Tweet That Shit

I just made an amazing curry pumpkin soup. If I was on twitter, I'd tweet it. I'm not. I am on Facebook, but I already know none of them give a rats ass about my soup...I've tried. Even here on my blogspot, I get some guff when I post pictures of veggies and meals.

I have to share this somewhere! I will share it with Sue tonight when she gets home from work. I will share it with Pete because he just spent the day working in the snow, and I will share it with you, my ascended readership.

Here is todays Curry Pumpkin recipe....

a bunch of water in a soup pot

a bunch of herbs and spices from the top shelf

small onion and shallots cut up fine

one bag of Sues frozen garden beans cut up small

one left over fish cake cut into small pieces

glug glug of soya sauce

one bag of Sues frozen cinderella pumpkin puree

dash, dash, dash of curry

one can of coconut milk, not the oily or hard one but the one that shakes nice

dash dash of cummin

grind grind grind grind of sea salt

left over cabbage from night before last cut small

simmer on low and serve whenever one feels a little peckish

Niijii Penmanship

Overcoming writers block.........

Praise Adonai

Copyright Paul Baloche

This is my heart response to Zeitgeist. This story of The Christ just keeps getting more and more magnificent. Mountains bow down and every ocean roars.... Praise Adonai from the rising of the sun(son) to the end of every day..Praise Adonai

-

Extravagant Love

Your Love is Extravagant - Darrell Evans

This is a song by Darrell Evans. I recorded this as I was pondering extravagant love. I tried to publish this 3 or 4 times and it kept going out of sync. I figured out my technical difficulty and now All is Well.....actually, it was always well; even when I couldnt get the stupid computer to cooperate. hahaha could you imagine me jumping up and down and &*^%$## because I couldn't publish "Your Love is Extravagant"? I am happy to say...its still extravagant...especially when difficulties are overcome.

TURTLE ISLAND COMMANDMENTS

One: Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.

Two: Remain close to the Great Spirit.

Three: Show great respect for your fellow beings.

Four: Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.

Five: Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.

Six: Do what you know to be right.

Seven: Look after the well being of mind and body.

Eight: Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.

Nine: Be truthful and honest at all times.

Ten: Take full responsibility for your actions.

This is wisdom literature. This is divine commandment. It is God breathed reality. We have the opportunity each and every day to either live by, or against this wisdom. With choice comes responsibility. We have to live with and by our actions and reactions. Sometimes living these commandments is tough. Sometimes we have to say or do things we do not want. Sometimes external influences like fear can inhibit our ability to flow. When these tenants are acccepted deep within, it becomes much easier. Reactions to situations can be more in tune with spirit flow and vibration. As a christian, I was encouraged to pray within Gods will. When I was born again, I had an internal encouragement to LIVE in Gods will. I have learned that it would be better to die physically, than to die spiritually. I have come to believe that Gods love and spirit is fluid in this world and that I can be a part of this divine flow and experience Gods kingdom here on earth. This spiritual kingdom can never be shaken. Despite hardship and desert experiences, the spirit  provides hope, joy and purpose. Better is one day in this kingdom, than thousands elsewhere! Praise God!

Now, should you say, there is no God; or there is no divine, you still know in your heart that these commandments are whats best. Why do you suppose this is? So I invite you to follow them with me, and together we will experience the divine, and you will come to know the heart of God.

Ripples in Time

Waves of Holy Spirit energy
like ripples in time
Concentric perfection
carrying with it the will of the creator

The master creator
dropped a love stone
and the waves can be seen
even today

These vibrations
felt by man from the beginning of time
are as sure as the rising and setting
of the son,
and the footprint is left
to find ones way home.

Daniel Trask - Ottertooth Discussions

http://www.ottertooth.com/discus/messages/3/43572.html?1322057828


Daniel Update: Every day is a "Brand New Day". In reveiwing their site, Five: "Give assistance and kindness wherever needed" jumped out. We reflect and take comfort in the fact that every person contributing on this blog(www.ottertooth.com), is practising this exceptionally well. Tomorrow is a brand new day, and another day of hope for finding Daniel... (trasker)


I am sharing this site www.ottertooth.com and specifically this link http://www.ottertooth.com/discus/messages/3/43572.html?1322057828 , in hopes that someone who reads my blog, has information that my lead to Daniel's safe return home.


