March 10th Mission San Xavier & The POW WOW

I called this cat "the million dollar cat."  It is an obsidian (which isn't the correct spelling, I know, but that is what it sounded like when the owner told me why it cost $800!!!!)  It belongs to some really nice folks we met from B.C.  He is a retired police officer and had the best sense of humor.  Their cat was either walked on a leash or tied up outside their RV.

 

 

We visited the San Xavier Mission and it just so happened it was on the day of a Pow-Pow!

On the road leading to the mission, you pass this huge, colorful cemetery. 
I snapped the picture just as Kirt read the sign stating No Photographs.  Ooops

We arrived on Sunday morning about 10:30 and mass was just getting out.
You were allowed to take pictures between masses.

The pictures don't capture the most incredible detailed church I've ever seen.
It is more beautiful than Notre Dame in Paris and Westminster Abbey in London.
If you EVER visit Tucson, or travel through Tucson, I would suggest you visit
this Mission San Xavier del Bac (only about 10-15 miles out of your way).

This is a wood-carved likeness of St. Francis Xavier.  People waited in line to
touch him and rub his head.  There was a definite order to the ritual, as each
person touched him in the same manner.

You can purchase a candle to take to this room and light it.  You walk
through this lovely cactus garden.

Some cactus are starting to bloom.

This is just a portionof  the jarred candles glowing.  Both sides of this room
are filled with burning candles and people are waiting in line to place more.

The mission courtyard in back of the mission.

Can you imagine the desert filled with blooming cactus, as this fishhook barrel?

An iron gate with the circle of life on it.

Not your basic iron gate! 

Indian women getting ready to enter the POW WOW
to do the gourd dance.  I can never get my tribes straight so
I don't know which tribe they represent.

$7.00 Admission to the Pow Wow.

I have to admit the fried flat bread with powdered sugar and honey on it
was tempting!  But then I counted the fat & sugar grams :-(

This is my buddy, Joe, Begay.  He's a Navajo silversmith, actor and singer. 
I talked with him for at least a half hour.  He is showing me all the pictures
of movies he has acted in.  He was in Little House on the Prairie (his picture below with Michael Landon), The Three
Amigos, movies with Kevin Costner, including Tin Cup (his signature on the left), Paul Newman, and
many others I can't remember.  He said they taught me how to be a Mexican for one
movie and "they even taught me how to be an Indian!"

I ended up buying some earrings he made of the Circle of Life - not because I wanted
them so badly but because I liked the guy so much. 
 

Guess they didn't teach spelling in Indian School.

I only took this picture because my mom used to call my niece, Greta, Esmeralda
(I never knew why!)