This was our last full day in Navajoland and we galloped around trying to squeeze in all the things we had failed to do so far. After weaving a good part of the early morning, Ana and I walked over to the conference center and museum that is across the road from the Quality Inn. Impressive building and the museum tells the story of the Navajo people and has great artifacts. There also was a display of contemporary jewelry by famous Navajo jewelers that was awesome. The above picture is what looks like a dwarf cone flower that we saw on the walk over and below you can see the walkway to the conference centre and those big monoliths that the locals call Elephant legs or Elephant feet. I cannot remember now. I must do a better job in the future of taking notes or writing in my journal.
When we got back to the weaving room, Mary was rounding everyone up to drive over to Window Rock for the class photo.
Here is the rock with the statue of the Navajo Code talker in the foreground. It is a beautiful spot.
A few class members and Mary walking up to the Rock. In the background are the governing headquarters of the Navajo Nation. The little furry guy in the right foreground is Rowdy, our class mascot.
Here is the Rock. Awesome!
After the class photo we drove over to Ganado to Hubbell trading post. It isn't very far and we got there in time for the 11am tour. Hubbell Trading Post and homestead was turned over to the National Park Service by the family in its original condition. It is wonderful and their website does not do the place justice. They have a lovely flock of Churro sheep with a guard Lama. And the trading post looks to be in its original form.
Outside of the Trading post. The homestead is behind this stone building. You can see a bit of the white porch sticking out to the right.
The barns and sheds at the far end of the trading post.
Ana standing inside the trading post. How great is that with the old woodstove in the middle and the horse collars hanging from the rafters. I really like this place.
This is the front verandah of the homestead. They told us we could take photos but not use a flash. It was really dark inside and I am amazed that these photos turned out so well. You walk into the main sitting room and we were told that the rugs we were standing on were replicas woven by local weavers. The side bedrooms you were not allowed to enter and all the weavings and furnishings are original.
The walls are covered with works of art by famous artists who passed through.
I really loved seeing all of these original rugs and blankets. this is the rug in the dining room. The patterns and colours were exquisite. I hated walking on it. The dining room furniture featured rams heads because the wealth of the trader was built largely on the backs of sheep.
This is a hogan shaped guest house. I would like to stay there! We didn't get to look in. This was the domain of the artist in residence.
The first rug to be finished and taken off the loom. Well done Linda!
Patricia kept stacking up chairs as she progressed up her weaving. Ana called it Patricia's tuffet.
The place holder.
On Monday early Mary drove Ana and I to Gallup to catch the train back to Albuquerque. We stopped into a Home Depot so I could get an emergency roll of Duct tape to strap up my broken suitcase for the journey ahead. At the airport in Albuquerque, Ana and I had lunch together before she departed on this beautiful Continental jet. She was seated at the first window so I waved to her as the got ready to taxi away. I was sad and shed a tear or two. Ana reports that Continental serves snacks on their flights.
I continued on later westward to LAX where I had a wonderful dinner before catching the night flight to Melbourne and on home to Perth. Gee it really is a long trip.
Below is my finished rug. I didn't finish it until I got settled at home.
I am not crazy about this first weaving but I was proud to finish it and am currently working on a second one. Overall the trip was an experience of a life time and I am so glad that my daughter went with me to enjoy the experience.
I loved the descriptions of your days there. What a wonderful time you had with Ana.
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