Flying in the Fall

 I've been fortunate to have such incredible opportunities up here this year. One of my new interests has been to go flying with some talented pilots and new friends. They've been letting me jump in occasionally to be "co-pilot" and I enjoy being able to pack totes and luggage. I hardly understood some of their jargon when I first wore the headsets, but the more I spend time in the planes or at the pilot house in St. Mary's I'm learning more about flying.

I am very interested in getting my pilot's license, so I've gotten some advice on how to go about it given my current situation with teaching and living out here in Alakanuk. I'm not quite sure which route I'll go yet, but I could work at it slowly or try going to flight school at a place like Sheble Aviation in Arizona for a quick summer program. For now, I'll probably grab a book I was recommended today that has some nice visual representation of information and continue hanging out with this humorous bunch.

It's a nice little vacation to hear the pilots and their entertaining shop talk, rather than being a part of our normal teacher shop talk anywhere else I go around here. Today I was flying and I am amazed how quickly the tundra has turned from brilliant greens and deep blues to burnt orange and yellows. As we flew through a confusion of bright sun, white clouds, and rain clouds, the tundra as I knew it a couple weeks ago had changed drastically taking on a new personality.

On this new rusty canvas, I saw a lone cow near a slough and just a short distance away some men were paddling in their boat navigating the corners towards the moose. They hadn't seen it yet, but I smiled as I took in the scene and wondered if they'd decide to shoot it or paddle on- a story that I would never know the end.  I like how flying gives you such mobility and perspective. Once you're up in the sky, you see weather in the distance, as well as the bright white swans frolicking happily under a flock of geese migrating away from the cold. Unfortunately, I haven't been taking pictures. I'll make a point to get pictures soon!

Today, I believe I was on the last Era flight ever to land at the old Alakanuk airport. Our new airport, much further away from our house, has the grand opening tomorrow. It is a much larger runway and should support cargo planes. Our old airport which has been such a nice quick walk from my house will be torn up soon and no longer used. It is fun to be able to say I was one of the last people to use it, though!

After I got back I decided to spend my afternoon helping my roommate, Theresa, edit a paper, Skyping with my parents who just got back from Europe, cleaning, working out with Sammy, and cheering the place with some fall decorations.

Got a Pumpkin Spice candle from a friend that makes our house cozy!

I made some Molasses Oatmeal bread from a recipe my mom gave me.

Theresa thought we needed one more decoration, so I made one.

New shelves for our living room with some fall love embedded in. 

With the aroma of the candle going and the glittery fall leaves, our house is comfortable and welcoming. Theresa commented, "Wow. Our place looks less like an apartment and more like a home." I forgot how much I love fall decorations. With our weather slowly turning to frosty mornings and afternoon rain, winter is definitely around the corner. My order of tea arrived and I possibly found a new book to read, so I'll need to carve some time in my evenings for some cozy-time.

Bears and Bonfires

We heard there was a black bear by the dock.

 Last weekend, a black bear was spotted by the dock. About a month ago a man shot a nice sized black bear in Emmonak. Another guy got on out on the coast in Nunam Iqua. This black bear has been sighted around Alakanuk, even on the runway at the airport. I'm surprised to see and hear of so many bears around here this year. I'm not sure what's causing them to come out to check out the tundra, but it's kind of fun seeing them.

Bear track next to my hand.

 I walked to the dock with my 30-06 for a bonfire with other staff members and two missionaries who were here. We had good time shooting guns and roasting marshmallows on the shore of the Yukon.

Michaela modeling my newfound stool.

Culea and Holly (new teachers this year)

Driftwood and swampland.

Our bonfire bunch.

Who needs a roasting stick? Not Sammy.

Flora found a driftwood recliner.

Sammy and I sporting some fun-guns. 

Despite dressing very warmly, my ear plugged up and I ended up with a sinus infection and ear infection that I'm still fighting a week later.