MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME A HAND MADE LOOM WHEN WE FIRST MET FOR MY BIRTHDAY. WE WERE WORKING FOR NEW YORK STATE PARKS DOING ARCHAEOLOGY AT CLAREMONT STATE PARKS IN THE WINTER. WE HAD LONG JOHNS ON AND EXCAVATED A 10 X 10' HOLE WHERE SOME KIND OF UNDERGROUND INSTALLATION WAS GOING TO BE PLACED FOR ROBERT STEVENSON'S OLD MANSION.
THE LOOM WAS JUST WHAT I WANTED AND WE BOUGHT SOME DIFFERENT COLORED WOOL YARN PROBABLY AT A TOWN WHERE THEY HAD COLONIAL EVENTS GOING ON NORTH OF WHERE WE WERE LIVING. I NEEDED THIS TYPE OF BUSY WORK TO HELP KEEP ME BUSY DURING THE WINTER. I READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND STRUNG IT WITH AN OLIVE GREEN YARN, AND PUT THE GOLD YARN INTO THE SHUTTLECOCK AND LEARN HOW TO USE THIS TABLE YARN STEP BY STEP. IT TOOK FOREVER TO WEAVE IT IN AND OUT OF THE WEFT. BUT IT WAS FUN FOR ME. I EVENTUALLY MADE A WIDE SCARF WHICH I USED FOR A TABLE DECORATION.
I HAD BOUGHT A BACK STRAP LOOM FROM MEXICO AND I TRIED TO FINISH THIS SCARF OF WOOL. IT HAD A TRICKY DESIGN AND I THINK I MESSED IT UP AND GAVE IT AWAY.
Monday, December 13, 2010
MAKING A DULCIMER
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 17 I LEARNED FROM A FRIEND OF MINE HOW TO BUILD AND PLAY A DULCIMER. HE HELPED ME ORDER THE MAHOGANY KIT. MY DADA HAD A JIGSAW TO CUT THE WOOD AND I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR GLUING IT AND CUTTING THE FRETS. THEN IT TOLD HOW TO STRING IT. IT HAD FOUR STRINGS. I BOUGHT A COUPLE OF JEAN RITCHIE'S RECORDS IN ORDER TO LEARN SOME SONGS AND HOW TO PLAY IT. IT IS A SIMPLE INSTRUMENT TO MAKE AND USE.
THERE ARE HAMMERED DULCIMERS AND I CAN USE MINE AS A HAMMERED DULCIMER AS WELL. I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY BASIC SONGS AS THE APPALACHIANS USED TO PLAY, WHICH MEANS YOU USE YOUR EAR TO STRUM ALONG THE FRETS. MY SON LIKES TO FIDDLE AROUND WITH IT. I HAVE ALSO BOUGHT A SECOND DULCIMER AT A GARAGE SALE THAT HAS 5 STRINGS. THIS ONE I TUNED A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND LEARNED TO PLAY FROM SCRATCH. IT HAD AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SOUND AS I TUNED IT TO MINOR KEYS. I ALSO HAVE A ZITHER THAT MY HUSBAND GAVE ME BUT I HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO PLAY IT YET. I'LL PROBABLY GO TO THE SONOMA COUNTY FOLK SOCIETY TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT SOMEDAY. I HAVE A RECORD OF A PERSON FROM OREGON WHO PLAYS THE ZITHER. WE HEARD HIM IN A CONCERT AT THE BLACK HILLS WHEN WE WORKED THERE WITH OUR PRIVATE ARCHEOLOGY BUSINESS.
THERE ARE HAMMERED DULCIMERS AND I CAN USE MINE AS A HAMMERED DULCIMER AS WELL. I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY BASIC SONGS AS THE APPALACHIANS USED TO PLAY, WHICH MEANS YOU USE YOUR EAR TO STRUM ALONG THE FRETS. MY SON LIKES TO FIDDLE AROUND WITH IT. I HAVE ALSO BOUGHT A SECOND DULCIMER AT A GARAGE SALE THAT HAS 5 STRINGS. THIS ONE I TUNED A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND LEARNED TO PLAY FROM SCRATCH. IT HAD AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SOUND AS I TUNED IT TO MINOR KEYS. I ALSO HAVE A ZITHER THAT MY HUSBAND GAVE ME BUT I HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO PLAY IT YET. I'LL PROBABLY GO TO THE SONOMA COUNTY FOLK SOCIETY TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT SOMEDAY. I HAVE A RECORD OF A PERSON FROM OREGON WHO PLAYS THE ZITHER. WE HEARD HIM IN A CONCERT AT THE BLACK HILLS WHEN WE WORKED THERE WITH OUR PRIVATE ARCHEOLOGY BUSINESS.
