Misty Neal - Lawton, Oklahoma - Pupply -

ALERT DO NOT DO TRANSACTIONS WITH THIS WOMAN - SHE IS DISHONEST

In loving memory of
Steven N. Shelton

September 11, 1969 - September 15, 2009

Steven N. Shelton, 40, of Jefferson, died Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

Steven was born September 11, 1969, in Kansas City, Kansas, a son of Carl Edward Shelton and Betty Ann Fowler Marks. He was reared and received his education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Watson Chapel High School in 1987.

Steven married Kelli Barraclough on August 13, 2002, in Pine Bluff.

He was a Body Shop Manager for George Motes Auto Sales for 5 years, before going to work for NES Rentals in Little Rock, where he currently worked as a mechanic and truckdriver.
Steven was the lead singer of the local band Black Iris.

He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Kelli Barraclough Shelton of Jefferson; a daughter, Sunni Jo Shelton of Jefferson; a brother, Michael L. Shelton of Little Rock; three sisters, Elizabeth Holly Marks of Little Rock, Tiffany Shelton of Missouri, and Courtney Shelton of Georgia; his parents, Carl Edward Shelton and Betty Ann Fowler Marks; a nephew, Lewis Shelton of Little Rock; and a niece, Katelyn Michelle Foster of Little Rock.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2009, at 10:00 AM, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson.

Funeral Services:Saturday, Sep. 19, 2009 10:00 amChapel of Ralph Robinson & Son

Steven (left), Grandma Rupe (center), Michael (right), Ryan Fannan (front)

circa 1974

Sad Times for the Shelton Family

My step-son Steven was killed on September 15, 2009 in a freak car accident. He was loved and will be missed by many.

The photo above was taken in 1980 when Michael and Steven were visiting us for the summer. I recently saw a photo of Steven taken only a few days (or weeks ago) and I had no doubt that it was him. For those who did not know Steven, he is on the far right of the photo - Michael on the far left.

My memories of Steven are that of a shy, quiet little boy who loved to smile and laugh and hang out with his brother. His sweetness seemed to be contagious and all those who met him would instantly fall in love with him.

Below is an article regarding the accident. Services will be held on Saturday in Pine Bluff, AR.

REDFIELD MAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT
BY THE COMMERCIAL STAFFWednesday, September 16, 2009 11:06 PM CDT
A Redfield man was killed and a second man injured when a large tree fell on the vehicle they were in Tuesday night in Jefferson County.

A preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police indicated Steven N. Shelton, 40, was eastbound on Arkansas 104 at 10:04 p.m., when the tree fell from the south side of the roadway and on top of the 1996 Chevrolet he was driving.Trooper Oscar Bullard reported that the impact from the tree caused Shelton to lose control and the vehicle overturned in a ditch full of water on the north side of the roadway.Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley said Shelton was pronounced dead by a doctor in the Emergency Room at Jefferson Regional Medical Center at 10:47 p.m.A passenger in the vehicle, Kyle H. Stewart, 22, also of Redfield was injured and was also taken to JRMC.

Bullard said in the report it was raining and the roadway was wet when the accident was reported, and both Shelton and Stewart were wearing seat belts.The death was the 403rd reported so far this year on the state’s highways

Beef Broth (for Matzo Ball Soup)

For those who like their Matzo Ball Soup with homemade broth...

Sure am glad I remembered I typed this in an email to Eric.. not sure I would have remembered the recipe and could not find it in my recipe box.

1 large container of Swansen's beef broth (yes I cheat!).
1 small bottle of V8 juice (like a single serve 16oz bottle).
Beef neck bones (soup bones or even a small beef roast)
1 large onion quartered
2-4 stalks of celery (sometimes I use this - sometimes not)
1-2 cups of water (you may need to add more later)
Bay leaf or leaves (depending on taste)
Salt and pepper to taste
I like to add just a little garlic powder too.

Bring to boil and reduce heat and simmer for several hours - check taste - if too strong add a bit more water. After it tastes to your liking, strain so that all that remains is the broth. I usually make this the night before as I like the taste better after cooled and reheated. If I make a big pot of broth, I will strain and then keep half the broth for the matzo ball soup and make vegetable beef soup out of the rest. That's why I said you could use a small beef roast instead of the beef bones. In my vegetable beef soup, I add...

