Days like these go by way too fast.

I don't know how I get so blessed.  And my birthday today, is no exception.  I woke up to the soft sun and rushing of the Ninilchik River outside my window.  Even the mosquitoes must have known that it was my birthday, because they were nowhere to be found.

Blessed: A homemade French Toast with an almond butter whipping cream and fresh strawberries entered my tum tum enthusiastically this morning for breakfast. :)

Blessed: Surrounded by such a wonderful summer family.  (Forthcoming blog post introducing the cast of my summer in Alaska soon).

(Right to Left: Jake (Wrangler), Me, Tamica, Dar (Neighbor), Taylor (Wrangler), Grandma, Ian (Wrangler))

(Grandma and I)

(J, Camp Owner, God's Servant and Chef) 

(Grandma)

Blessed: Birthday gifts including my very own mosquito net!  Though, if you see below, it's designed for a baby crib.  Thus, it thereby only shelters my face and pretty much lays flat on top of my nose.  But I'm still blessed. :)

At least there won't be any more blood wars like this - especially considering Grandma is getting mad that our cabin walls are getting so disgustingly dirty - and not because we're out stomping in the mud or splashing in the river.

Plus, now I don't have to wear this many pairs of pajamas to bed.  OR tuck my pants into my socks.  Sexy.

Then again, I can't let our Wrangler's be this cool in their pajamas.

Blessed: Dar, our neighbor.  Having only met him a couple of times, and though the camp has always brought him treats and meals, he has opted out of joining them/us for a meal at the table.  For 17 years.  Until today.  Yesterday, I put an invite on the table for my birthday brunch - no expectations - should he want a little breakfast to munch on, he was welcome.  At 11:00 AM, Dar and his four dogs gave the door a knock/bark.  I couldn't believe it.  My heart was moved in a tremendous way. (More to come on who Dar is and his story - it's gnarly).  100% because of his presence and an additional 100% as he gave me a hug and loaded my arms with a new blanket to use when lounging or watching the Reds jump around in the river while enjoying the sunset on the lodge deck.  He also gave me my first batch of Moose jerky and Turkey eggs!  The Moose jerky was great and I will let you know how the Turkey eggs are after breakfast tomorrow.

Is it not the simple things?

Beyond these things, Dar had remembered from our first (and pretty much only) conversation that my Grams (who has passed) used to send me a sheet of cheesy stickers with every holiday card.  Sometimes they were 3D and sometimes they were the puffy ones.  It didn't matter how old we were - we were never old enough for stickers.  Thus, Dar came with a huge envelope of cheesy stickers.  Insert tears here now.

Blessed: Halibut for dinner.  Enough said.

Blessed: For anything and everything homemade.  Even if it's putting unwanted pounds on my body. ;)

Blessed: For a Grandma who told me all week that "no packages have come for you, Chelsey," but really saved them all for me to open at my birthday dinner.  She responded with, "Sometimes a G - Ma, has to do what a G - Ma has to do.  You'll get over it."

This to say, there was so much Washington and California love packed into this Alaskan Lodge.  I couldn't even believe it and honestly sat there dumbfounded - fighting a rushing river of tears.  And just when I couldn't fight the tears anymore, I would open a package or two to find a sexy thong (yes, this is just how wonderful my friends and Mother are), and there became absolutely no reason to fight the tears because male laughter broke out around the room - because if you remember correctly, Tamica, Grandma, and I are the only women currently here!

The packages, the emails, the 62 voicemails (that shut my phone down), the phone calls (from the bridge), the text messages, and every single Facebook post were beyond anything I could have ever expected.  I'm humbled and so undeserving of that much love.  It's unreal to me.  Just unreal.  Now I'm crying again.  Great.  Guess that proves the point that "wild girls" still cry.

And honestly, do your friends know you and/or flatter you this well?  If I may brag, mine do.  Just call me Catniss with a "C".  :)

Blessed: For a friend who pays attention to even the smallest of details and gets me a coffee card at Buzz's, the only coffee stand in Ninilchik.  For a friend who doesn't just find me one bag of Mint M & M's, but dos!  For a friend who replenishes my envelope stock so I can keep writing letters.  For a friend who is brave enough, spontaneous, adventurous enough, loving enough, playful enough, forgiving enough, bold enough, and crazy enough to pack her bags and take on the Last Frontier with me. :)

Blessed: Family.  Mine takes the cake.  Always and forever.  I would write more but then I would cry more.  What I will say is this:

