This One is a House

Incised pebble - there is a face and clothing etched on the pebble if you look closely

Today we finished uncovering the second structure we started at our current site.  The first one looked like some sort of processing feature, but this one is clearly a house.  While we have not excavated the floor it looks like it has a single hearth in the middle, a bench along the back wall, and 2 siderooms.  The tunnels to the raised siderooms are quite complicated with a ‘double step’ up to get into them.  One of the siderooms even had a bench. The house does not look like a winter house because it lacks built up walls and storage features, but it is clearly well-built.  It is completely different from the first structure that we excavated at the site.

The house does not appear to have been occupied very long.  The midden out front is relatively thin, and the house floor is also extremely thin.  So thin that we removed a lot of it during excavation while trying to carefully uncover it.  There were no sod roofs over the main room or siderooms and so in many places the floor was right on the surface – and choked with salmonberry roots.

I think people were living here in late fall.  That’s when the river would have been full of spawning salmon, duck are migrating through, and the seals would have been out front chasing the fish.  The midden out front contains cod, salmon and seal bones.  The midden is also full of cockles, and locals tell me they do not eat these until the weather turns cold.

Dating the house is more complicated.  We did date another house at the site to around AD 1500 and the styles of the artifacts we have found so far fit that date.  We found an incised pebble an artifact type that only turns up in sites between about AD 1400 and AD 1550.  However, we also found a blue bead, a scraper made from thick bottle glass and a piece of window glass.  Right now I think the house does date to about AD 1500 and that the historic glass represent a later site visit during the early Russian Era.  We certainly have not found enough historic material to make me think the site is historic.

Anyway – now it’s on to excavate the remaining house floor.  Maybe we will find some more artifacts to help us narrow down the date of occupation.  In any case, next fall we will radiocarbon date the charcoal from the hearth and get a ‘definitive’ answer.  The artifacts will also help us get an idea of what people were doing in the various parts of the house.  I am sure we will find some surprises!  Patrick

Completed house - the main room is on the lower left and side rooms on either side of the crew

A panoramic view of the entire structure

Currents, hoops, and notes

CURRENTS

Its been a heat wave in Kodiak~ nearly a week of 65+ degrees. Its been long deserved, as we had a cold May.  This past weekend Elke and I took the kids to Buskin beach and they frolicked in the shallows along  the side of the river.  A reminder of how hard core Alaskan kids are. Brrr!!!

 For Stuey, what made the day complete was some Cheddar Pringles chips. Lots of them. In between dips in the river. 

 HOOPS
Another project last weekend was clearing off my basketball court. I called our friend John S. who brought his truck over to move the boat that was parked there, but we discovered it was easiest to move it by hand. I then moved off tires, sleds and some wood.
The kids proceeded help me hose off the court and tonight I started shooting the first hoops of the season and it fed my soul. Stuey was watching from a distance and he'd say, "That was good mom! You almost made it! And gave me thumbs up." I like my little mini cheering squad!

NOTES
My Physical therapy clinic has been in the transition of switching over to electronic medical records for several months. In the beginning of the transition, I would write my notes with clients on stickie notes, then enter the info into the computer later.

A few weeks ago I had my first series of clients where I entered the info into my laptop with the client sitting right there. I knew there would be an art to my body language and having the computer not feel like a barrier in the treatment session. I was very conscious of this and made an extra effort with good eye contact and the angle of my body to my client.
I explained to my clients that I was doing my notes right there and I set the computer on the treatment table, not my lap~ which helped.

At the end of treatment, I typed in the results of treatment and my plan, then proceeded to schedule them for their next appt right in the medical records schedule.
I really liked the feeling of walking out of the treatment room and having the note AND billing all done for the client.
And it didn't change the atmosphere with the client at all. I am a faster typer than writer and will be able to take better notes this way.

