Temperatures soar well past 100 and no water available at Pine ridge

[CelticCoyote]

I just applied to join too. I'm Oglala on my paternal grandmother's side, and I've been to Pine Ridge and have seen what it's like to live there. I'd LOVE to be able to help out, in any way I can. My grandmother, btw, was a volunteer nurse & therapist on Rosebud some years ago. I was too young to join her at the time, but I always wished I could have. I was really thrilled to see one of her dearest friends from the rez featured in Ken Burns' The West documentary. I wanted to reach through the screen and say hello. I'd love to be able to send some warm scarves & hats & things to the rez...

[Debbi]

I just crocheted some trim around some magic gloves and socks that are being discounted due to the season tranfer in retail sales. Though I don't have time to crochet full pairs- I did this and am sending them along on Tuesday. It takes just a small amount of fun fur or novelty yarn. I made some for my teens first to see if they would like them. I also used some of the "free" Disco yarn. I could trim several pairs in one afternoon.

 

Debbi J-H

[Debbi]

Has anyone crocheted into fleece? I bought some fleece and thought I could put an edge on the short edges. Well- I crochet tops into towels so I'll try the same size hook.

let me know if you have done this successfully-

Thanks-

Debbi J-H

[rosa]

I have not crocheted onto the fleece - but so many times you can get a plain color much cheaper than those with designs so I am going to try it on some scrap and let you know what a super idea - and I love the idea of the magic mittens too - lol

[pragmatica]

I've applied to join the Yahoo group. I just found a finished baby blanket in Pound of Love from the Leisure Arts Heirloom Afghans for Baby book (Exquisite, my favorite pattern in the book, but they're all gorgeous) about which I contacted the local Project Linus no less than three times to donate, but no one *ever* got back to me. I've also got a few skeins of Light & Lofty that makes super-cozy scarves, and some of the Big Lots sale skeins of Caron Feathers that make fluffy scarves that are nice for little girls and teenagers. And, most of one skein of brown Wool Ease Thick & Quick that can be made into boy's hats.

 

Glad for the opportunity to destash for a good cause -- I can't pawn off any more scarves around here. Looking forward to finding out where to send it all.

 

--Elissa

[schcrochet]

Just sent off pouch today of a matching set: Hat, Scarf, and leg warmers orange regular knitted worsted jazzed up with cool trim (super soft Italian yarn, 2 shades of orange, blue, yellow, green, and black). Using myself as a size would work for a small woman or older teen.

 

Who knows the area well enough to know when the weather switches and is terribly hot? Just to give us a heads up for planning ahead.

[carrieanne]

Debbi, what a great idea for the magic mittens. I want to do some too, since i am not agood enough crocheter to actually MAKE the mittens or gloves.

[Debbi]

Thanks-I just don't have the time or patience for that at this time so the trim atound the mittens was quick. I did several pairs in an afternoon-sock too.

Debbi J-H

[wickedwitchofthewest]

Climate Average January temperatures: 10F (-12C) in the northeast to 25F (-4C) in the southwestAverage July temperatures: 69F (21C) in the Black Hills to 75F (24C) in the southcentral part of the stateAverage annual precipitation: 80-90% falls as rain, 14 inches (36 cm) in the northwest to 25 inches (64 cm) in the southeast; 22 inches (56 cm) in the Black HillsAverage annual snowfall: 24-30 inches (61-76 cm) across most of the state; 60-100 inches (152-254 cm) in the Black HillsRecord low temperature: -58F (-50C) at McIntosh, February 17, 1936Record high temperature: 120F (49C) at Gann Valley, July 3, 1936Winter (November - early April). While temperatures can be cold, well below zero cold spells usually alternate with milder weather. Snowfall is prevalentSpring (late March - mid-June). Mostly sunny days, but this can be the rainy season. Spring snow showers are a possibility through early May. Temperatures can range from the 40s (4C) to the 80s (27C). Summer (mid-June - mid-September). Warm (sometimes hot) days and cool nights are the norm from mid-June through mid-SeptemberFall (mid-September - November). Beautiful days with comfortable warm weather through September and crisp cool weather into November make fall an excellent time to explore South Dakota

[lilepad]

I'm from South Dakota and I just wanted to share this information about the climate that I found on the Pine Ridge site (http://www.lakotamall.com/oglalasiouxtribe/):

The climate of the reservation is typical of the Northern Great Plains with extremes during the summer and winter that vary from 105 to -30 F respectively. The average temperatures range from 74 in July, to 21 F in January. The normal precipitation for the year averages 19 inches.

South Dakota does experience some very extreme temperatures. I don't think it gets as hot in the summer in Pine Ridge as the eastern part of the state (where I live) because of the Black Hills, but it definitely gets colder! Their winter lasts longer--starting earlier (sometimes snow is first seen in late September!!) and ends later.

 

Having lived in SD all of my life, I can definitely testify that those on the reservations definitely need help. And just FTR, Casinos only do so much in a conservative state with 750,000 people

[auntbubbels]

I sent a scarf off today !!! Its so nice to help others

[Rosemary]

I sent a hat/scarf combo off to my elder last month, along with some other goodies. This month, I am working on a lapghan for her (she is in a wheelchair). I wish that I knew what size shoe she wears, I would love to send warm, cozy slippers.

[wildkitty]

What about slipper socks? or put a cuff on them and a tie and she can tie them tight - as she may not be walking it may not matter just keep those toes warm - do you have a number have you tried calling? I got brave and called mine - made up a list of questions first and it was a great conversation she was so lonely - and just talked on - thank goodness for free minutes at night and weekends - lol - Kitty

[losingmymind2]

My elder is blind and ill, so I want to help keep her warm. Last month I sent a scarf and I want to make her a lapghan. It's so cold there, I'm sure it's difficult when she must go out.

