Online sampling

Here is an online sampling of my work:

Hal of Hal's Horseradish (Pat Murkland Photo)

 Last Roadside Stand Offers Horseradish and History. 
Step inside Hal’s Horseradish roadside stand on Ramsey Street, and you enter another time.
It’s 1954. There’s no Interstate 10; instead U.S. routes 99 and 60 are America’s two-lane highway, taking travelers through the hearts of Banning and Beaumont. Amid almond and apricot groves, a traveler could rest at a road camp, buy a fountain drink or a hearty home-cooked meal  — or stop at a roadside stand on Ramsey Street in Banning and buy horseradish. (Business news feature and photographs published 2011, banning-beaumont patch.com.)

President Obama To Honor Morongo Tribal Member
“That day I started saving my money. Of every cent I earned and obtained over the next years, half of it went into my savings account. One must recognize that at that time there weren’t a lot of employment opportunities for little Indian girls living on a reservation. But when I pulled all my resources together some four years later, I had at total of $1,000 and change. Mrs. Adams’s visit was clearly a turning point. I knew I was 'smart' … But I had never thought about going college before her visit — and  I freely confess I had no idea what college was. But this nice, very important (in my view) lady took the trouble to talk with my mother about college and thought that it was important that I go.” (News profile and photo of Native American education leader Marigold Linton. Article employs narrative and voice through oral history techniques, published 2011, banning-beaumont patch.com.)

July 4th bike parader in Long Beach area (Pat Murkland Photo)

One-Woman Band

A sampling of the spot news, news photos, community news, police and public safety news, enterprise articles and features written and photographed in a stint as a sub editor on a patch.com news site, over the July 4th holiday:
Star-Spangled Bikes Celebrate Fourth With Great American Kids Parade
The Red, White, and Blue of the Kids' Bike Parade
Their July 4 Was Busiest Day of the Year
Arrests Made in Long Beach Stabbing
Man Faces Attempted Murder Charge in Code-Enforcement Shooting
Police Will Try to Arrest Some of You This Weekend
Bay To Sizzle With July 3 Fireworks
A Few People Got Nabbed With Illegal Fireworks
(Published July 2012, belmontshorepatch)

Recent news article
Murrieta Council to Consider Police Retirement Changes (Explaining complex issues clearly online, on deadline, published Nov. 26, 2012, murrietapatch)

Bloggertopia

I blog at and for:
Dorothy Ramon Learning Center: Ahunika'

I also write about Dorothy Ramon Learning Center on Facebook.

Northern California Irish Wolfhound Club

Gryffindor Irish Wolfhounds

During 2013, the City of Banning, CA, centennial year, I'll be blogging about history, so stay tuned.

New Book for Ushkana Press

I edited, designed, and formatted the latest book from Ushkana Press, the publishing arm of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. I serve as contract Editor for this nonprofit that saves and shares Southern California Native American cultures, and I am taking the 240-page book through every step from manuscript to published work. Currently at the printer, with a release date anticipated shortly:

Illustration by David Fairrington, Design by Pat Murkland

Ushkana Press is pleased to announce that its newest book, This War is For A Whole Life: The Culture of Resistance Among Southern California Indians, 1850-1966, is arriving soon. This landmark work by Richard A. Hanks, PhD, tells the mostly untold stories of Southern California's own Native American heroes and follows the paths of leadership as American Indian people waged battle in tumultuous times to secure their Southern California homelands, natural resources, and respect. Historical photos, and the voices of Southern California Native American Elders (including several who have since passed away), help tell this history that's been missing from the history books.

History Blog

Started a new blog on patch, Pass History Detectives. First post, saving hundreds of slides at an estate sale. Read HERE.

Mona Lisa

© Pat Murkland

When I first began experimenting with fabric, I made this funky fabric doll. The fabric was hand-dyed and painted. Floss stitched her body together. Her hands and head are fabric-covered buttons mounted on bottle caps. Her heart and feet are milagros. The letter beads on lower right spell out, "seek," which is what I was feeling as I made this Mona Lisa. She can be worn as a necklace.

Look To the Rainbow

Me & My Shadow

© Pat Murkland