MY EARLY TEENS
WHEN I WAS AROUND 15 I GOT A CLASSICAL GUITAR. I HAD A GOOD GIRLFRIEND FROM WISCONSIN WHICH IS WHERE MY MOM'S FAMILY IS FROM. WE BOTH PRACTICED GUITAR AT EACH OTHER'S HOUSE. THERE WERE THE BEATLES SONGBOOKS THAT WE PLAYED, AND SOME OTHER FOLK BOOKS. CHRIS HAD SOME OF HER SONGBOOKS. HER MOM WAS A GREAT KNITTER AND ARTIST, AS WE BOTH WERE. SHE ALWAYS APPRECIATED US GETTING TOGETHER . BECAUSE THIS FRIEND HAD SO MUCH ARTISTIC TALENT I ALSO ENJOYED SPEAKING WITH HER MOM. WE BOTH GOT TOGETHER A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ART, PLAY GUITARS, GOOF AROUND, OR GO BIKING.
HER MOM WAS A GOOD COOK TOO AND SHE INVITED MY FAMILY OVER TO THEIR FIRST HOUSE IN TROY. IT WAS FUN FOR MY MOM TO TALK TO ANOTHER MOM IN THIS SMALL TOWN. MY DAD AND BROTHER TALKED TO HER DAD AND PLAYED FRISBEE OR LAWN GAMES. IN THEIR BIG BACKYARD. MY MOM RARELY INVITED A FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS A GOOD COOK. HOWEVER, MY BROTHER AND I BOTH HAD FRIENDS COME OVER AFTER SCHOOL ALL THE TIME. IN THOSE DAYS WE DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH HOMEWORK AS THEY DO TODAY.WE ALSO GOT TO KNOW SOME NEIGHBORS PRETTY WELL. WE HAD A BIG FRONT PORCH TO PLAY ON DURING RAIN STORMS.
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN OHIO. MY HOUSE WAS ON THE MAIN STREET I SAT ON OUR FRONT COVERED PORCH AND WATCHED FOLKS GO BY. BOTH MY BROTHER AND I REMEMBER WALKING MILES HOME FROM OUR JUNIOR HIGH. MY FAMILY HAD A LOT OF FUN AT PICNICS AT THE MAJOR PARK THERE OVERLOOKING THE MIAMI RIVER. MY UNCLE USED TO JOIN US FOR SPAGHETTI DINNER EVERY SUNDAY. WE USUALLY PLAYED CHESS AND OR HAD A GAME OF POOL (WE HAD A LARGE POOL TABLE IN ONE OF OUR DOWNSTAIRS ROOMS).
OHIO WAS VERY HUMID DURING SUMMERS YET AS A YOUNG BOY I DIDN'T MIND IT. ONCE WE MOVED TO DAYTON WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL. I SEVERAL CLOSE GIRLFRIENDS. MY UNCLE ALSO SOLD HIS HOUSE AND RENTED A ROOM IN DAYTON AFTER OUR FAMILY MOVED THERE. I REMEMBER HELPING HIM CLEAN MANY AN APARTMENT AND ROOMS AND HIS OLD HOUSE IN TROY.
I LEARNED TO DRIVE A CAR EARLY WHEN I WAS A SENIOR I HIGH SCHOOL. THEN I DROVE TO UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY. THIS WAS NEARBY WHERE MY MOM WORKED AT WRIGHT PATTERSON'S AIR FORCE BASE. I REMEMBER RELIEVING HER OF DRIVING HOME MOST DAYS AS I STAYED AT OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY UNTIL HER WORK WAS DONE. SOMETIMES I WENT TO MY WORK AT THE DAYTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OR AS A COUNSELOR IN ANTIOCH. MY MOM USUALLY CAUGHT A RIDE WITH A MAN TO GO TO WORK SO I COULD GO IN LATER.
I REMEMBER RIDING MY BIKE AROUND THE TOWN, EVEN TO MY GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE ABOUT 4 - 5 MILES AWAY. I DID NOT RIDE MY BIKE TO THE JUNIOR HIGH BUT WE WALKED INSTEAD. SOMETIMES MY PARENTS WOULD DROP US OFF THERE IN THE WINTER. MY DAD SPENT HIS TIME SELLING SHOES IN DAYTON AND MY UNCLE SPENT HIS TIME SELLING TOYS THROUGHOUT THE MARKETS IN DAYTON. THEY BOTH ENJOYED THERE FREEDOM AND THEIR PEOPLE-ORIENTED WORK.
AS A YOUNG TEEN I HAD DEVELOPED AN INTEREST IN THE OUTDOORS AND BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH OUT SCHOOL'S ANTHROPOLOGY CLUB. WE HAD ABOUT ONLY 6 KIDS GO ON OUTDOOR SURVEYS ON SOME WEEKEND DAYS IN ORDER TO BETTER LEARN ABOUT TO SURVEY LAND, OPERATE A THEODOLITE AND HAND COMPASS, AS WELL AS LOCATE SITES AND RECORD THEM.
HER MOM WAS A GOOD COOK TOO AND SHE INVITED MY FAMILY OVER TO THEIR FIRST HOUSE IN TROY. IT WAS FUN FOR MY MOM TO TALK TO ANOTHER MOM IN THIS SMALL TOWN. MY DAD AND BROTHER TALKED TO HER DAD AND PLAYED FRISBEE OR LAWN GAMES. IN THEIR BIG BACKYARD. MY MOM RARELY INVITED A FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS A GOOD COOK. HOWEVER, MY BROTHER AND I BOTH HAD FRIENDS COME OVER AFTER SCHOOL ALL THE TIME. IN THOSE DAYS WE DID NOT HAVE AS MUCH HOMEWORK AS THEY DO TODAY.WE ALSO GOT TO KNOW SOME NEIGHBORS PRETTY WELL. WE HAD A BIG FRONT PORCH TO PLAY ON DURING RAIN STORMS.
