Ahoy mates! We’ve shoved off and we’re underway to the Kasitsna Bay Research Facility to explore our marine and forest ecology! This is an overnight trip across Kachemak Bay. Seas are mostly calm, overcast skies, it’s supposed to rain but so far it’s just cool and overcast.
I’ll be sure to post more about our adventures when we return home! You can see our adventures here!
I made a quick trip to Oklahoma 3/6-3/13 to visit family after my mom had a health scare. When I left Alaska it was cold and snowy, of course there was a climate shock and jet lag to deal with upon arrival in the 63° Okie heat of early spring. It was nice to see my family and thankfully, B’H, my mom pulled through and is doing better.
While there I didn’t leave the farm except for a trip to the grocery store. I enjoyed the quiet solitude of the back road farm scape and the warmer weather was nice! I had more warm 60°+ days in one week than all of last summer. I should have brought better deodorant.
Spent as much time as possible with Ma and Rickerd while staying at my sister’s and enjoying their little homestead. Got to visit with lots of family as everyone came to see Ma and got to see me as a bonus. 😜
While at my sister’s & John’s place I was able to help with her baby chicks and little kune kune piglet Mr. Wiggles.
Between the chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, cats and dogs, there’s a lot going on! I baked a few loaves of bread in my spare time and tried to make some cherry mashes but that’s another story for another time. I made a few meals too. Normal stuff.
One week is a short time to fly that far but life back home calls. Return I must.
The valuable people were seen, the important things said. I’m grateful for the opportunity. 💞
Back to the daily grind now. And what’s left of the snow, it’s rotting fast. I’ve got ducks, turkeys, goats, rabbits and dogs to deal with now. And children. Can’t forget them.
Today, at 5:36 AKST pm (4:36 AKDST) we Mark the 60th anniversary of the 9.2 magnitude Good Friday earthquake.
131 people lost their lives here in Alaska. 16 people in California and Oregon.
$311 million dollars of damage, in 1964 money, that’s $3,087,314,110 of today’s money (adjusted for the 900% loss in value).
Valdez and Chenega were completely destroyed and a resulting Tsunami of 200 feet high was registered at Shoup Bay near the Valdez Inlet. The surge touched Canada, Hawaii, Japan, and Australia.
The quake registered seismically in nearly every state in the union with the exception of three. Seattle’s space needle wobbled.
4 year old little Dean remembers all the appliances, the wood stove and cabinet contents toppled onto the floor. He also remembers that the snow was gone, an early breakup that year. Funny the things that are left with indelible ink.
There’s still visible scars of that day on the way to Anchorage near Portage, the remnants of the trees killed when the land dropped below the water table. Time takes its toll and Alaska reclaims it’s dead. There are fewer trees standing now than when I first moved here. The little garage that was shuttered after the quake finally fell down a few years back. The landscape is healing, reminders fading. But we must remember.
Sources: History , Must Read Alaska, Oral History of Thelma Barnum & Fred Christoffersen, Dollar Times
Lil Bit is participating in the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Link Up program. It’s a great opportunity for youngsters to hear the orchestra perform and participate in the performance, both in choir and playing recorders and violins.
The finale was a little touch of Boogie Woogie with Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry. It seemed like the kids really enjoyed it!
Tomorrow afternoon she plays the same program in Kenai with different school kids and a few other orchestra members.
It’s the end of 2023 (hip, hip, hooray!)
As we flip the calendar page to 2024 my wish for you is that you have enough. Enough of everything you need.
Enough wealth to be generous.
Enough love to share.
Enough happiness to not have to look for it.
Enough food to enjoy the company of family and friends.
Enough time to pause and be thankful.
Enough faith to get through the tough times.
Enough kindness to sprinkle everywhere.
Happy New Year’s!
This little guy is Higgins. Inspired by the OG Magnum PI series. His markings look more like a Rotty or Dobbie but to our knowledge he isn’t a part of either breed. He has the same brindling his mom has and black coloring of his (suspected) father.
He has enormous ears and paws, brindling on all fours legs, his cheeks, chin and under neck. He very curious and playful.
Higgins is nine weeks old (12/18) and ready to go to his furever home. He has been wormed, introduced to potty and crate training and if his new humans would like, I can arrange for a DAP vax. His new owners would need to schedule all other vet care at their earliest convenience.
There is a $100 rehoming fee good until the end of the year.
Alaska on my mind... 