Heavenly Father
I pray for Daniels safe return.
I pray that someone will come forward with information
and I pray that you would bless each and every person who has expressed love and concern.
Great Spirit, would you bekon Daniel home and provide for him safe passage
we pray these things to the one with all knowledge and power
amen

Ancient Rock Carving Art

Alex Mathias, Misabi Tribal Family Elder, 

took me to see some ancient rock carvings on his family land 

bird 

Cow Moose   

Bull Moose

Thunderbird?  

thunderbird? ancestors? 

 So why are these here? Do they have some deep meaning? Are they a clue for passing strangers? Alex said "picture a hunter, camped on this island, waiting for the ice to melt, so he can continue his journey. He passes the time making art, and chipping in stone." There were many types of rock on this island. Perhaps some rocks are "stronger" than others. Perhaps our artist used the very stones at our feet. Or perhaps this hunter carried with him, his tool. Maybe he used a piece of flint rock, traded with a brother from the north for a beaver pelt.

And the images.....obviously there were animals and birds and some unrecognizable images due to aging and time or even due to our own misunderstanding. Its no secret that I am a sensitive to the thunderbird. I couldnt help but feel thunderbird and ancestors themes. My overall impression is that the artist was depicting the world as he knew. These were things that blessed him and were worthy of his creativity. Perhaps in gratitide, or reverence, or joy.

These ancient carvings are chipped in stone, moss covered, created, lost and found again. Who knows how long they have weathered time and nature. Who knows how many people have been blessed by this artists work.

Art like this can be found in various forms all over the north. This is hardcore evidence that Columbus was a sham....a very bad map reader. He never never found the new world, because the new world is actually very old.....and was never lost.

Lake Wakimika to Red Squirrel

Wakimika River 

The Reflections are Like Music  

Misabi Tribal Family Territory - Unceeded Land 

Red Squirrel Road 

Lake Wakimika Portage

Lake Wakimika - On the Island Campsite 

Old Hunters Camp

A Hike to Spirit Rock - Obabika Old Growth

Trail to Spirit Rock and the Sisters 

Chee-Skon Abikong Lake 

The Sisters 

Admiration 

A Place of Rest 

Trail Map 

Spirit Rock Camp Site

Spirit Rock

Ancient Ceremony Site 

Potluck Table 

Place of Sacred Fire 

Daniel Enjoying Potluck at Changing of the Seasons Ceremony 2011

Search for Daniel Trasker

http://www.ottertooth.com/discus/messages/3/43572.html?1321540321

There is a dialog on Ottertooth regarding Daniel Trasker. Thank you Ottertooth and all those concerned for this brother.

Chee-skon-abikong Lake - Spirit Rock

Spirit Rock, Chee-skon-abikong Lake

47.138884,-80.279675

"At the place of the huge rock"

The Teme-Augama, Nipissings and other aboriginals come alone, or in groups, to seek guidance at this ancient spot or within its spiritual shadow northeast of Obabika Lake. They have, and continue, to come to fast, heal or dream. There were once three natural rock columns. Only two remain standing today. The sacred area has been attracting growing numbers of people in the last few years who are seeking a return to their spiritual roots and traditions.

"Brian Back"

Red line from Lake Obabika is a trail and the location of the Ceremonies.

Arrow is the place of Spirit Rock used for Vision Quest

Missing Person - Daniel Trask - "The Caves" - Temagami

47.16731,-80.068359

Does anyone know where "the caves" are?

Seal Island Cave??

A NATURAL ROCK CAVE LEADS FROM THE LAKE INTO SEAL ISLAND. ELF-LIKE PEOPLE, THE MAYMAYGWASHI, WERE OFTEN SEEN HERE IN THEIR STONE CANOES. AN OLD FOLKTALE IS ASSOCIATED WITH SEAL ISLAND. 

Lion Queen's Cave??

EVERY INDIAN TRIBE HAS AN ORIGIN LEGEND BASED ON THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE ON EARTH. THE TEMAGAMI CLAIM THAT FAR BACK IN THE MISTS OF TIME, THEIR ANCESTORS SPRANG FROM A CAVE LOCATED IN THE SMOOTHWATER LAKE AREA. 