Zoya

Moments Summer are Made Of

TRX TRAINING

This weekend was training at A Balanced Approach. My favorite fitness trainer, Janet, came over form Anchorage to guide us, teach us, watch us and give us feedback. 

7 of us learned a new class format; TRX. 

TRX was originally designed by Navy Seals who wanted a program they could continue when in remote places or with limited equipment. They would do a full body workout using their suspended parachute straps. 

Now TRX is a popular nationwide fitness program. The exercises use your own bodyweight and it is as challenging as you want it to be. In all honesty, I had never done a TRX class before this weekend. I had the straps hung, brought the trainer down and 6 other instructors and myself dove in with both feet. I loved it. It felt good to learn something COMPLETELY new and different-it was humbling. 

We had so much fun learning-laughing at ourselves and encouraging eachother. Its exciting to be bringing this format of class to Kodiak in this larger group format. 

~Keep Calm and Lean On~

A fun group to learn with!

LEMONADE STAND

Today after the training, the kids  wanted a lemonade stand so we made cookies and lemonade. The weather was warm-it reached 70 degrees! Nora actually said, "mom, I'm hot"....words typically not uttered in these parts of the world.

Afterwards the kids went in the sprinkler to cool off.

I stayed inside making the cookies for the first part and I watched through the window as several neighbors drove by, stopped, bought goodies and drove on. One neighbor bought several rounds of cookies and he commented how wonderful it is that kids can do lemonade stands; how in some states/cities, you have to have a permit or its not allowed, etc.... I love seeing the sales in action-the conversation made between the kids and the adults, the small talk and completely random conversation or comments that the kids make.

Stuey wants to have another lemonade stand tomorrow, but I explained to him that you can't have one too frequently because then people will stop buying cookies and lemonade. He seemed to understand that. I thought in 2-3 weeks people would be ready once again.

Lemonade anyone?

Another bonus of lemonade stands is it gives me a chance to connect with neighbors. One neighbor remembered last year when the kids had a stand. It has become an annual Cliffside Road tradition!

Neighbors enjoying cookies with us on the warm lawn. 

Zoya

On to Another Structure

Chase attempts to photograph a visitor to the site

Today we finished the structure that had all the hearths in the middle of it.  I suspect it was where the inhabitants at the site dried and smoked meat.  We’ve moved on to another structure that looks more like a house.  We already started to uncover the floor and it clearly does not have a complex of hearths in the middle.  The floor seems to be very thin.  We have also found a bench and it has clearly defined siderooms and much better built walls.  Much more like the late prehistoric houses I am used to excavating!

We are also digging into the midden in front of the house where the inhabitants threw their garbage.  We have found the remains of past meals – clamshells, cod, salmon, and rockfish bones, bird and seal bones – and even some cool organic artifacts and pottery.  The artifact of the day was a toggling harpoon unlike any other I have ever seen.  It is self pointed and has four small barbs above the line hole – weird.  We also found a blue glass bead.  The bead is also strange and I am wondering if it predates Russian contact.  We have not found anything else that suggests the site is historic and the bead does not look like a typical Russian trade bead.

Bad weather continues to plague us – yesterday it was blowing 40 and raining.  We went out to the site during a ‘sucker hole’ and went straight home when it really started to rain and blow in earnest.  Tonight, however, it is clear and sunny.  We’re hoping the weather pattern holds so that we can learn more about the new structure.  I’m sure there will be some surprises.  Patrick

Nasty day - we decided to quit early

Back at work finishing up the structure with the hearth complex in the middle

On to the midden

Sam and another small pendant

Sam's really weird toggling harpoon

Blue glass bead from the midden

We are finding lots of pottery in front of the new house - only one piece at the other structure

June Underway

This summer  the kids and myself have found a good rhythm with our schedules.  The kids are involved in a morning summer camp program and a mommy helper, Abby is helping with drop off and pick up of the kids on days I work on the Coast Guard base.  She takes them on long walks to the park and out and about as well as reading and playing here at the house.

