVITUDE!

Patricia Smith
Patricia.Smith1955@gmail.com

HONORING OUR VETERANS - 2016 Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down by Patricia Smith

HONORING OUR VETERANS

2016 Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down was held at the Cox Convention Center November 4, 2016.

The Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribe sponsored the Inter-Tribal Veterans Stand Down event. Stand Down is a nationwide event for the homeless. Stand Down is unique in that it is for all Military Veterans. No one will be turned down for any service.

You can read the story that I wrote and view the pictures in the November 15th edition of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune newspaper.

https://www.c-a-tribes.org/tribal-news

Thank you Veterans for your servitude! 

Pictures by Pat
Patty Cake Greetings From The Heart
www.PattyCakeGreetings.smugmug.com

INTEGRIS HEALTH -- Living Cancer Out Loud - Tenth Annual African American Women’s Health Forum - Oklahoma City, OK - 9/17/16

Living Cancer Out Loud

Tenth Annual African American Women’s Health Forum

(Tickets are required to attend this free event. You may register for tickets by calling the INTEGRIS HealthLine at 405-951-2277. Online registration is not available.)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 29, 2016) – Breast cancer poses different risk factors for African American women. In memory of Zora Brown and her efforts toward educating women of color about specific health risks they face, Michele Y. Halyard, M.D., radiation oncology, Mayo Clinic, will speak at our Tenth Annual African American Women’s Health Forum. Dr. Halyard will discuss risk factors, updated screening recommendations and differences in outcomes. She will share new technologies in the treatment of breast cancer and how they can decrease long term cardiovascular side effects.

Included will be a performance entitled, “The Journey, Living Cancer Out Loud,” presented by actress Tenisha Baca, M.A., M.Ed., faculty for the communications department at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Ariz.

This year, you’ll also learn from our panel of distinguished physicians in areas relating to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Panelists include Michele Halyard, M.D., Lara Theobald, M.D., and Denise Rable, M.D., moderated by Sonja Hughes, M.D.

At the conclusion of the event, the late Zora Brown, founder of the African American Women’s Health Forum 10 years ago, will be honored with a reception. Please join us for light refreshments as we celebrate and remember Zora’s commitment to improving the health of the community.

The forum will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, in the Douglass High School Auditorium, 900 N. Martin Luther King Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73117.

Tickets are required to attend this free event. You may register for tickets by calling the INTEGRIS HealthLine at 405-951-2277. Online registration is not available.

###

INTEGRIS is Oklahoma’s largest health system with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, physician clinics, mental health facilities, independent living centers and home health agencies located throughout much of the state. For more information, visit www.integrisok.com.

I loveeeee taking pictures of real-deal people, places and things....Patty Cake Greetings From The Heart www.PattyCakeGreetings.smugmug.com

I loveeeee taking pictures of real-deal people, places and things....

The sunset is at Hefner Lake. 

The Skybridge downtown Oklahoma City is of the scissortail (our state bird).

The flower / plant grows in Gulu, Uganda Africa at Sister Rosemary's school.

The picture of the fishermen is at Hefner Lake....I've titled it 'Fishers of Men' from the bible.  

Patty Cake Greetings From The Heart
www.PattyCakeGreetings.smugmug.com 

'Fishers of Men' - Photograph by Patricia Smith - PattyCake Greetings From The Heart www.PattyCakeGreetings.smugmug.com

I entered this picture that I took at Hefner Lake in a photo contest and just got back how I placed....pretty cool huh!... I loveeeee taking pictures <3 --- Maybe one day someone will find / discover me and I can travel all over the world and take real-deal pictures of people, places and things....That's what I wanna do when I grow up..lol :)

ViewBug.com wrote:

"Hey PattyCake0117, your cover looks awesome!

You placed ahead of 10,830 images! Nicely done.

Won in 2 Categories:

*Won Photo Trifecta - Top 30 class week 1

*Won Peer Award - Jaw Dropping"

Patricia Smith

The King of Alur in Uganda (King Rwoth Phillip Rauni Olarker) attended the wedding of Martin and Joan

The King of Alur in Uganda
(King Rwoth Phillip Rauni Olarker) 

I had the opportunity to photo a real King in Uganda -- The King of Alur. He attended the wedding of Martin and Joan which I attended while there in Uganda. The current Alur King is Rwoth Phillip Rauni Olarker. King Phillip was a childhood friend of Martin. This was soooooo exciting! This was such a beautiful wedding and reception.

I found an article in the Daily Monitor written by John K. Abimanyi who interviewed King Phillip.  I loved this particular part of the interview where he shared:  "Rwoth Ubimu (King) Philip Olarker Rauni III is a royal whose making has been cut from the same cloth of ordinariness. The 19th king of Alur kingdom, was not specially raised for royalty, if by that you mean fancy schools and a life of spoon-in-mouth privilege. When his name is summoned, those who know him talk about the cool dude living next door.” 

