Art Museum

While I was visiting the kids, we went to Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville.  It was free!  Admission is sponsored by Walmart.  Did you know Walmart got its beginnings in Bentonville?  The headquarters are there.

There is an alphabetical "brain" inside the museum, to the entry of the restaurant.

You've heard of the glass slipper?  Here is a glass dress!

The image of the George Washington on our $1 bill is based on this 1797 portrait of him below.

Such a beautiful family.  (ha ha ha!)

Eli was fascinated with this painting called "A Close Call" by Arthur Tait.  Evidently the dogs must keep the bear from killing the hunter, based on the title.  You can see another hunter in the background coming to the rescue.

"Rosie the Riveter" by Norman Rockwell, 1943  (when so many women entered the work force when so many men went to war)

The children were getting pretty restless, and the museum had just the place for little ones to go!

I am not a big fan of modern art.  The title of the painting below is "Breakfast Table", by Stuart Davis, 1917.  Huh????  Can't see it.

Emeri looked at this painting and said "A kid could draw that!"  A few museum guests chuckled at her comment.  I'm sure the artist would have been peeved!

Self "portrait" of Evan Penny, 1953.  Pretty cool.

I really liked this last painting by Tom Uttech  (similar to Utecht!  Wonder if there is some relation - both from Wisconsin!). By the woman's elbow, you can see a lone bear, watching all that is going on.  If you look at all the animals and birds, they are all running and flying in one direction.  It would be fun to count how many critters are on this.  It looks as if they are fleeing a fire.

The artist, Tom Uttech

 And my son-in-law.  A Utecht.  What do you think?

Down to Arkansas

This past week I drove to Arkansas to spend time with these 2 precious grandchildren!

Because it is Kansas' birthday this week, I gave both the Kansas and Arkansas grandchildren the book, The Wizard of Oz along with Toto (from Kohl's).  I was 20 before I ever heard that story and I thought they should know it.  A long book - it takes an hour to read, but the children were very attentive!

Eli was thrilled that his Kansas cousins had a dinosaur book and a dinosaur for him.  He has decided it goes to bed with him, along with his favorite stuffed lion, Li-li (pronounced lie-lie).

The kids were anxious to start each day - very early!  Their parents purchased this alarm clock for them.  The children are not allowed out of bed until the clock turns green at 7:00 am.  Before that time, it is yellow and that means they are supposed to stay in bed; quietly.

As soon as the light turned color, they were ready to jump out of bed and begin the day!

The first couple of days were very pleasant.  Can hardly believe it is January!
We enjoyed playing outside!

We made lots of crafts....

 

Eli practiced writing his name.

One morning it was rather chilly so Emeri went outside to give Molly a warm cover.

We played hide 'n' seek all over the house!

Josh got a hammer dulcimer and is learning how to play it.  I enjoyed hearing the sound of Rich Mullins!

Staci sent a video - Josh just got this and he's learned a lot in a weeks' time!

One day we went to Marketplace for lunch (our favorite place to eat in Springdale!) and met their friend, Mr. Jason, who is a missionary pediatrician in Mali, Africa.  My Aunt Treva was a midwife in Mali for over 30 years.  This past week many missionaries in Mali have had to evacuate due to terrorist activity.  Please pray for that nation.

 What a joyous time with my kids!

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.   Proverbs 17:6

Visiting cemeteries

Maybe the title of this post seems odd to some people, but I have always found walking and exploring cemeteries quite interesting.  There is so much history there.  In 2011 we visited a different place in Kansas each month - places we had never been to before.  In 2012, we went to restaurants we had not tried before. This year we plan to take trips to various cemeteries.

Our first trip was back home, to Pretty Prairie.  This is where Al grew up; about 5 miles southeast of town.

Pretty Prairie is known for holding the largest night rodeo in the state.

Alfalfa, of the Little Rascals, also lived here.
He was a good friend of my Uncle Lee.

We met Al's brother, Sid and family at The Steak House.  We always have such a good visit with them!  Our nephew, on hearing about our going to cemeteries, said "Why?"  I guess some people think it is weird but we just love history.  The connectedness of our past - the people who have gone before us.  Our heritage and their lives that they led have brought us to where we are today.  Such interesting stories to be told by their lives!

After lunch, as we were going out of town, we noticed that they are doing some remodeling to the Sunset Home, where Al's Dad lived for a few years.  At one point, this facility was shut down, but the town people bought it and have revived it!

Our first cemetery that we visited is 1 mile south of the southeast corner of town.  It is on the road that goes to the farm.  I never, ever knew it was there!  It is off the road a little.

There used to be an old schoolhouse there.  Miss Vircillah McClellan was teaching at this school when a covered wagon stopped there.  The small daughter of these travelers had just died and they were seeking help.  There were no churches here so arrangements were made for a simple service at that school and the little girl was buried nearby.  Her grave was first in ground later set aside as Fairview Cemetery.  (from "Pretty Prairie, U.S.A. Facts and Hearsay by Alma L. Graber)

There were only 4 headstone altogether that were still there.  But there were probably others that are no longer there.  Each grave seemed to have iris planted around them and there were a few places with lone iris plants and the ground was sunk just a little; just no marker.

 It seems like this girl's name is Ica.  I've never heard that name before.

On this marker, the husband's name - Asa - is on the north side, and the wife's name - Maryan - is on the south side.  There were 2 little markers on the east side but no names.

What interesting adventures we look forward to this coming year!

Tabor College Basketball

A few weeks ago Allen and I went with Adam and the girls to the Tabor College basketball game.  

It was church night.  The pastors of  the surrounding area were invited to do a free-throw contest at the half-time of the girls' game.  When you arrived at the gym, you signed in under what church you attended.  Then, if your pastor won the contest, everyone from that congregation got free drinks!

Here is Adam making his shot.  Or "not making" his shot as was the case!

The Buhler pastor won free pop for his congregation.

 Adam got his girls a consolation prize!  And popcorn too!  (Don't you just love her nails?)

 A KU fan in the midst.  Well, more than 1 KU fan, actually, since that is our alma mater.

The guy in the gray "Tabor Proud" t-shirt is one of our amazing nursery workers at church!  We call him and Tony our "baby whisperers".

This girl did a better job at her free throw than Adam did.  Ha ha!  (Just rubbing it in, Adam!) She was really good and made lots of baskets. She graduated from the high school where our kids went.

The song "Who Let the Dogs Out" played while the cheerleaders would come around throwing hot dogs wrapped in foil to the crowd.  We snagged 3 hot dogs!!  We let the girls share one and the other 2 we shared with families around us.

It was a tight game!  Tabor won!