| Author |
Message |
paul_hammersten
Member
Post Number: 47
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 4:51 pm: | 
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" A Very Old Tale Told Anew "
The Turtle Clan and their adopted brother canoebear where in hot pursuit by ' The One Who Would Devour Them ' .
They came to a river and made a chain across the waters...head to tail...head to tail.
'The One Who Would...' saw stepping stones in the water and ventured out over the deep.
When ' The One Who Would...' reached the stepping stone in the middle of the water, all the Turtle Clan and canoebear dived below the surface.
" The One Who Would..." drowned in the water.
The Turtle Clan and canoebear swam freely in the the blue to the other shore.
Ha Ho canoebear!
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tess
Member
Post Number: 16
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 5:15 pm: |
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The woman says, "Bear, take me to the bottom of the ocean with you, Bear, swim with me, Bear, put your arms around me, enclose me, swim, down, down, down, with me."
Bear," she says suddenly, "come dance with me."
(They make love. Aferward,) "She felt pain, but it was a dear sweet pain that belonged not to mental suffering, but to the earth."
Marian Engel Bear
HiyaPaul.. |
canoebear
Member
Post Number: 7
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 9:03 am: |
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"I Dream Of Turtles"
'Tis problem I hav, to dream of see-en
Painted Turtles by wild river rock garden edge
up-in far NE wilderness.
May-be tha tell-tale sign that an unusual incident
will cause 1 enjoyment & to improve 1's canoe trips conditions.
To chance drinken Turtle soup, denotes that 1 will find much pleasure in compromising intrigue.
Wood I Bear-hug "tis Painter Turtle?
Heya! |
purser
Member
Post Number: 27
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 10:08 am: |
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Elvis sang, 'In my blue heaven' |
hillbilly
Member
Post Number: 39
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 12:53 am: |
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Paul and/or canoebear,
Tell us a story, if you know, about the Beaver. Alex is from the Beaver Clan.
Bill |
tess
Member
Post Number: 17
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 9:46 am: |
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Hey Hillbilly,
What I think is most profound about beavers is the very thing they are often destroyed for...the taking of trees.
Beavers, "builder of dreams" fell trees through teamwork. One beaver stands on guard, resting his body, while the other chews. They switch-up until the tree is down. They store the trees in the dams for food in winter.
What the beavers create through the destruction of trees, are wetlands and brush, providing life-giving food and breeding grounds for multitudes of other animals and birds.
But the most profound thing they create for humans is a life force, yet unseen; the most fertile farmland anywhere.
A beaver pond will fill with silt. When the beaver leaves the area, as will happen when there are no more trees in range (or when they are trapped out) the dam will break, the water drains off and a flat pocket of dark nutrient rich soil is left behind.
Observing Beavers over the years have taught me a lot about my species....not all of it good.
(Message edited by Tess on May 18, 2004) |
tess
Member
Post Number: 18
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 9:54 am: |
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Bill, although I do not know Alex from the Beaver Clan, does the snippet of information above have any meaning for you? |
hillbilly
Member
Post Number: 40
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:16 am: |
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Alex Mathias is from the Beaver Clan, Ojibway.
Alex toldme lastyearand I just thought that if they or someone had a good story I would pass it on when I see him in July.
Bill
(Message edited by hillbilly on May 19, 2004) |
tess
Member
Post Number: 20
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 9:07 am: |
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Good Morning Bill,
From what I understand, many native stories have their basis in particular understandings of nature...
...especially stories concerning relationships that sustain and/or provide life, and explain death (or the otherworldy). They are not only stories, but lessons regarding the lifeways and actions of the specific culture and society from which they come.
...so that is why I thought the natural history of Beavers may actually reflect some aspect of the natural history of the Beaver Clan.
...my observations (simplified to the extreme) is that our western culture can look to the natural history of the domestic cow for current lessons on the natural history of our society.
...I would be very interested and honoured to hear some stories out of the Beaver Clan regarding the animal... If you feel it appropriate to ask and to share...
...sorry canoebear, i've gone off topic...but maybe this is in your nature?
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canoebear
Member
Post Number: 12
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 3:10 pm: |
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"Oops!"
Beaver, do not know wher a forest tree will fall.
Ther hav been instances of damn beaver being killed by tha very tree they wer cutten down
to tha ground.
Timber!
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canoebear
Member
Post Number: 13
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 2:16 pm: |
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"Tha Frogs Return Moon"
'Tis 2nd Moon of Wabun of tha east.
I will fore-go much of tha details of this fer U
may not remember it all, Bill, but influences on
"Turtle Clan".
Tha animal on 'tis totem be tha "Beaver".
From tha Beaver, "Tha Builder", is to make all
environments as pleasant as possible.
