Sprout 8: Photo Project

Lydia’s senior pictures:

This summer my sister asked if I would take her senior pictures for her.  This was not because I am an excellent photographer but for two reasons.

1.      She thought most of her friends photo’s looked the same and were taken in the same three locations

2.     She is awesome and even at 17 she is frugal, why spend money when you don’t have to!

So two weeks ago she came to visit with a friend and we had some fun around town.  There were tons of amazing photos; of course my sister is beautiful, although not all were “senior picture” in nature. These are a few of my favorite.

I also took some photo’s of Lydia’s friend any my other sister, maybe I’ll post some of them later.

Chickahominy Harvest Festival

A few weeks ago Joey and I attended the Chickahominy Harvest powwow.   This was a work trip and I had to write what I learned in order to get points for re-certification.  Most of what I learned was in the car ride on the way to the event. Since I was going to write this and had some awesome photos I figured I would share it.

While spending the day with a member of the Chickahomoiny Tribe I had the opportunity to clear up many misconceptions about the American Indians (what they prefer to be called).

 First, there are East Coast and West Coast Indians, and much of the media portrayal of Indians is based on the West Coast traditions.   The differences cover a vast array of things, from the mundane to core traditions and beliefs.   On the surface level the dress and housing are different; the east coast tribes lived in cabins and lean-tos not teepees. 

But more complex is the difference in belief. The Chickahomoiny are monotheistic.  They believe in creator God, who sent His warrior Son, as a sacrifice for them.  This influence came from the Baptist missionaries that settled in the area in the 1600’s.   The Chickahomoiny hold to Rev. 7:9-10, “After this I looked, and behold a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”  This is a far cry from the spirit worshipers I had imagined, or the talking trees Disney taught me about. 

Our guide was an American Indian from the Chickahominy tribe and there was also a member from a New England tribe that traveled with our group. One of the things that frustrated our guide was the historical inaccuracies in the First Thanksgiving

There are three widely believed myths: first, it was not the “first”.  There had been a harvest gathering each year in Burkley, VA starting with settlers before the pilgrims.   Second, is how the actual events of “thanksgiving” occurred.  The Pilgrims were starving, so in order to feed themselves they had been killing and raiding Indian homesteads.  While on one raid they desecrated a grave and the Chief gathered the warriors to kill the pilgrims.  When the Chief arrived in the village he saw that the people were starving and instead told his men to go and kill deer and pheasant and make a meal for the people who were on the verge of death.

Third, the Indians portrayed in most Thanksgiving images are far from an accurate representation of the East Coast Indians.  They did not wear headdresses like the ones in most images, the headdresses that are usually shown are western and were only used in times of war.  Also the northern east coast Indians would have had a blanket/wrap/poncho type of attire in the cold winter months; they would not have been bare-chested.

This information was given in our car ride to the powwow; at the powwow we saw some of these traditions in action.   The Chief started the day out with a prayer that was clearly Christian then we were able to see native dress or regalia of the local tribesmen which was different depending on what type of dance you did.  Also, since this is a Harvest Powwow, we were told that the Tribe does not worship the earth or the harvest but the intent is to show gratitude for the blessings.  

The Powwow started with the booming of a drum circle and the haunting singing/chanting of the men involved.  Then the dance circle started with Warriors (veterans) first and then the various forms of dance.  Once they had filled in the circle they asked that the Warriors move to the center and all other veterans in the crowd come and join them for an honorary dance.  The rest of the Powwow was a competition for the six different styles of dance. The powwow ended with honoring those from the tribe who have passed on.

The dark truth about THIRTY

So I seem to be slacking this month, I had good intentions to write on about three different travel experiences, finish up my last three Sprouts, and to post a recipe.  Well guess what it is the LAST day of the month and NOTHING!  well, I blame it on 30….

You all know I was dreading the big day, but I figured once I got it off my chest the day would come and go.   I would still seem old to teenagers all over the world (thanks Terry for the card) and it still weird to say my age, actually I don’t think I’ve actually come out and said the words “I’m__________”.  When students ask me how old I am and then proceed to guess I can’t say yeah I’m in my twenties anymore, so I stick with the oldest number thrown out and respond with, “that’s right I am 58..”

Cake Joey had made for me.... gorgeous!

So the day came and Joey threw me for a loop by throwing a surprise party, I had no clue.  I had gone shopping with my mom and when I got home he was like why don’t you set that down in the living room and I walked into a room of people!

