The Sun Rises On Morning Star

[lindyannajones]

Morning Star - Final chapter

Last week Morning Star had finally worked up her courage to ask grandmother to look at her jar. With shaking hands she had nervously handed it to her and Grandmother had inspected it, turning it slowly around in her weathered hands and after some time had handed back. She had not said a word. She just nodded her approval. Her jar was suitable for trading.

She sat up and reached for her moccasins while she struggled with the competing voices in her head. There were so many choices to make about the trade of her grandmother-approved jar. She knew she wanted the cotton thread but the macaw feathers, especially the bright green ones, were appealing, too. And, of course, there were shells. She just couldn't decide.

She lifted the flap of the door and smiled when she saw the expansive land enveloped in a mist that explained the odd feeling she'd had earlier. She could barely see the deep canyon just a few feet away from her door. She loved foggy mornings and it had been many months since the weather had been cool enough for fog. She filled her lungs with the sage infused air and stretched. "I'll trade for the thread, hopefully red, the color of sunset," she decided.


She hastily walked east as the edges of the clouds began to glow along the horizon line. She had shaken off the dream and now her thoughts were of amaranth cakes, roasted corn, sunflower seeds, games in the arena and sacred dances. She knew this would be an easy day to greet with a prayer.



In 2000 my daughter and I attended a workshop in Santa Fe in which we met with local artisans and shared our stories with one another. Most of our sharing took place in the kitchen, preparing meals together. It was a very intimate time. One of those artisans was Dolly Naranjo who is a member of a very prominent family of potters and historians from the Santa Clara Pueblo. Dolly took us to her clay source, showed us how to polish pottery, helped us make a small coil pot and learned to fire our pots. I've drawn from that experience for part of this story.

[beachcomber]

We are going to share a beautiful dream together, a dream that you will love to have all the time


Another wonderful selection of words and pictures.
With the mist they had an almost dreamlike quaility, but as the mist lifts the dream ends.

[toyvlle]

What a lovely story to go with such beautiful images. Makes me sad that the story is done. Beach is right, you made this mystical and dreamlike in a way that only you can do. I loved this series.

[m.c.adams]

Great shots, Lindy. Can I come hang out and go shooting with you? I love the desert, but living in Missouri, don't get a chance to get to it much.
Mark

[Jim Bryant]

Sweeeeettttt!

[jack russell]

Will we meet Dolly?

[shmelly]

Keep it going I'm enjoying this, love the last picture.

[VegasMike]

Wow these are some great images but I really like the one of the sunflower!

[equilution]

...and with great, yet subtle, anticipation, he sat humbled in his chair---the warm desert breeze gently caressing his cheeks, the distant lightning briefly revealing the wrinkled years of wisdom on his face... wondering...when again Lindy would craft such lovely prose, he clicked "Post Quick Reply..."

Can't wait! Nice work!! You should have your own forum!!

[pjflan7]

Great series Lindy...I can tell that you have had alot of fun with this......The images are super and of course, like framing them, a story too adds so much to the visual impact. Your brain begins to work within the frame, seeing peoples, activities, thoughts within the pueblo.