Why Does Mema's Shack Have So Much Fairy Magic?

Upon close investigation, it becomes clear why Mema's Shack is surrounded by so many fairy's and their magic.

Fairy Hospital attracts fairies from far and wide.

Bees keep the flower pollen moving after the fairies have been working on the flowers. They also keep the air swirled.

Beautiful pathway leading down to creek

The Star Fairy House is a party place, with food and dancing.

Have a safe trip Mema, we love you!

Mema's Last Book Group for a While

With Mema Mary leaving to return to Sacramento, the East End Book Group scrambled to have a meeting before her departure. The book is Three Cups of Tea and no, I didn't read this one either. Luckily for me I had a kick-butt recipe that would win me back into the good graces of the ladies for being a book group tag along.

The recipe is from another favorite blog, chubby hubby, based out of Singapore. The recipe is for a mousse cake made with Pop Rocks. I found the idea of it completely intriguing and felt that I this would be a perfect accompaniment to the book since the book is set in Afghanistan. I could call the cake, Explosive Chocolate Cake or Roadside Bomb Cake.

It is a complex concoction, with a hazelnut/milk chocolate crust and whipped chocolate mousse in the center. Oh, and of course, Pop Rock knock offs, Kaboom Rocks in the crust. Through the course of making this recipe I had further reason to adore Vince, he made all the metric conversions in his head for me. How smart is that guy?

The girls are all fantastic to see. Jeanne and Suzanne are gearing up to start their school year on Thursday. Suzanne told us about her scary 'bad idea' drive down the switchback road to the Russian Village. Mindy told us about her run in with the super rich of Homer at the Bagich fundraiser. Charlotte tried to gently explain Kilcher Family dynamics revolving around the annual Homestead Games. Mema talked about going back to Sacramento, and how she wouldn't be back until January. We all gasped and then Mindy said, "You will bring the sunshine with you and cheer us all up."

Everyone brought wonderful dishes to the event. And we all pigged out massively. Especially me. Then I brought out the Road Side Bomb Cake. To my pallet, the addition of the pop rocks was not an overwhelming sensation as much as a gentle tingling with a slight gentle ginger tang remaining. I am afraid to go to Weight Watchers tonight. All my .2 losses are going to be gone for sure now!

Thanks girls for the good times and great food.

Rainy Saturday Dinner with Mema

Hard to imagine that we have come to the point in the summer where things are winding down. I know this because there are a few tell tail signs. For instance, the sun is setting at a reasonable time of night. The fireweed has started blooming. Mema is getting ready to return to Sacramento.

After Mema shot her annual family photo of our clan, we took our regular positions around the table for some pork chops, corn, green beans, salad, rice and started sharing stories from our day:

Vince had taken some folks out fishing in the rain this morning and got really chilled. He did catch a 65 pounder and that made it worth while.

Willie went first. He had a wonderful day at work. DeeJay was kind and helpful to him. Rita had bought deserts for all of the workers. Rita said kind things to him and that made him feel super good. He and his co-workers enjoyed the deserts that Rita bought and DeeJay was joking with the others and really making everyone laugh. It is wonderful for me to see Willie getting validation from hard work.

DeeJay also had a similarly wonderful day, and was much more detailed about his job; especially the ins and outs of weeding and bush whacking. He wondered about the reasons that people would stop working at the garden; like when they say the pay is not enough. I think this is a lay over of Saipan working class culture. "What? There are other jobs out there that pay more or pay less? Interesting..."

Falcom had a wonderful day as well. His friend Chasey came over for the day and they had a wonderful play date together. They played Barbies. They saw the chickens and the baby chickens. They played Bratz. They played Playmobile. They watched a short movie that they acted along with. What a great day.

Marina had a difficult day. Because Falcom had had a play date with Chasey she was feeling left out all day. When I came from town I snapped this picture. Dad was really cheering her up with remote conversations. Isn't the whole scene incredible? The velvet dress, the curly hair, the muddy boots, the mud/chicken poo ground, the chicken under her arm and the walkie-talkie? What an Alaskan Girl!

Then she told us that the best part of her day is when she climbed to the top of the tallest tree behind the chicken coop. In fact, it was a good thing I wasn't there because it would have "really stressed you out mom, I was so high!" That is when she said, "I climbed so high I could see Bali from there!" (FYI: Everything is going well in Bali. The people are warm and having fun. The restaurants are still making good food from the looks of it. The monkeys are all happy.)

