Is it really lost?

If any of you are wondering why I have not posted much here lately--it is not only traveling and moving that has kept me from posting--BUT in all the traveling and moving I have misplaced (or lost???) my camera!!!! and I like to post photos with my musings...hopefully the camera will turn up soon...where do "lost" things go anyway? do the "Borrowers" have them?

Meanwhile here are some images from my archived  photographs....just some photos I took that I like. A little Alaska, a little art/crafts...

this is what I keep telling myself while I job hunt ....

crochet doily rug...with really fat yarn...

socks on 2 needles!  really fun technique....

trail to my sister's cabin in Alaska...I love this image..and I used it as my screensaver for a long time...

 beadwork on vintage hankie....

my cabin in Alaska....

a watercolor design.....for my portfolio....

Happy 100th Birthday Elizabeth Zimmerman!

 "Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises.” - Elizabeth Zimmermann, Knitting Without Tears

Elizabeth Zimmermann was born 100 years ago today, and her words, craft, and legacy have meant much to me over the years. The very first sweater I knit was from her book KNITTING WITHOUT TEARS in about 1978....I still have this book and it is still in print.

I am currently knitting on a red vest....pattern from the book Folk Vests. The yarn is a lovley wool and silk blend. I guess I credit Elizabeth Zimmerman for teaching me how to persevere as a knitter. Her books helped me to confidently knit through many a long cold Alaskan winter night back in the 1970's and '80's. I am so pleased her legacy lives on and so many knitters today still embrace her books and patterns. I always wished I could have met her.

Photo of red vest coming soon...as soon as I get some batteries for my camera! Living in the remote Alaskan bush does have some disadvantages if you run out of some needed supply ---- but the proximity to true wilderness makes up for the lack of modern consumer stuff. Guess I will go for a walk in the woods now--who knows? maybe I will see a brown bear....

Alaska Rain Forest Booties

Here is a pic of some of the undergrowth outside my cabin door; this forest is very green and full of ferns and moss. This northern rain forest I am currently living in--THE TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST--was the inspiration for these baby booties...

Knit in hand dyed wool and brown angora...they are soft and fuzzy to keep tiny feet warm and comfy.

I have knit scores of booties from this pattern and all the Mom's tell me they love these baby booties because they are the only ones they have to stay on...the I-cord ties really do work.

"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ---Elizabeth Zimmerman

On the Needles

I do have some time for knitting here in the wilds of Alaska....and so have two pairs of socks "in progress"...

this pair---"Pattie's socks"--- are knit from lovely handspun, hand dyed wool from Spincycle Yarns in Bellingham, Wa...unfortunately one skein of this lovely yarn may not be enough to make 2 socks--so I knit the top of the leg--down to the heal, and now I'm knitting the top of the second sock--- I may have to use a totally different wool yarn for the feet part of the socks...


and this pair --"Bonnie's socks"---I have used scraps of wool, mohair and angora...the brown tweedy wool is re-cycled from a garaged saled hand knit sweater I unraveled..

today has turned into a beautiful sunny day--so I'm now off to pick salmonberries....

Keys, locks and community

I think one aspect of life in Port Alexander, Alaska sums up the "community" we have here: KEYS. yup, plain old, ordinary keys....have you ever lived where you never (or very rarely--like only when you leave town for 3 months) lock your house? what about your post office box?

Here in tiny Port Alexander--everyone just hangs their post office keys on the key rack above the post office boxes (the key rack which is kindly provided by the local post office postman)....for easier access. Voila! you never have to search for that darn key again....

I love living in a town where you never worry about anything getting stolen, and I can leave anything anywhere in town and go back later and find it in the same spot. Where hardly anyone locks their house, and everyone knows that you just never help yourself to someone elses's boat or skiff without asking first--but they don't need to be locked.

Just consider how different everyone's lives would be if everywhere in America was like this? no locks? no thieves? genuine care for each other? what a sad commentary on humanity that this would be a radical thing.

I remember being impressed when I was in China at the hundreds of bicycles lined up parked near the sidewalks--none of them locked! I could only conclude that folks in China just didn't take each others bikes--or if they did--it didn't matter. I would love to live in a city where I did not have to lock my bike at every stopping place. What have we lost by becoming a nation that locks up everything?

