Welcome to Day #5

Here we are, out in the bush, living, learning, and loving it all. We are now on day 5 without water in the village. Rumors are running wild. Some reports say we'll have water sometime today while others say it won't be until we have a nice warm spring day. Hopefully the later is not the truth of it being that a warm day will not happen until about April or so.

Today is our first day back to school using "honey buckets". I've taken some pictures of them so everyone will be able to see what it is like here in bush Alaska. Just glad I am not the one responsible for the buckets!!!

Lesson to us all... always appreciate what you have!

The Joys of Bush Life

This is our storage room. I don't think I've ever taken one of it before. Well, it is now our "outhouse" of sorts. The entire village of St. Michael is without water/plumbing. Welcome to the bush Alaska life!!!



We have totes of melting snow. Have to use this for washing dishes, washing bodies, washing anything.... Oh life in the bush...




Here's Petunia relaxing and enjoying a mid morning brunch, being that we are not having school today.



This is the quilt that I "finished" over the weekend. It's quite warm! I am going to sew a "dust ruffle" on to the bottom and then will completely finish the quilt. It is a rag quilt so it still has to be cut.

St. Michael will be holding school tomorrow regardless of the water situation. We have "honey buckets" being flown in from Nome today. Should be fairly interesting... will report that tomorrow!

Congrats to the Storm!!! Our girls and boys basketball teams both placed 3rd in the tournament over the weekend. Both teams also received Sportsmanship Awards. Two girls and two boys from SMK were also picked to be on the All Tournie Team!
Job well done Storm!

It's Friday... best day of the week...

I think that is often said on YES FM 99.5 and I have to admit, Fridays are wonderful but my personal favorite day of the week would have to be Saturday!

Well we are still surviving the freezing temps! Today is registering at about -25. It didn't seem that cold as I was walking to work but the thermometer says it is so. I took a picture of the nice ice build up by our front door. I had to chip it away the other day so the door would open and close without that most annoying squeal.



















This was taken last Friday... not the best day of the week! Patty was in my room, getting some warmth. Many of the classrooms were pretty chilly. It seems the blowers were not working properly. They were blowing cold air instead of hot. My room may not be very big; however, it is the furnace room so it is usually fairly warm. I'll have to get some photos around the school one of these days.
Great weekend to everyone... and enjoy the best day of the week... SATURDAY!!!


To Watty - Thanks for doing my shopping... love ya! and to Ed - Thanks for the treat! Love you too

Wednesday - January 25, 2006

Hey there from the Great White Tundra! Time for an update. The temps are still fairly low (-24 today) and we are still hoofing it but there is goodness to be found! The sun is coming up much earlier. About 10:00 a.m. the sun was out and shining! It is also staying light longer. I am told the Northern Lights start dancing sometime in February. I am looking forward to seeing those!!!

Our basketball teams travel to Nulato this weekend. Good Luck Storm! We also have a dance team going to Stebbins to drum and dance in the festival going on Thursday - Saturday. The Native dancing is quite an experience. I am hoping to make it over to see at least one night of entertainment.

Well that is a short update of life in the bush. Hope all is well back home... Take care...

Just for the record....

Right Now for
Saint Michael, AK (99659)
Save this Location

Partly Cloudy
-42°F
Feels Like
N/A°F
Updated Jan 21 11:56 a.m. Alaska ST
UV Index: 0 Low
Wind: CALM
Humidity: N/A
Pressure: 29.73 in.
Dew Point: N/A°F
Visibility: 10.0 miles

There it is folks... new record! We are up and at 'em though. It would be a great day to sleep in but we are here to play ball! Last night the Storm fought a good fight but ended up one point below the Huskies. More updates later...

Friday - coldest one yet!!!

Saint Michael Weather

at: 8:36 am AKT
Currently: -35°
Fair
High: -13°
Low: -19°


Yep, there it is folks... -35 degrees!!! And I thought it was actually warmer than yesterday...Crazy me! We walked to the school today as the Hondas are just a bit frozen! I looked up our 5 day forecast and we are in for a warm up on Sunday; it is supposed to get up to 2 ABOVE!!!
St. Michael has boys home basketball this weekend. The girls go on the road to Teller. I'll update those games later. The boys are on a 2 game winning streak.
I talked to my friend Denise, who lives in Shishmaref, yesterday. She said that they had 3 polar bears running around their island. I'd love to see a polar bear but I am not so sure I'd like them to be running wild on the island. We had a bit of excitement here on our island Wednesday. We had to hold the kids because there was a fox with rabies running wild around here. Think I'll take the fox over the polar bears.
Have a great weekend!

