Cabin Company

We recently traveled to Nome, then out 70 miles to the Northeast to my sister and brother in law's cabin for a four day adventure.  It was an impromptu trip, we decided to follow my parents.  It was a great time and I think my parents enjoyed having all of their grandchildren in the same zip code.

 The girls loved taking rides….

 And even tried fishing…..

 Of course after the first cast I took off the pixies and tied sticks to the ends, much safer!

 We were blessed with beautiful weather….

And even some wildlife sightings on the way home.  

A memorable trip.

Anchorage...

From Nome Sweet Nome.....

To Our New Home Sweet Home....

The last of our belongings were transported today by Zeb and his sister to our storage unit via U-Haul.  We are officially here.

Zeb's parents have taken the time to make the condo warm and inviting for us.  We had to make a few changes in the past day like putting our bed in the living room so Victoria can get a good night's sleep, and but they did a wonderful job of child proofing and making a nice "home" for us.

Still feels like we are visitors here in the "Big Village."  We are getting accustomed to taking 1 hour trips to the store instead of 5 minute ones.  Driving in the car for 30 minutes to get anywhere instead of taking quick walks to your destination, etc, etc.  Anchorage is different, but it is our new home and I am getting used to that.  I am reminded of Michelle Shocked's song "Anchored Down in Anchorage" as I write.  My brother in law had me listen to this song many years ago, but today it has new meaning.  After being in rural Alaska for over 10 years, more if you count the summers before I moved to Nome, the big city seems overwhelming.  It is strange because in 2002 I loved shopping and all the amenities big cities had to offer.  I think this will just take some getting used to again.

We are traveling to Soldotna for a few days and then actually headed back to Nome so Zeb can finish out one more week of work.  Once the last week of June sets in I plan to explore my new surroundings more and not feel so "Anchored Down."

Final Days...

We are gearing up to leave Nome.  It is amazing that your life can fit into 15 pallets to be shipped off to your new destination, just like that.  Our life went from 810 E. 4th Ave, to boxes, to the Ryan Air hanger, to Lynden Air Cargo.  It is now waiting for us in Anchorage.  

 Victoria was very helpful during the process, she loves finding cardboard to chew on and loved the bubble wrap!

 It is a good thing that Zeb knows how to handle cargo!  He was organizing our pallets and getting everything ready to ship so it would make it to Anchorage in one piece.  Thanks to his skills we should be pretty organized upon arrival. 

 The worst part about moving this week was the weather.  Most days I would not care about being inside, but this week we were setting record breaking temperatures across the state and through history. 75 degrees is a hard pill to swallow when you have to be inside to pack  We did take a break yesterday and flew down join friends and family in Council for Taylor's 5th birthday.  

 We brought the bug hut which was a big hit for all the kids.  What better way to hang out in the heat!  

Tisuk is gearing up for the move too.  She got a bath and a nail trim at the Animal House.  She is almost a brand new dog, despite the gray on her snout.  

More updates to come.....

11th Month Adventures

Since we are in the middle of our move to Anchorage, this blog entry is short but sweet.  

Enjoy baby V's 11th Month Adventures.

Finally!!

I have been in Nome over 10 years.  If you count the summers I came up to waitress, it is even longer.  I have been fortunate to have seen a lot of things and been able to do a lot of neat things in my time here.

 We are preparing to move to Anchorage for Zeb's new job.  It is a bittersweet goodbye to Western Alaska.  I have had lots of fond memories here and it holds a special place in my heart, but I know I will be back to see Angie and other good friends that live here.

Zeb had his near final day at work yesterday and they were headed to Little Diomede.  It is an island off the coast of Wales.  There are only 2 villages I had never been to Little Diomede and Wales.  As luck would have it, those were the 2 villages on yesterdays flight plan.  Angie watched the baby and we headed out.  It was a wonderful way to end my "tour" of the Seward Peninsula.  As spring sets in for the Nome region, winter is still in effect North of here.  We saw walrus and seals enjoying the sea ice on our way.....there were even a few polar bear tracks on the ice.

And FINALLY- I saw Russia from Alaska (That is Big Diomede-Russia in the background)!!  Now I feel complete.

