Visiting my Maasai Friends’ Home and an Invitation to Lakeville’s Art Crawl on Saturday

Above, from left, Solomon’s mother, me, Mama Mary, and Solomon in front of their house.

I wrote a blog post but hoped it could reach more people. Thanks to Tad Johnson for turning it into an interview and publishing it in the local papers. Here’s the result, with a few extra photos. You can see more of Kenya and Tanzania this Saturday, May 10th, noon to 5:00 at the Lakeville Art Center. Click here for information on the Downtown Lakeville Art Crawl and all the artists. I’ll have photos, my hand-made photo cards, birthday calendars, and my book – which is needed now more than ever! Enchanted – Reflections from a Joyfully Green and Frugally Rich Life

LAKEVILLE WOMAN THINKS OF KENYAN FRIENDS ON EARTH DAY
On Earth Day, longtime Lakeville resident Holly Jorgensen found a way to connect her Minnesota community to her Maasai tribe friends half a world away in southern Kenya.

A chance meeting with a Maasai man during her nine-day African safari in January 2024 led to striking up a friendship with Solomon and her eventual return this spring to Kenya to meet more of her Maasai friends she has stayed in touch with online in the past year.

Jorgensen, who authored the book “Enchanted: Reflections from a Joyfully Green and Frugally Rich Life,” has always been interested in how humans can reduce their impact on the Earth, but her visit to Africa deepened her exploration.

The Maasai, a nomadic tribe that lives in areas of Kenya and Tanzania, leave behind virtually no environmental footprint other than the ones they make in grounds surrounding their villages.

After learning more about the Maasai, Jorgensen felt their way of living would be a good message to share during Earth Day close to home and she returned the favor by bringing Lakeville Friends of the Environment Earth Day T-shirts to her Maasai friends on her trip in February and March.

“I was hesitant to offer T-shirts to people who wore much more beautiful and meaningful traditional clothing, but was encouraged to bring them by people in the know,” she said. “I told the family I was bringing Earth Day shirts because I so respected the Maasai way of living lightly on the Earth. I also hoped it might be a small connection between Kenya and Lakeville. Whatever their reason, they graciously accepted them with appreciation.”

Jorgensen’s connection to the Maasai started during her 2024 safari when she visited a village. Later, she saw Solomon, a Maasai warrior, standing guard outside between the hotel and the wilds of Amboseli.

Despite the language barrier, Jorgensen struck up a conversation with him and the two exchanged phone numbers.

“When he asked me for my number, I thought, why not? I could always block him if need be,” she said. “When our group was leaving and everyone was saying ‘Good-bye,’ he said: “See you later!” I thought, no, you won’t. But Solomon was right. Our brief but regular communications on WhatsApp are just part of all that compelled me to return to Africa in 2025.

“I had always been intrigued by indigenous communities and respected their unique lifestyles and relationships with animals,” she said. “I’ve always been curious and enjoy meeting people — especially ones I can learn from.”

Jorgensen wrote about her frugal lifestyle in her book and maintains a blog at hollyonthelake.com, but she said “in Kenya were people who had much less impact on the Earth and climate, had many fewer material goods, yet were beautiful, gracious, friendly, and seemed happier than many Americans.”

The Maasai live in homes made of mud, cow dung and sticks, allowing the homes to “melt back into the Earth” when they need to move.

“I wouldn’t suggest we Minnesotans could or should live like that, but seeing them makes one wonder just how big and fancy our homes need to be,” she said. “What materials might be kinder to the Earth than the ones we use and discard, use and discard, use and discard?”

She said the Maasai raise cows, goats, and sheep, but they rarely kill them for meat. They drink milk and, as strange as it sounds, blood from the animals. When an animal is killed, they use nearly all that the animal offers to make food, blankets, clothes, and other items.

During her recent trip, Jorgensen visited Solomon’s family and received three special beadwork necklaces and several bracelets from his wife, who thanked Jorgensen for paying for their daughter’s school fees and hospital visit after the girl fainted.