Mema had a fun time at the Pick-n-pay, where she found a lovely little dish. She went to the galleries that she enjoys, she went to the Boatyard for lunch. She got a new little ladder for her cute house which she is going to paint and install like shelves in the kids room. She is sad to leave Alaska so soon, but glad to be able to see our cousins Karly and Zac. (This is where I need to send a big Alaskan Hello! to Sandy Stars! So glad to know that you are out there!)

I told everyone that I was making a fancy cake for the book group meeting at Mema's on Sunday night and that nobody had better mess with it!

I will miss Mema when she goes back to Sacramento! But I am glad I get to have you in my life as much as I do. I love you mom.

Construction and Aziza's Birthday

The ever-active Greear Family, had a relatively mellow couple of days. Vince has been working on the next phase of our house building project, by creating himself a shed. Soon he will have his own space to keep his stuff and he will never be able to accuse anyone of moving the item he was searching for again. I suppose this will only be true if he puts a padlock on his shed, because just like chickens in a new flowerbed, the kids will be constantly getting into the shed for no reason other than it is a new place to go.

Falcom and Marina were invited to the annual Aziza Bali Shemet-Pitcher birthday-fest. This tradition is special in my heart because I have known these friends since we returned from Saipan. I've been hanging with their moms since the post 9-11 days of our Radical Mommy Playgroup. We moms have mellowed with age (OK, let me hedge that by adding 'most weeks'...) and have all gone through many things that would qualify under one of Buddhisms '4 Noble Truths'. It is fabulous to watching the years pass, our friendships deepening, with this delightful event as a marker.

Aziza's name strikes me solidly on two counts. One, the reference to Bali. (I know, like Duh.) Also the four names in a row remind me of an island name, like, Maru Joseph Villagomez Castro Manalisay.

Our family arrived in time to help fill water balloons. Karen was busy getting things ready for the majority of guests to arrive. Don was getting salmon on the grill and setting up the slip-n-slide. Mindy and I decided to make ourselves a cup Vietnamese coffee from the instant packs I carry in my purse for emergencies. Eric put to words thoughts that I have always had but have never been able to verbalize. He said, "I love Asian junk food. If I could read what was in this pack in English I would never drink it, but because it comes from Asia, it is like suddenly perfectly great and I love it!" Then the three of us took a moment to breath in the smell of morning in Vietnam. I am ashamed to say that that is as far as I got with helping Karen with her party.

Usually, Ziza orders up bright sunshine for her birthday. Sadly, today was the one year out of 7 where it rained.

The Shemet-Pitcher family had been up late the night before processing crab that they'd gotten from their crab pot. Where else in the world does a girl have fresh crab and salmon at her birthday? We adults jumped into the crab the minute Karen put it out. I said, "do you think we should wait for the kids?" Mindy said, "I think this situation is similar to that of oxygen masks on airplanes; 'secure yourself first.'" It tasted great.

Eric was in charge of bringing the cake for Karen and Don. The theme was the Harry Potter sorting hat. Look at this killer cake!Inside the cake Eric had put the sword of Griffendor. It was a cake whose memory will carry on. He has really set the bar with this masterpiece. Cake making tips: This type of cake requires a homemade cake, not a box mix, but an old style dense cake. He refrigerated this cake before carving.

This is Ziza laughing at her sorting hat.

Sleepovers, Swimming, Chickens...Oh My!

Riley and Chris spent the night. I took a risk that I might wake them by taking this picture, but I couldn't help it. They were just so cute.

I hired the boys to help us with the veggie box delivery with the promise of a Two Sisters cookie. When we got there Irene scoffed at eating a cookie that early in the morning (10:30). I thought she was getting off lucky because my kids went top dollar with a chocolate croissant. I am showing these pictures because these were taken when Irene and I were fortunate enough to be outside when the clouds parted over Two Sisters and we got to feel the sun. (An event we haven't experienced in weeks). While Irene and I sat blissfully drinking coffee, the kids went down to the beach and decided to take a quick swim.

Riley and Chris have cold receptors in their bodies (unlike my children) and their lips turned blue quickly. I had to pry Marina and Falcom out and then, they finally admitted to feeling a bit cold.

Exciting farm news of the month is:

Two new members of the flock have hatched! This little red bantie is the first to hatch. I haven't heard her (I use this pronoun hopefully) name yet. I'll keep you posted. One of the most beautiful events I've witnessed in life is a hen teaching her chicks how to eat and drink. The brooding hen is loud clucking gutturally at her chick. The chick peeps loudly back to the hen while imitating the pecking motion of the hen. This natural event is so striking in contrast with the chicks that are popped out of an incubator. A person would never know that there was a strong bond between hen and chick if they were only having chicks mailed in from a hatchery somewhere.

