An Afternoon in Taku Harbor

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Most likely the longest swings in the Northwest Coast at least 50 feet up; the girls swing as if it’s “normal…”

My father was a local fisherman for many years.  He started out in the early 50’s up in Kodiak and Kenai until Rudy Govina told him that the “women are better” in Tlingit territory, so my father sailed his seiner to the Glacier Bay area which included Haines, Excursion Inlet, Hoonah Gustavus and on the outskirts, Juneau.  Though now and then I remember him talking about Taku Harbor.  He never took us there; he said it was not suited for humans because it was too far away for a man with a family.  He wanted us little kids to be safe.  I never knew where or how far Taku Harbor was, I just knew that it was South of Juneau “all the way down till you almost hit the land straight in front of you but immediately make a left and then it’s up there a little ways and make another left…”  uh, huh…those were the instructions from a fisherman, I kid you not, long time ago.  So those directions are exactly what we did on the MV Princeton Hall sail…!

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James Crippen catches himself a bull kelp; now what’s he gonna do with it?

Not much goes on in Taku Harbor.  There’s an old cabin once inhabited by the late Tiger Olson, an elder who made a living doing his own thing.  There’s a cabin run by the Forest Service too that people can rent by the day, week, month.

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Unbeknownst to the rest of us, James plays the digeridoo so it was only natural he make one out of the bull kelp

As a full-time artist, I go through intense periods of a face-paced life.  This Summer was an extreme example of that.  I generally work at least 12 hours a day, though up to 18 hour days depending on whether or not a deadline (or several deadlines) is approaching.  I never live the same day, month or year, twice.  There is no routine other than “what next?”.  Just when I think I have got a routine down, there’s always something that disrupts it.  I used to get bent out of shape when something changed; after many, many years, I have learned to go with the flow.  It’s the nature of the beast.

So what does jumping a sail for a day have to do with being an artist?

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Alice Taft tries her hand (or ought I say “mouth!?” at playing the digeridoo…!

Sailing with folks I know but haven’t spent any time with is an excellent balance for spending a lot of alone time creating works holed up in my studio for days, weeks and sometimes months.  In Colorado, my life is a high contrast to my time in Alaska and Yukon (and anywhere else outside of my studio doors for that matter).  I have no social life in Colorado; there’s a reason for that.  I made it that way because it’s the only way I can get any work done.  Frankly, I need a break from people, places and things!

I grew up on the ocean, and as a young girl I went fishing with my father.  There’s comfort and serenity being on the ocean.  It’s a time of relaxation, rejuvenation and inspiration.  It’s one of the ways I tone my energy down a few notches so I can quiet down and get to know myself!  Lol.

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Heading back to the MV Princeton Hall

I’ll be heading back to my studio in Colorado the first of September.  I’ve had quite the Spring/Summer in Alaska and Yukon; I am privileged to be able to choose a life as such.  No, it is not perfect, however, I am happy dong and being what I do and be.  It’s a good life.  Especially when I have the once-in-a-lifetime to board a boat I’ve admired since a little kid playing at the docks:  the Princeton Hall.

Bogs in Alaskan Bogs

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”…

 

Flying Glaciers: Juneau to Haines

Mendenhall Glacier and Lake

First I gotta say that I apologize for not having posted photographs here that are not perfect scenery shots – they are not bright and totally in focus, they have parts of the airplane wing, and they are not breath-takingly astounding National Geographic material.  I am far from being a professional photographer like my son or first boyfriend or the guy who takes shots of my ceremonial robes!  I am just me taking snapshots for my blog, okay?  okay.  Glad I got that clarified.

the tidal flats and runway of the Juneau airport – you can see downtown Juneau in the background sandwiched between Mt. Roberts and Mt. Juneau range and an arm of Douglas Island

The photos on this blog entry is about my flight from Skagway to Juneau to Hoonah and back to Skagway again all in one day, all for a 5-minute presentation of a button robe that I designed and created for the Huna Totem Corporation’s 40th anniversary – they were hosting a celebration for their shareholders at Cannery Point in Hoonah.  (Click here for blog entry on the only part of their celebration that I was able to attend.)  During the same weekend that Huna Totem was having their celebration of their 40th year, I was in Teslin, Yukon demonstrating Chilkat weaving for three days with apprentices during their “Kus Te Yea Celebration 2013.”  (click here for the blog entry on the “Weavers’ Cabin” in Teslin).   Huna insisted that I come down and present the robe and explain the design, so I agreed to come down for the hour of the presentation because between 16 total hours of travel time, that was all the time I had in Hoonah.   I drove from Teslin to Skagway, took a flight from Skagway to Hoonah via Juneau and then back again, like I said, all in one day.

