Saturday, January 19, 2019

While I Was Sipping Tea.....

Josiah, Michael, Alex and Stacia went ICE FISHING again. Josiah continues to add to his ice fishing gear. Mike and Alex had new ice fishing poles to try out. Much easier to deal with than the longer poles......
Inside the tent - I love the heater. 
Josiah bought a tent! The tent sits over the holes they augured out (see above), a heater is inside the tent with them, and instead of -18* they enjoyed about 50* temps.  This is a piece of equipment I've been politicking for. I can't wait to go out with them.  The talk about future gear includes another tent (only 2 holes fit inside this one without chance of mishap), a cargo sled,  or a gas-powered auger.  I told them we need to buy a cabin on a lake and put up a hard sided shed over the ice holes. LOL
Josiah and Alex sport Alaskan beards

A word about Alaskan beards. My men tell me that it is very nice NOT to have to shave in the winter. Their beards provide an extra layer of protection when the temps are below 0. I do feel bad for those in our midst who have to shave daily due to employment....Nolan....at times Cory and Izaak, I think.

There's ALWAYS a photo bomber in the midst

Stacia really liked the tent for fishing. We've discovered she likes to fish, but she doesn't want to TOUCH her fish. What's with THAT? Ah, well, when she goes, we get 5 extra fish. LOL

They were warm enough to begin shedding winter gear. 
Alex likes fishing without the gloves

We were hoping for 5lb Arctic Char ...but continue to get Kokanee Salmon/Trout.  Michael and Cy both hooked some, but they got away. They say you can tell the difference.  

When I hooked a Kokanee, it was like, "Oh, you got me." And, I reeled it through the ice. 

They report the Arctic Char are more like, "Oh, no you DON'T." They drug out line and then got away. 
Can he bring Moby Dick through the ice? 

The one drawback I can see in a tent - is the lack of amazing Alaskan scenery photos. 

They came home and cleaned and filleted fish. I brined them. Michael smoked them for an hour or so. I canned them, and they are ready to go for "tuna salad" or such in the near future.

There is talk of going out again on Monday and trying for Arctic Char. I'll let you know.

"Christmas" Tea

Near the end of October, Donna and I met to discuss a Christmas tea. We decided on Dec 1st for the date. We wanted to bless the women and set about making goodies ourselves. Everything was coming together swimmingly, tables were ready, food was prepared, devo was ready,  and then.....Nov 30th happened. 7.0 quake. Donna's charming home was filled with glass. Many others were cleaning up as well.

We flexed. We decided the best thing to do would be to wait until after Christmas. We'd celebrate in January.

January 19th is a great day for a Christmas Tea. As I prayed about it, I felt we needed to be able to gather and simply be...together. The Big S - Socialization.  I scrapped any semblance of a program.  I enlisted Lindsey to help me with my list of food. Donna enlisted Jacque and Jennifer to help her.....it all came back together.

I never take Life Group photos - so I think I'll point out "lifers" who are in the photos.

Jacque, Jennifer and Donna (Jacque and Jenn are Lifers)
The Advance Crew 


Lovely vintage favor each woman took home...

Deceptively fancy - Donna is tricky! The plates and silver and disposable. 



Each table had this lovely selection 

My Mom's English teapot - pressed into service again. It made me smile. 


Daisy's first tea party! 
Such a well-behaved little gal. 

Nichole, Britney and Stacy

Brenda (Lifer), Lindsey (Lovely Pastor's wife), SiaKayle and Sandy

Judie, Mona (Lifers) and Bonnie


Jennifer, Jacque, Me, Nora, Judie and Mona
It was a lovely afternoon. It was wonderful to see women connecting and relaxing together. It takes more than a 7. quake to keep the ladies of Matanuska AG from gathering.