Counting down

The Othole family is counting down the days, less than a week remains until the Long-Horn House will open it's doors to welcome the people of Zuni and their ancestors. There are just a few appliances that need to be installed and everyone is working around the clock to make sure everything is ready for big weekend.

Na'na Bernard would like to move the shed to the family sheep camp.

Every man at the Long-Horn House with a ball hitch and chain has their own idea of moving the shed. When Casa put the chain around the bottom middle beam and tried to pull the shed, the beam came out from beneath the shed nearly pulling the shed to it's side.

Herrin has hauled several loads of sand to level out the mound the stew house and ovens sit on. Charlie helps Herrin shovel the sand out.

The stew house has gone up fast. A few of the men finish the roof.

Each person is focused on their individual tasks. Finishing the roof, shoveling sand to level the inside of the stew house and finishing the hornos.

After working on the stew house's roof, Ricky takes a break.

Gordon shovels sand into a wheelbarrow so that it can be spread inside the stew house. When the stew house gets put to use, ladies will make several different stews in about five huge black cauldrons.

Larry inspects his ovens. He has been making outdoor ovens for more than 13 years.

Larry and his sister shape the outside of the oven with mud and hay.

Herrin uses his tractor to level out the mound while Larry continues with his ovens.

Inside the house, J.R. shows his nephew David where to hammer in the nail on the dry wall on the west side of the house.

On the roof of the house, Julius is waterproofing the top layer of the stone bricks.

As a child, Julius lived in the old house and is very pleased how the Long-Horn House is coming along. Having worked on the house everyday, he is going to miss working at the Long-Horn House.

Julius' sidekick, Vernon, is also one of the men who have worked at the house almost everyday. Vernon has been at Julius' side helping with the exterior of the house.

At night, the men install a backdoor on the west side of the house.

Across the village and a couple hours after dinner, the ladies have decided to make hot tamales for the next day's cooking/feeding extravaganza.

After making the tamales, the ladies clean up so they can go home and get some rest for tomorrow's cooking/feeding day.