Mendenhall Glacier, Lake and River – and the main road you see down there is Mendenhall Loop Road

Mendenhall Lake and Glacier

Herbert Glacier

Echo Cove to the right, and Berner’s Bay to the left

Davidson Glacier

The flight from Juneau to Haines was phenomenal; the pilot took us on a scenic flight of the local glaciers in the Juneau area:  the Mendenhall, Herbert and Eagle; he flew over Berner’s Bay, then across Lynn Canal up towards the mouth of the Chilkat River just south of Haines – then we flew UP the Davidson Glacier, flew around the back side of the front range of the Chilkats and then DOWN Rainbow Glacier, passed Paradise Cove (where I once had land to build my dream home), over Pyramid Island and then landed at the Haines airport – Holy what a flight!!!

When we flew up Davidson I cried I was so happy I unbuckled my seat belt and looked out both sides of the plane’s window; I just love this land, I love the Chilkat range, I love the Chilkat river; I so be-long here!  I swear that when I die, I want my ashes spread up and down these Chilkat glaciers and at the mouth of the Chilkat River and at Paradise Cove!

Ice fields behind Davidson Glacier

Rainbow Glacier is a “hanging” glacier – this is the front view with a waterfall — it was hard taking a shot of the Glacier when we were actually flying over it! And besides that, I couldn’t stand still long enough to take a shot because I was enjoying the view in any given moment as it was changing so quickly as you can imagine!

Peaks of the Chilkat Range — I have not educated myself to know their names so I gave them names of my own:  Rissy’s Peak, Shanks’ Point, Rizal, etc.

Such an awesome flight I took a photo of the plane!

Flying into Skagway

Flight Dog – He never made a sound; it was as if he was a flyer all his life, though I placed my hand on him several times because he was shaking, so maybe this was his first flight and he was just silent about his fears…some of us are like that, you know….

By the time I arrived in Skagway, it was 7pm (that’s 8pm Yukon time).  I realized I had been to heaven and was still flying high!   Thank you to the pilot for giving us that extra few minutes of flight time; thank you soooo much!

The Real Alaskan Stroller!

Stroller Pack - invented and created by John Ingalls of Juneau, Alaska

Back in the early 80’s, John Ingalls had a shop where he designed and manufactured these Stroller Packs – a stroller that can glide over sand, snow, rock, gravel, wooded paths, tundra and any other Alaskan terrain.  This stroller easily converts into a back pack (see photo below showing the straps).   This is the most coveted stroller by mainly Juneau families who enjoy the ease of traveling with their toddlers in the great outdoors of Alaska.

Stroller Pack label

John Ingalls is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio.  He is the great grandson of the great-grandpa Ingalls who was a co-inventor and best friend to Ben Franklin.  John is a musician; he plays any kind of flute there is and also constructed large Andean panpipes made from titanium; pretty dang cool.  When John’s kids were young, John saw the need for real stroller, one that can collapse and fits into the overhead compartment on the jet, one that can travel in any terrain whether natural or man-made,  maneuvers and turns on a dime and one that is considerably lighter than any other stroller of its magnitude.  So he began creating this stroller and pretty soon everyone in town wanted one.  Then before you know it, the business took off.  I consider John to be the “Godfather” of Juneau – my definition of a godfather is not the normal definition.  My definition of godfather is the man who watches out and over the community in which he lives.   A man with few words, he pays attention to the distinct characteristics of all the locals.   Although known as being an eccentric, John has a heart of gold.

