Knitted Hats by Jackie

Love these hats knitted by Jacqueline Shively who creates custom Icelandic sweaters & more. Her work is sold downtown Anchorage at the Anchorage Artists Co-op. What fun to meet the crafter and buy her wares. Fell in love with more items at the shop. I 'll go back and buy some eclectic paintings of ladies on the beach with S-E-W-A-R-D and A-N-C-H-O-R-A-G-E written across their paper mache'd bums. I'm going back, after all-----I was born in Seward and they just speak to me...well, sort of. Photos coming this next week of this quirky artwork.

Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska

Coffee and a Book

Enjoying a cup of Java from Bear Mountain Espresso (Mike and Leslie's Espresso Shop in Chugiak) and reading a great book, new release entitled "Alaska's Heavy Light"by Barbara Hunt. My good friend, Marty, brought me an autographed copy along with her mother's autograph, my godmother: Janet Kincaid. She's a featured character in the book.

ISBN#: 978-160844-166-2 $19.99 USA

"Alaska's Heavy Light is a braided novel about sunlight, death, and the cadence of small places. This story is the real northern exposure, with a ripe, scary plot, a tight regional setting, and a twisted cast of characters.

Alaska politics and folklore often collide on the edge of the wild. But, it is more than a mystery when an outbreak crashes down at the intersection of civilization and the wilderness in the stunning Matanuska-Susitna region of Southcentral Alaska. Abruptly, the world's media spotlight begins to shine on the locals and their unique lifestyles. Heightened scrutiny reveals the buss of both madness and sanity.

Set in the small Alaskan towns of Palmer, Wasilla and Moose Cross, Alaska's Heavy Light tells the universal 'little story' about local people, politics and place. Mountains and media are essential characters in this story. Community chaos, conflict and commentary unravel as the crazy, local political theater dramatizes the personal face of disaster."


Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska

Sports in Alaska is just like sports anywhere else. I think, anyway. My grandson enjoys soccer here in a town league. It's important to stay active and Alaska its a bit more of a challenge. I have friends that cross country ski all winter. I used to but......I do have a treadmill and enjoy walking in the winter. I don't like walking outdoors once things get cold enough to see your breath. My sons love to snowmachine all winter, they love ice-fishing and anything that takes them outside.

When my brothers and I were young, we didn't do organized sports until Junior High or High School. Times are different now. I think the sports in middle and high school kept us out of the majority of trouble that we would have found otherwise. I do say, the majority of the time. When our sons were 5, in Delta, we started them in hockey. It was quite the commitment. We'd have to practice every night and travel in our own rigs during the weekends to places like Tok, Northway, Glennallen, Kenny Lake and more. We were so busy and since it was not a school sport, we had to finance it totally. It was wonderful though and we were young enough not to think much of the activities. Our daughters played volleyball, softball, basketball and also did skating. Boy, we were busy.

I don't know if my dad did sports but I know my mom did. Basketball was the sport of the villages. I smile at the thought of my family members in their uniforms. Those black and white photos just don't do it justice! It's February now and time to get into phase 2 of my exercise program. Time to kick it up a notch. Hope the same to you and yours. My idea of kicking it up a notch is to go 1/2 hour longer on the treadmill. Good luck with your routine! Stay healthy and don't let the February Funnies get to you!


Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska

Breakfast Cookie

Ever want cookies for breakfast? Well, Leslie whipped up some dandies this a.m. Here's the recipe:

BREAKFAST COOKIES
3/4 - 1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 - 1 cup applesauce
2 cups oatmeal 1 3/4 cups flour
2 eggs
1 tsp bkg. pwd.
1/2 tsp bkg. soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup coconut
3/4 cup almonds
2 ground flax seed
1/3 cup butter

You know the drill: Cream the sugar and butter, add eggs. Mix dry ingredients, add to creamed mixture. Add remaining ingredients. Bake 375 oF until lightly brown (about 10 - 12 minutes). You won't regret trying these! Add your own twist to them and add your favorite ingredients.

Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska

Dog Treats Gramma Style

Grandsons Landon and Colton make dog treats for Boomer and Rusty. Here's the recipe from Martha Stewart:
www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.aced 15a43ald10e593598e10d3

This makes 2 dozen Paw-Print Dog Treats. We also made some in small heart shapes for Valentine's Day celebration.



Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska

Happy January from us!

Happy January. January is bringing more sunshine. Thank goodness. Little Wyatt and Wesley visited gramma's house and pulled all the pillows, blankets and chairs they could manage to and built their fort. They'd been outside snowmachining and came in to warm up. The sun is out but the wind was blowing. Always makes it worse to stay outside in the wind. January 2010, who'd a thought we'd have such a good winter so far? Compared to last year, we'll take it!


Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska

Life in the Bush is Blogged About

Life in the bush is blogged about.  Guns, Grub and ? http://community.adn.com/adn/node/147056
Love it!  Read all about it as two worlds merge.

For me, I'm going to expand our self-sustainability lifestyle to include a greenhouse next year and purchasing quail.  I think I am, I think I can.  Quail incubate in less time (14 days) and are ready for eating or laying in 6 weeks but quit laying at 6/7 months I think it is.  Don't quote me on that.  Marsh Farms in Georgia raise and sell them.  I'm going to give them a call.  I'd buy the eggs and incubate them.  I have been getting pressure from my kids, where's the chickens mom?  We love to eat our own home-grown raised meat or go out in the elements and hunt them ourselves.  It's what we've always done.  I used to raise about 100 chickens and harvest them every late summer.  We'd get that chicken plucker out, the big washtub heating on an open fire and process our own.  My mother-in-law was an expert in it and taught me well.  They were raised, not on fast growing feed, but rather our grain.  At 55+, I'm regressing.  Surprised?  Those who know me, won't be. 

Scott has a bison harvest today, I am heading to town to help press blocks for compiling 2 or 3 fire quilts for victims of house fires in our area.  My trucks plugged in, the Calico Cow is ready as Lee Ann and I set up yesterday and ready for the guild members.  I certainly would hope we won't be needing the quilts, but that's not usually the case. 

January is when Alaskans think of spring, just like everywhere else in the U.S., although we have to wait a bit longer.  Warmer soil doesn't happen until May here. 


Ruby Peck-Hollembaek
Farmer/Rancher/Retired Educator
Delta Junction, Alaska