Alaskan Summer

We've been really busy lately around here.  Until this year, we haven't really done many traditional "Alaskan" things.  We're trying to get into those things, so our life has taken on a busier pace than we're used to.  

Since I haven't had a chance this week (until now) to sit down at the computer, here's a random grouping of what we've been up to.

The weather has been gorgeous lately here in the interior.  Warm with very little rain (though there has been enough to help a little with the fire season)

Dave spent the weekend in Soldatna dipnetting Chinook Salmon.  They didn't get mass amounts of fish (the weekend before would have been more successful), but he got the experience, and I think he's hooked!  We're planning a family trip to Valdez next month to fish for Silvers.

We're going to spend the evening processing the fish they were able to catch.  There's a high learning curve for all of this, but I'm determined to learn.  Part of living here in Alaska is the desire to harvest from the wild what you can and I want to embrace that a lot more.

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I did one trip so far this year to pick blueberries.  I gotta say, I pretty much hate picking wild blueberries.  It's a lot of work for not a lot of harvest.  The mosquitoes are plentiful when you're out there and I feel a little crazy with those bloodsuckers trying to find a spot that doesn't have bug spray on it (they even bite through your clothes!)  For now, I'm swearing I'll never go again, but since I'm a glutton for punishment, I probably will. 

  

  

This is bear country, so we go armed  

(remind me to never where that outfit again...so unflattering, even for berry picking)

  

 

   

Though the kids are so loud, we're likely very safe

Lydia is getting good at picking berries for herself

 
My kids got to ride on their friends' little 4 wheeler for the first time

Even Lydia got in on the action.  They had so much fun!!

 

I got to spend some time picking fireweed to make jelly.  

My friend, Candice (a true Alaskan woman for sure) and I picked during a light drizzle of rain and it was so peaceful and lovely. I had a great time.  I'll go fireweed picking any day!  We were soaked by the time we got done, but it was a lot of fun.

 

I'll post about what I did with these beautiful flowers next week

The kids have been going to fun day camps, which keeps us busy with all the driving.  We also went to Chena Lakes for the first time since we've been here.  Man, have I been missing out.  The lake is awesome and I can actually get a tan out there since the mosquitoes aren't that bad. 

We were out there from 6:30-9:30...check out that 9pm sunshine!

Hopefully I'll have a chance to get some photos of the salmon processing tonight.  I'm excited to learn how to freeze, can and smoke those beauties.  Wild caught, healthy fish to feed our family over the winter is a huge blessing and I'm so glad to get the chance to experience.