CPR to the OLD BLOG!

I am not sure if anyone remembers this blog!  The big question is do I remember how to use blogger?  Here goes a post!

My last post was May 2020 the year life, the world, and just about every freaking thing went upside down, inside out, backwards, and well the shit hit the fan!  

November Friday the 13th 2020, I was diagnosed with a nasty horrible cancer. Fast forward living in a rural Alaskan village wasn’t going to work for treatment and all the twists and turns cancer tosses at you.  I came back to Montana.  Surgery, 16 rounds of chemo every week because the first chemo drug almost killed me. . . . On to plan 2 which worked.  I made it through that and then on to radiation.  Blaa blaa blaaa cancer is no fun, stressful, devastating, and yet I came out of it all with a new look on life, a new appreciation for every simple thing, a better person, happier, healthier . . . Lots of things changed and I would rather just move forward and live life healthy and strong doing what I love. Enough said!  Time to move forward and try blogging again!

C-19 . . .

I call it C-19 as it is just easier and it calls less attention to it as well.  Not that we should ignore it by any means!  I know I am not alone in how I feel about this thing that is wreaking havoc around the world, causing pain and suffering and is just a pain in the ass to us all.  I feel horrible for the families who are suffering from losing family members.  Health care works and a health care system pushed to its limits.  It is all horrible, painful, and frustrating! C-19 is pushing us and countries to ALL TO OUR LIMITS!   There is then the talk of the good that can and will come out of all of this pandemic.

Hmmmmm . . . I am sure there are many who are having an extremely hard time right now trying to see any good at all!  My heart goes out to those suffering at this time.

 

Colors

I often think of the colors I see up here in the north.  Why?  This sunrise this morning has gone from pink to orangy pink-----how the heck has that color combo come together! This time of the year we get some dramatic sunrises and sunsets.  It is not a fast set or rising at all but very long and drawn out.  

Colors outside as I look out the window are mud brown!  Dirty snow---who likes dirty snow---gross!  Not me! Icey puddles.  Brown dusty grasses.  The beach is sandy brown with dirty snow and ice. It is littered with carcasses: caribou, moose, starfish/sea stars, belugas, seals, soon birds . . . around all of these obstacles are grey sun-bleached driftwood logs and stumps.

Soon there will be pink flowers popping up on the tundra they are the first to arrive.  After they start to arrive is when we usually depart for the south.  This year this will be rather epic due to the shutdown and the school district trying its best to get teachers out of villages . . . this will be a post for another time once we do make it out!

Our days are under a hugely rich deep blue northern latitude sky.  I have been skiing a bit and I did get to day 100 which was rather epic.  I posted photos of that on IG.  Since that fiasco, I skied two more days on the beach which was far easier skis.  Contrasts of white snow and blue sky make you think you might be in the tropics HA LOL!  

PS---I have no idea why the blog can not have the same font . . . it has been doing this since I started writing again!  Yes, I know it is happening and NO, I  don't know how to fix it so let us enjoy the weirdness.  I want it to be that more relaxed font in the 2nd half but oh well!

Dragging my Feet

Good Morning!  

I am dragging my feet here a bit this morning.  I usually or used to get up at 5:00 and now am getting up at 6:00.  Coffee is on a timer so it is ready when I get up which is always such a nice treat.  I know I use a percolator pot and hard to believe anyone still uses one but I like my coffee to stay hot.  Plus, I was fed up with all the plastics in other options.  It works and the caffeine is in my blood with no hassle at all.

Yesterday we got out for a ski on the BC (backcountry gear).  It was ICY, rutted, with some overflow on the two sloughs we have to across to get out across the tundra.  It was a bit windy and cold too but nothing more than normal just not typical April spring skiing.  Out at the Hide Away trails there is a good amount of drifting.  This is great as it will groom out really nice today and make for some more great skiing.  I love this little section of ski trail as it is through the trees, protected from most of the winds, and you feel like you are at a ski touring center.  

We use pallets as snow fences that help to collect the blowing snows when we have winds which are more often than not out here on the edge of Norton Sound.  Little tricks of the trade for ski grooming in rural Alaska.  Photo on the left is us practice ski social distancing! You have to joke and make the best of things out here for sure!