Pre-boiled potatoes (until almost - not quite done - pre-boiling takes the starch taste out before adding to soup - pre-boiling until almost done will keep them from falling about when simmering in the soup)
Frozen vegetables (fresh when I can get them)
carrots celery corn tomatoes (diced) green beans peas chopped onion (I love onions!) (whatever else suits me at the time) Since the broth is already made, I just simmer the broth - add the vegetables along with the diced beef and simmer until the vegetables are tender (the beef should already be tender from making the broth) Generally, I will freeze the vegetable soup as the matzos will not freeze well but will last several days in the fridge if covered tightly. Making lots of broth means I get 2 pots of soup for less time and work than just making the matzo ball soup by itself.

Orange Cookies (you are welcome Cortni)

I got this recipe from a friend of mine a long time ago and it has been a family favorite for years!

1 cup of Crisco
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1-2 TBS grated orange rind (this is a matter of taste)
2-3 TBS orange juice (from a fresh orange)
2 - 3/4 cups of flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine above ingredients well. Roll into balls and then roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture below.

1-2 cups of sugar
1-2 TBS of cinnamon
(Mix the above well and put in a pie plate of bowl)

Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes. Really watch so the bottoms don't burn with the sugar on the outside.

Candied Pecans

This is Grandma Rupe's Recipe - I just love this recipe - so easy and sooooo good!
(For those who don't know - Grandma Rupe was Cortni and Tiffani's grandma on their father's side)

3-4 cups of pecan halves
2 tablespoons of margarine (butter will burn)
1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of Karo Syrup

Preheat oven to 250 degrees - place nuts on non-stick cookie sheet and heat for 5 minutes.

Melt margarine - add sugar and Karo and bring to a boil over medium heat - boil for 5 minutes without stirring after it boils.

Pour mixture over nuts on cookie sheet and stir well. Bake 1 hour stirring nuts every 15 minutes.

Pour onto aluminum foil (or the waxed side of freezer paper) and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of sugar. Mix and break up (careful they are very hot). Let cool before eating (not as good if eaten hot) Store tightly covered if you don't eat them all in 5 minutes!

Matzo Balls (sorry Cortni and Ryan!)

This is Grandma Seligman's recipe -

not Kosher - but really - really good!

1 1/2 boxes Matzos (round tea preferred but I have to use the square ones because I can never find the round)
4 onions
1 stick of butter
3 large or 4 small eggs

Break Matzos into very small pieces (I usually break them up - then with my fist, I smash them a bit more just to get small enough) and cover with water to soften (the water will dry out when cooked) - they will probably need to stand in the water for an hour or so to get soft enough.

Chop onions very finely (this is one time I do the chopping by hand) - saute onions in butter until translucent. I do this is a very large frying pan.

Drain off excess water from Matzos (but not totally dry) and pour over onion and butter mixture and add raw eggs.

Season to taste (this really is a taste thing) with:
salt
pepper
poultry seasoning
celery salt
ginger (I don't use the ginger)

Mix thoroughly and heat on med/low just until dried (like cookie dough) stirring often as to not burn the bottom or dry any section too much (if too dry they will not roll)

Refrigerate then roll into balls about the size of a golf ball or a bit smaller and return to fridge until ready to cook.

Now... here comes the tricky part.... (or you can do like Tiffani and I do and put some broth in a bowl - add some matzo balls - heat in the microwave and you don't have to worry about them falling apart in boiling water).

Drop balls into boiling water and remove when they rise to the top. Serve in hot beef broth.

I make my own beef broth from scratch - but you could use canned (definitely not as good - but not bad)

This recipe will serve 6-8 people, so if you are making it just for you for a night or two you may want to cut the recipe in half (still use the whole stick of butter though)

Switching Gears to a few of my family's favorite recipes

Cucumber Chutney (Pickle Relish)

7 lbs of cucumbers do not peel (small ones with fewer seeds are best - if you use the large cucumbers then remove some of the seeds before grinding)
7 large onions
6 large green peppers
2 jars of pimentos (or 2 large red peppers - I prefer pimentos - just really for color)
8 cups of boiling water
1 1/4 cups of salt

Grind all vegetables coarsely - a meat grinder works best but since I don't have one, I use my food processor. If you use a food processor with the shredder attachment the relish will be a bit stringy, but will still taste the same.

Add salt to pot as water boils to dissolve salt.

After all vegetables are ground poor salt water (brine) over vegetables and let stand (off stove) for 4-6 hours.

4 cups of vinegar
1 cup of water
6 cups of sugar
2 TBS mustard seed
2 TBS celery seed
2 TBS turmeric

If the relish is too sweet, you can reduce the sugar by 1 cup or add 1 more cup of vinegar. It really does not matter how much juice there is - you only have to can as much (or as little) juice as you want.

