Duct Tape Fun on a Friday Afternoon

Concentrating on making a duct tape bow.

My cousin, Brenna, gives a lesson over Skype to my students.

Going in for a dunk on our Blazer Rim

Many of my boys didn't think they'd have fun making bows.

However, I happened to see many boys sporting bows in their hair.

In no time, they were creating two-colored bows and different sizes.

Teamwork makes life easier.

He made this face the second I took this picture.

A couple pretty ladies showing off their bows.

We had a fun time showing off our bows.

The kids' silly Friday-afternoon mood rubbed off on me.

One student made this tiny little bow that we made into a ring.

One aide with her qaspak and matching bow.

A huge thank you to the talented 12-year-old Brenna who excitedly volunteered to teach my class how to utilize duct tape for useful items such as wallets and hair bows. She has inspired them to be creative and daring to try new things. This last time, the kids taught her to say a few words in Yupik and they encouraged her to not be afraid. I was the proud silent teacher in the background as they applauded her efforts and told her she said Quyana (Thank you) well.

Baking in the Bush

 While baking tonight, I realized I've developed some favorite essentials that I would have never appreciated if it weren't for living in the bush. Since milk is about 7 dollars per half gallon, I decided I should try for some of the other options many people try-- shelf milk, canned milk, frozen milk, soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, or powdered milk.

Courtesy of free shipping on Amazon & it doesn't taste like Calf Formula :)

This works great when eggs aren't an option.

My mom got me Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacement. Since we are able to get eggs most of the time, I usually don't use it. But, during times such as the three weeks after Christmas break when eggs weren't available at any store in our village or the next, it comes in handy to have in the pantry.

When time is an issue, this bread machine rocks!

Side note: This makes me wonder why washers and dryers aren't a combined appliance, yet? Think of the convenience.

Three students' birthdays are around this time, so a cake is in order.

We'll celebrate with a Devil's Food cake with buttery vanilla frosting and choc. pudding marbled in.

Uksuqpak nengllirtuq sla: "The weather's been cold this winter"

Looking from my house towards the slough.

In much of November, December, and January, the elders let us know that this is the longest coldest winter they've had in many decades. Last year I remember every once in a while the thermometer would drop below -20 degrees. However, I've gotten used to -30 - -40 with extreme windchill for months now.

Henry, our loving elder.

When I asked Henry today what he thought of this winter he replied, "I didn't like it. It's too cold. Elders in the past used to tell us if the weather wants people to die, it gets really cold and let's them freeze. Elders used to say that to us when we were small. They told us to always let our parents know where we were going before we would leave." Henry says he knows of four people who have died from the cold this winter.

A few minutes later, Bill, our mayor came into the room and I asked him the same question. Bill said, "Wonderful winter! Good flood this year. Clean up the city." Bill and Henry reminisced about about the winters when they were kids. They said it was common for temperatures to be -50 to -60 and the ice on the river would be 5 to 6 feet thick. When they would go ice fishing, they'd need to dig holes with a larger opening at the top and a smaller hole at the bottom so they could get the ice shavings out and reach the water.

Our beautiful on/off ramp to the slough by my house.

Looking out my classroom window at a teacher's roof.

The evening sky is always beautiful while on my way out of school.

Looking at the ground from the air on the way back from Chevak.

Enjoying the afternoon sunshine with our shades.

A few days ago a storm brought the temperature up 70 degrees within 24 hours. It has stayed "warm" for awhile now and the kids and I are sweating in sweatshirts at below freezing temperatures. 

Looking at the melting snow and icicles.

I still love hearing the roar of a plane taking off.

"Village of Hope"

An episode aired all over the state of Alaska last night on KTUU Channel 2 news. Two reporters, Rhonda and Eric, chose to feature Alakanuk for the success of efforts in creating awareness and giving support to a community suffering from grief and suicide. A couple of weeks ago, they roamed the halls of the school and the village gathering footage and interviewing students, staff, health aides, and many community members who have suffered the loss of loved ones to suicide or other tragedies.