My other favorite thing is conifers with snow on them against a rich blue sky.  I remember when I discovered this great combo in my college accounting class at Paul Smith’s College.  I remember sitting there in class trying to pay attention but always drifting off to gaze out the window at the combo of blue sky and fresh snow on the branches of green needles.  I would be dying to get out of class to head out for a ski.   

Here is why I am dragging my feet a bit this a.m. 0ºF and a wind chill of -9ºF.  UGH!  I just need to walk over to what I call “The Refugio” the skiroom/waxroom.  I work out over there 5 days a week using ERG and the extra-room space for my knee PT, sit-ups, push-ups, and yoga space as our housing has limited floor space.  I am so grateful to have The Refugio and to consistently be able to use that space it is just a great thing for me!

SIDE NOTE! I really wish that blogger would allow me to use all the functions on my ipad but it doesn’t dang it all!  Anyone have any suggestions?  It seems to work far better on Firefox than Chrome interesting.  

Enough time to get out the door!  Like the Norwegian saying says “The longest mile is to the door!”

Isolation, Food, Snow, & Life goes on!

Here I am writing from my dining room table as no table would ever fit in the kitchen in teacher housing EVER!   The wind is still blowing in the mid-20mph range, it is +10ºF out there with a bit of a wind chill. Yeap, it is April 6th and I have shoveled, worked out in the Refugio (as I call it—the ski room), ran a few errands on foot NOT the fat tire bike, make some food up and had lunch.  The biggest news in the damn this is exciting stuff here is 3 yes THREE of the piles of Nancy’s crap have been organized, crap tossed out or put in their correct location.  Nothing is earth-shattering here life just goes on . . . I will admit I am feeling isolated here now more than I ever have felt.  I am not coaching right now, nor am I subbing. I am skiing when there isn’t a storm or overflow on the slough.  Right now we are at the tail end of a storm or at least it had better be the tail end, there is water on the slough.  I already checked out the slough and I would say I can get around it no problem.  Skiing will happen later today.

 I fried up some mushrooms and red onion.  Then I added red peppers and broccoli to this mix cooked until tender.

The above veggies were added to sweet potato and white potatoes that had been boiled and mashed.   I will warm these up in a bowl for lunch or breakfast, make into potato cakes and fried up——you get the idea!  Add whatever seasons you like or even cheese.  I am not eating much dairy these days so that is off my plate.  I used coconut milk when I mashed the potatoes up before adding the cook veggies.

For those of you really smart readers which I know each of you are as I would only have the smartest and brightest ever followers——yes the photos should have been rotated but they aren’t so be a bit forgiving. Plus if they were in the correct order wouldn’t have that been a nice touch!

Honestly some blogs are so polished and perfect in every way.  Those who know me in real life would never ever used the words polished and perfect to describe me!  I am not trying to make $$$ on the ol’Blog, nor am I trying to capture a zillion readers . . . I just blog and sometimes it is better than others  . . . Since I haven’t been blogging in months I need to stumble around a bit to get my S**** together again.  

Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment if you are up for it!

A test Post! Bear with me!

This is a test to see if blogger now works from my ipad!  Just playing around a bit.

Now let’s see if this will post . . . things seem to be working.  I guess I am back on blogging detail.

Hi Blog, Not sure if you remember me at all!

Good Morning Blog,

How the heck are you?  I haven't written in so long and really thought about just tossing you to the wind and saying good-bye forever.  Paper and pen have been my method of journaling of late.  I really do like that tried and true method of journalling the best! Paper and some kind of writing instrument---works great as I think about WHY DO I FEEL THE NEED TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH THE WORLD! Then there is IG, Facebook, Ravelry, how much of a digital footprint do I actually need. Who is really stopping by to read this blog anyway besides the strange trolling sites from dubious countries, or just plain ol'strange people trying to lure you into thinking they are in fact real when they are a porn site.  Then I have to think why am I writing anyway . . . I originally set out to blog as a way to just write more.  

The other issue I am always trying to figure out if I should keep using blogger which is free, never really updated, a basic tool and why pay $$$$ to blog . . . Wordpress is more sophisticated and has been around a long period of time and one can pay to have more whiz-bang.  I am as basic and non-whiz-bang as one can be. 

Yes, it is saying winds of 65 mph!  Winds are blowing in the 40-45mph and gusting right now 55-59mph how freaking charming is that! UGH right! How ever, I just love Mother Nature and all her strange brutal and nice conditions.

