From the Archives - Karluk 1985

Yup - that's me, Karluk 1985, my first time in Alaska.  It was the summer after my freshman year of college and I got a job on the Bryn Mawr Archaeological Project in Karluk.  It's funny to think that when this photo was taken Zoya was 9 and living in Kodiak. 

That Summer I got my first taste of Alaska, and somehow or other ended up living here permanently.  Living in Karluk I got pretty tired of eating salmon and to this day I still can not eat smoked salmon.  The people who ran the project had a pretty tight budget for food and we literally ate salmon  for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  At first I REALLY like smoked salmon and ended up buying 10 whole smoked reds attached by the tail.  I chew the skins like bubble gum.  After about the 7th fish in maybe 5 days I developed a severe aversion to anything smoked that is still with me to this day.  And I must admit I'm still not all that wild about salmon either, especially if it is overcooked and dry.

Part of my job as curator at the Alutiiq Museum is to take care of the collection we excavated that summer.  Occasionally, I have run across my old field notes scribbled in the rain on a very dirty piece of lined paper.  I even discovered that my original application with attached vita for the project still exists in the project documentation.  All typed up with a manuel type writer and the mistakes corrected with whiteout.  It makes me look even younger than this picture. Patrick

Stuart is sick too!! :(

 Patrick stayed home from work today-still sick. Stuart got sick as well. Nora is feeling better, however and I'm not sick (yet-phew). Stuarts virus seems the least vicious of them all. He will be smiling and playing and then all of a sudden get sick. Not nearly as "violent" or painful as Nora and Patrick. He is more fussy than normal (can't blame him). 

The day was GORGEOUS-so sunny. Patrick kept saying "I wish I could go skiing. I wish I could go skiing...."

Can't wait till everyone is feeling better. I'm due to go to work tomorrow and hopefully Stuey is feeling better enough for me to make it in. 

Zoya

The Sick House

Stay clear of our red house on Cliffside Road. 

Yesterday Nora got a HORRIBLE stomach virus where she was getting sick every 15-20 minutes for most of the day. Poor thing. Patrick stayed home from work and was so wonderful in taking care of her. I was mightily impressed. He took her right under his wing and cared for her every need when she got sick. Our friend Karen was here for 3 hours helping as well. Bless her heart. She has such a natural way with helping. We made a few phone calls to the doctors office to determine what the hydration protocol was. Jeremy offered helpful advice which worked-1/2 oz. of fluids as able and he reminded us that any amount that goes down will have a chance to get absorbed into her system. Fortunately it passed in the evening and she didn't get sick all night.

This evening Patrick came down with whatever Nora had. He was praying to the porcelain gods like something fierce. Patrick has an uncanny ability to "hold it in"-i.e. repress the urge to throw up when he is sick. I don't know how he does it, but he lays there in a zen like state, not moving a muscle. He says he is able to make himself NOT throw up. 

But not tonight. Poor guy. Hes miserable. In bed with the dogs. Then up to the toilet. Then in bed with the dogs. Then up to the toilet. 

And I don't know that Nora is 100% either. She woke up crying a minute ago and feels warm to me. This could be a long night. Nurse Zoya is on duty. 

Zoya

Coolest Thing I Ever Found

As an archaeologist I am often asked, 'what is the coolest thing you ever found'.  Actually the question is probably the one I am most frequently asked - followed closely by 'how do you know where to dig?' and 'how do you know it is an artifact?'

It is a tough question to answer. I have found plenty of cool artifacts, including the ivory nose pin from the Uyak Site on the furthest left in the photo.  That one was cool because I was cleaning up someone else's square and they had missed it in a corner because they had not kept their walls straight.  I almost found the pictured maskette from Karluk, but got moved out of the square and it was the first thing the new excavator turned up.  I've also found painted box panels, stone lamps, 7200 year-old microblade cores (I'm sort of partial to microblade cores), and the usual chipped stone points, knives, slate lances etc - all sorts of stuff.

But if pressed I have to admit that I am most proud of all the houses that I have found.  I think the 850 year-old house foundation from Uganik Island pictured above is the coolest thing I ever found.  But it is a tough call because I have found some pretty cool houses.  I think I picked this one because it was the best photo of one of the coolest houses I ever found.

I like to excavate houses because they tell you so much more about the people who lived in them than does one artifact.  In the house above you can see the box hearth surrounded by fire-cracked rock cobbles.  The cobbles were heated in the fire to conserve fuel while cooking and drying fish.  You can also see the tunnel to the sideroom where people slept over 800 years ago.  Note the raised step that kept the cold air out. I also know that the house is one of the first houses ever built on Kodiak that had a sideroom.  I guess my point is that that house tells a story while all an artifact can ever do is help illustrate the story.  Patrick

Deer in the 'Hood

Yes there are deer in the neighborhood - I took this picture in our backyard this morning - but this is not a good thing.  In fact it bothers me far more than having the occasional bear about the house.  An anthropologist named Richard Nelson recently wrote a book titled 'Heart & Blood: Living with Deer in America'.  Richard is also famous for his ethnographies about northern Alaskan peoples.  In Deer in America he outlines just what happens when you take deer out of the wilderness setting and put them in neighborhoods.  Both sides lose.

