Wait...Is It Really Getting Dark Again Already?

Alex tries to escape the clutches of
Ahtna, the Sleepy Dog

In earlier blogs I've alluded to the fact that the fall season seems to have "crept in" when we weren't looking...and with it, the fading of our daylight hours.  Perhaps the loss of daylight  has been masked by the weeks of continuing rains, as it is only during the past few days that we have noticed the daylight quietly making her exit.  We should have known, though, as this is poor Ahtna's first season of this; and each evening, she sneaks down the hallway earlier and earlier for bed.  Since she is still a puppy, many of our bedroom doors remain closed until we turn in for the evening.  However, she has been sleeping on Ethan's bed for several weeks now; and as soon as it gets dark, that's where she heads.  She will lie in front of his door moaning a lonesome puppy cry as if to say, "Hello...it's b-e-d-t-i-m-e!"  This started a few weeks ago around 9:30 p.m., but as of last evening, she was down the hall by 8:00.  I think that's when it really dawned on us..."Hey it's dark outside...not just dusk, but DARK, DARK!"  As if saying it twice makes it darker...

The rains have been falling for days now, and although we enjoy listening to the hard showers and they provide soothing fall comfort and window watching entertainment throughout the day, I believe they cause cabin fever more so than the snows will.  At least with snow we can get out and be active.  The rains have kept us inside for so many days this week that on Sunday afternoon we donned dusters, hats, and umbrellas and went for a "torrential rain stroll" anyway!  Ahtna was going nuts, and her energy level was enough to drive a crazy person sane.  We had to do something!

It's raining, it's pouring...Sunday Stroll Anyway!

I have given up trying to keep up with the "cleaning" in this mess.  Praise the Lord we have a mud room.  Michael jokingly said he thinks we need a mudroom for our mudroom!  He isn't too far off.  Our daily routine had become picking up wet, sticky leaves that snuck in on the bottom of some poor unsuspecting soul's soles.  I believe Albert Einstein is the one that gets the credit for saying, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." So, collectively, we decided we would wait and sweep every other day until the snows begin to fall.  That way the sneaky leaves have a chance to dry, they are easier to sweep, we are able to spend better time together as a family, and we save our backs a little.  Don't get me wrong...seeing a fresh carpet of wet leaves on the floor still drives me insane, but I am learning new coping skills - hopefully.  And besides, mud rooms are supposed to get "muddy" occasionally.  Occasionally is the operative word here, and the boys bear with me and jump in full force when I say, "It's time to clean that mudroom!" I think deep down I'm scared to death somebody will just "drop by"- and they'll have to come in through that room - and then the judging begins.  Do you ever get that? Once they come in and come upstairs, they'll be way more comfortable -- clean living room, clean kitchen, clean bath, bearable dining room.  Schooling, board games, Uno marathons, puzzles and Star Wars battles happen in the dining room, so hopefully they'll cut me some slack!  And, if not, Mother always said, "If people are coming to visit you to see your dirt, let them see it!  If they're coming to see you, they won't notice the dirt!"

Sent inside to play, thanks to the moose in our backyard!

And Ethan's buddies haven't seemed to notice.  They have been forced indoors for playtime for more than a week now, and we have seen all types of messes at our dining room table as toys are spread hither and yon.  The days haven't all been total washouts, as we have had various sets of moose wander through the yard at some point each day.  Yesterday was a new record - four sets of different moose came and went from morning through dinnertime.  I imagine the colder temperatures and snows in the mountains are driving them down into the valley.  The only concern we have with that, is that hibernation season is not quite here yet, so the bears may be coming down, too, in search of more sustenance now that the berries and salmon are gone.

Mother Moose with Twins 

Mother Moose with Twins
Sept 2015

Ahtna's New Perch

Watchdog - High Alert!

Ahtna isn't quite sure what to make of all of this.  She has found a new "watchdog perch" and will pace throughout the day from the main front door to the living room window.  She's worse than a busybody neighbor! She is definitely a retriever, but we think there may be some sporting pointer in her bloodline as well.  Yesterday she was sleeping peacefully on the floor, when suddenly she jerked her head up, ran to the window, looked out, and let out a terrible growl!  It scared all of us...we had never seen or heard her do that.  When we got to the window, she was alerting us to moose at the end of our driveway, and she received all sorts of praises and "Good Girls."  But her bravado is fleeting...later on, she was outside "doing her business" (hope that's pc enough for blogging), saw more moose, and left Michael standing in the rain as she made a beeline for the door!  So much for dogs being protectors and "man's best friend!"