He had his bow and arrow with him, and as he went along he saw a great snake. He shot it with his arrow. (The big snake became a high rocky ridge on the protage south of Soothwater lake). He came to a big lake with a nice, sandy shore, where he saw Lions (mici'bizi'w   "giant Lynx"). He couldn't shoot them with his arrowas they were too far away, nor was there any place where he could hide himself until they came to sun themselves by the shore, when they felt too cold in the water. Finally he hit upon a plan. He took some birch bark from a rotten stump , rolled it into a hollow cylinder , and placed it, like a wigam, near the shore. He got inside and made a little hole in the bark through which to shoot and kill the Lions. 
When the Lions saw the thing on the beach they grew curious to find out what this strange thing was on the beach that was not there the day before. So they sent a big snake to twist around it and try to upset it, but the snake did not succeed in doing this, for Nenebuc stood too firm. So the Lions came ashore upon the sand and Nenebuc shot of them with his arrow - a she-lion, the wife of the Lion Chief. He did not kill her, but wounded her badly in the side, and the flint arrow point stayed in the wound. She was very badly wounded and went back to a hole which led to a cave in a big rock where she lived. Nenebuc was sorry that he had not killed the Lion queen.

http://temagami.nativeweb.org/tale-nenebuc-f.html

Missing Person Daniel Trask

Hi Don

I Just wanted to let you know that the OPP emergency response team and helicoptor were searching this  afternoon, and will resume again tomorrow. The OPP asked us to post a missing person and communicate to others who could spread the word. They will be checking with local food/outback stores to see if Daniel stopped to

buy supplies. Feel free to share with whatever contacts you may have, he's out there somewhere, with the help of

many we are hopeful he will be found.

Our son is missing since Thurs. Nov. 3, 2011, believed to be in Temagami outback, car spotted on Red Squirrel Rd. 

If you have any information or contacts, please contact the OPP,land and air search are underway, Tues. Nov. 

15th.

Male, 28, brown hair, see attached photo from Changing of the Seasons 2011, Daniel (Dan) Trask

Maureen and Don Trask, Waterloo ON,             519-884-3285      

This is a picture of Daniel Trask at the annual Changing of the Seasons Ceremony 2011. Daniel is an able bodied outdoorsman. He handled his canoe like a dream. We watched and admired as he paddled up to the celebration. I understand from others, he has great skills. Daniels parents found my blog by an internet search and asked for some assistance. I have been passing the word.

Lost Languages

"Leo Paul and Alex Mathias are the LAST TWO Teme-augama Anishnabeg who live on the land, off-reserve. They are also among the last 5 speakers of the local Nishnabekwe dialect. - Bob"

On a journey with Alex, he told me he was beginning to fear the loss of his language. He told me about some things he has done and things he was considering. He shared some high points of hope and some low points of frustration.


Languages are being lost all over the world at a rapid rate. One could sit and debate the pros and cons and all the reasons why or why not, this should be. The next obvious question is how much do we try to save languages and what becomes of our lost languages. 


For me, its not the lost language thats the issue, but the broader cultural context. This language was interwoven with a way of life. As I spend time with these elders, I realize the importance of the knowledge they have. I wish that when Europeans came to this country, they didnt see it as a place to own and conquer. I wish that our relations would have been ones based on equality, friendship and trust.


When I look at the conquest, what was lost, what was gained, I cant help but feel a certain shame. Now here I am, enjoying the company of 2 iconic men. I can see what we are losing. I can quickly learn and assimilate, but really in the end there is loss. 


I wish that the Canadian government would identify key important elders and hire them to tell their story and teach the language and pass the knowledge. I understand that a wampum belt is in effect between our peoples, but this would be over and above. This passing of the knowledge is for all of us.


Alex has been sharing the language with me. It is a beautiful language. The word for "window" is translated as "place where light comes in". I try to remember the words, but sadly this 50 year old brain cant. I told Alex that I could dedicate my life to learning the language, but really, that would only buy another 10 years or so and would pass with me, and as I said, the language is just the tip of the iceberg. I am not the answer, I am only a witness.


