The Internet is an Ocean of Unsourced Quotations

Today I was asked for the source of 

That which is so universal as Death, must be a blessing.

Several sites claimed Friedrich Schiller said it (replacing "blessing" with "benefit'), and maybe he did say something like that in German.  I did a lot of searches in various places just using "universal as death."  It turns out Jonathan Swift said something similar: "It is impossible that any thing so natural, so necessary, and so universal as death, should ever have been designed by Providence as an evil to mankind."

• Thoughts on Religion (1765), published posthumously

In 1765 Schiller was only 6 years old. Even if he read Swift and came up with a shorter version, Swift had the idea first! See: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Friedrich_Schiller

The Woodlawn Cemetary in Palm Beach, FL has 

"That which is so universal as Death, must be a blessing" inscribed on its gate, and as of 2006 the inscription was unsourced

http://historicpalmbeach.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2006/02/01/inscriptions-origin-still-a-mystery/

Fairy Tale Friday--Katmanush, or the Human Being who was made of Wood

From Bengal Fairy Tales by Francis Bradley Bradley-Birt enjoy the Human Being who was made of Wood.  It is similar to the Norwegian tale Katie Woodencloak.

Fairy Tale Friday

This week's collection is Folk Tales from Tibet, with Illustrations by a Tibetan Artist and Some Verses from Tibetan Love-Songs, collected and translated by Capt. W.F. O'Connor.
I recommend The Story of Room Bacha and Baki.  It has themes from the story The Giant Who Had No Heart in his Body.

Illustration from the book.

Fairy Tale Friday--Kate Crackernuts

English Fairy Tales(1890)  by Joseph Jacobs is available on Wikisourse: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/English_Fairy_Tales

I recommend the story Kate Crackernuts: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/English_Fairy_Tales/Kate_Crackernuts

Fairy Tale Friday--The Heavenly Messengers

From Old-World Japan: Legends Of the Land of the Gods retold by Frank Rinde, with illustrations by T.H. Robinson, enjoy The Heavenly Messengers, in which the gods try and try again to bring order to the Earth.

Fairy Tale Friday

Enjoy Ancient Tide Lore and Tales of the Sea, From the Two Ends of the World, also, Some Highly Curious Ancient and Legendary Little-Known East Coast Maori Stories collected and translated by William Colenso.

This is What 61 Looks Like

It looks sweet!

Thanks to Sue, whose first cake broke in pieces.  Determined that I should have a beautiful birthday cake, she made another (pictured above).

 The first attempt.

After fudge and cake, I am ready for anything!

Bertha Frances (click for catalog record)

Rosemary gave me two cupcakes and an amazing clock that runs on water! A water clock