Kuspuks

August 6th. AUGUST 6TH! When did this happen? Where did summer go? It's one step away from fall. I'm loving the berry picking and fishing. The silvers are coming in slow. I've gotten 2 so far and my trapping partner go 7. Seven! Just plain rude out fishing me.

I'm heading off to Montana in two sleeps. I've been waiting for this since June! I can't believe it's finally here. And yet I still haven't gotten everything done that I wanted to before I take off. Hopefully I can cram a few more things in before I climb on the plane Thursday.

I pulled fabric and wanted to do some sewing. This is going to have to wait until I get back though. These are two kuspuks I made over a year ago. One for a little girl and the other for a baby.

Playing in the ocean (usually after midnight)

I love trips out into the ocean. Even the scary, intimidating ones when the waves are big. I'm happy we were in a salmon boat this time instead of Frank and Heathers river boat because the waves were big! The ocean is such a powerful thing and I always feel so small when I'm out in it's vastness. Spence has no issues conking right out though. :) Little stud just passes out and rides the waves like a champ.

Captain passed out pants

In the bow, bouncing way up and down

When I was little and we lived out at Egavik, there were some times when we had to get to Unalakleet even though it was really rough out. I remember being scared until my dad told me to think of the waves as bucking broncos. I always wanted to be a cowgirl, so obvious this worked. It took away my fear.

There are some classy seats in an ocean boat

El capitan

Heading back home

We're totally serious about our ocean boating

This was a different night. Calmer waters.

Supposed to be a channel marker. It's more like an island marker.

I never get out into the ocean as much as I'd like. Mostly due to the fact that our ocean boat doesn't have a motor and I don't think I'd feel comfortable driving out in the ocean. Half the time I don't feel comfortable driving in the river! I'm always afraid I'll kaqisaaq (hit bottom) and I do often enough. And it's embarrassing. But I don't let it stop me!

Doileys

There are some days when I get an overwhelming sense of panic. How on earth will I ever do all of the projects that I want to do? How on earth will I ever complete all of the projects that I  have started. I'll do really good for a chunk of time and work on my big projects and actually accomplish some of the and then I'll get inspired and start a slew of other projects. Which puts me right back where I started. It's a never ending battle. Kind of like laundry.

52 Lists: List the things you want to make

I've been sitting on this list so long that I've made 4 fur bears: beaver, mink, rabbit and nutria, finished my first beaver hat and cut out another one, and made a quilt for my bestie's wedding present. Now that's some blogging procrastination right there.

Egg hunting

I went egg hunting this year with a friend and his mom and found zilch. :) But it was good exercise and a new experience. My friend's mom was the only successful one. She found two eggs. I think it was a little early for egg hunting. At least I know how to egg hunt now. I mean, it's really not that hard. You walk around on the tundra and look for eggs. You want tundra with little lakes and pools and such. Pretty basic.

How cute is this little guy. He wasn't very scared of me but just kept scooting around in the water as I looked in the tundra around him. I don't know what kind of bird he was other than small.

An empty nest, this was all I found.

Ducks! Too bad bird season was over. They were much more skittish than the little bird, probably because they get shot at all the time.

It was really bright out. I could barely open my eyes.

Seagull eggs!

Beaver hunting

This spring  I was a very lucky girl and was invited out beaver hunting with Frank, Heather, and Christian. Our adventure took us way up Chirosky.We left town at around 8 or 8:30 and sped off. It was my first time on the river this year. And it was perfect. There still weren't many mosquitoes out and the it stayed light all night.

Unalakleet receding into the horizon as we head up river

Looking for beaver in a little slough

Frank is a really good driver, much more adventurous than me. I tend to go a lot slower and am still pretty scared of tight curves. I was comfortable with him at the steering wheel.

A beaver house in the Chirosky River

There's a swan in the middle of this picture

It was an absolutely gorgeous night

We ended up getting 6 beaver altogether. I shot two of the six and one little muskrat. It was such a fun night. I can't wait till next spring. And I can't wait till this guy is all stretched and tanned and sewed up.

The other beaver I got had quite a hole in his head so I declined taking a picture of him

Iris pin

This was a commissioned piece for a lady that lives here in my town. She gave this to her daughter for a birthday. It's done with delica beads using the peyote stitch. It's hardened with nail polish.