[Mom w/a Motif]

I asked my elder what size shoe she wears; and I am also going to either make a lapghan or an afhgan for her, too.

Tina

[/quote=Rosemary]I sent a hat/scarf combo off to my elder last month, along with some other goodies. This month, I am working on a lapghan for her (she is in a wheelchair). I wish that I knew what size shoe she wears, I would love to send warm, cozy slippers.

[Sakkasie]

I got a letter from one of my elders yesterday, she's a grandmother looking after 8 grandchildren all of which have been abandoned by their parents (her words, not mine). My heart just goes out to her, I don't know how she does it. I had sent her some buttons in her December package which her sister really liked. Apparently in her culture if someone admires something you have it is customary to give it to them. So I'll be sending a LOT of buttons in her January package and some hats for all those grandchildren.

 

I absolutely love being involved, even in a small way, with these people's lives. Sponsoring an elder is the smartest thing I've ever done and I can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[Mom w/a Motif]

Here is a link to a slipper pattern that I just finished: Rubys' Slippers I would take a picture to show here but I'm so sick I think I need to just go back to bed.

Okay I'm feeling almost alive today... I thought I'd add a picture so you all can see what they look like; a couple people mentioned slipper socks, and I thought these would be good.

 

"]

 

I think I'm donating these to the elders' quarterly. I want to make some more; maybe tomorrow I'll be feeling good enought to crochet again.

 

Tina

[schcrochet]

I wonder if you could list the 8 Reservations. Might be interests in others beyond Pine Ridge as well?

 

 

 

I just read a press release today - it announced the 100 poorest counties in the US. When you look at the ten poorest counties you find that 8 of them are Indian reservations in South Dakota and the other two Indian reservations in Arizona - what does that say about how we take care of our own. I wrote something to our local freecycle group - and got a few responses back telling me to tell them to use their casino money - why don't people think about what they are saying all you have to do is look at the map and you see there is a very small population in these areas - and that the reservations are a long ways from a city - you have to have people with money to spend to run a casino and be withint driving distance for people to get there - cheese anyway. Just makes me mad

[schcrochet]

This is the link to Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation, someone posted this I think in another thread a couple of days ago. While you're stitching you can eat Campbells soup and saving those labels can be of help, as well as General Mills Box tops. Many many options listed with lots of addresses of items needed. They apparently list an item a week they're super in need of. Magnetic letters are listed currently.

 

http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/

 

They do mention in a couple of places 2 addresses, one if you're mailing US mail and one if you're UPS or Fed Xing. They also suggest confirmation if you use US mail.

[wickedwitchofthewest]

I don't have the paper with me - but I went through and looked up the locations of the counties - before I posted and 8 were on native american reservation in South Dakota and two were in Arisona/New Mexico. I just finished sending off my monthly letter for my elder - it is so exciting to know that you can personally help and give directly to a family in need - rather than through a big organization, we truely can help change the world on person at a time.

[kittencrochet]

LOL! I forgot about that! Yes, if someone says they like something you have, you are obligated to give it to them...unless it was a gift. I had made a stunning dance shawl and one of the other dancers, forgetting, said how much they liked the shawl. Well, to this day she is wearing it and not me...lol! Had I been gifted it by someone, I would not have been obligated to give it to her.

 

 

 

I got a letter from one of my elders yesterday, she's a grandmother looking after 8 grandchildren all of which have been abandoned by their parents (her words, not mine). My heart just goes out to her, I don't know how she does it. I had sent her some buttons in her December package which her sister really liked. Apparently in her culture if someone admires something you have it is customary to give it to them. So I'll be sending a LOT of buttons in her January package and some hats for all those grandchildren.

 

I absolutely love being involved, even in a small way, with these people's lives. Sponsoring an elder is the smartest thing I've ever done and I can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[dws1119]

I just stumbled on this thread. I have actually been to this area of the country. The living conditions are deplorable. There are actually some living in tents!! Being from the south, I don't have to deal too much with snow or severe cold--shoot it was 70 degrees today.

 

I echo the sentiments of an earlier poster--why does our country spend so much to help others but fail to look in our own back yard. Most get real generous during a disaster or around the holidays. But these people and many just like them need help every day of the year.

 

The people I came into contact with are a proud nation. They were forced to live on the reservation many years ago. They do not seek a hand out but a hand up.

 

I checked out the website too. So many things are needed. They have a laundry list. Their schools do not even have the books needed to educate their children. They actually have links to patterns for requested crafted items to help you make your decision.

 

Here locally, I tend to troll our thrift stores looking for suitable items at resonable prices to donate to our local homeless shelters, I'll just add this cause to my list of donations. I've even found some wonderful afghans that I usually donate to the humane society. I'll start picking the best ones to send here.

 

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

[ShannonCC]

I have a quick question for anyone who knows the answer

 

This week is the anniversary of my nephew's stillbirth. I like to honor him by donating something in his name. I saw this thread and decided to send things to Pine Ridge this year. Would it be a good or a bad idea to include a note that it's "donated in the memory of . . . "? I can easily leave it out of course and just let his mother know it was done so she knows we're still thinking of him.

[kittencrochet]

I would thinnk that would be fine...and a very touching tribute.

[wickedwitchofthewest]

I know my elder would think she was blessed if she received a note such as you mentioned. that is what is so wonderful about getting to know a family first hand and becoming friends - WWW