After what has seemed like an eternity, the rains did finally stop late yesterday afternoon, giving way to beautiful snowfall - our first of the season.  Last year, we didn't see "real" snow until almost November.  We anticipate this may be a truer Alaskan winter than what we had last year.  Most of you know, fall is my favorite time of year.  I love the changing of the leaves, the cooler temperatures, the smell of wood smoke in fireplaces or wood stoves, hot apple cider, and the first hint of colder days on the way.  I know it is a shortened season here, and we have cherished every bit of it.  I would be lying if I told you I wasn't ready for it to snow yet.  Maybe the weeks of rains did that to me.  But nothing compares to the first snowfall of the season.  Everything that was wet, dreary, and mucky is suddenly pristine white, beautiful, and so still...

First Snowfall of the Season
Sept 2015

I'm so thankful the Lord gave us "seasons" -- true, temporal, earthly seasons like summer, fall, winter, and spring; but I'm also thankful for the life seasons, even the hard ones, that have more meaningful, eternal lessons.  When I consider how the initial rains here were unexpected and their persistence became unwelcome, I am reminded of the "dreary" seasons that sometimes come to us in this life -- a doctor's appointment, with a biopsy, and an unknown result; an unexpected car repair that obliterates hard earned savings; having to wait for a season when we are so ready to move forward; giving a wayward child over to the Lord; taking care of an invalid parent or grandparent; or grieving the loss of a loved one.  Your "dreary" season may fit into one of these categories or you may have a category all your own.  And then comes the snow...slow, steady, and purposefully covering everything that was yucky, gross, and just plain sad looking.

I believe it's a wonderful illustration of how the Lord deals with us and with the situations we face in this life, if we let Him.  He never promised an easy, carefree life - but He did promise that if we know Him as our Savior, we can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (I Peter 5:7).  He cared for us so much that He sent His only son, Jesus, to die for us.  When you have the realization that if you had been the only person on Earth, God would have still sent Jesus to die in your place, as a gift, so that you could be put back into a right relationship with Him...well, that realization and the acceptance of what He did for you makes even the dreariest of seasons bearable.  The Bible says if we "confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved." It goes on to say that "with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10)."

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18

White as Snow

With love in our hearts for you all.  We pray you know His peace, in all seasons. 

"There Are No Wild Animals Here!!!"

Pioneer Peak
First "Official" Snowfall Sept 2015

If you've never heard an exhausted, exasperated hunter utter the phrase used as today's blog title, you may be among the privileged few who have not yet ached for someone that you care about who is feeling hopelessness and disappointment. Moose season has all but come to a close in our area, and despite a valiant effort by King Tom and Michael, we have no moose to fill the freezer this season.  From what we are hearing, we are not the only ones suffering the loss, as 4-500 pounds of meat goes a long way in our Alaskan economy.  We aren't fearful, by any means.  We have the fullest confidence that God provides all things that we need when we need them; however, it has been sad to watch the tireless effort of the past few weeks have no success.

Many agencies and local hunters have indicated they can't remember such a lean harvest year, and it is anticipated that the warm winter and hotter-than-normal summer contributed to the moose having much broader grazing grounds.  In a land that boasts being nearly "twice the size the state of Texas" that could be a huge swath of land the hunters just couldn't touch!  Their final attempt did include a 9-hour river float, and they did see two moose -- running away!  They couldn't make out the front end, and without knowing the number of spikes or brow tines on the moose, there was no way to tell if they were legal for a shot or not.

Moose Hunt 2015
River Launch

Finally on the River
7:30 a.m.

The day was not a total loss, however, as Michael (and I) got to see some Alaskan views that we never would have seen otherwise.  Brenda and I helped with staging the pick-up vehicle in Chickaloon where they would end the float.  Yes...Chickaloon is a real place... We left the castle again at 5 a.m. Sunday morning the 13th.  The sun was still asleep when we hit the shore and unloaded the raft, all the hunting gear, and our two hunters.  She and I joked that we didn't know where they would put a moose if they did get one!  The river was up from the recent rains, and the breeze from the river was cold; but the fall foliage was at its peak in that area of Alaska. The yellow and orange leaves actually looked like little firecrackers in the midst of the dark spruce trees.  And as the sun came up over the mountains, turning the sky a cotton candy pink, we knew the day would be great for the fellas, whether they got a moose or not.  They did not, but Michael did enjoy the float. So much so that we hope to do it as a family just for kicks and giggles when the weather warms again.

River Float Views Near Chickaloon

Michael's Newest "Favorite" View

Moose Hunting at
Trapper's Creek

"Hey, did you know it's the
last day of moose season?"

