He's ok!

You know, it's been a rough year here for me.  Home life hasn't been the most wonderful for us because so many "experiences" we didn't want to deal with have come up while I was away.  When you are 2,000 miles away, it's not the easiest to just hop in a car and get there in a few hours, much less get on a plane immediately and be there in 8.  For me, it's at least a full day and about $1500!

When making the decision to come up here alone, I looked at the state of everyone at home.  Everyone included our "fur kids" too.  I didn't expect to have my husband have to put one of our dogs down in November without me there.  I knew that he was old, but honestly, I didn't expect him to get so bad before the school year was up.

When we took Ryan (pictured here) in for a teeth cleaning, we sure didn't expect him to come back with really high liver enzyme levels either.  We knew he had a mass on his leg they were going to look at and some skin tags on his elbow to remove, but the super high enzyme levels, that cancer word tossed out as a possibility.  (We know what that can mean)  This here I'm sure caused lots of worry for my husband as, well he might not admit it, but this is his FAVORITE "fur kid."  Again, when you are 2,000 miles away, an expensive plane ride, and at least 24 hours from being home, there's not a lot of comfort that can be given in a Skype hug.

Crying together doesn't help.  Words can only go so far.  I'm not sure we were prepared to deal with so many "big events" this year.

The good news though, is with the treatments, the teeth finally being cleaned and the tumor removal (which was not cancerous!), we can rest easy for awhile and enjoy Ryan and his faithful personality.  Eric and I have rescued him twice.  Once from Hopes Haven, where they had him so he would be away from the abusive situation he was in and now from some medical situations.  He in turn has rescued us many times over.  Each time he "talks back" and puts a smile on my husband's face, snuggles in close for a hug, or just protects by being close.  We know he loves us for who we are and I know he's saved my husband from being so lonely while I am gone.  

We love our Ry-Ry  :)

My new friend

Recently I received a box in the mail that was quite large and oddly light.  My family had been checking in to see if it had arrived for a few days so I knew something had to be up.  When I brought it across the street to my apartment, my mind started to wonder what could be in such a large box but still be so light?  Clothing would be heavy, yarn would still weigh much more than what I was feeling but I couldn't put my finger on it.

To my surprise, I opened it up to find a great deal of fluff!  They sent me snow?  I have plenty of that here. Fluff, you know, filling to stuff a home-made animal with, stuff to pretend is snow on the mantel above the fireplace. (and hope it doesn't catch fire!)  Like a little kid on Christmas, out from the box, and onto the floor it went.  Digging through the fluff, I find a balloon.  What?  You packed a balloon from Oregon to Alaska in fluff?  Are you kidding me?!

It had been quite cold up here and I'm sure he was very full when he left, he's not quite as rotund now.  I guess you could call it the freezer diet.  He still stays afloat and hangs out on my windowsill.  He came with a note much like a newborn left on a doorstep.  It says his name is Mylar and since I've been targeted as missing my puppies, the previous owners figured I'd take him in.  Well, I guess they were right... he's found a good home.

He's pretty easy to keep.  He came potty trained, he doesn't bark at strangers anymore and he doesn't shed either.  He enjoys his leash and from what I've heard, when he goes for walks he does a good job.  He doesn't get out much anymore, it's a tad cold for him.

Mylar enjoys his new home.  He's got a front row seat for all the weather watchings he can handle.  He's seen the snow, the rain, the wind and the sun.  He got a great view of a total lunar eclipse the other night too!  For the most part though he keeps an eye out for the little kids and over my attempt at growing some plants.  It's a little sad though, as he ages, you can see him slim down.  For now though he's still holding strong.  

I heard of Mylar's past when contacting his previous owners.  I guess he had a few run-in's with some people that passed by the car he was riding in after his walk through a grocery store.  He started barking out the window and he didn't even know he knew the guy.  It was a shame, but I'm glad he made it this way.

Last night though something strange happened... Mylar started misbehaving.  He started writing all over the windows trying to communicate.  I'm not sure what's going on, but I think he's trying to communicate to the kids.  For goodness sake, the word bubble says, "Hey kids!  My name is Mylar!"

What do I do if this continues?

Stock that freezer!

Gone fishin'

Most people do it.  Down home, you put a pole in the water and hope for the best.  Maybe it's a bobber, a fly or just the old cast and drag.  Father-in-law likes to tell us it's "skill" that gets him the hits.  I think it's because he gets up earlier.  When we go, it's really to spend time together.  We love it when the fish bite and if we are really itching for a bite, we'll hit up the barrel (maybe). 

Sustenance fishing is a whole different world.  It's not really fishing, it's catching.  No bones about it, you're going to get fish.

Out in the water holding onto a fish

I was lucky enough to be invited by a local Native family to enjoy a BEAUTIFUL day out on the beach catching fish on their license.  They showed me the ropes once and I was out in the water by the time I could shimmy into the "preens"  I felt like a vacuumed pack fillet!   You set out a net and the fish can't see in the murky water, the swim right in, get caught and you gotta go and pick them out.  Some do a pretty darn good job of getting very caught.  Other's just kinda bite at it and you walk right up, unhook them and it takes only a few seconds.  *I like those kind!  They were impressed by my picking abilities and that was to be my main job for the day.