After watching my students follow the man with the large camera around, I decided to ask them what the topic of their story was. When they told me it was to focus on the absence of suicides in the last five years, I offered for them to come be a part of our weekly Natural Helpers meeting that afternoon.

Click on the link below to watch last night's report on Alakanuk.
Channel 2 News- "Village of Hope"

Natural Helper's main goal is to focus on preventing suicide, bullying, drug-use, and encouraging general safety. As a group, this year students have helped peers deal with losses related to a few fatal accidents involving alcohol. Although suicide has subsided, other accidents and grief have plagued the village. However, talking to anyone who has lost loved ones recently or in the past, their brave faces hardly show tears and pushing hurt aside and continuing life has become a normalcy for many. Despite some of the recent deaths, behind many of these cheerful, willing, and helpful faces, slowly the healing process has started to help some of the dampened hearts and hope has emerged.

Yesterday Morning's Moon

Shattered Moon

 The silhouette of the branches broke the burnt moon into pieces yesterday morning on my way to school. Luckily, I had my camera my in my bag so I was able to capture it.

I was a little surprised at how this moon turned out.

Uneven surfaces

Back in Alakanuk

This morning when I had checked in from Anchorage to go through St. Mary's to Alakanuk, they were able to find my reservation. This was good news, because after some of the problems trying to get out of the bush (I had a confirmation number but no reservation information, so they gave my seat up), I was assured that they could fit me in January 3rd to make it back in time for work. So I double checked my itinerary and found that I was scheduled for the flight from Anchorage to St. Mary's "10:34 A.M. Jan 03", but my next leg of the trip wouldn't happen till "1:30 P.M. Jun 03." This posed to be a bit of an issue since the plane that brings people downriver usually hold only six (Cessna 207) or nine people (Caravan). I didn't exactly want to inconvenience the kind people of Pitkas Point (village population 125) by spending another night there over Christmas Break. They were able to fix the mistake and I honestly made it home with no mishaps.

To land on our small gravel airstrip in the extremely white and frozen terrain was exciting.  It means opportunities to travel and play around on our snowmachines. The low sun was bright against the frosted branches, but lucky for us it was really only 1:30 and we still had about 3 hours of daylight to enjoy the outdoors.

I packed a few totes across the courtyard, each time huddling inside my house for even a few seconds of warmth. Once my frozen and frozen (was supposed to be refrigerated but that's nearly impossible with this weather) groceries were put away, I had regained some warmth on my face. I text Sammy to see if she wanted to try dig out our snowmachines to go play, and she text back saying she was halfway over. Fanatic minds think alike.

Sammy measures the snow accumulation on her seat.

We finally got them alive with a little love, warmth, and prodding.

Okay, so we're not doing the environment any huge favors.

Due to some last minute riding before vacation, mine ran out of gas.

Our eyelashes were freezing.

 Sammy gave me a ride to the Native Store to get gas and then we rode around to the dock, on the Yukon, over some places where ice built up, some trails, and behind the airport. I felt like my roommate's dog Briar when he first saw me today. He started jumping up and down, running left and right, and trying to do all sorts of tricks. That was me on my machine today. I didn't really have much of a plan, but I loved having the freedom to go hit tiny jumps, plow through powder, drive around a bush, then up over a little mound just for fun.

The cold weather was causing my goggles to freeze, my forehead to feel like it had pins sticking into it, and my thumb to go numb. When I got back inside I checked the weather and found out that it was -33 degrees in Alakanuk and 52 degrees in Winlock. No wonder the screws in my foot had been bothering me!  However, it was definitely worth it to go out and explore. I can't wait till the weather gets a little warmer so its safer and more comfortable to start visiting some of the other villages soon.

Frost on the branches next to my house

Praying for good weather

School for the year 2011 is wrapped up. I'm hoping that the weather stays clear for all the teachers trying to go out to the holidays during the "teacher migration." During this break, I hope to upload some pictures from seal hunting in the ice (yes, that was a while ago...), some outdoor pictures, and Christmas Program preparation.