Later in the week, we tried again, and headed to Petersville Road close to Trapper's Creek.  That venture may have been a little bit more successful a different time in the season, but the day we went a search and rescue was underway for a lost hunter.  Numerous back woods atv-ers and the search and rescue helicopter came to assist.  No moose sightings, but we did get to learn quite a bit about search and rescue operations in the wilds of Alaska. They did find him a day or so later, but he was found nearly eight miles from his camp -- cold, wet, hungry, and swollen -- but otherwise okay from his ordeal.  And, of course, on the very last day of moose season in our area, wouldn't you know it...

It seems the moose have a hunting calendar, too; and they know just when to "reappear."  This cow and calf aren't legal for us anyway, but it sure is amazing to just have them appear in the backyard.  Michael was preparing to go outside and work on the 4-wheeler, but came back in and said, "I think I'll wait a bit..."  We didn't know what he was talking about until he pointed out the kitchen window.  We took a break from lunch prep and all went onto the back deck just to watch them.  Ahtna has never seen a moose, and even though we were high up off the ground, she wasn't sure she liked those big animals in her backyard.  She made this itty bitty little high pitched "oof."  Not even a full "woof," and the moose were un-phased.  She didn't even scare them a little, haha!

Eklutna, Fall 2015

Having resigned ourselves to the fact that we will probably do without a moose in the freezer this winter, we've tackled this week with renewed zeal for just "enjoying" the outdoors.  After a week or more of torrential rains, the sunshine has been welcomed, even if the temperatures are beginning to dip into the "frosty" levels.  Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees now, and the higher elevations saw their first "official" snowfalls with the recent rain storms.  As we look around, Michael's comment has been "It's almost as if God held a ruler up to all of these mountains and said, 'I'm only going to let it snow this much just now.'"

God's Ruler
Green, Fall Foliage on the Bottom
Snow on Top

Eklutna, Sep 2015
Where you see the cloud reflection...that's where the shore used to be!

We've hit up Eklutna Lake, which has risen tremendously since the first time we saw it.  Ethan, Ahtna, and I ventured into Nancy Lakes again, and started on a three mile hike.  We turned around amid a thunderous Boy Scout jamboree and once Ahtna 'alerted' to something ahead on the trail.  Nothing makes your blood run cold like a smart dog whose tail points straight out, whose fur stands up all over her body, and whose little throat begins to swell with  a growl.  We have no idea what lay ahead on the trail, as we didn't keep going to find out.  See?  We did learn a our lesson berry picking!  I did have my gun, but the "discharge of firearms in Nancy Lakes is prohibited."   Hhhmmm.... perhaps...unless a bear is charging us!  Besides...my little firearm packs a little punch -- enough to make a bear spittin' mad!  And I surely don't want to do that!  So we left the trail and headed back down to Red Shirt Lake, which is the last Lake that you can actually drive to within the park.  It was p-r-i-s-t-i-n-e!  Ethan was most impressed with the clearness of the water and being able to see the reflections of the trees and mountains on the other side.

Ethan is his "Red Shirt" at Red Shirt Lake
Nancy Lake Recreation Area, Sep 2015

Red Shirt Lake

We passed a small family fishing on one of the docks, scouted out another canoe rental place, nearly lost Ahtna off the rocking canoe dock, and heard the lonesome calls of the loons.  That was probably our favorite!  We had no idea what the sound was, debating between ourselves as to whether it was a lone wolf, a coyote, and I even said an elk.  Ethan busted out laughing at me and said, "Mom!  There are NO ELK here!"  I know that...but the lonesome wail of the loon reminded me of the night we spent tent camping in the Montana wilderness on our way to Alaska, serenaded to sleep by the bugling of the elk.  We googled the sound when we got home and were so surprised to see the bird couplet that made the noise -- it was absolutely phenomenal!

Ethan on the Rocking Dock

Ahtna's First Snow

Independence Mine

Ethan is most excited about snowy returns, as winter seems to be his favorite time of year.  We have all been anxious to see how Ahtna would do in the snow, and we decided to make a trip to Hatcher Pass this past Sunday afternoon to experiment.  They are in the "higher elevations" and received about 4-6 inches of snow.  We no longer have concerns about her being "cold" or not liking the snow. She rolled around in it like a pig in slop, burrowing with her nose and rolling over and over again! We continued our "romp" in the snow with a hike to Independence Mine.  The mine has been long closed, and for the most part, the state is letting it "return to nature."  Ethan and Michael think that is a fancy way of saying "falling in on itself!"

