I think the pictures kind of speak for themselves! Except for Amayah's shawl getting stolen, this was one awesome pow wow this summer....I can't believe how fast the days have gone by since.
The area was beautiful, we hope to make it back next summer!!
There were some pretty fabulous dancers, which will be included in the next few postings.
It may not be lakes and trees that we Woodlands are accustomed to, but I can't say enough about how beautiful it is ....a different kind of Indian country....none the less....still Indian country!
A few more pictures from last weekend, when it was still nice out!! I know I said it before, and I kept saying it to Emma that day...I'm so glad we went out ricing. Now here I sit at home, it's cold, rainy and windy with the threat of winter just around the corner......again.
This is it!! Went ricing last weekend, 9/16/09 to be exact. We chose to paddle around and to the back of Plum Island you see in the second picture. The rice in this area was ripe, thick and fell into the canoe easily. It was soooo nice to be on the old ricing lake again, we scared up a few hundred ducks. My ricing partner was none other than Emma Lee J. We had the most awesome day, we decided we were not going to over do anything...took our time, no rush to the day at all. It was her first time 'polling...or is it poling' ha ha .... however you spell it...once she got the hang of controlling the canoe, she did a very good job. Had a few shakey moments where I half expected to hear her splash into the water, but she was pretty good at stabilizing herself. We also had a lot of laughs!!
At the end of the day, we were very glad and appreciative to have the beautiful lake landing to ourselves!
I am so glad we decided to go ricing that weekend, we replenished our eating rice for the next year or so.
No.....they did not lose him. I know that Gary doesn't read my blog, so I can say what I'm going to say without him getting even more mad at me.
Ma and dad, gram and gramp think they lost him...but there's no way on earth!!! He probably belongs more to them then he does to me, he LOVE'S his gram/gramps.
I just have to be the hard ass and always say the tough words to him and all that. I know I have an awesome son, it's been so hard raising a boy. Dad has always had to deal with the estrogen shit....poor dad.
Well, his grandson probably has it worse than ole grandpa, he is after all the only boy in the family of women...strong women. He's had to grow into his place in life being the only boy, having all girl cousins etc.
At the end of the day and after leaving him home alone for the weekend, I know he's a good kid. This morning he let me hug him up, he just stood there and let me hug him and kiss him. I think that's good!
He'll be twenty....20!....in seven days. If he hasn't fuc*ed up big time by now...I don't think he will.
Imagine.......being married to the same person for 55 years. That's more than a life time for someone as old as me!!! I will never know that feeling in life, to spend that many years with the same man. All I can say is wow! That's my mom and dad, the kids' grandma and grandpa, great-grandma and grandpa.....they are the strength of our family.
Heading up there for the weekend to spend some family time, will not be the same without my Emma Lee but I know she'll be thinking about being there and will be home shortly.
It will be 4 weeks this Sunday that she left. I can't believe how this works, at first when I realized she's really going to be gone for 2 months I panicked and thought ....that's a long time. I thought for sure that I would get sick with missing her, and I was for about the first week and a few other days here and there. I do miss her immensely, but not in a sobbing, sad way. I know she's doing great and that's all that matters. We talk everyday, in fact she text messaged me today "ohhhh I'm so hungry, I had such a long hot day". She said they spent the day out in the field in the sun, she's not really appreciating her tan lines... She doesn't have the time she usually does to work on that perfect tan.....I said well that's one of the benefits of being a scientist, getting that perfect farmer's tan....ha ha.
They were out scouting in the kayak's (which she loves), measuring, and doing whatever they do scientifically. She just wanted to get to her room and have a relaxing evening. Once she was relaxed she called and told me she made herself some Thai noodles for dinner. We talked about today's happenings......Michael Jackson died!!!! Sad!! What a musical legacy he leaves...we both were stunned by that devastating news!
On a happier note, she's heading to Chicago on Saturday and has plans to take a city tour, finding a few nice restaurants hoping to get a delicious seafood dinner, do some shopping, etc. Plus, her boyfriend Teochen is flying down to see her over the 4th of July weekend he already bought his ticket and will rent a car when he gets there......so she's happy about that and so am I.