A recurring theme in his book is that once deer get used to living in human neighborhoods they are tough to get out.  They start out as oddities - a sighting that is rare and exciting - and end up a nuisance - an all too common sight, grazing on people's lawns and shrubbery.  Richard outlines how this happens quite quickly once deer realize the benefits of living in close proximity to humans and overcome their natural fear of humans.  And, once established, they are almost impossible to eradicate.

I believe deer are beginning to move into town.  Just two years ago you almost never saw deer in Abercrombie Park.  Now, I see them practically every time I go (At one point last winter, I saw deer on 15 consecutive walks).  Lately, I am even seeing deer around my house.  What is bringing them into town?  I think the recent harsh winters with lots of snow have helped push them into town, but we have had harsh winters in the past and deer never became quite so prevalent.  Personally, I think a few people are feeding the deer.  And it does not take many 'feeders' to establish a colony of deer living over a large urban area - especially when the weather has been so harsh.

These people are not doing the deer or their neighbors a favor.  Dogs are chasing and killing the deer, deer are eating people's ornamental shrubs, it will not be long before it will be difficult to grow a garden without a high fence around it.  Perhaps I'm an alarmist, but I do know I now have to put my dogs on leashes whenever I go to the Park for a walk.  And if this morning is any indication - it might not even be safe to let the dogs out of the house without a leash.  If you are feeding the deer please stop, if no one is feeding the deer then I'm an alarmist. Patrick

Kristine and Jeremy are Married!

Today I married Kristine Jepson to Jeremy Seteroff. 

Kristine was a babysitter for our family for a year, she started right after Nora was born. She was so great with Nora and is just a wonderful person in general. So easy going, intelligent and very caring. We took her with us to Costa Rica and boy was she a trooper with helping with Nora and travelling with us. 

Krissy decided to marry Jeremy several months ago and she asked me to marry them. I said, "Yes-of course!" and didn't think too much of it for several months. Last week when I went to get my "Marriage Commissioner" certificate, it dawned on me how serious this all was. (Sidenote: I thought I could only "marry" someone once in Alaska but the court girl said I could marry as many couples as I wanted. Laws of this sort are pretty easy going in Alaska due to the remoteness of villages. Pretty Cool.)

I would be the one to verify their vows together and their parents and grandparents would be there to witness as well....what a big moment in their life! I know my own wedding and vows are with me every day. 

The wedding today couldn't have gone smoother. We had a fire going in the fireplace (Krissy's great idea!!), about 15 people gathered in chairs, Krissy was GORGEOUS and Jeremy's family was just delightful. 

As I read through the service, I took my time with reading it, trying to hold on to every word. The service was so short that I wanted to enjoy it with them for as long as possible. The vows came, then the rings, unity candle, blessing and I was the first one to introduce them as Mr. and Mrs. Seteroff. So cool!!

Being a marriage commissioner is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. Or at least for plain people like me. I was so honored to do the service and am so proud of Krissy and Jeremy. They were a beautiful couple. Jeremy was quite nervous the days preceeding the ceremony and I could tell today after the service how a big weight was lifted off his shoulders! Krissy was so herself, even in her wedding dress. She was picking up her brothers and sisters and carrying them around like it was nothing. 

And now they are off to great places-together. 

Zoya

Kodiak Pow Pow

Today I went to Pyramid with Gregg and Steve and we skiied the Waterfall Run repeatedly. Great snow.  Around 3 inches of new 'smoke' powder from last night on top of week old powder.  The run faces east and has been in the lee of the past week's strong west winds - so it has held its powder.  The run is very steep and 1000 feet vertical.  

I was toying around with my camera and decided to try the rapid fire, paparazzi, click, click feature.  Get some Kodiak Pow Pow shots with my little point and shoot.  It actually worked remarkably well.  The photos are not as high resolution as normal, but I do get a sequence of photos of each skiier's run to choose from.  My camera took a picture about every 1/4 second. I got to pick the one where they looked the best! Patrick

Weather/Ski Update

I'm in heaven - it's been below freezing for over a week and we got plenty of snow.  For the last week I have been cross country skiing every day up the Upper Buskin.  I have a little maze of trails all worked out and know them well enough now that I can really rip.  Up the river, through the alders, negotiating sharp curves, over the bumps, across patches of ice, and with just the occasional devil's club here and there to be avoided.   Pretty darn good training for the Tour of Anchorage.  My only worry is that I am generally skiing in my old wood Bonna's or a really fat pair of Rossignol touring skiis (the one's Mark Buckley gave Zoya), and I'm worried that track skiing in Anchorage will be sufficiently different to put me at a disadvantage.  But really who cares - the skiing is great.