Hot-wiring the Mine Train

In the Mine Shaft

View from the Independence Mine Shaft
Sep 2015

Ptarmigan, Season Change
Brown on top, white on bottom

Ptarmigan Covey
Independence Mine

Either way, the trails are well-maintained, and we even discovered an entire covey of ptarmigan! Too bad we can't hunt them at the Mine!  We easily would have had 8-10 for our freezer, and after a call to Fish and Game to their small game biologist, we know exactly where we can hunt them in Hatcher's Pass.  Hopefully we'll find another covey!  They are neat little creatures, and already turning their winter white. Ethan has decided he wants a sling shot, as that is not considered a "firearm" and he won't have to be a 1/4 of a mile off the road to harvest a covey should we happen across another one.  We've been blessed with small game opportunities, but if you ask Michael about even seeing moose, caribou, or bear on his recent treks through the wilderness, you are liking to hear him say, "Alaska doesn't have any wild animals!" We are thankful for the small game, and especially thankful for safety on these hunting jaunts, even if the fruits have been smaller than we would have liked.

Hhhmmm...

Ethan and Michael visit the "New" Dining Hall at Independence Mine

We had an opportunity to celebrate long distance with Andrew this week, as he turned 20, and to ask ourselves, "Where on Earth has the time gone?"  It's true...it is difficult to celebrate long distance, but we wrap our love in a box, and trust the United States Postal Service to deliver it timely.  Perhaps that's where the phrase "it's the thought that counts" originated.  Thank you for your continued prayers for him.  His studies are going well (or so he says -- insert smiley face emoticon here), and he reports his biggest challenge is adjusting to working with 2nd grade elementary students at his part-time job.  Please don't misunderstand...he is so thankful for that role; it is giving him a renewed appreciation for teachers and after school care workers and has made him recall his own elementary days.  It's funny how when we are removed from certain situations for a time that when we are placed back into them, our perspectives have changed -- evidence of our growth or experience, I guess.  Pray that he would continue to have a positive influence on those young lives.  I know they are impacting him.

Alex and Madison continue to move closer to their December nuptials.  One way tickets to Alaska have been purchased, and while that is exciting for us, I know that her North Carolina family will miss her terribly.  She is a blessing, and we are excited to welcome her officially as our new "daughter."  Ethan is beside himself at the thought of finally having a "sister," and he has said it's okay that she isn't his "little" sister because "I will be taller than her soon anyway."  As we begin to put the finishing touches on wedding preparations, please pray for us all.  We know this is just a small part of our life's journey, but it is a huge part, too, in this season, for them - and we want to do our part right.

Blessings to you All, until our next meeting!

" But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

Teach me Lord, Teach me Lord, to wait....

Peak Season

Warning: This post contains a few graphic images.  Small children and vegetarians should proceed with extreme caution.

Season's Greetings Everyone -- Hunting Season That Is!  To be honest, I'm not certain which season has seen the most flurry of activity for us -- fireweed harvest and jelly season, salmon run season, or moose season.  They run back to back to back, and that's how we feel we are running...back to back to back until we are chasing ourselves in circles.  However, the thrill of it all seems to surpass any angst or tiredness we are having. At least on most days.

Moose Camp, Day 1
Sept 2015

Michael headed out two Saturdays ago with King Tom (Lord of the Castle) for moose hunting.  They planned this trip last year when we were staying at the castle, and Michael has been looking forward to it since then!  Tom and Brenda have been here for 20+ years, and Tom knows several great hunting spots.  We just so appreciate his willingness to share them!  They traveled about two hours outside of Palmer toward Glenallen, and set up camp close to Eureka Lodge...along with several cadres of hunters and recreational enthusiasts.  While it was beautiful, Michael said all the traffic scared away any animal for thousands of miles!

They at least saw moose while they were there: 3 cows and a bull the first day (none of which were legal to shoot); a legal bull the second day, but it was too close to darkness for them to be able to track if they did get it.  They tried finding him all day Monday and part of Tuesday before reporting back that they had seen no further evidence of any moose in that area. In addition to that, Michael's 4-wheeler began to overheat (and so did he) from the extreme muddy terrain and mountain climbing they were doing. Exhausted, cold, hungry, and skunked, they decided to pack it in from that spot and try again later this week on one of the rivers.

View from the seat of a 4-wheeler

While Michael's adventures consisted of viewing unbelievable scenery from the seat of a 4-wheeler, our adventures continued here at home.  Perhaps some of you experience the same phenomenon we do...whenever Michael leaves, a fella named Murphy tries to show up, ruining things with his laws.  We decided a long time ago that we do not put stock in Murphy (or his laws) -- choosing to believe instead that "the steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23).  We believe that even some of the unpleasant steps are purposeful...and boy have we had to remind each other of that these past few weeks!