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN OHIO. MY HOUSE WAS ON THE MAIN STREET I SAT ON OUR FRONT COVERED PORCH AND WATCHED FOLKS GO BY. BOTH MY BROTHER AND I REMEMBER WALKING MILES HOME FROM OUR JUNIOR HIGH. MY FAMILY HAD A LOT OF FUN AT PICNICS AT THE MAJOR PARK THERE OVERLOOKING THE MIAMI RIVER. MY UNCLE USED TO JOIN US FOR SPAGHETTI DINNER EVERY SUNDAY. WE USUALLY PLAYED CHESS AND OR HAD A GAME OF POOL (WE HAD A LARGE POOL TABLE IN ONE OF OUR DOWNSTAIRS ROOMS).
OHIO WAS VERY HUMID DURING SUMMERS YET AS A YOUNG BOY I DIDN'T MIND IT. ONCE WE MOVED TO DAYTON WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL. I SEVERAL CLOSE GIRLFRIENDS. MY UNCLE ALSO SOLD HIS HOUSE AND RENTED A ROOM IN DAYTON AFTER OUR FAMILY MOVED THERE. I REMEMBER HELPING HIM CLEAN MANY AN APARTMENT AND ROOMS AND HIS OLD HOUSE IN TROY.
I LEARNED TO DRIVE A CAR EARLY WHEN I WAS A SENIOR I HIGH SCHOOL. THEN I DROVE TO UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL AT WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY. THIS WAS NEARBY WHERE MY MOM WORKED AT WRIGHT PATTERSON'S AIR FORCE BASE. I REMEMBER RELIEVING HER OF DRIVING HOME MOST DAYS AS I STAYED AT OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY UNTIL HER WORK WAS DONE. SOMETIMES I WENT TO MY WORK AT THE DAYTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OR AS A COUNSELOR IN ANTIOCH. MY MOM USUALLY CAUGHT A RIDE WITH A MAN TO GO TO WORK SO I COULD GO IN LATER.
I REMEMBER RIDING MY BIKE AROUND THE TOWN, EVEN TO MY GIRLFRIEND'S HOUSE ABOUT 4 - 5 MILES AWAY. I DID NOT RIDE MY BIKE TO THE JUNIOR HIGH BUT WE WALKED INSTEAD. SOMETIMES MY PARENTS WOULD DROP US OFF THERE IN THE WINTER. MY DAD SPENT HIS TIME SELLING SHOES IN DAYTON AND MY UNCLE SPENT HIS TIME SELLING TOYS THROUGHOUT THE MARKETS IN DAYTON. THEY BOTH ENJOYED THERE FREEDOM AND THEIR PEOPLE-ORIENTED WORK.
AS A YOUNG TEEN I HAD DEVELOPED AN INTEREST IN THE OUTDOORS AND BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH OUT SCHOOL'S ANTHROPOLOGY CLUB. WE HAD ABOUT ONLY 6 KIDS GO ON OUTDOOR SURVEYS ON SOME WEEKEND DAYS IN ORDER TO BETTER LEARN ABOUT TO SURVEY LAND, OPERATE A THEODOLITE AND HAND COMPASS, AS WELL AS LOCATE SITES AND RECORD THEM.
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING - GLADNESS
I WENT TO THE CHURCH FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING WHERE THE ENTIRE TOPIC WAS LIVING IN JOY AND BEING IN GLADNESS. THE SPEAKERS WERE TEENAGERS AND THE MUSICIANS FOR THE MOST PART WERE TEENS AS WELL. THEY WERE SHOWCASING THEIR TALENTS AND ABILITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF A BIG CROWD. ONE YOUNG TEEN SAID SHE HAD AN AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE AND SHE SPOKE ABOUT HER FEARS AND AN ANXIETIES. SHE USED A TONE NOT NECESSARILY OF JOY BUT SPOKE ABOUT NOT KNOWING HOW SHE WOULD FEEL EACH DAY AND JUST TAKING LIFE AS IT CAME. HER MESSAGE WAS THAT EVEN IF YOU HAVE AN INCURABLE DISEASE JUST BE YOURSELF AND OTHERS WITH LISTEN. ANOTHER YOUNG ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER GAVE A GREAT SONG AND HIS MUSIC WAS WELL DONE AS WELL TO INTRODUCE US TO THE TOPIC OF GLADNESS. ANOTHER TEEN TOLD US HIS STORY OF HAVING HIS DAD COME WITH HIM TO A PLACE IN HIS TOWN THAT HAD A STOMPING PLATE THAT WENT KABOOM - KABOOM!HE SAID WHEN HE AND HIS DAD WENT THERE TO PRESS THEIR FEET ON THIS METAL PLATE IT GAVE THEM A FUN AND JOYFUL FEELING. THEY DID THIS WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP. HIS DAD APPARENTLY HAS A JOB THAT TAKES HIM TO DISTANT PLACES. HE SAW LITTLE OF HIM AS A BOY.