Tha flat tail of stability grounds tha value of hard work, luck, & 1's ability to make & keep sake
orderly & beautiful environment.
Tha Frogs Return Moon will teach 1 bout perserverance, patience, stability, & practicality. Tha "Builder Beaver" shares tha same element with tha Turtle.
Out of tha "Turtle Clan", may be
1 "Paint Turtle of tha Mistissibi".
Today be "Pauls Day of Orgin/or Beginnen".
A "Chestnut Tree", He be!
A honest born diplomat, with well-developed
sense of justice, vivacious & 1 who is not out
to impress.
Happy Birthday Paul!
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canoebear
Member
Post Number: 14
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 2:33 pm: |
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"Beaver"
I was runnen over rapids, Beaver,
when U damned up my stream.
U made a still, deep place
fer me to work & dream.
U gave me peace & harmony
& built my lodge in beauty.
U taught me patient perseverance'
made me content in daily duty.
I was churnen in much white water, Beaver,
I was almost sur to drown.
Yer sturdy practicality
has turned my life round.
U set my house in order
with yer clever, tranquil ways
& brought me sweet contentment
to help me thru tha days.
Hay hillbilly, "Tha Esteem Alex Mathius"
wood say, be worth 1 Beaver slap, heya! |
canoebear
Member
Post Number: 15
Registered: 05-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 3:13 pm: |
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"Bent Out of Shape"
Hey Paul, 6am 'tis early morn saw 'tis here
wild-eyed Coyote, standen out of sort, along side
a turtle pond with geese abound. Wildest looken
animal ever did lay eyes on. Wish had a camera
on me. Hair all standen straight-up, but He seemed
to be a bit tilted. His composure was off-wack.
Looked to be fustrated/or irritated & even exhausted! Wood tha Turtle in 'tis here pound
be an annoyance/ or an obstacle to an attack on tha geese by tha Coyote?
Could 'tis be a good sign on yer Day? Best! |
tess
Member
Post Number: 22
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 8:27 am: |
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Canoebear, your poem "Beaver" hits close to home for me, more than you could ever know.
"U made a still,
deep place
fer me to work & dream.
U set my house in order
with yer clever, tranquil ways
& brought me sweet contentment
to help me thru tha days."
Beaver did just that for me...gave me a place to escape to ...to think and write... a secret place I call "the cottage" ... your words touch me deeply and inspire me to continue with my book. thanks. |
paul_hammersten
Member
Post Number: 52
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2004 - 8:36 am: |
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Thanks for the Birthday cheer canoebear!
I ate too much cake!!
I can ' see ' your coyotes face!
Wish I had a Beaver Tail...I like mine with a little freshly squeezed lemon and done in the open with some dried/pounded buffalo meat and chokecherries.
Beaver Tails
Serves/Makes:30
Ready in: > 2 hrs
Difficulty: 3
(1=easiest :: hardest=5)
1/2 cup warm water
5 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 pinch white sugar
1 cup warm milk
1/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
5 cups whole wheat flour, or as needed
1 quart oil for frying
2 cups white sugar, or as needed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
In a large bowl, stir together the yeast, warm water, and a pinch of sugar. Let stand until slightly foamy, about 5 minutes. When the yeast is foamy, add the other 1/3 cup of sugar, milk, vanilla, eggs, oil and salt, and stir until smooth. Mix in about 3 cups of the flour, stirring with a spoon, then gradually add more flour, turning the dough out onto a floured surface when it is firm enough to handle. Knead for 5 to 8 minutes adding flour as needed to form a firm elastic dough. Place dough in a greased bowl, and cover. Let rise until doubled, about 30 to 40 minutes. Gently deflate the dough, and pinch off a golf ball-sized piece of dough. On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll the ball out to an oval. Set aside to rest covered with a tea towel, and continue with remaining dough. Heat about 4 inches of oil for frying in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). If you do not have a deep fryer, a wok or Dutch oven will work. I toss in a tiny bit of dough and see if it sizzles and swells immediately. If it does, the oil temperature is where it should be. Just before placing the beaver tails in the oil, stretch the ovals out into a tail shape, thinning and enlarging them as you do. Carefully place the tails in the hot oil one or two at a time. Fry, turning once, until the tails are a deep brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove using tongs and drain on paper towels. Place remaining 2 cups of sugar in a large bowl, and stir in cinnamon if you are using it. Toss beaver tails in the sugar bowl while they are still hot. Shake off excess.
Note: To make the dough using a bread machine, add the dough ingredients to the pan of your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select the DOUGH setting, and press START. When the machine beeps, continue from the step deflating the dough.
Now...if I can remember all of the ' beaver tale ' about the old time trapper who tied to eat the beaver's tail, I will post it.
Best
Paul
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Off-topic