As I've shared with you in earlier blogs, we are now in our rainy season.  The day Michael left was no exception.  This rainy, cooler weather has brought about runny noses and sore throats.  I was over it fairly quickly, but it lingered with Ethan for more than a week.  Ahtna noticed, and to her credit, her puppy crazies have abated when he felt his worst.  Puppy love is good for what ails you, and snuggling with her has become one of Ethan's favorite pastimes.  Since he was feeling a bit better the day Michael left, we decided to take a short drive that evening into Wasilla.  We leashed Ahtna, and the three of us jumped into the car to check out a property that some out-of-state friends have recently rented.  They are moving here and asked us to make sure the property was in a good location.  We were familiar enough with the area to know that it was a nice enough neighborhood, but we knew they might have lots of neighbors, so we were going to drive by and have a look for them.  The home is situated in a neighborhood that has several access areas and it is easy to get lost on any one of the unsigned dirt roads -- Arctic Fox, Polar Bear, Grizzly Bear, Grey Wolf, Wolverine -- it's like a terrible corn maze.  And, we promptly got lost. And the gas gauge lit up to tell us we were low on gas; to which Ethan responded, "Mom, we should get gas."  I explained that we weren't really near a gas station, but that as soon as we found their property, we would head home and get gas on the way home.  You know that scene in every horror film where you talk to the characters and tell them how very foolish and dumb they are being...well...insert those comments here, directed at me. Ethan is the protagonist in this story...

Ethan Martin, Protagonist Extraordinaire

The last "official" number I saw said we had 53 miles that we could travel before running out of gas.  We continued driving through the corn maze until an offensive bell began gonging and the gas gauge lit up like a firecracker! "Bong, bong, bong....bong, bong, bong."  I don't think Big Ben in London can ring any louder than the inside of our car! I gave Ethan a wink, pulled out onto the main road and said, "O.K. Change of plans.  We'll head to the Tesoro on Wasilla Fishhook (which is one of the main access roads heading toward Hatcher Pass). We can get gas there...it's closest."  Five miles into that destination, Ethan looked up and said, "Mom.  This is the wrong way."  His voice was only slightly raised, and I reassured him that I knew where we were.  As we passed an elementary school, he immediately turned and said with an even higher pitched voice, "MOM! I know in my gut we are going the WRONG WAY!  We are getting close to Hatcher Pass!"

As most of you know, Hatcher Pass is one of his most favorite places on Earth.  His certainty (but really the tone of his voice) immediately hit MY gut, and I pulled off the road immediately.  By now, the gonging was driving us insane, so I shut the car off, and we prayed it would start again.  I pulled out my trusty cell phone and Google maps to give us some perspective.  "No service." Of course there was no service!  More scary movie insertions by the armchair quarterbacks here...  I looked at Ethan, and he said, "Mom.  I know we are going the wrong way.  We need to turn around to get to that gas station."  By now, we had driven quite a ways since the gas gauge warning light was illuminated.  I had no idea how much further the gas station was.  It was nearing dark, and if we did run out of gas, I knew we had at least a 5-mile or more walk -- in Alaska -- without protection -- Michael had all the big guns with him, and my gun was at home.

Needless to say, I turned around, and prayed we made it to the gas station.  I was a little panicked.  Ethan, however, was as calm as a cucumber, saying things like, "What's the worst that can happen? We'll just call Alex or AAA or we'll walk to the gas station.  Ahtna will help us get there.  Don't you recognize where we are now, Mom? We're almost there."  And suddenly, there it was...gleaming like a lighthouse amid the storm...the Tesoro gas station...the one you all would clearly recognize from nearly every episode of Alaska State Troopers!  I didn't care if it was currently being robbed...we were saved!  As I pulled into the parking lot and situated the car at the pump, the car sputtered it's last gas fume.  Having re-fueled the car (and us with caffeine -- per Ethan's request), we left again, found the rental property, updated the family, and headed for home.  We just kept thanking the Lord for getting us there (on faith and fumes), and it felt so good to finally get home and lay down to rest.  We were (well, I was) emotionally exhausted!

Rest would be fleeting, however; the caffeine and sinus drainage did not mix so well, and poor Ethan spent the remainder of the night/early morning throwing up.  Gross, I know...but life.  Then, of course, there was no sleeping because the dog was awake and whining to know what was happening. When they both finally went back to sleep, I got ready to head to church to teach our Sunday School class, and left Alex with the sick and tired.  I was thankful for Sunday afternoon, when I could rest just a tad.  Alex headed to church and work, and left us all resting well.  Since Ethan was still a bit puny, I helped with his normal Ahtna duties.

As I headed down the stairs to get Ahtna's leash, she did something she has never done.  She saw that Murphy fella peddling his laws at the front door and tried to beat me to the landing.  In doing so, she clipped my legs right out from under me, and I tumbled like a rag doll.  I landed partially on her -- so she'll not do that again!  But I landed mostly on my right arm and back.  Poor Ethan -- to the rescue again he came (I told you he was the protagonist in this story!) -- taking the dog out and helping me back up the stairs.  After a couple of hours of continued swelling, arm pain, and finger numbness, we decided a trip to the doc's was probably in order to rule out a break.  Oh wait...it's 7:30 p.m. on a Sunday night...the doc isn't in...that means an ER trip. Blechhh!  Three hours and a lifetime of ER stories later, we came home.  I was slingged up but not broken! Yay for not being broken!

