Life is good. This weekend is very quiet in the village. Monday is Labor Day and Tuesday is a teachers' inservice, so the students have a very long weekend. Many have left the village. I suspect they are hunting. Moose season has begun. Since there hasn't been a hunting season for moose in five years, everyone is quite excited. Ptarmigan, duck, and goose are also popular right now. Since this is a subsistence village, hunting is extremely important.
Berry picking is also important for the families. On the land near us, you can find salmonberries, blueberries, crowberries, and blackberries. Obviously, not at the same time. They each have their time. Right now we have the final berries - the blackberries. Last weekend, they were at their height. We took the boat out yesterday and crossed over to where the berries grow. Each of us had a gallon bucket. The berries grow low to the ground in a very mossy area. When you walk in this, your foot sinks down about two inches. It feels as if you are walking on the most plush carpet you could ever find. Often the berries are well hidden, so you must kneel to find them. And, as you can imagine, there are many ""no-see-ums" everywhere. I think they, too, must be attracted to the sweetness of the berries and the coolness of the moss.
We worked 3 hours. I probably picked a little more than 1/3 of a gallon. It was such a beautiful day it didn't really matter that the bugs were everywhere and our buckets weren't full. We were out in a field of moss, surrounded by water, soaking in the lovely day. Nothing could be seen except the flat tundra. It was quiet and spectacular. Only occasionally did the geese fly overhead. Out here on the tundra, the fall colors are just beginning to show. Beautiful shades of red are tucked into the browns and greens of the land. It was a lovely day. When we arrived home, I cleaned the berries and put them away. Today I will make blackberry jam.
In the evening, I watched the sun set. I've included two photos of the view from my apartment.
I live right on the water. Well, actually, everyone does. The sunsets are spectacular. So, one photo shows the view from my kitchen window during the day, and the other is the same setting at night. The sun sets around 9:30 PM and the spectacular colors usually begin around 10:15. It doesn't last long, but it is beautiful. It's something I
look forward to every evening and never miss.
You can tell winter is just around the corner, so I am busy today shopping online for arctic clothing. I can't believe how much I need. Everything needs to be windproof and waterproof, and I need to be certain the clothing is effective for temperatures that are minus 40 degrees. It's a whole new shopping world for me!
I hope this note finds you well and happy. Take care. Enjoy these fall days. They can be so beautiful.
Berry picking is also important for the families. On the land near us, you can find salmonberries, blueberries, crowberries, and blackberries. Obviously, not at the same time. They each have their time. Right now we have the final berries - the blackberries. Last weekend, they were at their height. We took the boat out yesterday and crossed over to where the berries grow. Each of us had a gallon bucket. The berries grow low to the ground in a very mossy area. When you walk in this, your foot sinks down about two inches. It feels as if you are walking on the most plush carpet you could ever find. Often the berries are well hidden, so you must kneel to find them. And, as you can imagine, there are many ""no-see-ums" everywhere. I think they, too, must be attracted to the sweetness of the berries and the coolness of the moss.
We worked 3 hours. I probably picked a little more than 1/3 of a gallon. It was such a beautiful day it didn't really matter that the bugs were everywhere and our buckets weren't full. We were out in a field of moss, surrounded by water, soaking in the lovely day. Nothing could be seen except the flat tundra. It was quiet and spectacular. Only occasionally did the geese fly overhead. Out here on the tundra, the fall colors are just beginning to show. Beautiful shades of red are tucked into the browns and greens of the land. It was a lovely day. When we arrived home, I cleaned the berries and put them away. Today I will make blackberry jam.
In the evening, I watched the sun set. I've included two photos of the view from my apartment.
I live right on the water. Well, actually, everyone does. The sunsets are spectacular. So, one photo shows the view from my kitchen window during the day, and the other is the same setting at night. The sun sets around 9:30 PM and the spectacular colors usually begin around 10:15. It doesn't last long, but it is beautiful. It's something I
look forward to every evening and never miss.You can tell winter is just around the corner, so I am busy today shopping online for arctic clothing. I can't believe how much I need. Everything needs to be windproof and waterproof, and I need to be certain the clothing is effective for temperatures that are minus 40 degrees. It's a whole new shopping world for me!
I hope this note finds you well and happy. Take care. Enjoy these fall days. They can be so beautiful.
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