As you can see I finished my first rug. The lady is Gloria Babbitt, my good friend. She came over Friday with her daughter Mary. She helped me finish. She doesn't speak much English and I speak even less Navajo, but together we figured things out. She would do some and then say, "You, turn" She watched me like a hawk and is an excellent teacher. She let me take it out a few times when I made a mistake, but the great part was that I could tell I had made a mistake, so I must be learning, right?
Sister Goldtooth's husband made me another loom which is bigger and he also made the Right Tools to go with the loom. They called it a starter kit. I already had a few things, but now I will have more of a selection of different sizes to use, depending on the size of the rug.
I had many people comment on what I was doing when they came by the apt for things. Everyone had advice, which was great because everyone did things just a little differently which gave me a bigger source of techniques to use. Most people were just astounded that I was even doing it. I think they were pleased that I would do it. The pattern is simple. Sister Goldtooth said I should have it appraised, but I told her I was framing it, not selling it. ;o}
The people here are really quite amazing in their ability to use whatever is available to fix whatever needs fixing. In Star Valley people always twine or duct tape. Out here is it inner tubes and baling wire.
The looms here come in every shape and design. I saw Sister Begay use 4 x 4's and sit inside the loom which was up on cinder blocks to start the warp. When it got to tight she took the little chair she was sitting on and put it on the outside of the loom frame. I guess technically it wasn't a frame, because you put the warp on dowels first, weaving yarn along both the top and bottom, then take it off and put it on the loom where you do the weaving. It takes a very long time to set it up, or at least it was long for me because I had no idea what I was doing.
The whole process has to be done in just the right way, which I goofed up on one warp wrap, but they are also masters at fixing the mistakes. Hopefully I will be able to do that after I have done a few rugs. I am trying to take advantage of their expertise while they are only a few miles away. I want to put another one on soon and write down each step, taking pictures also. Hopefully between the written directions and the pictures I will be able to do it when I get back home.
I think we are up to about 14 people who want gardens for next year and are already planning to till in the fertilizer and manure, which means it will have time to mellow over the winter, which is a good thing.
A lot of the people want their aunties or cousins, or mothers to have their own gardens next year and they say they will help them, which is exactly what we hope for.
We have had a few people come into the history center and find their ancestors on the Indian Census Records, which is so fun.
The Elders are teaching a young man and I was able to find some records on his father and grandfather which they took with them and he was pretty excited.
First Ward seems to be growing, I think there were about 35 people in Sunday School this morning. Second Ward is smaller, but it was fun to see everyone commenting and reading scriptures out loud.
Evan and Diane were at a baptism of one of our member's son in Mesa and that family was visiting today. It is fun to see what a small world it is in the church.
I hope all of you are reading each week's assignment and go to class prepared to share insights. The teachers spend a lot of time preparing and it goes so much better when class members comment and participate in the lessons.
Testimony meetings here are always amazing. The spirit is so strong. We have a couple of missionaries out and some preparing to go.
One of our gardening couples will leave at the end of the month and the others will leave at the end of October. Then it will be the Andersons, who teach Seminary and the Olsons. Each couple brings their own expertise and it is fun to see relationships develop. It is always a little heartbreaking to see them leave.
We love our mission, what more can I say.
Elder & Sister Olson
