What Standing Rock could mean to you in 40 years

Standing Rock may not feel personal to you. Maybe it seems unimportant or easy to leave off your radar when so many other issues are on fire right now. But I hope you will try to understand that it could affect you in big ways.

To explain, I’ll tell you just how everyone in the area I live in (along with just about everything in my life) IS DEFINED BY A SIMILAR STAND OFF BY INDIANS THAT HAPPENED 37 years ago. 

In 1980 - Salmon throughout the Columbia River Basin were dying out. The tribes were unfairly blamed and told they could not fish because there weren’t enough fish. Some scientists and local American Indians knew that dams were the reason the fish were dying, even though state and federal agencies denied it.

So under threat of getting arrested or killed, Tribal fishers went fishing anyway. Jeremy’s entire family camped near Rapid River and took part in an armed standoff with state police. MOST OF THE NEWS MEDIA at the time said the Indians were there because they wanted attention and/or money (sound familiar?). That was not at all true but it took a long time for people to understand the Tribes and their relationship with salmon. It took everyone time to understand that a culture really can worship fish.

Jeremy's brother, Jarrod, being cited by Idaho Fish and Game Wardens

Fast forward 37 years, the tribes have fought for river protection constantly on the ground and through the courts. They have created new models of working with government along with new science for fish genetics, hatcheries, and river restoration.

TRUTH: actions by the NW Indian Tribes are the ONLY REASON that we have strong salmon runs today. Likewise, we have healthier water, rivers, and ecosystems because of the efforts of American Indian Tribes.

But in other regions of the US, $ interests have also put water resources at risk (think fracking, draining aquifers, lead contamination, climate change, dangerous drilling, etc).

Water really IS life. The risks are already there or coming. Supporting the Tribes at Standing Rock is a good way to push our government to take water protection seriously so we can protect these resources for ours and coming generations.

Standing Rock is not just about a pipeline. A culture really CAN worship water. And anytime - from now, to forty years from now, to indefinitely - wouldn't it be fantastic to know that Tribal members were working to protect YOUR water. You may not understand it, but that is exactly what they are trying to do.

(Jeremy, please feel free to re-write this with all the details - I am not doing it justice.)

Pumpkin pie for breakfast!

"Grandma Crow always cooks the best food," says Lucy. And no one can argue. We LOVE grandma's cooking. This trip, she treated us to squash (grown from seed this summer) cooked to perfection into a delicious porridge. YUM! An instant fall favorite. We will be making this again! Probably a lot this year since I have two squashes to bake and put into our freezer.

Pumpkin Pie Porridge

• 2 cups steel cut oats (you can substitute rolled oats in a pinch)
• 6-7 cups water 
• 1½ cups pumpkin or cooked squash
• ½ tsp salt

Add after cooking:

• 1 T pumpkin pie spice
• 1 T vanilla extract

Top with:

• ICE CREAM (suggested) AND/OR peanut butter powder, brown sugar, chopped nuts, fruit

Combine oats, water, pumpkin and salt in a slow cooker and stir until it's fully combined and there are no lumps of pumpkin. Cook on warm for 7-8 hours and then turn the slow cooker on the low setting and stir. Add the pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract and let the oatmeal cook for about 15-30 more minutes to thicken it up if needed. Stir once more and then serve warm with a heaping spoon of ice cream in the middle.

Losing my marbles

Spring fever has brought out the crazy in you both. I have been at my wits end trying to get through our days without any shouting or breakdowns. Maybe it's because we are so busy with year-end activities. Maybe it's because you are going through growth spurts. Whatever the cause, you were both girl-with-a-curl HORRID. If we had a Whip Man and Whip Woman to call, they would be top of my speed dial! Or maybe I'd just invite them to move in.

Enter, the marble jar.

A marble moves from "trouble" into the "happy family on earth" jar (you named them both at our family meeting) when wonderful behavior is noticed by me or dad. When the happy jar is full, we decide on an activity or treat to enjoy together.

This has worked very well and this week we got through another set of marbles so we could go to Swirl for frozen yogurt. The only problem here is that Lucy has the habit of eating slowly and enjoying her sweets (VERY GOOD!) and Henry has the habit of snarfing through his dessert like Fabulous Mr. Fox and then proceeding to steal bites from Lucy's when she isn't looking (VERY BAD!).

We decided to turn the tables on him tonight and instead of leaving a dish of delicious ice cream for him to plunder, Lucy was carrying about a veritable mix of allum, milk, mayo, and jam ("edible" items that together, looked like ice cream but were obviously going to TASTE TERRIBLE). It didn't take long for the scene to play out. We know this kid.

He went off with a face not far from Sylvester's allum-related pucker.

It reminded me of Lynda's story about giving Jarrod the ice cream cone topped with a scoop of crisco on top after he had skipped to the front of the line and demanded to be first at treats one too many times. BOOM! Wise as Yoda, Lynda is a jedi master or parenting trickery. I am still in training.

xo,
Mama

Before and after

This wig has had a workout. Thank you Grandma Crow!

In and out of Lucy's closet

Stole: Millie
Crown: Aunt Deb
Pirate belt: Grandma Crow
Nightgown you insist is a dress: Mama

Occasion: Sunday playtime

It's always a surprise to see how you put everything together. With such expressive fashion, I think of it as a window into how you see the world.

Perhaps, part of the reason I find your clothes so amusing is that I reach for the same pair of cords and a plain t-shirt every chance I get. No really - I wore the welts right off my last pair of cords and I'm working on doing the same to this one.

I have exactly one bejeweled cardigan. You dig through my drawers and pull it out frequently, strongly suggesting I wear it. Why, you seem to wonder, would I possibly not?

Well, I usually don't and most of its wear will come from you dragging it around after me, rather than from actual wash and wearings.

Is our difference in fashion due to our ages? To our completely different personalities? Undoubtedly both.

Although, I do remember some chuckles from Pam Smith when I once wore snow pants down to play with Barbara in July. Hm. Perhaps there is a pair of welt-less cords in your distant future after all.

Mom smells

Jeremy always thinks of his mother when he smells this:

I always think of my  mom when I smell this:

And my smell. Well, I've got Chanel N°5 on the dresser. And I do wear it occasionally.

But if you ever really miss me, just put your face into a jar of this and you will surely think of me. It's either on my breath or smeared on my clothes at least 90% of the time. Mmmm.

A cradleboard begins

Papa and Grandma Crow helped me start my first cradleboard. We bought most of the supplies during their visit: fabric, leather, batting, binding, etc. I'm excited to learn as I build. 

Taking apart the old.  

Getting ready to begin the new. 

I am so grateful for the chance to use a cradleboard with you two. Hopefully, I can help some other mamas have peaceful, happy babies too.