Under Red Mountain is another brand new chick that just hatched today and is not yet ready to learn to eat. Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll get to watch her go through this same lesson. (There I go with that hopeful pronoun again.)

It is a good thing for the flock that this miraculous cuteness happened today, because I went out to the coop this morning and I told all the chickens; Nobody Rides For Free! If this were a real farm you would all be isolated and I would distinguish who is laying, who is not, and who is pecking eggs! Roosters, don't get me started! You should have been a meal months ago. You are all fortunate to be members of a pretend farm. But don't think that things won't change! Start putting out, or else!

Red Mountain and her chicks have bought them all time...

Igloo-versary

Yesterday was Vince's and my 8 year wedding anniversary. Because he was working in Soldotna, we thought it would be a good idea if I pawned off the children with Mema and drove up there to hang out with him. What a great idea! But where is there to stay in Soldotna/Kenai area when the fish are at the height of their run? Being my regular cheap self, I could not justify $175 for a bed at the Aspen.

I mean, really, what is it that makes these mini holidays meaningful? Is it the rose petals on the mattress (which we would not get at the Aspen) or is it the eye contact? Is it the reflection on the passing of time, or the quiet that is made by getting away from the kids for a night? Or is it just laughing at the ridiculousness of a situation?

It was my thought that we could stay in the van, but with all the company that we had, and with the lack of pre-anniversary planning, that big queen mattress that Vince had been sleeping on had been exchanged for a twin. I told him I didn't mind sleeping in the van with him. He said there was not enough mattress space and that he would figure something out.

I said I didn't mind borrowing Valda's super luxury van (it would actually be more like stealing since Valda is out of the country to ask permission). Vince said he did not feel comfortable with that. I told him that I was sure Valda would not mind. Right then he called and asked what I thought about a room called the igloo at a place called the Diamond M Ranch for $45. I said "That sounds PERFECT!"

I picked Vince up at Central Hospital. It is a beautiful new facility. Then we went and got deserts at the Landings. I had this berry layer thing. It was beautiful and tasty. We ate as we watched the river and the fisherman in their summer dance. So pleasant and romantic!

Then we drove up to the Diamond M Ranch. It was a big RV park with a Bed and Breakfast and cabins around. Vince went into the office before me. I walked in and took his hand and the woman (owner) working the desk said, "What! There is two of you! The Igloo is meant for only one!" Vince said, "There is nothing else and so we don't have a choice about this do we?" When she agreed that there was nothing that could be done, we took the stroll over to the Igloo.

Vince and I have had some funny trips together as a couple. I mean, there was that time in Bali with the couples massage and following flower bath. You may remember the story. It's the one where the farm animals outside the window went bizerk after a butchering and then Vince's father was on the other side of the rice paper wall. Yea, pretty much that entire trip to Bali with his Dad is a wild memory... Oh, and there was our honeymoon that we took with my mother. There was the "Yes, we will sit through a timeshare presentation if you will get us a train ticket out of this city!" time in Mexico. Humorous, surreal events have followed us throughout our relationship. This anniversary was no exception.

The igloo is in a large lawn where tents can be pitched at the Diamond M. The bathroom was not a short walking distance away, as the first receptionist had promised. They were more like two hundred yards away. The following pictures show the best part, the size.

Vince entering the Igloo.

Welcome home after a long day!

So spacious!

Just enough room for Vince's single van mattress to squeeze right down beside the child's play kitchen (why that was there I don't know) and the single mattress. We were laughing so hard that my ribs hurt today.

We did take a nice evening stroll where we saw huge bunnies and watched this sunset.

In the morning, Vince went off to work early and I fell back to sleep for another couple of hours. When I awoke, I packed up to take that long stroll to the bathrooms. When I stepped out the door ALL of our tent neighbors were sitting outside their tents, as if they were waiting for me. I proceeded across the lawn self-consciously...I mean, was I snoring? Did I fart?Were we laughing too loud? Luckily only one bloke had the nerve to ask; "Well, how is the igloo?" Knowing that once I got off that lawn I would never see any of those people again I said, "It was definitely an Igloo-versary to remember."

The Face of Alaska?

Falcom and Hunter on the Dock

Jeff Middleton's birthday party was a total smash! It was a perfect blend; friends, music, laughter, sentimentality. Kids were running around playing while adults were mingling. The sun was shining. At one point, nearly everyone had congregated outside on the lawn in the sun and I was standing by Jeff as a small flock of Sandhill Cranes (maybe 7 birds) flew right over head. It was a lot like being toasted by the Blue Angels.