Stroller Pack - back showing the shoulder straps and waist strap

The Stroller Pack company was a family affair back in the 80’s.  He designed and re-designed them, ordered all the fabrics, ordered all the parts, welded certain pieces together, and my son was the “fitter”, the guy who put the framework together, my Ex did the logo design, brochure layout, photography, etc., and I sewed all the parts that could be sewn.

Where can you buy one of these strollers or at least try one out?  Well, if you live in Juneau and you see someone with one, stop and ask them about their StrollerPack; most owners are delighted to share their experiences.  I also have this one in the photographs.  I bought this one after I quit working for John on my move out of Alaska to Colorado back in 1993.  I figured I would use it when I became a Grandma, however, 19 years later, now that I’m a 4-time Grandmother, my children would rather have me use their fancy $450 3-wheelers that are so stylish these days – the design and function of the Stroller Pack does not appeal to them.  What!?–you mean there is such a thing as “stroller fads!?”   Who woulda known!?

I cleaned out the entire attic’s worth of 18 years of family member’s piles.  The Stroller Pack has been up there collecting dust; never been used but maybe once.  If you are interested or know of someone else who is interested in this Pack, feel free to contact me.  John no longer manufactures them anymore; I’ll let this one go for $350.00!   Come on; go for it!

Gilles Rips at Northern Lights

Violin Virtuoso Gilles Apap

“Hailed as a true violinist of the 21st Century by Yehudi Menuhin, Gilles Apap is a classical violinist who is in great demand as a soloist with orchestras around the world. Among many are the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Boston Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony. He has also become widely known for his extraordinary ability to integrate a variety of musical genres. Gilles not only crosses boundaries, he unites music with his distinct talent for incorporating styles of music as diverse as American oldtime, Irish, and Gypsy fiddling, with the standards of the classical repertoire.

Born in Algeria, Gilles Apap was raised in Nice, France, where his violin studies commenced with Andre Robert. He continued his education at the Conservatoire de Musique de Nice with Gustave Gaglio, and then at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Lyon with Veda Reynolds. He traveled to the United States to attend the Curtis Institute of Music, and chose in 1986 to live in California, where he still resides. He was later appointed Concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and served in that position for over a decade.”  (to read more on Gilles, please visit Gilles’ website at:  www.gillesapap.com)

So what’s guy like this doing in a little ho-dunk capital city of the most beautiful state in the Nation?

Well, it started out when local musician Lis Saya met Gilles back in the early 90’s…and that was that!  With the hard organization work of Lis to benefit the Alaska Folk Festival, he has performed here in Juneau several times.  Finally, due to my return to Juneau and my schedule working out, I got to see Gilles perform last Friday the 22nd at the Northern Lights Church; what a treat, that guy is pretty dang goooooood!

Opening (comedy) act and M.C., Collette Costa

I don’t know much about Collette except that she (next to my sister, Dee), can make people laugh.  I have no idea if she gets up on stage with an idea of what she is about to say or she just shoots from the hip with spontaneous combustion of the practical sorts – (I’ll never look at another Bible the same way again!)   Collette was the opening act M.C. for Gilles – I know you might ask the question of  “how does her comedy act coincide with a violin virtuoso?”… – it doesn’t!  And that’s just the fun of it!  In my opinion, her act was perfect because it’s just what Gilles would want in the first place anyway for his opening act cuz he’s IS that:  fun!

A "normal" image of Gilles

Gille Apap Trio (L to R: Gilles Apap, Chris Judge & Brendon Statom

Guitarist Chris Judge

A wonderfully, lively, uplifting concert! - Next time they come to town (next Spring?), you must attend!

Note:  You may ask yourself:  why does Clarissa  post things like concerts, plays, funerals, other artists’ presentations, art shows, etc. on her blog when they seem to have no direct correlation to the work she is  doing as an artist?  Hmm….that’s what most people may think.  However, the things I post on my blog DO HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION TO MY LIFE AS AN ARTIST!  How?  These things affect my spirit, and can have direct affect on my life, which of course, can inspire me, depress me, anger me, or make me feel great love, and in turn, affects the work that I create and produce!

Strolling Perseverance Trail

Hadn't seen this sign in a good 15-20 years!--Hmm...did we even have trail signs back then?

go at your own risk: sounds like life, don't it?