Trust...that is what we have lost..trust that our fellow humans have only everyone's best interest at heart. Do we have to live in small tiny towns to have this sort of trust in our fellow humans? I am contemplating cultivating this trust in my own life when I return "down south" to the "lower 48"---do I dare stop locking my car and my bike in a city like Seattle?

The View From My Cabin

As far as I am concerned, there is really no better view anywhere than the view from my little cabin in the woods here in Port Alexander on a sunny day. This tiny hamlet, located on the Southern tip of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska (in the Alaskan Panhandle) is the home for about 50 people (counting kids and babies) year round.

The economy here is based on commercial fishing and sports fishing---the town has three small sports fishing lodges. I am currently the chef at LAUGHING RAVEN LODGE, and with my chef job comes my own little cosy cabin to live in for the summer.

Whenever we have lovely sunny weather here I feel blessed to have such strong ties to this place. I lived here from 1971 until 1989---raised babies and small children here--in fact , my youngest daughter was born here--a home birth. At that time the population was about 120 folks, still tiny---but I learned many valuable life lessons living in "the bush." Many of the lessons were about community and how living in a small community breeds not only life-long friendships, but a sense of responsibility to the community one lives in.

Sadly, I now feel that this sense of responsibility for one's neighbors and community is missing in much of the United States. I used to think that the type of community I experienced in Port Alexander (PA for short) was only possible in a small town--but now I'm not at all sure this is a criteria since I have found small pockets of similar communities in cities and large towns in the "lower 48" (which is one way Alaskans refer to the rest of the United States).

I was married to a commercial fisherman when I lived here in the "70's and '80's---and so spent a great deal of time home alone with 2 small children, but I always knew I could call ANYONE in the town for help if I needed help. I traded my handwoven crafts for childcare and home-cooked meals for chainsaw repair...and of course depended on my woman friends for support and companionship.

Port Alexander is an Alaskan second class city---with a city council and a mayor chosen by the elected council. I served on the city council---we all had our turn;-)---not at all surprising in a town of only 120 people. In this process I learned more about city laws and state laws and government than any college gov't class could teach me. I helped to write a "comprehensive land-use plan" for our community---which the state required we have in order to regulate our growth in any way.

All this added to my perspective of what made up a good community---self-government which included everyone (believe me, if you were on the city council you sure heard everyone's opinion on most issues---it was much more fun to be the person giving opinions than to be a city council person) and genuine care for everyone in the community.

Of course, some folks owned more and made more money than others, but we all helped each other out when we needed it. If one person shot a deer (this was Alaska--and eating game and local caught fish was one way we survived) and another family was struggling because of a bad fishing seson you could count on some of that venison being shared with the family in need. If a person was sick or injured, others helped them with food or firewood---and there was a great deal of security for me around living in a place where I knew everyone would help me out if I needed it.

Since leaving PA, I have lived in small cities (pop. 55,000) to larger cities ---like Berkeley, Ca (pop. 102,000)---and each place I have eventually created a community of friends and neighbors---but it has never been with the same sense of community and security that I felt all those years I lived in Port Alexander.

I have long pondered this difference and wondered if the the town's isolation had anything to do with it? The only way to travel to PA is by boat or small float plane---the larger town of Sitka (pop. 8835) is 70 miles away but there are no roads connecting PA to Sitka on this mountainous island in the Alexander Archipelgo. Currently there is not store in PA--so all fresh food, fuel and goods are either brought in by boat or floatplane. This remoteness kept the town small---but also caused us to depend on each other.

For example, if your outboard motor broke down and you needed a part for it---you would have to order it "from town" OR maybe a neighbor would have just the right part you could use right away. One learned to plan ahead but also to help others when they were in need. In our current economy we could sure use more of this neighbor helping neighbor and trading (without money--just trading services and goods) with ones friends and neighbors to survive--and perhaps it would also help foster a sense of community?

