Life, Work, and Everything in Between: Welcome Back to My Blog

 

Welcome Back — I’m Blogging Again!

So as you can see, it’s been a while since I’ve written. Life has a way of getting in the way sometimes. But recently, I’ve been encouraged to start my blog up again. After thinking it over, I’ve decided to make a little time and work on doing just that.

At this point, I’m not putting myself or this blog into a box. I’ve always lived outside the box. When I wanted to raise animals and grow the majority of our own food, everyone told me I couldn’t do it — but we did. Maybe not as much as we could have, but we did it. And I’m going to do this too.

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What You’ll Find Here

This blog is going to be a mix of things:

• Personal stories

• Practical advice

• Ideas for surviving and thriving in today’s world

A lot of what we need to do isn’t necessarily new — it’s just that we may need to approach things differently now.

In the past, if we wanted extra income, we’d pick up side gigs: woodworking, welding, cleaning houses on the weekends, or babysitting for a neighbor. Those skills are still valuable, and if you have them, use them. But today, we also have new ways to work entirely from home, whether you’re entry-level or someone earning six figures a year. I’ll be sharing those newer opportunities too.

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Make Money, Save Money

I’ll be writing about ways to make money by saving money. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” And he was right.

You’ll get a glimpse into how I save and make money on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis. And no — buying in bulk isn’t hoarding. That myth spread during COVID when people panicked. I was raised to leave a little for others, but if it’s the last day of a sale and your family needs it, it’s okay to pick up what you’ll use.

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Work-from-Home Ideas and Job Stacking

I’ll be sharing listings for places where you can work remotely, either as a 1099 contractor or a W-2 employee. Keep in mind, people’s experiences differ with these companies. Every supervisor has a different personality, so it’s good to stay open-minded.

I’ll also cover ways to expand your education at little to no cost and how to stack side jobs wisely. Now, let me be clear — I don’t advocate working multiple jobs at the exact same time while you’re on company clocks. You can’t give good service that way. I personally have three or four gigs when it’s not tax season, but I stagger them on different days or times.

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Put Yourself First

And here’s a reminder you’ll hear from me often: take care of yourself first.
You can’t take care of your family or give your best to your work if you’re running on empty. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to schedule the important stuff first — family, health, and personal time — and then schedule your work around those things. We have more flexibility now than ever before, and it’s time we started using it.

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Gardening, Meal Prep, and More

I’ll be sharing gardening tips, too. The way I garden may not work for you, and that’s okay. Soil, weather, and growing conditions vary — sometimes even within the same town. Take what works for you, and share your own tips in the comments to help others.

I’ll also talk about meal prepping — not necessarily cooking every meal for the week, but small things like chopping veggies ahead of time or marinating meat to save yourself time later. Little steps make a big difference.

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And There’s More to Come

I have so many other things I want to discuss here. From personal experiences and reflections to practical skills and resources for modern living, there’s a lot on my heart and mind that I want to share. Some topics will be lighthearted, others more serious — but all of it will be real, useful, and from my own journey.

If there’s anything you’d like me to write about, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your ideas!

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YouTube Channel Revamp

And finally — I’m planning to revamp my YouTube channel. It won’t just be me this time; I’ll have guest speakers too. That project’s been in the works for about a month and a half. I move slow sometimes, but it’s coming.

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Thanks for being here — I’m looking forward to this next chapter. Stay tuned!

The Four (Five) Agreements Installment 3 of 5

My sincere apologies for not having written this, as promised the next day after Installment 2--sometimes life gets in the way of living! As the old saying goes, "THe best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

I have just had a lot on mind, much going on in my family and life and knitting and Family Farm Seaside have been mine distractions when not working on a pair of moccasins.

Now, on to the Third Agreement--

" Don’t make assumptions Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life."

Oh how true! How many times have you been in a pickle because someone assumed you were going to finish a sentence with something way off from what you were actually going to say? Or someone assumed your intentions instead of listening to what you spoke as your intentions?

Think about those situations. Were feelings hurt?

Now, think about the hurt feelings that have you caused by assuming.

Here is an aspect we often don't think about assumptions-we, as humans, place others in the position where they are are almost forced (they still have to decide to assume) because we did/do not speak or communicate what we want or need.

Mothers-we assume that the people in our lives-mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, friends, siblings, spouse KNOW we need a break from the children. We never speak up. We self-talk ourselves into believing they all know and they should offer to take the children off our hands for a couple hours. They don't. We fume.

