Hear those drums....they're beating loud.."First Americans" and so proud!

A great afternoon at the Purcell Ranch. My friend Julie, is teaching the island children to ride. Emma has found another passion....in the horses! Here she hugs Julie, and I think the smile and body language tells it all.

Emma's friend Bella Baird spent the weekend with her here on the island, so she too got to enjoy the fun. Here is Emma on Pokey...she is riding on her own now. Betty and I have already decided she is ready for El Rancho De Paz www.elranchodepaz.org/ , a wonderful Christian Horseback Riding camp in Owego, NY. Besides being a wonderful camp, it is only about 10 miles from my family in the area.

Emma leading Bella.....

Kaitlin....we tried to get her to ride Willy, the larger of the ponies, but she was happy to stick with Pokey..... As you can see, if Emma isn't riding, she is leading. Julie is so good with the kids, she also teaches them all the grooming techniques, and makes the kids do it themselves. Not that any of them mind.

Matthew, who has actually attended El Rancho, hopped right on Willy!!

After much coaxing, we even got Yuvone up for a ride....

And here was the best part of the afternoon....This is Helen Brave Eagle-Heart of Eagle and Sohma (The Iroquois Spiritual Leader of Canada) who preformed the closing ceremony, offering praise to Mother Earth, Father Sky and the spiritual leaders of the north, south, east and west.

We also learned a Squaw dance which we did in a circle around the fire and listened to some neat Indian stories. SO cool!!! Helen is coming back in a couple of weeks to teach the kids to make dream catchers from grapevines. Emma is excited about this, as she has had dream catchers since she was a toddler and so believes in the power to keep away bad dreams!!!

The older kids are all at Potter's Beach and then coming back here for a bonfire on our beach...I have such a wonderful family, friends and a very blessed life!!!