How to know when volcano blow

Trapper Creek in the national news with reports of ash. Which if you ask me is a pretty cool thing to happen in your own backyard. Especially since out here at the homestead we only got a dusting of it. So how can you tell if it's an ash ? First off when you walk outside it smells like you just walked out of Chena Hot Springs (sulphur on the air) or in bush terminology it smells like rotten dog farts. Not what you would call a breathe of fresh air. No wonder our predecessors where scared of fire and brimstone - it's pretty destructive stuff.

Next, check out a flat surface for volcanic dust. Yep, there it is on the snowmachine. Very gritty and freshly spewn from the bowels of the earth. Very cool. Later on you will see it everywhere in your house as it sticks to your shoes like walking in cat litter (looks about the same too). Check out the video of the blow: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=12622210

I don't know where I'm a-gonna-go when the volcano blows

The burp of Redoubt:
The long awaited burp of Redoubt has finally occurred. Evidently five blasts so far that started about 10:30 PM last evening so unfortunately no pics of the big one. Word is that planes are being diverted and that Skwentna has been receiving some ash and that it supposed to be headed towards the Valley. We'll keep an eye out to see if the snow turns gray around here.

Don't know yet if it will change our travel plans just depends on which way the ash flys.

Last Class Wrap up in AK:
Had our final class in Palmer this weekend. Great to see all our buds one last time before we head out on the highway. We'll be back in August offering four classes in Wasilla and Anchorage. Check out the website for who/what/where.

RSS Feed for Talkeetna and beyond:
Jim Kloss (aka Talkeetna Jim) has created an RSS feed for information that pertains to the Upper Susitna Valley area and specifically Talkeetna. I checked it out this AM and it is very cool. It's like a clearinghouse for any and all information that may pertain to our area including local blogs, ADN, KTNA, etc. To access it:
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Talkeetna

Larry hangs it up

Lance and Larry:

If you've been following the Iditarod you'll know by now that Lance Mackey has won it again. In fact, he's won it three times in a row putting him among the greats in the race.

Larry the lead dog is the big highlight in this story. He's lead Lance to 7 out 8 victories in 1,000 mile races. Being the ripe old age of nine he's ready to hang it up and throttle back some. Look at that face, he's another dog that's got charisma. Maybe him and Logwagger are related...

It's a whirlwind:

We're packing up last minute items and starting to plot what goes down and what stays around here. All weaving projects have been suspended for the higher cause of getting ready to head down the highway. I finished off the Porkypod sample for class that has been lovingly dubbed the "Shrek" basket due it's coloration. That'll give you a visual.

Fun at Hatcher

Sunshine at Hatcher:
Took a day off and hit Hatcher Pass with my skiis on Sunday. Hatcher is a gold mining district complete with old buildings still intact from its hey-day. A very cool place to spend a day, it always reminds me of Alaska's version of the Swiss Alps.

The only problem about skiing at Hatcher is the trail is UP to the mining district. Which means lots of slogging up the trail to get there and a really fun ride down which makes it worth it.

Getting older means getting smarter so instead of slogging up the hill - I walked up it with my skis until hitting level ground. Then I got the fun ride down to the Lodge with a minimal of effort. I figured if I looked silly walking up the hill with my skis on my shoulder it wasn't any sillier than those winter enthusiasts with snowshoes who were tromping up on a packed, groomed trail. Won't be long before the pics on the blog take a severe change from white to green. Gotta get those last winter memories in as it will be awhile before we see them again.

Getting ready to blast:

One last class and we are packing up and heading south. Keep your fingers crossed that the winter weather smiles on us as we pass through Canada and back into the L-48. Always a fun trip down the ALCAN. The five DAY haul from AK to the farm in MO is full of stories and hopefully I'll get to share some as we head down the highway complete with pics if we're lucky.

From There to Here

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere:

Alaska has been referred to by many titles, The Great Land, The Last Frontier, Seward's Folly but in my opinion it really should be called the Can-Do state.

For example, last weekend our neighbor was hauling in some final touches on his cabin i.e. stove, refrigerator, propane bottles, carpeting, lumber, etc. The road to our place is currently snowed in so we hooked up the snow machines with three sleds and the dog sled and went to met him at Amber Landing down the creek three miles. Imagine his surprise when we loaded his truck full of stuff and putted across the Lake towards home in one trip.

Getting to and from the vehicle before getting ready for a class is like being the little train that could. There's only one machine powering the load and we keep adding on sleds packed full of materials, product, survival gear, dirty laundry, and personal foo-foo. Tack on a dog sled at the tail end to line out the load with me on the runners and Jenn in the basket. Now that's traveling in style.

In the Studio:

I've been working up another Porkypod as the original is at the Web & Flow Exhibit in MN. That way when I get to class everyone will know what we're trying to create. Also have been working on a couple of basket samples for classes in Alaska in August to get them delivered. Pics when there completed.

That time of year...

March and Iditarod:

There is nothing like March in Alaska. The sun is back, there is tons of snow, the scenery is majestic, and it's the start of the Iditarod. The race started out last Saturday and the front runners are making headlines. The old faithfuls with experience are keeping towards the back and letting the youngsters have their glory before they move on up. Always a fun race to watch from the back of my computer screen. For all the information on what's going on check out www.adn.com or www. iditarod.com.

