Last Full Day on the Res.

     I can base a hard day's work on the number of pictures that I took.  Today was a long day of hot work.  The weather has been phenomenal this year thanks to the pseudo polar vortex. But today on the hottest day of the week we decided to tackle the hottest job we were given.  All of us at one time or another were in the cemetery either shortening the grass with one implement or another or working to straighten up the grave sites themselves. Unfortunately, I only have the three pictures seen below as evidence (it's hard to carry a camera and use a weedeater at the same time).   

     Nan, the tireless gardener, worked all day pulling weeds and straightening the flowers and decorations on the graves.  Anna from the community was Nan's helper   Mickie picked up where she left off and continued work on the graves as well. Chip, Chiles, and James took turns with the riding mower and push mower while I worked the weedeater. Joy as always kept us well fed and visited with Debbie Day at her house and the children as they came to the church.  We have made a point to always have a pot of coffee on and a dessert at the ready for whomever may stop by.

     Chip "Mr. Fix It" Fiske rises with the sun each day, which is VERY early in this part of the country, to work on little odd jobs around the church.  I think he has been the little elf that could this week keeping the lawn mowers working so the rest of us could do other work.  He has also done work repairing the gate, fixing the vegetable sprayer in the kitchen, and repairing the water line in the orchard that was nicked by the law mower, and other jobs I'm sure.  By doing the work early in the day he is able to stop what he is doing at any other part of the day to visit as different people come by to visit.

     Chiles took the riding mower over to Eric Red Horse's house to mow his grass this afternoon.  James has been a great playmate to 6 year-old twins. Nan is itching to take home a puppy we have dubbed Doorbell because it is always at our front door, starved for attention, food, and water equally.  James, Chiles, and Joy got to go on a horseback trail ride led by Eric.  That always brings the treat of a beautiful view from the ridge into the valley below.  Joy commented tonight after supper that in our planning for the trip last year we were told to prepare each meal for around twenty to thirty people, adults and kids.  We ended up with a lot of leftovers last year but, this year that number has been right on the money with close to 45 last night for the special ceremony.  I think this is a sign of not only acceptance into the community, but also acceptance into the family. We certainly feel a special connection here.  I have enjoyed spending more time with Toni and Byron and hearing of their vision for the community and the partnerships with other churches.  I look forward to even more conversations around these points.  Just tonight Joy and I were talking with Toni and Bonnie about the possibility of a micro-lending program or a way for the ladies of the tribe to make money away from the Res selling beadwork and other things.  I am intrigued by the continued conversation with Justin DeLeon as he continues his doctoral research here on the res.

     Tomorrow we head out for our sightseeing day with mixed emotions. I, for one, am glad to be heading home to see my family and sleep in my own bed. But, I also know that I will miss "all my relations" (mikatuye oyasin).