REVEREND ED SAID TO MAKE SURE TO SMILE AT YOUNG PEOPLE WHENEVER YOU CAN. IT HELPS YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. HE GAVE US A LONG PRAYER IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM US FROM BEING STUCK IN THE MUNDANE VS. BEING HAPPY WITH WHAT LIFE IS BRINGING YOU. I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW NICE OF A DAY IT WAS AND WENT TO A NICE HISPANIC EVENT. I ALSO WALK ABOUT 3 MILES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT.
YOUNG CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY THOUGHT ATMOSPHERE. AND IF YOU ARE MAKING SPACE FOR THEM IN Y0OUR LIVES. BE JUST A LISTENER VS. A TEACHER. THEIR SOULS DWELL IN THE TOMORROW. HE SAID TO FIND THE CALLING THAT GIVES YOU THAT SPARK IN LIFE AND TO APPLY YOURSELF. AFTER HIS SPEECH THE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN CAME ON STAGE AND WE SANG A CLOSING SONG USING HAND MOVEMENTS.
AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A TEEN GIVING THE REVEREND A MASSAGE AND I GOT ONE ALSO! HE SAID HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 17 AND HE WAS TALLER THAN I WAS AND I WAS AMAZED AT HOW GOOD HE DID MASSAGE. I MET HIS MOM TOO. I ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE IF THEY BELIEVED IN REINCARNATION AND SOME SAID YES WHILE OTHERS SAID NO. THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF GROUPS AT THE CHURCH. IN THE HALL I MET A NAVAJO LADY I HADN'T SEEN THERE BEFORE.
REVEREND ED SAID TO MAKE SURE TO SMILE AT YOUNG PEOPLE WHENEVER YOU CAN. IT HELPS YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. HE GAVE US A LONG PRAYER IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM US FROM BEING STUCK IN THE MUNDANE VS. BEING HAPPY WITH WHAT LIFE IS BRINGING YOU. I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW NICE OF A DAY IT WAS AND WENT TO A NICE HISPANIC EVENT. I ALSO WALK ABOUT 3 MILES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT NIGHT.
YOUNG CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY THOUGHT ATMOSPHERE. AND IF YOU ARE MAKING SPACE FOR THEM IN Y0OUR LIVES. BE JUST A LISTENER VS. A TEACHER. THEIR SOULS DWELL IN THE TOMORROW. HE SAID TO FIND THE CALLING THAT GIVES YOU THAT SPARK IN LIFE AND TO APPLY YOURSELF. AFTER HIS SPEECH THE VERY YOUNG CHILDREN CAME ON STAGE AND WE SANG A CLOSING SONG USING HAND MOVEMENTS.
AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A TEEN GIVING THE REVEREND A MASSAGE AND I GOT ONE ALSO! HE SAID HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 17 AND HE WAS TALLER THAN I WAS AND I WAS AMAZED AT HOW GOOD HE DID MASSAGE. I MET HIS MOM TOO. I ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE IF THEY BELIEVED IN REINCARNATION AND SOME SAID YES WHILE OTHERS SAID NO. THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF GROUPS AT THE CHURCH. IN THE HALL I MET A NAVAJO LADY I HADN'T SEEN THERE BEFORE.
SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE
THIS WEEKEND I ATTENDED A UNIQUE JAZZ CONCERT AT THE JUNIOR COLLEGE/ THEY HAD TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BANDS PLAYING BIG BAND MUSIC FROM THE 50'S TO 70'S. THE DAYTIME JAZZ ENSEMBLE HAD ABOUT 16 MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM WERE MUSIC STUDENTS AT THE J C. THEY HAD MANY SAXOPHONES, 4 SLIDING TROMBONES, A DRUMMER, A PIANISTS, AND AN ELECTRIC BASS PLAYER. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THE TUNES. HOWEVER THEY FLOWED WELL. THEIR LAST SONG 'RIPTIDE' BY JEFF JARVIS WAS THE BEST AND SEEMED TO WORK VERY WELL AND WAS A LIVELY TUNE REPRESENTING THE CURRENTS OF NATURE.
THE NEXT EVENING JAZZ ENSEMBLE WAS A PROFESSIONAL GROUP WITH ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF MEMBERS. THERE GROUP HAD PLAYED TOGETHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEY HAD A YOUNG PIANIST, FOUR TROMBONES, A DRUMMER, A LARGE BASS, KEYBOARD PLAYER, AN ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER, FIVE SAX PLAYERS, AND SEVERAL FLUTISTS. THEIR TUNES WERE LOUDER AND MORE COORDINATED AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE MORE FEELING IN THEIR MUSIC. THEY PLAYED A TUNE THAT STEVE ALLEN WROTE AND THE CONDUCTOR MENTIONED THAT HE WROTE A HUGE AMOUNT OF SONGS, SOMETHING LIKE 800 SONGS! EVERYONE ENJOYED THIS GROUP AND ASKED FOR AN ENCORE. THEY HAD A TUNE READY AND IT MADE FOR A FUN EVENING.
