Navy EOD forces have finally begun to arrive on Adak. Today three helicopters touched down, disgorging men and a jeep, then lifted and flew slowly out into Kuluk Bay and were soon hidden by dense fog. It will be interesting to observe their maneuvers in the next few days.
My kids will tell you I told them they were born so I would have built-in automatic dishwashers; not exactly true, but one possibility. However, today was the first day since 23 May 2016 that I have had my hands in hot water from a faucet that I own.
So today I am singing an ode to the ability to be able to turn on a tap and have hot water gush forth and I LOVED doing dishes! My thanks to all those who made this happen.
My thanks to the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association for the traditional Unangax̂ Plant Symposium hosted in Anchorage this weekend. I was privileged to meet some amazing elders and presenters and was provided with hands on traditional edible and medicinal plants and their uses, most of which also grow on Adak--my pantry and apothecary can only be the beneficiary.
I was pleased to be able to use the bowl my DH, Homer, carved for me in Russian Olive, from a tree we cut down on our property in McCammon, Idaho, after we were first married. The grain of the Russian olive is too large to hold fine detail, hence the bowl is only carved on the top.
Here it is holding a salmon ball appetizer at this evening's opening dinner in Anchorage where I am representing Adak at the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association Unangax̂ Plant Symposium.
Although the calendar says it's the first day of Spring, here on Adak winter is still hanging on with new snow and cold breezes. As I look out my window, I am reminded of how comforting the Danish/Norwegian concept of Hygge is.
As the weather outside is cold and drear, I promise you this wonderful 18thC beverage will warm you and bring feelings of contentment. Dim the lights, cuddle in that cozy chair by the fire, and sip away. Enjoy!
Il faut prendre une pinte du meilleru Vin de Bourgogne. Les Vins de Champagne ne valent rein pour cela. Mettez ce Vin dans une Chocolatiere, avec demi-livre de sucre, une feüille de Macis, deux clous de girofle, & un petit baton de canella, deux dousaines de grains de coriander, & deux ou trios zests de citron, & deux feüilles de laurier franc: mettez ensuite vôtre chocolatiere devant un bon feu, & du charbon allumé tour autour; & quand vôtre vin fera bien chaud, ce que vous connoîtrez à la vapeur ou fume, vous y mettrez le feu avec du papier allumé, & la laisserz brûler jusqu’a ce qu’il s’éreigne tout seul: ensuite moûillez une serviette blanche, & le passez au travers dans une éguiere. Le server tout chaud.
Page 340, Nouvelle Instruction Pour Les Confitures, Les Liqueurs et Les Fruits de Massialot
Eight cups of Fireweed Epilobium augustifolium blossoms drying for use in fireweed wine. I plan to include a pinch of hibiscus for color and red rose petals for an indefinable extra taste using this recipe.
One of the benefits of being an elder in a village community is receiving bounty from younger fishermen and hunters. Today I was blessed with some gorgeous red salmon. I have never seen such deep red nor had so much--the young fisherman had even scaled them for me. My freezer thanks you!
To the Navy man's lady who planted bulbs under the window at 216B Umak before 1994--I found them, replanted them and they are coming up in the sunshine now 3-13-17. I just wanted you to know ...
October 16, 2016
One of our fist visitors and evidently a rare sight--two lovely cranes in the street, yard, and they even ventured into the open garage.
Our little house had lain empty since its last occupants had removed to Diego Garcia–the lady of the house having left me a beautifully doodled note to that effect affixed to the door of the dishwasher. She had been a meticulous housekeeper–other than a few rodent droppings and a crumpled chip bag--the house was spotless.
Here is a picture of the dining room-living room -L- as I found it.
I was blessed to find some used furniture in my favorite style for the dining room–notice some treasured pieces of Royal Doulton Arcadia behind the glass doors
and some Traditional, almost Lawson-style seating for the living room. Little personalization has yet occurred, as most of my household goods are still in storage or in transit. The pink and gold tin candy box on the coffee table has been with me in my travels since I was five.
Stay tuned as I feather my nest throughout the winter ...
Today our pickup with a cabful of pots and pans and sewing machines and tools and a bed loaded with a Baker's Choice stove and five-gallon buckets of foodstuffs was loaded on a barge headed for the island. It should arrive by April 10th.
This post links to Homestead Blog Hop 74
When it takes $1.00 a pound, plus fragility insurance, to ship hundreds of filled glass preserving jars, I will be purchasing a lot of dehydrated foods to ship in their place.
Although my seaside cottage lies in the same hardiness zone [8a] as Brussels, Belgium, the subpolar oceanic climate will surely prove a challenge.
From a tiny 1-bedroom farmhouse with creaky stairs and an established herb garden, potager and mini-orchard
to a 4-bedroom ranch-style home with only a matted lawn and no trees in sight.
Join me as I begin again ...
