Summer time Fun

We had a mildly warm summer this year. Not too hot, not to cold...but Just Right! We decided it was time to go for a swim since the sun was out and the water was warm. We had a hard time convincing Adriana there's nothing to be afraid of. That there's nothing frightening in the water. We told her it's shallow, warm, that Skylar's having a good time. But still, she kept on crying and fought to get in the water.

Spring herring eggs

We've been trying to keep our posts up to date...here are some pictures from this spring, herring season. Here you will see Drew picking the herring eggs off the rocks and enjoying them! Delicious!!!!!!!!!

Parka Project

I've always wanted my own Alaska Native Parka, custom made by one of the "experts" here in Alaska. Never thought that would be me. Drew and I have been talking about making a parka since last winter, now that winter is here...it's time to get busy sewing! We're making our parka's out of Icelandic sheep skin (grey in color). I'm making my shell out of heavy cotton velvet, (merlot/burgundy in color) with a beautiful matching trim for the cuffs, pockets and bottom half of the parka. Mine will be a full zip parka. Drew's doing his with heavy, waterproof canvas, one in white and another in black outer shells, half zip parka. Both of our parka ruffs will be made of beaver, wolf and wolverine. Also for both parka's we'll trim the cuffs with beaver. We have our hands full, it's fun to have a small project on the side, especially to make your very own parka, CUSTOM MADE BY ALASKANS!!!!!!!! Lol!

Winter Snow Babes!

Future wrestlers of St.Michael/Stebbins!!!! Ok, maybe not...Drew can dream! Adriana always gotta bully her older twin,...thats Skylar on the bottom with Adriana sitting on top of her! Adriana being the clever little monkey that she is, she was thinking of what to do to her sister who is laying on her snowball...."Hmmm, what should I do to my sister while she's down?!" The whole time Adriana is sitting on Skylar, Skylar is screaming and laughing,"Get off me,mama sister on me!!" It's all too cute and funny! At the end their all smiles! These were taken sunday afternoon.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!! May the spooks be with you, LOL!!!!!! Here's our Two Little Monkies! " One little ,two little Monkies.....jumping on the bed, one fell off and one laughed her butt off!!!!!" Here you will see my neice Alaina in the pumpkin costume and our cousin Maria in the Dora the Explorer costume. My mom in the pink fleece and some of her grandchildren.

Family Portrait

This summer my Aunt Anna was here for a few days. She took this lovely picture of "The Gang!" Hope you like. :)

Last Of The Fall Fish

This summer we didn't have a nice boat to go out fishing or camping. We'd go to my parents place in Stebbins to help with fish. For a little while our four wheeler was "OUT OF ORDER", LOL! So we kinda hung around St.Michael, took the kayak for a paddle around St.Michael Bay. Bibianna and Darren Billingsley were done for the season with fishing and hunting. They were nice enough to leave their net out and let us use it. Thanks to them, we have a freezer full of filleted salmon, among other things. Dried seal meat, dried salmon, dried whale meat, buluga, fresh blue and black berries, freshly baked, but now frozen bread, Bering Sea King Crabs, shrimp! LOL, Well, you all get the picture now. Here you will see Drew out in our kayak checking the salmon fish net. And a few pictures of our lovely full freezer! Yummy, look at them crab legs, oh and some moose!!!!

Girls with Uncle Kenny

This summer Drew went to Bethal for a couple of weeks. I had my younger brother Kenny baby-sit for us. He did a good job with the girls, making breakfast, kept the house clean, made sure the girls hair was fixed and that they were dressed properly,he kept them well entertained, that's for sure! Wish we had kids like him here in St.Michael.

Butchering Falls First Whale

We first heard of people spotting whales off the shores of St.Michael Bay. You can see trails of waves where the whales swim near the surface. "Whales, theres whales out in the ocean!" kids screaming with excitement. There were a few hunters that went out and only two hunters were successful, Victor Steve and Danny Long. After pulling the whale to shore at one end of town, they decided to move it closer to their homes on the other side of town, near the tank farm. After pulling the 18-20 foot whale to shore, the community of St.Michael came together and helped butcher the whale. It was just a small handfull and then more people came, mostly the kids. Drew got down and dirty and helped with the whole whale, an elderly lady by the name of Mary Cheemuk was surprised to see a "gussaq" working on the whale. " That's a qussaq! Theres a white man, a teacher working on the whale!" She said. Drew heard her and just went on with what he was doing, laughing to himself. For helping, Drew and I got a slab of white meat and the dark meat. We stayed up cutting and bagging them. We dried most of the dark meat, very delicious! Here you will see pictures of the whale and three of the guys who butchered the whale, Victor Steve, Danny Long and Drew Larrabee.

Gilthuqak Ceqnuq! (mischief really hard!)

Before heading out for more fun and dancing! lol, gilthuqak ceqnuq!

Day two, more fallen trees

Yea, you can't really fall asleep if your feet are so cold, their numb! We worked hard, pulling and tugging! Well worth it, it's something I'd like to do again in the near future! Maybe this time I can bring a Sobe or two or three!

Dinner, Wine and Dine!

Even if your out camping and on a river rafting trip, doesn't mean you have to eat dry food all the time! We had a delicious chicken "ceasar" salad and a nice glass of red wine, from a box! Hehehehe! With the sun on your back, a warm fire to sit next to, you can't get anything better than that!