South West Arizona Stand Down 2008

Saturday, 15 March 2008

We were enjoying ourselves at the swap meet when Mike was called to play at the South West Arizona Stand Down at the Desert Sun Stadium. Today is the 2nd of the 3 days annual event. I learnt Stand Down is organised to provide support and services to veterans, especially the homeless and the needy.

Watch the Wind

Sunday, 2 March 2008

The wind blew a neighbour's trash bin onto the middle of the lane! And being fitted with rollers, it continued to move along the middle the road! This emptied bin has not been taken back to the house after the trash had been removed and so became the wind's victim!

Few hours before that, I had to go back into the house to change my church clothes because the wind was blowing my skirt up. And then returning back from church to see the opened lid trash bin moving along the road, in front of our house, amused me!

28th Annual POW-WOW - California

Saturday, 1 March 2008

It was an early spring celebration at an area adjacent to the Fort Yuma Quechan Reservation in Winterhaven, California. I didn't know that we were in California until Mike told me on the way home. It was only 2 miles north of Yuma, Arizona.

I learnt that in the olden days, a pow-wow is a gathering of Native Americans of any tribe. Nowadays, both Native and non-Native Americans meet to have fun. A dancing session was going on when we arrived. I would have love to stay and watch, but it was unpleasant sitting in the open air with only my hat shading me from the heat and sun! It is only Spring and I thought it would be not too cold (like the winter) and not too hot (like the suummer)!

There was a guy dressed up in an American Indian costume and he happened to be sitting next to me and it was interesting to note that there were a lot of beads on his clothes and shoes. He said it took about 3 months to do the bead work on his clothes. Even his roach were finely beaded (yellow part). It was made of real porcupine hairs and real eagle feathers.

Beautiful colorful necklaces and ear-rings on sale!

The bear and the eagle are the Native American Indians' special animals - symbol of power, etc.

I am impressed by the beautiful bead work - even on hair clips as well!

Another kind of craft from the Native American Indian's heritage - Kachina dolls, based on their spiritual beliefs.

Potteries

This guy had already taken off his headdress when I asked if I could take a picture of him, but nevetheless posed enthusiastically.

Mike said I must try this - frybread - Native American food. It is a flat dough deep fried. This is an Indian taco topped with mashed beans, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and cut lettuce, served with salsa.

I was so full after eating that and when Mike came back with a flannel cake, which I have not eaten before, I couldn't eat anymore. Anyway, I did tried a few bites. After having a whole flybread, having another deep fried dough is definitely not my cup of tea.

Meeting Irene Bedard was the highlight of our visit to the pow-wow. She is so pretty. This is the first film star in the movie industry that I have met personally! She was "Pocahontas" in the Disney animated film of the same name.

I asked her whether I could have a picture with her. Without hesitation, Irene stood up from her chair, walked and stand next to me. That was so sweet of her. I told her I am also Irene too!

It was surely an interesting visit, learning about the Native-American-Indians, moreso because Mike's maternal grandmother is a Choctaw, and that makes him a Indian as well!