A Snowy Tundra Adventure

Last night during the progressive dinner I was telling Jeremy how I couldn't wait to try out my new snowshoes. We made a plan to go snowshoeing sometime this morning. When I told Karis what Jeremy and I were going to do, her eyebrows perked up. She immediately said yes when I asked if she wanted to come along since Jeremy has an extra pair of snowshoes. The plan was for me to come get her only if Jeremy arrived after 10AM since she wanted to sleep in a little. Then we decided if Jeremy arrives before 10 and she is up and wants to go, she would knock on her wall so that I would know she was ready (we share a wall). Since I have no phone, this was an alternative to going out in the negative degree weather.

So, when I woke up at 9:15 the sun was just starting to rise:



At 10:15 there was a knock on the door. It was Jeremy asking if I would be ready to go in 30 minutes. I accepted and invitation and ran over to Karis' to see if she was ready. She had still been in bed and didn't want to go, but I finally convinced her that she will be thanking me later for dragging her out of bed. So, 30 minutes later we loaded up the Wrangler and headed for the hills...


We drove to the end of the 14 mile road and decided the condtions were better for walking than showshoeing.

Along the way we helped Karis do a handstand,
saw lots of tracks in the snow,
and amazing views.

When we got to our destination, there were really old and tall cairns at the top. Jeremy said they were not only trail markers but were supposed to resemble a person. Not sure that's what they looked like, but they were certainly impressive!

Since Jeremy brought along hot chocolate and Karis had fire starter equipment, we thought it would be fun to build a fire. We headed off toward a cluster of pine trees.

Step 1: Collect fire wood:


Step 2: Find a good spot:


Step 3: Put the brush in a pile:


Step 4: Make a fire:


Step 5: Sometimes assistance is needed:


Step 6: Once the fire is going drink hot chocolate and eat granola bars, apples with cheddar cheese (tastes better than it sounds!), and almonds.


After we warmed up and finished our snack we set back out into the snow. On the drive back we drove up to the top of the gravel pit to scope out the 360 views. From the top we could see two villages (St. Michael and Stebbins) on the other side of Norton Sound.



Then we took the beach route back into the village.

Progressive Dinner

Last night I participated in a "progressive dinner". Anyone living in the 3 new 4-plex teacher apartments was invited to cook either an appetizer, entree, or dessert. Then we began in that order and visited each place. We started off in one apartment with delicious appetizers (homemade artichoke dip, pepperoni, and crackers) and then moved on to the second apartment for delicious salad (the toasted pecans hit the spot!). For dinner we had tacos and spanish rice. For dessert we went to my place first for tea and homemade cheesecake. Dessert #2 at the next house was brownies. To end the night we hung out in the apartment next to mine drinking tea, chatting, and seeing a video from when the teacher went to New Zealand. It was really fun to see how everyone else (well 5 out of the 12 apartments) decorated their place. Even though the apartments are set up the same, they look different with each unique arrangement.

A Soup Biography

Thank goodness for Full Circle Farm! Every other week Ming and I get an order of fresh veggies and fruits from this organic farm in Carnation, Washington. Since we only have a say in 5 of the 12 or so types that are put into the box, we never know what we might get! Every other Thursday I wait in suspense until the box arrives. Today we received leeks, red delicious apples, garnet yams, d'anjou pears, valencia oranges, red beets, red bell peppers, red onions, flavorich pluots, salad greens, red kale, arugula, and spinach!

After returning from the cancer awareness walk I knew I needed something warm and hearty for dinner. I pulled out some veggies from the refrigerator and began the preparation...
I first prepared the leaks, red kale, red peppers, carrots, potatoes, and garlic.


The next step: Begin cooking the leeks, carrots, and garlic.

Then I added the kale...









And finally the red peppers and potatoes...









After all of the veggies were added I tossed in some spices and let them work their magic while the rice was cooking...

When the rice was done it went into the bowl first...
Followed by some halibut I needed to finish up...






Topped with the soup and... voila!...

To Shaktoolik and Beyond!

August 18 marked the first day of school for the Bering Strait School District. Rather than start off the week here in Unalakleet I flew out in a tiny bush plane to Shaktoolik.



The entire trip was an adventure. I had no idea that I would be boarding a plane with only 3 seats! Nor did I expect the passengers to be packages that were on their way to other villages. As I got on the plane the young looking pilot said, "You are wearing EMS clothes. Where are you from?" I replied "Vermont", expecting to get a shrug of the shoulders, but instead he replied with "No way! I am from Vermont as well!" The 15 minute flight to Shaktoolik was breathtaking. I could see the hills and mountains beyond Unalakleet, and we flew parallel to a rain storm which left a gorgeous rainbow cascading over a sunkissed valley.




When I got to the "airport" in Shaktoolik a taxi, I mean Kyle on a 4-wheeler, was waiting for me. We loaded my things onto the front and back of the 4-wheeler and held them down with bungee cords.





After about a mile or so we were at the school. I was greeted at the door by the principal Linda, who gave me a very warm welcome. After I unloaded my things in Kyle's apartment (conveniently located on the second floor of the school) I stopped by Linda and her husband Bud's apartment (also conveniently located on the second floor of the school), and gave them some horseradish sauce that their store in Shaktoolik did not carry. It turned out that my VT connection did not stop at the door of the plane. Linda and Bud have lived in VT for many years, and still return often to visit family.

That night there was a "meet and greet' at the school. Students and family members were encouraged to stop by and visit in a relaxed atmosphere before the first day of school. It was fun to mingle with everyone and try to help students as they participated in a teacher scavenger hunt. They had to find out what teachers matched up with the clues given to them. Some clues included barrel racing, bull fighting, and traveling to various countries.

I had an amazing 2.5 day visit with the students and staff. In addition,the villagers were extremely welcoming to me and I felt like it was my "home away from home". I definitely knew I was "in the bush" when students started saying "I joke" in replace of "I am just kidding", Kyle and I had salmon for dinner, the village had only one road and one store, and the only way in and out of the village was by aircraft.






Next adventure...Koyuk!