bethsblog

Lakota Doll

One of my favorite parts of our Dakota vacation was visiting Tatanka, an interpretive museum dedicated to the Bison and the Native Americans whose survival depended on them. It was conceived and built by Kevin Costner in 2003, inspired by his participation in the buffalo hunt during the filming of
"Dances with Wolves".

The tour guide, a lovely young Lakota woman, dressed in a traditional deerskin shift, shared little-known facts about the buffalo... and Lakota culture... like did you know that their are hundreds of uses for buffalo?... truly a no-waste economy... for nearly everything is utilized. Even the unmentionables. For instance, the brain is used in hide tanning, it's high fat content makes an excellent softening agent, and bones are used for everything from knives and arrowheads to scrapers and even playing dice, and the scrotum... makes a great tobacco pouch.

She also had a lot to say regarding Native American women... Lakota women did all of the fabricating of household items: clothing, blankets, tools, dishes, and teepees... most items made from buffalo. Since one could only count as personal property things that one had made, women owned the home and almost everything therein.

Women were highly respected members of the community, and although their roles diverged sharply from men's, their place was seen as equal in value and stature... referring to a woman as a "squaw" is seen as crude and insulting... it's a slang term for the female genitalia. Also the word "Sioux" means "snake". The Lakota are not fond of that term either. The guide said that they were given that moniker by one of their enemy tribes long ago.

And then there was this little toy doll in the hands-on museum. She was all of 8 inches tall, made of butter-soft buffalo hide... her braids: buffalo hair, her stuffing: the softest buffalo fur. Her fringed dress and breeches were decorated in tiny beads. She had the cutest moccasins and a sweet little face. I fell in love with her. I asked the guide if the doll was for sale or if she knew where I could get one like her. She said that she didn't know where it came from, but that I could try Prairie Edge, a Native American Art Gallery in Rapid City. Later that day we dropped in there, but all their dolls were large and elaborate and cost thousands of dollars.

Not being the sort to give up until all avenues are exhausted, I called Tatanka the next morning from our motel in Sioux City, and spoke with the museum director. She gave me the name of the guy who was responsible for procuring the items in the museum's displays... Larry Belitz... a technical advisor for the film, "Dances with Wolves", and an expert on Native American culture and artifacts. Perhaps he would know who made the doll and how I might get a similar one.

Two days ago I got up the nerve to call Mr. Belitz who lives in South Dakota. Considered an expert in authentic reproductions of Lakota artifacts circa 1870, he was adopted by the Lakota community at Pine Ridge, SD, where he learned his art. His work is featured in museums such at the Field Museum in Chicago and the Smithsonian. As it turns out he made the adorable Lakota doll and he graciously agreed to make an exact replica for me. She'll be shipped to me in about 6 weeks. Wow.

"There's no hurry."

Coping Strategy

My mother was what you might call "mom-challenged".  She alternated wildly between raging mania and knocked-on-her-keister melancholia. In those days they called it Manic Depression. I'm sure there were times when getting dinner together must have seemed like the Supreme Effort. On those days she would unceremoniously open a can of salmon... dump it on a plate... in the shape of the can... including the mysterious crunchy backbone and strange black veins of skin. Sometimes there was a lemon slice to squeeze on top. You might think that as a kid, I surely gagged on this meal... like the similarly served corned beef hash. But to this day I love canned salmon... skin, bones and all.

"There's no hurry."

Generosity

From Seth today... this:

"If you didn't want anything in return, nothing at all, what's the most generous thing you could do for your best customer, your best friend, your most important prospect?  Give it a try."                        

My answer... I'd try to give this person my undivided attention and really listen... not give advice, or my opinion... this is hard for me by the way... just get off my high know-it-all horse for a few minutes and simply listen.

"There's no hurry."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Art Theory from Mad Housewife:

Here's a thought provoking round and round riff about realism, abstraction, and do artists need good technique? 

An excerpt:

..."My theory of art is too unarguable to go into here, but it includes the very old-fashioned concept of beauty, which is something that hasn’t had much place in the canon for a while now as far as I can tell. On the other hand, there is a kind of art that it smooth, pretty, deceptive, fake, artificial in the wrong way, that is often confused with the beautiful. The difference between them has to do with truth. And truth is possibly even more difficult for us humans to pin down than art."...

"There's no hurry."

What I Saw on My Summer Vacation.

Wondering where I've been? On  August 16, Gary and I began a 10 day, 3000 mile loop through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Our primary destinations were a family reunion in the small, North Dakota town of Stanley, then a swing south into the Black Hills of SD, Mount Rushmore, and the Badlands. A lover of the road less-traveled, my cup is filled to overflowing with the wonder of all I've seen.

And I will never be quite the same.

From the rolling "amber fields of grain" to the barren beauty of the Badlands, to the devastating Midwest floods, I shot over 500 images and have spent most of today mercilessly deleting photos in order to get this trip record down to a reasonable number of pictures. 

Click on the thumbnail in the sidebar to see more. Enjoy!

