PowWow to Lighthouse................

Today was the last day of the Peshawbestown Traditional Pow Wow. We go there probably every other year or so. The kids can only sit so long and we also have to stand quite a bit for the entrance and the prayers, flags and so on. Good practice for the little ones to learn respect. It's a hard lesson.

The drums are wonderful and you know, I have never been yet without seeing a hawk or was it an eagle circle overhead. This year there were not so many great costumes as some other times. It seemed like it was the young ones, the kids that had the beautiful regalia. A couple of older men were decked out in their finery. Other years have had some with beautiful bead work. Each time is different.

The head dancers had lovely regalia. It is quite moving if long winded when they bring in the flags. Hard for little ones to pay attention and not wriggle.



The kids did really well all considered. I don't think they found it terribly interesting this year. So how do we handle kids and their mouths? Reina shouts out "look Mum Indians" shhhhhh we say, thinking she is being rude. So she yells "well they aint real Indians" So she is taken aside and given a little lecture because then Tristen pipes up Indianssssssss.........We cringe and the two ladies who were the object of attention are snickering. So what is the correct thing to tell our children. I mean you dont go around saying oh look a black person or oh look a white person. I always feel like as guests (and that is how they see us) we should have some sort of protocol to follow. I wish it were not an issue but it is. I want the children to grow up respecting all people and this is a difficult one. SO next time Reina says "Look mum Native Americans" grrrrrrrr. What we would like is for them to just not say anything its not a zoo. They are not on display. I can not feel my way around handling these things. Being from England its never been an issue (race) as it is here. I grew up with folks from all over the world, but in our little corner of Michigan, well its not cosmopolitan at all.These people deserve a lot of respect and I want to be sure that we give them that.


We got some fry bread and food before we left and off we went off to Northport. We had to get the kids busy again after sitting so long. I got them each a dream catcher. They know the story of the dreamcatcher.




So this is the first time we have been to the Lighthouse this year. The water levels are up here too. The beach is actually gone. The land that leads to the beach is all rock at the tip of Leelanau county where the lighthouse sits. The plants that grow there are unique and beautiful. My camera was not focusing right so I didn't get too many pictures.



I didn't select pictures of the ones down on the rocks but these were all growing up near the lighthouse. We got ice cream and a couple of things to occupy the little critters on the way home. A kaleidascope each and a sucker. Not that it kept them quiet but at least they had something to do.
Meanwhile I would love to get this in my garden

Had to get a picture of this guy.....look at those eyes. He looks like a Mayfly but I am not at all sure.

When we stood on the beach I felt like we were below the lake level and that it would come right in on us. Would not be down there in a storm that's for sure.
We let the kids play at the park for a short time just to let off steam before we got them trapped in the car again for the ride home.

There are many lighthouses around the Great Lakes. It seems that inland fresh water lakes would be safe but they are not. The many many shipwrecks can attest to that. They should be given as much respect as the Sea, because that is what they are........inland fresh water seas.

Linking up with Create With Joy, Inspire me Monday
also with Wednesday's Adorned from Above link party
Visiting with Brambleberry Cottage Time Travel Thursday