March 15^th Sweat with Michael

Pat called me to let me know that he would be attending the sweat and he asked me to assist in the preparation. I have never been at the start of the fire for a sweat so I did not know the ritual associated with it. I created my own, first walking around the site with sweetgrass to cleanse the site, and then I set about with y four year old helper to create the fire. We had to carry the firelogs down a hill by wheel barrow and my helper Joshua enjoyed the ride back to the top in the one wheeled vehicle. He helped me by moving the rocks from the Centre of the sweat into the area by the fire. I had a great deal of difficulty in getting the fire going as it was raining. Finally Pat and Kevin arrived and they saved my fire. They said I did an OK job, and as things would have it the sweat was one of the better ones. Pat seemed to appreciate it and he was the one leading it.

As always we learned lessons in the sweat. For me, patience. I have to work more with this quality.

Michael stayed over on the couch in order that we may be able to get to the bank together in the morning.