THE NEXT EVENING JAZZ ENSEMBLE WAS A PROFESSIONAL GROUP WITH ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF MEMBERS. THERE GROUP HAD PLAYED TOGETHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEY HAD A YOUNG PIANIST, FOUR TROMBONES, A DRUMMER, A LARGE BASS, KEYBOARD PLAYER, AN ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER, FIVE SAX PLAYERS, AND SEVERAL FLUTISTS. THEIR TUNES WERE LOUDER AND MORE COORDINATED AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE MORE FEELING IN THEIR MUSIC. THEY PLAYED A TUNE THAT STEVE ALLEN WROTE AND THE CONDUCTOR MENTIONED THAT HE WROTE A HUGE AMOUNT OF SONGS, SOMETHING LIKE 800 SONGS! EVERYONE ENJOYED THIS GROUP AND ASKED FOR AN ENCORE. THEY HAD A TUNE READY AND IT MADE FOR A FUN EVENING.
VIRGIN MARY FESTIVAL IN SANTA ROSA
YESTERDAY I MET A MEXICAN LADY DRESSED IN A COSTUME OF MANY COLORS. SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A FESTIVAL AT THE FAIRGROUNDS SO I DECIDED TO GO AFTER CHURCH. THERE WERE OVER 1000 PEOPLE PACKED INTO ONE LARGE ROOM. THE MINISTER HELD A CATHOLIC SERMON IN SPANISH FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND THEY GAVE SOME OF THE PEOPLE COMMUNION. THE STAGE HAD MANY DECORATIONS - A LARGE PICTURE OF THE VIRGIN MARY SURROUNDED BY BRANCHES AND CHRISTMAS TREES, ROSES, AND EVERGREENS AS WELL AS SEVERAL CANDLES, AND TWO LARGE BOUQUETS.
AFTER THE SERMON THEY HAD MEXICAN MUSIC AND SOME YOUNG CHILDREN DANCING IN RED, GREEN, AND WHITE COSTUMES. THEY DANCED TO SOME CD'S. AFTER CLEARING THE STAGE THEY HAD FOUR MARIACHI PLAYERS ( WITH A HARP AND FIDDLES, AND GUITAR). THEN ABOUT 20 PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE CAME INTO THE FRONT AND FORMED TWO LINES AND DANCED A QUICK TOE AND HEEL TYPE MEXICAN DANCE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. AN OLD MAN DECIDED TO JOIN IN AND THE TEENS LAUGHED!
FINALLY THE MIDDLE AGED LADY I HAD MET CAME UP TO ME AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DANCE. THEIR DANCE WAS QUITE SHORT AND WITH BASKETS. THEN THEY CAME TO THE FRONT AND PRAYED ON THEIR KNEES. IT WAS AN INTERESTING FESTIVAL AND THERE WERE FEW NON HISPANICS THERE. THEY SOLD HOT CHOCOLATE AND SOME TAMALES AND DESSERT. I GUESS THE DANCING CONTINUED AT THEIR CHURCH OF GUADALUPE. MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME WERE BORN IN MEXICO
AFTER THE SERMON THEY HAD MEXICAN MUSIC AND SOME YOUNG CHILDREN DANCING IN RED, GREEN, AND WHITE COSTUMES. THEY DANCED TO SOME CD'S. AFTER CLEARING THE STAGE THEY HAD FOUR MARIACHI PLAYERS ( WITH A HARP AND FIDDLES, AND GUITAR). THEN ABOUT 20 PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE CAME INTO THE FRONT AND FORMED TWO LINES AND DANCED A QUICK TOE AND HEEL TYPE MEXICAN DANCE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. AN OLD MAN DECIDED TO JOIN IN AND THE TEENS LAUGHED!
FINALLY THE MIDDLE AGED LADY I HAD MET CAME UP TO ME AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DANCE. THEIR DANCE WAS QUITE SHORT AND WITH BASKETS. THEN THEY CAME TO THE FRONT AND PRAYED ON THEIR KNEES. IT WAS AN INTERESTING FESTIVAL AND THERE WERE FEW NON HISPANICS THERE. THEY SOLD HOT CHOCOLATE AND SOME TAMALES AND DESSERT. I GUESS THE DANCING CONTINUED AT THEIR CHURCH OF GUADALUPE. MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME WERE BORN IN MEXICO
Saturday, December 11, 2010
THE DELAWARE
THE DELAWARE'S EARLY HISTORY OF SEVERAL BANDS IN THE EASTERN U.S. WAS THAT THEY ORIGINATED IN THE VALLEY OF THE DELAWARE RIVER. FEW WERE UNITED POLITICALLY BUT THEY ALL SHARED TRADITIONS AND STORYTELLING. ONE STORY WAS HOW THE CREATOR MADE THE EARTH ON THE BACK OF A GIANT TURTLE. MOTHER CORN WAS THOUGHT TO BE WOMAN LIKE SPIRIT. BUT THEN MOTHER CORN VANISHED. ONE PERSON SAID WE MUST FIND SOMEONE TO COAX MOTHER CORN TO RETURN TO EARTH SO WE WON'T STARVE TO DEATH. THE PEOPLE HAD A FAMINE FOR A YEAR. THEN TWO BOYS LEARNED OF THE TROUBLE AND THEY HAD SPIRITUAL POWER. AS THE PEOPLE WERE SITTING IN A RING AT NIGHT THE BOYS DEPARTED AND WENT TO A PLACE ABOVE THE EARTH WHERE THEY MADE A BURNT OFFERING OUT OF A MUSSEL SHELL AS MOTHER CORN TO COME BACK TO EARTH. MOTHER CORN WAS MOVED BY THEIR SACRIFICE AND APPEARED. SHE SAID SHE'D HONOR THEIR REQUEST. THE BOYS TOLD THEIR TRIBE OF THIS GOOD NEWS. THEREAFTER BECAUSE OF THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF THE TWO BOYS, MOTHER CORN REMAINS WITH THE PEOPLE. THE DELAWARE WOMEN TEND THE FIELDS, HARVEST, AND HUSK THE CORN AND STORE THE CORN.
