Two Old Women

  

The Gwich’in tribe had decided, and once a resolute decision is made, there would be no change.

Leader Ti’kto’ma approached the old woman with tribal leaders behind him.  The old woman huddled close to the fire, but continued to chew seal leather, softening it.

”Old grandmother!  It is time to leave you in this camp for you to take your final journey!”  Ti’kto’ma shouted down at the elderly woman, where her youngest granddaughter wrapped her arms around the woman.

Old Woman, whose worth now was less than bark on a tree, nodded in submission.  The young girl begged for Grandmother’s life, her bruised deformed face twisted in tears.  Ti’kto’ma kicked her away from the fire.  “The fire is wasted on you!  Return to your mother…she must have some use for you, Mongrel Child.”

Old Woman gazed as the tribe walked off in the distance, clutching her bag and fur scarf tightly. In a day where dusk came as soon as the sun disappeared, she was left in the abandoned camp. She settled her elderly bones onto icy snow, waiting for the cold to take her.

As night crept in and cold settled over her, sounds grew louder in the forest.  Old Woman reached out, finding her grand-daughter.

“Let us both float off in the final journey together,” Mongrel Child whispered.  Old Woman wrapped her shawl and scarf around the girl, and they settled into a final night's sleep.

Elephant’s Child has provided the bold underlined words as a challenge for bloggers to stir the pot and produce any genre using those words.  This week there are six and another six words to play with as you choose. These are not the current words (got lazy)  Pop on over to her site, by clicking on her moniker above.

Have you heard of a book Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal and Survival" written by Velma Wallis? The tribe name is true and this ancient custom is accurate.  The story has truth in it as well.  After discovering "two old women" left behind, the tribe finds them well, healthy, and with a huge collection of dried foods.  The Gwich'in discontinued this tradition. This book is a worthy read, simplistic yet moving.

More on this history and legends

Cow Chipping in Chatham, Illinois

Yes. Yes, it is.

The Chatham Illinois holds its annual Jaycee Sweet Corn Festival in July every year. A big draw is the Cow Chipping Contest.   (My own photos disappeared, so this are some other photos from other Cow Chipping, which is a very universal sport.)

Future chippers--not afraid to get their hands dirty

My brother Rev. Don Peck and his son Jeremy Peck are extremely involved in this annual event. Don and Jeremy know just about everyone in this town of 12,000 and their crew of friends really know their cow patties.


A team of highly trained technicians are dispatched to the field and extract the day old product with specially designed tools. The correct dimensions were determined by measurement using a toilet seat. The interior is the chosen dimension. (This was a part of my original post.)

Believe it or not, this is serious business. 

searching for cow patties serious professionals

Cow chipper technicians in training

When a pie was deemed acceptable, it was taken to the security container to prevent contamination.  Whispers of sabotage had been heard, suggesting plans to rig the pies with pellets and pieces of gravel. A security squad was in place to guard against such.

Serious business, I mean serious

As said above, this is very serious business.

examining for size requirement

"This event will take place on July 21-23 at the Chatham sports field. Any attendees wishing to participate in the cow chipping throw should attend when the event is announced.  Experience is not necessary. All should understand that participation may result in pungent particulates adhering to hands and clothing."

It's mine.

Competition is serious business.

Boy, I hope I can attend next year's Cow Chipping Contest.  

Bring on the Feast

Water tower

As we finished the last of a very successful pot roast, I thought of the Memorial Day Dinner in my hometown, Nebo, Illinois.  What a feast it was.  It was ham, more ham, fried chicken, more fried chicken.  Then there were every potato dish  known to be prepared in the Midwest.  Then the dessert table overflowed with homemade pies, homemade cakes, homemade cookies and more pies. Don't forget the jello extravagances.

My Brother's Community Memorial Day Dinner

It was a wonderful day.  I was a teenager then and kinda resented my roll of refilling the dessert table and serving pie/cake/cookies to known and familiar people.  Also, I brought desserts to the unknown visitors who yet had a similarity to townsmen around them.
Good memories. Great food.

Yes, please.

This brings to mind what we now consider a lifetime of food memories.

So, given the excellent pot roast, what do you consider memories of good food? this is mine:

mashed potatoes, white gravy,creamed peas, ham salad, homemade rolls (made by my grandmother), bread pudding w/raisins, warm tomatoes from our garden, pickled cucumbers, pecan pie, strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream...Okay, enough already.

Your memories?