Sep 8, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, North Tide, Showing Off |
Childrens’ “Bogs” at the beach
I cannot remember the first time I saw those colorful, clunky, rubber boots called “Bogs” but for sure it was up in Juneau, the rain country. The brand name of Bogs most likely comes from the fact that these boots are worn where there’s an unlimited supply of water; that would be Southeast Alaska! There are even Bogs for children, even itty bitty children who are just able to walk, and of course, once little ones learn how to walk, they are vulnerable to wet weather just like we are, but even more so because they are closer to the puddles since they are shorter; see?
Little kid’s bogs next to the latest in Bog style; I call it “Spider Woman’s Bogs!”
I have never desired to wear Bogs – they are too colorful, too bulky and too heavy and I don’t want to be wearing something that suggests that there must be a lot of wet weather. Let’s say I am in denial of all the rain in Southeast Alaska! I won’t wear a raincoat; have never owned one. I won’t use an umbrella; though I’ll use one in Colorado, and I’ve never worn those brown rubber boots that everyone else has worn in Southeast Alaska for at least 50 years! Nope, not me.
Wore my bogs while blue berry picking up a mountainside in Haines, Alaska
But then one day, I walked into Shoefly shoe store in Juneau and there were these weird-looking, up-to-the-knee boots with a herring-bone pattern; they came in red and black. I was actually in the market for a pair of “normal” shoes since all I have are either boots or sandals, nothing in between. Oh well, I tried on these boots and they are like waterproof, thinly-insulated, high-top moccasins! So dang comfortable that there’s no such thing as “breaking them in.” I bought them specifically for the wet weather on beaches, in the woods, up the trails, rocky pathways and of course, in the bogs! That’s right. These are the truly remarkable, light-weight, stylish “Bogs in Alaska Bogs!”
“Spider Woman Bogs” fishing in Hoonah, Alaska
Go get yourself a pair at $110. They have inspired me to get my muscles back into shape because I just love walking in them. They’ve got good grip for boat decks, keep you feet dry no matter what, and golly, I’ve been mistaken for Spider Woman on occasion, and I kinda like being incognito for awhile!
“Spider Woman’s bogs” amongst the skunk cabbage while on the way to nagoon berry patch
In the back of the truck riding through the Hoonah mountain side looking for more berries – notice the bag of blueberries at the left foot of “Spider Woman’s bogs”…
Aug 18, 2013 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Honoring Others, North Tide, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
The making of the traditional dugout canoe at Cherri and Wayne Price’s porch in Haines, Alaska
How many of you know, or know of, the carver/silversmith/boat builder/hunter Wayne Price? Do you know where he lives? Have you ever taken a class from him? Have you met his wife, Cherri? Or met any of his friends or students or family? It’s time to meet him.
The Price House is always hopping with visitors coming and going – I’m not sure how Wayne gets his work done! And both he and Cherri are always accommodating; they generally drop what they are doing and will converse with you. (They sound like the way I am but I am trying not to be that way to the degree I was else I cannot get my work done!) Here they share their dry fish with Crystal Rogers, Jim Simard and Teahonna James
The Price House: …so I like to help them out in whatever way I can…in this instance, when I caught Wayne and Cherri talking about loading the firewood into the basement, I immediately volunteered the weavers Crystal and Teahonna and Lance Twitchell’s brother to help out…! The community has got to be reminded now and then to “give back” to Wayne and Cherri and it starts with each and every one of us who have benefited from their hospitality !
The Price House: Meagan Jensen looks over Teahonna James weaving the closure of her circle.
The Price House: William Wasden, from Alert Bay, B.C., sings songs from his neck of the woods, while Wayne tends to the fire, the weavers weave and the rest of us listen, watch and take in the scene!
Read more about Wayne and Cherri Price on their website; click here to the link. And when you are in Haines, stop by and say hello – let him know I sent ya!
Jun 21, 2012 | Adventures of Rear-Mirror Rissy, Tlingit Culture Accentuated |
Dorsal fin of a Killerwhale during the sail from Juneau to Haines, Alaska
Crystal invited me to come with her to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to meet up with a friend of hers. I knew about the grand opening of the new Cultural Center in Whitehorse, so I took her up on her offer. I had four days to prepare for the trip with lots of deadlines to meet before leaving – it was good incentive to get the stuff done to take a much needed “working vacation” from Juneau’s consistent rainy weather of 45 degrees!
Bow of the MV Matanuska
I anticipated good weather as soon as we would come into Haines’ territory, about three hours north of Juneau. Sure enough, I could see blue skies up ahead!
Crystal Rogers weaves Ravenstail in the cafeteria of the MV Matanuska
Like many Chilkat and Ravenstail weavers of the past 30 years, Crystal Rogers packed up her loom to weave aboard the ferry. Four hours to Haines is ample time to weave a couple of inches!
deck of the MV Matanuska as we pass the lighthouse in Upper Lynn Canal
Pouring rain in Juneau, even just an hour out of Juneau the weather improves! Cloudy but not raining! whooohooo!
Crystal enjoys the cedar bark weaving talents of Heather Callahan's cape
Yukon artist Heather Callahan is a regalia-maker who was on board completing her woven cedar bark cape embellished with dentallium shells, abalone buttons, leather and Hawaiian grasses woven in as well! — you just never know who will be traveling with you on board the Alaskan ferries!
Heather models her cape trimmed with beaver fur
Davidson Glacier in the Chilkat Mountain Range
"Shanks and Rizal" (alias)peaks of the Chilkat Mountain Range
Approaching Haines, Alaska - see the tourship docked in front of Ft. Seward?
Always blue skies in Haines' wake
Crystal catches wild water
Mouth of the Chilkat Valley River
View of the Chilkat River and mountains from a house I would love to buy, or at least rent!
Driivng the highway from Haines, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Brown Bear on the side of the highway
Black bear on side of highway just a half hour from the brown bear we first saw
