EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!

We were in the last hour of school.  We were making a story map.  Everyone was anxious for the last bell because Tuesday's are "Afternoons of Fun!"  Then it happened.  About 3:40 the room began to shake.  At first the Mister and I thought the big kids must have been running in the hall; but, nooooooo..... about the time we figured out that the earth was grumbling..... the building swayed....it probably lasted about 15 seconds.  And THEN, about 30 seconds after that.... our students began to cry.  They tumbled like dominoes ---- first one and then they just fell right in order down the row of desks!  Had we not been scared to death ourselves, it would have been hilarious.

The village president came in shortly afterward and checked on everyone.  He looked it up online and it was a 5.9 and it happened down close to Sand Point.  There was no warning and no tsunami was expected.

So..... now I have news from Perryville.  And here we've been telling all our friends and family, "Oh, I really don't know anything...."  Hmmmmm.

I need some blue sky!

Beautiful sunset in Perryville, AK

July, 2010

We have had rain, ice and wind for a couple of weeks now.  I need some blue sky --- and I'm getting antsy for summer --- so I dug through the photo library.  I have no idea where this is but it is somewhere on the Cassiar Highway in Canada.  I can't wait to get on the road again!

Not much new is going on in Perryville.  We do have crab boats in the bay.  The teachers are so glad we're not fishermen on crab boats for this weather.... we're sure the men are glad their not teachers, either....so it all works out!  The waves in the bay have been 7-10 ft. tall.  Pretty impressive!

Spring Break is only 4 weeks away ---- can you tell I need out?!



Just stuff

Perryville, AK Russian Orthodox Church

After my walk home.

We have gorgeous sunsets nearly every evening.

We got to the beach one day while Hannah was home.

Hannah left, I cried, Dad was stoic.

He's not quite as tall  ---- YET!

We started class last Tuesday --- Jan. 11.  We've had masking every night since then -- It's part of the Russian Orthodox tradition.  They wear masks and dance till really late.  Russian New Year was one night with bells and fireworks, too.  Anyway, I'm not so sure how much learning has taken place yet.  Everyone is so tired. 

We are busy with testing for AIMSWEB --- the results let us monitor kid's learning on a very close schedule.  The weather has been lousy --- rain - not snow!  However, it did snow about 8 inches over the weekend and the Mister went skiing on the beach.  Cross-country.  Yes, we brought the skis even though former teachers told us we wouldn't have enough snow.    Oh!  there are boats here in Perryville this week and they are crab fishing!!!  We are hoping to get some before they leave.

We are out of eggs and are anxiously waiting on our shipment from OK.  If you haven't used powered eggs --- Honeyville Farms puts out a good product.  Of course, they won't ship to Alaska so I have the Wilburton folks ship them on up to us.  You wouldn't want to scramble them but we use them in cooking all the time.  I'm bringing 5 dozen fresh eggs back from Anchorage next month if I have to hold them in my lap all the way!

We got our SpanAlaska shipment in this week ---- all attitudes have improved!  Wal-Mart won't ship pop during the winter or mayonaise, for that matter.  It had been 2 months since I'd had a Dr. Pepper.  My, oh my.  Some things are just good.  :)

Merry Christmas!

Potluck in Perryville -- Crab Legs!

The Boy as a dinosaur in the Christmas play.

We made salt dough ornaments in class.

School let out 20 minutes ago.  I am officially on break!!!  Yay!  Of course, in 2 hours there's a volleyball tournament.... so I'm staying at school and working in the room until then.

The Girl made it home last Friday.  We are so thrilled that we are all back together again.  Splitting up the family was not something we had bargained for when we moved to Alaska. Understand... it was the best choice for everyone last summer but it's really been hard for us to all be in different places.

We are staying in Perryville for the break.  We don't have to be back at school until January 10 -- for teacher in-service.  The students will be back on the 11th.  I have lots of plans for the break.  I need to go through all the school tubs that I have packed across Alaska.  I need to clean out cabinets in the classroom.  I need to straighten up the storage closet at home.  I need to finish my own bedroom.  How does laundry accumulate that way?! 

