International Festival -- Getting a Hemp Tattoo

An Indian draws a hemp tattoo on Anna Maria's hand, while Magdalena watches. To see the finished products (Maggie & Liza got one, too), see the next entry. This was just one of many displays and events at the International Festival in Harrisonburg yesterday. I also heard a gentleman play an Alpine horn; I didn't realize this, but the horn was about 12 feet long!

A Natural Tattoo -- by an Indian artist

An Indian artist created these hemp tattoos. Hemp dye is placed on the skin in a design (done in a way very similar to the way a cake decorator uses a special tube to place designs on a cake). Once the hemp has dried, it flakes off, leaving behind a golden brown stain, or tattoo, that will last about 6-10 days.

Kurdish Dance -- A Scene from the International Festival

Kurdish Community: The Kurds often dance, the speaker said, around a bonfire. My son-in-law described their dance as something a bit reminiscent of line dancing but in a circle, with the participants all holding hands and touching shoulder to shoulder. The speaker said that all, not just the Kurdish people, are invited to join; it's their way of welcoming people. Anna Maria said that first the Kurds all join the dance and, then, the rest are invited. Above the beginning of the dance.
Generally the men dance in one line and women in the other. The gentlemanwith the purplish cloth is the leading the line of men. Above the Kurdish women in their sparkling native dress have begun their line.
And, above, Magdalena nearly hidden beside her daddy in jeans and sandals, Eliza Grace and Mama Anna Maria have joined the dance.

Eliza - in Arabic

Eliza, here with a flag painted on her face, shows what her name looks like when spelled in Arabic. Learning the Arabic letters was a craft option Eliza chose to do at the International Festival in Harrisonburg yesterday

Dirt Princess

A steep hill behind AM and Steven's house has become a channel guiding water down the hill and INTO the house. To solve the problem, AM decided to dig a trench and ultimately install drain pipe and gravel, so that water will go AROUND the house and into a drainage ditch on the other side of the property. I went down Saturday evening and did some digging myself.

Little Maggie (above) plopped herself in the wheelbarrow and announced, "I am the Dirt Princess." She loved it when the dirt flying off our shovels sprinkled over her and covered with dirt.
This is one tough mama! She dug most of this by herself throughout the past week. But Saturday, after helping for about an hour, I got to give the little girls wheelbarrow rides, bouncing them down the hill.

Rock Plucker

Eliza Grace plucked cobbles, stones and rocks from the digging site Saturday night. Since AM dreams of a retaining wall on the right side of the trench, and a patio filling the space between the trench and the house, those cobbles, stones and rocks just might prove very useful.

Sunday Dinner

Granddaughters Eliza and Magdalena, Daughter Anna Maria and Son-in-Law Steven came to my apartment for dinner Sunday.