Drain vegetable thoroughly - very thoroughly! You can rinse too if you like to remove a bit of the salt. If you rinse, remember to drain very thoroughly again.

Pour vinegar/sugar mixture over vegetable mixture and boil on medium heat 30-40 minutes stirring often to insure the bottom does not burn.

Pour into hot canning jars and seal.

Best way to get jars to seal.

Boil about 2 cups of water and put "flats" in the water (do not continue to boil). Wash jars in dishwasher. When dishwasher is in "dry mode" remove one or two at at time and add relish to about 1/2 from the top of the jar. With a damp clean towel or damp paper towel clean the rim of the jar so it is totally free of any juice of relish. Place the hot flat lid on the jar - screw on the lid tightly and set aside. Continue until you use up all the relish. Do not put jars right next to each other - they need room to breath. Listen for the pop of the lids (sometimes takes an hour or more for them to seal). You can tell the jar is sealed properly if you press in the center of the flat and can tell it has been sucked down (make sure to allow enough time 1-3 hours). If one or more of the jars do not seal, you can reheat the relish and clean the jar again and repeat. Usually if only one jar does not seal, I just put it in the fridge!

After the jars are sealed, you can put in the cupboard and they will keep 2-3 years as long as the seal has not been broken.

New Photos of Ryan, Nancy and Emily

Ryan brought his camera this weekend as I requested so I could share new photos of him and his family; his wife Nancy, his sons Michael and Samuel and his baby daughter Emily.

However, since Michael and Samuel's mother has threaten legal action if we were to post any more photos of them, I will only be able to share photos of Ryan, Nancy and Emi. Sorry about the boys everyone - but I must comply and therefore must eliminate them from the family tree web site as well.

So, I hope you enjoy the following photos.

Emily Nicole's Baptism Day

Nana and Emi at Emi's 1st birthday party.

Little Miss "Dirty Face" - all smiles!

I may be a bit prejudice, but she has to be one of the top ten most beautiful babies ever born!

Christmas 1979

After a good second glance at this photo, I presume that this was taken in 1979. Tiffani appears to be nearly 4 and Cortni 2-1/2. It's hard to tell how old Ryan is as for several years he looked the same in most of his photographs.

One thing for sure is .. this is the last time my children saw their Great-Grandma Seligman.

They are all having a good time on Christmas morning. Later that day, Grandma and the kids all had a tea party in the new Holly Hobby kitchen with real tea and Christmas cookies.

I wish you could all see or remember that day. It was such a joy to see Grandma playing with my children as she once played with me. She was the best Grandma a child could ever ask for!

I am thankful that she at least got to meet my children and know what wonderful "little people" they were. I miss her smile and her laughter very much and I wish she had known what fantastic people my children grew up to be.

Christmas 1970

Lee must have taken this photo as he is the only one not in it. Left to right: Dayna holding Muffit, Me, Eric (very handsome in his blues), Grandpa Seligman and Grandma Seligman. They must be either greeting our arrival or seeing us off.

Either way this is one of the few photos that I have with Grandma, Grandpa and Eric - not to mention Dayna and Muffit. The photo would be complete if Lee were it it also. Oh well - guess someone had to take this picture!

Me and little miss Muffet.

Me and my personal shoe guy - Grandpa Seligman.

Just me sporting a new outfit. I think Grandpa even picked out my clothes too!

This time of year always finds my mind wandering back to fond memories of Christmas' past. The above photos were taken on Christmas Day, 1970 at the home of my Grandma and Grandpa Seligman in Silver Spring, Maryland.

As you can see, Grandpa is STILL picking out and fitting my shoes for me! Actually, I think I asked him the the new pair of saddle shoes, but expected he would have me come down to the store to have them fitted. To my surprise, they were wrapped and placed under the tree for me to open. Yes... they were a perfect fit - as always.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, this would be the last Christmas I would ever spend with them in their home. My grandfather passed away in 1971 and the next time I was to see Grandma at Christmas was in 1979 or 1980 in my home when she and my parents came to Macon, MO for the holidays. I have a photo of Grandma with Ryan, Tiffani and Cortni on Christmas Day. I am not totally sure of the year, but Cortni appears to be either 2.5 or 3.5 years old.

As I have told you all before, I treasure the times and the memories of holidays with my grandparents. This year for some reason was especially lonely without them.

I love you Grandma and Grandpa - I think you know that.

