Katie St. John hosted the shower at her house-here she gets ready to take down the paper lanterns at the end to send them home with me. What a fun time it was seeing everyone and eating yummy food and cake! (ZAS)

Russian River Explorers

One last picture from our Russian River tour. From left to right: Ben Millstein (our local brewer), John Larsen, Paul Zimmer, Tia Leber, and Hans Tschersich. Missing is Gregg who had hurried off ahead and me (I took the photo). PGS

Russian River Ski Tour

Today I went on a cross country ski tour up the Russian River with Hans Tschersich, Tia Leber, Paul Zimmer, John Larsen, Gregg Rosenkranz and Ben Millstein. Gregg, Hans and I used skate ski gear while everyone went with classic gear. It was a little icier than we expected (powder blown away by the wind) but the river was pretty well frozen over. We skiied up from Bell's Flats to the canyon and then went another 2 miles up into the canyon. Magnificent, and no one got their feet wet.

The best part about going upriver is that going home is slightly downhill and much faster than the trip out. Here Hans flies on his way back to the 'stable'. (PGS)

More Snow

So much snow, so much skiing. I can't stop taking pictures and I just have to post more of them! In the Fall and Summer it was all hunting photos - now it is all SNOW. I'll try not to bore you with too many - and don't worry we will include the occasional Nora sighting to pique your interest.

This scenic is of the outlet to Buskin Lake. There are even a few spawned out silver salmon to be found in the unfrozen water in the foreground. (PGS)

From the Archives - Hawaii 2002

While in Hawaii Zoya, Ella and I went on a deep sea fishing trip. We caught a wahoo just out of the harbor and nada after that. But all was not lost - I had the twins to myself.

From the Archives - Hawaii 2002

It's been an amazing winter this year in Kodiak. I have never seen snow stick around this long as powder and not turn to an ice rink (I suppose this will happen later this year). Time for a tropical break.

Back in February 2002 Zoya decided to introduce me to her family. I got to meet her mom, Cindy, and her uncle and aunt, Michael and Silvia, and of course the other twin, Ella. Uncle Michael fed us very well - every night it was a different restaurant near the town of Kona.

In this photo it's just me, Zoya and Ella under the Tiki torches at the fancy hotel where we all stayed. (PGS)

Winter Wildlife

This winter has been a harsh one for the animals living outside on kodiak. Everytime I go skiing I see a bunch of eagles hovering around the open water at the outlet to Buskin Lake. They are feeding on the spawned out salmon still doing their thing in the frigid water there.

The bears too have been feeding on the salmon. I saw fresh bear tracks near Buskin Lake just two days ago, but the bears should mostly be hibernating by now (the cubs and sows hibernate earlier than the old boars - and bears will not hibernate at all if they have a ready supply of food). I believe some of the winter killed deer I saw had been eaten by a bear.

Soon when all the spawned out salmon are gone all the eagles and ravens migrate to the dump and to the roofs of the canneries for the slim pickings available there. Today I also saw the tracks in the snow where a snowshoe rabbit had been snatched by a raptor (probably an eagle) - so not all our birds are dump scavengers. (PGS)

Deer In Winter

While it has been a great winter thus far for me and other humans who like to ski, it has been difficult one for the wildlife who must fend for themselves outside. The deep snow and cold has really hit the deer hard. Driving out to the airport you see them all along the road, and a bunch of moved into Abercrombie park for the winter (less snow in the woods by the coast and warmer too). These days I have to put the dogs on leashes when I take them for walks - we see deer everytime we go for a walk in Abercrombie.

In this photo, a bunch of deer hiked up and over Pyramid mountain trying to get away from some snowmobilers. If we don't have a warm spell soon, it's possible that we will lose up to 50 percent of the deer living on Kodiak this winter. I have already seen a few winter killed deer - usually we don't see winter killed deer until late February.

The sad fact of the matter is that Kodiak is overpopulated with deer. Too many warm winters, and the regulation against hunting does (only legal to hunt bucks near the city of Kodiak) have created a population explosion. The numbers of deer have stressed the habitat, and the conditions this winter have created a 'malthusian correction'. Nature's way of getting the deer population back in balance with the food supply. (PGS)

Nora and Zoya ready for a 2006 holiday party

Nora, Patrick and I attended the annual Eufemio holiday party. It is always a good time with a big ham, a large cross section of Kodiak new timers and old timers as well as the local Balilika players-singers and guitar players (a Balilika is a Russian version of a guitar).

