Back in Atmau

Like any teacher returning to their job, it is always interesting to see what changes have taken place over the summer. One of the highlights was the new boat dock. This will be a great addition as the old one was quite tipsy!

 Went for a walk out to the airstrip with three little kindergarten friends. On our way we heard some tiny little chirps. Sure enough, on close inspection there were three wee little chicks bobbing their heads looking for their next meal. When our shadows passed, they silenced.


Good things come in threes. Walking down the airstrip, we heard the distinct call of the Sandhill Crane. Note the berry pickers off in the distance (as well as the dump).

  The summer was wet and cool so the berries took awhile to ripen up. I was able to collect Labrador tea, salmon berries and blueberries. Last year I got quite a few blueberries, but won't be that way this year. Over the summer people collected gallons of blackberries.

Puffballs are back! Walking the airstrip they dot the edges.

Love the cottongrass.










Reeds reflected in a pond.

In the distance is Kasigluk, about seven miles away. The photo doesn't show the three wind turbines.

Before sunrise.

As the sun came up, fog moved in over the river.

Another spring/summer project, the new health clinic.

Over the summer my husband met a man who worked on the boardwalks in the village years ago.

                      Third night back. Cold and clear with crescent moon and Venus.

Some extra shots.....

These are some great shots of flying over Double Glacier that Gwen took this summer. I couldn't figure out how to add them to the other shots we had of this trip. Incredible area....

These are shots from the Musk Ox farm in Palmer Alaska. They had 15 babies all about the same age. These here are a few months old. The mission of this site is to domesticate the animals in order to comb out the quiviut, the under hair, or wool that is highly prized. They look like they should be in the buffalo family, but they are related to the goat.

We do have herds roaming out in the coastal areas of this region. In Toksook Bay and in Mekoryuk they were easy to spot.

Alaska summer highlights #7

We hit the perfect time to see flowers!