Cheap dates

Steam sublimating off the roads

Baking and cooking have become increasingly more important and enjoyable aspects of my life since the arrival of my honey.  I rarely had the motivation to cook for just myself, however the additional enthusiasm, helping hands, and quite frankly, tummy to fill has made cooking a great pleasure of mine.  One staple of our culinary repertoire is homemade bread.  My roommate rescued a bread machine from the Teller dump, and with a good sanitizing, a replacement paddle, and some elbow grease it’s back to tip top shape.  We’ve had a blast testing out recipes, and even coming up with some of our own.  My favorite creation so far is cracked pepper and salt wheat bread, but honey wheat is a close second.

Taking the easy way out when making bread

This week was the high school play, directed by two of my dear friends in Nome, entitled “Just Another School Play”.  The baking theme continued as my only contribution to this wonderful show was an assortment of goods for the bake sale.  After making homemade snickerdoodles and brownies, I perused the grocery store looking for inspiration, which came in the form of the auspiciously available 50% off merchandise.  This is a bush Alaska phenomenon, and most certainly one of my favorites.  Inventory does not have the same turnover rate as it does in the lower-48, so when food gets within a day or two of its “best by” or “sell by” date, it is marked half off.  I always try to scope out the shelves and time it right so that I can get my favorite things at a more affordable price.  The most common items that get this price break are dairy, eggs, and other perishables however I’ve been known to snag a box of crackers when the timing was right.  Thanks to these ½ off stickers, the good people of Nome were treated to fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls, three tubes for only $5.50; a bargain in any location.

I search out these stickers every time I shop

Yum!

Along with baking I was put in charge of the bake sale table, which afforded me the opportunity to see the show for all three performances.  I couldn’t believe that a cast of six brave high school students pulled off such an amazing show!  I was expecting the typical corny humor of high school plays, but these kids were genuinely funny.  Their line delivery and mannerisms were top notch.  Audience participation was a must, and I was the lucky recipient of a hearty rendition of “happy birthday” all three times as mine is coming up next week.  The stage crew consisted of a backstage person tasked with handing out props, and a sound person tasked with pushing the play and stop buttons on a boombox.  The backdrop was the white side of a tyvek sheet, splattered with colorful paint.  I’m so proud of these bold and talented students, performing to a small but supportive audience.  Much different then the elaborate plays I was involved in years ago, but just as entertaining and impressive.

Our bake sale spread, facing the stage for a good view

Friends manning the tickets

The audience before the show (starting 15 minutes late for "Nome Time")

Quiet please!

The entire cast of this production, very talented

My friend and assistant director, starring as well!

My friend the director during the twist ending

The weather keeps playing with my emotions, as we’ve been hit with yet another cold spell.  Puddles and mud return to ice and frozen ground each night, and my truck is covered in frost.  It’s funny; I never had to scrape my windows when winter first set in, but it’s now an every day part of my morning routine.  It’s no longer a crazy Alaskan winter, just the regular winter weather I’m used to.  But the fact remains that it’s still winter, and I’m over it.  What happened to out like a lion, in like a lamb?  Thankfully I’m warm, snug as a bug in a rug in the same apartment I’ve been renting with the girls.  Despite repeated foreclosure notices, bank notices insisting our already paid rent be repaid to them, the threat of a significant rent hike, a roommate deciding to leave at the end of the month, a frozen shower drain, and a malfunctioning water heater I have the ideal living situation by Nome standards.  Home sweet home.

Frosty truck window

Front porch, finally with a snow-free walkway!

I break this off nearly every day - it just keeps coming back!

Sunrise on my drive to work - this looked blood red in person

Sunset, close to midnight now!

Better days

On top of Anvil, my first hike since winter hit!

I’ve just finished the last regular junior high session of the year!  It was our biggest group in months thanks to basketball being over, with 23 students from Little Diomede, St. Michael, Koyuk, and one brave girl from Teller.  The DIO kids arrived a day late due to inclement weather on their end, but they came bearing (ba-dum-tst!) gifts - polar bear meat in a big “freeze” box for one of our house parents who used to live there.  Apparently they were able to harvest three bears in the last week out on the island and were excited to share their bounty.  I was fortunate enough to be working days this session, and got the chance to plan and attend a few field trips to new locations around town.  These included the local chiropractor and our fish and game biologist.  With only eight workweeks left in the school year (seven of which are with students) this was a nice transition to start gearing up for the last big push to the end.

The gang, with blue shirts on blue sky

Letting go of the balloon at the National Weather Service

Getting adjusted at the chiropractor's office

A free can of local smoked salmon, courtesy of Norton Sound Seafood

Fun in the pool!

This student exclaimed "This is my first tree!"

Everything is melting for real this time.  I mean it.  The roads have all turned to mud, and wearing break-up boots is an absolute requirement before leaving the house.  My truck is covered with mud and dust rather than snow and ice.  I went out on the sea ice to visit the Nome National Forest for the last time before it washes out with the waves.  Crabbing season is over, and the mining camp stationed out on the ice (along with the many videographers and producers there to film it) packed it in.  The increasing daylight (past 11pm now!) and warming weather allowed for an impromptu hike up Anvil Mountain with my two best pals in Nome.  From this vantage I could see huge open patches of ocean – it won’t be long until the Bering Sea is rolling once again.  Surprisingly, we didn’t need snowshoes, although we did fall in pretty deep in a few places.  The terrain alternated between cement-like snow, bare squishy tundra, and deep soggy snow causing you to fall in up to your knees; all within a few steps of each other.  One of the best parts of the hike was sliding down the mountain on our derrieres; all of the willows and brambles were hidden under icy packed snow allowing for a quick and exhilarating descent.