Tomorrow is cooking day for us.  I am so happy that our order from Mr. Prime Beef came today.  Our freezer is way empty.  They delivered it to PenAir last week and then it just sat in the freezer in Anchorage.  I was afraid it would be next week or later before we would get it.  I got hamburger, shrimp, ribeye steaks and chicken.  We've been to MPB in Anchorage but we've never ordered from them.  I'll let you know how it is.

The Christmas play was last night.  It was cute but really short.  Probably the shortest in history.  It was about Santa and dinosaurs.  The costumes/props turned out well and the kids were happy.  Every student in the school participated.  The school had a potluck afterwards.  Someone brought crab legs.  I didn't try them but I did make pics --- you just don't see a lot of crab at a potluck in OK.  There was a lot of fish pie and dried fish.  The school fixed 2 turkeys.  All in all, there was a lot of food and everyone seemed to have a good time.  I went home with a fistful of cards and 3 handmade doilies that are beautiful. 

How Can It Be?

Okay... I was shocked to see the date on the last post.  Do you realize Christmas is in 16 days? The Girl will be home next Friday?!  Yippee!  How weird to think about coming home to a place you've never been before? 

School is going well here.  The Christmas play is coming along.  Kids are beginning to get excited about the holidays.  They really will after Saturday afternoon.  We are meeting to work on play props and decorations.  Once the tree goes up..... their minds are gone!  :)

I'm making fry bread tonight.  I can't wait.  The Boy said, "Fry bread!?  Something fried?"  We haven't had anything fried in quite a while.  We are all looking forward to it.  I've been saving an onion to make onion rings --- I hope it hasn't ruined!  That's it about living out here.  You get something special and you want to save it BUT if you wait too long ---- so sorry, so sad.....

I'm still waiting on Christmas presents to come in, too.  The mail seems to be so slow here.  I guess I'll wrap empty boxes on the 24th if I have to. 

We get out on the 22 and don't have to teach again until Jan. 10.  I'm so excited.  I'm tired.  I need some time in my classroom without kids.  Extended time.  Time to work through cabinets and drawers. 

From the looks of this post, I didn't have much to say.  Let me just put this one out of its misery by saying that we sure do miss you guys who read this blog.  We hope you have a great holiday!

Thanksgiving and Birthdays

I don't know where the four-day weekend went!  It was over just like that...

We had brought a big turkey to Perryville when we moved because we didn't know if we would be able to get one out here.  We wouldn't have...  So, the Mister and I got up early on Thursday morning and put it into cook.  I made a pot of dressing and got my dough into rolls so they could rise.  I made jello and green peas.  Another teacher from school came over about 1:00 with home-made mac and cheese and a pumpkin pie with real cream.  What an excellent meal!

On Friday, the Boy and I put up the Christmas tree.  Then I got to thinking about how something didn't seem right .... no leftover dessert.... sooooo.... the Boy and I experimented and made pie dough.  Then, since pumpkin is his favorite, we made 2 pies.  WOW!  We're not bad at making pie!

Later, I wrote my paper for my oceanography class that I am taking as well as the 3rd test for the semester.  I will be so happy when that class is over!  It was a full day.

I guess Friday was full enough because I didn't want to do anything on Saturday.  I can't hardly remember the day.  I guess we had it, though.

Sunday was my birthday.  The Boy remembered it about mid-morning.  The Mister had ordered for my day but of course, it hadn't come in ---- it never does when you have a specific day you want it!  We ended up working at school most of the afternoon and went home to a dinner of chicken enchiladas and spanish rice with pineapple upside down cake.  I didn't wash a dish all day.

For anyone who is trying to call us.... you can't.  GCI is messed up all along the peninsula.  Everyone is having problems.  If you really want to talk.... email me and I'll call you. 

 polarbearbait  @  gmail.com

(without the spaces.)

We're in the countdown for the Girl to come home.  Only 17 more days !!!!  IF the weather cooperates.

Perryville - First Photos

Perryville is situated on a lava flow.  The black sand is beautiful.  The ocean is to our south and there is a volcano to the north.  So is the tsunami shelter!

The top pic is from the plane looking out from Perryville Village.  The other 2 pics were taken as we made our descent to Perryville.  It is breathtaking!