Better solution-speak up. Tell them you need a few hours alone to re-group. Then ask, "Can you please watch the children for me on Tuesday afternoon?" or "Honey, will you spend a few hours playing games with the children or watching a movie tonight? I just need a couple hours for me."

I have always been a firm believer in asking questions. My Daddy used to tell me, "ASK! All they can do is say is yes or no, they can't eat you for supper."

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Mat 7:7 KJV)
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Mat 7:8 KJV)

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Luk 11:9 KJV)
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Luk 11:10 KJV)

The Four (Five) Agreements Installment 2 of 5

Yesterday I wrote about the First Agreement, you can read that blog post here. Tonight I want to explore the second agreement--

                  2. Don't take anything personally.  Nothing others do is because of you. What others say                         and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams. When you are immune to                         the opinions and actions of others, you won‟t be the victim of needless suffering.


You, nor i are so big or important that someone makes choices about what they do or say because of us. That's simple.

When someone insults you, think about this--they are speaking words that are their own, personal truth. It has nothing to do with you. I knew a person once that would tell me I was ugly. Not often, usually after they had a bad week. What I cam to over hear was them actually speaking to themselves-out loud, "I am so ugly." They were speaking about how they felt about the person in the mirror-not me.

Another person, very dear to me, would and still does say, "You can never make a living running your own business." As I have grown older and matured, I see so many people earning a living by running their own business. What I came to understand was this person had their own doubts & greed that caused to them to be scared. hey projected that fear out towards others.

As the old saying goes, "Misery loves company." When people have their own set of fears, doubts, concerns, need to control, insecurities and a host of other negative emotions--they project them on others.

Do not accept them as yours.

Also, when you have so-called negative emotions--work through them. Do not victimize others by projecting your emotions on others.

Not only should you think before you speak, think before you listen.

The Four (Five) Agreements First of Five Installments

Sometimes, things in your life just keep happening. You wonder, "Why?" I have come to believe it is because you have not yet learned the lesson therefore Creator God, keeps presenting it.

Recently, the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (available here The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) ) was given to me. I have read it in the past and it is one of those books worth reading. There is now a fifth agreement (available here The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (Toltec Wisdom) ). This, i have not read, but with some research, discovered what it is.

These five simple agreements, made with ones own self, applied to your own life, are powerful. They transcend culture, nationality, religion, spirituality. They are the true reality of your own core being.

Let's explore:

1. Be impeccable with your word Speak with integrity, say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

So easy, yet so hard. We live in a society that all but demands we speak with integrity, yet at the same times we are only supposed to look a certain way, speak a certain way, think a certain way, act a certain way, have a job that pays so much, drive certain vehicles--the list is endless.

We look in the mirror at our reflection each morning as we get ready for the day and wonder how to make that illusion society wants from us a reality--or at least a believable illusion.


We begin by speaking to ourselves that we must dress to look skinny since we are not as skinny as we should be. We comb our hair into a style that will impress others around us. We tell ourselves we must use certain brands of body wash, perfume/cologne, hair products, etc. We stop at a certain coffee shop on the way to work because we must maintain the illusion we can afford it.

At work, we not only listen to the "office" gossip, we actually participate in it--even if you only listen.

This Agreement, that I believe we all should make with ourselves-tells us to speak with integrity to others and ourselves. How can you be honest with others if you are not honest with yourself?

Why do you speak "ugly" (as my Mother would say) to yourself about yourself? Creator God did make any mistakes when He made each of us. He made us in His image-therefore when we speak bad about ourselves we are putting Him down.

Ever made a mistake? So has everyone else. We tell each other, "Judge not lest you be judged!", then we start using our words against others. "Did you hear Suzy went out with that biker dude? What was she thinking?' You just judged Suzy and her date with your words. In doing so, you brought judgement upon yourself-from yourself-just wait til the drive home-you will start whispering words to yourself about every little mistake you made today.

Try speaking words of truth and love to yourself and everyone around you. Tell yourself "Good Morning!" Tell everyone you see 'Good Day." Make a positive comment, "You look nice today." After a week of this you will see such an improvement in yourself, in your attitude, in your outlook on life, in how you feel about yourself.

