The Land Nov. 2011

Good morning.  We were promised terrible weather by the forecast people due to the storm blowing in from Siberia.  It has been a little bad, but nothing like was predicted.  Fairbanks folks have been having steady -30* for several days now while we been not quite reaching -20*.  Maybe the weather is heading our way? 

Tuesday afternoon, we received a message that Jason Underhill, while in Karluck, AK working, fell 20 feet from a man lift.  It was discovered that he fractured a lower and upper vertebra.  After a lot of severe pain and some other symptoms that I’ll leave out and after he had been released from the hospital, someone re-looked at his x-rays and observed extremely bruised kidneys and several cracked ribs.  After the first diagnosis, the hospital had released Jason.  Alex and Jason went to friend’s place in Kodiak to rest.  Now, the hospital wants Jason back but he’s in too fragile a condition to move.  Lura can’t make it out there due to 50 mph winds; Alex is taking care of his dad on his own. 

Instead of church on Sunday and again last night (Wednesday), we butchered and packaged several cows and pigs. 

Hunters’ breakfast at the Trotzkes was a huge hit, AGAIN.  Kevin won the prize for giving the best moose call.  We had him demonstrate at supper for us. Koehler's did win the biggest horn derby.  Seth made a slide show that if he ever you tubes, I’ll pass along a link.  I think my favorite part of the slide show is at the end, there is a movie clip of Kevin right after he shot his first moose.  Talk about excited!  Tommy wrote a story that is really cute.  Maybe I can get a digital copy for you all. 

Pat has been rather busy with piano work all over Alaska, it seems. He gets home from one trip and then goes out on another. The last one was his Copper River, Glennallen one where he stops at SAPA and tunes their pianos and then moves on to the rest of the community at large. When home he is still wood processing firewood for the community at home and it was his week for FIREWATCH, which means stoking all the big boilers (4) to keep the public buildings going. Both schools, tack shop, blacksmithing and mechanic shops, etc. This is a job that is meant for younger men, but he still does it as do others in his age group...keeps them in shape. Pat tries to go out on his ski trail for a few miles everyday...

The AGSD has provided Rob with some awesome school equipment. Bsides his treadmill from last year now he has a nice pair of red  REDFEATHER SNOWSHOES, a new Mac running SnowLeopard  with cutting edge technology (I love you Mr. Jobs,. RIP !)…and some awesome software for MATH, READING AND TYPING. Some of it is online so I have to stay home some of the time to do that and then go to school for the rest. He continues to get therapists come to Dry Creek a few times a year. Speech Path, OT, PT, and his beloved Sped teacher Paula….(she's the one with the 75 dogs Rob visited this summer).

I continue to take the younger generation out on the snowshoeing trails. Ages range from 6 to 14 (Rob). I do try and go out on my own with Annie on a longer trail which gives me an adequate workout then return and do some of my new found love for Yoga….can't do all the moves but am trying…does make a difference.

Since I teach high school Spanish using the Rosetta Stone software, Rob joins my class for 45' every day. He has his own laptop and his own Rosetta Stone, kindly procured by the AGSD Correspondence REACH Academy (Resources for Educating Alaska's Children at Home). He likes it and actually does very well on it, speaking Spanish into the microphone! haha...next thing I'll take him to Spain for TOTAL IMMERSION, huh?

My sis. Karenza Hanson spent 3 weeks in BA, Argentina. Looking into my stepmum's situation as well as visiting friends and family.

 my sister Marina, Karenza and cuz Cecilia

So nothing new on the home front. We are slowly being enveloped into a world of winter wonderland. Our cabins are warm and cozy, we have food on the table, kids and friends who love and complete us and we are never alone. What's not to like?

God is good.

Have a great day! and rest of the week. KEEP WARM!

Rob got invited to a youth gathering at one of the homes. He enjoys that!