Hermione and other things

One of the highlights of my trip to Utah was being able to meet my niece Hermione (Morag's little girl). I had seen her on Skype, but not in the flesh, and I fell in love with her! She is a delightful wee thing and it was so wonderful to be able able to spend some time with her.

Hermione snuggling with her mama.

I found this in a photo album Heather made for me years ago. My brother-in-law Michael drew this picture of me. 

Hermione and her aunty Heather.

We all enjoyed listening to Katie sing & play her guitar. I loaded a video of Hermione singing along with Katie which is at the top of the post - I hope it works!

Rotting jack-o-lanterns on top of my dad's Cadillac.

 Something that I miss so much is singing with my family. Growing up, Morag & I would sing songs together,  most notably "Loch Tay Boat Song" and "Once in Royal David's City". One evening we sat around singing and it was such a delight.

Sitting around in the kitchen talking and singing. BLISS!

Morag & Tillie singing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy".

Hermione trying her best to eat an apple.

Morag and I tried to pose like the picture on the Corries song book. Well, Morag *did* pose, but apparently I failed, and got teased about it quite a bit! 

Men in Kilts

While Dylan & Jared were dressed up in their kilts (on the day of the funeral), I took the opportunity to take several pictures of them - and I think they turned out quite nicely!

My handsome nephew Dylan.

Dylan & Natalie

Aw! I just love this look on his face!

My handsome brother Jared, and his daughter Lexi.

Dylan & Jared

Tillie desperately wanted her picture taken with Jared too! 

Tillie goofing off! 

Provo Church

The church we all attended growing up is located just a few blocks from our house. It was built in the 1920s, and is a beautiful building. I don't think I appreciated this until I moved from home and had to attend church in newer, less beautiful church buildings. I love my church, and I love attending church, but I will readily admit that Mormon architecture, at least where it concerns meeting houses, is not the most exciting. So it was a joy to have my father's funeral in this beautiful exception, and to have lunch there after the graveside service. It gave us all a chance to explore it - something I haven't done in many years! 

The ceiling in the foyer has a star of David on it. It was impossible to capture the whole thing in one photo, and I wasn't brave enough to lay down on the floor to see if that would work! 

Stunning! Look at those two staircases. And look at all that natural light pouring in.

How many LDS church buildings can boast a spiral staircase?!

The back staircase.

At the top of those curving staircases.

An old familiar painting which hangs in the Relief Society room.

Painted detail on the Star of David.

The chapel.

Heather & Michael in the balcony at the back of the chapel.

I wandered around the church three times - once by myself, once with Reagan, my nephew, and the third time with Heather & Michael. Heather was thrilled to find these primary chairs - the same ones she used when she was a child!

Heather and I were both thrilled to discover this old cupboard - with hand-grained wood! For hundreds of years, people would fancy-up cheap wood by painting grains on it by hand. I think it is so beautiful and creative. 

Another view of the Relief Society picture - with a fireplace beneath it!

Tillie on the steps that lead up to the stage.

Tillie & Lexi playing in the chapel.

Calling Hours and funeral

When I was in New York, I got used to the fact that a viewing prior to a funeral was called "Calling Hours". It stuck, somehow. The day of the calling hours was beautiful - in fact, the whole time I was in Utah the weather was astonishingly lovely. I walked down to the funeral home (why on earth drive?) and was able to watch the mountains glow with the setting sun. There is magic in the way they glow - as though its from the inside out.

The sunset reflected on the mountains.

My dear friend Peter and his wife (from Australia) sent us flowers! 

The display table we arranged. Some awesome pictures of my dad! 

My nephew Dylan and his fiance Natalie.

The next day was the funeral, and it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining - far more than it does in Glasgow, that's for sure! The service at our church was really excellent. My uncle Don, my dad's youngest brother, spoke some beautiful words. The service at the graveside was also really beautiful. Jared my brother played the bagpipes, I sang Gaelic songs and Dylan blessed the grave.

Jared playing the pipes.

We discovered my dad would be in good company - a woman born in Scotland!

Tillie collecting flowers.

Jared, Lexi & April

Katie