Some Things Fishy

Well some things in life can be a little on the fishy side. For those of us in interior Alaska that's usually a good thing. Our friend Steve who is the same person teaching me about Bee keeping took us out and showed us how to net fish for Salmon. Joey Redington Jr allowed us to use his spot for the day.

Saturday morning we collected the honey from the bees Steve, Ann and I pulled all the frames. Saturday evening we set the fish net.

Tanana River

Steve and Ken taking the net out of the box

Ken tying off the boat and the net

The net and buoy

 I said a prayer over the fish net, that God would bless us. I said that I would praise him if was full and I would praise him if it was empty.

Ken

Steve and Ken untangling the net

After we got the net all set we got to go see the fish wheel that Steve built for the fish and game research team. It's built to be fish friendly so that they can catch and release. Then he took us to meet them at their camp and we got to see how they are using sonar to count the fish. It's a really neat set up and they seem like a great bunch of young people. I think if I were younger and single that would be a really run and rewarding job.

Fish Wheel Steve built for Fish and Game

When we went back out  the next morning we had to have the net out of the water by noon which we accomplished easily. There were 27 chum salmon in our net. The Chum are also known as Dog Salmon and are usually harvested for use as dog food and considered lower quality. We picked out  the poorest quality fish to dry for the dogs but the rest will be for us to eat. Were not picky (yet) and are thankful that the timing finally worked out and someone was able to teach us how to net fish. Now we need to gather up the supplies so that next year we can go out on our own and maybe even fish for some kings.

Untangling the fish from the net

 I only got one shot of untangling the fish before I jumped in and got to work myself. God truly blessed us and we praised him for filling the net with fish for us, for the experience and for wonderful friends who gave of their time and experience. We thanked the fish for the nourishment they would provide our family.

27 Chum (Dog) Salmon in the boat

 The Salmon that we kept for ourselves was frozen whole to prevent freezer burn.

Notice my look of concentration as I try to hold the slippery fish while using a very sharp knife lol...

I was gutting as Ken was splitting

Boys inspecting the remaining fish

Lisa inspecting the drying rack

While it's not enough fish to feed the dogs for the winter it will help. Now we can say that we've done it and we can make a better go of it hopefully next year, if we can accumulate the basic equipment that we'll need.

Today I'll be going in and helping and and Steve use the extractor to get out the honey. I'll let you all know how much honey we end up with.

Blessings and Love to you all :) May God bless your harvest.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

From One of My Readers

Hello All,

I would like to share a story with you of one of my readers that I think needs to be brought out in the open more. It has to do with a type of cancer and how this amazing woman survived it against overwhelming odds. If you have the time please read her story.

http://www.mesothelioma.com/

http://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/speak-with-a-mesothelioma-survivor.htm

Here is her message to me. Again if you have the time please click on the above links for more about Heather and Mesothelioma.

Hi there Sarah!

Thanks for getting back to me! I am 44 and a mother to a quirky little 7 year old, Lily. She is my only child, and my whole world. When Lily was just 3 1/2 months old, I was diagnosed with Mesothelioma; a type of cancer that kills 90-95% of those who have it. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, and I was unknowingly exposed from my dads work clothes when I was just 9 years old. As I’m sure you can imagine, the first thing that came to mind when I was diagnosed was my baby girl and how I wasn’t going to be able to watch her grow up.

After intense treatment and recovery, I’m still here 7 years later and cancer free! My journey with cancer was a terrifying one and I'd like to turn my pain into purpose and become someone that other people can look to for guidance, inspiration, and hope in situations like my own. I contacted you because I feel that your blog would be an excellent place for me to share my story. I’m trying to raise awareness of this horrible little known cancer that is such a deadly killer (and sadly, 100% preventable).  