“When I asked Solomon’s younger brother what was the best thing about being Maasai, he didn’t hesitate before saying ‘family.’ He went on about how they live together, share what they have, take care of each other, and respect elders for their wisdom and vision concerning the Earth,” she said.

She said she’s no expert on the ancient culture, as the more she learns the more she realizes how little she knows about it.

“What I do know is how truly indigenous — meaning ‘of the land’ — they are, even as they are forced or choose to adopt some modern ways,” she said.

Jorgensen has always had an affinity for nature, but said her African safari made her fall in love with the whole Earth.

She said during her visit she didn’t experience the dry, cracked ground from droughts or raging rivers from floods.

“But reading, watching documentaries, and staying in touch with African friends, I can’t ignore the fact that climate events are increasingly murderous to precious lives, both human and wild. So forgive me if I keep attempting to speak for the Earth as I share photos of its splendid, yet vulnerable inhabitants.”

Jorgensen, who will have some of her African photos on display during the Lakeville Art Crawl on May 10 and a Burnhaven Library exhibit in November and December, said Solomon recounted to his family his first meeting with Jorgensen in the grassland.

“In his soft voice and Maa language (interpreted by teacher Ann) he said ‘I couldn’t understand your language, but I could see your heart,’ “ Jorgensen said. “I was overwhelmed and humbled by the way they honored me. I resolved to strive for whatever Solomon saw in me that first day. Was it openness? I hoped to develop the gift of seeing into hearts, or, at the very least, acknowledging the heart in every body, regardless of how different their appearance, language, or customs.”

Tad Johnson is a managing editor of Sun Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune

Solomon, Mama Mary, their pastor, friends, and their youngest son by the open doorway to their home.

Solomon’s younger brother, Benjamin, helped us translate. Solomon’s daughter, Faith, works with AMREF promoting the girlchild’s health and rights. 

Solomon’s son is wearing a jacket my mother made and Mama Mary holds a small quilt that I made, with pictures of northern animals on it. Along with the T shirts and some twinkling solar-powered lights to keep the lions away, they seemed appropriate gifts, knowing they would give me precious traditional hand-made beadwork. I suspect she learned beading from her mother, as I learned quilting from mine. Are you surprised they would wear anything warm? I was, but the rangers wore sweaters all day and it gets “cold” at night.

Daughter Mary was at school, where we visited earlier. This is lovely teacher Ann, who translated for us.

The trees in Kenya are famously photogenic, but don’t supply a lot of wood, as our white pine do. That explains a lot.

The Gift from Kenya I’m Most Thankful For and Turning Black Friday Red

What’s up with the Red? While Black Friday is known for businesses turning a profit and consumers getting deals, the holidays also put many people in the red – in debt. Maybe that’s why I’m thinking more about the tall, thin Maasai in red than the round Santas in red. While I have so much more to learn about this fascinating indigenous tribe, I invite you to ponder with me how people can be happy choosing to live simply.

On my trip to Kenya we had the privilege of visiting a Maasai village (boma) and learning about their traditions. Being herders, they always moved their stock to fresh grazing grounds, which any farmer knows is as beneficial to the land as to the animals. While moving requires building new houses (manyattas) of mud, dung, sticks, and thatch, the old houses gracefully melt back into the earth with the seasonal rains. Compare that to the resources we use to rebuild or remodel buildings just because they are “dated”.

Many people are horrified to learn that the traditional Maasai diet is mostly milk and blood obtained from their cows, sheep, and goats (without harming them) along with what they can forage. Isn’t that a definition of sustainability? I am more horrified by the fact that the US throws away about 40 billion pounds – almost 40% of the US food supply – every year.

