Unusual Bush

I really should have asked someone to identify this unusual bush.  It looked like it might be some type of berry but the red wood spiraling around the gray base made it quite unusual.  I liked it immediately.  This one was growing at the top of the red cinder cone and appeared to be very healthy.

Mt. Bachelor

I mentioned views from the red cinder cone and this was one of the views of Mt. Bachelor.  There's a lineup of volcanic peaks and with the snow cover they are quite distinctive.  I'll be showing you more of them in the future.

Welcoming Committee

I believe this is a ground squirrel.  They were rather abundant and usually didn't mind posing for a photo or two but then they were off to do their squirrel thing.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Oregon

 When friends visited recently we took the opportunity to explore some of our surroundings.  Lassen Volcanic National Park is south of Bend and is rather extensive in size and features.

This photo shows the red cinder cone with a fire watch station at the top.  There's a quarter-mile hike around the cone which is quite easy and offers some 180° overviews of the area.  Unfortunately I didn't get a photo from the bottom of the cone to show it's size and shape.  That's a good enough reason to go back again.

Pretty Pink

With stamping supplies in two closets and working on the kitchen counter, stamping isn't as convenient as it used to be but as I gather the supplies I need, I get my exercise.

This card features a folder embossed background with a label die cut window which was popped up for dimension.  Text was added to another label and placed inside the window and die cut flowers and leaves were used for embellishment.  A strip of satin ribbon added a bit of contrast and softness.

Alaska Pendant

I completed this kumihimo necklace some time ago, inspired by the pendant that I purchased when we visited Alaska.  The braiding is shades of dark green and a pearlized white and I also strung silvery beads to wind around the braid.

New Hometown

Happy Memorial Day! and a big thank you to all who have sacrificed for the good of all.  I especially thank my father (who was away in the Army when I was born), my brother and my husband.

And now that we're back from Peru, here's a photo of the main business area in my new hometown, Redmond, in central OR.  The area is much like we left behind in Grand Junction, high desert.  But it's quite different in that the area was formed by volcano so we have buttes rather than mesas and lava rather than sandstone.  There's lots of grasses that grow wild but wildflowers look familiar.

It's a friendly little town, with nearby Bend to offer more amenities, and we are happy to be here.

The Village

 The coach parked at the far end of the village and we walked through the village to reach the entrance to the Tombs.  There were some small markets along the way, but most were not open so there was little pressure to buy.  The tour required that we walk in a big circle to the top of the hill and then back down.  This is a view of the village as we descended.

And that concludes our afternoon tour.   We retraced our route back to Puno where we spent one more night before going to Juliana to catch a flight back to Lima where we got a flight back to the US.

Lake Umayo

This is a photo of another Clump and the large lake on the other side of the hill.  The photo doesn't show even half of the lake as it was huge.  It was amazing to think of standing in the same place as people did so many years ago and equally amazing to think of their structures still standing.  I'm pretty sure nothing I've made is going to last for centuries.

Small Lake

The Sillustani Tombs are located in an area that is rich in water.  This is the smaller lake and the village sits to the right at ground level.  You can see raised beds in the foreground that were used for cultivating crops.  There was an advantage to using that technique but I fail to remember what it was.

Lower Tombs

These are examples of the smaller tombs in which servants and family members were placed.  These were at ground level, not even on the prestigious hill, though there were others at a higher elevation.  There are an estimated 200 graves in the area, 30 percent of which have been opened.  Guess they learned all they needed to know and let the rest rest in peace.

Chump

There were both large and small tombs at Sillustani, the larger ones (like this one) called chumps.  This was the most dominant tomb on the hill and was one reserved for nobility.  It was located high on the hill and whole family groups were placed inside.  The servants and family members were buried in the ground, lower on the hill, until they could be placed in the chump.  When assembled, the servants were on the bottom, the family members next and then the royal person was placed on top so he was closer to the afterlife and could get there faster.   Rocks were placed at the top to cover all of the bodies.  There was a system for preparing the royal body for the afterlife and the guide told us the bodies were frozen and then placed in the sun until they dried.  (I wasn't sure I believed that but who am I to argue?)

Sillustani Tombs

The Sillustani Tombs are pre-Inca, dating back to the 1100's and are vestiges of the Colla people, Aymara, who were conquered by the Inca in the 15th century.  This was the view as we walked through the village.  We visited in the afternoon and the weather was the coldest we experienced while in Peru.

Young Llama

In all of Peru this was the closest we got to either a llama or an alpaca.  It was a young llama tended by a child of about 12 years of age and we paid her for the privilege of photographing her friend.  It was cute but could have used a good brushing.  This encounter was in the village at the base of the Sillustani Tomb.

