Fall in Alaska

Mike and I are enjoying the fall colors here in Alaska! It is such a beautiful time of the year!!!!

The Giant Cabbage

The giant cabbage has been picked!

All summer, I have nurtured the little plant as it grew and grew. On a weekly basis, I encouraged it and told it that it could grow up big like all the other giant cabbages in Alaska. With each tender word and each sunny week, the little cabbage grew and grew and grew!

So, on this crisp fall night, Mike and I went to the garden with a very sharp knife. I do believe I almost saw its leaves cringe in fear of the shiny blade. I bent down to to caress it for one last time. Then, Mike, with his manly arms, bent over, jerked it right out of the ground, and trimmed off the root.

With a hint of sadness in my eyes, I looked at Mike and questioned if we should have waited another few days. However, with the temperatures at night dropping to near or below freezing, I knew it was time. Yes, it was time to pick it, cook it, freeze it and eat it.

Once it was cleaned up, we put it on the scale. With all the leaves, it topped out at 27 pounds. Oh, what a beautiful cabbage!

Labor Day Weekend Moose Hunt

Mike and I went on our first moose hunt of 2011 this weekend. Yesterday, we saw lots of "nuggets" and other signs that moose had been in the area, but no moose. Today, we saw three cows before we ever got to our hunting site, but not a single bull. Regardless, we had lots of fun tromping through the woods with very little sleep, heavy packs and loaded guns!

When we got to our site, it was just above

freezing with frost on the blueberry plants.

If Kristie sees a bull, she'll club it to death!!!!

Mike takes a quick break for a snack.

We were breaking in a moose bedding area!

Mike actually let Kristie load the gun!