Clara. Age: 4 Grade: Kindergarten, Week 16*
Ruby. Age: 6 ½ Grade: 2nd Lesson 66*
The girls have been doing school for about 50 days now. We started back on July 17th. We like to start early so that we can take long breaks along the way. We had two months off of doing school work. We started back with Clara continuing kindergarten and Ruby continuing in her 2nd grade curriculum. If we stay on track, both girls will be finished with their grade level in December. Then we’ll evaluate if they need to go on to the next level or continue with grade level information, go back and review, etc. We still have four months to get to the end, so we’ll see when we get there.
One of the good perks of kids getting older; they are able to help and have more responsibility. Here, Ruby is helping me make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Matt to take to work.
I haven’t taken many pictures during our school work time so far this session. We usually try to power through it and enjoy the rest of the day. The girls got a break from school the week of Labor Day. We were all excited to have a week long break. They had fun activities of biking, hiking and doing all kinds of other fun activities in the mornings.
(Ruby took this picture of Clara on her balance bike.)
(Turkeys on a fence)
On this particular day we were trying to hike out to the alleged tipi rings that are on the ranch. I have been around them and through them (literally), but we’ve never hiked out to them on foot to explore them more.
From Wikipedia:
Tipi rings are circular patterns of stones left from an encampment of Post-Archaic, protohistoric and historic Native Americans.[1] They are found primarily throughout the Plains of the United States and Canada, and also in the foothills and parks of the Rocky Mountains.
Clusters of stones circles are often found in favorable camp-sites, near water, fuel and good hunting grounds. In many cases the clusters are organized in patterns, such as rows, circles or v-shapes. The stones were used to hold down the tipis to keep the lodge warm and dry. In some cases elaborate walls or defensive structures were built.
This particular area of the ranch is right next to the Paintrock Creek. Also, it is right near where the elk come and go during the fall. It is also pretty level ground compared to the sloping terrain all around. Allegedly, this is one set of many rings documented on the ranch. We did not have time to make the other ½ mile walk from this spot to the other areas.
Also, this area is right next to an old sheep catch area/hay stack area from when the Hyatts ran sheep across the creek. I’m not certain on what the old catch area is. There are a row of rocks nicely stacked in front of the area. The Hyatts would hire Navajo from down south to work the sheep season. The use of sheep wagons was mainly practiced (as it is still today). Before the Hyatts had this area, the Lumans ran cows and sheep there.
I do know from others that there have been many, many arrow heads found in proximity of the rings.
Can you see the ring?
This next one is a little harder, but very clear to see in person. This ring is about five feet away from the ring in the picture above.
You can also see the road and animal trail through it.
Could they be real? Could they be something that the Hyatt Navajo Shepherds arranged themselves back in the mid 50’s?
I’m not sure. It’s fun to speculate and talk with locals about, though.
Also, little girls are fascinated by them.
It was a nice little break to get ready for fall.