Today I counted 24 days until Patrick and the crew returns from Old Harbor.  I smile to myself when I think of the reunion barbeque that will ensue upon their return-the traditional fun energy which accompanies a group when they return from the field. They will be so excited to be around fruits, veggies and home baked goods. Some of our most fun summer gatherings are when field crew returns and we are all reunited.

PROGRAM
I'm continuing with Nora's program ( on week 10) which I do 5 days a week and its going strong.  Last week I missed a day of the program  and felt terribly about it for a few minutes.   Then I cut myself a break, as it was the first day I had missed in 9 weeks.  Not too shabby.

I am starting the auditory component of the PACE program  with Nora this week, so I have been giving myself phonics lessons in the evenings, as several of the activities will involve repeating sounds in fast sequence.

Fortunately after 9 weeks, I have a rhythm of how much time I need to be  prepared for Nora's sessions; several hours a week in the evenings. I review the upcoming lessons, watch/review CD's with the exercises on them.  At moments, it does feel daunting-especially when old activities are phased out and more challenging ones are phased in. There is a perpetual learning curve for me as well as Nora. Its amazing how Nora's brain just steps up to the challenges and she works so hard with me. Seeing the progress in Nora is invigorating and inspiring to power through the program this summer.

TRX!

This weekend the trainer from the Alaska Club is coming from Anchorage to train 6 other instructors and myself in how to instruct TRX fitness class. TRX is a band suspension system which uses ones body weight to strengthen, tone and work on core strength and balance.

 I've never even taken a class, and am very excited to learn it this weekend and proceed to teach it here in Kodiak. There are so many exercises that can be done with just your own body weight, and TRX really capitalizes on this. 

Below is a picture of the flooring that was just installed in the TRX room. Just add members and the strap system and we'll be ready to go!

Coming soon-TRX classes. Training this weekend!

MY ENTREPRENEUR 

Stuey has been very entrepreneurial lately-with his bookstore. He sells his pictures and books for 10 or 20 cents and he doesn't barter with me. If I say, "i'll pay you 5 cents" he refuses. He would rather accept no money than be talked down. 

The theme in his art lately is rainbows and our red house. I think the family therapist (who also had her degree in art therapy) that our family worked with this past winter  would have good reflections on Stuey's state of mind, as reflected in his art. Rainbows over a house would be good! So thats re-assuring. He is hooked on rainbows and houses (which have smoke coming out of the chimneys!)

Stuey's "Store". He loves making rainbow and house pictures. And selling them for 5 or 10 cents each. 

 MISS. DETECTIVE
Nora is Miss. Perceptive about people, time, friends, etc. She notices my every mood, and is the detective in the house, noticing if something is out of place, off schedule, etc. Her intuititve awareness about me is welcomed. I attribute this change primarily to the program we are doing together.  In years past, I wished she had more of this trait; at times I would be frusturated that she wouldn't notice my emotions or others emotions.

A picture that was on the camera. I think Patrick made these outfits with the kids! The shoes were made out of cardboard boxes.

Stuey in bed last night....with his latest store creation. 

Zoya

Back to work

We start to work on the large late-prehistoric 'house'

Last Sunday Zoya and I woke up at 4:15 AM after a short 3 hours of sleep and flew home from my college reunion in Boston.  We got all the way back to Kodiak but the plane could not land due to bad weather so we spent the night in Anchorage.  We did make it in to Kodiak Monday morning, and I went straight from the jetliner to catch the little commuter plane to Old Harbor.  The fellow passengers on the commuter plane was a camo-clad group of large men on their way to Old Harbor for a fishing safari.  I was met at the plane by a happy crew, and back at work by 9 AM.  Quite the culture shock – from 90 degree weather and events at the Museum of Fine Arts to rain and 40 degree temperatures with snow on the mountains all around.  From summer back to late spring – from the ‘urbanista’ culture of the city to rural Alaska village life.  I was back!

