A jouney of a thousdand steps begins with...

 Hey Gang!

Dart is on the open road on his motorcycle. Dart was sent on a mission to find the family of Dancing Brook and Two Feather. 

Loraine knows there is an older sister, but she had been separated from them when she found the twins. Loraine asked her husband to help. Edward Standing Bear has known Dart for many years.

They met at a Gathering in Canada. Dart had just left the military and had started working as a private detective. 

He was told by a social worker that she had gone to live with a Native American couple, but not much more.

He is going to meet the agent who helped with the placement. Dart thinks to himself that this is a scenic area!

Fall is his favorite time of the year! He hears his satellite phone ring. He stops the bike to take the call.

He is often in places where there isn't cell reception. The satellite phone keeps him connected.

Edward Standing Bear: Hey, how are you? 

Dart: I'm doing well. It is pretty out here.  

Edward Standing Bear: Have you found out anything about the girl?

Dart: Yes, she was placed with a couple.  I heard it was a Native American couple. 

I'm going to meet the agent who helped with the placement.

Edward Standing Bear: Tell them they are welcome to come here with the girl so she can see her siblings.

Dart: How will Loraine handle it? She seems attached to those little ones.

Edward Standing Bear: We talked about it. She will want whatever is best for the twins.

Dart thinks maybe and maybe not, but doesn't say this. Dart: I'll try to get there before nightfall and let you know what I find out.

Edward Standing Bear: OK.

Dart is back on the road!

OK, Thanks For Looking!

Back at the longhouse!

Hey Gang!

This being November, let's check up on some of the Native American
who live in Johnston!  Apollonia has move here and is hoping her sisters
will live here too!

They came to visit and she is hoping that they will decide to stay.

Naira, Apollonia and Mia

Her older sister is Mia and she has a husband and two children.  Her husband
couldn't come but she has arrived with the children.

All the children are enjoying story time with the other young children.

Mia's son GT has decided to explore and is out for a walk!

 GT: This place is great!

 There is so much to see and do!

Mia has heard a lot about this place. Mia was the attorney who worked with 

Edward Running Bear about getting this land back in Native American hands.

 Loraine: We are so happy and glad to be here!  It is all in a big part due to you!

Edward Running Bear:  I can't wait to show you around!  I am hope that you and
your family will choose to stay.  I have a ton of questions for you and I still need
your help! 

It was important to Mia to put images to the place she worked so hard to secure.
Mia: It is very beautiful here! 

Apollonia's younger sister is Naira!  She and her new husband Elan have come too.
They have been married less than two months.  They met in graduate school
at North Carolina A&T. Elan's heritage is from the Susquehannock and 

Shawnee tribes.      

OK, Thanks For Looking!

Longhouse-- Working On The Layout

Hey Gang!

My Native American dolls were one of the first dolls to move to Johnston.  In my
mind, some of the dolls there live communally and others have house on
the campus.  I have several ideas of what I want the main seating area in my
Native American longhouse to look like.  I know the furniture I want to use...
I think and I will add a few other things. I plan to use a large box and cover
it with some type of covering to make the walls of the room.  Here is my
ruff draft of the room!

Most of the items I am using are things that I have found in thrift stores.

Like the two benches that will be sofas.

And this pie cooler in the back.  I have already used the cabinet in the dinning hall 

so I guess I will use something else.

This desk I got from will take me some time to get it right.  I will have to 

make draws and other touches to give it the right feel.

the wood stove need a flu and I need to find nic nacs.

Try # 2

I like he rug but I am thinking the walls are too dark. even with colorful art.

These stumps will be tables. I think I could use glass tops. I want the wood to show.

I have two different fabrics I am thinking about for the sofas,. This is choice #1

 This is #2 a blanket type style in colors.

Any suggestions?

OK, Thanks For Looking!

An Unusually Warm Day For Fall---Part Three!

Hey Gang,

Lets join Apenimon in the studio!  

So Apenion went to his studio in the barn.  He is working on a sofa for the 
gathering room. 

 There is going to be two and this one is the first.  Daisy and Inola will be tanning 
and weave the fabric for them.  

 I need to cut some more off this leg.

 It should be about level now and I can....

 He had finish with the frame when Running Bear stops by.

Running Bear: I thought you might be out here!
Apenion: I am finished the frame on this sofa and now I will start on studio stalls.

They right the frame of the sofa.

Running Bear: That's good because we have two inside contracts for stalls and 
two outside contracts.

Apenion: I know who the inside contracts are. Who are the outside contracts? 

Running Bear: One is a Mr. Batiste, I don't know him and the other is Blaine Tsai.  
Apenion:  It will be great having so many artists to bounce ideas off of. 

Apenion: I'll need to keep on schedule then.  I'll need to work things out on my 

calendar. I still have the last sofa to do, a chest and some odd pieces. He looks 

at his calendar.

 Apenion: The other sofa frame will be like this one but larger. It will take a little
more time.

 Apenion: I have reinforces the frame in here so that more people can sit on it.

Just then Daisy arrives.

Daisy: I see you are finished one of the sofas!

Apenion: Yes! I will start on your studio stall first!

Daisy: Inola and I can work out of the same stall for a while.  It will be nice to
have a space to work in and not have everything all over the bedroom.

The other day I had to move everything to a sheet on the floor to take a nap.
She laughs. I see you have on the black lamp shirt.  It looks good on you.
Running Bear: Thanks, it feels really good on!

 Apenion:  I will have the stall finished by next weekend but the electrical will
still have to be ran.

Daisy: I can work during the day and use daylight until that is done but it will
be nice to just have a space.

Here they are trying out the sofa frame

Daisy: It will be nice once we get finished with it!  I see you had Avery helping
you today.  He is such a sweet boy.
 Apenion: Is he and Two Feathers still playing with the ball.
Daisy: No, Nakoma is starting story time. They went into the kitchen for cookies
and milk first.
Apenion: I’ll have to take him home after that.  I got a text from his mom asking
about what time he might be back.  His grandma is coming to get him.
Daisy: Are you heading back in?
Apenion: Yes, in a few minutes.
Daisy: OK I’ll see you inside.

 We will join everyone back in the kitchen at story time!
 

OK, Thanks For Looking!