After that, she's on the home stretch and will be home in no time!
The pictures here are of Emma in the green house, this is where she works part of the time, germinating and such. The other, she's out in the field in her hip waders getting ready to take the kayaks out to check the project sites and scout for new sites.
She said she thinks gram/gramps plan on sending her popped wild rice, she was pretty excited about that. And, she finally admitted to me this evening that she misses her family. I am so grateful that we have the family we have, the old fashioned family values that have been (for lack of a better word) incorporated into the fabric of our everyday lives.
I'm hoping she'll have a chance to post more pictures, especially after this weekend when she goes to Chi-Town!!
I forgot to change the date on the camera, these were taken this evening. I thought they looked pretty cute laying there looking at each other. Last night Orville was all spread out on his back looking at the puppy, and the puppy was laying pretty close to him practically face to face. I was wishing I would've taken a picture of it. So this evening I grabbed the camera.
The first picture is a little 'fuzzy', you'll have to double click to see it better.
For someone who's not an animal person, not sure how or why I ended up with a cat and a dog! Here's a picture of Emma's cat Orville and Gary's dog......doesn't have a name yet. He came home one day with him and surprised me in the same way I was surprised with Orville! So far, he seems like a nice mild tempered puppy. He stays by the house and is nice to the cat, and he doesn't cry or bark at night. He's a pretty playful little thing, he seems to be a fast learner and continues to stay a safe distance from me and not lick at my ankles and run under my feet anymore! And Orville of course is such an affectionate cat, he'll love up to anything. Even a skunk if he could!
That's what the professor titled these pictures he took at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville, Indiana located a few hours from Purdue. http://in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3091.htm
Emma and her research partner Becca are checking out the new kayaks in one of the project areas. I'll try to explain a little of what they're doing.....About 50 feet from shore, they put out a transect line of rope to set points of where the wild rice stands are. Tomorrow they're going back to measure the line and put out buoys to mark the study areas around the wild rice stands, they will take air and water temperatures and monitor the water depth.They'll also scout other areas for more wild rice stands.
The plants here are called Spatterdock, they're a water lily that prevents the growth of wild rice.
Becca participated in the same program last summer as an undergraduate student and decided to go on to grad school at Purdue after her experience. So this summer she's doing her research as a grad student.
Emma looks like she's concentrating pretty hard in that second picture!
Gary and Jordan. I know people like to tease them about being gay and whatever, but I have to say I think they really have turned out to be very good friends. In times of frustration, I even took my turn in making subtle (low blow) comments to Gary about their friendship.
They do have the commonality that our families have close ties and Gary considers Jordan to be his cousin even though they are not related by blood.
They have bonded as friends over the last 4 years or so. It's understanding in so many ways. They are two young Native guys walking the fine line between trying to stay out of trouble, getting in trouble and going to court, problems in school, becoming a young father, almost becoming a young father and dealing with the heartbreak of losing that possibility (for now anyway), looking for jobs, and still trying to maintain the identity of their own culture.
This is the area that I think Gary has always been very strong, he's been singing and drumming since he was 2! I have it on video and I have the memories of him constantly singing and pounding on anything and everything......singing powwow songs, I think he was born with it.
Gary grew up without his dad in his life, his father figure's have always been his grandpa, grandma and me...but mainly his grandpa. Even though we all think (and get very frustrated) that he's not retaining what we're teaching him and telling him.... over the years, I think that he really has been listening....Gary has always lived life to the beat of his own drum.
Maybe that's why these two make such good friends. Jordan (I think) does have a dad in his life, if not, he has brothers that have taught him some pretty important and interesting life surviving skills.
This is why I've decided that I don't mind if they hang out at my house for now. They have a safe place to stay and they are fed.
I really believe that they will be friends for life, I've also decided not to 'go against the grain' when it comes to this friendship.
I will say without a doubt......No....they are not gay! Ha.
Jordan has court this week, we'll see what the immediate future has in store for him.
