From Dad's Sweater

Although the cat seems to think it's his,



I made a pillow for the dog.



Out of my Dad's old sweater (I was trying to make a vest for myself, but I didn't like it.), an old pair of mom jeans, and bits of other projects (saved for stuffing).



I also made two dog sweaters from the sleeves.

I'm dreading my Mom seeing them, because she will get all grumpy and say, "I paid good money for that sweater!" Even though that was 30 years ago, and my Dad's been gone almost 11 years.

Thanksgiving Address

Greetings to the Natural World

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.




Now our minds are one.


The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.




Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.



Now our minds are one.


The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine Herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.


Now our minds are one.


The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.



Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the trees. The earth has many families of trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us wit shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty, and other useful things. Many people around the world use the tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we thank and greet the tree life.



Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the birds who move and fly above our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the birds - from largest to smallest - we send our joyful greetings and thanks.




Now our minds are one.


The Waters

We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms—waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.



Now our minds are one.


The Fish

We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.



Now our minds are one.


The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.



Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.




Now our minds are one.


The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightening and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.


Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.




Now our minds are one.


Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the nighttime sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.


Now our minds are one.



The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.





Now our minds are one.


The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.



Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

And now our minds are one.


This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was
developed, published in 1993, and provided here, courtesy of:
Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project
All rights reserved.
Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World
English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk)
Mohawk version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)

Thanksgiving Address Fund
c/o Tracking Project
P.O. Box 266
Corrales, New Mexico 87048

Bridges

...for each of them has turned
aside and each has found it hard
to listen when the other was
the one who was in question and
for each the one atonement is:
begin again.

from Chelmaxioms
by Allen Mendelbaum

Road weary

The kid decided to join me on the trip. We were very tired.

Halloween At My House, 2009

I can tell you how to grow a bunch of field pumpkins. Those are the big, hollow, jack-o-lantern pumpkins. The ones sold at grocery stores for a ton of money, but they're no good for eating.

I drive by a field on my way to work. This time of year it is standing fallow with abandoned, left over pumpkins.

In the spring, you just plow the weeds under, no need to be too careful. Plant the seeds. Let them grow. Come back a few weeks before Halloween and pick as many as your crates can hold and truck can haul. Leave the rest for the deer.

We bought seven pumpkins at .30 a pound. Did I ever mention that we do Halloween in a big way at my house?

In my wild youth, I would worry about wasting food, and would make pies and soup from the jack-o-lanterns after Halloween. Then I realized they weren't food grade.

I do roast the seeds. Just pull as much of the guts off as you can, plop them in a roasting pan, salt them, and roast at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes.



I also make broth from the guts. Put them in a pan, cover with water, simmer for a couple hours. Strain.



I did make curry pumpkin soup from the eyes, noses, and mouths of the seven jack-o-lanterns we carved. I put 3 carrots and a sweet potato in for color and flavor.



One of the seven.



And my favorite trick or treaters. That's my mom's friend Marge, Joe, and my mom. Aren't they precious? Mom and Marge went to a party dressed as carpenter partners. Joe went out with his friends dressed as a fox in pajamas. (I made the ears, Joe thinks I should sell them on etsy.)



We had more than 250 trick or treaters, and each got a fun size candy bar and a couple of star bursts. I had to turn the lights out and hide after 7:30. Next year I'll be prepared for 300, and I'm handing out pretzels.

The Coffee Cup Sings

After climbing bald mountain.

Golden Boys

Since returning from the hospital, my darling boy has spent a lot of time doing this. First it was most of the day, then down to a couple hours, then one hour...now it's 10 minutes here or there, or even no time at all. Healing and coming off meds is exhausting hard work.



These two are worth their weight in gold. They are loyal, loving, healing influences. We are so blessed by them.




Since we've been home, he has completed 3 HS summer school classes, re-connected with friends, and reduced his meds (dr supervised) by more then half.

Thank you Lord.

Something I Noticed

from google images

The guy on this coin bears a stricking resemblance to the guy in this photo.

from patti's iPhone

This guy is my brother.  He might not be the only guy in Florida qualified to wear his hair in a Mohawk.  Seein' as he's half Akwesasne Mohawk, and there might be a few more of us in Florida.  But he is probably the only blond haired/blue eyed Akwesasne Mohawk in Florida. He sure is handsome.