Back in mid-March when Sadie could ski with me before leg/knee #2 went out.

I will post this letter to you Blog and then see what happens maybe with C-19 (as I am calling this freaking mess), our current huge storm, Miss Sadie who blew out her other rear leg, living in a shutdown village, and feeling rather isolated. I will write more and use you again Blog. 

No matter what I am very grateful for all that I do have, for family, dear friends, my great life, my wonderful husband, great health, and technology to connect with the rest of the world!  Get outside, make the best of what you have and I will do the same!

Writing-on, Create-on, & Knit-on,

Wool-n-Ski

{thank you EZ for the Knit-on which makes me use it for other ons' in life.}


“Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises.”
― Elizabeth Zimmermann, Knitting Without Tears

Mont Blanc (Part III)

Once I made it to Geneva airport it was off to downtown Geneva.  One of the biggest issues I have with public transportation of buses, trains and such is actually getting out of the terminal!  I think this is due to the fact that this gal who has lived almost all of her life away from large urban areas doesn't have the acquired city skills.  Now stick me in the mountains I am all set to go!  I made it through customs and got my luggage which was a miracle considering I was on different flights and missed a flight and well . . . a miracle would be the right word.

Before I exited the luggage area one could grab a free ticket which I thought was just for buses but it was for a free train ride to the heart of Geneva.  Of course, I had to find the train and figure this all out after traveling forever and in French!  This is where living overseas for 12 years was really handy.  I am not afraid to talk to anyone!  have a fairly decent sense of who to talk to and not to talk to plus good common sense.  I see these two gals in their 20s and ask if they speak English well of course they do!  They were so nice and helpful!  They told me, "Your ticket is for a free train ride as well and to take the train you will be in Geneva in minutes!"  They asked where I was going and got on their phones look it up. I took a photo of their phone map.  The gals got me on the train as they were riding it as well and off I went.  I was there in minutes and then off the train . . . once again I had to figure out to get out of the station and out the right door! 

Flying into Geneva.

Technology to the rescue!  A big thank you to the two gals who were nice enough to help me out!

We woke up to a sunny puffy cloudy morning in Geneva!  A breakfast of wonderful chocolate croissants, and good coffee, followed by a walk around the downtown area.  Lots of people buzzing off to work on bikes and e-bikes.

In the early afternoon, we were on the bus heading to France and Les Houches.  leaving behind the city to more hills, wider empty spaces, and into the clouds.

Glaciers spilling down mountainsides.

Then quaint Les Houches!

Smaller hamlets, more agricultural land and steep mountains.  This photo was taken from the deck of our hotel.  Right before I found my camera a shepherd was bring in his sheep or goats below on a road.  It was hard to see the animals due to the dense forset but you could hear their smaller bells.

A wonderful salad!  One thing the impressed me about food the whole trip was the care and pride in presentation of any food that was being served, and the quality of the food!  I would say it was all about slowing down, enjoying the food, and relaxing! 

A pizza shop and let me say all things were cute, tidy, organized!

The start of our trip Part IV!

Mont Blanc (Part II)

The I am spoiled rotten part of the trip was flying First Class most of my way to Geneva!  What a treat this was and yummy too!

Top of the photo is Iceland Air lunch!  Chocolates were on the flight from Munich to Geneva!

Real coffee cup with wonderful rich coffee!

Organic snacks!

I always get a kick out of funny signs . . . like would you be sucked out down into the abyss of crap here if you were to be sitting on the Loo!

In Edmonton airport where I spent a long-long-long time as the plane had a mechanical, then I missed my connection in Reykjavik.  Iceland Air sent me to Munich which is a HUGE airport, then I flew back to Geneva.  I felt like I was on Missin Impossible as I had all these endless challenges to complete to get to the hotel in geneva. 

Iceland which looks a lot like my home on the tundra!

Iceland

Iceland

Mont Blanc Trek, Traveling, & Home (Part I)

(I will be writing/posting in PARTS to make this easier for me and my readers.)

Where does one begin when you head off on a trip and return home  . . . thinking did all of this really happen  . . . well yes it did!  What a grand adventure!

Late August I flew out of the village and into Anchorage (ANC).  I left a day early so not to be caught/stuck in UNK (village) due to weather.  This gave me a day in the city as I waited for my flight out just after midnight.  I had a great lunch at a new-ish place that has opened on Spennard called "The Writers Block".  I can highly recommend their lunches and a look around the shop.