Meanwhile, I will continue to hope that Gary stays out of trouble and steps up his efforts in finding a job!
So far so good! She's doing really good, adjusting as I expected she would. Of course her days are pretty busy, she spends most of her days in the green house 'planting seeds' and in the lab doing 'lab work'. ha. Today they went shopping for kayaks! They plan on using the kayaks to go to the project sites to transplant the wild rice seeds they are currently germinating in the greenhouse.
She sounds really happy and I know this is an adventure for her.
Yesterday they had a GRE seminar to prepare for the GRE! Today, they listened to students that have gone on for their Ph.D's needless to say....but will say it anyway....they are in the Ph.D program.
I know this sounds pretty simplistic in contrast to what she's really doing on a daily basis. Once she gets settled in maybe she'll have more time to explain in detail some of the more intrinsic details of what she's doing. Her day is pretty full, she's busy from the time she get's to work with her Starbucks to the time she leaves.
I saw one of her BSU mentor's today, probably the professor most involved in the direction her studies have taken her to this point. He wrote the most impressive letter of recommendation to Purdue for the program she's currently involved in, plus he is the professor that recommended her for the scholarship she has received for the last two years.....Dr. Fu-Hsian Chang, Director of Environmental Studies...he has been following her academic pursuits very closely since she decided to major in ES. When he can't get in touch with her, he comes to my office looking for her!
But I will say, the person that influenced her the most is her grandmother. They talked about how Reservation lands are currently being contaminated by so many factors and there is virtually no Native representation when studies are conducted etc. I wasn't in on the entire conversation, but I know it was pretty special.
That's the reason Emma decided to go into ES, her focus is policy and planning. I'm hoping that she continues on with her interests and goes on to graduate school. This is only my hope for her future. It's up to her what she decides to do.
I will say one thing about her being gone this time...it's easier than when she was in South Africa....I could not talk to her, call her for the entire time she was gone unless she called me. At least this time when I need to hear her voice or know she's on the 'other side' I can just call her or text and she answers me immediately. We spend a lot of time on the phone talking. It's still not the same as being able to hug her like I do everyday, but at least I know she's doing good.
One more thing......I'd also be most happy if she decides to settle down and have a family.....that means cute little grandchildren!!
I've decided to revive the old dead blog. It's finally summer and I have a lot of time on my hands. Once again, as my family and friends know and I'm sure everyone's tired of hearing me cry about Emma being gone for the summer.
So, that's my big deal at the moment....is dealing and handling with her being gone for 2 months. So far though, it's good. We talk on the phone a lot, and as soon as she gets her new lap top, we'll keep in touch even more. I will say I've never been away from her for this longggggg.
On the other hand, she's happy and doing good. She's such a strong girl, she knows how to make the best of any situation - she's been that way since she was a little girl. Not to say or imply that her situation at the moment is not good, it's very good. She's loving her research and lab work and that's what she's there for. This will be such a life changing experience for her, meeting people from all over the U.S. and other cultures alone will be pretty damn interesting for her!
Hopefully, she'll take a lot of pictures. I want to get Grandma on Facebook so she can connect with the granddaughters and the rest of the family.
Here's the link to the program Emma's involved in for the summer http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/diversity/srop-marcaim.cfm
The great thing about this experience is she can use it as her internship toward completion of her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies. But even more, Purdue is grooming and preparing her for graduate school if she chooses to do so.
I'm coming to terms with the magnitude of possibilities for her future. I am so proud of her!
I've been working real hard, trying to get my hands clean, Tonight we'll drive that dusty road from Monroe to Angeline, To buy you a gold ring and pretty dress of blue, Baby just one kiss will get these things for you, A kiss to seal our fate tonight, A kiss to prove it all night.
(Chorus) Prove it all night, Girl there's nothing else that we can do, So prove it all night, prove it all night, And girl I'll prove it all night for you.
Everybody's got a hunger, a hunger they can't resist, There's so much that you want, you deserve much more than this, But if dreams came true, oh, wouldn't that be nice, But this ain't no dream we're living through tonight, Girl, you want it, you take it, you pay the price.
