Time Capsule

Earlier today, I found a digital memory disk that had been used about six months ago and then forgotten. It became like a time capsule of events last summer. The best pictures were taken of Whitney near the Little Spokane River.

Gathering

Dakota is just a cool kid.

The other day, he and I reviewed how to make cordage and dolls with cattail leaves, and he took to it with enthusiasm. After only a few tries, he's become the expert. In fact, he decided to pull me out of the house to gather more leaves in preparation for other variations of his creative ventures.

The skills are wonderful in their own right, but it's even better to go outside and spend time in nature. Of course, we also got some great photographs.

Inge

Inge and Dakota...

My step-mother Inge paid a visit to my home on her return trip to Kettle Falls. She had dinner with my family and then enjoyed an impromptu dance recital performed by my daughters. Dakota sang a song, and then we all looked at pictures. We all had quite a wonderful visit.

Protection

Some things are just plain miraculous.

The day after Thanksgiving, I came home from buying shoes with Dakota and Rhonda told me to check the hot water heater. "There's no hot water," she said, "The pilot light must have gone out."

As much as I hate the inconvenience of household repairs, I hate cold showers even more, so I went downstairs immediately to check the pilot light.

What I found surprised me. The metal door covering the burner was missing and contrary to Rhonda's report, the fire was alight at full force. But to my shock and dismay, a bedsheet had somehow fallen into fiery opening of the heater. The edges of the cloth were just beginning to blacken and smolder. If I had arrived only a few minutes later, I'm sure the house would have burned.

But that's not the strangest part.

After I cleaned the area around the water heater, we checked the settings and discovered the temperature knob turned toward cold. I'm one hundred percent certain that no one in our family turned the knob, but the cold water may have saved our lives. If the water in the house had not gotten cold, I would have had no reason to check the pilot light, and I certainly would not have found the smoldering sheet.

We returned the knob to its normal position, and the hot water resumed.

I have no explanation for what happened, other than to suggest some kind of unseen protection.

As an interesting side note, every Friday I attend the sweat lodge with my uncle Pat, and every Friday he prays in our Indian language. Almost every time, he asks the Creator to protect our people from a standard list of tragedies, including death, illness, accidents, and housefires. I often thought it was strange for him to specifically name housefires in his prayer, but I will never think that way again. In fact, I will be sure to give him this report the next time I see him.

Ministry

My grandma Alice attends the Assembly of God Church and leads a ministry dedicated to providing shoes to "needy and otherwise deserving" children. She and several other members of the church created the ministry six or seven years ago. They obtain donations at a local level and then purchase shoes for those in need.

Grandma called me on Friday morning and reminded me of her ministry. She then said she wanted to buy shoes for Dakota as a way to honor him for his performance in the recent production of Peter Pan. She Dakota falls under the category of "otherwise deserving." We met at a local shoe store and Dakota received a new pair of boots. Grandma probably didn't know that right about now Dakota also falls under the category of "needy." He has desperately needed a new pair of winter boots, but money has been short this season.

I thank grandma Alice for following her heart to create the shoe ministry, and I thank the Creator for inspiring people serve the needs of others.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a family event, made for the gratitude of all the ones we hold dear. This year was especially warm and happy for me. My wife, sisters, mother, and children enjoyed the day with me.













This is the second year I took charge of the turkey, and I must say it was a triumph once again. Of course, I had to post the obligatory photograph of my work... :)



After dinner, my mother and sisters asked me to teach them to make cattail people. We all stood around the table with the cattail leaves in hand, laughing about our creations, although this photograph shows us in a moment of particular concentration.

A Light Snow

My sister asked me to collect more cattail leaves and to teach her how to make the little people I blogged about earlier. As a result, I hiked down to the marsh to gather more, and as I stood in the field, a light snow began to fall.

Cattail Meditation

A sample of cattail cordage...


Yellow grass and cattails...

The damp cold air sticks to my skin as I walk down by the river. Trudging through the tall yellow grass, my feet fall into the mud, soaking my shoes and socks. My feet are now thoroughly chilled, so I decide to hurry home.

Halfway up the hill, the dry cattails catch my attention. I remember the little cattail people we made with my friends last year and I decide to stop. I take the leaves into my hand and begin to twist the natural fibers into cordage. Such a simple act, making cordage, but I find it purely meditative. A distinct calm settles over my body and mind, while every hint of cold disappears from my feet. Suddenly the air seems more clear than before and a bald eagle flies overhead.

The moment was simple and yet transformative; a reminder of my connection to the present moment.



I took a handful of cattail leaves, brought them home, and made another person. It's hard to explain; those little people really are quite magical.

Frost

When I woke up this morning, I looked out my window and saw the bright blue sky shining over the sparkling white frost. This would be a good day for photographs in nature. I put on my running shoes and started off for the waterfalls near the Little Spokane River. There I found a world covered in white and the sun just beginning to reach above the trees.



