Picaresque

Picaresque is the adjective to describe writings about a common or low character who survives the pitfalls of life through luck or good fortune. My travels, interests, my animals, my photographs, my wonderful friends and family are featured.

Name:
Location: Arapahoe, Wyoming, United States

(Note: Blogs read from bottom to top; scroll down for beginnings, scroll up for most current.) After 30 years in public administration and four degrees, as well as numerous workshops with luminaries in Education and Public Policy, life in a slower lane became a goal. Most recently I have done policy writing and consulting for the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes. Mostly, I am just coasting slowly and gently downhill these days-seeking joy where I can find it before the glorious ride ends.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Domesticity

The constantly moving furball is momentarily at rest after having done her paperwork: making little pieces out of big ones. She is settling in, thinks her big brother is fascinating, though he is still a little aloof and stern. She takes a rebuke but is not cowed. She has exercised her feminine prerogative and re-arranged things to her liking. We all three played on the lawn and that was good. Some little kissies exchanged between dogs. Her little pink belly has freckles. Buster is under the table, she is to my right.

She got carsick this morning but not tonight-conked out and that taught me a lesson: Late day naps charge her batteries. The trip this morning was solely for dog stuff-toys and chews because she is a chewing machine and there is plenty of bad stuff to chew around a farm. Have I said she is adorable? Lest you think me stupid, Buster is sharing in the bounty and the play time and he is acting the protector of the property. Feglers are coming and going a lot and that keeps Buster on high alert and me, too, watching him and "she-who-has-not-been-named."(Barfy?)

Sue had a two hanky afternoon: She had gone to the funeral of a beading friend-a Northern Arapaho woman. At this funeral she witnessed the hair clipping ceremony. Traditional Native culture says the spirit resides in the hair. The descendants of this woman all went forward and had a lock of hair clipped and wrapped in a cloth to accompany her on her journey. Some family members came to see Sue today and they had a nice visit. They brought her gifts in the Native American tradition. She peeked in the top bag and saw the ever useful household items common to a giveaway. After they left she looked in the second bag and all of the woman's beads, beading equipment, leather, etc. had been given to her. The honor of such a gift from a tribal family overwhelmed Sue. It is a huge gift and honor. The woman will live on in Sue's handiwork.

This place can be so ugly and so beautiful. It gets to you.