Feb 2010 – Pondering a Century of Living

At age 101, Opal Paul can’t figure why anyone would make a fuss that she’s lived more than a century. The year Opal Paul was born, Albert Einstein presented his quantum theory of light, the Boy Scouts was founded, and…

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Sept 2009 – Seven Bear Summer

I lived in Alaska more than ten years before I saw a bear. Evidence was everywhere. Paw prints and scat on the trails in Chugach State Park continually reminded us of our proximity to one of the wilderness’ most iconic…

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Dec 2009 – Love Came Down

Skiing along Eagle River offers a peaceful reprieve to the demands of work and family, especially during the hectic rush of holiday activities. There is a different quality to the river during this season. Ice has silenced the rushing sound…

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Aug 2009 – Managing Miss Millie

I can measure the seasons of my life by the dogs I’ve owned – one per decade so far. Each dog has come with its own gifts and challenges and until now the gifts have always outweighed the challenges. For…

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July 2009 – Old-Fashioned Icecream Social Benefits Walker Family

When my two grandsons dipped into a heaping bowl of icecream last Sunday, they weren’t thinking about the reason behind Our Redeemer Lutheran Church’s icecream social. They just enjoyed the whipped cream and sprinkles on top of their sundaes. Could…

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June 2009 – Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

I have new neighbors and not long ago, we built a fence together. Our horses share a pasture and all is well when they are out grazing on sweet spring grass. However, domestic disputes broke out once the horses returned…

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May 2009 – Garden Dreaming

Although many of the local greenhouses have been open for several weeks, I’ve not indulged in the pleasure of a visit just yet. It will be awhile before Alaska’s cool ground warms enough for the tender young plants reared in…

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April 2009 – Little Horses, Big Mountains and the Hunt of a Lifetime

Even before Jim Kedrowski landed in the mountains of Tajikistan, before he put his sites on a Marco Polo, the world’s largest species of sheep — he knew he was in for an adventure. Kedrowski is a hunting guide and…

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March 2009 – Mind of the Musher

Why do Iditarod mushers brave the relentless cold, the rough terrain, and the mind-numbing fatigue of the race? Beyond the challenge of the trail and the excitement of competition, the answer lies somewhere in the head and heart of a…

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Feb 2009 – Alaska Aglow

When winter’s darkness first descends on Alaska, it has the cozy feel of a comfortable blanket. I tend to breathe a sigh of relief by late September when the summer’s maniacal activities begin to wind down. Frantic fishing, a steady…

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