Nine Months!

Nine months sure went by fast.  It seems like just a few days ago our lives changed by adding this new little person to them.  Now, of course, we cannot imagine life without her!  Each day is filled with new challenges and excitement. 

In her ninth month, Victoria is enjoying tofu and teething biscuits.  She is drooling a lot and needs to wear a bib (that I have to change out every few hours do to the excessive drool).  Any time now we hope to see some white popping out of those gums!

I am glad we get our teeth as babies, after what she is going through, it seems like an adventure you would want to FORGET! 

Tisuk sure enjoys Victoria more than ever.  Mostly because she might drop a snack or have applesauce on her cheek. Rest assured, Tisuk the mighty licker, is there to clean up Victoria anytime, anywhere!  They make a good team and keep the house in pretty good shape that way.

You can see her in action in the video below.  She is getting the hang of "independent movement".  Sometimes she moves backwards better than forward, but she is getting it and is less frustrated than even just a week ago.  Sometimes we find her in her crib sitting up!  All these new things at nine months!

Iditarod 40

Wow, Iditarod 40.. that means there have been 31 I haven't seen.  This should have been number 11 for me, but one year we went fishing in Homer, and another time went to Hawaii, otherwise, since i have been in Nome, I have seen the race.... and it doesn't get old.  We bundled up Victoria in her down suit and seal skin booties, they were still a little big, but did the job for the weather.  We had to the put the wind shield  over her too.  According to my weather friend Wes, this was the windiest finish since 2000.  

Dallas Seavey Won the Race, the youngest ever at the age of 25, breaking Rick Swenson's old record of winning at 26. 

So exciting to see a musher and team of dogs finish the long, grueling race.  What an accomplishment.  This year the race totaled 975 miles, but the token saying is 1,049.  Still AMAZING!

Always fun to run into family and friends at the race end as well.  This year no family is visiting so Angie and I will just have to "visit' each other during the week.  We do have friends coming though so that will be fun!  Iditarod week takes a different turn with the little one around.  Can't see and do everything but we will make an effort to get out there the best we can and just enjoy spring break.

Eight is Great!

8 months is great!  I am sitting up on my own and can do so many cool things now.  In the bath tub I like to play with my rubber duckies and kick my legs all over the place.  Even though I have been in the big tub  (in my little tub) for a long time, mommy thinks we need an even bigger tub because I can splash all the way to the door!

 I like playing on the carpet and in my exersaucer.  I get frustrated when I cannot quite crawl to where I need to go, I haven't figured that out yet.   And guess what, I even have enough hair to hold a little bow.  I have a pretty fluffy outfit on, but don't worry daddy, I may be a princess or the quessn, my socks still say Carhardt.

 (Mommy couldn't resist sharing this photo, even though it is blurry)

Mommy made me my own little neck warmer to cover my face on those -3 days.  It is adjustable so hopefully it will fit me through this winter anyway.   It is fun to get out.  I know that Tisuk sure enjoys when the weather is nice enough for me.  8 months old is great!

Thinking Spring

With the weather getting cold again in Nome (-32 windchill, inside recess, etc.) I was trying to think of spring.  




The daylight gets so deceiving when it is cold.  The days are longer now and the sun seems to beckon me to join it after work (but you step out and the wind bites).  Just when Victoria is able to start going out and enjoy the snow, the cold and wind prevent us from doing so.  Don't get me wrong, we can still go out at -10, but windchill of -32 gets a little rough.   Instead, we are thinking of springtime things:  frogs, daisies and butterflies during this cold spell.  




Victoria loves her frog toy, it is the coolest and she can actually enjoy it now.  It ribbits, rings, and has a fish, jellyfish, and a crab that fit into its mouth.  What a creative toy (made in Belgium).  Thank you to the Ryan's that got it for her.  I wonder if it will turn into a prince one day by the rate she kisses it :)

No It's Really Just the Root...

When I opened my Full Circle Farm box this week, I thought for sure I had made changes to include the foods we eat often and really enjoy.... I must have kept Celery Root on the list, assuming I would get the green stalks of celery that I use in cooking or enjoy plain.  No...... celery root is not that!  It is this:

No wonder the site epicurious.com calls it " One of autumn's most delicious but LEAST APPRECIATED vegetables."  The poor thing, just look at it.  

