Toadlena

The trading post was about 10 miles off the main drag, but it was paved up to the last 300 yards. Then... well let's just say that Heather refused to drive across the bridge as she feared she had suffered a concussion from the potholes preceding it.

Thelma Brown, the young lady who helped us at the trading post was very nice, and also a rug weaver. She showed us the two rooms with rugs, the "master weaver's room" and the "more contemporary room". Heather immediately went off into the former. In this room, every rug was created using only the natural colors of the sheeps' wool, except for the black. Thelma showed us a couple of rugs that woven by Mae Lewis who, alone, does not even dye her black. Thelma also shared a couple of rugs woven by her mother Violet. The rugs were gorgeous, but Heather and I finally decided on Mae Lewis' rug that was hanging on the wall.

Apparently it was the 2nd rug Mae had woven after her husband died. The weavers believe that every thought and feeling that takes place at the time of a weaving goes into the rug. Every rug has a single visible strand, not part of the design, leading from the center of the rug out to the edge. This is called the "Weaver's path" and is what allows all those feelings to pass on, out of the rug.

Both Gordon and I felt mom was in the room with us, urging us to go ahead and spend the money on something truly beautiful that could give us joy for the rest of our days. As a parting gift, Thelma gave us a photo of Mae holding the rug when she brought it in. We feel honored to have it.Read more