Grand Canyon, Branding, Cemetery Inscriptions, Rattle snakes, and goat baths.

Hi to All .

The pictures above are as follows: One and two are of what I called the Blue Ridge of the Grand Canyon. The pictures do not do justice to the beautiful colors and the depth. It was about 5 miles or so from the bottom three that were taken at the "big branding" that we went to on Sat. Jul 23.

They start them out pretty young as you can see, but the adults have the patience of Job with anyone who is learning. One young man who was about 10 or so was in there the whole time, roping and doing whatever was needed.

The whole process was well organized. They had 4 on horses, and 12 on foot. Whenever the ropes would get crossed because a newly roped one would go crazy, the ones on foot would slip under the rope or jump over it. Things went amazlingly well and no one got hurt. I did tell the young Elders if anything gets crazy drop your rope immediately, which they were smart enough to do.

They had the cows and calves penned up and started the castration, branding, innoculations, dehorning, etc at 2. It truly was well orchestrated and went well. We broke for lunch and had an amazing feast which we helped prepare.

Did you notice how they heated the branding irons, if not go back and look.

I guess I should go back two weeks, so the post matches the label of Cemetery Inscriptions, Rattle Snakes, and Goat baths.

For quite a while I have wanted to copy the names on the placques at the cemetery. We started that on 16 Jul. We have since copied about 400 names and entered many into the computer. Elder and Sister Wilson drive us over and we all set off into different areas. There is no plan to the cemetery layout, people are just buried where their family wants them to be buried and occasionally they discover someone is buried there, so they move. It seems to work for them.

In any case I am happily copying names when I notice movement to my right. I look up and a six foot rattle snake is moving away, so I move in the opposite direction and go to another area, when I feel sufficient time has passed I go back and discover her mate is coiled around the cinder blocks that surround another grave. He was bigger, but I didn't feel I could ask them to line up together so I could take their pictures. They did not seem to mind my intrusion and I was happy to move quietly away. Obviously someone was watching out for me.

Goat baths are another novel way to bathe on the reservation. We had driven to Shonto and were helping put in another garden. It was hot and I was very tired after 6 plus hours, so I shaded up by the truck. This innocent little goat noticed that I was a new salt source, since I had been sweating, so he politley decided to lick the salt off my arms. How could I turn down such a kindness, right? She stayed only on the shaded side, so I only got half a bath. :o}

After we got home from the branding party we stopped to check a garden. The day before the lady's son was there and we asked if we could hill up her potatoes. He was a bit hostile and said, "No, you can't do anything, she isn't here and you can't do anything in her garden!" In any case we explained who we were and why we were there and that we would happily come back when she was there.

He started to tell us about his frustrations with his personal life and we just listened quietly. Before we left he had a 180 degree change in attitude and was actually laughing a bit.

When we did stop after the branding the next day the mom was there, her husband, the son we saw the day before and his two kids.

When Elder Olson started hilling I explained what he was doing and why. Before I had gone very far, the son went to the house and told both his kids to come out and LISTEN to what the missionaries were saying because, they know what they are talking about and that they should listen to us and do what we said. A testimony of the spirit softening hearts.

She said she wanted to expand next year and he wants to help. She asked how many gardens we were watching and I said 54. She asked if we would only come once and I said we go and help whoever needs help, whenever they need it. Some people do almost everything themselves, others need a lot of help. Anyone can call when they need help. It's sort of the "High Maintenance" and "Low Maintenance" participants approach that sorts them out, if that makes sense. :o}

After we did our first solo demo and carefully explained about leaving the winter squash on the vines, one of the "High Maintenance" went right over and picked our biggest winter squash, then giggled about it. Sometimes our patience is tried.

The days are often long, but we are blessed with the ability to handle whatever comes up. We spoke in both wards last week. I spoke at a funeral Thurs, gardens Friday, and Relief Society lesson this Sunday. Thurs, evening we did the garden demo. I said one hour which we held to, BUT we had some come at 7:15, one being a 96 yr old grandma who captured my heart, so we redid the demo and it was 9:30 before they left. I ended up sitting on the front seat of their pickup with grandma, while the son and his girl friend visited and got blessing. She was 96 on the 4th of July and she was tired, trust me.

I thought grandma only spoke Navajo until she started visiting in perfect English. I wish I could remember what she said first, but my brain isn't what it use to be. I think it was something like I would like a watermelon when they're ready. :o} A woman after my own heart.
If you find mistakes please try to be kind. I am looking for an editor. I am willing to pay twice what I am earning out here. ;o}

We love you all and appreciate your prayers in our behalf.

Elder and Sister Olson