The Navy - A somewhat family tradition.

My brother Eric and I were raised primarily in the small rural Midwestern town of Paola, Kansas from the time Eric started high school in 1964. Although I did not know it at the time, war had broken out in the small country of Vietnam. That war would change my life, the life of my brother and of nearly every young person in the United States.

In 1968, the year Eric graduated from high school, the war had escalated and thousands of young men and women were being called upon the fight in a war that no one seemed to know much about except what we saw on the news and in the protest songs of the era. The military draft was still in existence and at the age of 18 all American men (or should I say boys), were obligated to sign up.

The only way to "avoid the draft" for most young males was to be in school or to be handicapped in some way. It did not matter if you were "soldier material" or not - only that you were an 18 year old male American citizen. I know that some who read this will take issue with my views on the draft. But I have and always will believe that patriotism does not necessiarly mean killing.

My brother chose college and off he went leaving a huge hole in my world with his absence. I felt abandoned at the time - as if he had left me behind. I'm not sure why I felt that way - only that I did.

Eric was not in college very long (I think only a semester), when we received a letter that he had been dismissed from college due to skipping ROTC classes. As unpredictable as was that letter, the next letter received was totally predictable - Eric had been called to service. My heart sank as I had seen the horrors of this war that had already ravaged the lives of friends who had young men who would never return home.

My brother decided to join the Navy rather than be drafted into the Army and off he went to basic training leaving me with the feeling of abandonment and despair about loosing him to a war I did not understand.

My brother was a gentle person (still is I believe) and not for one solitary moment could I imagine him in combat fighting for his life. As it turned out, my brother was one of the lucky ones. He had joined the nuclear submarine branch of the Navy and never had to serve in Vietnam.

I graduated high school listening to the songs of war protest and watching the news of college campus protesting and the all too vivid war footage. It's a time in my life that I shall never forget. I'm not sure if you could actually call me a hippie, but I lived in fear for friends, prayed for those in Vietnam and thanked God that my brother would be safe. My hair was long, I wore the clothing of the era and chanted with friends to whom ever would listen to allow our young people to come home. I lost two very dear friends to what I considered at the time to be a senseless and cruel war and hated that fact that this had invaided my world.

I can still hear the voice of Neil Young as he sang (referring to the famous incident at Kent State University in Ohio)

On May 4, 1970 four students had been shot dead by the Ohio National Guard on the campus of Kent State University. The writing and recording of the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song "Ohio" is somewhat of an urban legend. As the story goes David Crosby and Neil Young were hanging out when Crosby handed Young a copy of Time Magazine with the now infamous picture of the student grieving over the body of a dead protesting classmate who was shot dead by the National Guardsmen. Apparently Young sat down and wrote the song and within 24 hours, the band was recording the song. Acording to Neil Young's biographer, 'In ten lines, Young captured the fear, frustration and anger felt by the youth across the country and set it to a lumbering D-modal death march that hammered home the dread.':

"Tin Soldiers And Nixon's Bombing

We're Finally On Our Own

This Summer I Hear The Drumming

Four Dead In Ohio"

"Gotta get down to it.

Soldiers are gunning us down.

Should have been done long ago.

What if you knew her and

Found her dead on the ground.

How can you run when you know?"

Eric and I were raised in a more gentle time than now. A time when neighbors watched out for each other - a time when friends held on tight to each other - a time of hope for the future and prayers for the end of the war. The war in Vietnam changed that gentle time in American history for me - but most especially for the more than 58,000 American families who lost family in Southeast Asia.

That's Eric on the first row third from the left.

Eric again, to the left and behind the guy holding the "004" flag

Halloween if FINALLY over!

February 1959

Yes, that appears to be a cigarette hanging from my mouth!

Hey Eric or Lee was that car we are sitting in green? Was it the one my mother wrecked?

As most of you know, Halloween is NOT one of my favorite days of the year. My daughter Cortni on the other hand waits all year for October 31st. I think she enjoys it more than Thanksgiving and Christmas combined.

I know it is not Fat Tuesday yet, but after all the talk about Halloween, I just had to share these two photos with you all. Who knows, the same two photos may show up again on this blog on Fat Tuesday as well.

My brother and I were quite young when we lived in New Orleans, but I do remember the scores of people lining the streets all dressed in costumes. The children were let up front to collect the trinkets and candy thrown from the elaborate floats. I still remember yelling to the people on the floats "throw me something, Mister - throw me something!". As a child, the more "stuff" you collected, the more fun the carnival.

