FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2014
86 DAYS UNTIL WINTER
89 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Sunrise: 7:20 am
Sunset: 7:18 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
This day is set aside to honor and celebrate Native Americans, the first Americans to live in the U.S. Still commonly referred to as American Indians, the term Native Americans has been used in recent years as a sign of respect and recognition that they were indeed the first people to populate our great and wonderful nation.
By the time the first explorers and settlers arrived from Europe, Native Americans had populated the entire North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the northern reaches of Canada.
We are encouraged to spend this day, learning about Native Americans, the true original settlers in America.
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.
Chief Seattle, 1854
I am blessed to have a very tiny part of American Indian in my heritage. I also have English, Hungarian, French, Irish and German in my ancestry. Little at all is known about this American Indian in my background other than she was the wife of one of my direct ancestors. We found her name listed in the family tree that goes way back to the 1700’s.
Being the curious person that I am I did a search on what tribe she might have once belonged to and this is what I found:
Their population has been estimated to have been about 50,000 at the time of European colonization. The various peoples belonged to three major language families: roughly, Algonquian along the coast, Iroquoian in the southern Tidewater region, and Siouan above the fall line. About 30 Algonquian tribes were allied in the powerful Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom, estimated to include 15,000 people at the time of English colonization. They lived in houses they called yihakans/yehakins and which the English described as longhouses. They were made from bent saplings lashed together at the top to make a barrel shape. The saplings were covered with woven mats or bark. The region beyond the Blue Ridge, including West Virginia, was considered part of their sacred hunting grounds. In the late 1600’s there were invasions of Iroquois and Cherokee Indians. Treaties were made and both of these tribes claimed some of the land. So I’m thinking that my ancestor was from one of these tribes. She would have been either an Iroquois, a Cherokee, an Algonquin, or Siouan.
Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom, an intense and absorbing respect for life, enriching faith in a Supreme Power, and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity, and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations. As always I’m thankful for the internet that lets me do searches like this. I still don’t know much about my ancestor, but there is a lot we can learn out there about our American Indians.
We’ve had a couple of beautiful sunny days here in the lower 70’s but today we’re to start warming up close to 80. I know it’s not Indian Summer yet because that isn’t supposed to come until after the first hard frost, but it is very nice out. We’ve just got to enjoy these days now, because they won’t last long at all. My pictures today are of my Indian corn purchased at the road side stand that is shown above. I used to hang some outside to decorate for fall but now I keep it indoors as the squirrels would always find it and eat it.
I hope you all have a fantastic Friday!
It’s 89 days until Christmas:
Shop at Home: check closets and drawers and boxes for holiday supplies, overlooked gifts, and all the holiday wrap and mail supplies we'll be needing in the weeks to come. Note what you already have and add any missing items to the master shopping list. Shopping at home first pays off!
COUNTING MY GIFTS
Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.
Ancient Indian Proverb
I have counted at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for almost 2 years and have now reached 2000 gifts. On my way now to 3000. I'm not stopping, but will continue on counting. There is always, always something to be thankful for.
2072. for all the different facets of my heritage, they make me who I am
2073. for our great Country where all are considered equals
2074. for Indian corn and pumpkins, two of my favorite fall decorations
Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Lord, hold our troops in
your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the
selfless acts they perform for us
in our time of need. I ask this in the
name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters
and Paramedics and EMT's
GOD BLESS YOU ALL !
ADVICE FOR TODAY
Hold On
Hold on to what is good,
Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if someday I'll be gone away from you.
A Pueblo Indian Prayer
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
1 comment:
Now that is a wise idea to shop at home first, Ma, for the upcoming holiday. I know I had bought a gift for someone that I didn't need last year due to changing of circumstances, so perhaps I can use it for someone this year :)
Interesting about your ancestor, Ma. I know hubby's family has a bit of Cherokee in them :)
Too cute that the squirrels would find the Indian corn, but I guess they are resourceful when it comes looking for food :)
betty
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