Consider this-[1Pe 3:10 KJV]  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

[Pro 12:19 KJV]  The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue [is] but for a moment.
[Pro 15:4 KJV]  A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.
[Pro 18:21 KJV]  Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
[Pro 21:23 KJV]  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

People!?

This piece was written 13 January 2001



Why do others question your decisions in your walk with God?

Is it really their business? Do they make themselves feel better by making you feel belittled? Are they trying to get God to see your faults so maybe He will lay off them??

It is so frustrating to pray and seek God's will for a situation and He tells you to do 'A' when your heart is screaming to do 'B'. You know you must submit to His grace, justice and love and obey, but you still have to deal with fear and questions.

You do something, knowing it is what God wants you to do. Knowing He has a greater thing to accomplish and what happens--those He called before you to do this, those He wanted to do it in the first place--try to make you feel like a dog.

Think before you run from God's calling. When you refuse to obey, He has to get someone else to do it in your stead. Your disobedience does affect more than just you. You may protect yourself from some pain, but you may cause pain for others.

Of Bibles, Books & Denominations

This is something I wrote on 26 February 2001. It was previously published on a no defunct website that paid per view.


We recently met a gentleman that is a wonderful person. At least we thought so. He offered to help us out with transportation problems, taking me places when David was at work and offering to sell us his extra vehicle. We helped him gather wood and offered to help him with any chores around his homestead.

He approached his church to take up a love offering and have a clothing drive for us. We knew nothing of this and of all things did not need any clothes. I have sent a pick up load to the local food bank that gives clothes also and plan on sending more! My husband wondered how to let this church know they were not buying our "membership".

This gentleman then proceeds to let us know that only, or at least mostly, his denomination was going to Heaven. Now, I've heard of this sort of thing before but never encountered it. My personal beliefs are that man and NOT God created the different denominations. Your Godly, Christian character, your heart, your relationship with God will determine your entrance into Heaven.

The next point was that only the 1611 King James Version of the Bible is the real Bible and anyone that has ‘funny' Bibles in there home is asking for demons to come torment, oppress, and possess them. That very Bible says to study to show thyself approved. As KJV was not translated from the original languages but from other ‘versions' and knowing that something is lost in translating from one language to another, what is wrong with studying to show thyself approved?

Next came that only ‘church' is the correct place to worship God and gather with other believers. and that there has to be an ‘altar call' at each and every church service/gathering of believers. We have been fellowshipping with some Plain/Amish Christians. The Bible says not to forsake the gathering together of believers. In the early days of the Church, people met in each other's homes, caves, or wherever they could get together. Witnessing was done out. They went ‘out' to witness to those considered lost. If the altar call is to allow lost souls to pray for salvation, isn't it a moot thing if the gathering is of BELIEVERS?

God did not create the church building or denominations. He created us. He gave us His Son as atonement for our sins. He does not dictate that if you join one church or the other, that is the way to Heaven. He said we have to accept the offering of Jesus. We must confess to Him our sins. We are commanded to share the gospel with all we can.

Please, do not join the ranks of this man and loose sheep. My husband will not set foot in this particular church because of its views. My oldest daughter feels the same. My children had grown to love this gentleman and have now been hurt by him.

©Mary Ellen Harvley 2001
May not be copied or reproduced, in any way without prior permission from author.

Define Your Supreme Being

I am going to attempt to put into words my answer to the question, "How does your religion define the Supreme Being?"

Note this is my personal answer. I do not imagine myself able to answer this question for any set "religion" or any other person.

I prefer to use the word "Creator" and will do so here. 

Creator is Supreme over all things in the Universe. Some of the Native American Nations or Tribes call the Supreme Being "The Great Mystery" because He is such.

He created EVERYTHING. He is omnipotent. He is loving and truly wants only the best for all of His Creation-Earth, other planets, the stars, moon, trees, water, all animals, and humans.

He provides everything for us through His other creations. 

He expects us to treat each other and all of his creations with loving respect and reverence. 

Native Wisdom Chapter 1 Questions

The questions posed to be answered by Ed McGaa, Eagle Man, during the speech that became the basis for Chapter One of the book are as follows:

1. How does your religion define the Supreme Being?
2. Share your thoughts on God. Did He create us?
3. How does your religion explain the unknown, such as creation?
4. Is this religion based on the existence of an immortal being?
5. How did the "higher power" become the 'higher power"?
6. How does your God manifest itself to humans?
7. Is He always watching?
8. Does your God have a gender?
9. Is your religion defined by what one thinks and does?
10. What is the underlying theme of your religion?
11. Where do you believe your Supreme Being exists?

