Yesterday and today...

Rough night in Hidden Basin, slept rolled up in a tarp just above high tideline, as you can tell, it was rough...

Built a fire, Jono recovered, ate kodiak venison spaghetti...

Beachcombing, lots of shipwrecks, we might have had a time warp because Jono found a watch on the barge that showed the date as two days later, but to the exact time of now.

Wayne and Lynne Murphy have an incredible homestead in Hidden Basin, and we became their guests. I just banya-ed and now I am drinking homemade mossberry and salmonberry wine, and it is Lynne's birthday! 71!
Here is Wayne in the greenhouse with the first tomatoes in the bay (and the island, to be sure)

Lynne in the wine cellar with all of her wines. As the story goes, Wayne meant to make the wine holders about half as small, but measured wrong and made it twice as large. Lynne didn't worry about it, but just filled it up!

Herring Crew

Crewmate #1
Jono (in flame-proof floating body suit)

Crew #2
Thomas (reflector wrists for waving in the dark while floundering in the sea)

The Players: Jill Anne I with a big set.

Sampling on the tender Incentive

Jill Anne I cleans up Ugak by themselves on a bluebird day.

Herring Update

Well, I am out and about around Kodiak, chasing the herring fleet with my dear friend Jono, observing and regulating the fishery, just thought I would send up a couple of pictures (though I am about 200 photos behind on the blog, missing Arizona, etc.).

Here we go,

About twelve days ago- This is our mighty chariot, being lowered into the snowstorm where we are going to make camp. We got a ride down south with the Resolution, a large Fish and Game boat.

Arrived in Becker Bay (aka Kinsley Kove), with a lot of gear, making camp in the snow.

Luckily we had a shovel, lots of snow including a foot on the tent platform.

After the tent was set up, we hibernated for three days, as the snow and winds had their fun. Luckily, we were prepared...

Good food, good music, baseball games on the xm, new, dry tent. We survived the storm.

Rainy Days and spare time

I've come back at the end of the rainy season...which means a very good amount of sun, but more rainy days than last time. I really don't like to work in the rain too much (I mean, you know...it's yet and it makes me cold!) so I adorn myself of a sweet see-through poncho! Notice that I'm the only one who seems to be bothered too...whatever! At least I look way cool!

And yes, on my spare time, I enjoy playing dress up with my friend Quincy! Oh, my inner-child! 

Work

Since I've been here, we've been harvesting and processing turmeric at least once a week. Turmeric, like ginger, is a magical root. It has to grow for at least a year before it's harvested. It is usually dried and made into powder and is one of the main ingredient in curry (it gives curry its yellow). I like to shred a piece of fresh turmeric and ginger root and make a spicy tea.

This is my friend (and roommate) Kopia cleaning turmeric. 

Little photo of turmeric roots drying after being washed.

What's new?

Hey everyone! So here I am back on Maui after 3 months of traveling and spending time with beautiful people! Thomas and Nate had been planning an "adventure" for the last couple months...which seemed like the perfect time for me to do something that I love and be in a 100% appealing place. So Maui it is! Perfect place to stock up on rays before returning to Alaska.

What's new? Well, I guess that the biggest news is that Thomas got accepted into med-school at UW (in Seattle). Wow! I know! He got a phone call the day after his interview to let him know that it was a go! He amazes...but I'll say no more for fear of embarrassing him. It's nice to have plans and projects come together! We'll be spending Thomas' 1st year of med-school in Anchorage, then will be moving to Seattle for the remaining years. Fun times! I look forward to this new phase of our lives...and I'll take advantage of that time to go back to school myself!

(Thomas won't believe that I'm doing some blogging ;) )

Rose

Maui=Pizza at Flatbreads!

Back in Maui, I enjoy pizzas and beer with my good friend Jenstar! While Thomas hikes with Nate-dog in Arizona/Utah. 

See you in a month.

Rose is flying out today, we woke at 4:30 for a crazy airport run, sitting in "America's friendliest airport" using free wifi, Rose just took a shower! in the adult changing station, I will be going into the desert with Nate until the end of the month, see you then.

two desert Rose's

There must have been a lot of rain, because the desert is in bloom, it is green everywhere!

the rain makes plants go crazy, and some people too...

desert olympics part II

Summit of the Dutch Lady

adios...

Arizona banditos

Made it to Phoenix, packed up Nate's new truck, camped in a war zone with lots of shooting and crazy night riders, then got out of dodge...

...to the flooded Jug, too much water to canyoneer, so we jumped in.

The Desert Olympics officially began as well (beautiful form, notice the arms/legs forward throw)

Crossfox

My friends' band, Crossfox, had their cd release show, so I flew in to catch it. For an idea, check out myspace.com/crossfox


I was put to work, as the merch-man (merchandise), giving away pins and stickers, and selling cds and tshirts. Sweet pizza box selling station.

the night gets weirder...

these guys are good- T Tuck on the drums.

Tim Tucker

Look at this guy... what a guy... walking the streets of Bellingham (notice the name on the hat?)

Tahoe

Driving around Lake Tahoe...


My sister and I remodeled this closet, adding shelves, hooks, and broom hangers.

Next stop, Bellingham...

pizza party with the Benshoofs

pizza pizza pizza, Rose, and my sister's family

My niece is the cutest little cutey-batootie in the world!

little maria and uncle thomas


and auntie rose

let's go for a drive!

and a hike in the snow (I love how my camera splices two photos together, allowing me to get in on the action)

I have been attending "baby boot camp"- learning to feed and care for the little one, and yes, I even get to change diapers, oh boy! She is a sweetie...

white stuff

On a day of exploring, we cruised out to White Sands for a walk in the blinding dunes- hot and dry.

Then we continued up towards Cloudcroft, and hiked through a different kind of white stuff- slippery in the sandals.

Evergreen forests, snow, fall colored trees, I love the diversity...

Slovaks in the desert...

The desert is to large unless you have panorama- these are mountains behind my grandparents' house

My grandpa's sweet jeep, baja-ing in the desert


We spent a week in New Mexico with my grandparents, playing cards, eating candy, sitting on the porch for hours of warm, dry sunshine. Here we are making Pierogies, a traditional Slovak meal (my grandparents are both full blood Slovakian).