Alakanuk experiences a seasonal economy. 76 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Many have gill net permits, and set net fishermen sell their salmon to Seattle fish buyers. Poor fish returns since 1998 have significantly affected the community. Government employment and retail businesses provide limited year-round employment. Salmon, beluga whale, seal, moose and rabbit provide food sources. Some residents trap. Many residents travel to Emmonak to shop and attend social events and basketball tournaments. Emmonak is 20 - 30 minutes by boat.  There are two ways to get to Alakanuk : flying or by boat.

The young man is dip netting salmon and then his brother brought the fish to me as a gift.  It was a pink salmon or Humpy as called locally.

 Today our first group of volunteers arrive, ready to build.  Our group of Mennonite Disaster Service is planning to build two new houses and raise several in an effort to get above flood stage.

We arrived at Alakanuk Alaska on Saturday afternoon to cloudy skies.  We were met by the FEMA van and brought to our home of the next two months.

This is a town of subsistence living and everyone is fishing while the salmon run.  We enjoyed a fresh wild salmon meal yesterday made by our wonderful cooks, Daisy and Martha.
It is fishing

Next  week we will be posting from Alakanuk. Mennonite Disaster Service has called us to serve in thiss remote village  for a short time.

Images of South Texas 2013

 Welcome to the Rio Grande Valley.

South Padre Island Kite Show

A day trip to Boca Chica

We took our lunch,

flew kites,

hunted shell,

walked  on the beach,

took in some sun,

talked and talked, as good friends should.

 Welcome 

to our camp ground,with Palm tree lined streets.

The trees, shrubs and flowers

 are beginning to bloom. 

Enjoy.

The north pool.
 Love these Sky flowers.

We have some green parrots that like to roost in this park. However, they do not cooperate for picture taking.

The ever present Sudoku puzzle books that we are continually working at overcoming the challenges.

 Elsie made a Key Lime pie for our meal on Thursday eve.  Yummy!

 We grilled ham steak, had baked beans, Napa cabbage slaw and pineapple cheese salad and home grown pickled red beets.  Are we old fashioned- yes. But good food with good folks.

 The ever present internet.

On Friday we went bike riding at Bentsen State Park.

I spent some time in the bird blind and got pictures of some of the

 local birds.

The Green Jay lives in Texas, 

year round.

The hooded Oriole is just as brilliant in real life as the picture.

A younger Hooded Oriole.

A   Great Kiskadee

Below: 

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

 

Aubudon's Oriole  

Another Hooded Oriole

We also biked to the 

National Butterfly Center. 

 We walked though 

Weslaco Nature Center 

one day this week.

 Tuesday mornings, find many of our park residents at the fountain picking up Valley fresh fruits and veggies.

 

Just a few images of South Texas. I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our winter life.