During this party I ran into my friend, S.McB who had just gotten back from the Vaseline 'Face of Alaska' Casting Call. She pretty much dared us all to apply online when we got home from the party. S.P. said, "No Way! You know Vaseline makes many products, and with my luck I'll become the face of K/Y Jelly!" I, however, was intrigued on two levels. One, being challenged by one of the BB collective. Two, incorporating new experiences into what could otherwise become a somewhat routine life.

Willie and I stayed up late filling out the application (we didn't get home from Jeff's until 10:30, and then we chatted with Sheryl and the boys and then started the application). Willie thought it was a fun idea. Vince just shook his head and was like, "Oh, Alana." You can imagine my shock when a 'not small town voice' called our place and asked for ahlana. I started laughing. I asked if I needed to bring anything with me and they said, "How about your husband." I said, "Well, he's out fishing. How about a grandma?" "Yes! Bring the Grandma!"

And so it was, that I was going to my first casting call ever.

Vince and Emily with her 48 pounder

Vince and the Pierce's were down at the harbor fishing early that morning. They called at 1 and Falcom, Marina and I were off to meet them at the harbor. They got many fine looking fish.

Being at the harbor made me doubly laugh about this Vaseline business, because there I was, thinking about this whole, Face of Alaska, thing that my impulsively had gotten me into and there I was, at the harbor watching my children as they climbed into the fish carcass trailer for skins to feed the seagulls. I looked down at my hands, covered in slime and I was thinking, "Gosh this polish is still looking good, even as I skin fish." Is this really someone who is the Face of Alaska? I was giggling. Meanwhile, my super hero husband is teaching tourists how to fillet their fish. Now he is the Face of Alaska.

Then there was Glacier Burgers for the hungry fisher people. Then I went to Mindy's and she fussed over me and got me 'more fancy'. She is also the intellectual voice of reason, because she said, "Do you think they will find any Natives for this campaign? I mean, aren't they the real "Face of Alaska". S. McB called while I was there and I told her how I was going to do it. I was still laughing. She was laughing too. Mindy was laughing too....

I picked up my mom and off to the casting call we went. Sadly, my mother could not qualify because she is leaving for Sacramento before the commercial shoot dates. That bummed me out. Wouldn't that have been a fun thing to do together? Be in a commercial? Next time...

And so, we sat in city hall wondering what I had gotten us into. I signed the SAG waivers, got a number, met a gal from New York City. She took my picture a few times and in I went. They wouldn't let mom come with me. I tried to remember what Rachel had told us about smile and then relax the jaw. But unfortunately, I did not practice it enough during golf lessons that day to be able to incorporate it adequately.

Then I went into council chambers where they had set up the video camera and I was interviewed by another woman who asked me not to notice the camera and just talk to her, like we were old friends. The camera was right over her shoulder and maybe five feet from my face.


She asked a lot of questions. Half way through they put the camera even closer to my face. I can't really remember how I answered any of those questions, but at one point she gave me a bottle of their new product and I looked it over and she told me I could try some....and I proceeded to put it on my hands and legs. Now that I am reflecting on this moment I am realizing, that perhaps I was supposed to put it on my face...I think I'm going to be sick.... I'm laughing again! I am so not Stage Actors Guild material! The dream of that money from the SAG royalties taking us to Bali next winter is wafting away as I think about it...

When we left there, I kind of felt like I was going to puke. I don't really know how I fancy myself, but I like to think of my self more a satirist than a narcissist. Having that camera in my face answering questions, with no give and take from the auditioner was a new feeling. Mom asked what I thought I got out of it; what was the purpose for me in the experience? (She is so wise). All I could think of was that it will help me to help Falcom if he decides to do more work in this field (as it seems obvious that he will naturally migrate towards it.) Now I wait to see.

Sheryl walking out the front door of my house. I thought it looked cool with the mountains in the background.

When I got home, I swooped up Sheryl for our traditional desert tour. This is what we do each time we are together. Once in Fairbanks she drove us for an hour for a Thai Tea. Last time she came to Homer we ate so much desert together that I had the worst case of gastric reflux of my life and that event led to Vince's historical statement, "You've just bought yourself a date with the scope!"

We started at Cups for peanut butter pie, but they were packed, even at the bar, and we were kind of ignored at the door, and so we drove out to the Spit where we stopped at the Spitfire Grill for a Macaroon.

Then we drove back into town and stopped off at Fat Olives for the Macadamia Nut Pie. We also had to have the Peanut Butter Parfait. It had been our plan to finish these and then go to Cups, but who were we kidding? We got through the Macadamia Nut bliss and could barley eat any Parfait. It was unbelievably delicious, and I will say that this morning, I am feeling hungover. So much sugar, so little metabolism.

We came home to this glorious scene from my driveway. Ah, Alaska. I love you!