Four in a Row

It's only September and in most parts of the country September is a lovely month. So far it's been a lovely month here too, but I know it's not going to last much longer. I'm depressed at the thought of snow returning in maybe only a month from now. I so hope I'm wrong, and that maybe unlike last winter, it will just rain instead of snow.

Until then...I'm trying take full advantage of the sunshine and nice weather whenever we luck up and get it. So far we've had a string of four beautiful days in a row. I'm told by Dad that a nasty storm is moving in, in a couple of days. Ugh.

This morning I took the boys for a stroll through town and out Orca Road to Hippie Cove. Darius drove out with his fishing gear and we met up with him, after stopping near the ferry terminal to watch the otters. There are a couple of ponds at the cove which Salmon usually make their way into, but Darius only got nibbles from the small fries.

On our walk back, we stopped again at the ferry terminal to watch the otters again. They're so stinkin cute! Once we got back to the house the boys had fun playing outside. Darius let them sit in his truck like big boys. They're pretty stinkin cute too!

James & Brooke

My brother James and his lovely wife Brooke, came to stay for about a month. Sadly, yesterday evening they left us to go back to Idaho. We enjoyed having them here, especially Ben & Zach. From what I understand from Brooke, twins run in her family too. I can just see her and James having twins....someday.

James was able to work for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game while he was here. He had a pretty sweet job. A good deal of the time he was taking samples of Salmon scales from streams around Prince William Sound. He'd either get flown out, or he'd go out on the F&G's vessel, The Solstice.

In his spare time, James kept himself busy with fishing, berry picking, beating Mom & Dad at Pinochle (with the help of me of course!), visiting with friends, and hunting for deer. The day before they left, James finally lucked up and got his first deer across from Cordova on Hawkins Island. It was quite an ordeal for him to get it down the mountain and back to the boat. Unfortunately he wasn't able to get the deer meat ready in time to take back with him to Idaho.

Brooke took a well deserved summer vacation. She just recently graduated from BYU-ID in July...congratulations again Brooke! She enjoyed her time here by fishing, berry picking, and lots of reading! She was able to start and finish the entire Harry Potter series. She was also very helpful with the boys...thanks Brooke!

(Dad actually picked these berries, but Brooke & James picked some just as pretty!)

A Good Day

Yesterday we got a break from the rain and most of the clouds, and were able to enjoy a beautiful day. Darius expected to work, but got lucky and didn't have to go in...yipee! We took the boys outside to play and they enjoyed splashing in rain puddles (no fish puddles!) and eating lots of juicy ripe raspberries.

After lunch we decided to take the boys on their first boat ride/fishing trip. It ended up being more of a quick boat ride down the Eyak River and then back to the boat launch. The boys found their life jackets to be a bit restrictive! They couldn't really sit down comfortably with them on, and anytime they'd try to bend over and pick something up, they'd fall forward and face plant the bottom of the boat. Mom and Dad were nice enough to come back and pick up the boys, and watched them for us while we headed back out to fish for Silvers.

We didn't get very many bites, but enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery along the river. I love watching the bald eagles flying overhead and listening to their high pitch cries.

Towards the end of our fishing trip I lucked up and caught my first (edible) Silver Salmon!

Time of the Coho

The Silvers are in! Silver Salmon are some of the most exciting fish to catch in Alaska, and the peak time to catch them is in August. They put up an excellent fight, jumping and twisting, and usually won't give up until landed. Their average size is 8-12 lbs and 2 1/2 - 3 ft. long. They taste pretty good too!

Darius has been out fishing for the Silvers on the Eyak River every chance he gets. Here are a few of his catches so far...

Poem for Ben & Zach

About a month ago I was on the way to the sand park with Ben and Zach and we met a lovely woman from Texas, who was in town visiting family. She commented on the number of twins in Cordova and said she was going to write a poem about the boys. I don't recall her telling me she was writing a poem, but she must have. About a week later I ran into her at the grocery store and she pulled out her notebook and read me this poem:

In the year 2008
On Prince William Sound
Twin girls come a callin
In Cordova town

Kaylie and Gracie
Taylor, Willow too
Victoria and Isabell
Wearing their baby shoes

In the year 2008
In another town, on cue
Twin boys come a callin
Wearing their baby shoes

In the year 2009
Twin boys move to the Sound
Ben & Zach, with their backpacks
In Cordova town

- Edie Weems

I very much admire people who can write poetry. Something so simple as a notebook page with words, can translate into such a beautiful gift.