Lord God,I thank you for Alex Mathias and Leo Paul.
Great Spirit guide and protect them
and help me to be
who I am to be
amen

Some Things Just Cant Be Said

Some things just cant be said. Some times we simply cant share how wonderfully we are blessed. I guess I dont have to talk about everything. I think the important thing is that I recognize just how blessed I am and be grateful for it.

Extravagant Love Blessings

My wife just called me from her interview. They love her and have offered her a 6 week contract. She is impressed with the operation and excited for a chance to be with a team. This is such a blessing for us. It has been hard for us on single income, however it has also helped us to prioritize and focus on giving and getting from the land and community. These hardship things have been a blessing and employment for my wife feels like Extravagant Love! I look now and see how this is part of the flow. Yesterday at this time, this opportunity had not materialized, it was preparing itself for glorious revelation. I am going to count this as an Extravagant Love Blessing. I feel like singing.

Extravagant Love Blessing

Meet "nin minigos" (I am given). He is the newest member of our family

He is well adjusted and is wound and ready to play

Geddy treats him like a little toy and we have to continually remind him not to play so hard

Nin Minigos and Geddy are sleeping right now, after a hard morning workout

You should have seen the look on Sues face when I arrived home with this little gaffer. I most definitely didnt leave the house last night to go and get a kitty!.....funny how things work out. 

I am going to count this as an Extravagant Love blessing

Going With the Flow - Extravagant Love

The phone rang and it was elder Alex. He was in town after a 2 week visit to Toronto and was looking for a lift home a couple hours north. Without hesitation I said no problem. I wasnt thinking about the 5 hour commitment, because all I could envision was the joy of the journey. As it turns out, it was a magnificent adventure. I cant even begin to count the blessings!

I am telling you right here and right now that a journey based on love and respect is blessed 10 fold. A journey based on trust in the divine, allows one to go with the flow, and extravagant love is experienced. Extravagant love is above and beyond "call of duty" love. With extravagant love, there is no end and there is no hesitation. A beautiful line is drawn on the canvas of life, and it flows, guided not by the hand, but by divine order.

Natures Performance Art - The Art of Flow

Starlings Murmuration.

Why?

pleasure or purpose?

do they do this because they have to 

or because they want to?
or do they just simply do?

and How?

I did a quick search and found this interesting article at wired.com by Brandon Keim

The Startling Science of a Starling Murmuration

• By Brandon Keim  
• 
 
• November 8, 2011  |  
• 12:30 pm  |  
• Categories: Animals, Biology

"Starling flocks, it turns out, are best described with equations of “critical transitions” — systems that are poised to tip, to be almost instantly and completely transformed, like metals becoming magnetized or liquid turning to gas. Each starling in a flock is connected to every other. When a flock turns in unison, it’s a phase transition.
At the individual level, the rules guiding this are relatively simple. When a neighbor moves, so do you. Depending on the flock’s size and speed and its members’ flight physiologies, the large-scale pattern changes. What’s complicated, or at least unknown, is how criticality is created and maintained."

 http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/starling-flock/

So this is vibrational art? 

A great example of flow....

a natural response.

I need to feel this when I paint,

 but even in life.

Its a dance, 

one movement in response to another

there is no wrong move, 

but the move that brings you out of harmony

wow

yet even being out of step with another

causes a new flow

when they respond as one

What do you think?

Really...talk to me

Thoughts on keepupwithdon

There are a number of topics I talk about and report on here at keepupwithdon.blogspot.com. I have a number of people from all walks of life who follow me on this blogspot.

I have been considering dividing my blog between two sites. I have been considering a new blogspot for my art. I would continue to discuss art as it relates to my life, however, I have been considering a place to locate my own art and thoughts as it relates to my art.

I did say that art is like life and life is like art and so for that purpose, the two should remain together. This is why I will continue to discuss art matters on keepupwithdon. However, I also needed a place to direct potential clients to view my art. I have been struggling with how best to do that. I have been watching a number of other artists as they have been making these decisions in differant ways.

Life is a work in progress and so I am going to take a "kick at the can" by authoring a new waabaanakwad art gallery located at waabaanakwad.blogspot.com

Jesus, Would You Come To Work With Me Today?