In my absence the crew had removed the sods from 3 of the houses at the late prehistoric village that will be the focus of the next 4 weeks of the dig.  They opened up 96 new one meter squares to excavate - this was a lot of work!  And on Monday afternoon we started to dig in the main room of the largest house.

After 3 days of excavation we have mostly finished with the large ‘house’, and I now suspect that it was not really a house at all.  We uncovered in the middle of the room a large area of multiple old hearths filled with fire-cracked rock, burnt sods, calcined bone and charcoal.  It looks like the structure was used for some sort of smoke processing.  It clearly was not a house where people lived for extended periods of time, or where they spent the winter.

Unlike a ‘winter’ house the structure lacks well built up sod walls, storage features,  a formal hearth, and a flat floor.  Nor did we find a large variety of the tools one would expect in a house where people spent the winter and worked on the activities typical of domestic winter life – adzes for wood-working, needle abraders, flensing knives etc.  However, we did find lots of unfinished slate lance points, a couple of harpoon/arrow endblades, and lots and lots of ulus at the front of the house.  Also it does look like people were hanging out in the structure.  We found a tiny toy lamp, a well-made ground slate pendant, and a couple of quartz crystals. 

Last year the other houses we tested at the site did seem to have formal hearths and lacked charcoal features.  We had a hard time even finding enough charcoal to radiocarbon date the structures.  For this reason I am wondering if the other houses were where they lived while the structure we are now excavating was where they processed fish or seal meat.  Alternatively the houses we tested last year could be older, and the houses in the dense salmonberry thicket could represent a younger site occupation. 

It is a good thing we will be excavating more than one of the structures because if there is a variety of house types at the site we will recognize them.  This is why I like to excavate large portions of a site.  Rather than a tiny window of the past we will get more of a full-portion view of what was going on in the village.  Eventually we will learn the answers to some of my current questions.  I can’t wait to get to some of the other structures!  Patrick

View of the site where we are now excavating - we've been plagued by pretty dismal weather

Dani shows off the ground slate pendant that she found

Tiny! lamp - note the hand scale in background

Ground slate endblade - this one is REALLY sharp

Old Harbor intern Danielle shows off the quartz crystals that she found in a corner of the structure 

A broken ulu that we re-fit together

Crew excavating in the multiple hearth feature

Hearth feature with rest of structure for scale

Completed hearth feature - now to remove the rocks and to finish digging it out!

48 Hours in Boston

The Friday night Delphic Club class of '88

A Pink

A Rhododendron

Emmy greeting us at the airport...Hour 1. Complete with dunkin' donuts coffee!

A Gum tree in yard at Patrick's parents house. 

Dinner get together Friday night with Patrick's roommates

Pre-reunion drinks

A few of the mini quilts that hung overhead. 

Beautiful quilts were strung overhead in the museum. This is what I learned about them From the MFA Site....

"Visit "To Boston With Love," an installation of hundreds of hand-sewn squares created created by quilters in the US and around the world, including Canada, England, Ireland, France, Holland, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Africa. Each mini quilt delivers a message of peace and hope and is signed on the back by the artist, with his or her country. The project was a grass-roots effort conceived by Berene Campbell of Vancouver, Canada, and organized locally by Amy Friend of West Newbury. Those interested in making a quilt to be included in the installation can visit the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild website to learn more about the project."

They were beautiful. What a thoughtful tribute.

Chihuly glass sculpture and the quilts overhead. 

On the wall at the bar...Zoya thought it was cute. 

Patrick brought a can of tuna from Whole Foods and shared it. This wasn't just ANY tuna, it was from Tomas' tuna plant in Costa Rica. So delicious it was and fun to share with friends that night. 

With Thomas & Anna (from Costa Rica)

Lunch in Sherborn on patio. Hot day, fun times catching up. 

Our 48 hours flew by and so fun it was to catch up with friends and family.

Patrick and Zoya