It's finished = "naatchi" in Inupiaq Eskimo

The hay is in. Season over for 2009. For crops anyway.

"Cook" Bison Stew = "iga" - "kukiu" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Bison Stew

• 2 pounds bison stew meat
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 4 cup water
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 2 stalks celery
• 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
  
• 3 cups cabbage, I like to leave mine in large segments
  
• pepper to taste

Saute onion and celery (until they are translucent) in oil, add bite size pieces of bison stew meat, salt, pepper, garlic and onion; brown and cook about 7 minutes on medium heat. Add stewed tomatoes and water (1 cup of wine or beer optional at this point) and cabbage. Simmer until 45 minutes before serving and add potatoes and other vegetables such as carrots if you'd like. It's important to try and have the potatoes and meat pieces relatively the same size to make a pretty dish and easier for diners.

Some people like to add flour to their stew but I do not. Mix flour with 1 cup of hot broth BEFORE adding to stew should you choose to do so.

Enjoy with home made breads and a glass of red wine or alfalfa wine (milk). I think a nice piece of cake just tops this meal off. My favorite is a nice dense yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

Did I mention I'm dieting this winter?

Cooler temps bring comfort food desires.

Were you "amazed" by the snow? = "kamatchak" in Inupiaq Eskimo

We really weren't shocked, were we? However, the trees looked like they might have been. The snowfall contrasting with the orange and yellow leaves on the trees hint that we weren't quite ready for the snowfall. Crops are still coming in, kids don't have their winter gear yet and Donnelly (2 L's or 1) Dome didn't have snow on it as of yesterday noon.

Goodbye Fall

"Approach" with caution = "ullak" in Inupiaq Eskimo

photo by Stan Lefton

We will leave the homeplace on Saturday around 2 PM and head off to the game ranch. I haven't spent much time down there this summer, if any at all. There have been times that I have spent most of the days down there when the fence and corrals were being built and recently when I thought about building a cabin on the butte.

Its not so approachable for much of the summer by vehicle, only tractor or ATV, due to the boggy ground. The trees have really grown up. I'd like to take some of them down, maybe 20 acres a time and put some oat hay up in July, lay it down for winter pasture but we'll see. Its incredibly peaceful back there.

I just love it, when the kids were young, we'd spend our Sundays down there and have picnics with a hotdog roast over an open fire. Everything is so much busier, time to begin the tradition again, even though its September and there is snow coming down.

Wonderful Wonderful "Fall" = "Ukiaq" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Fireweed turning

Beautiful shades of green, gold and red.

Berries

Cranberries for sauces, jams, jellies and muffins.

Something "brown" is around = "tinukpalaaqtaaq"

Everything seems fall colored - the brown bison, moose, bear and ? Last week I took 2 groups of people out to take photos of the bison at the homeplace. They were curious, wary and not too interested. Soon snow will fall and the winter will be upon us. Its a warm and such a pretty time of year here.

Come "rain" or shine = "sialuk" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Driving home today was sensational as usual. I missed one good picture at Long Lake I think it was, the orange trees reflecting off the lake-dang it, should have stopped but you know I hate to be a nuisance too. The road improves with each year, its so much better. The surface and now with Hicks Creek nothing more than a turn in the road, it is remarkable.

Hunters everywhere on the road, 4 - wheelers, hauling boats, swamp buggies and 4-wheel drive pick-ups. The busiest time of year.

It's nice to be home, no rain so I will get out there and pick some more cranberries and finish off the rhubarb. Time to smoke alittle more fish and make some jerky. Buck still has onions to get out of the garden along with a few more veggies. I hope to put a garden in this next summer. Leslie gave me 2 gallons of snap peas plus some pickled carrots and zucchini.

I attended Father George's service yesterday. He spent 70 years in Alaska helping those in need with the Episcopal Church. For many years he took care of the flowers at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. He baptised me and all my children. He was so kind, funny and loved unconditionally. He will be missed terribly.

The Fall Drive

The Drive from Delta to Palmer is a picture at every turn. Enjoy!

"Today" - A Day on the ranch = "uvlupak"

Just another day on the ranch in the fall in interior Alaska. Stan Lefton took this photo of a bull taking a dust bath and eyeing the camera as he and Larry Jones headed out to assist Scott Hollembaek on their ventures.

The Alaska State Fair

The Alaska State Fair had a tremendous display of veggies, flowers, art, etc. along with the salmon building with the art decorated fish plus acrobats on horses, rides, great food (rhubarb lemonade) and even a reptile display. Of course, the petting zoo is just one of the favorites for kids.