Given the nature of my injuries (i.e. they look like defensive forearm wounds), how and with whom I presented to the ER, and the story of how I got my injuries, it was actually a blessing that Michael WAS moose hunting -- he had an alibi.  I think they would have sent a police officer and a social worker to the house had he been there.  Poor fella, they thought badly of him, and I had to keep telling them, "Seriously...I really did fall down the stairs, and I'm seriously not afraid to go back home.  I want to go back home.  There's no place like home!"  Given both of our previous work experience on domestic violence task forces and on developing ER protocols, I NEVER thought one would actually be used on me!  Yikes!

Fall Foliage, Sept 2015

After all that, Ethan and I decided Monday that we weren't going anywhere!  We spent the day working on our studies, trying to move a bit to get over stair stiffness, and just generally recuperating. Tuesday evening, Michael and Tom called it "a hunt," and decided to come on home. As they were packing it in from not seeing any wildlife, Ethan noticed the first snowshoe hare of the season munching happily on clover in our side yard.  Armed with his .22 and earplugs, he stepped onto the back deck to "bag our dinner."  After a couple of nervous "re-positions," he took and aim and fired.  I've never seen an animal jump that high, and then it scurried off into the underbrush.  Ethan did everything he was taught in his Hunter Safety Course: he secured his firearm and tracked the rabbit. Sadly he tracked it right into a huge tree stump that split off into multi-directional burrows -- each longer than his arm.  He had to leave it, knowing it had been wounded.  It was an interesting time of discussion later that night, as he prayed for that rabbit not to feel pain or to suffer.  He has the full realization that if we are going to eat animals, they must lose their lives; however, we are grateful that he is a compassionate hunter and doesn't want to prolong their suffering.

Bunny Foo Foo comes
to dinner...

Rabbit stew preparation

So imagine our surprise when Little Bunny Foo Foo came hopping through the clover the next morning for breakfast -- sporting two perfectly spaced pierced ears!  Literally, all she needed was two dangley-hoop earrings from my jewelry box, and she would have been sporting 80's vogue fashion! Michael was able to fully dispatch it with the pellet gun, and we had rabbit stew over rice for dinner Wednesday evening.  And...Ethan and his Daddy finally had a hunting story that no one would believe, but that was completely true! They had bagged the same rabbit on two separate days and provided food for their family.  As they cleaned our small game, Ethan had an epiphany that I think few realize unless they grew up or currently live on a farm -- whenever meat is on the table, an animal has had to die.  It is truth, but it is not something that we often vocalize.  And we wondered why that is.  Not that we had some grand revelation about it, just a thought really.  A thought that continued for the next few days...

Michael and Tom decided to have another go Thursday morning on the river.  We awoke at 3:45 a.m. and headed to the castle at 4:15.  We took Ethan with us because Alex had class all day in Anchorage.  The plan was to leave the castle at 5 a.m. and be floating on the river by sun up.  The morning was cold and rainy...and I don't mean just a little sprinkle...I mean a full-on thunderstorm with raindrops the size of your hand!  Tom told us, "We may just go for a joy ride this morning."  We hit the road and by the time we were 30 minutes outside of Palmer in the little town of Sutton, they called off the river float.  Wet, tired, and frustrated, we returned home and promptly all went back to bed.  When we awoke (at 11:30 a.m.), the sun was out and it was a gorgeous fall day!  Since Michael had taken vacation time for the moose hunt, he said, "I really don't want to spend such a nice day inside."

Headed North for Moose Scouting

So...off we went heading north toward Trapper's Creek, Talkeetna, and Denali.  Many moose have been spotted in that direction, and Michael was hoping to glimpse one that would be legal and one that we could help with.  But it was not to be... after searching in vain for a couple of hours we made our way to Nancy Lake State Park just to "look around."  Ethan and I had heard about Nancy Lake as a great canoeing area, but because we don't routinely travel in that direction, we kept forgetting about it.  The summer season is all but complete here, and we found a plethora of canoes, but none available for use.  The lakes were absolutely gorgeous, and the forests are already covered with a carpet of yellow leaves.  We hiked into one of the public use cabin areas where they are rebuilding a cabin.  It felt as if we were truly the only people on the planet.

