Dogstar Shaman

This is a painting of the Dogstar Shaman and his two sons who make the dog star constellation dance across the sky. Sirius, which means scorcher in Greek, is the brightest star in the sky and is the main star in the Cainus Major constellation. It is commonly called the dog star. 

The term 'dog days' was used at least as far back as Aristotle's time to describe when the constellation was visible  above the horizon just before sunrise. It marked the driest and hottest time of the year. The Romans would sacrifice a brown dog to appease rage of Sirius. The Dog Star would appear to the Egyptians just before the Nile flooded each year, so they utilized it as a "watch dog" for the flood season. 

Dogs were the first animals that we domesticated and developed a symbiotic relationship with. Humans and dogs have had a lasting impression on each other, neither species would be what it now is without the other. Many cultures around the world have developed relationship with "man's best friend" independently of and for different reasons than other cultures.

Fiddleheads

Picking fiddleheads was one of my favorite pastimes with my grandfather. We would walk together along the stream beds, then ran through the forest. Fiddleheads come out in the early spring. They are the first  food we can harvest after the long cold winter, so they are much appreciated and enjoyed. My grandfather was always very happy on these trips, because he has so many memories of picking them throughout his long life. He would tell me stories about times that they had particularly hard winters and they awaited with empty stomachs for the fiddleheads to appear. My grandmother would make a nice soup from them, but our favorite way to eat them was lightly steamed with butter. Simple and delicious!!