I love the outside look of the building as it nicely ties in with books on a shelf.

Cute, clean, with nice spaces for eating, sipping your favorite drink, and visiting.

A great tomato basil soup---dang tasty!

Mr. Moose in ANC airport as I head south to Seattle.

Greetings Blog, Do you remember me? I started you long ago and have neglect you this summer!

Excuses for neglecting my blog are many but mostly . . . I was getting hits from a rather ugly source full of porn and gross crap to be honest which just pisses me off to no end!  I am not sure what the rest of you do when this happens but really those sites need to go away and the exploitation of women NEEDS TO END!

I will admit to falling for Instagram!  I enjoy that venue of social media an awful lot---it is rather addicting just the way social media wants you to be addicted. . . on the good side is it isn't full of politics or at least the people I follow aren't about politics.  I find the people I follow motivating, creative, interesting, and just fun!  

The blog . . . I always debate about moving it to WordPress.  The reason being is for better control, and Blogger doesn't really seem to be all that supportive at times or current.  Then Blogger is free and I know the format so I just stay.  Enough on this topic as I either need to say goodbye to the blog or just accept it as is . . .

Summer was fun, warm, not hot as the last few years, a real normal old fashion Montana summer.  Cold to cool mornings, warming up the to high 70s and low 80s, some rain to keep everything green!  It was delightful! I did a good amount of hiking once I got my boot figured out.

Boots took a bit of time but luckily I bought my 2nd pair at REI and although they didn't work out I could return them.  My 3rd pair of boots have been awesome for my feet!  This whole boot thing is important as I am leaving to go to Mont Blanc and to trek around this huge European mountain in a few weeks!  UGH!  I am a bit worried over my knees and all the verticle DOWN one has to do on this trip.  In Montana, it wasn't an issue getting out and hiking both up and down.  Here back on the tundra there just isn't the vertical to use for training.  We do have hills but to get in the vertical I need would be hiking up and down all day long! Then it has been typical August here rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, and more rain!  Belly aching I know but it is a muddy world!

Photos are in no order at all . . .

Oh, just fun crisp ginger snaps and a great cup of constant comment tea!

One of our tree/shrubs in our yard.  I love the leaves, the various green in the leaves and the bright red berries!

Miss Sadie in the yard and she loves!  Oh, on green grass and not rocks and a bit of grass like up north.

Summer trail flowers---always a treat!

One of the many hikes to help get ready for TMB!

You just have to love all the small gems of Montana!

Train dog and my buddy cooling off in a creek!

Treat did you say treat and a swim!

Paddling at home such a wonderful treat!  I didn't do nearly enough of this due to my May rib injury.

Sadie swims as I paddle but she does get rides on the kayak too.

My 140 Hurrican which I love!  A great boat and totally functional, comfortable, and easy to handle.

On the road north which has to be a bit of a stressful drive for the dogs.  They do get swimming breaks and dog walks but it is a lot of car time.  I do think it is better than being in a hold on a plane from MT to AK.

Back on the trail taking a snooze during one of our breaks. Sadie is carrying her water and dog snacks.

Trailside selfie!

Looking north into Canada.

Two key ingredients for a successful trek around Mont Blanc for me---poles and boots that are comfortable!

A 1950s book on Mont Blanc region.  A friend lent this to me but I was in a great used book shop in Pullman, WA and was able to purchase one that is almost brand new!

Summertime porch life---I love eating outside as much as possible always a treat to sit outside and enjoy a slow relaxing lunch.

Beargrass and then the photo dropped into a watercolor App.

The berries arrived!

While in Pullman and I wanted to check out the library and low and behold they had a knitting group meeting up.  I was invited right in and had a blast.  I had my knitting with me, they even had a name tag I could borrow and tea!  Gosh, what a blast!

My dearest friend!  It is always such a treat to have some time with Lynnatrix!

BLISS!

Never ever enough berries!

Our little dream boat Miss Tally!

My favorite berries!

Huckleberries arrived!

Back home on the tundra my northern latitude home!

PS This blog will be going away at some point . . . for now this is my last post.  If you are interested in following me please look me up on IG.  My account is private but you can request to follow.  knit ski nancy all together.