"Our Place" John Buffet 2009

Do you think we should give the lawn one last cut?

now that the leaves are down.

Ice Hut lined up and ready....but 2 months to go

Moose Jerky and Smoked fish

Fish Cakes and Northern Ontario Garlic

Trip to Sandy Falls to pick up all the garbage

rewarded with wintergreen berries

watch the duck hunters

watch the beaver trappers

only a few boats left on the river

another fine day

Look, quick...on the dock...a white mink

Kitty Kitty Kitty Cat Niijii birdie birdie thank you what are you doin

mmmm morning coffee

what time is it?

yup its 8:03 theres the school bus

Time to go to work soon

Jesus, would you come to work with me today?

Sunday Morning Praise on the Sturgeon

"Lord You Have My Heart" Copyright Delerious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3WVpgeXU5Y&feature=related

Fall Blessings

These are four of my favourite people. We had the honor of hosting Debs friends as they embarked on magnificent journeys. T and N were heading out to New Brunswick to begin a new chapter in life, and My daughter D and her friend R were heading out for a one month cross North America trip.

D and R heading out with Cali on their minds, a convertable, and full bank accounts.

We heard from them from various points across Canada and they made it to the west coast.

Last I heard, they were in Portland Oregon.

We are on a constant search for firewood. We scored some at Aunt T's cottage.

Double blessing as they have been needing to clean up, and we have insatiable appetites for wood.

If I keep the home fire burning, the oil furnace doesnt kick on.

Sue finally processed the last of the pumpkins. We have a number of frozen pies and loafs in the freezer, and we have been eating lots of pumpkin seeds!

Sue went out yesterday and picked the last of the brocolli and colrabi. She then made an awesome dip and served it with Pita. Late season brocolli is really good. Our Kale is still growing despite the heavy frosts and we hope for at least one more feed. When I build the greenhouse, that will significantly extend the growing season.

I took some trout out of the freezer and thawed it out. When I opened the package, I realized that we had left the skin on and that we had intended to smoke these. Since the trout was thawed, I made a brine and let the fish soak for another 24 hours. In the meantime, I got to work on a smokehouse.

The bottom box has a propane burner with a pot of woodchips/shavings and barks that we save from our firewood processing. The burner causes the wood to smoke. I intend to use a smaller burner and put racks in side the box. I want to also explore using wood rather than Propane. 

I cut a hole in the top of the box, and built a stone oven on top of the box. I put my pepper seasoned fish on a small grill and put it in the stone smoke oven for 4 hours. I put some homemade maple syrup on top of the fish at hour 2. When it came off the grill, we feasted on the best smoked trout I have ever eatin! I s**t you not...THE BEST! 

These are just some of our Fall Blessings.

Kitty Treats

Natural Free Range Chicken Flavor - Natural Beef Tenderloin Flavor

I know what these words imply, but is that actually what it says?

What does that mean...truly, without double speak.

I myself prefer to eat free range chicken over commercial chicken but I'm not sure I could really taste the difference, truth be known. 

As for Beef Tenderloin, I have never been a big fan. I prefer something like All Natural Medium Rare T-Bone Steak Flavor.

I made my wife a tuna sandwich for lunch at work. It was really nice tuna! It was a white Albacore and she said it was the best. Yet everyone knows that YellowFin Tuna is THE tuna to serve when trying to impress someone!

My granny used to tell me that Atlantic Salmon from the North Sea was the best. Meanwhile, BC Pacific Salmon has become increasingly popular. That deep red flesh...mmm so good! But wait a minute, I now understand that there is some nasty fish farming going on out there and the flavor and goodness of these fish is questionable. Of course the answer lies up the coast, where Wild Alaskan Salmon still abounds. Everyone knows that the Alaskan Wild Salmon is better because its colder, more remote, more prisitne, more......flavorful. But wait a minute. It doesnt say natural. Jeesh now I'm confused.

Picking an appropriate kitty treat has become a very difficult, yet rewarding venture.

I have been living vicariously through my Cats excesses. He is so flippin spoilled...he knows and he doesnt care. I am supposed to just live with it. We have tried all these wonderful flavors and frankly considered serving some to our guests as fancy little appetizers.