(Chorus) Prove it all night, prove it all night girl and call the bluff, prove it all night, prove it all night and girl, I prove it all night for your love.
Baby, tie your hair back in a long white bow, Meet me in the fields out behind the dynamo, You hear the voices telling you not to go, They made their choices and they'll never know, What it means to steal, to cheat, to lie, What it's like to live and die. (Chorus) To prove it all night...
Here I sit back at home already, I can't believe a week and a day went by and a few of the days are a blur. This afternoon at the hospital we were trying to figure out..."where did we stay last Saturday night..." dad had a good idea that one of us should have kept a journal of the past week. A few of the days kind of blur into each other.
I'm so grateful that the place we did stay at offered us extended/hospital stay rates can't beat $33.00 a night at the Fairfield Inn!!
This was the first Easter our family didn't celebrate together, it was kind of a numb Easter. Although I did enjoy a nice lunch at Red Lobster. Considering the circumstances with mom in the hospital, dad by her side, it didn't feel right to even think about Easter. So, we decided to celebrate when the weather is nice, the ground is dry and a nice breeze is coming off the lake onto the deck where we can all gather. I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully, we can do this before May 31st when Emma leaves for two months to study at Purdue University.
Thanks to sis for this pic of ma sitting in one of her favorite places last summer. I think it's on the bridge over either Nett or Lost River. I may be wrong too, all I do know is this river is in a very remote spot on the Bois Forte Rez....way out there.
I always knew she was a tough, strong woman, but one thing I learned about her this past week is she's even tougher than the toughest narcotic!! Wow, she has one..strong..mind!
Tomorrow is Monday already, time sure does fly. One more thing....the cat survived outside for over a week!
If you double click on this image, you will see an orb attached to the upper right side of Brad's head...this is for real. We took these pic's after he told us what to look for....there it is.
Here I am!!! Standing in front of my recently purchased mansion in St. Paul, MN - - see the purchase agreement in my hand??? Also, me in my wine cellar and standing at the top of my staircase! Ha...I wish!! Sure is nice to dream though. These were taken a few weeks ago during a little weekend jaunt to the cities, planned on staying one night and ended up staying until Monday! Had a blast with sis, stayed at the Hyatt Regency and the Double Tree.
This old mansion is called Forepaugh's, http://www.forepaughs.com. As she was showing me some of her favorite sites on Sunday, we drove into the circular drive way of this old mansion and decided to check it out. We ended up sitting in a little 'nook' sipping a beverage and chatting with the bartender, he invited us to take a self-guided tour of the haunted mansion, told us where to take pictures where there's spiritual activity. This would have been on the third floor where the cleaning lady committed suicide back in the 1800's and now she haunts the place.
When we finally sat down for another beverage, the bartender shared the story of the haunted mansion. He said not to be surprised if some of our pictures had 'orbs'. And, sure enough they did. The picture of me at the top of the stair case has an orb if you double click it, it's toward the bottom to the right of the staircase. Pretty cool.
The bartender asked if we wanted to see the wine cellar, of course we did. He also treated us to a free dessert called chocolate deluce, it was delicious!!
I know I'm pirating pictures here, but I love these pic's of Jessa and Chris on their wedding day on the beach in Oahu, Hawaii. They look so happy ....... husband and wife in love.
Needless to say, but I will say it anyway......(waste of words I know). I am so looking forward to seeing them next weekend in Mankato for their official wedding reception. I'm hoping they both show up in bridal and groom attire, not cleaned or anything, we all want to see the beach stains and sand.
I hope they keep in mind that they are on their own in Kauai and that they bring back a lot of pic's and video.
Hopefully they'll bring back some of that Hawaiian sunshine and warmth!!
After re-reading this, I seem really demanding with high expectations, like I'm her mom or something.
That's really not the case, just want to see the bride and groom, hug & kiss them and wish them well!
Ohhhh, one more thing.....hope to see another little Mayo on the way soon....?? Scotland needs a sibling I think.... : )
Yeah .....!! This is sis on the beach in Oahu, HI somewhere. Not sure exactly which beach this is, but I'm sure it's the same beach Jessa and Chris had their beautiful wedding ceremony.
