The Mad Hatters

Here's a little of what we've been up to to prepare for next market day...

 This one is made from fabric left from hemming some skirts of mine...

 Upcycling, crazy quilt style...

Preparing for Market II

We made sourdough bread in Dutch Ovens....So yummy!

 Laughing Water and Julie at Market...

 A freezer with popsickles and banana pops.

 A partial glimpse of the Farmer's Market.

- Nanette

Preparing for Market I

                                            
One of the things Julie does is make things for the Farmer's Market.  By the time we got here, we didn't have much time to craft, so we decided to whip up some quick, yummy things.  I started by making a big batch of granola, using my father-in-law's recipe.

 We made banana pops by freezing 1/2 pieces of banana on a popsickle stick, then dipping them in chocolate.....

 and rolling them in walnuts.

 Yummmm!!!!

 We made pita bread...

All ready for market...

- Nanette

Yukon or Bust II

This little sweetie was on the road with another just like her and their mothers.  I haven't been able to positively identify her, but I think she may be a Dahl Sheep lamb.  What cutie pie!

There were quite a few free range bison.

 We finally arrived at Liard Hot Springs to meet Juju and Co.  It was quite a relief to finally see them and sit in the warm water.

 Here are the kiddos playing with their new buddies.  L to R:  JM, Mr. Blueberry Eyes, IM, CM, and Laughing Water.

 With my BFF at last!

 Liard Hot Springs is this amazing, beautiful place.

 The total count for bear sightings so far is seven, which sadly includes a dead cinammon bear on the road.  This place is truly teaming with wildlife!

- Nanette

Yukon or Bust!

 The next leg of the journey was on our own.  We entered the Alaska Highway at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, B.C.  I was especially interested in this area, because, when my mother was young, her father seriously considered moving his family to the Peace River Country of British Columbia.  In the end, the Keene Farm came up for sale in North Dakota, so he kept them there.  But I've always wondered how life would have been different if he had moved them North.  Would I have been a Canuk?   Would I have even "been"?  What did Peace River even look like?

 Now, I know....

It was a long day....but the kids were amazing.  We listened to "The Mystery of  Chilkoot Pass" and "James Herriot's Treasury for Kids" books on tape and I never heard a word of complaint.  But I must say, the Alaska Highway IS LOOOOONG!  - Nanette

Wolves and Bears, Oh, My!

Summer 2012 has taken a twist that I'm not used to.  This is the first year in about seven that I am not keeping my tutoring service going.  With the The Wood Artist in the oilfield for weeks at a time, I decided that I should do what I've been dreaming of for a few years.  I've always felt the call of the North, but it has intensified since my best friend and former college roommate moved to the Yukon Territories of Canada a few years ago.  We've dreamed of spending a few weeks together, crafting and selling at farmer's markets and letting our children get aquainted.  So, when the school year ended, we started preparations to visit the land of the Klondike.

 We also have friends who have property about half-way in the beautiful mountains of British Columbia.  Their children are my children's close friends, so it seemed natural that we coordinate our trip with them.  So, for the first two days of the trip, we drove with them.  We visited the waterpark at the Edmonton, Alberta, mall and the kids played hard.

 On the way, we saw the "World's Largest Truck".  It had been used as a mining vehicle, but had been retired when it became too expensive to replace parts.  Mr. Blueberry Eyes and his friend don't even reach 1/2 way up the tire!

Now their place is quite an experience to visit.  It gives you the feeling that the house was dropped by helicopter into the wilderness.  Because they don't live there all of the time, the basic conveniences are not readily available.  So, we had to use an outhouse.  This is the scene we saw one morning just beyond the outhouse.

Having a bear just beyond the potty was actually NOT the most memorable thing about our visit, though.  The first night, as we were getting supper for our large group, a pack of wolves began to howl.  They have several wolf dens very close to their house, so the auditory sensation was spectacular!  There were several voices, some deep, and so throaty you nearly felt the hair on your neck prickle.  Others were high, soaring.  Still others were yippy.  All arched the twilight skies and made you suck in your breath. 

We sat on the deck, eating ramen noodles, slapping mosquitoes and listening, hoping for one more note, one more snatch of the ethereal, brutally wild sound.  It happened twice that night, and then not again while we were there.

I wouldn't want to live there, really.  They've lost three dogs on their property due to this pack of ruthless, sporting killers.  (We kept the Mighty Hunting Hound under strict lock and key!)  But it was still a spectacular experience - one not to be missed.  The first leg of the journey was over and well-traveled. -Nanette

State History

Laughing Water and I are going on a home school 7th-8th grade state history trip.  Our group (of about a dozen girls) has been planning this since last summer.  We've been doing fundraising and one of the dedicated moms has been teaching a history class in her home.  It didn't start out as a girls-only trip, but the boys just didn't seem as interested and the one or two who did, were scared off by the prospect of being so outnumbered.

The highlight so far was an overnight field trip to a local historic hotel.  We spent the night and played games and watched documentaries.  The next morning, we had a guided tour of a local history museum. 

That is where this picture comes in.  The gentleman guiding us asked if anyone had ever played a pump organ.  I actually had.  When I was a teenager, we had friends who were an older couple who lived in a very old home and they had a pump organ. Everything about the place held charm for me and I loved these people dearly.  We would occasionally gather there with friends and sing around the pump organ.  I would take my turn like any of the other pianists.  Playing a pump organ is quite an exercise, so the duty is best shared.  Sometimes, we would even team up.  If the pianist got too tired, someone else would pump while she played. 

So when the guide asked the question, I raised my hand.  They brought a chair and I played a song.  It was so fun and brought back some great memories! 

It is hard to believe that we are only one month away from the trip now.  I think it will be fun.  What an amazing group lively, sweet and intelligent young ladies we have in the group.  We're going to have a blast! - Nanette