THEY WERE THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICANS TO MEAT THE ANGLOS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST IN THE 16OO'S. HENRY HUDSON SAILED INTO NEW YORK HARBOR IN 1609 AND 12,000 DELAWARE WERE THERE. DUTCH AND SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS WERE PEACEFULLY SETTLED IN WHAT IS NOW SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE STATE OF DELAWARE. THE NATIVE AMERICANS TRADED BEAVER PELTS TO EUROPEANS FOR POTS, KETTLES, AND TOOLS, GUNS, CLOTH AND GLASS BEADS. THE ANGLOS TRADED ALCOHOL WHICH GREATLY HARMED THE DELAWARE AND OTHER NATIVES! THE DELAWARE AND SWEDES PEACEFULLY SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF SKILLS IN HUNTING, FARMING, AND HANDICRAFTS. THE SWEDES TAUGHT THEN HOW TO WEAVE SPLINT BASKETS FROM STRIPS OF HARDWOOD. THEW DELAWARE SHOWED THEM HOW TO GROW MUCH CORN AND TO FISH . THE DELAWARE BECAME ADDICTED TO LIQUOR. THEY HUNTED ANIMALS PRIMARILY FOR THEIR FURS IN ORDER TO GET TRADE GOODS. IT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS, DISEASES DEVASTED POPULATIONS AND CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BANDS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH DELAWARE HAD PROSPERED IN THEIR ABUNDANT LANDS.
AFTER 10 - 12 YEARS THEY EXHAUSTED THE LAND AROUND THEIR VILLAGE, SO THEY HAD TO RELOCATE THEIR VILLAGE. THEY GENERALLY TREATED EACH OTHER KINDLY. FOOD WAS SHARED . THEY HAD STRONG RELATIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN AND THEIR CLAN. CHILDREN WERE RAISED AND EDUCATED BY THE MOM'S BROTHERS. THE FATHER LOOKED AFTER HIS SISTER'S CHILDREN VS. HIS OWN. WHEN A MAN MARRIED HE MOVED INTO THE HOME OF HIS WIFE'S PARENTS AND HIS CHILDREN BELONGED TO THE MOTHER'S CLAN.
THE DELAWARE BUILT OVAL SHAPED ARCHED FRAMES FROM GREEN HICKORY SAPLING INTO THE GROUND. THEY WERE LASHED TOGETHER TO FORM ARCHES. HORIZONTAL POLES WERE TIED ACROSS THE FRAMEWORK. IT WAS COVERED WITH LARGE SHEETS OF BARK 6'LONG. THEY HAD A 1 FOOT WIDE HOLE FOR SMOKE. DURING SUMMER THEY MADE TEMPERARY CAMPS OR SMALL DOME SHAPED WIKIUPS COVERED WITH MATS WOVEN FROM REEDS. WOVEN MATS COVERED THEIR FLOORS THEY BUILT SWEAT LODGES LARGE ENOUGH FOR FOUR MEN OR WOMEN AND SEALED IT WITH CLAY.
THE WOMEN TENDED COOKING FIRES , TANNED HIDES, AND WOVE BASKETS AND HOED THE CORNFIELDS. THE MEN MADE DUGOUT CANOES, FASHIONED MORTARS AND PESTLES FOR GRINDING CORN AND CRAFTED BOWS AND ARROWS. EACH BAND HAD 2 LEADERS, A CLAN CHIEF AND A WAR CHIEF. THE WAR CHIEF ACHIEVED HIS POSITION AND AND SKILL IN BATTLE. A PROVEN WAR CHIEF COULD GATHER YOUNG WARRIORS AND GO ON A RAID WITHOUT APPROVAL OF A CLAN CHIEF. BY THE LAST DECADE OF THE 17TH CENTURY CHIEFS ACHIEVED GREATER POWER OVER THE EUROPEANS ON THEIR TERRITORY. MAJOR DECISIONS WERE MADE BY THE GENERAL COUNCIL 200 PEOPLE. A CHIEF COULD DECIDE HIS SUCCESSOR. IT FOLLOWED HIS MOTHER'S SIDE OF HIS FAMILY, BUT SOMETIMES HE COULD CHOOSE FROM HIS FATHER'S SIDE. CHIEFS WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR GOOD CONDUCT, PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, HONESTY, AND WISDOM . THEY WERE RELIGIOUS SPEAKERS AS WELL .