As you read and follow my blog within a blog about these questions and the others, it is imperative you remember that I am answering from my own heart and perspective. I do not, nor am I able to answer these questions for anyone else. 

As I was copying these questions from the book, I noticed that the Humanities students are already influenced by their upbringings, the society around them, media, etc. as we all are. They are assuming the "supreme Being" is male but then they realize the assumption and ask, "Does your God have a gender?"

I am looking forward to discovering my own beliefs in more depth as I answer these questions. My hope is that each of my readers will do the same thing. 

Questions On Spirituality We Should All Answer for Ourselves

I began reading "Native Wisdom: Perceptions of the Natural Way" by Ed McGaa, Eagle Man. I only read a few pages. I read enough to understand that the book had come out of an invitation to speak, along with others of differing belief systems, at a college. He was addressing a Humanities class and they had submitted a set of questions they wanted to be answered by each speaker.

I turned to the back of the book and found the list of questions. Reading through these I realized that it would be truly beneficial for every person to answer these questions for themselves about themselves. 

In reality, how many of us can calmly, rationally and convincingly answer serious questions about our own Spiritual Beliefs?

Most of us were taught things like, "Never discuss religion." 'Never argue about religion."  and "Never discuss religion and politics in the same conversation."

I have never understood these idioms and I prefer to use the word Spirituality as opposed to religion. Your Spirituality, or claimed lack of it, affects every aspect of your thinking and living. How are we to ever understand and accept each other, if we do not discuss it?

These questions presented to Ed McGaa are divided up into sections, the sections reflecting a general category that the answers would fall under. He addresses each section of questions in a separate chapter of the book. These are as follows:

1. Who is God?
2. How did you become involved?
3. Worldwide Philosophy
4. Good, Evil and Afterlife
5. Beseechment
6. Miracles
7. Rules, Restrictions and Conflict
8. Hierarchy, Matriarchy, Patriarchy
9. Government and Social Issues
10. Followers of the Natural Way (note the sub-title of the book)

My plan is to answer the questions under each heading/chapter, for myself and where better to do this, than my blog? I would truly love to have a true conversation here on my blog, with my readers about this. Please do join in.

I make no promises about how often I will write but will try my best to write each week. 

My Pet Peeves as a Cashier

I work for a large retailer that I will not name. As the title of this blog post implies, I am a Cashier at this time. This is not my first job working with the public or with people, so these are not first timer problems. These are things I have watched for many years--31 to be exact as I began working when I was 13 (at the Dairy Queen in Greenwood, SC).

These are not presented in any order other than as they come to mind I will write/type them out and expound.

1. Getting in the checkout line while still on the phone. Cell phones can be a great thing or a bad thing. Staying on them while in a checkout line is a bad thing. You are on the phone and paying attention to the conversation and not to unloading the buggy, loading your bagged purchases or paying for for your purchases.

I see this hold up not only the person on the phone, but everyone in line behind them, on a daily basis.

People are talking or texting and literally stop in the middle of aisles, blocking the whole aisle off from both directions. Other people may need to look at or purchase something on that aisle.

People will be talking or texting and pushing their buggy and they run into other people, carts, even strollers with children in them!

And be forwarned--I am NOT referring to kids or teenagers but adults!

2. Turning the bag carousel while I have my hand and arm in a bag. It takes a time, not much, to properly bag your purchases. Note-the arms that hold the bags are heavy and metal. When I am actively bagging your purchases please do not grab the carousel and turn it--those metal bag holders leave bruises on my arms.

3. This relates to Number 2 above-complaining that I only put a few items in your bags when you were turning the carousel while I was trying to load each bag. If you are turning that carousel, I am going to move my arm out of harm's way asap.

4. Separating your non-food purchases from your Food Stamp (or whatever it is called in your state) purchases. Having two separate orders is needed at times, but not for this reason. We live in a technologically advanced era. The computer will separate your order into food stamp-able and non food stamp-able items on its own.