Nancy Lakes Recreation Area, Sep 2015

Ethan dubbed this area "His Cathedral"

Hiking to the Public Use Cabins
Peak Leaf Season, Sep 2015

Rebuild of Cabin #1 at Nancy Lakes

Grouse at Nancy Lake
Sep 2015

Newest AK Competition
"Stick Throw 2015"

Michael spotted a grouse on our way out of the park, and after missing it with a rock (firearms are not allowed in the park), he and Ethan took to throwing sticks into the branches of trees to try to knock it down.  Since moose hunting has been scarce, I think they are both trying to make do with the abundance of small game to provide for our family.  After 15 minutes of competitive Alaskan stick throwing, and me laughing hysterically at their efforts, they finally had dinner for us.  Grouse is a very lean, darker meat, with no fat at all.  I know the old adage is "it tastes like chicken"; well, grouse takes nothing like chicken.  It tastes like venison.

Dipped in a Season Flour and Smothered in Onions
"Tastes Like Venison"

And, so, our adventures continue, with one Alaskan resource at a time.  In the span of three days we feasted on hare, grouse, and salmon, and thanked the Lord for His provision.  Even though this hunting season has not turned out at all like we planned, we trust that the Lord knows what we have need of.  Most recently we are thankful that His plan has included spending time together as a family, learning new information and skills about small game animals, and "making memories" in the Last Frontier.  Many thanks for your continued prayers for Alex and Andrew.  They both continue to excel with the Lord's help, and we are so proud of them!

Stay tuned for future escapades!  Tom and Michael have been out yet again, and we went moose hunting yesterday!  But more about that in the next blog!  Much love to you all!

"...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask."
Matthew 6:8b

Fair Weather Days

First Dusting in the Valley Chugach Mountains, August 2015
Close to Pioneer Peak

Full moons, aurora borealis, chilly mornings, frost warnings, cooler fingers, toes, and noses during brisk walks...ahhh...fall is here, and we are excited to be breaking out our thermals, wool socks, and sweaters.  Nothing seems cozier than bundling up in a blanket first thing in the morning, wrapping your cool fingers around a warm mug of your favorite coffee, and doing devotions as the sun comes up!  For many of us, those coveted first few minutes in the morning are all we have alone all day to collect ourselves for the challenges of the day!  I am grateful for those quiet moments, and I have decided recently not to ruin them by checking the daily weather before the sun rises.  Now...as the sun says, "Hello," or decides whether or not it wants to go back to bed, it's a wonderful surprise either way!

Ahtna has decided that while she likes the afternoon temperatures hovering in the 40s-50s, she is not too keen on cooler-than-that temps for her early morning potty break!  Neither are we!  We are already debating about how best to handle it once the temperatures truly dip and there is quite a bit of snow on the ground.  She is trained to go to our entry level door; however, once the frost hits, our entry level exterior front stairs become hazardous to our health.  Michael took a tumble down them last season that knocked him out cold briefly.  We don't care to have a repeat of that -- for us or for the dog!  So, we are thinking that we will begin re-training her now to use the basement door.  She's not used to that door and is actually scared to go out of it.  It's comical and sad to watch her try to navigate that threshold.  It isn't scary in the least bit, but it isn't what she's used to, so I guess that makes it scary.  Now that I think about it, dogs may not be too different from us in that regard -- we like the familiar, and the unknown -- even if for our own good -- can be intimidating.

AK State Fair Parking Beneath Pioneer Peak, 2015

Ethan learned that lesson a bit this past week, too.  You see, not only is it fall, but the last week of August and the first week of September mark the timing of the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.  I mentioned in earlier blogs that Ethan would be entering some events at the Fair; and he entered three pieces of art and the kids' cookie contest.  He absolutely hates it when I enter him (or volunteer him to enter) any type of contest -- even though the end result usually outweighs the angst.  Whether it's writing, poetry. art, (or in this case cookies!)...well, let's just say most of the time he is less than enthused.  Regardless of his enthusiasm level, though, he is obedient and he tries his best.

Moose in Fall

"Magua"
Last of the Mohicans

This year, he was blessed with two third place ribbons for a watercolor and a pencil sketch, and a 2nd place finish in the cookie contest!  And it was the cookie contest that taught us both all sorts of lessons!

We have to send a shout out to Abbie Hoehman right off the bat.  Abbie is a cookie maker, and has historically made each member of our family cookies for our birthdays.  She is very protective of her recipe, not even giving it to me when we moved from North Carolina to Alaska!  And I begged her!  Well, thankfully, she gave it to Ethan, and told him the "secret" extra goodness that should go into all things cookie! He made cookies a couple of times before the fair, tweaking it as he went, until we devoured the last batch in less than 24 hours, and he knew he had the recipe "right."  The trick is...let the finished cookies sit in an airtight container for 1 day -- if you can!  So...with the cookie contest on Friday night, Thursday saw him baking what he has dubbed as "Best Friend Cookies."  As he prepared his plate for judging Friday afternoon, his buddy Brody came by to play.  Ethan explained that we were headed to the fair for the contest, and Brody became the "test" subject.  At first, he didn't want to eat the cookie because he wasn't sure what it was; but after one, he said, "Go ask your mom if I can have another!"  That made Ethan smile, and he was excited to give their family a small Ziploc bag full of cookies.  Then off to the fair we went!