One year my brother and I were dressed as Indians and another as cowboys (as you can see from the photos). I'm not quite sure which came first the cowboys or the Indians; but I remember both sets of costumes vividly. Since the above photos were taken in February of 1959, I would have been 6 and Eric 9; so I suspect that we were Indians before we were cowboys. And of course it was a holiday in New Orleans, so NO school!

Maybe Eric has photos of us dressed as Indians that I could add to this blog - maybe? I would love to show you the Indian outfits too. If memory serves (and it rarely does these days), my mother took painstaking efforts to make the Indian outfits right down to sewing on hundreds of sequins and seed beads for more authenticity.

Maybe having been a child and experiencing Mardi Gras from a child's perspective is why I think Halloween is sort of "lame". Don't know - don't even care - just that I know Mardi Gras was much more fun than Halloween!

In case you don't know exactly what Fat Tuesday is...... I found this in a Google search. Some of what you can read below (or not), I already knew, but parts of it I found very interesting - maybe only to me....? It's nice to know the history of a celebration that I was once part of.

"The history of a Mardi Gras celebration existed many years before Europeans came to the New World. Some time in the Second Century, during mid-February (usually February 15 according to the Julian calendar), Ancient Romans would observe what they called the Lupercalia, a circus-type festival which was, in many respects, quite similar to the present day Mardi Gras. This festival honored the Roman deity, Lupercus, a pastoral God associated with Faunus or the Satyr. Although Lupercus is derived from the Latin Lupus (meaning "wolf"), the original meaning of the word as it applies to Roman religion has become obscured over the passage of time.

When Christianity arrived in Rome, the dignitaries of the early Church decided it would be more prudent to incorporate certain aspects of such rituals into the new faith rather than attempt to abolish them altogether. This granted a Christian interpretation to the ancient custom and the Carnival became a time of abandon and merriment which preceded the Lenten period (a symbolic Christian pentinence of 40 days commencing on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter). During this time, there would be feasting which lasted several days and participants would indulge in voluntary madness by donning masks, clothing themselves in the likeness of spectres and generally giving themselves up to Bacchus and Venus. All aspects of pleasure were considered to be allowable during the Carnival celebration and today's modern festivities are thought by some to be more reminiscent of the Roman Saturnalia rather than Lupercalia, or be linked to even earlier Pagan festivals.

From Rome, the celebration spread to other European countries. In medieval times, a similar-type festivity to that of the present day Mardi Gras was given by monarchs and lords prior to Lent in order to ceremoniously conscript new knights into service and hold feasts in their honor. The landed gentry would also ride through the countryside rewarding peasants with cakes (thought by some to be the origin of the King Cake), coins (perhaps the origin of present day gifts of Mardi Gras doubloons) and other trinkets. In Germany, there still remains a Carnival similar to that of the one held in New Orleans. Known as Fasching, the celebrations begin on Twelfth Night and continue until Shrove Tuesday. To a lesser degree, this festivity is still celebrated in France and Spain. A Carnival season was also celebrated in England until the Nineteenth Century, originating as a type of "renewal" festival that incorporated fertility motifs and ball games which frequently turned into riots between opposing villages, followed by feasts of pancakes and the imbibing of alcohol. The preparing and consumption of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (also known as "Pancake Day" or "Pancake Tuesday" and occurring annually between February 2 and March 9, depending upon the date of Easter) is a still a tradition in the United Kingdom, where pancake tossing and pancake races (during which a pancake must be tossed a certain number of times) are still popular. One of the most famous of such competitions, which takes place in Olney, Buckinghamshire, is said to date from 1445. It is a race for women only and for those who have lived in the Parish for at least three months. An apron and head-covering are requisite. The course is 415 yards and the pancake must be tossed at least three times during the race. The winner receives a kiss from the Ringer of the Pancake Bell and a prayer book from the local vicar. "Shrove" is derived from the Old English word "shrive," which means to "confess all sins."

