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What else has been going on around here…
- We Made It! December 22, 2025
- We Make Do, So Can You! November 2, 2025
- Twice in 3 Days October 31, 2025
- Processing Day October 26, 2025
- Raspberry Saskatoon Mead October 18, 2025
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Category Archives: Photos
It never ends.
Until the snow flies that is.
Spent several hours today helping Thing 1 with her gardening goals. Assembled another raised bed that had been cut out a month ago. Filled it and several more tire towers with compost and dirt. Planted a few more things. I scored a few shorter season plants for half off, end of the season sale. So we planted those.
We also topped off the strawberry bed with another tier and planted some runners. Built a trellis and covered it with bird netting so we can harvest a few berries ourselves.
It’s just after midnight. I’m laying here listening to the rhythmic crashing of the waves. My tent softly illuminated with the fading “civil twilight” from the setting sun. Kids are finally asleep. It’s so peaceful.
It’s Wednesday June 22 (my nephew’s birthday!) And we have three days left of this personal use fishery. Later today will be the first time since it started that we get to fish any of the incoming tide. That’s where the fish are, headed to the river on the incoming tides. We get one hour of incoming tide today. Slightly more tomorrow, with the best fishing window on Friday, the last day.
I’ve tried not to focus on the negative and lack of fish. But enjoying my Solstice Sisters’ company. Making & eating good food and the best beverages a gal could ask for, and beach ice cream for the kids. Tonight’s served with fresh baked brownies from Mr Jimmy!
Each night Niki fills hot water bottles for each of us to put in our sleeping bags to keep extra warm. What a sweetie.
Solstice marks the official “winter is coming” season because we’re now losing daylight hours. Even though we have about two months of decent weather left, it will be gone before we know it! So get out in the sun and soak it up! Play in the sea spray. Walk barefoot in the sand. Hunt for some agates and beach glass. Enjoy a margarita with your besties. Live life Alaska style.
#solsticealaska
#midnightsun
#salmonislife
#thisismytribe
We are home for our compulsory break after three days. It’s necessary for feeding and watering our animals. Plus showers, laundry & restocking. Helps with mental fatigue too. It’s a lot of work fishing and setting up camp simultaneously, feeding all these people, & factoring in the disheartening lack of fishing time. We’ve had nets in the water a total of 4.5-5 hours over the past two days and netted 27 salmon. Total. It’s a lot of work for not so many fish.
We got home late last night, it was after 9 pm but I’ve lost track of time to know for sure. Kids tended to the animals, I jumped in the shower. I had two days of Cook Inlet mud to wash off my legs and out of my locs. And that long hot shower helped to soothe some of my tired muscles. And I went straight to bed.
Mental fatigue is always a thing for us at fish camp. We love doing this, look forward to it all year long, but it is a lot of work. Even walking on beach sand all day, every day is tiring. And dealing with other people in close proximity is hard. I mean, we love all of our FC family but even loved ones can get on your nerves at times, amiright?? But it’s all for a purpose. It’s our “working vacation” to fill our pantry with fish.
So taking away that reward, or at least feeling like it’s being taken away from you, makes you question if it’s worth it or not. Plus the reality for us is that there isn’t another opportunity like this to get salmon the rest of the season, it’s a real mind #*@&.
One of my kids were definitely showing that their overwhelmed meters were pegged yesterday so I was glad to be taking our overnight break.
Today we have a plethora of chores and things to load to haul back to the beach for the rest of our adventures. I just keep reminding myself of the purpose: to secure food and enjoy each other’s company. After all, we don’t get this opportunity but once a year, and with Niki here is even more rare.
So it’s off to work and start getting stuff loaded up. I’ve already got a load of laundry going. Made Dean’s lunch and sent him to work. And paid my business bond renewal that expires next week. I think I need more coffee.
I’m working our booth at the KPBA Home Show. It’s our annual chance to mingle with the general public and show off our handiwork.
Our best way to see what’s available in the area for home improvement! It’s a favorite for kids since all the vendors have 🍬🍭 candy giveaways. Lots of fun for everyone.
Alaska on my mind... 