32 Week Pregnancy Photo

I'm 32 weeks pregnant now and feeling good. People have asked if I've told Nora about her little brother, and I haven't yet. Perhaps in the month before the baby is due I'll start talking to her more about it. She is only 16 months old and I don't know how much she'd comprehend at this point.

Stuart is kicking up a storm and I can't wait to meet him! I know the last 2 months will fly by and I'm just going to enjoy this last 1:1 time with Nora.(ZAS)

Sisters bring in the New Year, 2000-2001

Zoya, Anne and Ella bring in the New Year (2001) at 4002 Cliffside Drive. After spending Christmas together at Cathy and Mike's in Homer, Anna and Ella accompanied Patrick and Zoya back to Kodiak for New Years.
This was the last sister together before kids came into the picture!!! (PGS & ZAS)

My niece, Cami, with her first quilt

Over the Christmas Holiday, I taught my niece, Cami, to quilt! She received a "learning to quilt kit" on Christmas day which got her started making bean bags and small creations. This also was her first time sewing on a sewing machine!

Cami was a quick learner and became comfortable with the sewing machine very quickly. And she didn't bum out too much the first time she had to do some seam ripping (I told her the story about how I cried the first time I had to rip seams out on my first quilt!) I was thrilled to be able to teach her how to quilt, as I recently learned in August and have completed 2 quilts in that time.

It was like an episode of Extreme Quilting...the sewing machine purring away for 2 days while Cami watched her masterpiece come together before her very eyes!!

The lady at the local fabric store graciously loaned us a rotary fabric cutter, a cutting mat and a book with a beginners pattern. I just love small towns!!

I look forward to seeing more of Cami's future creations... :) (ZAS)

Present Opening Christmas Morning

Everyone opened one present in front of the group, then it was a "free for all" where there was a mad flurry of wrapping paper and ribbons and within 15 minutes all presents were opened. This made the kids very happy....and didn't give the babies time to fuss. (ZAS)

Group Shot Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner at the McCarthy's in Homer, Alaska-2006.
The group photo:
From Left clockwise: Cami and Bern Kohler, Bonnie Stark, Patrick, Nora and Zoya Saltonstall, Mike and Cathy McCarthy, Kellen, Ben and Todd Stark, Peggy and Bryan Kohler. (not pictured-taking a nap-Aiden Kohler).

Patrick and Nora at Christmas Dinner

Nora had a bowl of Christmas dinner goodies and especially enjoyed the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce!

Towards the end of the meal, Patrick showed us how he feeds her like a Robin bird-she tilts her head back, opens her mouth and he drops in food. She laughs and gets such a kick out of it! For the most part, she is a self feeder now, but she'll let Patrick and I occasionally feed her chunks of food.(ZAS)

Nora, Zoya, Peggy and Aiden

My sister Peggy and I with our little ones. Peggy has 3 kids, Cami, Bryan and her youngest, Aiden. Aiden and Nora provided ample "excitement" between them getting into things, crying, and occasionally taking part in "parallel" play with eachother. At one point Patrick asked, "When will they do right angle play, or even 30 degree play??" :) (ZAS)

The Moose Caboose B & B

Homer Alaska Sunset

My parents place in Homer was at maximimum capacity so we stayed at the Moose Caboose, a converted rail car B&B.

The sunset on our first evening at the Moose Caboose was spectacular!

The first two nights we called our B&B the "ice cave" because the heating was minimal. I had to bundle Nora up in her fleece hat, fleece pants, etc....and put her playpen near the heater. By the third night, we requested an extra heater which made a world of difference! All in all, we enjoyed our stay in the Caboose (ZAS).

Deep Powder

Yesterday we got another 7 inches of cold powder. Went for a quick ski this morning - last chance to downhill ski because tonight we leave on the ferry for Homer. And wouldn't you know it - I forgot my climbing skins! The road was impassible past the golf course so John Larsen and I skinned (and hiked) up from there. I kept on falling in up to my chin, and had to crawl up the hill using the skiis and poles has 'hand snowshoes'. It took me an hour and a half to climb 1200 feet. Today I earned my turns. Needless to say, I only did one run. But It was worth it. (PGS)