THE DELAWARE BELIEVED IN ONE CREATOR WHO HAD MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THE CREATURES. THEY THOUGHT THE UNIVERSE WAS COMPARED OF 12 LAYERS WITH THE EARTH AT THE BOTTOM. AND THE HOME OF THE CREATOR WAS AT THE TOP. LIFE IN THE HEAVENLY REALM WAS WITHOUT OUT PAIN, SORROW, DISEASE, AND WORK. THEIR WERE 12 REALMS AND THE # 12 WAS IMPORTANT T O THEM AS THEY THOUGHT IT TOOK 12 DAYS FOR THE SOUL OF THE DEAD TO REACH THE CREATOR. IT TOOK 12 DAYS TO COMPLETE THEIR MOST IMPORTANT RITUAL - THE BIG HOUSE CEREMONY. THEY BELIEVED THAT BOTH ANIMATE AND INANIMATE SPIRITS COULD BE IN THE 12TH REALM.
THEY LIVED IN SMALL GROUPS IN DELAWARE AND PART OF PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, AND NEW JERSEY. THEY REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AS 'LENAPE' MEANING ORIGINAL PEOPLE. BEFORE EUROPEANS CAME THE MEN HUNTED GAME AND THE WOMEN TENDED THEIR FIELDS OF CORN, BEANS, AND SQUASH. THE DELAWARE WERE HONORED AS THE GRANDFATHERS.
RAYMOND BIAL
THEY WERE THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICANS TO MEAT THE ANGLOS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST IN THE 16OO'S. HENRY HUDSON SAILED INTO NEW YORK HARBOR IN 1609 AND 12,000 DELAWARE WERE THERE. DUTCH AND SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS WERE PEACEFULLY SETTLED IN WHAT IS NOW SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY AND THE STATE OF DELAWARE. THE NATIVE AMERICANS TRADED BEAVER PELTS TO EUROPEANS FOR POTS, KETTLES, AND TOOLS, GUNS, CLOTH AND GLASS BEADS. THE ANGLOS TRADED ALCOHOL WHICH GREATLY HARMED THE DELAWARE AND OTHER NATIVES! THE DELAWARE AND SWEDES PEACEFULLY SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF SKILLS IN HUNTING, FARMING, AND HANDICRAFTS. THE SWEDES TAUGHT THEN HOW TO WEAVE SPLINT BASKETS FROM STRIPS OF HARDWOOD. THEW DELAWARE SHOWED THEM HOW TO GROW MUCH CORN AND TO FISH . THE DELAWARE BECAME ADDICTED TO LIQUOR. THEY HUNTED ANIMALS PRIMARILY FOR THEIR FURS IN ORDER TO GET TRADE GOODS. IT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS, DISEASES DEVASTED POPULATIONS AND CHANGED THEIR LIVES FOREVER. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS BANDS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH DELAWARE HAD PROSPERED IN THEIR ABUNDANT LANDS.
AFTER 10 - 12 YEARS THEY EXHAUSTED THE LAND AROUND THEIR VILLAGE, SO THEY HAD TO RELOCATE THEIR VILLAGE. THEY GENERALLY TREATED EACH OTHER KINDLY. FOOD WAS SHARED . THEY HAD STRONG RELATIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND CHILDREN AND THEIR CLAN. CHILDREN WERE RAISED AND EDUCATED BY THE MOM'S BROTHERS. THE FATHER LOOKED AFTER HIS SISTER'S CHILDREN VS. HIS OWN. WHEN A MAN MARRIED HE MOVED INTO THE HOME OF HIS WIFE'S PARENTS AND HIS CHILDREN BELONGED TO THE MOTHER'S CLAN.
THE DELAWARE BUILT OVAL SHAPED ARCHED FRAMES FROM GREEN HICKORY SAPLING INTO THE GROUND. THEY WERE LASHED TOGETHER TO FORM ARCHES. HORIZONTAL POLES WERE TIED ACROSS THE FRAMEWORK. IT WAS COVERED WITH LARGE SHEETS OF BARK 6'LONG. THEY HAD A 1 FOOT WIDE HOLE FOR SMOKE. DURING SUMMER THEY MADE TEMPERARY CAMPS OR SMALL DOME SHAPED WIKIUPS COVERED WITH MATS WOVEN FROM REEDS. WOVEN MATS COVERED THEIR FLOORS THEY BUILT SWEAT LODGES LARGE ENOUGH FOR FOUR MEN OR WOMEN AND SEALED IT WITH CLAY.
