Outside

Our Christmas break was three weeks long, so anything we did out of the ordinary we made into an adventure.

One day we bundled the boys up,

warmed up the truck, which needs warming up even though it is always plugged in (We drive the school's truck when we need it to run errands to the post office or co op),

and we drove to the dump to get rid of our Christmas trash.

The dump is just up the road from us, and often when it burns we can smell it.  (... not so lovely)

There are humongous ravens that call the dump "home", and I swear when I watch them take off, I can't believe they can get into the skies.  They are plump like well-fed house cats, and watching them lift into the air is amazing.

This little one is always happy to be out of the house.  It's strange to have a picture of him with no glasses.  But when they wear a scarf to help with the cold, it causes their glasses to fog up instantly, which frustrates them to no end. So I tend to leave their glasses at home.

This Christmas, he was wishing for his two front teeth.  

In fact, he's still wishing for them.  

I love getting out of the house because I love a change of scenery.

Tundra as far as the eye can see.

This is the Russian Orthodox church downtown.  I love the steeple.

The sunset is so stunning.  I only wish it wasn't so early! This was probably around 3pm.

I feel so blessed to live in a place where natural beauty abounds.  Where a quick stop at the post office turns into some insane photographs of the wild Yukon River.  

Josh on the River

Josh has been out on the river three times now hunting moose with friends (some coworkers, some from the village) who own boats.  He took these beautiful pictures, which I think capture the amazing place we live.  He's been unsuccessful thus far, but he did see a black bear when he was out last time, and he shot a duck when he went out the first time.  Today he's out again, and we're both really hoping he finds something!

These pictures were taken on the Yukon river and connecting sloughs around the Marshall area, as far away as Russian Mission.

{Someone's Fish Camp}

There is a natural spring here, and someone attached this pipe to make it easier to drink from. Josh drank from it, and he said it was the best water he's ever had.

He knows I am a total geology nerd, so he took these amazing rock pictures for me.

While hunting moose with a friend, he assisted with harvesting punk, which apparently grows on the trees and is used to make homemade chew.

{Humongous piece of Punk}

{Bald Eagle}

Josh said every time he's out there he can't believe this is where we live.

It's so amazing.

The Yukon River

We have been to the river during winter.  When it's frozen.  We've even crossed the river. But we've never gone down to the beach when it's flowing.  So last Saturday we did just that.

It was gorgeous and I love the pictures I got!