The first part of the trail is nice and wide...seems quite easy for strollers...

The cliff; can you tell we're rising higher into elevation by the level of that cloud in the distance?

View North...as we stand at the Corner...

Standing on that same corner...view West...

Hmmm....the first road in Alaska? That's what this sign said...

Strolling families....

54 years later...and I have yet to give Mt. Juneau a climb!

Mudslides and avalanches happen...

Baby ride - sleeps through it all...

Mark Whitman Provides Definition of Willoughby Avenue

Poster designed by Paul Gardenier and Jackie Manning

The Juneau names of streets are like any in other American towns.  We’ve numbered streets, the Main street, and Front street.  Then as the town expanded, the streets were named after prominent figures in the community like Egan Drive and  Willoughby Avenue.  As many of you know, Egan Drive was named after Governor Bill Egan who I believe served 2 terms from the late 60’s into the mid 70’s.  I wondered about Willoughby; I thought he too was a political figurehead from the turn of the century:  not!

Local librarian, independent historian and storyteller, Mark Whitman

Richard “Dick” Willoughby was a gold prospector originally from Missouri.  Gold panning his way up the West Coast from California through Vancouver Island area, he arrived in Juneau in the late 1800s and made his fortunes.  Who was this character?  There is no one alive today who knew this character; he died in 1902.  However, through the research of local historian, librarian and storyteller Mark Whitman, Juneauites were treated to Mark’s several years  of researching factual accounts about Willoughby compiled into 2 hours of historical, fascinating and sometimes comical, storytelling.

A photo of Juneau' waterfront in the late 1800's shows where Willoughby's home was located

Mark’s presentation left the audience hanging at the end of each sentence – I literally experienced sitting at the edge of my seat.  He accompanied his storytelling with a display of Willoughby’s banjo, a few invented percussion instruments, a compiled document listing all of Willoughby’s mining claims along the West Coast on up to Juneau, and a fascinating Power Point Presentation of archival images of Willoughby’s family images from Missouri, his West Coast mining claims and photos of his home in early Juneau (at the base of Telephone Hill in almost the exact spot of Dan DeRoux’s recent art installation at the new public transportation facility).  We discovered this man was not just a miner, he was also a musician and storyteller who could bamboozle his audiences with first-hand experiences and tall tales.

Mark Whitman presents a document listing all of Willoughby's mining claims

Mark touched upon the subject of the social/political effects of the non-Native miners who “married” Tlingit women (until the non-Native women arrived, and then some of the miner’s “returned” to their “own kind” as Willoughby eventually had).  This was a very interesting aspect to his presentation because my maternal grandmother’s older sister was married to Joe Juneau’s partner, Richard Harris.   Did you know that Juneau was once named Harrisburg?  I surmise because Harris was married to a Native woman, a T’akDeinTaan clan member from Hoonah, he lost his credentials to his own people.  The locals could not support the town’s name being Harrisburg because this would acknowledge Harris’ “half breed” children who would have equal rights and privileges, and back then, this was unheard of, and definitely unacceptable.   Of course, to appear as though there was ever any discrimination in the town’s image that it wants to portray, there is probably another explanation of why this town’s name was changed from Harrisburg to Juneau.  The name change in itself probably has many a tall tale to tell; it’s part of  Juneau’s “color.”

Understand I appreciate the “good works” of the bureaucratic approach to solve the “problems” of Juneau, yet Juneau has lost its public display of “colorful” characters.  We have been “tempered” and seduced into a certain image.  Have we have lost touch with a truth about our image as a whole.; or has it just shifted into something else?

In my lifetime, I remember certain characters who once graced our town with their interesting personalities  (those of us who are at least 40+ years may also remember them.)  We no longer have characters like town drunk, Henry, nor the legless, Tlingit Horace Marks, the brilliant, eccentric politician Belle Blue, the elderly walking couple of Mr. & Mrs. Cashen, the Alaska Home-Health Aide Service director, Dove Kull or the Admiralty Island bear man, Stan Price. (Even our Governor Bill Egan was a commoner with the locals at the Triangle Bar).  I could say not one of these characters were harmful to the general public.  As children, we weren’t afraid of these folks; their characters and the very fact that they were amongst us were accepted as the norm.  Their obvious tragedies and/or accomplishments added to the human aspects of our society; they each contributed to the “Alaskan” experience in their own special way.  Their multi-faceted characters were out in the open; this dynamic lent itself to the very human quality and character of Juneau.

