Triskeles Farm

[Anna] I’m in the midst of printing my dissertation manuscript for its final format proof. While I’m waiting - and my daughter is sleeping while my son takes out every reem of paper in the case and scatters them across the house - why not post its title page to the blog. I won’t torture folks with the total 356 pages. It is only sort of farm related in that we do have an archaeological site on the farm and the people I studied were also trying to make a living using horticulture in a marginal environment (ie., not Florida or the Northwest coast) with about the same amount of rainfall as we get in the East Mountains.

Reproduction and prenatal care in Arizona Prehistory: an examination of patterns of health in perinates and children at Grasshopper, Point of Pines, and Turkey Creek Pueblos

BY

Anna Louise east

M.A., Anthropology, University of South Florida, 1998
M.S., Anthropology, University of New Mexico, 2000

DISSERTATION

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy
Anthropology

The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico

August, 2008

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May is a big birthday month for our extended family so Bruce had the very important job of demonstrating the art of candle snuffing by delicate control of a mouth puckering blow. He actually practices quite a bit. One of his physics exercises I think. Juney’s 1st birthday was the 17th and Joanne, Gillian, and Alyson all had birthdays earlier in the month. We had dinner at the Church Street Cafe to celebrate and Belinda made the most amazing carrot cake in the shape of a Junebug.

Bruce of course helped Juney blow out the candles. Actually, she just wanted to grab them. Note the backside of the Junebug. Bel found these great green gummy candies from Japan, I think, in muscat grape flavor. You might also note the gummy centipedes along the edges that were Bruce’s favorite.

Bruce normally hates anything resembling a bug (they’re icky sticky dirty) … but he managed to devour a gummy centipede and worm while turning up his nose to carrot cake (normally his favorite).

Juney wasn’t so sure about the first bite of that cake.

She does decide it is quite tasty, especially as she contemplates her ability to do it MYSELF. I think her decision is obvious. Fork or fingers …. hmmmm.

Ooooh … sticky hands …. but I-must-finish-it-all!

Alas … it is all gone but for a pair of apple flavored, licorice antenna.

It was a fun evening and the kids learned a lot. Juney partook of her first birthday cake and got a basic idea of what to do with the candles. Bruce did amazing (other than one disappearing act). You don’t realize how important the symbols of birthday, candles, & cake are until you have kids. It really took quite a while for Bruce to catch on that this was a special event. I think it clicked in March. I was actually able to say that this was a birthday party and there would be cake and candles and he understood and was expectedly excited. This has been an important social, linguistic, and cognitive milestone for our boy.

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[Anna] I finished knitting Juney a dress from worsted merino wool. I acually modified a shirt pattern so it could be a dress this season and a shirt next season. It’s a bit big in the chest and a bit short in length. She grew taller while I knitted. I’m quite pleased with myself. Next challenge is to try something with sleeves. Actually, learning to knit is just one of the first steps I’m taking toward being able to provide clothing for our family in our sustainability movement. I eventually want to also learn to raise the sheep (wouldn’t I just love a few merino), spin the wool, and dye. Right now I’m just trying to figure out how the fibers work and how to make something from them.

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