The tipi was one of the clearest expressions of the mobile life of the Plains Indians. Made from materials the land provided, including a few young trees, bison hides, and wooden stakes for anchoring, it served as a sturdy yet portable home for families who moved with the seasons. Life inside brought both challenge and freedom, from midwinter mornings with hides lining the walls, a small fire, and companions keeping out the cold, to clear summer nights beneath countless stars. Mrs. Red Warbonnet, a Lakota woman, recalled that her tipi usually faced east so the morning sun would wake the family, while wind against the back of the lodge pushed smoke out, and heated rocks wrapped at night were placed near their feet to keep them warm.