The patriotic theme for National Post Card Week 2009 would be based on a new sculpture relief. After many sketches, I arrived at a satisfactory design of a patriotic manhole cover for a sidewalk scene. 
Believe it or not, finishing the relief edge was very time consuming. The top layer was of cement embedded with crushed stone. The lower level was pebble filled dirt. Lots of holes had to be punched into the foam for the pebbles to “take root.”
Relief Edge
The final task involved some creative thinking and practice in lettering. What would a child write on the sidewalk? “I luv the USA!” fit the space. Young children often write “luv” for love and some of their letters are written backwards. Whose name should I use? Molly was perfect. It was old fashioned and it complimented the scene.
The 2009 post card can be seen under my website bio.
Dear Bobbi,
You know I love sunflowers, lilacs and hydrangeas.
But the flowers of your creativity, “2009 American Pride”
and all your other “Grate Works” are amazing. I am so
proud of you! (Exclamation points seem most appropriate!!)
Please do keep in touch. I never tire of your “Bobbisms”-
maybe they inspire!
Much love,
Sandy
7/8/09 (Interesting Date!)
Hi Bobbie,
The sculpture is beautiful! Bravo! Thanks for keeping me on your mailing list.
What a creative idea and it materialized into a perfect item! Love it!
Hi Bobby, Don’t know if you remember Skip and I but found this sculpture very interesting. Congratulations! A few years ago Stan Zimmerman and wife Helen (Taylor) came to the DK picnic at West Side Rowing Club (which took place today). She exhibits her art work down in Florida. Great to see successful products of Bflo State.
Penny
That’s my cousin!!!! And I love her!!!!
It’s such a pleasure to see your work.
Have a great summer.
Bobbi Miller
A wonderful sculpture. Somehow it communicates to me that you can deeply love America without having to hate anyone else. I worry about the xenophobic patriotism implied in so many bumper stickers, but this sculpture just felt good. Thanks for doing it.
Earl Babbie
Campbell Professor Emeritus
in Behavioral Sciences
Thank you, Bobbi, for your neat post card
“American Pride” — beautiful!
Say “Hello” to your GFWC Women’s Book Club at
your “super-active retirement community” of Solivita!
Have a wonderful GFWC club year!
Love,
ROSE M. DITTO, Ph.D.
International President
General Federation of Women’s Clubs
http://www.GFWC.org
GFWC—Dedicated to Community Improvement by
Enhancing the Lives of Others through Volunteer Service.
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Sorry to be a bit late in commenting butI just came across this post and found ‘American Pride’ worthy of praise.
Now if all the manhole covers here looked like that the world would be a brighter and happier place 🙂
Katie
Bobbi….I love your work, however, this is more personal to my heart as I have 8 members of my family in the military. Thank you for honoring them all. And..thank you for hosting my brother James and his wife Jackie, both in the USAF and now stationed in Germany. You are special, you’re blessed and you’re “luved” by us all. Aren’t I lucky to live next door!!
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