It is generally accepted that Mardi Gras came to America in 1699 with the French explorer, Sieur d'Iberville. The festival had been celebrated as a major holiday in Paris since the Middle Ages. Iberville sailed into the Gulf of Mexico and, from there, launched an expedition along the Mississippi River. By March 3, 1699, Iberville had set up a camp on the West Bank of the River...about 60 miles South of the present day City of New Orleans in the State of Louisiana. Since that day was the very one on which Mardi Gras was being celebrated in France, Iberville named the site Point du Mardi Gras in honor of the festival. According to some sources, however, the Mardi Gras of New Orleans began in 1827 when a group of students who had recently returned from school in Paris donned strange costumes and danced their way through the streets. The students had first experienced this revelry while taking part in celebrations they had witnessed in Paris. In this version, it is said that the inhabitants of New Orleans were swiftly captured by the enthusiasm of the youths and quickly followed suit. Other sources maintain that the Mardi Gras celebration originated with the arrival of early French settlers to the State of Louisiana. Nevertheless, it is known that from 1827 to 1833, the New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebrations became more elaborate, culminating in an annual Mardi Gras Ball. Although the exact date of the first revelries cannot be determined, the Carnival was well-established by the middle of the Nineteenth Century when the Mystick Krewe of Comus presented its 1857 Torchlight Parade with a theme taken from "Paradise Lost" written by John Milton.

In French, "Mardi Gras" literally means "Fat Tuesday," so named because it falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, the last day prior to Lent...a 40-day season of prayer and fasting observed by the Roman Catholic Church (and many other Christian denominations) which ends on Easter Sunday. The origin of "Fat Tuesday" is believed to have come from the ancient Pagan custom of parading a fat ox through the town streets. Such Pagan holidays were filled with excessive eating, drinking and general bawdiness prior to a period of fasting. Since the modern day Carvinal Season is sandwiched between Christmas and Lent, with Christmas Day being December 25 on the Gregorian Calendar as set by the Roman Catholic Church, this means that other Holy Days are "floating" in nature. Easter always falls on a Sunday, but it can be any Sunday from March 23 through April 25, its actual date being the Sunday which follows the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Mardi Gras is always 47 days prior to this alloted Sunday (the 40 days of Lent plus seven Sundays). The beginning of the Carnival Season itself, however, is also fixed...being January 6, which is the Feast of the Epiphany, otherwise known as Little Christmas or Twelfth Night. Since the date of Mardi Gras thus varies, the length of the Carnival Season also varies accordingly from year-to-year. The origin of the word "Carnival" is from the Latin for "farewell to the flesh," a time when one is expected to forgo earthly pleasures prior to the restrictions of the Lenten Season, and is thought to be derived from the feasts of the Middle Ages known as carnis levamen or "solace of the flesh."

In 1833, Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a wealthy plantation owner, solicited a large amount of money in order to help finance an organized Mardi Gras celebration. It was not until 1837, however, that the first Mardi Gras Parade was staged. Two years later, a description of the 1839 Parade noted that it consisted of a single float. Nonetheless, it was considered to be a great success and apparently, the crowd roared hilariously as this somewhat crude float moved through the streets of the city. Since that time, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has been an overwhelming success, continuing to grow with additional organizations participating each year.

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple (symbolic of justice), green (symbolic of faith) and gold (symbolic of power). The accepted story behind the original selection of these colors originates from 1872 when the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia visited New Orleans. It is said that the Grand Duke came to the city in pursuit of an actress named Lydia Thompson. During his stay, he was given the honor of selecting the official Mardi Gras colors by the Krewe of Rex...thus, did these colors also become the colors of the House of Romanoff. The 1892 Rex Parade theme ("Symbolism of Colors") first gave meaning to the representation of the official Mardi Gras colors. Interestingly, the colors of Mardi Gras influenced the choice of school colors for the Louisiana arch-rival colleges, Louisiana State University and Tulane University. Whe LSU was deciding on its colors, the stores in New Orleans had stocked-up on fabrics of purple, green and gold for the upcoming Mardi Gras Season. LSU, opting for purple and gold, bought a large quantity of the available cloth. Tulane purchased much of the only remaining color...green (Tulane's colors are green and white).

Today, Louisiana's Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans, but also in numerous smaller cities and towns around the State and in the neighboring Gulf Coast Region. Similar celebrations are also held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro...arguably the world's most elaborate Carnival location with its Samba Dromo parades, which annually attract a huge number of tourists from all corners of the globe. Regardless of where the festivals take place, however, all share a common party atmosphere inherently associated with the celebrations."

A Special and Spiritual Time in my Life

In 1966 (or 1967), I was nominated to become a member of Job's Daughters in Paola, Kansas by Leslie Williams (a friend of my brothers). The organization was a very important one for me as it brought me closer to my high power and to my fellow Jobies. Our meetings were held on Thursday night (I think) at the Masonic temple. Below is a bit of history on the order. I had nearly forgotten about this chapter in my life until Lee scanned this newspaper clipping. The robes we wore reminded me of angels and the ceremonies were a special strength to me in a troubled time during my teens. I virtually lived for the meetings and volunteered for nearly every charitable event we sponsored.

