8. Stew & Chilly Weather | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

10 Things I'd Rather Be Doing At Home On The Navajo Rez In The Fall

I always miss home the most during the fall season.

522
10 Things I'd Rather Be Doing At Home On The Navajo Rez In The Fall

I always miss home the most during the fall season. In the midst of midterms, cramming, and homesickness - I'd rather be there more than anything.

1. Fair season

Honestly, I'll be the first to admit it - the fair can be fun. I miss the chaos of parking and saving spaces for the parade. I miss packing the truck with strollers, umbrellas, blankets, and making sure everyone had cash, not card. I miss the songs and dances, powwows, rodeos, and different events happening all at once. I miss the carnival lights and still being able to look up from the rides to see a sky full of stars and everywhere occupied by Navajos.

2. Pumpkin picking

Pumpkin picking is an all-time favorite! It can be done with friends and family. There's just something about spending outside in the crisp fresh air and surrounded by the huge variety of pumpkins: short, small, textured, differently colored, huge stems, heavy, gigantic, the list goes on - simply beautiful.

3. Yei bi chei

This is a Navajo thing. When the yeiis come out and you see their cedar branches, masks, and body paint, there's two reactions - fear (all the kiddos cling to bima) or you go to them for blessings. It's so heartwarming to see them out in public and humbling to see a sacred part of our culture physically embodied.

4. Steamed corn

Yo, this stuff is addicting. I LOVE FRESH STEAMED CORN. Mmm! There's just something about getting it right off the grill and peeling the singed ears off into that first bite of sweet yumminess. Brings back so many happy childhood memories of fall.

5. Pinon picking

If you don't take your old pickup truck into the mountains to get on your knees in the forest to find these babies, you got a dealer, right? With the pint, quart, and gallon sized zip lock bags full of roasted pinons. You have to hide your share from EVERYONE. If steamed corn is addicting, this stuff will have you hiding pinons in class and work. NO sharing.

6. Harvesting the corn

Picking corn and getting yelled at by grandma when you almost pick one that isn't ripe enough yet. Yet, you don't mind. It's a blessing to be able to pick corn with your grandparents and close family.

7. Sunsets & sunrises

This is an all-time favorite a lot of people. The unique landscape and ability to see for miles will take anyone's breath away. The way the sky lights up with all colors and decorated by the clouds... it's almost as if it's the sky's favorite times as well. It almost feels alive. Ugh, imma tear up.

8. Stew & Chilly Weather

Most people love to warm up with a cup of tea or coffee with an over-sized sweater as the season turns chilly. On the Navajo Nation, there's nothing like being outside chopping wood, the kids playing nearby, or feeding the animals then entering the house to feel the heat of the wood stove. Mom or grandma made either mutton stew, posole, or beans with frybread to warm up and feed the whole family. *Cries in Navajo*

9. Cross country meets

My personal favorite was going to state cross country meets. The adrenaline you feel before the gun goes off and the butterflies going nuts inside your stomach. Spectators yelling and cheering while your feet hit the earth - the best feeling ever.

10. Halloween

Of course, Halloween on the Navajo reservation was everyone getting dressed up and piling in the truck bed of an old pickup truck. You go to the NHA housing units, teacher housing, and the hospital housing for good candy. You go far because your nearest neighbor was probably miles away in the boonies and a dirt road.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The Post Thanksgiving Panic And Anxiety

It happens to all of us, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas the catch up with you.

772
studying

Thanksgiving Break is most likely everyone’s favorite break during the fall semester. You get to go home and reminisce with all your high school friends. That diet you’ve been on for the past month goes out the window, and you get to eat until you put yourself into a food coma. There’s no rush on homework and you can just lie in bed and Netflix to your heart’s content. To me that sounds like an ideally wonderful break, and totally stress-free.

Keep Reading...Show less
Grey's Anatomy

Even Shonda Rhimes, winning creator and executive producer of the hit TV shows Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and The Catch agrees that relationships with fictional characters are real. In her book, The Year of Yes she states, "I have spent more time with Meredith and Christina then many of my actual friends...When you watched TV, even spending a full hour with Christina once a week, you were likely spending more time with her then you spent with most people in your life. That relationship was real."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

13 Ways To Become More Festive

How to make the holidays more merry and bright!

2033
winter
Pinterest

Why hello there December! It seems like we just had a holiday season, but here we are a year later starting a new one with our stomachs full and hearts overflowing with thankfulness. If you're anything like me and didn't realize just how close the holiday season was approaching, we need to perk our spirits up for the most wonderful time of the year! Fortunately you have someone on the nice list like myself who can help you out with tips and tricks to become more bright eyed and bushy tailed about this holiday season.

Keep Reading...Show less
dumbbell
Twist Photography

Going to the gym and working out on a daily basis (with breaks once in awhile) has been a great way for me to feel good about myself. It is 100% more than just looking good. Especially after starting college and having the stress and anxiety of tests, assignments, and just figuring out my future, the gym at my school has definitely been a place of relief for me and I have numerous reasons of why everyone should push themselves to get to the gym when they can.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments