Fall hike amongst yellow leaves

It was an enchanted afternoon when we took Anya on a hike up Sheep Rock. Gaetan carried her in the toddler-backpack, while I was rushing ahead so I could take photos looking back at them. When we reached the top of the hill after about 30 minutes, we had a little picnic and then walked back down to our boat.

Hike up Sheep Rock, 12.9.2014

Hike up Sheep Rock, 12.9.2014

Harvesting days

While the trees are changing colors and the night-frost has made its way back to Poppy Creek, we have been harvesting our gardens.

Anya pulling out carrots, 5.9.2014

River and mouth of Poppy Creek, 4.9.2014

Anya with carrots, 10.9.2014

Yellow birches, 10.9.2014

Frisbee

Much of Anya's time is spent playing. Here is the evidence of Anya's new passion: playing frisbee!

11.8.2014

Child in the Wild's fourth berry season!

Anya's fourth berry season just started. She is now collecting her own berries to eat, and even some that we make juice from!

Anya's fourth berry season, 9.8.2014

Summer in full swing

We are finally measuring temperatures in the 30's. Aside from our household chores, Anya and I are busy with the gardens and with the organization of our storage area which will be developed into two bedrooms. In the afternoons, Anya gets to play in her pool and when it is too cold for that, she takes me to the river, where she plays in the sand. Summer is so much fun! 

Wilderness picnic

Anya loves picnics. At her urging, we eat many of our snacks outside. Yesterday we went on a short hike along the river and into the forest where the mosquitoes were strangely contained. We all enjoyed an apple, cracker and fruit-gummy picnic on the beach afterwards.

Sitting down for an apple picnic, 3.6.2014

Goldeneye duck carving

The Common Goldeneye duck calls the Yukon Territory its home, at least during the summer. Gaetan carved one and it looks so real, I had a very hard time seeing it go.

More information about this particular duck can be found at:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_goldeneye/id

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/buce_clan_AllAm_map.gif

Common Goldeneye duck carving (by Gaetan Beaudet), May 2014

Common Goldeneye duck carving (by Gaetan Beaudet), May 2014

Passing on a cultural tradition: Birch Syrup

Gaetan is from Quebec, Canada. And the cultural tradition is about maple syrup, but since we do not have maple trees, we used a birch tree. The principle is the same: one drills a small hole, about one inch deep into the tree, then a spigot is put in place and a bucked affixed to catch the water. Our birch was drawing about one liter of water in less than three hours. The water tastes faintly sweet and it is clear, something we cannot say about the water from the creek this time of the year.

Sampling birch water, 6.5.2014

Drilling a hole, 6.5.2014

Putting in a spigot, 6.5.2014

Affixing the bucket, 6.5.2014

Our birch, 6.5.2014

Yukon River Breakup

Over the past weeks, with temperatures above freezing (during the days), the snow has been melting, the ice has been getting soft an porous and finally, the river-ice broke here yesterday.

We had been watching and waiting all day, but nothing much had happened until about 7pm when Anya and I were sitting at the dining-table and I half heard and half felt a rumble. I looked out the window when the solid sheet of ice started to drift by slowly. I grabbed Anya and called to Gaetan, and we all headed to the river.

Here are some images from the time right before, during and after breakup.

Before: Ice cover is still largely intact and anchored to the shore, overflow along the sides, the water level is rising slowly, 29.4.2014 - 1pm

During: Ice sheets are moving and grinding against each other, the water level is coming up quickly,
water moving slowly, seemingly with effort, 1.5.2014 - 8pm

After: Ice "parked" along the shoreline, water moving freely, 2.5.2014 - 7.30am

Ready for the next winter

In time for spring, Gaetan has finished collecting firewood for the 2014/2015 heating season. We will stack it once the ground is thawed and all the snow is gone.

Firewood for winter 2015, 27.4.2014

The child who loves water puddles

No matter if it is clear water or a muddy puddle, Anya loves it all. She is still in the process of coming to terms with the consequences (wet pants and dirty hands). But we are working on a healthy attitude toward that.

Great water puddle!... What could I do about that? 19.4.2014

Nice! 19.4.2014

Pouring water! 19.4.2014

Looking for the Easter Bunny

When I prepared lettuce, Anya wanted to eat the dry leaves I had pulled off. I told her that we do not eat those but that she could put them outside and maybe a rabbit would come and get them. I made the mistake of mentioning the Easter Bunny as another potential visitor. Now, Anya keeps checking the site for signs of the furry creature.

Putting out some salad leaves, 16.4.2014

Spring - finally!

We have been experiencing temperatures above freezing for the past three days. Finally, it seems that spring is just around the corner. Still, it will take weeks at best, before all the snow is melted and the river ice is ready to break.

Anya and I had our first spring picnic a short way up the creek, in the sun. On the way back I was the target for Anya's snowball-practice.

Creek overflowing

As the days are warming up, more water is coming down the creek, some of it under the ice, and more and more over the ice. Slowly the water is moving and freezing along the way.

For Anya and myself that means dealing with slippery ice, when we haul water from the creek to the house.

Overflow ice, 8.3.2014

Sun + Person = Shadow

Anya has discovered her shadow. Funny, since we had not seen the sun in almost four months, shadows are new food for thought for Anya. She keeps pointing out how big her shadow is (with the sun still low in the sky), and Mama's is even bigger!

Shadows, 26.2.2014

Shadows, 26.2.2014

Amazing Mind!

Anya's mind never ceases to astonish me. Her latest passion is building puzzles. After a period of trial, error and lots of persistence, she knows now how to assemble puzzles of up to 24 pieces. She can sit there for more than 30 minutes in full concentration and then present the finished piece proudly! (In the background of the photo: the broom with floor cloth she dropped when she decided it was time for another puzzle).

She also asks a lot of questions about the world: "How come the moon does not fall from the sky?" and "Maybe it is holding on to a handrail?"

Anya assembling puzzle, 15.2.2014

Yukon Quest sled tog teams

The Yukon Quest dog sled race is passing by our home right now. We can sit in our living room, look out the bay window and watch them go by. Thanks to "Live Tracking", we know when to expect a team and can perch ourselves by the window. Anya loves spotting dog teams!

Dog sled team on the river, 4.2.2014

Child in the Wild driving snowmobile

A few days back the snowmobile had invited Anya to go for a ride around the house. Anya accepted. Prior to that, Anya had kept her distance to the machine that she had deemed too loud for comfort. After the trip around the house Anya asked if she could accompany Papa when he goes to pick up firewood. Her request was granted the following afternoon.

I helped Anya get dressed. While she went outside to join Gaetan, I put on my snowsuit. When I followed, I found her standing beside the trail in deep snow, in a safe distance from the snowmobiles that Gaetan had already started, so she would not get run over in case the vehicles moved (Mama's recommended behavior!). 

Anya and I were assigned our own snowmobile. I had fastened a pillow in front of Anya on the handle bar for protection. She was sitting in front of me. On the 10-minute ride, Anya was sitting absolutely still. I could practically see how her senses were wide open to take everything in.

When we arrived back home, Anya's first comment was "again!".

Riding the snowmobile, 19.1.2014

 

Snow-Chores

There are parts of the roof that need to be emptied of snow (the valleys mostly), otherwise the heat that escapes through the roof will melt some snow and the weight of snow and ice on top of it will push melt-water into the house.

Gaetan sweeping snow off the roof (6.1.2014)

Gaetan sweeping snow off the roof (6.1.2014)