This was just a pig Dolly Varden. Milt and Michael took me out, so big thanks to them. 23 inches long and 12 around. Biggest trout I have caught. Look forward to more.

Hot water pipe froze??? This was last week. Lucky for us, there was a panel that gave access to the pipes. I think this has happened before :-)

This is the name of the school if you were wondering. Don't ask me how to say it. We are the Seahawks and this is our territory. I try to get a picture of the school up this weekend, maybe a tour if your nice.

Sundog Update

Per Grace:

In Yup'ik, akerta-gguq aliimatengqertuq (the sun has gloves on).

nengllipiaqatarluni (both hands).

Per Emma:

Interpretation: Get your parka out, it's going to be cold.


Two days later we had the exact same scene. So maybe they are not that rare. Fog mixed with sun low on the horizon: Sundog weather

Also, it was cold.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Even though the economy is in the crapper be thankful it's not this one :-)
Let's hope this economy doesn't kick the bucket, that would smell. I'm sorry I'll stop.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...wish we could be there. Nobody makes apple pie for me Grandma.

This is our thermometer. That much frost is about -20 below. Took this picture on the door of our arctic entry way. Notice the snow that has not melted all week. You can hang meat in there. Not joking. Our water distiller was out there, (was) it froze.

Gas

I don't think I have mentioned this yet. Gas is $6.22/gal. Toys are expensive and then worrisome in the cold. $1.90 looks beyond belief at this point. They set the price each fall right before freeze up. So that price is not going anywhere until the spring. By that time it will probably be back up to 4-5 bucks a gallon down south. Hope not, but lets be realistic. Quinhagak does have 15 miles of dirt roads to travel and when the ground freezes there are many miles of trails. Plus, I come home at lunch everyday and let the dogs out. So the machine is needed (I keep telling myself).

Been quietly looking at boats and jet prop motors too. haha. Digging into the frozen tundra -Don't tell Steph.

Weather

Always a theme. The weather has turned cold and I have a new appreciation this year of its effects. Starting a 4-wheeler in -15 weather is not fun. We give it 15 minutes in the morning and 5-6 minutes at lunch to warm up. The Big Bear has been running really good the last 2 weeks though and good thing too. I don't think the weather is going to warm up anytime soon. We have a new cover, a oil pan heater, and battery wrap heater on the way. So things will hopefully be toasty warm under the ole Yamaha soon. I feel bad for her.

New Music Friday

-Bela' Fleck - Bach
- Virtuoso playing and our dog's namesake to boot.
-Hear

Ryan Adams - Carolina Rain
-Much different than last weeks song. This classic is Steph's favorite song. Great storytelling.
-Hear

Jack White - Wayfaring Stranger
-Different side of White here, nice version of a classic. Some say this guy will be who we talk about 50 years from now from this generation. We'll see.
-Hear

One from the Vault:

Hank Williams - Lovesick Blues
Very nice song here. I have another version from Ryan Adams, but no video. So with the original we will go. I also like in Shawshank Redemption when the guy sings this in the library.
-Hear

Sundog

A sun dog or sundog (scientific name parhelion, plural parhelia, for "beside the sun") is a common bright circular spot on a solar halo. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon primarily associated with the reflection or refraction of sunlight by small ice crystals making up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. Often, two sun dogs can be seen (one on each side of the sun) simultaneously. - Found that on the internet, sounds about right

Bela does this every time we eat. Just fixates

- New Music Friday -

Because music is a huge part of my life and a huge part of my sanity and this blog is about how we live, I have decided to start a "New Music Friday" post. Just stuff I want to recognize as good to me... maybe not necessarily good to you...so in that case disregard Fridays. Music however is how I spend a lot of Fridays...so I share...enjoy

By the way, all this music is not going to be playing on your top 40 or late night mtv, when they sometimes play videos. "That" music, is not music...I feel very strongly about this and will stop now...because this is a positivie post, for positive thoughts. Do a little digging and find the good stuff - luckily it is still out there.


The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
-Nice little bluegrassy, old timey, acoustical trio - discovered them last night - video looks like fun.
-Hear - Will you return


Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinalolgy
-Latest album from my numero uno at the moment. Pretty decent record- no Cold Roses though.
-Hear - Fix It


Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain
-Latest album from the man, the myth - I need a few more listens to pass judgment. Sidenote: I would trade a lot for a beard like that - good looking beard - in the most hetro possible way
-Hear - You Are the Best Thing



One from the vault -

Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
-Not all that old, 98', but she is the one of very few women in my collection - probably because she sounds kind of manish. Beyond good guitar by Doug Pettibone there - lyrics are dark, but don't get hung up on that.
-Hear - Joy

My mom sent us a box of leaves last week . Just leaves. Fourth year in a row too! I took them around today and let everyone have a smell. Many good memories were brought back - Thank you mom

Tomorrow morning John Teddy Roberts is taking me upriver a couple of miles to Ice Fish/Fly fish depending on how the ice is. Dolly Varden and Rainbows are the prize. Should be interesting if we get a chance to fly fish in the snow. I will take the video camera and try to get some video.

John took me out the other night ice fishing right here next to town. Fish were not there, but learning the techniques was good. The first step is to find a big rock. Next, put that rock in a sock and put some salmon eggs from the summer in the sock on top of the rock. Tie the sock at the top and attach a length of string. After chopping some holes drop the sock into a hole and tie it off at the top. Albert our secretary and professional fishing guide during the summer calls it "cheating" not chumming.

That's all for now. Later

Room with a view...

This is the view from my classroom window. I love clear days.

Nov. 4

Man the lines were long here. I think I waited in line for 10 seconds or something. lol