Would you be willing to share my journey as a new mother with cancer on your blog? Here is the link to my story if you want to read more: www(dot)mesothelioma(dot)com/heather

Either one would be such a great help to me.
Let me know what you think, thanks! :)
Heather

Soaring Summer Flying By

WOW! It seems like it's been forever since I've posted. For those of you that don't know my hard drive on my computer crashed. I took it into Geek City in Fairbanks and had them do a data recovery and put in a new hard drive. It took a little while to get it back but they were understanding of our situation and were able to fix it in about a week and a half. We were able to drop it off when we picked up Ken's mom from the airport and pick it back up when we took her back. Soooo, now that I'm back up and running lets see if I can get you caught up a bit. So much has happened that I'm sure I'll forget to include some things. This post may also be a little light on pictures since I lost the program that I used to make my collages and loading them individually takes forever.

The month of June meant a lot of planting. Ken was working for ASRC again but this time he was running a loader across at the gravel pit. He also worked at Dart AM Farm during breaks in the ASRC job. I aged this month creeping up to 33. We also butchered all our meat birds and put them in the freezer.

Boys enjoy playing in or should I say wallowing in the dirt!

Lisa lost her first tooth

Ian along with three other teens and 2 men were baptized by pastor Earl.

One of the men not pictured Jr. from left to right  front row (Ian, Aubry, Jessica, Ryan) Back (Mike, Earl)

July has been a very busy month indeed. We moved the bees from Manly to out here on the runway so that they could take advantage of all the fireweed. After moving them and getting it all set up I didn't have on proper equipment and ended up being stung multiple times, including 6 in my right armpit, once on my belly and twice between my legs on my upper thigh. Then the following day I was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets that had nested in our old cow skull that is mounted just above the goats grain storage bin. We never stopped doing school over the summer but July marked the start of a new school year for us. So we ordered our new curriculum.

The 4th of July was a lot of fun as usual thanks to all the amazing people who work so hard to put it together. Lisa was the grand prize winner in the bike parade and we enjoyed the activities, games and social time. The BBQ was late this year so we didn't stay in town for it. We also didn't do the Pike derby as we don't have a boat and they were doing the boat races on the slough so we couldn't take the kids down there to fish for pike. We ended up fishing in Baker creek and though we didn't catch anything the kids had fun.

Grandpa Scott riding in the fire truck with Chuck leading the parade.

My mom and dad

"Uncle" Don and September

Egg race

Pushing eggs with their noses

Watermelon eating contest.

Ken's mom Kris came for a visit which was really nice. We had decided to do the tourist bit this year so we bought the pre-season tickets for the River Boat Discovery and Gold Dredge 8. Kris enjoyed both but we preferred the Gold Dredge 8 as we found the Boat trip a little boring. We all panned some Gold but Wyatt beat us all by panning $26.00 worth. We also went out to the Hoot Hot Springs which was a fun and interesting trip. We couldn't find the correct trail going in so we wasted a lot of gas. We had not planned on being gone past lunch so had not packed a lunch. It was well after lunch before we made it in. The kids snacked on granola bars and we all enjoyed a feast of blueberries. When we got there we were run off by a young curious black bear. The trip back we were running out of fuel but were at least on the correct trail. We started praying that God would keep just enough fuel in the tank to get us home. It was like the story of the widow and the jar of oil and we made it home praising God for his blessing.

Oak trying to make the I love you sign

Penned Carabou

River Boat Discovery

Hoot Hot Springs

Lisa, Kris and Ken

Kris ferried the boys to the warmer water

Gold Dredge 8 starting point at the pipeline

Gold panning area

Oak drinking Hot cocoa and eating cookies while waiting weigh our gold

We started harvesting and canning here at the end of July. Lisa started pulling carrots and we've been eating a lot of salad greens, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, strawberries, beets and green onions. Also we picked one cabbage so far. I've canned 14 cans of pickles and relish and several cans of fireweed jelly. The berry picking this year is AMAZING so we have been picking a lot of blueberries and raspberries. So far I have been freezing them but I'm planing on doing some canning of them.

Turkeys Bob(above) and Larry are getting huge.

Lisa's Carrots even bigger and better than last year.

Little Greenhouse

Bee Hive

Cabbage

Garden

Pumpkins and Squash in Large Greenhouse

Cucumbers and Melons in Large Greenhouse

Psalms 148:1-14 KJV
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.