Mr. Abimanyi also shared that King Phillip had been “a finance and economics professional, an esteemed banker, working with one of the most prestigious and largest banking brands. A few years later, that man steps up to sit on a throne on which his grandfather reigned over a people with a deeply buttressed culture.”

I have never seen a real King in person --- let along take photos of one.

This was such a wonderful and beautiful wedding celebration that I will for ever remember.....such an experience of a lifetime to photograph this wedding.

Pictures of the King of Alur attending Martin and Joan's Wedding can be found at the link below:

http://pattycakegreetings.smugmug.com/The-King-of-Alur-in-Uganda

Patricia Smith 
Patty Cake Greetings From The Heart 
www.Pattycakegreetings.smugmug.com 

Met hundreds of Sudan Refugees travelling South seeking safety and refuge from the recent war outbreak in South Sudan

#CNNiReport

CNN iReporter Patricia Smith

http://ireport.cnn.com/people/Patricia0117

Traveling on the road from Gulu, Uganda Africa to Atiak, Uganda --

Met hundreds of Sudan Refugees travelling South seeking safety and refuge from the recent war outbreak in South Sudan. They were in cars and trucks. They came in buses and on lorry trucks which transported many atop of anything they could carry. Smoke could even been seen from Atiak which is approximately 40 km or 25 miles from the South Sudan border.

All of the lorries were overcrowded and overloaded. Some were even broken down on the side of the road while the people hopelessly waundered around. The men, women and children looked tired and hot --- and kinda lost. It was a sad and very incredible site ---- very unbelievable, surreal and haunting.

It is one thing to view this tragedy on television ---but to experience it up close and personal was horrific.

I tried thinking how I would feel in their place and could not even imagine....wondering in the back of my head how did I get so blessed to be born in the greatest nation in this world and not here in Africa.

What is even sadder is that we do live in the greatest nation in the world and not appreciate what we have!!!

Atiak, Uganda Africa

July 16, 2016

11:30am

Patricia Smith More pics at below link: https://www.facebook.com/1720044738215742/videos/1773516629535219/

"NATIVE POP" in The Paseo in Oklahoma City - July 1st thru July 28th by Patricia Smith and Rosemary Stephens

Page 5

"NATIVE POP" in The Paseo July 1st for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune.

You can read and view the pictures in the July 15th edition of the newspaper. (pages 1&5)

https://www.c-a-tribes.org/sites/www.c-a-tribes.org/files/July%2015%2C%202016.pdf

Native Pop
Opening - July 1 (6pm - 10pm)
Closing - July 28 (6pm - 10pm)

The Paseo Plunge
3010 Paseo in Oklahoma City
paseoplunge.com (405) 315-6224

Native Pop showcases today's top Native American street, progressive, contemporary, and pop artists from around the country. This show will highlight a new path for Native AmericanArt featured in Indian Country as well as continue the dialogue that "we" as Native people are still here. As society changes, art reflects that change. This exhibit will be evidence of how Native American also change with the times.

Artist that will be showing -- Brent Learned, Bunky Echo-Hawk, Debra Pappan, Gregg Deal, Joe Hopkins, J Nico Hatfield, Ryan Redcorn, Steven Grounds, Steven Paul Judd.

Pictures by Patricia Smith
www.Pattycakegreetings.smugmug.com

‘Red Earth’-- a pigment that reflects who we are as Native People (Red Earth Festival) by Patricia Smith- Freelance Writer Cheyenne Arapaho Tribune

My story on the Red Earth Festival that I freelanced is in the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribal Tribune July 1st edition of the paper....(page 2 & 7)

https://indd.adobe.com/view/2c8e6a92-795c-4413-839b-39b9ff934ed5

(Page 7)

Hope you enjoy the read ---
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‘Red Earth’ --- a pigment that reflects who we are as Native People 

Gordon Yellowman, a chief, educator and peacemaker with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes once shared the meaning of ‘Red Earth’.  “The red earth carries special meaning for the Cheyenne and Arapaho and other American Indian cultures. That pigment is a reflection of who we are, a representation of who we are as native people.  It’s our blood. The red earth takes care of us and protects our identity as native people, but it also secures and reminds us of our wound, where we come from. And we were made from earth, and we shall return to earth.”

Red Earth, Inc. which was started over 35 years ago celebrated its 30th Annual ‘Red Earth Festival’.  This years’ three-day event took place on June 10th – 12th at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. 

Over 25,000 individuals were in attendance at this year’s event.  Artists from throughout the nation participated and featured their artistry in drawings, paintings, jewelry creation and more.  There were dance presentations and musical performances held daily at the event as well.  Educational seminars as well as children art competitions / activities took place.  The Native American culture resonated throughout the Cox Center.  There was something for every one of all ages there to participate in. 

 More pictures can be viewed at the link below:http://pattycakegreetings.smugmug.com/Red-Earth-2016/
I had the time of my life....the best experience ever--- it was my first 'Red Earth'....

Patricia Smith
Freelance Writer / Photographer
Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribal Tribune