"There's no hurry."

Sunflowers can't be rushed.

"There's no hurry."

You say I can have donuts?

Of course!  These miniature donuts are a bit fussy but well worth it, considering their yumminess. They are cake-like and a little chewy. The nutmeg is essential for proper donut-iness.

Mini Donuts

1/4 c. soft butter
1/3 c. honey
3 large eggs
1/4 tsp. cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 1/2 - 3 c. almond flour

Preheat oven to 325. Beat together butter, honey, eggs, vinegar, salt, soda, and nutmeg.  Stir in almond flour to make a stiff dough that holds its shape. Transfer in batches to a pastry bag that has been fitted with a 1/2" tip. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Pipe small donut shapes onto the parchment paper. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool on a wire rack. When completely cool store airtight or freeze in a plastic bag for later use. Will keep at room temp for at least a week... if they last that long! These become more tender and  flavorful the next day.

Click here for information on how you can get a copy of this beautiful Turtle Soup Cookbook Cover and a set of printer-friendly recipes.

"Keep it simple."

Taco Salad

Jill requested that I post this recipe after I talked about it in my post from 8/13.

Taco Salad   serves 4

1 lb. ground beef or turkey
olive oil
1 small minced onion (optional)
*1 T. homemade chili powder, or more, to taste
1 t. cumin, or more, to taste
1/2 t. garlic powder, or more, to taste
1/2 t. salt, or more, to taste
1/4 t. black pepper
pinch cayenne pepper
1 finely diced tomato
1/2 c. water

assorted salad greens
olive oil
salt and pepper
sliced black olives
sliced tomatoes
SCD yogurt
shredded co-jack or other cheese
salsa (Pace makes a legal one)
guacamole

Brown meat in a little oil with the onion and seasonings.  Add tomato and water and simmer until most of juices are reduced.

Place greens on a dinner plate and drizzle with a little olive oil. 
Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon meat on top of greens and garnish with olives, tomatoes, cheese, yogurt, guacamole and salsa. We had a few of my homemade Nacho Chips chips with this.

Oh, and here's how to make the guacamole:
Mush up a ripe avocado with a small, ripe, chopped tomato, 1-2 T. lime juice, salt and pepper to taste and a pinch or two of cayenne pepper if you like it hot!

* To make chili powder your own combine: 5 Tablespoons ground mild chili pepper, (available in ethnic groceries) 2 Tablespoons dried oregano, 1 ½ Tablespoons ground cumin, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Click here for information on how you can get a copy of this beautiful Turtle Soup Cookbook Cover and a set of printer-friendly recipes.

"Keep it simple."

Six Months Without Bread

On February 3, according to my journal, I began the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. So, technically it's been 7 months, but you have to subtract the month that I made a detour into gluten-free diet. I've been able to return to the SCD, being more cautious with the almond flour products, which seemed to be irritating my stomach.

Back on the SCD again for the past 2 months, I feel better than ever. My gut is quiet unless "nature is calling" and once in the morning usually does it. My various inflammatory situations: rosacea, osteoarthritis, folliculitis and a small anal tear are all vastly improved.

Also, I recently discovered that onions and peppers bug me, and since I've been avoiding them, I have almost no unnecessary rumbling from my tummy. I also invested in an ice cream maker and have been enjoying all sorts of delicious frozen yogurts, so life is good.

Yesterday, I heard from a mother whose 13-year-old son is struggling with ulcerative colitis. He's feeling better on the SCD, but is having a hard time with the food restrictions. Oh... how he longs for a slice of pizza... with a normal crust... not an ersatz almond flour one. I remember how strange the almond baked goods tasted at first, and how much easier it would have been to make a sandwich with a regular slice of bread, and maybe grab an Oreo or two.

This diet has required many sacrifices and changes... for one thing, my life has become absorbed with cooking. Almost everything must be homemade in order to comply with the no sugar, starch, grain ordinance. Between all the baking, and yogurt making, (I even make my own jam and ketchup) I'm spending countless hours in my kitchen. I've gotten to be semi-expert with grain-free baking and have even come up with some of my own delicious variations. (I post these from time to time.)

Last week, I spoke with Lucy over at Lucy's Kitchen Shop. She has followed the SCD for 15 years... and feels wonderful... it is her "normal".  It really helped to talk with someone who has been at it successfully for so long.

It also helps to have a Diet Buddy.  My daughter, Amy, who has Crohn's, has been on the SCD since Feb. too...  so she and I have our own little support group. (By the way, she's now off all meds, in her 20th week of pregnancy, and feeling great.) I'm fortunate that my husband is able to eat the SCD along with me, so I don't have to cook two different ways. (Interestingly, his psoriasis has improved significantly.) I have to give my daughter extra-credit, though, for she has two "normal" eating family members under her roof, one who is a triathlete, (and we all know how they need their pasta!) so she resists temptation more often than I. Amy really misses potatoes. But she says that when tempted, she knows that forbidden foods will make her feel sick, and for her, it's just not worth it.

