winter count 2011....

another amazing, wonderful, beautiful winter count has just taken place. i love the break it gives me in the middle of winter, to have a week in the desert, to feel the warmth on my skin, to be with friends who i call family. to be with mother nature, to be with God who puts the smile on my face each and everyday.

erin, scogin, and me. i have know erin and scogin for a number of years now, but it wasn't until this last fall at rabbit stick and saskatoon circle that our friendship actually took shape. i consider erin one of my fondest, we have bonded, through our time together playing and singing our hearts out into the open night sky. i love and miss you erin. (hey have you taken your supplements today??? lol)

mike took my beading class, he (along with everyone else) was a joy to spend some time with. each student did an amazing job with there projects. mike is an artist, i was amazed at his creativity.

karen, (my sister from another mother). we meet three or four winter counts ago, and each February we bond once again through hugs in the desert. i have been blessed to know karen, she checks up on me though out the year via email, but sends hugs and blessings in the westward winds. karen thank you again for my star candle (that she made) it warms and lights my nights in the cabin. im honored and blessed to have you in my life. may our paths cross each day through memories and our hearts be filled with future moments together.

elizabeth rosen jullian, woniya, ana, and baby lilly ana. im hoping (if my spring goes as planned) that i will spend time with each of these amazing girls. woniya lives outside of hood river OR, and teaches a variety of primitive life skills. elizabeth and ana, both live in boulder, which my heart still longs to be there.

steve and i

johnny, me, and miron. i love these guys. thanks to both of you for you love and adventurous spirit. we spent a lot of time this winter count singing and playing songs around the camp fires together. sun rises, and sunsets.... (and i smile) YUM...

the desert sky scrapers

drumming around the fire

sondra and i, oh i love this girl, she brings a huge smile on my face each moment i see her. always filled with laughter and brightness.

erin and scogin, just messing around.

duck lunch, i will add that nichol ended her vegetarian lifestyle a couple of years ago due to duck lunch. it gets the best of us.

elizabeth working on a primitive pot

jill holiday and i. each year we camp next together. i have so much fun with jill, david, and the boys. and jill doesn't hesitate to joke around with me and tease me about, well just about everything. see you soon jill

fire, using the hand drill method

me, dancing around the fire.

aaron and i. we met at saskatoon circle this last fall. we had a instant connection. aaron has traveled this last year via bike, kayak, and hitch hiking. may our paths cross again soon. thank you for your kindness. aaron gifted me a flute (that he made) i haven't yet gotten much sound out of it, but my noiseless songs are coming along great.

nichol and i, (yep the duck lunch nichol) so happy that we finally had our reunion this year. thank you for our long talks, and much laughter. johnny's and my life has been forever changed due to the stories told that night in my pyramid tent. lol

primitive pottery being fired

billy and i

brandon, jeff and i helping sift the fire.

the week was simply wonderful. the weather was amazing and, many new friendships made. i packed up my truck friday night so i could just leave sat morning. thankfully i did pack up early because friday night a good wind storm came in the camp was blow every which way.

leaving winter count was once again hard, knowing that reality of the life outside of camp is much different. people look at you with that uncomfortable feeling if you just want to greet them with a hug, or you talk about a primitive community life style. but leave i had to. i gave my final hugs and aaron and i hit the road. i drove aaron to down town Phoenix where he met up with a friend and i continued on. the weather quickly changed from sunny desert to down pour rain to....

yep snowy flagstaff. this is actually a good picture. the road at one point had about 7 inches of slush on it. cars where going off the road every which way. one car was pulling a uhaul and it was actually being pulled backwards down the highway. it was pretty scary for a while. i didn't go faster then 25 for about 100 miles. made for a much slower drive home, but smiles were on my face reminiscing on the week.

outside of kanab utah. were i spent an amazing night talking with erin and alisha. much happiness.

about 18 miles to go to get home to galena.

overall a wonderful time. miss you all like crazy. may our paths cross VERY soon.