Dad & Mom, God is answering your prayers.  I am covered by Him, blessed, and absolutely walking in His Joy.  He reminds me everyday that you love me with all of your heart.  (I tried to do a headstand to illustrate that joy for you below).  I love you a 100,000 trips to Italy, 100,000 bottles of Prisoner, and about 500,000 chicken pesto pasta dishes.  I'm not sure if I love you more than the dance video you made and sent me though. ;)

"In God's wildness lies the hope of the world - the great fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness." ~ John Muir 

(Inscribed on a card from my bosom friend). ;)

Week One in the Bush

It's been one week since we landed for life in the bush on the Last Great Frontier.  And I am here to say, it is indeed great.  Though, I suppose the previous couple of blog posts suggest that on their own. ;)  In such a short amount of time - (though it feels like much, much longer due to what seems like an absence of clocks and time up here during the summer), I have acquired a good amount of eclectic learnings and new friends.  And in an effort to hold on to such nuggets and remember these gems that I am meeting, I want to document some of them.  I'll start with some of the learnings and consider this my way of giving back should ya'll choose to read and acquire such facts for yourself as well.

1. Like humans, dandelions sleep at night and rely on the sun to know when to awake from their slumber, thus re - blooming in the am.

2. When you hear people clapping, it's not for you.  It's for the mosquitoes.  Sidenote: Grandma's favorite morning activity is electrocuting them; "It's my favorite sound in the world," she says.  I'm starting to agree with her considering I wake up with ankles that look like dogs have been chewing on them for hours.  I guess I have sweet feet.

3. If you think of mosquitoes before bed, you will feel them all over you, all night long - even if they are nowhere to be found.  A bottle of repellent sits with you right alongside your morning coffee, water bottle, and evening glass of wine.

4. Cow owners in Homer, AK, walk their cows on the beach with leashes.

5. It need only be 30 degrees for women in Homer, AK to wear gold bikinis on the beach.

6. When you have walked from the General Store, to the Library, to the Liquor Store, and to Buzz's Coffee Shop (in a matter of two blocks), you have walked through the entire town of Ninilchik, AK.

7. Jack Bison, the best Alaskan name we have heard thus far.

8. The only way to cook a S'more is by sticking the piece of chocolate inside the marshmallow before roasting it.  And they pretty much only sell Jumbo Mallow - this is the big leagues in terms of S'more roasting.

9. Fishing Weirs: One intention of theirs is to make full rivers by stopping and stealing salmon eggs in order to re - produce elsewhere, but according to all the locals, this has actually hindered the fish population and decreased the availability of fish.

10. Despite popular thinking of "bigger is better," halibut weighing between 25 - 60 pounds are the perfect catch and are most favored in regards to taste.  I skinned, battered, cooked, and tasted, so I know. :)  Sidenote: It's a good thing it's common to eat fish five nights a week because we have taken dessert (and caloric intake) to a whole new level here at the lodge.

(Fresh Caught and Seasoned Battered Halibut with Cabbage and a Secret Sauce)

(Homemade Chocolate Crunch Cheerio Balls and Graham Cracker Dipped 'Mallows)

(Homemade Chocolate Fudge with a Peanut Butter Glaze and Graham Cracker Topping)

(Homemade Cake Cookies with a Peanut Butter Filling and Toasted Coconut Topping)

(Cinnamon Apple Bake - just for Fish Camp)

11. The only time when not having cell service doesn't suck: when a river runs through it (literally).

12. Neighbors actually have time to talk with you.

13. People actually fish side by side, in the same river, as grizzly bears.

14. Tradio: It's the live radio version of Craigslist.

15. It's common practice to leave your keys in the engine while shopping.

16. You can still shave your legs despite living in the bush.

17. Off - roading is driving.

18. Natives to Alaska have some of the best stories to share.  A lot of them also have Husky dogs that I would like to bring home with me.

19. Live clams are feisty and put up quite the fight for their lives.

20. Growing up, being a camper and saying goodbye to those on staff was hard.  Being on staff and saying goodbye to the campers feels harder.

21. God is a show - off.  I love it.

Joy for nothing in general, except everything in particular.

One of the best kinds of joy - the one that comes gifted in the form of a new kindred spirit kind of friendship.  A blessing that I found myself undoubtedly overwhelmed by this year.  I spotted her across the room of a most frequented (and favorite) coffee shop and knew I just had to meet her.  And I did.  Hours passed.  It was soon discovered: Before we came into each other's lives, we missed each other so bad.  (Carly Rae Jepsen communicates this clearly through her number one hit song, "Call Me Maybe").

