women's march nyc and washington, around the nation and around the world

my friends getting ready to march . . (click here to see the nytimes map of where marches are happening around the nation and around the world; click here for npr's article, and here for the guardian's.)

new york 4 news website, click here. as of 9:31 pm, they're still marching along fifth avenue to trump tower.

there is an unprecedented number of people out in manhattan today. they expected a big crowd, but it exceeds expectations. morgana and her friend marched for two hours but only moved two blocks. they came home for a bite to eat before going to their dance rehearsal, and both felt that the march would go on for a long time with so many people walking, and wanting to walk. chicago's march turned into a rally because so many people showed up that they couldn't move. 

they said it was incredibly peaceful and friendly out in the crowd. their favorite chant was: "show me what democracy looks like," and the response, "this is what democracy looks like."

click here for the ny times article on the nyc march, and here for their worldwide coverage. click here for the washington post article.

our sketches from the museum

laura ingalls wilder was a little girl when she wrote of her memory of seeing the indians walk along the trail of tears past her little house on the prairie in the 1830's. her desires were that of a little girl: "a papoose, daddy please . . i want a papoose." from this picture morgana , chanda and i were able to understand her wish.

we each chose an item to sketch from the museum's special exhibit titled "a song for the horse nation." morgana chose a comanche horse and rider doll from about 1900. it was comprised of hide, sinew, beads and horsehair.

i found this navajo doll and horse exquisite, and i reminded me of the dolls i saw as a child when i was traveling cross-country with my family in the late 1960's. this one is from about 1940.

chanda chose a saddle from 1875 made of brass tacks, wood, rawhide and sinew.

i chose to draw a pair of chaps with colorful beads in the shape of horse heads, hearts, stars, and headdresses.

DC!!

washington dc!!! our nation's capital. i love visiting the smithsonian institution. it's something i like having my tax dollars spent on. it's exciting to just walk into any of the smithsonian museums free of charge and . . read and learn! it's a time when i enjoy being called an american citizen. it makes me feel how, perhaps, the ancient greeks felt . . erudite, inquisitive, innovative. (now . . if only we spent as much on our national parks. i love our national parks and they could use . . just a little bit more care!!!)

we drove to new carrollton commuter station with aunt cindy's and uncle jeff's lovely BMW (how quickly i grew accustomed to driving that car!). from there we took the subway into dc (oh! the troubles i had trying to figure out the payment for the subway fare!!! i still have a card worth $7.00 due to my inability to calculate the correct amount!).

we got off at l'enfant plaza and immediately began walking toward the white house, as that was the first thing my dearest daughters wanted to see (ahem!). of course we were terribly distracted by all the beautiful flora along the streets . . i don't even know the name of these beautiful blooms found on several of the first trees we passed . .

 a bird's nest with a bit of plastic in the upper right hand corner . . !

 

i do know this fellow! nathan hale. "i only regret that i have only one life to give for my country." i love how young he looks in this statue. he was only 21 when he was caught by the british and hanged! only 21. his poor parents.

 it was a miracle we finally made it to the white house!

 we enjoyed reading about their kitchen garden . .

 and we enjoyed seeing their beehive!!!

 a glimpse of malia and sasha . . my kingdom for a glimpse of malia and sasha!

the original smithsonian was housed in the smithsonian castle . . a building designed by architect james renwick jr. and completed in 1855. the design was based on a medieval, scholarly, cloistered atmosphere as exemplified by the english college. the fortune to build this institution was bequeathed by james smithson, a scientist and illegitimate child of a wealthy english gentleman. very fitting for the united states of america, yes!? 

 

 we enjoyed having our "elevenses" and happily devoured tea, watermelon and a tea cake . . 

 amusing ourselves while waiting for morgana to come out of the bathroom . . 

 we finally arrived at our destination: the national museum of the american indian!

 the gardens surrounding the museum are based on indigenous plants of north america, and the beliefs of the native americans.

 four directional markers were placed around the museum. we enjoyed finding each one.

 east . . 

 north . . 

 west . . 

and south . . 

 we finally entered the building . .

 the entrance hall is based on a spiral and incorporates a prism for the alignment of the equinoxes and the solstices.

the first exhibit they direct you to see is a movie about native peoples and how they view themselves in the past, and how they have assimilated themselves into the present and the future.

this is the strength of the national museum of the american indian. you truly feel that it is put together by native peoples. they strive to represent all native nations. their exhibits rotate and focus on individual cultures throughout the u.s. they present their beliefs, their ideals, their hopes for the future. knowing how abused they have been in the past, and how protective they have been of their knowledge, it is a privilege to read their synopses of their lives, and view the pictures they have chosen to represent their culture.

this is rachel and our tour guide for a summary of the strengths of the museum. she belongs to the cherokee oklahoma nation, and we learned so much from her.

 

she taught us about polly cooper! polly cooper was of the oneida nation. she heard about many young men starving in pennsylvania and gathered bushels of corn to take with her and chief shenandoah and other members of the oneida nation to general george washington at valley forge. she showed the american soldiers how to cook the corn, and thereby saved them from starvation. this statue in the museum commemorates her heroic act and shows the hope of the oneidas for the salvation of their people and the americas with a statue of a bird and a child. the native peoples believe that we are here to keep the earth alive for our children and grandchildren and great great great great grandchildren. the earth is a gift for them, and we are naught but stewards.

what is this? delicious wild rice, buffalo, sweet potato and salmon! the cafe of the national musuem of the american indian is renowned for it's delicious food. 

we truly enjoyed a feast, and gave thanks to the animals and vegetables which gave their life for us.

 a fountain of waters grace the view from the cafe windows . . 

 

i had read about the national museum of the amerian indian when i lived in brooklyn and the girls were small. visiting it this week was truly a blessing and a dream come true.