We got class:

The Philip Dickel Basket Museum and Gallery of West Amana, IA has asked me to submit to their 2009 exhibit of Basketry/Artist Teacher Baskets. Scheduled for May 25,2009 to October 5, 2009 it is an exhibit to celebrate national teachers of basketry and their classes. Located at the Broom and Basket Shop in West Amana, IA. Very cool.

A Crafty Moose Report

Moose on the loose:

We've had lots of these bad boys (and/or girls) around the yard this year. One in fact that was making a local residence in the yard. Not a good thing when your trying to go from the studio to the house. We clanged a pan at him and sent him running down the trail towards the neighbors.

Nothing spookier than trotting to the studio at about 7:00 AM armed with a headlamp and hearing an odd noise. You automatically know to STOP and listen. Checking out the trail in front of me I see that Mama moose and her calf were in front of me two seconds earlier and now are residing in back of the studio. That'll make your heart pound a little faster.

Crafts Report Online:

Don't know if this will be published on the actual magazine or not but here is the link for the online edition. We're in there.... http://craftsreport.com/articles/insight/132-crafts-insight-april-2009-baskets.html

Tour Update:

Looks like the South Carolina Weaving Group of Greenville has added on to the Basketry Tour in July.

Life in a snow globe

Life in a snow globe:
This has been a good snow year. Right now the snow sloughing off the roof lines is up to about the middle of the windows. There is all kinds of snow up here but most of it is a wonderful powder snow. My favorite type is what I call - elephant flakes. They look like a bunch of snowflakes teamed up and did a free fall together. It doesn't happen very often but when it does it's like living in a snow globe. And according to our friends at NOAA there is more on the way with a weather advisory for today and tomorrow.

Back-blog:
"SHUT UP" is the woman's mantra that needs to be repeated on a continuous basis until she gets it. By this I mean don't tell your spouse more than he needs to know. For instance, don't read him your blog notes where you reveal your inner secrets (see I-don't-know). Blog backfire occurs when after reading it he repeats with abandon "gee, I don't know" at every opportunity. Note to self: "SHUT UP". Never hand the closet weaver ammunition.

Jill with her drill:
I've been getting ready for upcoming classes and drilling up a storm putting together structures and rims for classes in April. I'll be carrying some extras just in case students get a bad case of "let-me-do-it-again". Looks like we may be headed to Tucson, AZ as well as the Cass Lake in MN. Like a train the tour just keeps adding more stops on.

Final Product:
Here's the final product on the flute case for John in Eagle River. I was pleased with it but had a heck of a time getting a lid that I liked. Luckily John was pleased too with the final result.

Mama don't let your babies grow up to be bush babes

One in a Gazillion:
There are few of the true rustic female versions around anymore. You know the type I'm talking about. The ones that can split wood, cook on a wood stove, haul water, run a dog team, drive a snowmachine and do their business in the outhouse without complaining. A true wilderness woman or as we refer to them..a bush babe. One that doesn't need all the daily foo-foo stuff to make her feel good inside (or mirrors in the house to remind her of what she looks like for that matter).

Making the Grade:
What we need is a sorority for those gals with grit in their britches and a method to wheedle out those that are unworthy. The first requirement for inclusion in the club would be can you squat and pee. Not can you use the outhouse complete with seat and paper service oh no, no, no. We're talking basics here. Can you enter the great outdoors, assume the position, do your business, resume your upright stance and leave your mark in the snow. In the land of the last frontier we've been known to have female bonding competitions of who can whip their pants down, pee, and get them back up and buttoned before the competition does. Hey, it's not like we're starved for cultured entertainment out here.

Make it work:
Bush babes must have a sense of humor and have the ability to make the most out of a moment. For instance, getting rid of the pee bucket contents from the night before we decided to throw it on the garden spot then covered with a six foot blanket of snow as fertilizer. Upon discovery our neighbor squealed, "eeeeewwwwwww, what's that!!", seizing the moment we told her it's where God took a pee.

What's that smell:
Bush babes have a high tolerance level. They can stand the smell of urine, body sweat, halitosis, and greasy body odor for days at a time (their own or fellow house dwellers). This aint a weekend stint at the camp enjoying the great outdoors, it's life, aint it sweet? A bath is a hallowed event and every hot shower that is driven miles to obtain is treated like the holy enlightened experience that it is.

Out of the box:
Bush babes have a high level of appreciation. They know that it's the little things in life that count. Like watching snow sift from the sky, time spent alone, Denali crowned in alpine glow, snowshoeing the creek, driving a sled dog team, a warm fire to back up too, and family. They don't have to yearn for the woods from the confines of a city 9-to-5 life. They opt to live life out of the box (even though it feels like one) with all that it entails.

Mama Don't let your babies grow up to be bush babes:
So young women if you yearn for an independent life off the grid in the wilds of Alaska remember this. In retrospect it will never be as bad as it seemed at the time and the stories you share will be of a life well lived.