Muddy roads!

Dusty truck

What's left of the Nome National Forest - castoff Christmas trees

It's full glory during Iditarod time

View from the top of Anvil

Peaking out from under a rock ledge

Icy tundra

The boys on top!

Our trailhead

Pavement ends...need I say more?

This week was also filled with a variety of creative exploits.  I received a phone call informing me that the t-shirt design I had submitted for the Midnight Sun Folk Fest had won the contest.  For my efforts I win a free t-shirt and admission to the festival’s headlining band, as well as the notion that many people in Nome will be wearing my design for years to come.  I also finally learned how to make a kuspuk, which is somewhat of an Eskimo hoodie.  This piece of clothing is a tundra essential, and is never made using a pattern.  Kuspuks are designed based on ones that already exist, and are quite simple and fun to make.  I’ve received many compliments and numerous requests to make them for others.  I had some fabric scraps left over, and made a headband as a birthday gift for a recipient whose favorite flower is a forget-me-not as well.  Good ol’ wholesome crafty fun!

The design with the raven is the winner

Double-fold trickery to make my kuspuk!

The finished product

Forget-me-not headband

Not bad for a quick project!

The Native Youth Olympic games were held at the Nome Rec Center, and I was able to watch and test out some of the events.  First up was the pancake flip, where opponents count out three leg pumps, then lock at the knee and attempt to flip the other person over in a backwards somersault.  Believe it or not, flexibility is more of a factor than strength, and the girls reliably beat out the bigger boys with no hesitation.  Next was the high kick portion, both seated and standing.  The kids made it look easy but it was quite the impressive feat.  The world record holder was competing, and I watched as he went from being seated on the floor to a full extension of his legs and body to kick a ball hanging above his standing height, all while balanced on one arm.  After watching the action I got the chance to test out these events with my friends.  It’s bizarre which events you’re good at, and which you just can’t do.  I must say, even though I’m a mess at the one-foot high kick, I’m quite the contender at the pancake flip.

Pancake flipped!

One-foot high kick - blink and you'll miss it

The world champ; foam flooring hindered his performance

The National Guard is in town and flying around the region for their “Arctic Care” mission.  These dedicated few are traveling around Nome and the local villages to provide much needed free health care to both people and animals.  While in town, the Air Force band “The Northern Lights” performed for our community, and with little else to do on a Sunday night I was more than happy to attend.  The boys had some talent, playing everything from the 70s classic Frankenstein to the Spongebob Squarepants theme song.  My honey and I even got up for a little boot, scoot, and boogying to Brown Eyed Girl.  All in all a good night, and an all around good week.

The only stage in Nome, in the Elementary School

Nice day for a white wedding

Posted by children after bulldozers wiped out their hills, assuming they mean "wrecking"

I was spoiled with another week off from work, and although it was called “Spring Break” it was a bit of a misnomer.  The town was hit with yet another winter storm, piling up in massive drifts and hiding the roads under a blanket of snow once again. Elders in the area are convinced that this is the very last big snow of the season, and that the fluffy, sticky snow has arrived just in time to help thaw the tundra gradually.

Snow on West C Street

New snow clinging to the fence

Fresh coverage on the willows and tundra

The wily weather held off with perfect timing to allow a hockey wedding.  One of the goalies that plays with me on the Mighty Muskoxen pickup team decided to tie the knot in a location that’s dearest to his heart; the local hockey rink.  I had low expectations when invited to this event, held after we had played over an hour of heart-pounding, sweaty hockey.  In short, I was blown away by the elegant proceedings that followed.  A satin runner embossed with hearts lined the ice walkway towards the goal, preventing the bride from slipping in her towering five-inch heels.  Two adorable flower girls in matching dresses lead the procession by scattering purple rose petals, and our other (recently-ordained) goalie did the honors of marrying his counterpart.  Instead of formal wear the wedding party was clad in hockey jerseys and skates, banging sticks as a celebratory salute to the newlyweds.

Sharpening up my wedding shoes

Wedding procession!

Goalie groom

Note the bride's Budweiser jacket

It's in the net!

The ceremony was a quick ten minutes, then it was over to the VFW Hall directly across from the rink to party.  Again, I went with low expectations, imagining I would be ordering a couple diet Cokes from the bar, munching on one of the hockey puck brownies I brought, and chatting up the guys.  Instead, I was met with a room decorated to the hilt with streamers and balloons, a DJ, and one of the most beautiful wedding cakes I’ve seen, Nome or otherwise.  The feast was impressive, and I left with over a dozen crab legs to clean and enjoy.  This was arguably the best wedding I’ve attended, and certainly the most memorable.  I feel so privileged to have been a part of it.

Across the street for the reception

All decked out!

How does this cake exist in Nome?!

Holidays away-from-home can be hard, but this Easter was amazing.  I was generously invited to the renowned KNOM “FEaster” get together at the station manager’s beautiful home.  For much of the evening I was seated on an old church pew with two of my closest friends in the world, relishing some of the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten, completely surrounded by erupting laughter and joy from those that mean the most to me in Nome.  It really felt like I was part of a family, and I was overwhelmed by feelings of belonging.  Despite it being the bittersweet end to another glorious week off, it was by far one of the best days I’ve had in Nome.

The only picture I have from FEaster - better than nothing!