Sometimes I hear people complaining about the cold and snow, and I just wish they realized how much brighter it is outside with the snow and cold.  I find it far darker and gloomy when it is raining and 40 degrees.  Depressing!  Cold weather generally means clear weather; warmer weather generally means rain and grey skies.  And the snow reflects so much light!  I say embrace the cold and realize how lucky you are that it is not 40 degrees and raining.  Embrace the light.  Patrick

Friends, MR.CORD-MAN, New Years Rez

FRIENDS-

Yesterday Nora and I went over to Grace's house-I borrowed clothes from Alexis for the wedding I"m doing this weekend-a whole other blog entry. (No, I'm not getting married...I'm doing the marrying...)  

Nora had a BLAST playing in Grace's kid-kitchen. Alexis put a kid apron on her, there were kid oven mits, play dishes, fake bacon, mini blender, silverware....Grace and Nora ate a big feast. Nora used the oven mit to take the pot on and off the stove.  There was even an adorable dishwasher with a rack that came out! So realistic! 

When Alexis went in later in the afternoon to clean up after we had left, she noted that Nora had cleared all the dishes from the table into the sink. She said this was definitely something Nora did, as Grace doesn't do that. We laughed at how our kids become "mini-me's" because here at our house, we load our dishes into the sink then Patrick puts them in the dishwasher every morning. She learns her cleaning skills from Patrick-I'm the first to admit that!

CORD-MAN

Stuey is addicted to cords. Nowadays he is on the move-and on the lookout for any available cord. I have to watch him like a hawk. There have been a couple of cord-close-calls where he pulls on the cords....He gets a mischievious grin on his face and books it for the cords. There is one set of stereo cords where they come out of the floor (wired underneath our living room for speakers-thank you DICKY!!!) and into the stereo. I have tried to tape it up repeatedly to make it inaccessible, but it never works. He makes a beeline for the tangle of cords. 

I tell him "NOT FOR BABIES" in a semi-stern voice and he sort of looks at me shocked. Lately he laughs or smiles. Its so hard to use a "mean" voice with him because he is so cute-even when he is doing something hes not supposed to. I have to get meaner. Such a mama's boy, I say.  

NEW YEARS REZ

So far so good with my New Years Resolution. When I announced to Patrick that I was going to do this, he replied, "I think its too much for you to expect to do. Maybe try 2 recipes a month." But I wasn't backing out. I committed myself.

Black Bean croquettes were the first recipe. I got the ingredients all ready and put the recipe on the counter before I left to teach my spin class. I was prepared to make them when I got home from class. When I arrived home at 5:30, I was pleasantly surprised as Patrick had prepared the entire recipe and they were going in the oven! What a great way to start my resolution-Patrick can cook the recipes and I just find them! He, He....

Patrick's co-worker recommended a miso-glazed salmon recipe. SO GOOD! See photo. With Silver salmon Patrick caught last fall. 

Zoya

(Photos: Top-Alexis, Grace and Nora look at a quilt pattern together at our house,

Middle-Stuey at his toy block

Bottom-Miso salmon prepared by Patrick. YUMMMEEEE!!)

Fertility Coon Finds a New Home

Our 6 year relationship with our racoon dog (aka Fertility coon, tanuki, fertility doll) began one night at a White Elephant party at Hans and Herta Tschersich. 2001 or so. 

 Hans and Herta's white elephant party was always full of laughter and the most random white elephant gifts you can imagine! The "tanuki" fit right in. Patrick and I weren't married yet and after we opened it there was nervous laughter and smiles-we had received a fertility doll!!  The next year Hans and Herta did not have the white elephant party and we were stuck with the large scrotum'ed, leering 'raccoon dog' holding a bottle of saki.

 It sat in our living room for a year or two and was always a conversation piece when people saw it. A friend borrowed it for a year and on the night of our wedding it mysteriously 

re-appeared in Patrick's truck. We laughed as we drove away to the hotel.....   

Sometime after Nora's birth, it got moved to the shed.  While I was pregnant with Stuart, Patrick was ready to clear it out of the shed and pass it on. I insisted on waiting until after Stuart was born. Then it got passed on to proud new owners.  At this year's Alutiiq Museum's white elephant party Marnie and Shawen ended up with the ceramic doll, and they actually seemed happy to get it! (see photo above - 6 weeks after the birth of their daughter Abigail).

Brief History of the Tanuki Doll:

Traditional Japanese neighbors of Hans and Herta were working to get pregnant. Their family in Japan sent the doll to help them in their efforts.  When they left Kodiak it stayed and became a White Elephant Icon in the early 1990's at Hans and Hertas annual Christmas Party.  According to Hans the First couple to receive it had 'immediate success'. Kelly Law also owned it at one time. 

 Check out more info on the doll at...they're a big deal in Japan!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki

They are found outside noodle shops and bars. And are modeled on what is known as a 'racoon dog' - a raccoon like animal indigenous to Japan.  

Zoya

Skiing the Upper Buskin

Skiing was delightful today--but getting there was tough.

When it came time to leave the house, Stuart was sleeping soundly in my arms and I had a moment of domestic-ness where I thought, "Oh, I should stay behind, do the laundry, go to the store...". Patrick would not hear of this-he said, "Zoya, you must go. It'll be really  fun, the weather is spectacular and this is a ski you have never done before."