All I know for certain at this point is that I am blessed to have lived here in Port Alexander in my youth--I really grew up here-- since I was 21 when I first came here, and left when I was 39. And now I continue to be blessed to be able to come here in the summers and work and eat local caught fish, pick berries, hike, sit on the beach, watch the eagles and ravens and deer--- and once again be part of this special community.

I'll Fly Away (again)

TRANSITION: noun.
1. a change or passing from one condition, place, thing, activity, or topic to another.

There is something special about a life transition--sometimes I go through the process willingly and happily and other times life drags me through the transition portal kicking and screaming. This time, it just feels familiar to be moving again because I have been doing it every 6 to 9 months for over 2 years now.

So in about a week I'm off again--first to Washington & Oregon to visit my girls and their families, then heading North to Alaska to work. Ah! that lovely seasonal summer gig as the "chef" at the rustic and yet homey and very comfortable Laughing Raven Lodge--out in the Alaskan "bush" (ie. very wild wilderness just out the back door, no kidding) on Baranof Island.

So for the summer, I'll be staying here--in my little cabin in the woods --quite near the Lodge.

Quiet--ah! so quiet, and nice and comfortable--I'm really looking forward to some time among the trees, ferns, and devil's club in the great Tongass National Forest--a true Northern Rain Forest with green green moss and ferns everywhere...

and wildflowers blooming all summer....of course all kept very lush and green by copious amounts of rainfall.

yes, I truly do believe that "in wilderness is the preservation of the soul" since spending a few months in Alaska--or even a week--can do wonders for my soul. And please do remember that a National Forest belongs to all of us...so you should plan a visit sometime to the one nearest you or to Southeast Alaska.

So, as far as transition go--this one isn't very difficult since I am going to a place I know and love. After that, who knows? But I bet by the end of the summer all will have become clear....

mermaids and dolls!

Yesterday, while enjoying a 3 day stay-over in lovely Sitka, Alaska, I created a mermaid doll! My longtime friend here--Kari--is a fellow craft woman--she creates gorgeous quilts, knits and does beadwork--and makes the most adorable personable dolls....



So, yesterday, while storm winds howled around her snug home, she showed me how to create this cute mermaid doll!

we had fun co-creating---which we do whenever I visit Sitka---in the past we created fiber inchies and fiber ATCs (artist trading cards) and once she helped me piece the top of my daughter's wedding quilt...thanks so much Kari for sharing your expertise with me! it was a fun day!

Today's quote: "I get by with a little help from my friends." - John Lennon

On the Road Again

Been a great time here in my home state...but the fall air reminds me that winter is soon coming..

so...







I'm out of here....


I will be on-the-road for awhile, so check back in early September, when I should be settled once again....

Alaskan Smoked King Salmon!!!

salmon fresh from the smoker and a cold beer...very close to heaven on Earth...

(Sometimes) you can go home again

I've now landed--for the next 3 months or so--in my old home town: Port Alexander, Alaska. Never heard of it, right? (unless you know me personally). It is a small remote Alaskan village on the southern tip of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska. Sitka, a town of about 8000 and an early outpost of the Russians in Alaska, is on the same island---about 120 miles away. However, one can only travel from Sitka to Port Alexander by boat or small floatplane--I arrived, after an hour flight over spectacular mountainous scenery, on a floatplane---the regularly scheduled twice a week "essential air" flight.

I lived here in Port Alexander for about 18 years in my youth--from 1971 (or 2?) until 1989....so it has a special place in my heart. Port Alexander currently has about 40 or 50 residents (I may be off on this--could be less)--when I lived here it had about 120 folks--counting the children. Back then, most folks made their living commercial fishing---along with the few local jobs--the teacher(s), school janitor, the post office manager, sometimes a fish & game job or two, and some jobs for the city (city clerk, maintenance), the store owner, one job taking daily weather data--but mostly fishing.

