Cold Cuts

Fresh Meat and Dried Fish

One thing I will say, people are willing to share here! Mr. Bill, the math and science teacher, and Ms. Kate, the English teacher, got a moose the first week of moose hunting. They shared some fresh meat with me.

I made steaks with it and cut the rest for stew meat. Delicious.

They also gave me some smoked/dried salmon.

Went for a Walk Again 9/9/2011

There are lots of little lakes and ponds around. Left and below is Roadhouse Mountain. Everyone says they see bears up there all the time.

Dusk

The moon was almost full.

Teen center

The colors are amazing here. They change all the time from greens and yellows to blues.

The picture to the right is one of my favorite pictures.

This row of houses is called the "new HUD houses" on the lake side of the road, and on the other side of the road are the "old HUD houses" that overlook the river. A few more homes right on the river and lake, and that is all the houses in Newhalen.

The Art of Berry Picking


Berries here grow close to the ground. These are called "low bush" berries. The pine-looking leaves to the right of the red plant is called Labrador tea. It smells really good and can be used as a medicinal tea. The berries in this pic are crowberries and blackberries. They aren't like the blackberries (high bush) we have at home. They are just little black pea-sized berries. So far I have picked over two gallons of berries, including blueberries. People make agutak (pronounced uh-goo-tack) or "Eskimo Ice Cream" out of the berries in winter. It is made with Crisco, sugar, a dash of milk, and berries. Actually, it is pretty good, and of course, fattening.

Fall on the tundra is not observed by looking up. The evergreens stay the same. Fall is observed by looking down as the fireweed turns red and the plants on the ground turn colors. There are, however, some birch trees here whose leaves turn yellow in color.

My friend, Colleen, bought me this seat in PA. Unfortunately, about an hour after this pic was taken, I plopped down on it and broke it. :( I will miss it, because it saved my knees and my back.

8/25-26/2011 Funky Bathroom Stalls and Rainbows

These are great stalls in the ladies' room at the King Ko Restaurant in Naknek.

Here is a partial rainbow behind the SAVEC building at the old airforce base in King Salmon. (above and right)

Here is another rainbow in Naknek.

Boats docked for the winter at Naknek.

The Cost of Things in Bush Alaska 8/20-22/2011

The cost of living in bush Alaska is absurd.

It costs $11.55 for a variety pack of Pringles. Ice pops are $13.35 per pack.

A 10 lb. bag of flour is $17.75.

A 4 lb. bag of sugar is $7.59.

A box of 144 Huggies diapers costs $72.65.

FREE: blueberries, blackberries, crowberries, cranberries, and flowers to make fireweed jelly.

FREE:
Dried salmon

FREE:
Moose meat

This fancy sign is from the Naknek Trading Company's General Store. The grocery store is right next to it. Believe it or not, the prices are slightly lower than in Iliamna. I bought a kitchen towel set and some long underwear here. Prices are crazy. I am glad I shipped most of my stuff up ahead of time. I'm ordering fresh produce from WA state from a place called Full Circle Farms that sells organic fruits and vegetables. I am going half with anther teacher, so it is not so expensive.

8/20/11 The Landing and the Rapids


This is The Landing where boats can be put in to go North up the river to Nondalton and Lake Clark. Fellow teachers: Mary, Derek, and Kirsten. This is north of the village.