5. Trying to purchase items with food stamps that you know you can not buy with food stamps. This one is self-explanatory, but click here to be taken to the USDA web page explaining just what you can buy:

benefits can only be used for food and for plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy:

Any nonfood item, such as pet foods; soaps, paper products, and household supplies; grooming items, toothpaste, and cosmetics

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco

Vitamins and medicines

Any food that will be eaten in the store

Hot foods

6. Not selecting the correct WIC items. Please, I know it gets confusing as the program changes so often. Your worker or nurse will give you a paper listing what foods are allowed. Most of you toss it away. Don't. Keep it. Read it. Glance over it before you go to in the store. Refer to it as you select your foods. Each time you go to pick up vouchers--ask for a new handout on what foods are allowed--if it has changed you will have the new one.

7. Not having your ID ready when you are purchasing alcoholic beverages or fussing at me for asking for it. This is law in Tennessee and has been since 1 July 2007. It only applies to the the retail sale of beer. It does not apply to bars and restaurants that sale alcohol for on-premises consumption. If you have a problem with this law, please do not fuss at me, throw your ID at me or demand I break the law. Please, be a good citizen, obey the law until it is changed and in the meantime, contact your state lawmakers with your desire to have the "Responsible Vendor Act" repealed.

8. Being impatient. Computers do not always work properly. When a store is busy, they do work slower--your computer at home gets slow sometimes so why do you expect other computers to never have a problem? You have days when you are slower have things on your mind. Why do you get so upset with another person for having to dig a little bit for the exact change or another dollar? I have noticed that the ones that complain the most about the previous customer being "so slow" usually end up holding the line up in some way themselves.

9. Trying to tell me something was marked down when you know it was not. Yes, things get moved around and put in the wrong places and things get priced wrong.Please do tell me and I will have it checked and do what store policy says do. But bringing a $50 item to the check-out and telling me it was on sale for $5 is not acceptable.

10. Putting items you have decided not to buy any where you are at the moment you decide not to buy it. Please, just hand it to the cashier so they can have it put back. this is especially true for frozen or refrigerated items. you wonder why prices are so high? Part of it is losses the stores must recover--when a hundred people place a pack of steaks under a box of candy bars at the register, that is about $1,000.00 lost. Multiply that by 365 and you can see a fraction of the loss from this type of thing happening.

Bottom line? Remember your basic manners when shopping. Be considerate of your fellow human beings. Think before you say or do something.

You Didn't See Me

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But you
didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local Mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my
bike parked out front. But you didn't see me attending a meeting to raise
more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by. But you
didn't see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the
car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me,
when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends cut ten
inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our Leather jackets and gloves. But you didn't see
me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my
children were born or have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't see
me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn't
see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my
child's hands knowing she was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you
didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to
the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you
didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But you
didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn't see me.
I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family. But you didn't see me. Because I died that
day you cut me off.

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family. But you didn't see me.

Am I Condemned to Hades for being Indian?

I have actually had well meaning people tell I am.

They rarely ask me what my Spiritual or Religious beliefs are or if they do, they ask AFTER having told me Indians/Native Americans are going to hades.

Never can they explain to me why the Indigenous Peoples of America are supposedly condemned by the Creator/God to an eternity of fire and brimstone--just what the collective sin or sin of race or culture is.

Once the statement of so called fact is made, the conversation goes something like this:

Me: Do we agree that there is one supreme being above all else in the universe?

They: Yes.

Me: Do we agree that according to the Bible, that being is a loving God?

They: Yes.

Me: Yet you are telling me that this loving God, created me for no other reason to watch me burn and suffer for an eternity? What kind of love is that?

The conversation generally ends at that point with the other person walking away, head hung down.

As If He Were Human

The long-expected detachment of Sioux, on their way to the Oklahoma Indian Territory, arrived in Omaha yesterday afternoon... American Horse had his squaw and papoose with him and there were eleven other squaws in the party. One or two were quite pleasing in the face, but the majority looked as though they were natural-born mothers-in-law. Perhaps this is too severe —they all had the appearance of being amiable at times, and the Herald does not wish to say anything really bad about them. American Horse’s papoose was a chubby, sturdy little beggar, and when one of the ladies spoke to him, he set up a tremendous wail, just as natural and lifelike as if he were human.

— The Omaha Herald, November 4, 1876.

 I read this little historical tidbit several years ago. I can not explain the pain or bewilderment at that last phrase. 

The writer took a whole paragraph describing the humanness of these people and then makes this totally insane statement.

Truth us, this is how our Ancestors were looked at, not human. As savage animals. Not even as feral humans.