 So what do you do when you get something in your Full Circle Farm box that you have never seen before or eaten before?? Google it!  I found this amazing recipe at www.epicurious.com

Celery Root Bisque with Thyme Croutons

Amazing soup!  I kept the potato out till the soup was blended and added it back in with carrots and green pepper to make a heartier cream soup.  

 I will never again doubt unusual vegetables!  

Now That's Organic!

Living in rural Alaska, our produce choices can be somewhat limiting at times.  For the past year or maybe longer now, we have been getting a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box from Full Circle Farm.  Every two weeks a box of delicious fresh, organic produce is shipped to us from Washington.  We notice that it is fresher than anything we can buy here, lasts longer, and is a delicious treat, especially in the middle of winter.  Now we get to start sharing our produce with Victoria as well.  

 Using the baby bullet (thank you Lara!) we can blend and puree our organic goods into food for Victoria. The best part is we know what is in there and for the most part where it came from!  After steaming or boiling the produce it is ready to blend.  We then pour it into little containers for her to enjoy during the week. 

It may not always be cheaper to do her food this way, but I sure love taking part in her healthy eating by serving her homemade organic baby food.  As you can see from the video below, baby likes it too!

(I like to think that all this yummy food is helping her say "mama" too :)

Our First Traveling Show

This year the Nome Beltz Drama Club did our first traveling play. It took me back to my freshman year of college, doing the show The Purple Fan. We toured all over Wisconsin with the show. The best part was doing the show in new locations each day including stages, gyms and lunchrooms. What sticks in my mind from the tour was jumping over "puke" while doing the fire dance around a tree, hearing the screams of "He's puking, Joey's Puking, Get the Voban!" I thought that one day it would be cool to do that here in Nome. Why shouldn't all thespians have this experience?

This year we did it! We practiced the play A Thousand Cranes, children's touring version, for 2 months. We were able to secure funding through 2 local organizations. After performing the play for the Nome Elementary School and the community, we headed out to 2 other locations.

You cannot just take a bus and tour Western Alaska, so we traveled by plane! We headed to the villages of White Mountain and Golovin.
We worked with students from the different villages doing theatre games and activities to help with movement, expression, and voice.
In the afternoon we performed our play at each location for the school and the community. The set was light and everything we needed fit into a blue rubbermaid tote (except for the drums and samurai sword).
It was very well received. We were invited back again. I am hoping that this can be something our Drama Club strives to do again in the future. What a great experience for all the students involved. As for me, it took me back to Freshman year and I was so thankful to give this opportunity to both the students and the different communities.

Snow Sculpting 2011

I have actually missed the last two Iditarods due to travel. This year we stuck around and mom and dad came up. We had a great week. Here are some shots from the snow sculpting that happened on March 13.

First place, Gnome from Nome, on top of an igloo.

Second place, mom and Taylor stand by the walrus. (They are just posing, they did not carve this one).

Third Place, another igloo- as a Nome church. This poor sculpture did not get sun until about 3:00 pm, but that is good to keep it from melting fast.

Just a few more additional ones. I really liked the details on the above fisherman.

This finale is the one that my friend Erika and I did. 3 people and a dog (or bear) taking a hot tub steam (Sub arctic soak). It was a great day and wonderful turnout. The weather cooperated making this year an outstanding contest.

Catch for the Cache

One of our main jobs in the summer is to fill our freezer with good food for the winter. We had plenty of berries this year, but we were lacking in salmon. We headed out again to the Sinuk River last weekend, and this time we were successful! 10 fish is about all we need in our freezer and that is just what we were able to get with our subsistence permit.

Silvers are so fun to catch! They are real fighters. I still recall my first silver fishing experience. I was in a Zodiac on the Snake River in 1998. Angie caught one first and I was so jealous! Yelling profane remarks I am sure, but then I caught one. It is on tape some where, the 10 minute battle to bring it a board the inflatable ship, yelling, almost crying at times! I sure have come along way since then!

