Dear Reader.

Spring has finally come to Missouri. The green haze of budding trees stretch as far as the eye can see and baby animals are everywhere you look. The warmer weather makes it easier to do outdoor activities, and in fact, on a day that’s between seventy and eighty degrees, I find it hard to stay indoors at all. When I’m inside, I ache to be outside; so what do I do? I give in to the irrational compulsion and go outside. I get down in the dirt and spy on the little plants just starting to sprout, or I go for a walk and breathe in the fresh air. When I finally get back to the house I take a cold shower and then begin my day.

I hope to reflect in this issue the feeling of the first signs of spring,

I hope you enjoy.

Jeshua.

Nemenhah Medicine Woman and Designer Rachael Landis, from T. J. Stone Company, is focusing on you and your Lodge. Being a jewelry wearer herself, she understands the desire to wear precious, and special stones into the Itsipi. She also knows the risks of taking favorite pieces of jewelry into the extremely hot environment. Stones can change their colors (from being heated) and can be broken. Precious Metals such as Silver and Gold can tarnish or flake. Metals can also heat up to high enough temperatures to burn the skin (easily the most un-enjoyable). The Sacred Hoop Pendant has no metals of any kind. The carved stone is simple, yet meaningful and Sacred to the wearer. The Pendant has no sharp edges that can break easily, and it’s strung only with a very tough little strand of cotton. The clasp is a small, round bead and a delicate knot.