Snow on the Mountain…Time to Tell Stories
In the Navajo tradition when snow falls on the mountains, it is time to tell stories. One of my Navajo friends remembers life in the hogan in winter. "The fire was warm and my grandfather would lay back on his blanket, his arms behind his head and gaze up at the ceiling. I would wait for the stories to begin...stories of the creation, stories of his youth.I too remember my grandparents telling stories. After a Sunday dinner, the adults sat around the linen covered table. We children crawled under the table thinking the [...]
It’s Not as Easy as it Looks!
What do Navajo Fry Bread and Writing Have in Common?Navajo Fry Bread. A simple staple on the rez. Looks so easy.... There is a real knack to this: round it over your fist, stretch it, knead it, flatten it, make it round. Apparently I have not mastered the technique. This one ended up on the ground.I didn't have a grandma to teach me the tricks...there are always tricks of the trade. There are always tricks of the craft or skill...think Navajo weaving(see previous blog). I don't think she is amused....This one is [...]
New Beginnings….
Finally got this double weave rug off the loom. This is the classic weave for a horse blanket. A Navajo friend told me that if the flat weave is algebra...this is calculus. I am not so good at math....Nothing like a fresh new warp for a new beginning...a chance to get it right this time...maybe perfect. I plan on trying a raised outline weave. Fingers itching to begin.
Beatrice’s Dream Short Listed
More good news for Beatice! The SLA Information Book Award, organised by the School Library Association and sponsored by Peters, is an annual award designed to reinforce the importance of non-fiction and support school libraries whilst highlighting the high standard of resources available.Now in its second year as a national book award, the SLA have just announced this year's shortlist, whittled down from over 100 submissions received.Check it out:http://hackettflynn.blogspot.com/2012/05/school-library-association-award.htmlhttp://peters-educational-books.com/awards-news/sla-information-book-award-2012-shortlist-announced.htmlhttp://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/schools_library_service/ea_slaiba_
Birth and a Pilgrimage
It was a hot December evening when I delivered my second child, Christopher in Nsanje, Malawi where Steve and I were Peace Corps Volunteers. The delivery table was hard like a ceramic kitchen table in two parts. The stirrups were not what I remembered from my first delivery in a western hospital in Pittsburgh. When it was time to deliver the bottom half of the table was pulled away so the baby could "drop." Not so high tech. It was the time of the flying ants. They swarmed under the door attracted to [...]
Road Trip Part III: The Surprises
The best travel reveals the unexpected. The unexpected inspires. I have been across the Rio Grande river several times since I moved out west. And I was dismayed each time to find a trickle at best....damn up stream? So it was a surprise to find the Rio Grande Gorge State Park that offers hiking, and boating opportunities. The view of the gorge from the second highest suspension bridge in the US was worth the side trip.And I am inspired to go back for hiking, camping and boating adventures. OK maybe there is [...]