Spotlight Student Luncheon with Marina

Today was Marina's Spotlight Student Luncheon at McNeil School. She invited Valda. We came to McNeil and had a luncheon in the library. Everyone introduced themselves...mostly the parents introduced the families, but Marina insisted on doing the introduction. She was super happy to be able to also introduce Valda.

We got our corn dogs from the cafeteria and headed right over to the library.

Valda made a new friend at the luncheon. We aren't sure what happened but this squirrely little guy came right up to her and gladly sat right down. He really was the entertainment. At one point he was quizzing Marina on math and you could tell she had older brothers because she was not going to be stumped! And she wasn't.

Valda could not remember the last time she ate a corn dog or baked french fries. I couldn't either for that matter. (I will say that I was proud of Falcom today for preferring a packed lunch to a hot lunch! Maybe I'm rubbing off!)

If you look into the far left corner of this picture you will see Elizaveta, my friend from Seldovia. I kept noticing her watching me throughout the lunch. I can almost read her thoughts, "Falcom's mom is crazy...she takes pictures of every little thing! How can they stand it?" Luckily, she is too shy to say that out loud.

After we ate our so-called main part, the sixth graders brought around some delicious ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream on top. All the Old Believer kids sitting around us swirled that ice cream until it made a terrific drink. Marina joined in and somehow did not get ice cream all over herself.

We were lucky enough to then get the full tour of Marina's classroom. We got to show Valda her desk and all the good work she is doing. Thank you Marina for a great time today!

Cooking tip: yesterday evening Vince took a very old piece of moose out of the freezer and put it in the crock pot. We didn't eat it all. It didn't taste bad, but I thought it was a bit old and gamie. Willie and DeeJay also loved it but they also love spam and canned jack mackerel. Tonight I took the left over moose meat and made an Indian curry with potatoes and carrots, no coconut milk. It looked like stew but was spicy and got thumbs up from both high schoolers and Valda and the fabulous Suzanne (who I was fortunate to have over and who I forgot to photograph.) So remember, old moose and curry is a good combination!

Sunrise October 30. Look at how today it is pink. Isn't that incredible?