River Picnic

It was looking a bit blustery when we decided to drive out the road for a quick picnic, so we decided to go to the put-in at Sargeant River. Emmy and I ate our lunch in the car since it was so chilly, but after we got out there was much fun to be had, including smores and throwing rocks in the water.

Jeremy thought the levels looked good for a quick run so we came home and he got his boat and he headed back out. Kathy volunteered to set shuttle for him. Emmy and I decided to work on the hanging baskets.

Chives

My chives really took off this year. So much that with the recent rains they got a little bowed over. So today I picked a huge bunch of them and chopped them to dry. That way I can always have some on hand to add to soups or pasta salads, or whatever needs a little greening up before serving.

I had a ziplock bag of dried chives last winter and it was great to have on hand. It lasted all winter, and saved me a bit on my green onion purchases. If you live in Kodiak, you know that a small bunch of green onions can cost up to 2 dollars, already wilted, so it is nice to have an alternative, even if it is dried.

Now the kitchen has a zesty onioney fragrance and my eyes are just mildly burning. I put the cookie sheet in the oven (with it off) to hopefully cut down on the vapors.

My little Baker

Ever since Emmy made her own birthday cake with Grandma Sizemore, she has really enjoyed helping bake sweet treats. She has done 3 cakes in the past month, some cupcakes, and here she is helping out with the banana bread we made yesterday. It turned out very good with a few semi-sweet chocolate chips thrown in. I am trying to make sure there is at least one piece left when she gets home from daycare!

Crab Fest Weekend

We have had a lot of fun this weekend with family in town. Here are a few pics to enjoy...

The Girls...

Emmy on a ride at the Crab Festival.

Emmy making cupcakes for our dinner party.

New Koniag/KANA building

Yesterday we went to the grand opening of the new Koniag/KANA building over on Near Island. Will Anderson, President and CEO of Koniag, and Andy Teuber, President of KANA presented a Jerry Laktonen paddle to the architect who designed their new building. Another Laktonen paddle went to the construction company.

The building was absolutely beautiful, and I'd guess there was well over 200 people in attendance.

The Garden

I am not an expert gardener, but I love to be in the garden. Every spring There are a series of phases I go through about gardening. In about January or February when those cheap gardening catalogs come in the mail, I gaze hopefully at them, the bright flowers, the full grown blooming trees...then remember that anything I ever ordered from those catalogs, except for my rugosa roses, never survived.

Then when things begin to thaw out in April (if we are lucky) I start obsessing about kelp and beach peat to improve the soil. The obsessing happened this year, but I never actually got any kelp. I just drive around in my car with those yellow rubber gloves and a few garbage bags, thinking I will get some "next time," every time I drive by Mill Bay beach.

The next phase is the indoor planting phase, which for me, this year, consisted of some cilantro in a six inch pot. Still alive by the way. And I got Emmy to eat a few leaves. Huzzah!

Following that is the biggest phase, which is obsessing about getting everything into the ground. It usually begins with some premature plant purchases, which must be babied for a number of weeks because it is still too cold or they are not hardened off, but I put a lot of thought about where they will go and when. I also soak my nasturtium and sugar snap peas to wake them up before I sow them outside.

This year, since I had to start some new beds due to our new dog's chosen walkway (down the length of the bed along the house), so there was planning with Jeremy and getting new dirt, etc. I moved the plants that had survived and set about stocking the new beds mostly with perennials. I also started some potatoes and carrots and a whole bed of calendula since I am hoping to make some tinctures or salves or soaps with the petals this fall. I just cannot rest until everything is planted.

As of now I have just a few measly potato starts to get in the ground, but today I also began my last planting phase, which is the hanging baskets. I have my starts, but I think I will wait until the weekend to put them all in baskets. I am a bit worn out from all the weeding I did today reviving an overgrown bed after I realized I had too many plants for the beds I had going.

The garden will be beautiful this year.

Posting from Akhiok

Yes, It has been a while. I had a talk the other day with Patrick S. about blogging, and that got me thinking about doing another post. That, and the fact I deactivated my Facebook account. I intended to reactivate after a few days just to give those FB execs a message about my privacy concerns (because I know they really care about me personally), but then I just haven't had the urge to go back on. The only drawback is that I can't contact a few select people I would like to be in touch with. Maybe one of these days I will reactivate, then quickly deactivate again. ha ha.

So I am in the Akhiok school right now. I came down for the day to do a presentation for the Akhiok-Kaguyak, Inc. annual meeting about the Alutiiq Language program and status of the language. I think it went pretty well, and I even got a blanket with the AKI logo, in case I get weathered in! No, I am pretty sure I will get back to Kodiak tonight (knock on wood). I have potatoes to plant this weekend, so Servant Air, come on down!

Final Push

Don't expect much from me over the next month...I am entering a last big push of writing in order to finish up my dissertation...I am going on educational leave and focusing all my energy on getting a full draft.
Here's a cute Emmy Pic to enjoy in the meantime. Can you believe she is almost 3?

Snow and schoolwork

I just spent about a day at the Saltonstall compound working on schoolwork, but came home few hours early for the snow storm that hasn't materialized...yet. I had planned to go out to Pasagshak for writing, but the weather has been very snowy. Speaking of snow, a friend just broke her leg sledding this afternoon when she ran into a tree. Poor Thing! Don't worry up at the hospital - we fed your kids!

I have remained safely inside, though safe may not be the best descriptor. I was trying to get a side table out of the apartment this afternoon, while holding aside a leaning mattress and an old high chair with my leg (I should mention it's a bit messy in there right now), and when I stood up I rammed my forehead into the side of a door Jeremy had removed during installation of the new floor. So I have kinda like a lavender goose egg, with a fuschia line running vertical, right on my hairline, mid forehead. I may try to play it up, make it look intentional.

The House is a Shakin'

They downgraded the wind warning from 65 to 55 mph, but I haven't had the house shake this bad since we moved back from Fairbanks. I'd say the gusts are well above 55 mph. I don't think it is snowing, but the snow is blowing horizontal along the windows. Jeremy is out there shoveling the driveway. Maybe I should have him tie off?

We had a blizzard warning much of the day and it was pretty terrible, near zero visibility at times on the road. They closed the museum early due to the weather, road conditions and projected winds. I hear a number of other activities, college classes, etc. were also cancelled.

And weren't we Kodiak bloggers talking about the unseasonable spring weather just a week or so ago? I am just hoping this snow is insulating the poor perennials that chose to sprout early. My trip to Pasagshak later this week to finish up a few chapters may need to be reconsidered, but that is a few days off. Who knows. My Alutiiq language teacher Nick always says, "March comes in like a lion." I'd say he's right this year.