So off we sped in his red truck....filled up the tank with gas and filled my tummy up with some gatorade and a snickers bar. My mood and energy improved just in time as we headed across Buskin lake with Philip, Hans and Adelia.  The snow conditions keep us moving quickly, as did the cool temps (in the teens).  Fun times were had and we enjoyed doing something with Adelia, Philip and Hans as it  has been some time since we have skiied with them. 

The only thing missing was John Mahoney!! (He is in Eugene for the year with Patty.) It was the type of ski that we always enjoy doing with him. 

Zoya

Mary Jane has Taken up Skiing

This winter, my best friend Mary Jane has taken up skiing!  She never before skiied in her life. One pair of cross country skiis later, she is skiing up a storm with Patrick and I on lakes and on the golf course. 

We went to Ft. Abercrombie Lake (Lake Gertrude) yesterday and did many laps. Many Jane cruises right along and is learning so quickly. I'm impressed with how quickly she is picking it up! She glides right along. It has been fun to have a female friend to go with, and I can see us doing a lot more skiing together this winter. Fortunately her boss lets her work flexible hours so she can sneak out a few minutes early while it is still light out. 

Skiing makes winter SO FUN!!!

Zoya

More Snow on the Mountain

These days I have a tough decision every day - what type of skiing will it be?  Classic cross country skiing, skate skiing or downhill?  Really with the snow we now have you can't lose.  Today I went up Pyramid with my downhill skiis and found pretty good powder and light winds on the southeast facing slopes.  High winds up on top had scoured the west facing slopes.

Now I will watch the kiddos while Zoya and Mary Jane go to Fort Abercrombie with their classic skiis.  The skiing on Lake Gertrude is pretty darn good.  Tomorrow I think Zoya and I might try a ski tour across Buskin Lake and up the valley.  So many lovely options.  Patrick

  

Daycare Days

This week nora began day care at Miss. Shannon's house. When I dropped her off on the first day, she gave me an "air kiss" good bye and had a great time with her new friends (Isabella, Maya, Tasha, Christa, Eilidh, Avery...). I went to work thrilled that she wasn't crying when I left. 

 That evening, I would talk about her going to Shannon's house and she would break out into a chorus of "Booooiee" with fists to her cheeks (her sign for more!!! for more info-see Nora word of the week....mid december). Day care is a big hit with her.  I'm working 12 hours a week at the clinic...just enough to remind how much I LOVE being a physical therapist. Thank heavens for flexible work hours-being home with the kids is even more rewarding after a few hours away. 

Stuey  is dropped off with Audra while Nora is at Shannons and he is thrilled with the one-on-one attention Audra showers on him. 

Today Nora got to ride in Patrick's truck for the first time and boy was she thrilled! Patrick said that she loved being able to look out the window and wanted to play with the radio, vents, etc...As you can see in the photo, Nora was trying to play with the door. Obviously its time to find out where the child safety lock is on his truck!!! 

Zoya

Oh-and Ella-yes thats correct- there is NO binky in her mouth...  :) 

Impromptu Ski Tour

While lately it has been raining in town it has been snowing in the backcountry, and we now have A LOT of snow.  Today I went for a ski after work and took both cross country and downhill skiis because I did not know what sort of ski conditions I'd find out the road.  I arrived at the golf course and the snow was still too wet and mushy for cross country skiing - so I headed up for the pass and some downhill skiing.  By the time I got to the switchbacks the snow was already getting too deep for my truck and I decided to park and skin up from there.  No sense in trying to get to the pass just to get stuck, or get stuck up there because someone else's car got stuck and blocked the way.

So I pulled off and parked, and then one of those Kodiak moments happened. A truck pulls up and out pops my friend John Barklow and his buddy Jared (A.K.A number 40).  perfect timing - someone to ski with.  Then another car pulls up and out pops Andy Schroeder and his dog Gage.  Now we got an impromptu ski get together - no calls, no plans, no nothing.  Impromptu.  The best kind of ski tour.

So we headed up and the skiing was fabulous.  What I call 'Hero Powder' - light on top but solid deep down to keep you from sinking too deep.  We skiied from the top of the South Bowl down to the three crosses that marks the spot where a float plane crashed close to the road.  From there we skiied down the road to our cars.

The top photo was taken on the way up and shows Sheratin Mountain in the distance with fog and snow covered spruce trees in the foreground.  The next photo is of Jared near the top of the South Bowl with the south face of Pyramid in the background.  Finally, the bottom photo is of John, Andy and Jared climbing back to the road at the bottom of our run with Pyramid behind.  That's the 'three cross run' behind us.  Patrick

New Years Resolution

After much consideration, I resolve to cook 2 new recipes a week. I LOVE cooking and spending time in the kitchen and this will ensure that I get my much needed time at the stove. Get ready cookbooks, here I come!

(and Nick-we'll still work on getting you a good date for 2008!! But the jersey may have to go....)