I can still hear our voices raised in song as we closed every meeting with the following song. Even though I had not thought of the countless days I spent with my sister Jobies, sometimes when I am alone, I can hear this song in my head - it brings me peace.

"Now Our Work is Over"

Now our work is over, savior guide our hands
Daughters of the bethel, fairest in the land.

Dear Lord give Thy children, calm and sweet repose
With Thy tenderest blessing, may our bethel close - Amen

Today, the teachings I learned at these meetings still carry on in my heart. I still volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Thanksgiving and Christmas for the homeless (most years) and Special Olympics. Nope - I'm far from being the person I wish I were, but this volunteer work is something I can do to help others and I thoroughly enjoy seeing a smile on a homeless person's face as I serve them the best meal they probably had all year and a donated coat or other clothing or the unconditional hug from a Special Olympian as I present them with their medal of achievement.

These people remind me to count my blessings and believe me, I need to be reminded of that as often as possible!

Thanks Lee for bring back such a wonderful teen memory!

After reading the overview below, you may think that Job's Daughters was a sect or cult. Quite the opposite is true. Our bethel consisted of approximately 30 girls coming together not just in worship, but in service to our community and country. We would raise money for various charitable organizations, volunteer services such as babysitting for a working mother who could not afford an evening sitter, serve as voices to raise community awareness, visit nursing homes to sing songs or read aloud to those who had no one to visit with, and since our bethel was located in Paola, Kansas we volunteered many service hours at Lakemary Center (a school for exceptional children).

My mother worked at Lakemary Center for several years as a secretary (although I suspect she was much more than a mere secretary). My first "real" job was as an evening and weekend dormitory aid at the center working primarily with down syndrome, brain damaged and autistic children. I worked there from the time I turned 16 until I was 18. The job gave me high school credit along with a satisfaction that no other job I have held since has been able to fill. I held a very special fondness for an autistic boy named John. His parents were both professionals (one a doctor and the other a lawyer - if I recall correctly), but they never came to visit and John never left the center for an in home visit. I often wonder - even today - what happened to that "special" child.

In case you were wondering how I was able to become a Job's Daughter, my Grandfather Erickson was a Master Mason. I was very fortunate to have been a member of such a fine organization!

The organization was founded as The International Order of Job's Daughters by Ethel T. Wead Mick in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1920. The original minimum age for membership was 13 but has been changed several times over the years, most recently to age 10 in 2004. The purpose of the organization is to band together young girls who are related to a Master Mason and is intended to build character through moral and spiritual development including: a greater reverence for God and the Holy Scriptures[citation needed]; loyalty to one's country and that country's flag; and respect for parents, guardians, and elders. Job's Daughters International is not a religion itself, and its members are not required to practice a particular religion. Members are required, however, to believe in a supreme being.

Mother Mick was fond of the Book of Job, and took the name of the organization as a reference to the three daughters of Job. The Book of Job, 42nd chapter, 15th verse says, "In all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren". She founded the Order with the assistance of her husband, Dr. William H. Mick, and several Freemasons and members of Eastern Star of Nebraska. She dedicated the organization to the memory of her mother, Elizabeth D. Wead.

Overview
The presiding officer of the Bethel is called the Honored Queen, elected by the members of her Bethel. This position is roughly analogous to Worshipful Master in a Masonic Lodge, and to the President of an association of any kind. The Honored Queen is assisted in her duties by a Senior Princess and a Junior Princess. The Senior Princess is usually considered to be next in line as Honored Queen. Girls who finish a term as Honored Queen use the title Past Honored Queen (abbreviated PHQ) designation within Job's Daughters. The elected officers are referred to as the "line officers" of the Bethel, meaning that in general, a Daughter is elected sequentially from the lowest position (Marshal) to the highest position (Honored Queen).

[edit] Stations (Officers) of the Bethel
Elected:
Honored Queen - my fifth office

Senior Princess - my fourth office
Junior Princess - my third office
Guide - my sixth and final office
Marshal
Appointed:
Senior Custodian
Junior Custodian
Recorder
Librarian
Chaplain
Treasurer
First Messenger - my first office
Second Messenger
Third Messenger
Fourth Messenger
Fifth Messenger
Inner Guard - my second office
Outer Guard
Musician

I'll be back soon!