For almost 40 years I lived in downtown Juneau.  I no longer live downtown, but I still do business at the downtown stores, restaurants and banks.  During my walks through town, I cannot say I am aware of any real “characters.”  On occasion I’ll recognize someone.  On occasion there will be someone getting thrown out of a bar.  Yet, there are no longer “consistent” contributions to our unique, Alaskan society.  All seems so bland.   How come we have seemingly become sterile?

Recalling the early years following the oil money in the mid to late 70’s,  local politicians wanted to create a certain “clean” image for the arrival of the thousands of tourists they were anticipating from the increasing number of enormous tour ships.  Politicians proposed to “clean up the act” and erase the “unsightly” aspects of downtown; to name a few such as “Wino Alley”, moved the lower class from downtown and provided “low income housing” near the Juneau Garbage Dump/Land Fill and created the Glory Hole for the homeless.  During the “tourist season” we now have a sterile downtown Juneau – flowery, painted and paved – alive and bustling for 5 months of the year with strangers from around the world, to dull and lifeless for 7 months (especially the South end of South Franklin Street!).   Maybe I am the only one with this perspective; maybe I’m the only one wearing dull, lifeless glasses.  Maybe all our characters are indoors watching other characters on YouTube.

Local musicians Bob Banghart on fiddle, and Jack Fontanella on banjo were the live “soundtrack” for Mark Whitman’s presentation.  This production was held at and sponsored by, the Alaska State Museum in Juneau.  This is the same location where the Alaska Folk Festival began its musical roots almost 37 years ago in 1974.  There is no comparison between the number of musicians in this country to the number of performing storytellers, yet wouldn’t it be a fine thing to help promote the art of storytelling by the creation of an Alaskan storytelling festival?  The stories could be told by a one-man show, or various theatrical styles (mime, speaking actors, etc.), with a live “sound track” by a musician or an entire orchestra.   The evening of stories could be held in a variety of venues (starting at the Alaska State Museum?), indoors in a coffee shop, outdoors around a fire, hosted in someone’s large living room?   (Can you tell Mark Whitman’s presentation on Willoughby was an inspiration?)

Alaska still has a unique character; could it be that we’ve been molded, shaped, and evolved into a more “controlled” society reflecting a change – a transition from individually-known characters to group-characters that reflect the diverse nature of each individual town?  We have groups that never existed 40 or even 30 years ago  such as the Montessori School, the Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau-Jazz and Classics, Arts & Humanities Councils, Juneau Dance Unlimited, Habitat for Humanities, Alaskans for Life, and the Raptor Center to name a few.  Why we could add another group character called the Alaskan Storytelling Festival?  Maybe Alaska’s colorful history is now defined in organized groups outnumbering the more colorful, outstanding, characters of today such as Sarah Palin?

The High Tides of the Tlingit – the “Tides People”

Egan Drive looking South from the highway near Walmart - check out the high tide - truly awesome!

During the last new moon over a week ago, the Fall tides were up  – I hadn’t seen the tidal flats full of this much ocean since who knows when!?  (Of course, I haven’t been living here full time since 1993!)  Driving up the rise heading into downtown Juneau passing Walmart, I was struck by the illuminating beauty of a very full high tide – the tide reached the base of the highway, which rarely happens at any other time throughout the year.  This full tide was just a couple of days directly before the big storm of 60-100mph winds and sideways rain blasted through for 24 hours!

Always look forward to the Fall tides, as they are generally the fullest!  Watch for another New moon high tide the first week in November.

Facing Southwest/West from Egan Drive

My Tlingit bloodline is strong in me.  The name “Tlingit” translates as the “Tides People”.  It’s only obvious why we called ourselves this.  Our lives have depended upon the sea from time immemorial.  I grew up with the ocean outside my window, out on the boat fishing with my father, playing down at the docks and building huge bonfires on the beaches out Thane Road.

