More a celebration than a funeral

Last week Dorothy's sister Christine passed away.  The funeral took place on Thursday and relatives from around the country arrived to attend. It was a simple ceremony. The first half was conducted by a Cherokee ceremonial leader who explained how, according to Cherokee custom, the spirit of the deceased lingers nearby for a few days until the appropriate time to leave this world. The ceremonial leader lit a fire of cedar chips and used an eagle feather to waft the smoke toward the casket as he circled it several times. This was to encourage  the spirit to begin it's journey. Afterwards, Shannon Morgan, Christine's son-in-law brought a Christian message of comfort to the family, along with memorable anecdotes from Christine's life.

Christine lived in a wonderful log cabin in the woods. We all

gathered there for a pot luck dinner and for a time of getting

reacquainted with relatives we hadn't seen for some time.

Josiah, Daniel, and Dylan.  (notice the porch swing made from vines)

Quote of the Day

The ideas of economists and political philosophers both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood.  Indeed the world is ruled by little else.  Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.  Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back.  I am sure that the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.

--John Maynard Keynes

Easter weekend

We started Easter weekend Friday by picking the grand kids up from school and taking them out the the local Braums store for ice cream.

Gracen is ready for her treat.

Jenna and Hunter diligently color their eggs.

Marley too.

Don't get up Grandma. I can get my sippy cup by myself.

We had potato salad.

Apple smoked chicken.

We also had spinach salad, deviled eggs, baked beans, strawberry pie, coconut cream pie,

and banana pudding.

 

Picnic at Devil's Den

Yesterday, Dorothy and I went on a picnic with her friend Laura and Laura's husband Glen at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. Laura retired from her job the same day as Dorothy. It was a simple affair. We just stopped at a store and picked up some bread, bologna, and chips.  Dorothy made some peach fried pies the night before so we had a feast.

Dorothy and Laura under the pavilion at Yellow Rock Overlook

The view from the overlook

Devil's Den was a project of the Civilian Conservation Corps. of the 1930's

This rock dam was built by the corps.

I love buildings made with huge timbers and massive stone.

Dorothy Retires!

Tomorrow will be Dorothy's last day to work as a receptionist at the Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah.  Yesterday the office took her to lunch and had cake for her and her friend Laura who is also retiring.

I took this picture a few weeks ago of Dorothy at her desk.

Dorothy's friend Laura

Ahnie

Carol

Evie

Dorothy and Dr. Buckley

Gail is Dorothy's middle name.

Laura and Dorothy with their supervisor, Jason.

It's the end of an era.

Quote of the Day

The primaries have been great for the economy.  Dimwitted billionaires are dumping money they don't need into the campaigns of people who can't win, providing much-needed jobs for ad writers, poll-takers and yard sign manufacturers.

Do you remember, at the depth of the recession, when Keynesians kept saying that we could jump start the recovery by just paying a whole bunch of people to dig holes and fill them back in? This is exactly the same thing! Keep going, Republicans!

--Gail Collins,  The New York Times

awakening

It's warm. The grass is green and the trees are blooming. My mind is beginning to stir from the winter doldrums.  Here's what we've been doing lately:

Marley, Hunter, Jenna and I went to the creek and found some

good fossil specimens.

We celebrated Burk's birthday...

...as well as Dorothy's and Jenna's.

I made this bed for Jenna's doll.  Dorothy made the mattress,

blanket, and pillow.

Dorothy dug out her old family pictures and arranged them

on the wall. I put some of my photo editing skills to work on

the oldest and most time damaged photos.

Before                             After

Before                                             After

Then I took the picture above

and the one below...

And made this one:

And the same thing for the followig:

                                                :