I don’t think there are to many places in the world where you see both 4-wheelers and snowmachines zipping around at the same time.  We now have about 2 feet of snow and most of the roads in Elim are packed enough that you can cruise around on 4-wheelers but if you want to go out in the country you need to be using your snowmachine.

Over Thanksgiving break I only had a couple of things to do.  One was to build a wood sled.  This doesn’t seem like a difficult task, but every time I try to build something it seems to turn into a week long project with many frustrations and having to redo everything several times. This time it went relatively quick and I didn’t have to redo anything.

The real nice thing about the sled is that except for the 2×10x10s everything was scrap that I had laying around.  The 2×4s were taking up space in the house.  The plastic runners and bridle came from an old sled that was being tossed out.  Most of the bolts and nuts I had laying around…I did have to buy a couple nuts and bolts, but I already had most of them.

After it was built I took it out to see if it would fall apart, but was happily surprised that it didn’t and it sits almost perfectly in the tracks of the skis of my snowmachine…next test, see if it can carry a load of wood.

This fall was a quiet one.  I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out why Dianna’s four-wheeler quit running.  After trouble shooting it by myself and getting no where Dianna made me call people around Elim for help.  One after another people would come over and try this and that and the four wheeler still wouldn’t work.  Finally I broke down and bought the Clymber manual (800 pages of very detailed info) for it.

I was after 6 weeks of trying every possible thing I was finally ready to spend the $1500 to send it in to a Polaris mechanic.  When we called them they said try changing the fuel filter, before sending it in.  I drained the tank and changed the fuel filter and then had CO (John’s brother-in-law from Brevig Mission) look at it.  He came over and it started right up.  He then asked if I was sure the four wheeler had gas or if maybe by accident it had been filled with diesel.  Sure enough the last time it was filled up someone grabbed the wrong can and instead of gas they filled it with diesel.  24 hours later I had the four wheeler put back together and running.

See both cans look alike…I guess I learned 1. four wheelers don’t run on diesel.  2. Label your cans and don’t leave them next to each other.  3.  I learned a lot about four wheelers…so next time I know a little more about what I am doing when it breaks down.

A couple of weeks ago I made the trip to Fairbanks for a week of meetings.  After the meetings were over I jumped in the car with a couple other teachers and headed to see Santa…well at least to North Pole.  We drove 20 miles SOUTH to arrive at a small town with light poles decorated as candy canes, and a small store.  This is apparently where Santa resides most of the year.  Once inside his shop we found a note on his chair saying he was on his annual Autumn leave.

Here I am with santa’s polar bear helper…he believes!  Yes, I actually got to sit in Santa’s chair and pose for a picture.  Maybe it could be a second career for me!

I didn’t get to see Santa but I have been to the North Pole!  You Gotta Believe!

Well its been over a month and long over due to update the blog.  I have much to blog about and I will try to spend the rest of month to get everyone caught up on what has been happening over the past month.  First and most importantly was my birthday party.

With all the traveling Dianna has been doing we decided to have a small party.  Once we started talking about who to call and invite we quickly realized it wasn’t going to be small, which didn’t bother me..since I wasn’t going to be the one baking the goodies or serving them.

This year Dianna only baked 3 cakes, 4 pies, 1.5 gallons of berries, 2 pans of brownies, 48 cupcakes, 2.5 blueberry delights, and 2 boxes of jell-o.  We had over 60 people come and go, and almost everything was eaten.  We had less then 1 pie, 1 cake and .5 gallon of berries left.  Much better planning this year.  I also made off like a bandit, when it comes to gifts.  I got $13, a package of razors, 1 pair of wool socks, 2 pairs of knitted socks, a baklava, and a pair of seal skin gloves.  Over all a very successful birthday.

My apologizes to my family that sent birthday cards.  I recieved a pink birthday card from grandpa….why was it pink?  I recieved a Jewish birthday card from my brother….he thinks it Russian.  Then a beautiful card full of pictures from my sister-in-law and 2 kids.  Thanks for the pictures.

Here is the card from my brother!  Like his wife said..what else would you expect.