Now I feel more talented in the conquest of the silver salmon! My arms were a little sore and I lost a hook, but it was still worth it. Since we were out there on a "mission" to fill the freezer, we left the fly rods at home and used the trusty "Ugly Sticks."

We accomplished our mission and filled the freezer.

We will continue our subsisting by trying again for sheep in September, followed by moose and caribou to top off the true "surf" and "turf" Alasktarian Diet.

My Fair Relay Greenhouse

As you can see by the title of this post I will be catching up on some things now that school is out and I have time to share.

Activity Number 1: On May 14-16 I was in Nome's musical production of My Fair Lady. Eliza Doolittle was a wonderful role. I enjoyed being this character so much and thank Richard, our director for trusting me with this responsibility. What fun! A cast and crew of over 40 helped make this production possible. Starting rehearsals back in February and putting in weeknight

s and weekends since then paid off. It was well received by our audience. The Nome Theatre Guild is just one more reason why I enjoy Nome so much. I am pictured here as Eliza with our favorite director Richard Beneville.

More photos of the play are on Facebook. A DVD will be coming to WI in July!

May Activity Number 2: Relay for Life, Nome. This was the first ever Relay for Life event in Nome, and it went very well. Our small community raised over $25,000. Pretty amazing for our first year. Nome has a lot of support for cancer survivors. We do another event in October to raise awareness and money as well. That one is the Walk for the Cure. Relay for Life is a National Program and this was Nome's first year.

The luminary ceremony is my favorite event. It is a time for you to light candles and remember those who either lost their lives to cancer or show your support for the survivors. This is Nome at about 2:30 in the morning with the lit bags. We don't get as dark as other areas, but it is still a beautiful thing to see.

I had a bit of a sore throat after activity number 1, so it was hard to be on the entertainment committee for activity number 2. My co chair Leah, had to do a lot of the talking. It was a wonderful event and I hope to help next year as well.

May Activity Number 3: Green House

I tried to take a gardening class but with all my other things going on I was not able to get there, but my husband did build me a greenhouse so I can start gardening on my own. I planted carrots, zucchini, lettuce, spinach, flowers of different kinds, and tomatoes, both cherry and regular. We will see what grows this first year. It is always an experiment. Last year my greenhouse rack I had been using for several years blew off the deck during a storm and shattered. Before that I had a greenhouse that blew across the tundra from Icy View to town.

This structure is a lot more solid for sure! We are just waiting to place it in it's permanent spot. Otherwise it works well, yesterday it was 32 degrees with the wind but the green house was 80.

Idit-a- Walking Tour

Tisuk and I have been participating in the Iditawalk for a month now. We walk anyway, but it is fun to see how much time we put in for 2 months to see if we can walk for 1,049 minutes, the same length in miles as the Iditarod trail, 5th year participating. So far we are at 600 with one month down. Not bad, considering I was sick all last week. Felt good to get out again today. We have enjoyed the scenery and can definately tell that the sun is setting later. We can walk until 7:00 unlike last month when 6:00 seemed to be our deadline.

Tisuk enjoys getting out into the wild snowy tundra, but needs to obey the speed limit. Sometimes that slows her down a bit. Good thing too cuz when she is not roaming free, her harness is connected to me, so she can get used to it for skijouring.

Subsistance

Well that new garage comes in handy when subsistance times of year come around. Last weekend Zeb flew up north quick, spent the night, and came home with a caribou. We were able to store the meat in the garage. It has since gone to Kotzebue for processing.

For the past week we have also been processing a 100 lb. Halibut that came from Savoonga, an island to the west of Nome. Since we did not get any salmon this year in Nome, we decided to purchase a Halibut to fill the freezer. And fill the freezer it did. To give you an idea on the size of this amazing fish, it filled the bathtub. Oh, I take that back, the head to the middle of the body filled the bathtub. We cut it into three sections just to fit it in the freezer until we packaged it. We had to put it in the tub to thaw each time, the fillet it and vacuum pack it. We cooked some the other night, DELICIOUS! I told Zeb we need a cook book with 365 ways to cook Halibut, since that may be one of our main meals this winter. Can't complain though, Halibut and caribou, both wonderful if you have never tried them!