January 19, 2006

I knew her first... This is Dara - sure to be an outstanding player on the WNBA someday. Dara and Mary are in my after school tutoring...












Notice the time, the temp inside and then the outside temp.... Not real sure what OFL is but I know it means it is really cold. The 4 wheelers wouldn't start this morning so Patty and I hoofed it to work. When I turned my laptop on it read -29 degrees. No wonder the Honda didn't start.











Here she is - the ISS queen... no, not really. This is Deanna Dae.

This is my new ruff. It is made of beaver, wolverine, and wolf. It is very warm and I love it!













Many people wonder about the amount of daylight we get here. I've taken these pictures to give you an idea.






This picture was taken about 5:30 p.m. Saturday night.








This was taken Sunday morning about 11:00. The moon is still visible in the far west. It's a beautiful sight!

Some of the kids...

This is Ollie

















All is cool with Daniel


















The tough guys... Kyle, Keith, and Isaiah

Good Solid Roads Only!!!

This is the one road on our island. It connects St. Michael to Stebbins. I took this photo while driving to Stebbins last Saturday morning. St. Michael hosted a basketball tournament and Stebbins was invited to come. Now, here's the deal. Stebbins and St. Michael schools share the suburban. (the sub, big beast, or big bomb as I call it) The Sub stays in St. Michael because our landing strip is about 3 miles from the school, whereas Stebbin's strip is right at the school. When they need the use of the Sub theylet us know and all is set.
Well, this weekend their ball teams needed transportation to St. Michael so I was given the job as driver. Not exactly thrilled but I was willing so I headed to Stebbins bright and early. All would have been fine had I not been given one other mission. While in Stebbins I was to go to the Native store and see if they had any nacho cheese. (our nachos had sold out the night before) My ride over was fairly uneventful, I even had time to snap the photo. I decided to head to the store before I picked up the team. They did not have the cheese I needed so on to the school. I saw a little U-turn kind of thing and decided to use it. MISTAKE!!! What looked like a snowmobile trail/snowplow turn was actually a snowdrift over a very large hole in the ground. I buried the suburban! The Sub was sank!!! I knew I was not going to be able to get it out so I hoofed it over to the school. One of the guys there called a few people and was able to reach someone that would get it out.
I ran back to the Sub and begin to dig a bit. Marty, the guy that lives beside the store, came out and started shoveling. I knew it was a wasted effort but at least it looked good. Finally the CAT came. Let me tell you, I now know why some of the vehicles around here look the way they do. When someone gets stuck they don't hook up a rope and pull it out like they do back home. They call the man with the catapiller and he literally pushes the vehicle out. All I can say is Thank goodness it was the beast and not my little Santa Fe!
Anyway, I got out, got the team to St. Michael and was sent back to get the boy's team... That trip I avoided going anywhere that wasn't solid road! (By the way, you think news travels fast in Pickford... try living in this village!!!)

Here are some pictures

My Smudge still loves me!












Harley was thrilled to see me...















Girls night out...
Me, Sherry, Dawn, Watty, and J-Sto












Some of the mountain ranges between Anchorage and Unalakleet















The sun was just setting as we were taking off from Unalakleet. It was a beautiful sight to come "home" to.

We're back!!!!

Happy New Year to Everyone!
I had a great Christmas back in Pickford. It was fun seeing everyone and enjoying family!
Patty and I left the U.P. January 1st. We flew to Anchorage and met Jeannie on Sunday. Monday we spent the day shopping and getting things ready to mail back to the bush. Then Tuesday we headed back to the island.
Things are pretty much the way they were when we left. It hadn't snowed much at all, of course until last night. I think we got about 3 inches or so but I am sure that will be gone by the end of the day. For the record, it doesn't melt, it blows away. It's about 18 out today. Nice and toasty.

Nancy and Jack - Hope you are glad to see the new post! Think of you often
Harlam and Ruth - Special Hello from Alaska!
Family and Friends - Great seeing you... love you all!

I'll attempt to find time later to post some pictures from home later!