Now some folks commercial fish and some own small sports fishing lodges. I Have been hired to cook for the Laughing Raven Lodge--owned by longtime friends of mine, Laughing Raven is a family run lodge--operated by 2 older adults (Pete & Sue), and their grown daughter and son-in-law (Molly and Ryan) with help from their 2 year old, Sage.

one view from the lodge....


and here are some photos of the Lodge wrap around porch/deck...



and the trail to the lodge...the terrain here is a RAIN FOREST--the Tongass rain Forest to be exact...the largest National Forest in the nation. This forest is very lush and green and wet, so the only feasible "trail" is a boardwalk--and boardwalks meander all through the woods here connecting the town...



I have my own little rustic cabin, located between the guest house and the main lodge....

the view from my cabin....

ferns grow everywhere in this climate....
so I will blogging from the land of the northern lights and the midnight sun for a few months...still knitting and crafting between cooking so I will be sharing some Alaskan stories and images and recipes and as well as my usual art and crafts.

Today's quote: " The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. " ---John Muir

Abundance Dream

I believe in abundance---that is---I believe that everything good is readily available. This morning I woke up from a dream with this phrase in my head: "Do what you love and the money will follow."

Then I saw myself making a page in my journal with this phrase which was resonating in my head, so I got the colored pencils from my suitcase and started drawing. For months now I have been adrift without a job, living on savings while I reconstructed my life and pursued the elusive perfect next chapter of my life.

Thank Goddess my friends and the universe threw a good summer job my way---in a few days I am off to a small town in Alaska---where I lived for many years in my youth---to work for the summer. I will be cooking (a chef!!) at the Laughing Raven Lodge for the guests and staff--a fun job, working with good friends---but also hard work. I have done this job before a few years ago--so I know what it entails. I will be living and working in Port Alexander on Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska until the end of August--then who knows?

I have put much energy out into the universe requesting and searching for a meaningful job---because at this stage of my life a job is no longer about the $$$ money, it is about doing something meaningful that gives back to my community---and I do not doubt that a new door will open and I will step through it into my next adventure.

"When nothing is sure, everything is possible." ~Margaret Drabble. For several months now this has been my motto---I have tried to stay open to all the possibilities, rather than fall into despair each time I applied for a job and was rejected. Of course, I was living in Portland, Or---a state that is second in the nation in unemployment---where a job is advertised and 6oo people apply. Talk about fierce competition! I am glad to be going to Alaska to work awhile and feel blessed to be graced with this job.

I have stored 99% of my belongings in storage locker--freeing me up to go anywhere the next escapade leads me. After moving all my stuff--down one flight of stairs (no elevator) and up 3 flights (freight elevator) and stowing it all away, I wanted to sell most of the stuff---all my books, artwork, furniture, shelves etc. and take the $$$ and hit the road as a travelin' gypsy. Who needs all that stuff anyway?? Memories are what count---not material possessions.

"Do what you love"---? well, I do love Alaska--my first home, and I love cooking (and eating!)so, for now, this job fits the bill...I will be blogging from my trusty new refurbished and very portable Macbook about my Alaskan adventures..so please stay tuned!

Homesick for Alaska

my friend Bobby Lee's cabin

Sometimes I really miss Alaska--my birthplace, and my one true home. The 5 days I spent in Alaska this summer---at my 40th high school reunion--- was not enough time--plus I had my leg in a brace (from a broken knee cap) so I couldn't do much. I enjoyed re-connecting with old high school friends and classmates, but I didn't get any time in the wilderness.

I have been looking at my Alaskan photos--and decided to share some of the ones I really like here. I posted some of these about 3 years ago(!) when I first starting blogging...but I bet most of my readers now have not seen them. These are mostly from a wonderful 3 day kayak trip my sister and I took in Glacier Bay, in Southeast Alaska. Southeast Alaska is the largest rain forest in North America---and the forest there is very lush, with soft green moss and many many ferns.


We kayaked and camped for 3 days in the wilderness and did not see one other human the whole time--heavenly! We did see almost every wild animal that resided in the area though--including bears, whales, loons, many seabirds, coyotes, seals, moose, eagles, and sea otters. ...I felt like all my wild Alaskan friends were coming out to greet me. Alaska is really the last true great wilderness in North America---and I pray we will allow most of Alaska to stay wild---for "in wildness is the preservation of the world."







the trail to my sister's cabin





"Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." ---Rachel Carson