For those who don't already know, right after I made my last post on October 10, 2008, my computer died. It saddened me greatly and I rushed him to the emergency room. My friend and IT specialist was able to perform CPR (or is that CPU?) and by Friday, October 31, 2008 he should be back among the living.

Hooray for Richard! Thanks to all his hard work, my computer will live again to blog another post!

See you all again soon with more old and not so old family photos.

In the meantime, don't forget to check out Cortni's blog (link on this page) to see what the Fleske family is up to.

The Wedding - AKA The Dome

Believe me, I am not making a joke of this blessed event. But after meeting Sian and seeing Todd again, I know they will appreciate the humor of the following photos taken by Mark (Todd's younger brother) during the ceremony.

As is evident from the next several pictures, my cousin Mark was seated behind his father (my uncle); Lee. The shining "dome" you see in every photo is that of Lee.

The beautiful couple up front are of course are Sian and Todd Seligman.

More photos of the happy couple will be posted at a later date - but I thought both Todd and Sian would get a kick out of seeing these posted to this blog.

Mark, I'm not making fun - well... maybe... I love you though!

Nice head Lee!

That's Jay in the middle saying a few words prior to the bride's appearance. Jay is Todd and Mark's youngest brother. For those who don't know, Jay is Dayna's son from her second marriage and therefore Mark and Todd's half-brother (but not half to the family!)






Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!

An Everlasting Memory

When I first saw these photos of the main beach house in Corolla, NC on the Internet, I was in awe. But these photos don't begin to show how beautiful the setting for Sian and Todd's wedding actually was. When I first arrived, it was still daylight and the view was absolutely breathtaking from the third floor of the house. The waves crashing lightly on the beach and the wind blowing softly was truly a wonder.

The weather was perfect - in fact everything was perfect!

In the evening as we ate on the deck there was a chill in the air and the smells of wonderful food which mixed with the scent of the fresh air and ocean. The stars were so clear and bright it felt as if you would reach up and touch them.

As the sun rose in the morning, the red, yellow and orange colors danced across the water as if to say "good morning - what a lovely day ahead". And at night as I lay in bed, I could still feel the cool breeze blowing through the open doors leading to the second level deck as I drifted off to sleep to the sound of the waves gently riding into the shore of the beautiful beach.


The first evening's dinner was served at the other beach house where Dayna and many of the other guests stayed. But from that night on, I spent many hours in the great room you see above located on the third level of the main beach house. The room was full of joy and laughter from family and friends during the Saturday night crab feast, the Sunday wedding preparations and the couple of days that followed. This was truly an event that I shall never forget.

Apologies

I just want to let everyone know that I have not given up on this project. For the past several weeks, I have been working my 2nd job nearly 30 hours a week. By the time I get home, it is late and no time for posting. Saturdays I have been working 10-11 hours and my only day off in the past two weeks has been this past Sunday. To be quite honest, I just did not do anything that day.

As soon as my schedule permits, I will resume posting. That may however be in mid October. There are lots more photos to post and of course there will be pictures of Sian and Todd's wedding.

See you soon.

More Great-Grandpa Tenney

Great-Grandpa Tenney (Great-Great Grandpa for Todd, Mark, Ryan, Tiffani and Cortni and Great-Great-Great Grandpa to Caitlyn, Michael, Athena, Samuel, Mason & Emi). Whoa - that's a lot of "greats"!

Again - he was Auntie and Grandma Seligman's father. He sure was handsome - don't you think? He looks so young in this photo - unfortunately, there is no date on the back of either. I do however find it interesting that the photo was taken in Youngstown, Ohio. I searched the Internet, but could find nothing on A.P. Webb Studio.

I love seeing the backs of the photos with either a studio stamp or handwritten notes. Not sure who wrote that note but it would have been my mother, Lee or possibly Jean (I think).

Did Santa Visit Pouting Children in 1961?

Okay for all the times I got on to Tiffani when she was a child for pouting - my sincere apologies. As you can see by this photo of me - she definitely came by it honestly!

Christmas 1961 in Grandma and Grandpa Seligman's kitchen at 1789 Verbena Street, NW Washington DC.

I think this must have been taken AFTER I opened my Christmas gifts. If Santa had seen that face - he would have left me a lump of coal. But wait - look at those filthy saddle shoes - it must have been before gifts as I am quite sure there must have been a brand new pair under the tree.

Aunt Bobby is turned around smiling - Uncle Selly obviously needs longer arms to read whatever he is trying to read and there I am pouting and being ignored! Poor me - must have seemed very serious to me at the time - huh?