I live and write on Lingít Aaní, and gratefully acknowledge the past, present and future caretakers of this beautiful place, the Jilkaat Kwaan and Jilkoot Kwaan.
Monday. Monday?

Monday. Monday?

It’s been a bit of a blur, but today there is some quiet time. The Haines kids are back in school and their parents are back at work. We actually had a nap time, and it’s snowing and stormy which takes the pressure off of getting everyone out, or back in,...
Sunday’s Thought

Sunday’s Thought

Ancient religion and modern science agree: we are here to give praise. Or to slightly tip the expression, to pay attention.- John Updike    
Something Funny

Something Funny

Chip fell sound asleep after lunch in the middle of total chaos. I thought you’d like that. (There’s more. Wait for it.) First there is this, from right now up at Sarah’s house during a family spaghetti night following the Christmas parade: I told...
Too Beautiful for Words

Too Beautiful for Words

I can’t tell you how nice it is to have the kids in the kitchen– and exclaiming about the snow, the mountains, the trees, the snow– and then after lunch to go to a basketball game in the “big school” gym  ( the fifth grade cousins were...
Phew

Phew

I think we did it– the place next door is done and it’s so nice that I want to live there. On Monday I would have bet a boat that it would not be ready for the arrival of the Christmas crew tomorrow — my son and his family– but it is. My list...
Friends

Friends

Chip has been my best friend for years. It was just the two of us in Alaska, with no family and I wanted a big one here so far from where we were from, so we had all these kids (5), and he was busy at the lumberyard everyday, all day, and I was at home holding down...