This is where I live now. Time was around 9:00 p.m. Still long days in August. Today, in October, the sky didn't start to lighten until 9:00 a.m. I don't know if you can see Buckland in the distance - beyond that hill on the right. The photo was taken on the way back from a blueberry picking excursion in August. Blueberries have played a key roll in my Buckland experience. My first meal here involved blueberries on ice cream. How can you beat that for a good omen?
I love picking blueberries. I think back to when I was a little girl and didn't like them, and I am grateful for the ability of taste buds to mature. When I first moved in with Jerry, my parents were so dumbfounded that I had finally caught a man, they immediately booked a flight to visit. Jerrold, of course, was a tad nervous. We had been berry picking that year, and I mentioned that offering my mother blueberries might be a good way to break the ice. She hadn't been in the house fifteen minutes when he said, "Diana, may I offer you a blueberry?"
And she replied, "Oh yes! Maybe ten or twelve," and they got along famously after that!
I love picking blueberries. I think back to when I was a little girl and didn't like them, and I am grateful for the ability of taste buds to mature. When I first moved in with Jerry, my parents were so dumbfounded that I had finally caught a man, they immediately booked a flight to visit. Jerrold, of course, was a tad nervous. We had been berry picking that year, and I mentioned that offering my mother blueberries might be a good way to break the ice. She hadn't been in the house fifteen minutes when he said, "Diana, may I offer you a blueberry?"
And she replied, "Oh yes! Maybe ten or twelve," and they got along famously after that!
This is how we travel. The road extends about six or seven miles out of town to the top of a hill. The vehicle on the left is a Japanese import with tracks instead of tires owned by the shop / PE / Arctic Management teacher. Goes anywhere in any weather and holds up to eight or ten people if it has to. The Honda with the cart serves as the school transportation. This is also the airport taxi. It holds many people and their luggage. The blueberries are all over, but mostly on hillsides. We picked on either side of this road.
Above is the beautiful orb.
Below is a photo I took to give you an idea of the tundra in August. Note the foot sunk into the ground. That happens when you stand still. It is not like walking through mud. It is spongier and easier.
Below is a photo I took to give you an idea of the tundra in August. Note the foot sunk into the ground. That happens when you stand still. It is not like walking through mud. It is spongier and easier.
The tundra has tussocks. At least I think that is what they are called. It is made of clumps of land like little islands. Part of the reason berry picking is so enjoyable is because I sit on a tussock while I pick. It is like sitting on a soft ottoman. No back pain. No creaky knees. The smell of tundra tea and moisture and berries is soothing and intoxicating. Blueberry picking in the lap of luxury. And it isn't too hot!
This was a good year for berries. There were a lot of them and they were big!
This was a good year for berries. There were a lot of them and they were big!
It was such a good year that on the first Friday of the school year the entire school went berry picking just outside of town. It was Inupiaq Day - a day set aside three or four times a year for Inupiaq activities. In the morning we had Eskimo dancing and NYO (Native Youth Olympics). In the afternoon everyone, kindergarten through 12th grade, walked up town and out onto the tundra. The maintenance and custodial staff rode Hondas to make a perimeter and watch for any bears thinking of competing for our berries. It felt sort of fabulous to have armed guards keeping an eye out for us.
Each student was to pick one dixie cup of berries. Then the cafeteria staff would make "Blueberry Delight" for lunch one day. Apparently blueberry delight is whatever it is. Changes with the inclination of the cooking staff. This year it was blueberry cake and blueberry crisp.
Each student was to pick one dixie cup of berries. Then the cafeteria staff would make "Blueberry Delight" for lunch one day. Apparently blueberry delight is whatever it is. Changes with the inclination of the cooking staff. This year it was blueberry cake and blueberry crisp.
I have maybe a half gallon left in my freezer waiting for me to pie up for Thanksgiving. I also have salmon and pike caught by my loving husband. He came up to visit for our twentieth wedding anniversary. You can see it was a trial for him!
I guess I'll get back to work now. Teaching high school agrees with me, but five new curricula to learn is time consuming. Start planning your visits for next year. I'll know what I'm doing by then and my huge house has a spare bedroom!