Kotzebue From the Water

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Well I figured out what was wrong with my photobucket account. I searched through the trouble shooting section and found out that in your account you can have sub albums and that each sub album can only have 2,500 images in it. I have only one sub album and I maxed it out. Once I realized what the problem was it was a simple fix of adding another sub album.

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Beach

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Up

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Gone for the Weekend

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OK. Photobucket is not being my friend, so until I figure it out I am going to have to upload photos straight to blogger even though I don't like how small they look. This weekend we are heading out in the country to go camping and fishing so I will try and figure it out when I get back. While we are gone I have set up some post to pop up each day.

Here are some photos of my water loving dog taken last weekend.

















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Fishing

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Last Sunday we set net on the Noatak River to catch some salmon for our freezer. Uyaana was in charge of keeping the fire going and watching the coffee.




We didn't leave the net out very long, about 2 hours total. We already have some fish in the freezer and only wanted about 20 more, 5 more to keep and the rest to give to a local elder.




We caught 18, including one trout.




They were all nice looking chum salmon.




Except for this one, which we threw back. This fish was all spawned out and starting to die. When salmon are in the ocean they are bright silver and fat and healthy looking. As soon as they hit the fresh river water they stop eating and start to change color. They lose their fat stores and their meat becomes paler. As they swim farther up the river the males mouths begin to elongate and develop nast sharp teeth, and the spawning colors of both sexes become more pronounced. After they spawn the fish slowly make their way downstream, dying somewhere along the way, their job done.




Here is the nice Dolly Varden trout that we caught.




I took this photo so you could use Kaija for a size comparison.




This trout was dinner.




First we fileted the fish.




Then I placed each filet on some aluminium foil.




Then I shook on some seasoning salt and Mrs. Dash.




Then you wrap up the filets and put them on the fire.




En Papillote arctic style. Bon appetit!

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Almost Time to Fly

There's no denying it. It's fall time. It may still be August, but autumn is here in the arctic. People might be in denial, but the birds are getting ready. They are coming together in flocks and preparing to head out.



































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Photos From the Mouth

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The photos in this post were taken 8/22/09 at around 9:30pm in the mouth of the Noatak River, near where it empties into Kotzebue sound. These are about 7-9 miles away from Kotzebue.



































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Quiet Evening on the River

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Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

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Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

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8/12/09 One of the places we went to during out visit to Portland, Oregon. Whle the rhododendrons were not in bloom this time of year it is still a beautiful place to see.



























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Change of Season

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Uyaana and I took the dogs out to run and dig and hunt tasty critters. Kaija found a squirrel hole down in that crack and was digging to China.




The dogs had lots of fun, as usual, chasing after each other...




...and Uyaana.




They are always on the hunt.




Oops, there's something over there.




Kaija goes in for the kill.




Look at that pounce. Girl's got skillz.




As the title of this post suggests this is the time of the changing season. Summer is easing quickly into fall. We have a few days already where the high was only in the low to mid 40's.




The tundra is already starting to change colors. The tundra reaches it's peak green at around the 3rd week in July. Now we are in the 3rd week in August and things are starting to turn a yellowish hue. Won't be long now before things start frosting over. I better get my rear in gear and pick some blueberries while they are good.













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