I really like this picture, it's beautiful, she's beautiful. She looks like a native Hawaiian, like she's really in her element or something. Very Indigenous and naturally proud!!
But I think she should've changed into her hula outfit for this pic!!
I had to really look twice when I saw this picture, and think...........wait now, I was not in Hawaii!! Was I??
I know I'm complementing myself but someone has to once in a while.
I had no idea what to make for a solo dinner tonight. Just threw this together and it was soooo good!!
The other night I had a sirloin that needed to be grilled before leaving for an overnight trip. I marinated it for a good part of the afternoon Thursday and grilled it that night and couldn't eat the whole thing by myself (solo again). Wait....I'll back up a bit or as dad say's "back the boat up"!
About a week ago I attended a Tastefully Simple party and bought garlic garlic seasoning blend and a couple of other products . So, tonight I decided to roast cauliflower and broccoli in olive oil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and the garlic garlic! Oh man that turned out very delicious! So, I took a sweet onion and sauteed it in just a dab of olive oil with a little more of the garlic garlic and sea salt, then added the sliced up sirloin! Heated that stirring constantly until everything was heated consistently and thoroughly, plus I didn't want to lose all of the pinkness in the beef.
I am so proud of myself! This little concoction turned out mouthwatering delicious! And it was so easy! If I had done this all in one sitting it would've been a lot of work and time consuming, but since the steak was already grilled and well marinated and seasoned, all I had to do was slice it up and throw it in the pan with the onions and toss the roasted veggies over that.
There's enough left over for lunch for me and Emma for tomorrow.
Ha!!! this is even way better than Tutto's if I have to say so myself. It would've been perfection if I had some portobello's to add. Maybe next time. This also happens to be totally carb free and heart healthy because I cooked it in olive oil!!
Yes, there are so many changes lately, things going on. Some days, I feel like everything is happening faster than I can keep up! My kids are maturing so fast ... before my eyes...which means of course that I am getting older. Had a text message today from Gary, "I got a bathtub", I'm like "What?" he said "For my baby"! Sure enough, when I got home from work he had a little bathtub in his room. I took a picture of it, but the camera wasn't cooperating with the computer..so I couldn't download it. And, Emma is in the process of completing all necessary paper work to attend and be accepted to work on a research project at Purdue University this summer. Sounds like she's pretty much in....she meets all requirements and they want her! She'll be gone all of June and July. Of course, I will miss her terribly - but she's looking forward to it, so I have no choice but to encourage and support! And me, I'm here as the foundation and support system for my kids. They always have a home here. I will post the little bathtub picture when I can figure what's going on with the camera and computer.
Only in America ......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America .......do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
Only in America ......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America .....do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America.......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America ......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
EVER WONDER ...Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
So many memories from 2008, some not so good, but who wants to remember those...mostly for me they were good. That's what life's about, making memories, experiencing the good with the bad and growing from there, knowing limitations, taking responsibility, drawing from inner strength that is there but needs awakening every once in a while, all that kind of stuff! I'm still realizing and learning this even in my old years.
Mostly, I'm thankful for my family, that we all made it through 2008. I'm thankful for everything my mom and dad have done for me, without them I think I would've just laid down and gave up - - I could've done that so many times, especially in the last year. But they're always there to pick me up and give me a shove (shove me around) ha! I've drawn on that strength a lot! Thankful for my sisters, when worse comes to worse we all know that we can call on each other for motivation, moral boosts, laughs, etc.
I can never thank my ex-husband enough for Emma and Gary! I am very thankful that I was left with the responsibility and the privilege of raising them even though I've questioned my ability to raise a son many, many times, having no experience what-so-ever dealing with boys. I see what kind of young man he is becoming, he has a huge capacity for caring about people even though on the surface it seems like it's 'all about him'.
Even though this post is a little deeper than usual, I'm hoping that 2008 blends into 2009 with ease ....and that my family stays stronger than ever!!
