Recent letter to a friend: Spring Notes

Great to hear from you guys....!

Sorry, but Spike is not our dog, just the neighbor's puppy. She doesn't have as much free-reign as she used to-tied in the yard now.... puppy-hood is short lived in the Bush.

Your note gives me an excuse to tell you our spring is fast arriving! I went out this afternoon for what will absolutely be the last ski of the season. Was mostly puddles and shush, really had to stick to high ground to find any whitestuff at all.... soaking wet, just silly to even try. Looking around at the pockmarked tundra, what used to be a sea of deep snow is now ponds and small green islands. 'Looks like Duck country', I said to myself. 10 minutes later 4 mallards flew directly overhead, going straight east, up river, the first birds that weren't ravens I've seen in a very long time.

The snow-go's are still trying, but mostly look like jet-ski's out there, and the 4-wheelers are getting stuck. The town's roads are an unbelievable mess, not sure how I will walk to school tomorrow. Yesterday I had a big adventure and hopped on the Kuskokwim's Hovercraft and went up river to Akiak and Kwethluck on a grocery run. Something I've been trying to do for months... finally made it. A fascinating rig, half boat half plane, floating up the river and over the melting snow. As soon as breakup hits in earnest they'll be grounded for about 6 weeks. I'll get some pics or video out soon... really not that exciting to look at, but it was good fun to ride with the skipper up top and watch him at the helm. Saw one fox, lots of ptarmigan, and dozens of locals out Manaquing (ice fishing) on both rivers. And saw lots and lots of sugar cereal, beef jerky, Dr. Pepper and Pepsi get off-loaded at both drops. Yummmm....

Speaking of yum, dinner tonight was Bean and Barely stew with Caribou roast, that was yummy, but a better meal for 30 below than 45 above. We are trying to clean out the fridge. Still have 4 or 5 Silver steaks to cook up! The boys can't get enough of playing in the puddles and getting soaking wet. They're immersed in their nightly dose of Blues Clues (the old version, with Steve, not that dorko Joe)... they can't get enough of that either. Ben has a fat lip from a big fall today, and flaxen golden curls (we have yet to cut his hair :) Otis is loving school and is working hard on potty training. They are playing together more and more; big fun to watch them wrestle or chase one another. Amy and I are taking separate mini-vacation weekends coming up. I go to Juneau next weekend, just to relax and be in 'town'... and will also take a full day on the ferry to sail up to Skagway and back. Looking forward to good coffee and maybe a bookstore.

Amy will head to Vancouver to visit friends the following weekend. Then we get busy, gearing up for the start of summer. Lots to do! We will spend a week in seattle and visit friends (including Hope and Paul, and Amy and Tully), and then it's off to NC for a week on the beach with Amy's family. Looking forward to cousin time and getting the boys in the water. But oh my garsh, we will have to be cautious, they have only Alaskan Winter Tans, as does their Papa. Hello sunscreen.

Looks like we may be able to get back in our house by early June after all (after a potential mix-up that would have kept us homeless until the first of July.) We are very much looking forward to our return to Vermont. I'll cut it off here, long enough already. Keep your eyes open for new video soon.

Love, Joe and Amy, oTis and Ben