Human Petri Dish or Elmer’s Glue Factory?

Captivated, Phin wants one of these but mom says "no".

The Edwards family has logged many miles in the past few weeks. First we went to Anchorage for a short but productive visit. Then, after three days’ rest/work in Sitka, we went to Illinois for Jon’s (Val’s cousin) wedding. I was skeptical about all this travelling with Phineas. At 6 month old how would he hold up? Despite my skepticism, Phin did pretty well. The only real hitch was the cold Phin developed about the time we returned to Sitka from Anchorage. At first it was just a little bit of a runny nose. But by the time we got to Illinois he morphed into a full fledged booger factory. Before this last week I was not aware that thick gelatinous wads of green goo (similar to half way dry Elmer’s glue) would come from Phin’s nose. Some mornings it looked like there were stalactites hanging from Phin’s nostrils. It was about as easy to wipe off as dried cement. He didn’t seem to care unless one tried to pick his nose. (Valerie immediately apologizes to all patients she had previously advised to use "a little saline and a bulb syringe" to clear a baby's nose). But our little guy is tough, and the cold did not slow Phin down. He partied with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives, friends and lots of strangers. He smiled, cooed, and flirted with anyone who would pay him a moment of attention.

The meltdown I was fearing did not start until we left Sycamore. Sad to leave? Phin cried half way from Sycamore to O’Hare (about 30 minutes of un-interrupted crying) where we spent the night to catch an early morning flight. Then Phin cried and fussed on and off on the two flights from O’Hare to Sitka. The fretting, cemented gel boogers, and fussiness were a small price to pay for all the quality time we got with our families and friends. Looking forward to doing it all over again, although still with a wee bit of trepidation.

Fall is creeping up on Sitka which means that the berries are ripe. Since getting back we picked about a gallon of red huckleberries and three of blueberries. Stocking up for those mid-winter pies and jars of blueberry jam.

Loving the pool.
Sharing the boogers (human petri dish)  with all. 

         Look, we are all dressed nice.  Grandma Sue can    

check the family photo off her "to do" list.

Phin sings while Grandma P plays the blues.

Taking a break from berry picking

Touch and feel the mossy trees.

Standard Edwards wedding atire and pose.

Buck!

Maybe, just maybe, there is a deer in that fog.

Buck season opened on Sunday, August 1. I went out early Sunday morning like a good little sportsman despite the spitting rain and intermittent fog. I thought that seeing three deer on the drive up was a good sign. That sign was quickly cancelled out when I got to a nearly full parking lot. I guess my early wasn’t early enough. But it is not all about coming home with some fresh meat. Part of hunting is the wilderness meander and spending time outside in silence. Sunday was also about getting my body used to carrying the pack.  On my hike in I ran into two guys resting. They were armed to the hilt (hunting rifle, shotgun, pistol), drinking cans of coke, and listening to a radio. At first I thought surely I will get out in front of these yahoos. As I talked to them I learned that they had started out at 2:30 in the morning, shot a deer around 5 am and were actually on the way back to their car. At least I knew that there were deer in the area. Shortly after I parted with the coke drinking early birds the clouds parted. Above me I could see a lone deer walking down the hill towards where I was planning on stopping for lunch. A good sign. I quietly stalked across the slope. Then, just when I reached the spot where the deer had gone out of sight and where I might be able to pop over a rise and catch it within range, the fog rolled back in. A bad sign. I ate lunch counting my successes then walked back to the car, stopping to look for animals the few fog free moments I had.


I was lucky enough to have a friend volunteer to watch Phin in the middle of the week so I could go hunting again. This time I shot a good size buck. I field dressed the deer and packed out the most weight I have ever carried. To top that off it was a friggin hot day. I would put a picture of the animal here but Val doesn’t like it when I show her pictures of dead deer so I am sure that she would make me remove a dead deer picture from our blog. It is not that Val doesn’t like it when I bring home a deer, in fact she encourages me to hunt because she likes the venison meat so much. For that reason, I am posting a picture of the venison meat because Val will not find this objectionable.

And on the other end on the spectrum of things to post, here is a cute baby picture for those who need their fix.  Phin has been doing well.

Maybe in a few years he will help his dad with the deer hunting.  This afternoon he went for his first ride pulled behind the bike.  The absence of screaming and crying indicates that he enjoyed the ride. 

Cheers!