Whatcha Doing

[Siobhan Shadow]

Some are scary, some are not, but I love your comment about shivering. LOL That was really sweet. Shari

[windstar]

Ya'll need to throw me off here and tell me to go sew. It is raining here and the perfect sewing weather.

Molly

[jstitch]

I'm headed that way too. I need to finish a gift today.

[wienerin]

Happy sewing, Molly !
Enjoy the rain!

[windstar]

I can't turn it loose. I'll sew and come back.

Molly

[quiltersblock]

I heard all those stories. The reference to bowling up there in my case came from Washington Irving's story of "Rip Van Winkle" . I also grew up with tales of Thunderbird and how he carried the water, which was the rain, and how his big wings flapping were the sound of thunder and a warning to all the other creatures that he was coming so he could no longer play pranks.
Hugs and Smiles, quiltersblock

[windstar]

Very interesting quiltersblock. Where do you find the thunderbird story, sounds like something I'd like to read to my grandson.

Molly

[quiltersblock]

This is a tale I learned as a child and tell to children of all ages – especially when they’re afraid of thunderstorms, but sometimes just as a good story. I do not know if it is Dakota or Ojibwe in origin, but many of their stories overlap in Minnesota because they mixed and fought.
I wrote it up when my niece and nephew in FL were little and afraid of thunderstorms and had it laminated. They kept it on their walls for many years and would read it when it would thunder. They still have their copies, tucked away. One is studying to be a doctor at Brown and one graduates high school next year. I don't know where you would find this. I grew up with an oral version of it, and I wrote it down.


THUNDERBIRD

Thunderbird was a rascal. Wherever he flew, he played pranks on the animal people. He would hide in the forest and frighten animals by shrieking loudly as they passed. He would disguise himself as a monster and bring fear to the hearts of animal children.

Deer Chief was accustomed to the behavior of Thunderbird, for he was as old as he. But as Thunderbird’s tricks became more outrageous, many deer grew angry. “Thunderbird causes no harm or hardship,” Deer Chief told his people. “He irritates your tempers with his antics, but he does so without malice. When I was a youth, I learned to laugh at the pranks of Thunderbird. So, too, must you laugh, for without laughter we cannot exist in this world.”

Thunderbird continued to fly to all parts of the earth, playing pranks and cackling with glee at his own mischief.

One day he flew far to the north. He came upon a lake where the Beaver People dwelt. The Beavers worked very hard at their lake, felling trees, building dams, and making homes. Thunderbird felt his eyes smile, for he had just thought of a new prank.

That night, as the Beaver People slept, Thunderbird pecked away at the shore of the lake with his mighty beak. And where he pecked, he rolled up the shore like a blanket. All around the shore he pecked and pecked, until at last the lake was like a big bundle. Grasping the bundle in his beak, he flew off into the night.

The Beaver People awakened as Sun Prince hurled darts of light through the pines, which was the signal to begin another day. There was much commotion in the camp of the Beavers, for their lake had vanished from the earth! They did not know that Thunderbird had stolen it, or that he had dropped their lake into the sea.

Many days passed. Beavers became thirsty and weak from lack of water, and many tears fell from the eyes of Beaver children. Great Spirit saw the strife of His Beavers, and he was angered at the mindlessness of Thunderbird. He called Thunderbird to counsel.

“You have caused sickness and suffering through your foolishness,” He said. “Thus will you be punished:

“For all time to come, you will replenish the water in the lakes of the earth. You will bring water to them from the sea, as you brought water to the sea from the lake of the Beaver People. And you will fly high above the clouds, where no one can see you and where you can see no one. But all the people of the earth shall know of your coming, for your wings will beat a rumbling sound.”

Thunderbird flew off to the sea to begin his punishment for stealing the lake of the Beaver People. Since that time he has made many journeys, and his journeys have not ended. Thus does Thunderbird spend all eternity, carrying water to all the lakes of the earth and making a loud and rumbling sound high above the clouds, where no one can see him.


Can you hear him? His wings are flapping. Soon Mother Earth will drink from the water Thunderbird brings and all the trees, and flowers, and corn will be happy, and the Beaver People will be happy, too. Don’t be afraid of the rumble. It’s just Thunderbird’s wings flapping so he can no longer play pranks on us. The rain won’t last forever, either. Sun Prince will pay us a visit. For now, just sit back and listen to the music Thunderbird’s wings make. . .



Hugs and Smiles, quiltersblock

[Siobhan Shadow]

Wow quiltersblock that is super. I wish I could give you some rep points on this today but I will tomorrow. Your really deserve a few for this wonderful story your sharing with us. Shari

[windstar]

Wow....This is absolutely beautiful. I shall tell it to my grandsons. Just wonderful.Thank You.

Molly

[pbrey8]

I'm going to print that out to share with my grandchildren! Thanks a million!

[tndenim]

That is a great story and one I've not heard before. I was raised and told that thunder is God dropping a bag of potatoes and they are rolling all over the floor. Much more boring then the Thunderbird or Rip Van Winkle and the bowling.

[windstar]

Dropping a bag of potatoes that is a new on and funny. I never heard this one. LOL I love it.

Molly

[windstar]

It has wound down and looks like a lot of us are turning in for the night. I guess I'll leave my cup here and I'll expect to find coffee in it when I return in the am.

C\__/

Molly

[pbrey8]

What am I doing? Posting on SiCK because I can't sleep. My legs are hurting I wake up about every 20 minutes. I took some Aleve, and I am hoping it will kick in soon so I can go back to bed and sleep.

[wienerin]

Most of my books are still burried in some of the packing cases I haven't unpacked for years now. I remember I had a book with those Native American Myths. Wonderful stuff. Have to find this book some day.

[Anael]

LOL Molly, I've had my share of coffee this morning. I will make you one, it's ready when you get here
Have to go to physical therapy (physical torture.....) and will be gone for the afternoon. CU tonight again!

[wienerin]

It has wound down and looks like a lot of us are turning in for the night. I guess I'll leave my cup here and I'll expect to find coffee in it when I return in the am.

C\__/

Molly

coffee is ready over there

[annmarie]

Most of my books are still burried in some of the packing cases I haven't unpacked for years now. I remember I had a book with those Native American Myths. Wonderful stuff. Have to find this book some day.

I love taking out old books I cleaned out after Christmas and found an old history book of our local area for the 1800's, the smell of old from the book as you turn the pages. Pages so fragile, I placed it in a air tight bag just to peserve it, hope it works some

[wienerin]

I love old books too. But air tight is not so good an idea - you risk it getting mouldy.