Zoya

2008 comes crashing in!! (to Mill Bay, that is. .. )

2008 is off with a bang here in Kodiak! Strong winds last night stirred the oceans up and this morning we have the pleasure of the unusually large waves rolling into the bay in front of our house. 13 seconds between wave crests (Patrick tells me that in wave science world, this is an important calculation.)

Mother nature rocks. 

Zoya

My Little Guy's Guy

Stuey is such a little guy. Amazing how the guy in him permeates his activities. He loves banging objects HARD, throwing objects FAR, playing with wheels on our stroller in the house, playing with a little truck, etc. Everything has much more force than it ever did with Nora.

I tell people he is such a mamma's boy and that is the truth!! I can't get enough of the feel of his hair against my cheek, his smile, the way he waves his arms in big circles with excitement, his little cry-which is such an innocent-help-me-cry.... He is 100% plump, cuddle-bug-baby yet such a mamma's boy at the same time. 

Nora is such a daddy's girl and Patrick completely recognizes this. Both kids are accounted for-Mamma's boy and Daddy's girl!

Zoya 

Photo Credits

(Cummiskey-Preece Family top photo, Patrick bottom photo)

Adrenaline Girl

A movie is worth 10,000 words.  That girl can squeal. Patrick

Our Adrenaline Junkie

Nora loves sledding.  In fact she loves it so much that she never wants to stop.  We generally quit either when I get too pooped from dragging her up the hill or when she looks like she might lose her nose to frostbite.  But whatever the reason - she screams for more when we quit.  Our neighbor Claudia tells us that we are very lucky our girl likes to be outside, and I agree.  I remind myself how lucky we are every time I bring her inside and she screams for more. This is better than her screaming because she wants to go inside.  Patrick

(Photos: Nora on her sled which Megan got her last week. BIG HIT!!!)

Nora Word of the Week - Up-up

Nora Word of The Week:

This week's word is Up-up-

Translation: Up

Often repeated, in a series of Ups. 

When used in a sentence "...up, up, up, up..." with frequent looks to the top of the cabinet, she is asking for her binky back. (we put her binky on the top of the kitchen cabinet when she wakes up in the morning. As the day progresses if her mood worsens or if she gets tired, she knows just how to ask for her binky back...up, up, up) 

Another context it is used is when talking about airplanes going up. Nora rather enjoys talking about airplanes taking off and going up...up...up... Now we're working on the word down, down, down... :)

A third meaning is as we drive out the road and she sees mountains with snow on them, she says Up,up,up...  I say "Do you want to go skiing with dad?" and she exclaims "Yeah!". She knows that daddy has to go "up" to go skiing.  As you can imagine, Patrick CAN'T WAIT to take Nora skiing. 

Zoya

In the photo Nora chews on an elk rib. Nora loves her meat! Our little carnivore.

My "Holly Hobby" Craft-Quilting

I never imagined I'd be a quilter-I thought I wasn't enough of a perfectionist to master the art of cutting and aligning fabrics.  When I saw quilts, I was sure that I didn't have the necessary talents in me. However, I was searching for a hobby. Not sure why-as Nora was 1 year old and I was pregnant with Stuey. Not like my life was slowing down any. 

My friend, Karen, calls quilting a "holly hobby" activity and I think I saw it as that before I became a quilter as well. (I suppose anything that involves a trip to the craft section of Walmart, a sewing machine or is out of Martha Stewart could be deemed "holly hobby"....) 

But then I saw some quilts which really inspired me and perhaps my mind changed...

A year and a half ago my good friend, Alexis Jackson, taught me how to quilt and I've been hooked ever since. I'm not sure what it was that made me want to try it. 

I think she said something like, "Zoya, just try it. You don't have to buy anything except for your fabric. You can use my tools....you have nothing to lose." She sold me on it. Alexis has been quilting for years and years and does such gorgeous work. She has amazing patience-always takes her time to explain things to me and loves to talk quilting on the phone. It has brought another rich dynamic to our friendship!

My first quilt was a small baby quilt-which is for Nora and currently hangs on our wall. When I saw how easily it came together, I was estatic to make more and I quickly became addicted. For years I tried to make myself a knitter, only to be disappointed with unfinished project after unfinished project. (Last year I gave my whole bag of unfinished projects and needles of various sizes to my friend Erin. She was estatic as was I!! I am done with knitting!!)

My favorite part of quilting is picking out the fabrics and I always feel like a kid in a candy store as I choose colors and patterns which blend well together. It is a like a feast for my eyes! So many beautiful patterns of fabrics to choose from. 

My latest quilt is for my babysitter, Megan, who is home from college in Arizona. (see photos above). She was our mommy helper when I brought Stuey home from Anchorage and got us through those tough months. She went to the fabric store and showed me different fabrics she liked and I incorporated a few of those into her quilt. 

What a fun adventure quilting has been!! When the kids are in bed-I pull out the fabrics and sew away. Its so fun to see the pieces come together into a quilt-like a story unfolding!!

