Ice Has Arrived in Marshall

     It has been well over a week since the temperature has risen above freezing here in Marshall, and that means that North of us it has been below freezing even longer. With all this cold weather the Yukon river has started to freeze. A couple of days ago we started to see ice chunks floating down the river. I went down to the river bank to get a better look. It is hard to explain with pictures and words, it is a pretty amazing sight. 

 

The afternoon of the first day of the ice flow

 

  

 

 These boats will be on shore for the remainder of the winter

 I have not learned my lesson I am still wearing my sneakers

 Air bubbles trapped in the ice

 Massive chunks of ice

 These ice shards are about 15 feet off the river bank

 

     I am excited for the river to be entirely frozen. I want to walk to the other side and take pictures of Marshall from the island. I have heard anywhere from two to three weeks it will be frozen across. It will be a bit longer before they will be riding their snow-gos on it to go to the nearby villages.

Sorry, Mom This Post is Not for You (Skinning a Seal)

     A week or so ago some a seal was donated to the school so that the students could see how to properly remove the fur and meat. This was a unique experience since we are a down river school we often don't see seal. After inviting an elder to come and explain where to cut, our head custodian Buster took to the dirty work. FYI this post is not for those with a weak stomach.

 After they caught the seal they cut it down the middle to remove the "guts"

 I never knew that seals had claws

 Buster removing the face, one of my students looking on

 Buster is explaining what he is doing before he cuts

 Kindergarten and first grade students getting first hand experience

 The meat is nearly all cut off

 One of our elders looking at the seal flipper

Whats left is the fur and fat

     I am still unsure how they remove the fat, but it drips off and they use the seal oil for cooking or dipping their seal or dry fish.

Here is the cleaned drying seal fur

     Another experience that I would have not likely been a part of in the lower 48. I am glad that I have been able to participate in so many unique activities here in Marshall. I am excited that we have only finished the first quarter and that there are many more experiences to come. 

 

Another Snow Post

   It is going to take a while for me to get used to the snow, especially this early in the year. After living in southwest Washington for nearly all my life, seeing this much snow let alone in October is hard to get over. Yesterday I walked up to the school around noon. It was partly cloudy so I decided to wear my regular shoes. (I haven't been able to since the last snow). While working on report cards I looked out the window and noticed that it was snowing just a little. It continued to snow all afternoon and into the evening. I had forgotten that I had worn my tennis shoes to the school until it was time for me to walk back home. Needless to say my feet were wet and cold when I got home. However I have learned my lesson. It is time to put the sneakers away and wear my boots all the time. All of the snow that fell yesterday afternoon and evening made for some great shots this morning.

First Snowy Day in Marshall

    So it isn't like the title says. Today wasn't the first snow in Marshall, it has snowed a few times but today was the first time that the snow stuck to the ground. When I was walking home last night I was looking up at the clear sky in amazement. I am always shocked that I can see so many stars. I was even more amazed when this morning I saw nearly two inches of snow on the ground. It was fun to walk in and drag my feet. I know there are several more snow days to come, but coming from Washington, this is about as much snow as we get all year.

 Kindergarten and first graders having fun in the snow

The puppy wanted to get in on the action

 Across the river (out my window from my classroom)

 

Snow on the sandbar (also out my classroom window)

 

 Good contrasting colors in this picture

   

   

Housing Update Two

     The construction workers have been moving right along, and making good progress. Obviously they have missed the October 1st deadline, however they keep telling Terry that we will be able to move in the first week of November. I will believe it when I see it, although the pictures give me hope that we will be moved in before too long.

 The kitchen

 Pantry/laundry room

 Under cupboard lighting, a nice touch

 

Most of the house uses this globe style lighting

 The closet under the stairs (it is much bigger than it appears)

 Laminate flooring in the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms

 Downstairs bathroom

 Arctic entry (I hope they give us a bench to put in there to take off boots and coats)

 "Hardwood" flooring that is in the living room

 First row of houses

Almost done!

     Hopefully we get in there soon. The weather keeps threatening snow. It has a few times but nothing has really stuck. I hope we get moved in before the first big snow. 

Marshall School Hosts Mix Six

    Last weekend Marshall hosted a mini mix six volleyball tournament. Three schools were invited, but only two came the other was not able to come because their students were ineligible. Mix six means that there are three boys and three girls on each team. I guess they do this because there would not be enough students to fill an all girls/boy team. Marshall did pretty good they played three matches and they won two of them, so they are off to a good start this year.

 The team warming up

 Tap it over with one hand

 The new and improved jump set

 I know its hard to see but there is a coin on the ground, this was to decide who serves first

 Lined up and ready to go

 

Bump, set, spike it that's the way we like it. (One of the cheers I heard)

 You got served

 In the ready position (I got this shot from what we call the owners box)

 This is how St. Marys rolls or floats. They came to the tournament in boats. How cool is that?

 This student said she was the driver. (She was joking of course)

  

Packing up getting ready to go

Almost ready to go home.

     I was talking to one of the chaperones as I was driving him and his team to the beach and I asked him about how long it would take them to get back to St. Marys and he said about two hours, maybe less because they are going with the current. It looked fun going on a boat ride, but I am not sure that I would want to be in that kind of boat for two hours. It was pretty sunny out, but it was still cold in the upper 30s maybe and the wind was blowing pretty good. 

     The weekend was a success. The students had a good time and were for the most part well behaved. The next mini tournament is in Mountain Village. I think that I might be able to go, so that should be fun.