As the sun gradually rises over the treeline, layers of sunlight melt the frost in stages across the meadow, creating strips of varying colors.

Concrete footings are all that remain of an abandoned dairy at the bottom of the hill.

1000

This is my 1,000th post on the Sulustu blog!

My cousin-in-law Chris Chandler and her children are the subjects of my 1,000th post on this blog. She called me earlier this week and asked me to take pictures of her family. We originally went to Corbin Park, but all the leaves have already fallen, so we went to Bowl and Pitcher instead. It was a bright, cold, and sunny afternoon, with the river and evergreen trees as a backdrop; perfect for pictures.

Check out my Flickr page to see all the shots we took today.

Plant Teachers

Jars of an herbal remedy I recently prepared.

Our indigenous ancestors developed a deep knowledge of the relationship between plants and humans. They understood the physical interaction between a wide range of plant substances and the human body, and also recognized a spiritual aspect of plants capable of interacting with people on a psychological level. What is more, many plant medicines recognized anciently are now supported by modern scientific research.

Much of the traditional plant knowledge from the Spokane area has been lost, but I've had the good fortune to inherit a few fragments of information from my family and community. And as I deepen my understanding, the plants show their wisdom in greater detail. I've already witnessed several impressive cures from minor family illnesses, including fevers and various stomach ailments.

If nothing else, the plants change the way I experience the world. They cause me to stop and notice the small details of nature, like the snowberries or the rose hips that recently caught my attention during a morning walk near my house. Where I once saw a mass of undergrowth and nameless weeds, I'm beginning to see communities of plant teachers like yarrow, Oregon grape, kinnick kinnick, and others. And as I begin to name the plants, they become more "real" and meaningful to my life.

It's the beginning of a relationship, to be sure.

Strike Party

Peter Pan concluded its final performance this evening, and followed the show with the final "strike party." The parents and children gathered for an evening of food, prizes, and acknowledgements. My children had such a wonderful time! They're already counting down the days to the next audition.

Against the Gray

Walking on my usual hiking trails, I observe the world has turned nearly completely brown. The brilliant autumn colors wither into dull lifeless tones just before winter. But a few surprises remain. The snowberries stand out like shining white dots against the gray, and rose hips hold the last drops of summer in their deep red fruit.

Kangaroo

Dakota got to play the part of "Kangaroo" the Lost Boy of Peter Pan. I'm not sure if the original production named any of the Lost Boys, but Dakota got the name anyway.

Theater has been a blessing and a saving grace for my son. After years of struggling to find his place in the world, he may have finally found his calling. Now he belongs to a creative, enthusiastic group of people who wholeheartedly accept him and encourage him to embrace his talents. I thank God we found this group of people for our children.

Stage Crew

My daughters were not selected to play a role in the production of Peter Pan sponsored by Christian Youth Theater, but they did volunteer to work backstage. As you can see from these photographs from the Green Room at the Bing Crosby Theater, they have truly enjoyed their experience. The last show runs this coming Sunday, and then they will get the chance to audition for the next production.

Published

Spokane Metro Magazine published my photograph (shown above) on the back inside cover of the current issue, November 2008. They found my photograph through a public search of my Flickr account and then contacted me for permission. I was both honored and flattered, and of course, I agreed to let them print my picture.

Their website says in part: "Welcome to Spokane Metro Magazine, a smart, stylish and sophisticated guide to city living. Each month we'll tell you interesting stories, introduce you to fascinating people and leave you with thoughtful commentary. Through the contributions of the best writers and photographers in the area, we'll acquaint you with the people and places that make Spokane such a great place to live."

If you get a chance, check it out.

The Palouse

Another drive to Walla Walla this morning brought me through the Palouse Country of Southeastern Washington. The Palouse is characterized by rolling hills, wheat farms, and historic towns. The photograph above shows the court house in Dayton.



Main Street in Waitsburg, Washington.



The Palouse...

Peter Pan

Christian Youth Theater presented the musical Peter Pan in the Bing Crosby Theater. The girls worked as stage hands while Dakota debuted with his role as Kangaroo the Lost Boy. Like all the young actors, Dakota put in a wonderful performance. As a father, I am very proud of his achievement.

Autumn Walk

I just had to get one more major hike before the snow falls. Yesterday afternoon the dog and I walked down by our usual spot near the Little Spokane River. As always, I found myself enthralled by the beautiful colors, the plants, animals, and all the spirits of nature.



The mountain overlooking the river was shrouded in fog.



I finally managed to get a picture of the Bo dog where he doesn't look pathetic or eternally punished. In fact, this picture actually captures something of his sweet, inquisitive nature.



The Oregeon grape has turned deep red.

Fall

The leaves made their change from green to fire-yellow, and now they begin to fizzle under the steady autumn rain. A foggy mist hangs near the river's edge, promising to also turn with the seasons from water to ice. The day is still, but I feel the earth moving beneath my feet, imperceptibly spinning toward the next phase of the endless cycle of life.

How's that for poetry?