THE WOMEN TENDED COOKING FIRES , TANNED HIDES, AND WOVE BASKETS AND HOED THE CORNFIELDS. THE MEN MADE DUGOUT CANOES, FASHIONED MORTARS AND PESTLES FOR GRINDING CORN AND CRAFTED BOWS AND ARROWS. EACH BAND HAD 2 LEADERS, A CLAN CHIEF AND A WAR CHIEF. THE WAR CHIEF ACHIEVED HIS POSITION AND AND SKILL IN BATTLE. A PROVEN WAR CHIEF COULD GATHER YOUNG WARRIORS AND GO ON A RAID WITHOUT APPROVAL OF A CLAN CHIEF. BY THE LAST DECADE OF THE 17TH CENTURY CHIEFS ACHIEVED GREATER POWER OVER THE EUROPEANS ON THEIR TERRITORY. MAJOR DECISIONS WERE MADE BY THE GENERAL COUNCIL 200 PEOPLE. A CHIEF COULD DECIDE HIS SUCCESSOR. IT FOLLOWED HIS MOTHER'S SIDE OF HIS FAMILY, BUT SOMETIMES HE COULD CHOOSE FROM HIS FATHER'S SIDE. CHIEFS WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR GOOD CONDUCT, PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, HONESTY, AND WISDOM . THEY WERE RELIGIOUS SPEAKERS AS WELL .
THE DELAWARE BELIEVED IN ONE CREATOR WHO HAD MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THE CREATURES. THEY THOUGHT THE UNIVERSE WAS COMPARED OF 12 LAYERS WITH THE EARTH AT THE BOTTOM. AND THE HOME OF THE CREATOR WAS AT THE TOP. LIFE IN THE HEAVENLY REALM WAS WITHOUT OUT PAIN, SORROW, DISEASE, AND WORK. THEIR WERE 12 REALMS AND THE # 12 WAS IMPORTANT T O THEM AS THEY THOUGHT IT TOOK 12 DAYS FOR THE SOUL OF THE DEAD TO REACH THE CREATOR. IT TOOK 12 DAYS TO COMPLETE THEIR MOST IMPORTANT RITUAL - THE BIG HOUSE CEREMONY. THEY BELIEVED THAT BOTH ANIMATE AND INANIMATE SPIRITS COULD BE IN THE 12TH REALM.
THEY LIVED IN SMALL GROUPS IN DELAWARE AND PART OF PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, AND NEW JERSEY. THEY REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AS 'LENAPE' MEANING ORIGINAL PEOPLE. BEFORE EUROPEANS CAME THE MEN HUNTED GAME AND THE WOMEN TENDED THEIR FIELDS OF CORN, BEANS, AND SQUASH. THE DELAWARE WERE HONORED AS THE GRANDFATHERS.
THEY HAD GOOD SPIRITS AS MANETUWAK FOR THE PEOPLE. THE MESINGU, OR LIVING SOLID FACE, WAS THE GUARDIAN SPIRIT OF THE DEER. JUST MENTIONING HIS NAME TO THE CHILDREN MADE THEM IMMEDIATELY BEHAVE. HIS FACE WAS HALF BLACK AND HALF RED. HE HELPED HUNTERS LOCATE GAME.
THE DELAWARE STRUGGLED AGAINST BECOMING CHRISTIAN. IN THE LATE 1600'S THE SWEDES SPREAD TB TO THE TRIBES. THE BIG HOUSE CEREMONY WAS HELD AFTER THE CROPS WERE HARVESTED. THERE WERE FEASTS, DANCING, PRAYING, AND STORYTELLING. THEY PRAYED FOR BOUNTIFUL HUNTING. THEY HONOR THE SPIRIT THAT PROTECTS THERE HUNTING. THEY CARVE HIS FACE IN THE LIVING TREES. AND THEY MAKE MASKS THAT WERE WORN AT CEREMONIES AS WELL AS AMULETS ON NECKLACES. THEIR RITUALS INCLUDED DANCING, DUMMING WITH A WATER DRUM AND VISITING AS WELL AS SINGING. THE WATER DRUM WAS MADE FROM HOLLOWING OUT A LOG, POURING WATER WATER INTO IT, AND STRETCHING A DEER HIDE OVER THE TOP. THEY MADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS RATTLES MADE OF GOURDS, BARKS, HORNS, AND TURTLE SHELLS. THEY HAD VARIOUS DANCES, SUCH AS CORN AND BEAN DANCE, RACOON AND DUCK DANCE AND ALLIGATOR DANCE.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE MISSIONARIES TRANSLATED MANY OF THEIR HYMNS INTO LENAPE LANGUAGE. THEY STILL HAVE POWWOWS THAT ARE EVENTS WEAR THEY WEAR THEIR REGALIA AND RECALL THEIR HISTORY OF PEOPLE. WHEN THEY HAD ILLNESS THEY RELIED ON THEIR SHAMANS, EITHER MEN OR WOMEN. THEY KNEW HERBAL MEDICINE AND THE SPEAK TO THE SPIRITS. THEY KNEW MANY CURES AND HOW TO HEAL. MEDICINE BUNDLES HAD DRIED ROOTS, FEATHERS, STONES, AND OTHER SACRED OBJECTS TO WARD OFF BAD LUCK.
AFTER 1650'S THE DUTCH AND OTHER ANGLOS HAD THE DELAWARE ADOPT THEIR WAYS. THEY LIVED IN CABINS AND RAISED CATTLE. EVERY YEAR THE DELAWARE HOST A POWWOW NEAR THEIR RESERVATION IN OKLAHOMA TO HONOR ANCESTORS.
RAYMOND BIAL
RAYMOND BIAL
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)