Seems like after a late start, the Green Season has officially arrived. One of the telling factors is the new weather. No longer does frost cover the ground in the morning, no longer do we huddle close to the fire at night. Now it’s often hot and sunny. Usually this lasts for a few days, gradually becoming more and more humid. Slowly, from out of the southwest, the clouds build. Then the distant rumbles come, threatening a fury. Sometimes they pass with just a sprinkle; sometimes it’s a raging downpour, followed by a relief of coolness. We sit in the summer arbor, and watch the skies explode. And then, there are the odd spells. One night a frost came, and the little oaks on our prairie took a deep blow. Now many of their leaves are red or brown and shriveled. For a couple of days, a might windstorm had his way. A small balsam fir fell on the earth lodge, and half the roof of my and Chris’ wig-wam blew right off! Wowsers.
One weather event that’s more or less predictable these days are the clouds of mosquitoes. They can be enjoyed any place not in hot, direct sunlight or at least moderate wind. SO that includes the creek where we drink, the forest where the canopy of trees forms a shade – especially near bogs and ephemeral pools. And inside our lodges. We’ve begun experimenting with smudging them before bedtime, with some success. I just came back from harvesting spruce-root in a spruce bog, for the roof repair project – and I tell ya – that’s definitely another place to encounter them! I don’t mind them all that much, to tell the truth. Their song can be comforting, with the right mindset. They motivate me to run from place to place. And when I’m doing something, and really get into it, then their prickles are barely noticeable. Choosing times and places to be active, as well as lathering up with fat and wearing protective clothing help as well.
We’re taking advantage of the long warm days – everyone has projects going on. Pretty much everyone is tanning hides – scraping, stretching, smoking. Denise, Coyote and I made baskets. Now I have a nice place to keep my clothes. I’m getting into making moccasins, and plan to figure out how to become an efficient ant-hill raider (for eggs and larvae). Tomas is working on his skin boat and going on exploratory trips. We’re all taking dips in the ponds to wash off and cool down.
We share our dream guidance over the morning breakfast fire, and our day-journey over the evening dinner fire. The last couple of days, my dreams have been showing me that I need to take responsibility over the challenges that come up daily – not escape. As I listen and do so, I can feel myself moving forward.
From an extremely well-lit wigwam,
Alex