Zoya

Swampy Acres

This morning Zoya and I burned off some of the Christmas feast with a cross country ski in Swampy Acres.  Two feet of new snow had turned it into a winter wonderland.  All the spruce boughs bowing down under their load of snow.  Best of all - some one had already broken a trail for us to follow.  Deer tracks in the trail.  The deer also like a broken trail  when the snow is so deep!  Gliding along, working up a sweat, and feeling the rhythm of the skiis in the track.  Glorious.  

Now it is evening and another storm is rolling in.  Mill Bay is all roiled up and snow is slapping the windows.  I made some more gravy and we'll have it on the turkey and stuffing leftovers.  Zoya, Nora and Stu puttering about, the occasional squawk.  Post Christmas domestic scene. Nothing like a good storm to make it all warm and cosy inside!  Patrick

Christmas Feast

Christmas began yesterday with the landscape full of snow (it snowed 15 inches yesterday! -interjection from Patrick) and Nora enjoying her dollhouse from Granny. A mini jumbo plastic airplane was also a hit-with Nora making the plane go up, down...putting all the people in and out "....daddy, me, wa-wa-wa-wa..." (Nora enjoys imitating the crying that she and Stuey do on the airplane!)

Dinner yesterday afternoon was so pleasant with many friends joining us. We enjoyed a turkey (brined by Mike), Elk Roast (brined by Patrick), wild rice, sweet potatoes, yams, mashed potatoes, stuffing...britney cake (shortbread cake) by Karen, Carrot cake. Lots of laughter and great conversations filled the evening as well as some crying by Stuey and Nora. Everyone hung in, however and Stuart fell asleep in my arms at the end of the evening. I was able to relax in the recliner and enjoy watching the group and seeing Nora and Cecilia play with Christmas toys. Zoya

Stu is on the move!!

Stuart is on the move! He began crawling 2 days ago. He did commando crawling (where he pulled himself forward with his hands and his belly against the floor) for only a day and progressed right to crawling. 

He is quite cute and tenative with the whole process. Slow and steady. 

Little rear end in the ear and small little inches forward with his leg. So cute. I love that he is now on the go. 

Zoya

Looks Like a White Christmas

I woke up to quite the storm this morning (see forecast from weatherunderground below).  I love it!  It has to be about the best forecast I've seen in a few years.  I almost did not post about it for fear of jinxing  it.  I have my fingers crossed.  Can you imagine the news if a storm like this hit Manhattan or Boston?  Patrick  

Forecast for Kodiak Island Show | Hide

Updated: 5:00 am AST on December 24, 2007
Blizzard Warning in effect until midnight AST tonight...

Now
Blizzard Warning in effect until midnight AST tonight... in the next 6 hours expect an additional 5-10 inches of snow. Northerly winds are expected to increase throughout the day to 30-40 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

Today
Snow...mixing with rain at times along the Gulf Coast. Visibility will be reduced to one quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow. Snow accumulation 4 to 10 inches...lowest amounts along the Gulf Coast. Highs in the upper 20s to lower 30s. Northeast to northwest wind 25 to 35 mph with local gusts to 50 mph through channeled areas. Northwest gusts to 70 mph developing in the afternoon south end of island.

Tonight
Snow in the evening...then scattered snow showers after midnight. Visibility will be reduced to one quarter mile or less at times in snow and blowing snow during the evening. Additional snow accumulation 4 to 10 inches. Storm total snow accumulation 8 to 20 inches. Lows in the 20s. Northwest wind 35 to 55 mph with gusts of 65 to 80 mph through channeled areas.

Christmas Day
Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the 20s. Northwest wind 35 to 55 mph with gusts of 65 to 80 mph becoming west and decreasing to 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph in the afternoon.

Buskin Ski

Today the stars were aligned for Patrick and I to go skiing together-no kids! Our friends Rose and Dr. Wolf watched the kiddos and we took a beautiful cross country ski in the trails in the buskin lake area.

It was a VERY windy day, but where we were skiing was protected so we weren't as impacted by the wind. The conditions were good and Patrick said I've come a long way with my skiing abilities. He said, "Zoya, if I took you on this ski when we first started dating, you would NOT have been happy!". I agreed.

There were moments of "bush-whack" skiing....climbing over and under things. I rather liked the challenge today, however!
Zoya

New Years Resolution & Survey

I'm a big New Years Resolution fan. For as long as I can remember, I always have some goal I work towards during the first few weeks of a new year. Thats right-its usually just the first few weeks. Until last year.

Last year I vowed to keep the kitchen free of pile ups of paper. What usually happened was I would dump mail, packages, etc on the counter and it would stay there indefinitely. It was so unsightly and unorganized. I resolved to keep the counters clear of my clutter and to file them away into my organized containers. Patrick was very skeptical when I announced my resolution plans 1 year ago.

"Ummm....hmmmm. We'll see about that one. I don't think you can do it." I vividly remember him telling me.

That made me resolve to accomplish it even stronger. And I did it! One year later, I organize my papers into my neat bins and the counter doesn't get covered with papers! Yeah!