Looking West across the bar

Northwesterly towards the Chilkat Range in the far distance

For those of you who may be wondering how I took these photos if I were on Egan Drive passing Walmart:  I slowed down to 55mph and whipped out my trusty Nikon Coolpix point and shoot that generally sits in the cup holder between the driver’s and passenger seat.

Visiting SueAnn

SueAnn Randall with Amelie, Ursala and Chris

Last week, Ursala was reminiscing about a childhood spent in the late 80’s and 90’s with the Lager family out at their home past 8-mile North Douglas road.  Our families grew up together.   Last Monday, as we were sightseeing near Outer Point, on our way back to town we invited ourselves to SueAnn and Gene Randall’s home.  We were treated to a houseful of treasures.  I had no intentions of taking photos for this blog until seeing all the pottery SueAnn had hand-built.  I first met SueAnn in 1971; she had just moved up from Seattle.  Over the years we not only shared motherhood, we also shared similar interests in art, music and performance; I  always felt SueAnn was a natural-born artist.  She’s talented in designing and sewing costumes, creating soft sculptures and puppets – in fact she used to perform puppet shows locally – she is also a calligraphy artist and an illustrator.  Over the past 10 years or so, she has gotten into pottery which I had not seen until now.  Below are a few photos of some of her pottery in her house and in her garden, her collection of  miniature treasures, the discoveries of collections I had not ever seen, and a few natural amenities like fresh chicken eggs (that we got to bring home)!

An Alaskan Buddha

Windows lined with color

Ceramic Bird and Colored glass

Giving a hand

The miniature world of wooden Totem poles and Japanese Kokeshi dolls

SueAnn's home in miniature

Russian dolls

SueAnn's hand-pinched pottery

Ceramic eggs and then some!

Ceramic Happiness amidst his followers

La Marimba

The Memorial Piano

Ceramics in SueAnn's sculptural garden appear small in these photos, but they are actually size-able!

Womb-man bowl in SueAnn's garden

Womb-man ceramic bowl

Garden symbol

Alaskan chickens

Fresh eggs in the coup

Tree house

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church Spectacular Fundraiser

Halibut, salmon or prime rib were the main entrees for the "end of Summer" St. Nicholas Church fund raiser at the ANB Hall

We ate like little pigs and we still had 1/2 a plate of food left over for tomorrow’s dinner!  This $20 donation is going a long way!

Friends of the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church here in Juneau, Alaska sponsored a fundraising dinner on Friday, October 1st to raise funds for maintaining the structure of the church.  Once every few years the church needs to be repainted, the roof re-coppered (or is there another word for replacing/refinishing the copper dome roof?), and minor structural repairs.  Over 200 Juneauites showed their support for this wonderful dinner of halibut, salmon, prime rib entrees served with a baked potato, rice, salad and lots of desserts!

The "Herring Rock" Native dance group sung their hearts out for the dinner guests; although it doesn't look like they are singing here, that's because there was a slight break in the song, okay.

Cousins Gloria and Virginia Sarabia and Aunt Helen respond to the Kaagwaantaan invite part of the song

My Mamma Irene Lampe (with the walking cane and striped, light blue shirt, walked up to the dance floor and donated $10 to the group during the Raven song

An excellent dancer of the Killerwhale clan

Dance members during the outgoing song

The Sarabia Family having a good time

The young DeAsis brothers during the outgoing dance

Song leader Vicki Soboleff and drummer Fausto Paulo

Mr. and Mrs. Hersch - I hadn't seen Mr. Hersch since I graduated out of the 8th grade - he was my science teacher!

The last bit of the outgoing song and dance

Wonderful door prizes were given away (i.e. my cousin won a whale-watching cruise for two, a friend won a helicopter tour for two, and I sure coveted the barbecue gas grill, not necessarily for me, but for my Mom’s household); and a silent auction of a few gift baskets and pies!  My daughter Lily won the apple pie!

Nora Dauenhauer manned the Silent Auction booth - she baked the five pies in the foreground! They went for $25 to $50 each

Irene Lampe and her friend haven't see one another in a long, long time!