Please note: This may in fact be one of our songs and we do have plans of making a music video together.  Please stay tuned for such a debut.

To top it off, we discovered that we were also in fact, neighbors.  She was officially the girl next door.

Since our meet cute, we've been those inseparable friends that like the days of growing up and playing with"neighborhood kids," we get to walk over, walk in, walk together, eat together, stay over super late, leave flowers and goodies on the door step, and door bell ditch.  Plus so much more that our future together will (God - willing) hold.

She is a gem.  She is gracious and beyond thoughtful.  A three part novel would likely be too short to describe her outstanding uniqueness.  And in an effort to keep my mascara on tonight (as we have our first group of campers arriving shortly), I will simply share one example of the many ways her delightful spirit and generous heart has brought me joy.

The night before I left for my summer here in Alaska, I received what has most definitely been selected for an award as one of the best cards I have ever received.  In addition, she gave me a special book called, "Guerrillas of Grace" that she carried with her during all of her travels abroad.  (Many of you know that there is no existence of a single word to describe the depth of sentimental qualities and enjoyment I have).

So as I spent a morning picking wildflowers (as photos illustrate below), I came across this prayer in "Guerillas of Grace."  A true reflection of the joy that I am thankful for through such friends as Madeline and the joy found through the simplicity of such things as picking wildflowers in a wide open field.  

"Extravagant God, waken in me a sense of joy, in just being alive, joy for nothing in general except everything in particular; joy in sun and rain, joy in soft light, through shyly disrobing trees, joy in the acolyte moon, joy in the beating of a thousand wings, mysteriously knowing which way is warm; joy in wagging tails and kids' smiles, joy in the taste of bread and wine, the smell of dawn, a touch, a song, a presence; joy in having what I cannot live without - other people to hold and cry and laugh with; joy in love, in you; and that all at first and last is grace."

All is well with my soul.  Ps. I love you Maddie. :)

The Wild Belong in the Wild.

Last Thursday, my hot pink Barbie nails and I set off to the Last Frontier.  First Destination: Anchorage.  Final Destination: Ninilchik, Alaska.

It wasn't too long into the first flight, as I was doing my typical flight assessment (this is where I scan the seats on each flight I take for people who resemble and/or could perform the duties of the TV Show's Lost characters, making sure that I am surrounded by the necessary people should the plane go down), that I first realized how great of a minority I was.  Given that we were in route to Anchorage, my plane was chalk full of husky and what I am now referring to as Brawny Commercial men.  It is no exaggeration to say that every time the flight attendent came down the aisle with the drink cart, she apologized for running into arm and leg muscle more than she inquired about a drink order.  This to say, there was an abundance of male "Lost" characters.  In fact, there was enough for every man to have an understudy.  Females, well that was a different story.  It looked like I was going to have to play the role of all the ladies. I suppose I could have skipped writing this entire paragraph and just simply said: I looked absolutely out of place.  Oh but when these men started drilling me with questions, and I was able to explain that I found fishing for the King Salmon a little overrated this summer considering it was such a short run for them, but that I was anxiously awaiting my hand at the 75lb halibut chilling in the ocean, they found themselves with a quick lesson in first impressions and passing judgement.  ;)  Though, it may have ended after that, especially as I found my face smashed into the window plane, drooling over the magnificent mountains below me, begging to know if I was going to "see this" or be "able to do that" and "what that was!"

Tamica and I arrived in Anchorage at the same time and reunited over our first Alaskan Amber as we waited for my luggage (the airline forgot to put Tamica's on her flight), and then headed to our next terminal, where we jumped on a propeller jet over to Kenai.  Let's pause here for a moment.  Propeller jets.  It looked no bigger than my Honda Civic sitting on raised wheels.  The momentum for the running start and take - off is slower than a snail.  How it even makes it into the air is beyond me.  At times, it feels as though you are even going backwards.  I just waited for the pilot to get on the intercom and ask us to "Lean forward!"  He didn't, but I don't even think there was an intercom on the plane anyway.  "Is this normal," I asked the flight attendent.  To which she responded, "Everything is normal as long as we are in the air."  Hmm.  I quickly thereafter learned that there was a drink service (no cart involved as it surely wouldn't fit down the aisle), and practically threw my wallet at the flight attendent, begging for anything to soothe the 100 foot airwaves I felt like we were riding.  (Insert second Alaskan Amber here).  Pretty sure I lost all and/or any credibility I had gained on the first flight or for simply being a city girl in the Alaska wilderness after this flight.