This year I thought it would be a fun twist to see what other people think I should make my New Years Resolution be. I see getting Nick Sandin a date is in the lead. Oh boy. Zoya

Cross Country Skiing and "Happy" Visit to Dentist

SKIING ON LAKES
Patrick is about to levitate off the ground with excitement about the snow this morning. Time for an entry about the fabulous cross country ski conditions we have.

Yesterday Patrick, Mary Jane and I went cross country skiing on Lake Gertrude in Fort Abercrombie. We did it in two shifts-Patrick went skiing then came home and watched the kids while Mary Jane and I went right before dark. Works out perfectly. Mary Jane's two friends, Micah and Dave came along as well! The conditions were fabulous-crisp gorgeous snow and beautiful evening light. Lake skiing is so simple- easy to get to...no hills to contend with, easy to do sprints and the scenery changes as you move around the lake-changing directions helps too!

More snow in the forecast today-yeah!!!

HAPPY VISIT
Nora's visit to the dentist yesterday went fairly well. I sat in the chair while Nora sat on my lap. The only problem was that I think I had a chococlate/sugar hangover- when she brought the chair back up to the sitting position from the recline position, I felt lightheaded and the room felt like it was spinning. It quickly passed but made me realize I needed to drink more water and cut back on my holiday sugar intake!!

Nora cried when we had to leave, as she liked the waiting room. There was little tooth chairs for the kids to sit on and a bunch of fun new toys.

Zoya

Photo: Lake skiing-Gregg and Patrick in 2002 on Island Lake.

Nora's First Ice

Yesterday we went ice skating on the small ponds in Ft. Abercrombie park. The ice was so thick and clear-you could see several inches of bubbles down.

We decided to make Nora's first ice skating trip a "Happy Visit".
(Note: Today is Nora's first dentist "happy visit". The hygenist said that they do several happy visits with toddlers to get them used to sitting in the chair, the people, etc...Patrick and I decided to try to make ice skating a 'happy visit' where we leave happy-not too many bumps and bruises from falling!)

And it was quite happy, until she had to leave. Nora LOVED going around the ice with Patrick holding her. Stuey and I sat and watched as Nora's feet danced around the ice. She smiled and squealed loving every minute of it.

Then it was time to go. Patrick's back was hurting from leaning over and helping her around and Stuey was starting to give preliminary cry noises. At the suggestion of leaving, Nora started to cry and didn't stop for several minutes until she was strapped into the stroller and on our way out of the park. Then I think she gave up.

Yesterday afternoon after we returned, Nora pretended to ice skate in the living room. She walked around in little circles, keeping her feet on the ground. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Daddy." I said, "are you ice skating with daddy?" and she said, "Yeah!!!". She did that for several minutes. She can't wait to go back. Zoya

(And yes-Ella-that is a big plastic binky in her mouth...) :)

Walk Like Daddy-Blog's first video

When Patrick returned from his (attempted) goat hunt several weekends ago, he had a characteristic limp. This was after he fell and landed on what he and John called "Baby Matterhorn". Nora adopted his walk-without our prompting. This video captures it.
(And yes, Ella-that is the binky in her mouth.)
Zoya

Mission: Cookies for Cliffside

Every year, except last year, I make plates of cookies for the neighbors and deliver them with holiday wishes.
Over the weekend I went to a holiday cookie exchange which was a perfect chance to get a wide assortment of holiday cookies without doing a whole lot of work! I made some fudge, and white chocolate blondie bars (choc full of choc chips!). Yum, Yum. Found some new recipes that are keepers.

Yesterday afternoon I dropped the kids off with our friend Rose who watches Stuey several times a month. She has grown kids of her own and enjoys the baby time! Bless her heart- While the kids were away I put the plates of cookies in a bag and bundled up in preparation for delivering them to the neighbors. I was amazed by how many people were at home (their cars were in the driveway) but did not answer their door. This was the case HALF of the time! Quite surprising.

I would only knock loudly once, so I wasn't annoying.
I'd think, "well, they just missed out on a plate of cookies." Do people think that its someone trying to sell something? One guy down the road-a neighbor I"ve never met, opened his door very cautiously (but hey-at least he opened it!!).

I said, "hi! happy Holidays! I"m Zoya from up the road. My husband is Patrick, with the two black labs that he walks."
A smile came over his face and he said, "Oh, yeah!! I know him from the dogs!"
I said, " Here are some cookies for you. Have a great holiday season!"
He said, "Whats your name again?"
I said, "I'm Zoya. Whats your name?"
He said, "I'm Dave.Thanks so much! And Happy Holidays to you too!"

He was so very thankful and it felt great to actually meet someone new who lives on our street. There is something about having small kids that makes me like knowing who our neighbors are. Increases the safety factor of Cliffside road. (especially when I have a daughter who likes taking walks down to Rezanof...ahem, ahem.") As Nora and Stuey get older, it will be fun to continue this tradition with them along-making cookies and spreading holiday cheer to the neighbors!