As we made our way from the parking lot to the Hoskins Building for entry, we couldn't decide if we wanted to eat fair food for dinner or not.  The smells were amazing, but after reading signs like "Peanut Potatoes," "Crab Cake Corner," and "Donut Burger" (yes...it's exactly that...donut, burger, egg and bacon...) our bellies were screaming, "No, don't do it! Don't eat anything!"  We made it to the Hoskins exhibit hall unscathed and headed for the entry table.  The ladies at the table were super sweet, and have probably been helping at the fair since its inception.  Ethan was rather excited until he heard one lady say, "We've NEVER had this many entries! It must be a record!"  Promise and deliver cash prizes, and they will come...

Giant Cabbage 107+ pounds

45 entries later...three poor judges would be on the verge of a sugar coma and disappointing 44 children ages 5-12.  That had to be so difficult, and Ethan and I talked about it for nearly three hours until the judging.  We did manage to find solace from our rumbly tummies (and his nervous butterflies) by visiting the Barn and watching the Lumberjack Show.  The barn boasts every sort of show animal imaginable, a petting zoo, and all of the Fair's giant entries.  We look for the cabbage every year, and this year, the giant cabbage weighed in at over 107 pounds!  The Lumberjack Show is also one of our favorites, and it may very well become a Martin Family Fair tradition.  They perform their feats of strength all over the country, but I would venture to say that most of those other views can't rival their set-up in Palmer.  After the Lumberjack Show we made our way back to Hoskins for the final judging.

Lumberjack Show 2015

It took those poor judges more than an hour to sample all of those cookies and tally the scores.  Given some of the presentations on some of those plates, I think Ethan had resigned himself to the thought that this was an ok venture, and, if nothing else, we would have six extra cookies to eat. Imagine his surprise when they called his name as the 2nd place entry!  Another young fella took first and there was a male honorable mention.  A young lady took third place.  I overheard a woman say, "That says alot about our society today!"  I don't know that too much societal knowledge can be drawn from one cookie contest -- particularly since those boys probably ate as many cookies as they prepared! That's what happened in my household anyway!  I think what surprised Ethan about the experience the most was his uncertainty about how to feel during the prize announcements.  He put alot of work into those cookies, and he was proud of his effort and winning.  However, because of where they had the winners stand, he saw the disappointed faces of all of those other youngsters.  He even saw one little fella burst into tears.  We've had LOTS of discussions about that scene after the fact.  Because unlike most other extra curricular activities, everyone did not get a prize.  They didn't get stickers, ribbons, or certificates of participation; and, it was disappointing. And it was real. And it was difficult.  And it was life.

2015 C & H Sugar Kids' Cookie Contest

We are learning that in the midst of triumph, there may be pain -- pain we cannot help and pain we cannot control.  The best we can hope to achieve (and not even through our own power, but with the Lord's help) is humility -- in times of winning and in times of losing.

To help ease some of the burden Ethan was bearing for the remaining contestants, Michael took us into Anchorage on Sunday afternoon after church.  We ran a few errands, then took a detour (he's famous for those!) onto Arctic Boulevard close to the Joint Base of Elmendorf and Richardson (JBER).  The Base Ski Hill was close by, but we didn't have to make it all the way to the top to feel as if we were the only family there.  At a pull-off halfway up the mountain, the Kenai Range served as the perfect backdrop to the view of City Center.  And although you can't see it in the photo, Denali was out to the north.  It is said that on clearer days, you can see three of the volcanoes that surrounds Anchorage, but we couldn't make them out on this trip.

Anchorage City Center (Far Left)
Kenai Mountains in the Distance

Needless to say, it was a calming reminder of the love and protection our heavenly Father has for us. And whether we are happy or sad, successful or needing to work a little harder, the events of our lives are filtered through His loving hands.  We just need to truly see others along our own journeys. Realizing that made all this week's trials and triumphs worth it.

Rains Descending on the Valley
August 2015

As we look forward to another week, we ask you to keep our children in your prayers. Alex and Madison are finalizing plans, seeking housing, and readying for all of the changes that come with marriage.  Andrew is back at Lee with a full class load, serving as a teaching assistant, and seeking additional income opportunities to help with college costs.  We are praying for wisdom and peace for them all.

Missing you, thinking of you, and praying for you!  All Our Love!

The Martin Family

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Be of the same mind, one toward another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits." Romans 12:15-16