Ouzinkie

Well since it's all out of order, here's the frozen harbor.

Abby impatiently waiting to get on the plane, which never left due to 40 mph plus winds.

Stayed home and chilled.

We finally got to Ouzinkie - COLD!
Too cold for hunting :(

Walked to the harbor...

saw the church...

Uh, out of order, waiting for plane...

Walked to sourdough flats...

urg. church again.

My Twilight baby - golden eyes!

Abby's Ouzinkie nickname is Alligator or Abbigator! I have been here six years and don't even have a nickname. She already has hers!

hung out...

Oh, and back to the flats?!

Like how the pics are out of order. Blogspot has been annoying. Tried to upload video of the Christmas mayhem to no avail.

Ringing the Bell!

Christmas is NOT about the mass commercialism of Chinese products!!!!
I try to do things with Abby to capture the "spirit" of Christmas. For example, we ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Now, I am not the most religious God-fearing person, but I can set aside my own beliefs and do something for others. In Kodiak, the SA runs a food bank, transitional housing, church services of course, thrift store (more eco-friendly than throwing perfectly good things away), and other programs. The Salvation Army I suppose can be credited with the popularization of donuts:

Soon after the US entrance into World War I in 1917, the Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France. The mission concluded that the needs of US enlisted men could be met by canteens/social centers termed "huts" that could serve baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service. Typically, six staff members per hut would include four female volunteers who could "mother" the boys. These huts were established by the Salvation Army in the United States near army training centers.

About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France. Because of the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings near to the front lines, two Salvation Army volunteers (Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance) came up with the idea of providing doughnuts. These are reported to have been an "instant hit", and "soon many soldiers were visiting Salvation Army huts". Margaret Sheldon wrote of one busy day "Today I made 22 pies, 300 doughnuts, 700 cups of coffee."

A legend has spread that the provision of doughnuts to US enlisted men in World War I is the origin of the term doughboy to describe US infantry, but the term was in use as early as the Mexican-American War of 1846-47.

AND, the phrase "on the wagon", comes from the Salvation Army:

The phrase "on the wagon" was coined by men and women receiving the services of The Salvation Army. A hay wagon was driven through the streets of New York to encourage alcoholics on board for a ride back to The Salvation Army. Hence, alcoholics in recovery were said to be "on the wagon."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY

How many years has it been???!!!
Frek splicing, I gotta LOVE knot!!

Soltice

Solstice/Hanukkah party at the Saltonstalls!

Oh Atticus!

A winter walk the next day :)

Lou Lou

For a week Abby and I watched Lou, the world's nosiest, fastest running Springer Spaniel. That dog is 99.7% nose, .2% run, and .1% talk. It was fun having him, and I kind of miss him now that he is gone, but it's also nice not having the responsibility, the fur, and the whine.

Abby's Preschool Christmas Program

My parents have decorated their pad with Abby's art. Very cool. Here is the slate chalkboard (they live in an old Victorian school).

Santa Visit

Power Outage Walkabout

On Thursday the power went out, as it occasionally does in Kodiak. Although annoying at times, we do have a good electric association. Our electricity mainly comes from a hydroelectric dam and wind turbines - green energy. Anyway, since we couldn't work in the dark, Patrick and I went to the harbor to take photos. As soon as he said "this is like photography glass" I began giggling. We decided to share our photos - just like in photography class - thinking we would likely end up with some similar shots. Patrick is a way better photographer for sure, AND he has a better camera and lens, so mine do not compare. Check his out (awesome!)

http://saltonstall.blogspot.com/2011/12/power-outage-walkabout.html

Not sure which one I like better, maybe not happy with both individually so, sharing both.

I think you will be attempt two later. After seeing Patrick's, i think I need to try again!

Lunch time slip and slide

My daily turn about the harbor. Ice, no ice, just keepagoing.

Snow??! Snow! Cold! It's like living in Alaska!

She is saying "Hi, granddad."

Z at Abby's B-day party, which Abz stilll talks about.

Abby has been snapping photos, they mostly turn out as blobular forms. Between the two of us, since I have been taking a few, we have a good interpretation of our activities.

Last week we made tiaras, one for Abby, one for Caramel and one for Flower. We worked on the one for Abby together, and then I let Abby make the ones for kitties herself. Caramel on the left was my kitty when I was Abby's age.

We went sledding at the gravel pit on Pillar. Great place for sledding.

"Fu fu (binky) on the carpet - that's funny!" says Abby.

First self-portrait.

Flower necklace on a broom.