This angel watches over my mother's front yard.



The Spokane River.



Another view of the Spokane River.

President-Elect Obama

Between correcting papers and helping students with math problems, I managed to keep one eye on election results as they returned from across the country, and like millions of other Americans, I'm thrilled to welcome an Obama victory. This is history in the making, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Dreaming Chuck Heath

It seems I’ve neglected to write about my dreams lately.

Well, last night I had a strange little dream with an even stranger connection to waking reality.

In my dream, I sat in the very back row at an Assembly of God church during worship service. I’m honestly not sure why I attended, but someone asked me to say a few words about my belief in God. In the end, I didn’t say much, mostly because I feared my vision of God would conflict with the view held by most of the people in attendance. Instead of speaking, I sang a Native American song from the winter dance.

Oddly enough, I chose a song that did not belong to me, but rather to a person I hardly know. On one level, I feared offending the owner of the song, and on another level, I feared offending the congregation with spiritual practices they might perceive as heathen or even devil-inspired.

In spite of my fear, I felt the power of the song in a new way. Like a dream within a dream, I saw the owner of the song in my mind’s eye and felt the power fill my body.

When I finished singing, a middle-aged man stood and spoke to the congregation. He wore blue jeans and a long-sleeve button-up shirt without a tie. His hair was very light, almost gray. He spoke with subtle authority or strength when he said, “Hello, my name is Chuck and I’m Sarah Palin’s brother.”

When I heard those words, I felt my heart skip a beat. What would this man say about me and the song?

Chuck opened his hand toward me as he spoke to the congregation. With a quiet conviction he said, “What this man has done is a blessing. He has brought the Spirit of God into this room and all of you are witnesses. This is what our country needs more than anything else. This man is bringing God back to America.”

His obvious admiration caused me no small amount of discomfort. Was he aware of the way Christians have persecuted Native American religions as pagan or heathen? Did he realize my understanding of God probably differs from his understanding in significant ways? Did he know I’m a Democrat? Unfortunately, I woke up before I could see the ending. I never got to have this important, though potentially difficult conversation with Sarah Palin’s brother.

* * *

This dream confused and perplexed me. It seemed so vivid and real, and yet I can hardly imagine such a scenario actually coming to pass.

When I got up this morning I decided to do a little investigation. A quick Google search revealed that Sarah Palin in fact has an older brother named Chuck Heath, Jr., and a little more digging turned up recent photographs of Chuck on the campaign trail for the governor. To my amazement, he looked exactly like the man in my dream, right down to the way he dressed. This is so bizarre because I've never seen any reference to Sarah Palin's family of origin in the media or elsewhere. Where did this dream come from, and how did it accurately portray so many details?

To all my friends and relations reading this blog, I invite you to submit an interpretation of this dream. Please leave a comment.

For photographs of Chuck Heath, Jr. click HERE.

For a video interview of Chuck Heath, Jr. click HERE.

Halloween

Halloween was more enjoyable this year than ever before. The whole family dressed up, even Rhonda. My kids are still young enough to think Halloween is a big deal, so we went all out to appreciate the moment. All too soon they will grow up and no longer get excited to dress up as their favorite fantasy or nightmare. Then again, I guess I never really grew up when it comes to Halloween.

Dakota was the Phantom of the Opera, which of course fits his personality perfectly. He loves acting and singing, and at the same time, he seems to appreciate the odd mixture of elegance and darkness surrounding that character. Actually, if you look at our family picture, he and I resemble dark end-posts to the mostly light center of our family. How funny!

Rhonda brought out her inner goddess, while McKenna acted out her vision of herself as a fairy princess.

Whitney was an angel, as she normally is, but she had a small devil tail as well. How perfect is that?

As for myself, after conscientiously avoiding depictions of evil and death all year, I embrace my inner shadows connected to death for just one night. Oddly, I must have channeled more of my shadow than expected. I thought my skull paint job was about average in quality, but little children were afraid to approach me and adults had to do a double take. Even my friends didn't recognize me.

That is the wisdom of Halloween. We act out our fantasies and shadows for one day, so they actually hold less power during the rest of the year.









I met my friend Jordyn and posed for this picture.

The Rocket

Dakota and I met a new friend named Adam at the Rocket bakery. Adam also attended my session at the Bioneers Conference and wanted to discuss the topic further. We had the chance to talk a little about dreams, spirituality, herbal medicine, and cultural traditions. Hopefully our visit will continue.



The area surrounding the Rocket has become sort of a magnet for Spokane's socially progressive crowd. It's not unusual to see bumper stickers protesting the war in Iraq or supporting the environment. This Volkswagon van was a picture right out of the 60s.



Of course, I just enjoy the feeling at the Rocket. It's a great place to sit and feel comfortable talking without distractions. Obviously, this guy feels the same. He was asleep on the sofa near the entrance of the Rocket.

Dakota Mo

Dakota and I spent yesterday afternoon in downtwon Spokane, taking pictures and laughing.