The REAL truth is that by de-humanizing the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (I am starting the like the new word that has been put forth autochthonous (this last term is derived from Greek, meaning "sprung from the earth". Very accurate to many belief systems.)it made it okay to treat us like animals. 

See, it was obvious we were not plants or rocks, but no good "Christian" could slaughter Old People, women and babies-- therefore we had to be some type of animals. 

There was a problem with that thought process beyond the obvious one many of you are thinking right now. See the Bible has a certain verse in it that says,"A righteous man regardth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10 KJV


Now the writer was obviously educated. Commenting that a baby cried ". . .as if it were human. . .", and being able to publish that in a public media source, in a "Christian Country" only goes to prove that it was the general opinion of the day of the larger part of the populace. 


It also goes to show that the truly righteous were unwilling to speak up or may be the fact they did not speak up brings into question their righteousness?


This attitude has not disappeared totally yet, and may never. There are still people in this world that think the only skin color God accepts is white. 

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7 

How many colors of dirt are there? Sand is whiteish in color, fertile soil is dark, browns to blacks, Clay comes in yellows and reds. 


I'll leave this topic for now, the more I write the more I can think of to write. 


Please, do leave comments. Let's turn this into a discussion. 

16th Annual Waccamaw Indian Pau Wau

PAU WAU TIME AGAIN!!!!

It is time once again for the annual Waccamaw Indian Pau Wau!!!!

I can not wait to get there. I'll go down on the Thursday before to set up and get relaxed and just have a some time to myself.

School Day is Friday and then Pau Wau on Saturday and Sunday!

Looks like Giorgianna and her family and maybe Virgillia and her children, will get to go. Not real sure yet about their job's and getting off-- also their Pa is getting re-married soon and that means another trip to South Carolina--frankly, I'd rather see them go to the wedding and attend Pau Wau next year as oppossed to miss their Pa's wedding.

I plan on having a jolly good time.

Lots of Indians.
Music.
Camp fires.
Fry Bread.
Bog.
Salt Air to breath and salt sand to walk my bare feet in!!!

Invitation to Cultural Arts Festival in Tennessee

I met the former residents and descendants of former residents of Promise Land, Tennessee several years ago at the motel I work at. They are a group of of very sweet, beautiful People that are trying to keep their ancient culture alive, just as we Native Americans are.

Ms. Serina Gilbert, the main organizer of the annual events came by the motel yesterday. As always, it was wonderfully refreshing visit.

This coming June 6, 2009 they will be having African Tribal Dancing and Arts & Crafts displays and sales. This email is an invite from Ms. Gilbert, extended to you through me to come be a part of this cultural event. All artists can set up a booth for free and demonstrate their arts and sale their wares.

They wish to extend a special invite to Native American Dancers with the understanding that regrettably, they are unable to provide any funding to cover your expenses.

Personally, I see this as another wonderful opportunity to not only share our culture but to educate others as to the truth and remove the stereotypes society has towards the Indigenous Peoples of this land--our Ancestors.

I do plan to attend and demonstrate myself. My skills and talents are limited compared to most of yours.

I have made arrangements for a discounted rate for all Native Americans that will be demonstrating at this event. The discount will be based upon how many are willing to show up. If you are planning to attend or even think you might attend, please call Ms. Serina Gilbert at 61... and tell her you received a copy of this email.

Her email is gilbertsk@bellsouth.net. My contact information is WaccamawWoman@gmail.com, home phone is 615-952-2740 and if you are on Verizon cell you can me free at 864-99.... If you are planning to participate and will need lodging accommodations at a motel, please let me know ASAP. There are several groups coming into the motel that weekend of June 6, 2009. We do have more than one motel available to use with discounts.

For more information you may wish to check out these links:
Promise Land Tennessee http://www.promiselandtn.com/
Promise Land South Carolina http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promised_Land,_South_Carolina
The Motel I work at and the first choice for you all to stay at http://tinyurl.com/boysss

For those that travel in RVs, there is a KOA campground and a state Park: Dickson KOA Campground150 W Christi Dr., Dickson TN 37055, 615-446-9925
Tanbark Campground125 S Spradlin Rd, Dickson TN 37055, 615-441-1613 Montgomery Bell State Park
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/MontgomeryBell/index.shtml

Please, if you know any crafts person or dancer that may be interested, please pass this information on to them.

Cha'kwaina
The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us, that which we put into the ground she returns to us....
Big Thunder (Bedagi) Wabanaki Algonquin