She described a time that she was out for breakfast…having a cheese omelet… and she was coveting her daughter’s hash browns like crazy. Last week, when she and I had lunch out, I suggested this little trick: when dining out, right away order a glass of fruit juice... (make sure there's no added sugar), or munch on some raisins. In fact, Amy always carries a baggie of emergency raisins and nuts in her purse... so when the roll basket and the French fries come around, illegal carb-cravings will be minimized. She tried it and it worked!

So, if you are a fellow SCDer, take heart. What you are doing is not easy... simple... but not easy. Expect a relatively long adjustment period, and also a very real sense of grieving some or your favorite lost foods. On the upside, you really do get used to this weird way of eating, in contrast to our grain-saturated world. Lucy assured me that in time it will all seem normal. Most of the time, for me, after 6 months, it does. Yet challenges loom ahead, like what to do about my traditional holiday meals.

I've figured out how to make a dynamite pumpkin pie filling... now about that crust!

"There's no hurry."

I had a totally beautiful time.

I'm back from spending a few days with my granddaughter and her parents, and now that I've gotten a little caught up from being away, here are the highlights of my visit.

One of the best parts was making a crown with Sophia. All I did was cut out the crown, which she requested be orange. She then decorated it with butterfly and soccer ball stickers, in totally absorbed silence for the next 30 minutes. (The soccer balls are on the back part. Sophia would want you to know this!) 

And here she is... "Princess Sophia!"

While Sophia and I were immersed in crown making, Amy and Stephen took off to get their 20-week ultrasound of our next grandchild, due on Dec. 25th. Check out Amy's post to see the adorable little astronaut. All systems are operational... mom is feeling great and baby has all the normal stuff in the right places. Looks like Sophia is going to have a sister! Praying for a safe, healthy and soft landing for little Cassidy!

Here's Sophia, Amy (and Cassidy) zombiefied in front of the TV. They are watching a DVD designed to help a toddler think that using the potty and being a big-girl the greatest thing on earth. And I'm here to tell you that it is! 

We also had fun going swimming in Grama's motel pool, taking a bath in the "giant bathtub" (Jacuzzi) in Grama's motel room, going out to dinner, making bead bracelets, and eating Amy's wonderful cooking... loved the taco salad, Amy, and the Jennies* macaroons with peanut butter... mmm... I'm hooked on those... thanks a lot!

Looking forward to the next time I'll be seeing Amy, Stephen, and Sophia in September at Ironman Wisconsin, for which Stephen's been training over a year. Sadly, he's had a slight setback... a flair-up of an inflamed Achilles tendon, but I'm hoping that with proper care (and a little fairy dust) he'll be ready for his big event! Go Stephen!

So I had a totally beautiful time. And I'm very grateful to be able to do these every-month-or-so-get-aways to visit the McKenna gang. It's great to have such a wonderful, loving family.

*Jennies Coconut Macaroons are SDC legal.

"There's no hurry."

More Grama time

I'm temporarily suspending operations here at bethsblog
in order to spend some Grama time with this little lady!

See you soon Sophia!

"There's no hurry."

Longevity

Monday afternoon
Our neighbor across the street died of congestive heart failure,
Four days after his 80th birthday.
I stole glimpses from my living room window as his family gathered,
As his body was removed later in the evening.
And I was reminded of my father's death 4 years ago.

When my dad died I felt that life is short.
I was acutely aware of my own mortality.
A year later my first grandchild was born.
I remembered my own children as infants,
And it seemed like a long time ago.
Then I felt that life is long.

A physician once told me:
"When you look at your life,
And the choices you make,
(Physical, emotional, spiritual,)
Ask yourself, 'Is what I'm doing building me up,
Or tearing me down?'"

Wise words to live-long by.

"There's no hurry."

Have your scones and eat them too!

Breakfast becomes more delicious than ever with this Specific Carbohydrate Diet recipe... a collaboration between Amy and me. This is a regular feature at my breakfast table along with a side order of fresh fruit:

Cinnamon Walnut Scones

3 eggs, well beaten
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. melted butter or oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cider vinegar
2 3/4 c. almond flour
1/2 c. currants
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Beat together eggs, honey, and oil or butter. Add salt, soda, cinnamon and vinegar and mix well. Stir in flour, nuts and currants to make a fairly stiff dough. Drop by large spoonfuls in 12 globs on a baking stone or on cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment paper. (I use a level Large Pampered Chef Scoop) Flatten each scone a little with a wet silicone spatula or wet fingers. Bake 20-30 minutes at 325 until nicely browned, firm when inserted with a toothpick, and hollow sounding when tapped. Cool on racks. These keep well at room temperature for at least a week.

I like my scones sort of free form, or you can make them into triangle shapes with wet fingers, as Amy prefers, or you can even sculpt them into small replicas of Windsor Castle (just kidding!).

Click here for information on how you can get a copy of this beautiful Turtle Soup Cookbook Cover and a set of printer-friendly recipes.

"Keep it simple."