Nothing has been written in the past few weeks, as I have been waiting for inspiration to arrive, or maybe for my internet service to speed up. As neither has happened, I am now motivated by a sleeping wife, three children thankfully quiet as they watch a movie and a thermos full of freshly brewed coffee.
It has been a quiet day, however productive. I made breakfast and dinner, both with the help of the younger set. Lunch was inconspicuously absent, due to the timing of the other two meals, and the arrival of the cake and ice cream. The chocolate cake recipe was downloaded from the internet ... I have found and appreciate allrecipes.com. Val suggested that I use a box ... well, that just won't happen now that it's been suggested. Also, she wanted some of the vanilla butter cream frosting that I made for Eliana's birthday two weeks ago; having come directly from America's Test Kitchen.
Do I sound like all the other bloggers writing about what they put into their gullet? I have previously threatened to write about what I excrete afterwards, but now that it's before me, that just won't happen.
The other day Samara was walking out of the doctor's office and made the comment, "This feels just like Tennessee". At that moment, Bethel was ten degrees below zero, with a very slight breeze, while Chattanooga was at 50 above. I absolutely loved her comment ... she has acclimated well. The day earlier Eliana made the comment, "How come you wanted to move to Alaska where it's always fun?" My kiddos make me proud!
We have practically figured out how to use the webcam, utilizing Skype. It is almost as easy as a regular phone, and it would seem has a quicker response time than the people who have called in on their land line to ours. When that has occured, the delay has been more signifcant than from computer-to-computer or computer-to-land line.
Yesterday warmed up to above freezing for a few hours, and everything started to melt. It was nice to be able to make some snowballs, rather carving out chunks of ice from the ground to throw at each other. The down-side to the short time of melting, is the layer of ice that forms on top of every surface when everything refreezes. Ice cleets are simply an essential during those times. I never had them previously, even though they were just as essential in Iowa and Nebraska, yet a person can walk or run on ice without an issue with the cleets, and even right up a frozen hill that has no foot holds.
The kids found Val some presents of which we wouldn't have thought previously: a fleece lined hat with ear flaps and a neoprene face mask with holes for breathing. Winter still will be in effect for the next two months here, and Val is quite pleased to have these. We very well may be traveling down-river (or up, I can't remember), to go ice fishing one of these next few weeks. I was given a tremendous compliment by one of my coworkers. They had mentioned that I didn't look cold on one of the 20-below days, and I mentioned that as I kept walking I was fine. Her comment? "You must be a real Eskimo." It was at that point that she invited me along with her family to go ice fishing with them. Although the invitation is present, the time and date are not, so I am not sure when that will occur. I will not go on the river for the first time without a guide; probably the second, but even then only when listening to their wisdom. She reported one-time having caught 200 fish over the course of eight hours. I'll be happy with the experience alone.
We bought a truck: a 1992 Ford Bronco with 4-wheel drive. It's an official "Bethel Beater". We know the history in full: a repo from Anchorage, barged over here to be run on the river during the winter. So, exactly what I bought it for. It runs, and holds our family. Gas is still $6 per gallon here. When the barge brings the final gas of the season in, sometime in September, the price is locked until the next barge is able to get here, sometime in May. $25 put in about 1/8th of a tank, but we've been running around on that for two weeks now.
With the truck, Val is now looking at a job. There are many jobs available, however it is not so much the job issue, as the Eliana issue. Daycare/school will be needed for her. The summer will start before too long, and arrangements will need to be identified for all the kids. This phase of life will be different for us.
There have been more days missed in school this year due to the weather, than budgeted. The school year does not get extended here, as the days get long and the salmon start to run. Therefore, there will be a few Saturdays of school to make up for them: Aidan's bane.