The student of mine that was with me, his main job was helping me out if I got a fish I just couldn't pick and watching for seals.  He held his .22 and made sure they didn't get to close.  They see the net and know there's an easy meal to be had so they get warning shots if they start coming our way.  If they get to close, he yells out seal which means I get out of the water and he starts shooting at it while I'm out of harms way.

Picking fish from the net

While waiting to pick, I was also helping clean slime off of the fish, clots out of the gills and watching for whales swimming up the river from the ocean.  We saw a pod of Beluga Whales cresting at one point but I was in the water and didn't get the camera in time.

The haul for the day was 50 Silver Salmon and 1 Red Salmon.  Only one of the Silvers had been up and started to spawn.  He still had half of his milk sac left but he looked to be a bit older as well.  That one was still cut into fillets and was cooked up for their hard working dogs.  Sorry Ciqu!

The half-spawned old guy.  Look at those teeth!

There are really 3 fish on each hand!  Each weighed about 10-15 lbs.

We filled the freezer of the Native family and my freezer is looking pretty good!  20 fish, 40 fillets.  It's amazing how much fish that really is!  I can't even imagine how much that would cost back home.  All this cost me was a beautiful day out on the river, 8 hours of hard work and a bit of a sunburn on the face.  Oh yeah, and some goofy looking glove tan lines.

Jam packed days

We're here for inservice.  It's a lovely place and people really seem to enjoy it here.  The people are friendly and the food is excellent. Today was french toast, shepard's pie and mexican.  Between meals we talked about schedules, levels, standards and how school was going to run in general.  With a better understanding of how things will work out, I'm ready for a flight to Egegik and some time in my apartment.

Before that though, there were walks alone, walks with new friends and some experiences shooting a bow again.  Here are some more pictures to help paint the picture.

Boat docks looking toward the lodge

Another beautiful day in AK.  State flag, do you know what the stars are?

Alecia and I trying for the water bags

Kathy did the bow last night and had a little trouble with it getting her arm.

My mushroom finds on grounds

Mushroom family

Took a walk to the end of the dock.

Hang the big catch of the day there, didn't fish though, it was SPENDY.  I'll have enough of it in Egegik! 

Bear tracks on the sand bar, we did NOT see it, just the tracks.

MeMe, the sled dog.  She was shy but she could tell I'm a dog person.

 And the one, the only, AfterBite.  This is heaven right here.  I will be ordering some.  One of the gals had it and let me use some after she saw the bites on my hand, forehead and ear.  It was FANTASTIC.  Stopped the itch within 20 seconds.  

The last days of summer

A summer evening drive into the hills.  It has a few purposes; time with a friend, shooting practice and driving my beloved Jeep.  I think about how wonderful these last few weeks have been.  The nice warm weather has been a great taste of summer and I think of leaving it for the Alaskan rain and it's a little depressing.  We had such a late spring here that the little bit of summer here just doesn't seem like enough.  It's what I've got though so it will just have to do.

Do brain farts come with the amount (or lack) of time left?  When we drove up to go shooting last night, I pulled my gun case out, reached into the bag for the key and it was not there.  Gut check.  Ah, are you kidding me, I just drove all the way up there and didn't have the key so I could shoot?  I'm glad Katie had her gun though.  We had fun with that and the old beer cans did explode with ease!  It was a great night and the drive home was under the stars and a beautiful moon.

Most of the packing is done.  I'm living on a few selected outfits here while the rest is packed.  The final packing and checking of the packed items will be today so that tomorrow I won't have to worry about it.  Pillows still have to fit too.  A dog would like to stow away but I just don't think the airline would like to find a puppy in the luggage.

So for now I have a breakfast planned this morning and family time for tomorrow.  It's hard to think that I'll be leaving for 1500 miles away in just two days.

2 days and counting.....

The Final Countdown

It's 3 am, well, now it's 4 but I was up at 3.  I guess with 3 days left, maybe this will be what starts to happen.  With only a few days left, my mind will start racing even more, I'll figure out things that I've forgotten to send, don't know if it will fit in what room I have left or if I'm really doing the right thing.  (I know it is)

Time is short, I had a great dinner and visit with a friend last night.  I'm very glad we went and the skeeters weren't too bad even.  Knock on wood whatever bites I did receive aren't bugging me.  Ha!  We chatted about her upcoming wedding.  I'm bummed I won't be around for much of festivities that go along with it but that I guess is a price we pay for living far away now.

Today's line up includes time with the sister before she heads back to work for the next few days.  It's the last day she has off before I leave.  I think her and Mom have plans for my hedges and then a lunch at a favorite pizza place.  She'll enjoy the back seat at least one more time while I'm here but I know she'll love having me gone as she'll graduate to the front seat while I'm away.  

Our girl doxie turns 7 today.  Yes, they are like our kids and she'll probably get some special food today.  As soon as Eric finds out it's his little girls birthday he might even give her a little nibble of the cake that's on the counter.  After all, who doesn't deserve a little cake on their birthday?

Well, here's hoping that maybe a little bit of sleep will come my way before the day really gets underway......and to making the next few days count.

3 days........