After not cutting my hair for 18 months  and my beard for 16 months I have turned a new leaf and had three hair cuts in 3 months.  After Heather my sister-in-law cut my hair in Indianapolis this summer, I have been able to convince Dianna that its an easy thing to do.  Before school started in Aug. she made her first attempt at it.  It took a while (45 mins.) before she was done, but in the end it looked good.  Last week she gave it another shot.  It only took 30 minutes this time, and it looks even better.

Even though Dianna is getting good at cutting hair, I won’t let her trim the beard yet, that is a little to sacred.  Only and expert can trim that.

Each year I have gone through a phase.  Year 1 hot chocolate. Year 2 ice cream.  Year 3 popcorn.  On Thursday I took Dianna’s popcorn popper into school for a science experiment.  After 5 batches of popcorn the popper died.  The 6th batch had started to pop when it turned off and wouldn’t start up again.

Here it is with its last batch.  It was a good popper.  Hopefully Dianna won’t read this before she wants popcorn.  Then I can play dumb and not know why the popper won’t pop.  My fingers are crossed.

Usually the excitement on Friday afternoon is due to the upcoming weekend.  This Friday the weekend took a back seat to the large pod of Beluga whales passing through Elim.  In a matter of a couple hours 8 different whales and been shot and brought to shore.  Most of the village came down to the beach to help pull the the whales up and butchering.  If you weren’t helping cut up there was plenty to talk about.

I didn’t help butcher but I was busy getting recipes for Pickled mungtuk (the blubber) and learning how to make dry meat.  Here they are rinsing the sand off before they start cutting.

Once all the mungtuk is off they take start cutting the meet out.

I was given some meat and mungtuk, but Dianna and I don’t eat a whole lot of the meat or mungtuk, so I so no need for a whole slab of either.  Here is a small piece of mungtuk, that I will try to pickle.  Also, a chunk of meat that I will strip and make dry meat.  I also took a small chunk off and fried it up for dinner.  Its nice to have fresh meat once in a while.  It’s kind of like your eating beef with a fishy taste.

We have just finished our 3rd week of school.  We have had frost on the ground several times now.  Dianna has started wearing a stocking cap when we go for 4 wheeler rides.  All of these point to the fact winter is coming and it will be here before we blink our eyes.  After school Dianna and I took the chance to head out to the beach have a fire and enjoy a hamburger.

Miles also enjoyed the chance to run free on the beach and eat anything that we could finish.

The lows have dropped below freezing and Labor Day has come and pass.  This all means it is time to pick up the kayaks from Moses Point and bring them back to be stored for the winter.  Last year the transportation was scary and dangerous mostly because I had no good way to secure the boats to my trailer.  This year I bought some Yakima Hull Raisers, and converted my trailer into a kayak hauler.

I guess some of the kids in town thought it would make for a nice place to lay down.  I wonder if Yakima will put a warning on the box next year.  Warning the Hull Raisers are not designed for small children to lay down on!

With school starting it only meant one thing…time to lace up those hiking boots and hike to Walla Walla.  The forecast said rain, and it was cloudy the weekend but we never actaully got rained on.  We stopped for a quick break and Miles decided it was time to hunt small furry creatures.  Oh yeah he got one!

We had to cross two log bridges the first one has seen better days.  The trail is also starting to become overgrown.  You can see the grass is almost as tall as I am.  We took the .270 with incase we saw a moose.  Neither of us REALLY thought about how much work it would be to pack a moose 10 miles out…Kind of a blessing we didn’t get a moose.

Our last mile or so before we get to the cabin is on the beach.  Here are some crazy rocks that go straight up from the sand.  Its easier to dishes when you have a dog that eats everything.  U set the bowl on the ground when finished and he licks it clean…already for breakfast!

After a good dehydrated meal why not stretch you out on the floor.  I’m not sure who taught who but they both seem pretty good at this.  When your all stretched out its time to get a good book..hope ya brought one and catch up on some reading.

Yes finally, even I am able to laid down and get a couple zzzz’s .