Posted: July 4th, 2018 | Author: timp67 | Filed under: T Writes | Tags: Beauty, Cleverness, Goals and Achievements, Holidays | No Comments »
Fourth of July is a holiday traditionally celebrated with fireworks. And fireworks come in many forms. Colorful explosions of flowers. Vibrant crayon drawings. And corn!
This is glass gem corn, a heritage variety cultivated by Oklahoma farmer Carl “White Eagle” Barnes.
Photo and story found at Seedbroadcast
Seed-keeper Carl was half-Cherokee, half Scottish-Irish, and in the course of growing older corn varieties he was able to isolate and cultivate ancestral types that had been lost to various Native tribes after their relocation to the Oklahoma territory in the 1880s. Carl’s philosophy: “The Seed Remembers.”
I stand in a radiant Glory
My roots in the heart of Mother Earth
My crown in the clouds of Father Sky
The Four Winds encircle me in spirals of Love
One going up, then down
One going down, then up
They meet in the Center of Complete Perfection—
The Human Stalk of Corn
—Carl Barnes
Posted: December 14th, 2017 | Author: timp67 | Filed under: Letters to T | Tags: Artwork, Cleverness, Definitions, Holidays | 1 Comment »
Dan’s Mom writes:
Dear T,
I would like to tell you about a fabulous new holiday celebration. It’s called Yadiloh, the Festival of Brooms and Mice, and it happens on the second Sunday of December, right before the traditional holidays begin. I had an artist friend of mine make up a card for it.
Yadiloh begins early in the morning as each and every kid in the family sweeps (or vacuums) their room and then cleans the whole house. Then, in the spirit of Yadiloh fun, they hide the broom (or vacuum).
After that, for even more fun, they sit quietly together and draw a picture of an adorable mouse. The fun doesn’t stop there! At this point, Mom or Dad takes on the role of Atnas, the Yadiloh Broom Finder. Atnas asks the kids (the Mice) where the broom (or vacuum) is. They tell him (or her), and then go outside to quietly play while Atnas takes a much-deserved Yadiloh nap.
Let’s get cracking and help make Yadiloh a part of every family’s holiday tradition! Here are a couple of rousing Yadiloh carols to get everyone in the mood.
Oh, Yadiloh!
(Sung to the tune of Oh, Tannenbaum)
Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!
My favorite time of year.
Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!
I’m glad you’re finally here.
I cleaned my room
and swept the house,
then hid the broom
and drew a mouse.
Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!
You fill us all with cheer.
And:
Here Comes Atnas
(Sung to the tune of Here Comes Santa)
Here comes Atnas, here comes Atnas,
looking for the broom.
Here comes Atnas, here comes Atnas,
checking every room.
Searching twice and asking mice for any little clue,
Atnas knows a broom hunt is the funnest thing to do!
T replies:
Hey, Dan’s Mom. Yadiloh sounds like a real hoot, but if I didn’t know better, I’d think you made it up to get Dan to clean the house before the regular holidays begin. If so, you get credit for a very crafty plan. Let’s see if Dan (or anyone else) falls for it!