Once we landed in Kenai, we were welcomed by our camp Wrangler's, Taylor and Jeramy.  The best way to describe them: They know and can do everything.  They run the show.  It's only been three days and we would be absolutely lost without them.  Lost is not an understatement in this sentence.

Two moose, many bald eagles, and fifty plus car miles later, we found ourselves about three miles up the Ninilchik River, at our summer home of Knepper's Alaskan Fish Camp.

Greeted by Adamae (Grandma), our orientation began.  We explored the camp grounds and most importantly, the kitchen and all surrounding and related cabinets, drawers, and pantries.  We then quickly settled into our room among the hand crafted log cabin and ventured up the street to enjoy our first Alaskan sunset at 11:15 P.M.  The pictures say it all. :)

Post our field frolic session, we did our best to go to sleep.  Now, many have asked about sleep masks.  Yes, they would be very helpful.  But have we found any?  None, zero, zilch, nowhere.  We have come to the conclusion that Alaskans do not believe in them.  Now, our curtains are definitely dark but we have found it very hard to avoid the bright light streaming, tempting, and beckoning us through the cracks.  It's kind - of like a mother putting her child down to nap on the sunniest afternoon of the year.  The excitement of what you know, think, and believe is happening out there without you, well frankly, it's just overwhelming.  Good thing it was Friday morning before we knew it, and we were starting our first full day on the frontier.

It's also a good thing that the days are practically twice as long here, because we needed every ounce of that extra time.  We were ready to dive in and begin meal planning (and practicing) for the next week before campers began to arrive, so Tamica, Grandma, and I mapped out breakfast, lunches, appetizers, and desserts and then headed those fifty plus miles back into town to the grocery store.  Bags and bags and bags and bags and bags and bags later, it seemed as though we had more groceries than we've probably (combined), ever owned in a year.  Without so many grocery bags, we would have also picked up this freebie.

(Hot girl is additional cost).

Bargain.  Boom.  At this rate, Alaska is looking like the place to live thanks to the cost of living. ;)

We spent one part of our evening playing with spices and cooking for Grandma, the Wrangler's, and James, (a great family friend of the Knepper's who comes up each summer to open and close the camp).  The other part of our evening, well, Tamica and I decided to venture on out with the quad.  Having experience with an automatic quad, well let's just say that it's different than having experience with a manual quad.  Little did we know that we would soon find ourselves stranded about a mile and a half up the road.

Nevertheless, we were thankful for yet again, a beautiful view.

Pride or not, we didn't want to call the Wrangler's, and instead decided to push the quad all the way home.  Consider it exercising in Alaska. ;)  This time, it wasn't just the bright sky that kept us awake - but also the nerves of hoping and praying that somehow, someway, the quad was going to magically work in the morning.  Did I mention that the Wrangler's can do everything?  Well, they can, and Taylor, like magic, had the quad going in the morning.  Resume adventure without guilt and begin baking madness as a thank you.

Here is a picture of Taylor, enjoying what is a favorite outing to the Ninilchik General Store for a scoop of ice cream - where anywhere else in the world, it's actually the size of a personal pint.  (Note: Will need more Alaska exercise).

Following ice cream, James took Tamica and I to the Ninilchik Harbor (what is also a Russian settlement), where the Ninilchik River begins and where you are dazzled with a breathtaking view of the Cook Inlet and the volcano, Mount Illiamna.  Of course I couldn't resist climbing a little higher to give this sight it's due diligence and take it all in accordingly.

(The Ascent)

(Looking North)

(Looking West at Cook Inlet, Mt. Illiamna)

(The Descent)

I just don't know if it really gets better.

We quickly decided this was going to be a favorite and frequented spot.  But for now, it was time to say goodbye as we had to drop James off at the airport in the morning, (which meant a 5AM departure from camp).  Though an hour no one really wants to be up for or by, it's worth it here in Alaska.  It's when the moose - their calves included, feed along the country roads.  These massive animals may look like a camel/cow/horse/reindeer mix, but there is something so incredibly captivating about them.  (I guess it could just be that I don't see them back at home or really ever). ;)

I know this post is somewhat long, maybe slightly vague (as there are so many side stories and rabbit trails to venture down), but Tamica and I will do our best to stay up to date so to avoid over - packing an entry.  Lucky for you, we just learned that our first group of campers are coming Tuesday - days earlier than we had initially thought.  Full gear, here we come.  This is us, bidding you ado for now, from the River de Ninilchik, where the wild belong in the wild. :)

Did we say that we love it here? :)