In the photo Nora talks to Da Dee on the phone while Roxy illicitly enjoys the couch (Zoya grudgingly allowed Patrick to Invite her up). Zoya

Christmas Bird Count - Fun on the Mountain

Yesterday I took part in the Kodiak Christmas Bird Count. This is the yearly event when all the serious birders get together and try and count every bird within a 15 mile radius of town. The count area is portioned out to the best birders and their teams. Some teams go out on boats, others cover particular lakes or parks. I was on Stacy S's team and we had the entire Monashka Bay area to cover. The unstated goal is to identify as many bird species as possible and achieve the highest 'species diversity' of any Christmas Bird Count in Alaska. Kodiak generally wins this honor, but on occasion Juneau has managed to upstage us. Every year at the 'birder' party after the event the results are tallied up and the count organizer gives Juneau a call. It is the highlight of the party.

Every year on the count, Stacy has me climb up the North Sister to find a ptarmigan (a white, partridge-like bird that only lives in the alpine). I also look for Golden Eagles, Pine Grosbeaks, Rosy Finches, Gyre Falcons and other alpine species. But my prime goal is to get the ptarmigan - if I don't see one Juneau may beat us! My personal goal was to take a picture of a bird through my spotting scope and to post it on the blog.

Unfortunetly, on count day the weather did not cooperate. The winds were screaming and it was very cold. As a team we saw very few birds, and there was no way to hold the spotting scope still enough to get a picture (though I did try with the eagles at the dump - I counted 150 in one flock and about 300 total following the baler as it moved the trash around). But I did get my ptarmigan, and it was my adrenalin moment of the day.

I headed up the North Sister at dawn and up on top I was finding old ptarmigan tracks but no live birds. Since the wind was out of the northwest and I was on the northwest side of the mountain, I thought maybe the birds had all taken shelter on the lee side of the mountain. The wind was screaming, blowing snow and debris in big clouds across the snow and ice. At the airport the wind was a sustained 30 mph with gusts to 62. I got near the pass to go over to the other side when suddenly I was blown up the mountain and over to the other in an out-of-control rush. Rocks and ice with cliffs below and I could not stop. It was shrieking - like a was on the inside of a jet engine. I had to take my skiis off and I almost lost them. I had to slide down to a point where I was partially out of the wind and then climb sideways so I was not above the cliffs. Needless to say, but I had a bad 15 minutes there. And on the other side I found the ptarmigan. No one else saw a ptarmigan so it is a good thing I risked life and limb.

In the end Kodiak did pretty well despite the weather. Our preliminary count was 75 species (all time high is in the low 80s), but most importantly it was raining and blowing SE 25 in Juneau (prelim count 70 species). Kodiak is looking good for the state title! Patrick

Ice Soon

Another photo from the Archives- Zoya, Katie Dog, and I at the small pond behind Bells Flats, probably winter of 2000. We used the photo for our Christmas Card one year. Anyway, it looks like we'll have good skating this winter in just a few short days! It is in the 20s now and it is forecast to be clear, cold and windy for the foreseeable future. The lakes ought to freeze up pronto. I can't wait to take Nora and Stu out on the ice in the double stroller. We do have a pair of small ice skates too - is it too early to get Nora out on skates? Patrick

From the Archive - Our House

The other day I looked at these photos of the house from the fall of 1996, and thought, wow, how things have changed. In 1996 I had just moved into my first house after having lived in a small apartment in Madison, WI for 6 years. I treated the new house like an apartment; only it was huge, and a bit bare inside. Because of the big brass chandeliers in the living room everyone jokingly called my house 'The Ponderosa'. I thought I had it pretty good.

'And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful Wife
And you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?'
Talking Heads

Eleven years later the house is full, and I find that I often forget where I came from - I take life for granted. The house is now a home. Two healthy kids, 2 black labs, and a beautiful wife. Wow, I've done well! Patrick

Funny times at the Saltonstalls

Nora is fully recovered from her concussion. Patrick and I feel like we've had more trips to the ER in the past 2 years than your average parents. I suppose our little Nora is our little risk taker and lives life on the edge a bit more than other two year olds. Thats the only thing we can figure! From walking out the door down to the main highway 6 months ago, to calling 911 to jumping out of her crib---theres no holding her back!

We've been making a serious effort to eat meals at the dining room table recently, as opposed to around our island in our kitchen. Stuey prefers it, as he is right at the big table with us. I think Nora sometimes gets disgusted with Stuart trying to grab her food. She is a good sport, however. Patrick and I were both raised eating meals around the dinner table as a family and we've decided thats something that is important for our family. One big benefit of living in Kodiak is virtually no commute so we're all able to be around the table for dinner even when I teach my evening spinning class or if Patrick has a meeting.

Meal times often bring lots of laughs (see photos), as well as lots of tears (just ask any of our friends-Jeremy, Karen, MJ, Gregg, Lisa....the people to whom we are SO GRATEFUL for still being our friends and sitting at a table with us for a meal!!).

Photos: Meal time with Nora and Stuey (middle and bottom) photo: Audra reading to Stuart this morning.

Zoya