My best gift from Kenya? Besides the spectacular wildlife, I treasure the invaluable perspective gained by connecting with her beautiful people, whether traditional or modern. On my next trip, (Spoiler alert! I’m going again, and to Tanzania!) we will be touring Kibera, the largest slum on the continent of Africa, as well as exploring cultures, changes, and challenges more deeply. I look forward to sharing what I can when I can, and I hope you’ll stick with me for the ride.
Have you ever wondered how I can afford to travel to Kenya having worked at meaningful but low-paying jobs all my life? There are clues in the blog post and newsletter I wrote in November of 2019 to counter-balance the tsunami of Black Friday ads. I called it Turning Black Friday Green. With inflation and climate change, it’s even more relevant now, since it’s about saving money and saving the planet. It was sifted from my book, Enchanted – Reflections from a Joyfully Green and Frugally Rich Life. By the way, they make great gifts, as do the 2025 calendars I just created from 13 of my favorite photos of Kenya. See, I’m not against capitalism! Here’s a sneak peek – September, March, January, and May. You can order my book, wall  calendars, desk calendars or Dutch Birthday Calendars on my website   www.hollyonthelake.com   (even if I haven’t updated the photos there!) or email me     [email protected]
In the interest of irrepressible joy, I will re-share a video sent by my Maasai friend Solomon of an elephant parade accompanied by heart-lifting music. Please note the drought-ridden landscape. The matriarch is leading her family to water – if it’s still there. Consider for just a moment how over-consumption in our land (and insistence on fossil fuels) is causing climate change to devastate lands around the world. Then enjoy the video, as I have many times. I have seen African people exhibit joy, warmth, and hospitality, despite their hard lives and endangered habitat. Let me know if you are interested in changing lives. There are many safe, easy, and rewarding ways to help. Or just be thankful for all we have.
By the way, an x-ray showed my fractured vertebra is healed – in only five weeks! One more thing to be super thankful for.
With joy, thanksgiving, and hope,
Holly

Sweet Beings: George Winston, Greenie, a striped fawn, hummingbirds

First and foremost, I want to thank all those who came to my photo/poetry exhibits. I learned a lot and am looking forward to exhibiting at the Burnhaven Library in Burnsville all of November and December. Maybe my art and books will have the thrill of being wrapped up and opened as gifts for the holidays!

Greenie the sunfish

Until October, I’m committing to focusing on Greenie’s book. Yes, he’s back! Along with Slim and the kids. Not every day, so I suspect he’s busy guarding a nest, but he checks in and warms my heart every few days. My sweet fish and my daily swims keep me happy and healthy. I took this picture with my phone between the boards in my dock and was delighted with how it turned out (with a little editing). Doesn’t it look like a painting in a children’s book?

Thanks to Sue Lund for taking this picture in 2004. Today I want to acknowledge the sad passing of George Winston, who honored me with his friendship and music for 40 years. My book tells how we met in 1983 while I was a volunteer usher at Orchestra Hall and how he chose to save precious time by wearing jeans and a casual shirt, even while playing (stocking-footed) at ornate halls around the world. I so appreciated his giving me tickets and CDs so I could share him and his music with friends, but his generosity went far and wide. His constant support of food shelves locally and nationally while he played about 100 concerts a year is just one example. He spoke of the wonders of his beloved cats, but never spoke of his battle with cancer except to encourage support for the City of Hope, where he had a bone marrow transplant. We only talked once a year, backstage, but the cards he sent me with brief messages show me how one can maintain a friendship while maintaining focus on a larger mission. I learned much more from this gentle man so dedicated to bringing beautiful music to the masses. Perhaps some day I will go through my journals and glean wise or funny things he said. But for now I am embracing his example of focus while I write Greenie’s story and listen to George’s sweet music. 

Click on the picture to watch the video and see the unusual stripes on the back of this darling’s neck. Imagine him/her saying “Look Ma! I can clean myself, wipe my nose, and even poop by myself!”

I need to hone my photographic skills to catch the wings on a hovering hummingbird. For now, I’m happy when they pose in the sun. I know they can be very territorial, but their beauty is as sweet as the nectar they drink from flowers. May your days be the same.