THE SUPRISE

This was his third attempt, 1^st at 22 he kept saying we couldn’t go back to my apartment yet and coming up with random things to do. So when he looked at his watch and said ok we can go now I was pretty sure he had something up his sleeve, although my roommates did a pretty good job of keeping it under wrap. 

trying to take it all in

Attempt number two was maybe 27 or 28, we drove to a park and when I got out of the car my 4year old niece ran up and said we are here for your party.  The beans were spilled but at least she was cute 

Minnie- "wow, that ALOT of candles!"

So with this great start I was optimistic for the future…. but things didn’t go so well.  First the Monday after I start to have a tingling sensation on my lip.....nothing is there, so I don’t worry. Oh, but wait three days and Thirty is there with a vengeance, aka cold sore, and does it last the normal 5-8days, no 3 long weeks.  One would think Thirty had its laugh, but no, I have take 4 naps since that fateful day.  Gone are the days when I run for an hour and don’t even glisten, now if I can even make it an hour I’m sweating profusely.   In addition to all that Thirty has brought me 10 extra pounds and just isn’t letting me give them back.

Surprise party #2- with the culprit 

So was my slacking this month a result of heading back to school and being under the weather or is it because …….

THRITY CAME WITH A VENGENCE!

sprout 7: Bottle Cap Magnets

A few months back I saw magnets similar to this in a store, a set of 12 for around $20, I thought... "hmm, I could make those." I needed to collect bottle caps and then some magazine images that I liked.  So, I need to say thank you to all the people at Jarrett's surprise party last night, they didn't act like it was too crazy when I asked them to save bottle caps for a project I wanted to do.  I took home a 20oz cup full of bottle caps.  I had some images of birds that I liked so I used a quarter to get the right shape.  Also I spray painted all the caps white so they would be unified.   I think I may refine this project and make L-O-V-E magnets for valentines day with my special needs class, I am there version of an art teacher.  (the rest of the time I teach personal finance) 

Every thing was recycled, the caps, images, glue, paint, and magnets, so the cost for this project was 30 minutes of my time! Woo Hoo!

The Big Three-O

It’s just another year, why does it seem so big?  Ever since April I have been struggling with the thought of almost being thirty.  I admit, even a few tears have been shed! I keep telling myself it’s just another year, it’s not a big deal, yet I just can’t help myself. There were other milestones in my life that I really didn’t care about, like graduating from high school, I was so excited, turning 18-excited, moving 8 hrs away for college, yep excited didn’t shed a tear for this new chapter. Graduated from college, excited, although worried about a job, got a job excited. Married the love of my life, guess what excited. Purchased my first home, excited.  Turned twenty-five, didn’t notice. Never did I shed a tear or worry about any of these major “life changing” events. Yet about 6 months ago I started freaking out about 30! My husband turned 30 last week and he just rolled right on like it was nothing. Yet for most women this year is a monumental one, I recently read an article that said how women feel about turning 30 men feel about turning 58.

Kindergarten (looked for baby photo but couldn't find one)

So the question is why?

Theory 1: I remember my mom’s thirtieth birthday.  My aunt harassed her for weeks.  She sent Depends in the mail and on another day black roses, so perhaps I was molded by my crazy aunt to think 30 was old.

HS Graduation (all photos are photos of photos, not the best quality)

Theory 2: As a kid I always though being 20 was cool, hip, young, and fresh.  So in my mind it didn’t matter that I was 27, I was still in my 20’s.  I was more mature, but still felt I was “college age” and it was great at work I felt like I could share “wisdom” without being ignored because I was too old!  

college years

Theory 3: I admit it, I’m a bit vain, but I think if every girl is honest we all are a bit vain.  Hence this statement Joey made about 5 years ago keeps running through my mind and I think “is this what people think when they see me?”  Joey’s dastardly comment   “Oh, are you talking about the older lady who used to be pretty.”  The older lady was 33!

the big day

Theory 4: Science says that women start to feel the pull of their biological clock around thirty; they feel that they need to meet someone, get married, in order to have a kid by 35.  I’ve already done the first two so I would think I have another few years before this would kick in

our first place

Theory 5:  I’ve noticed a few changes; my metabolism has definitely slowed over the past two years. My face has become less full and I’ve even noticed a few fine lines here and there.

30 and dreading 30

Whatever the reason, I’m hoping the next 7 days go by very slowly!