Rural Homes

 We have one final tour before we leave the Puno area and return to Lima.  By coach we ventured outside of town and noticed that 1) the farming areas were much larger; 2) the living quarters included circular buildings and were fenced by stone walls; and 3) we definitely were in llama and alpaca country.  There were some hills but basically the land was flat and open.

Hillside City

This is the view of Puno as you enter or leave the city.  The buildings are mostly small but very close together with many perched on the hillside.  There isn't a great deal of color except for the natural color of the bricks and tile, though occasionally there's a bright color thrown in.  And remember that the altitude here is 12,500'.

Puno Cathedral

This is the cathedral in the main square in Puno, just around the corner from our hotel and near the main shopping area.   Peru's cathedrals certainly are big and grand.

Everyday Life

Sometimes it's the everyday things that catch your eye.  This was the only fire hydrant I remember seeing in Peru.  I'm not saying they weren't there, I just didn't notice them.  This one is a squat little thing but I assume it effectively provided water when needed.  Can't say I ever saw a fire truck though.

A Second Reed Island

We had to go only a short distance to reach the second reed island.  It was larger and more "commercial" with several stores that were a more substantial construction.  But the use of reeds was still obvious.  I believe this island also housed the school.  And now it's time to head back to the mainland.

The Island Visited

From the reed boat this was the view of the island we visited.  You can see on the left the motorboat that transported us to and from the mainland.  It certainly was a perfect day weather-wise.  And what a unique experience to be on islands built from reeds.

Reed Boat

We were given no explanation of how the boats were made from the reeds but they were big and they were sturdy.  Twenty-four of our group rode on this one, rowed in the front by two young men.  They seemed both practical and colorful.

Male Presence

In addition to the men who gave the presentation about life on the island, this little guy was also on the island.  He was having a bad day, maybe from being outnumbered by all the females.  But he was still cute.

Hair Tassels

Some of the females had rather elaborate tassels attached to their braids.  And there were different types of tassels.  We were told that the tassels indicate they are "available" for marriage.  A married woman doesn't wear tassels.  Subtle, but effective.

Busy Hands

The women stayed busy making items they could sell and they specialized in loop embroidery.  The designs were quite intricate, unique and colorful.  They also used the reeds to create mobiles and there were other crafts as well.  I got the impression that they are quite content.

Island Cuisine

We were told that food includes fish caught in the lake (about the size of sardines) and birds that are hunted.  I didn't see even one bird.  I'm sure other food is purchased on the mainland.

Making An Island

You must be wondering how these islands were created; I know I was curious.  They dive to the bottom of Lake Titicaca (where the islands are located) and use a big saw to cut off big sections of the roots of the reeds.  When cut free, they float to the top of the water.  Several of them are gathered, tied together with pegs and cord and floated into place.  Eventually the sections grow together.  The new island is connected to the stable reeds using more posts and cords.  Cut reeds are layered on top of the island, first in one direction and then a second layer in the opposite direction.  Occasionally the island floor has to be replenished with new reeds.

A couple of the men demonstrated the process.

Island Cooking

This is how cooking is done on the islands.  Dry reeds provide the fuel.  The clay for the stove and pots come from the mainland.

There were a couple of small solar panels on the island and we were told they are used for television and lights.

The Uros Island Family

This is the female side of the family that inhabits the island we visited.  The men are working in town, piloting the boats to the mainland or fishing.  The photo represents three generations.

This is the youngest member of the family.  Isn't she cute?!

House Interior

This interior photo shows the simple wood frame of the houses.  And notice the limited belongings - mostly bright colored clothing, a simple bed on the floor and a shelf of hand-crafted items to sell.  They report that it gets quite cold at night so they merely add more blankets to stay warm.  It's a pretty simple lifestyle.

The islands were first inhabited to avoid paying taxes on the mainland and that's still the case.  But they also receive no benefits.

Reed House

The houses were made using the same reeds that create the island.  They are tied together in a big mat and attached to a simple wooden frame.  Before the house is put in place, an extra layer of reeds is added to the area.  And during the rainy season another mat is placed on the roof.  It doesn't get any simpler than that - unless you live in a cave.  The wolf in the Three Little Pigs comes to mind but they are safe from him because he would have a distance to swim to reach the islands.  It wouldn't be worth his trouble.

Things To Be Happy About - May

quaint little towns

antique stores

bookstores

meeting new people

laughter

houseguests

a beautiful watercolor painting

fire in a fireplace

a cup of hot tea

china teacups