My Father, Gramps flew in from Idaho yesterday for a little Thanksgiving visit. He is a pretty easy guy to havearound. He likes to go to museums and look at stuff so yesterday he and I went to the Philbrook Museum of Art. It is always a good time to go Philbrook but they have their Festival of the Trees going on right now so it is a doubly good time to go.

Above is Gramps with a Southwest theme. It not only has a Mexican style hat it has Ojo de Dios ornaments on the tree. Ojos were all the rage in New Mexico years ago when I lived there as a very young Yogi.

Check this out, a blue Boy Scout tree and a green “Glovely” tree (made out of work gloves)

Here is a favorite tree. Made from cut up Christmas Story Books.

Upstairs they had gingerbread houses. Absolutely gorgeous.

Now let me clue you in on something about Christmas ok? Here is a little known secret about Christmas. Most people think that Christmas is on December 25. And, that is true to a certain extent, Christmas Day is December 25. But, there is a Christmas Season also that is associated with Christmas Day. Are you with me? Well here is the secret. The Christmas Season is over by December 15. In other words, all the little things that make Christmas fun is over by the middle of December. For example, if you want to see the Festival of the Trees at Philbrook you need to get your little butt down to Philbrook by December 13 because that is the last day! That is true of a lot of other Christmas Season stuff also. Get it done by the middle of December or you will miss out! All that is left is shopping, stress, and tears. Don’t come whining to me, because I’ll give you the big “Ayatollah So!”

While there at Philbrook we decided to check out their collection. Hey the Yogi’s are thrifty and we are going to squeeze the most we can out of our $7.50 entrance fee. You bet. Also, for their regular collection you can use your camera. No flashes though!

They have some really really good stuff.

I’ve always loved this painting of an elegant socialite.

A medieval painting of Baby Jesus with a Lamb

Got to tell you though. You know why I love Tulsa? I’ll tell you why. Tulsan’s have built some great museums and stocked them with fine art but our wild cowboy, oilfield roughneck, outlaw, fun loving self always comes out. In the same gallery where one finds timeless and priceless medieval sacred art is a sculpture of an Art Deco Erte’ like naked flapper girl riding a fish.

“Yee Haw”