Holiday Activities

Although Amelia and Rostam had to leave before Christmas, we had a good long visit from them with time for lots of fun activities. Here is Rostam with Yasent and Lucas.

Last year Anne won a buche de Noel from Mill Bay Coffee. We shared it for Christmas dinner and I was reminded that I used to make them regularly during the holiday season. But it was so long ago that not one of my children remembered. So I've started the tradition again and here is this year's effort.

For years the grandchildren have made gingerbread houses each Christmas. This year we did a variation and created sleighs complete with reindeer and decorated cookies to fill the sleighs. Doing four of them took about 3 days from beginning dough to the last one being secure enough to move. Here is Lucas with his sleigh. His reindeer were not yet ready when this was taken.

Yasent was very careful and elaborate with his creation.

Enjoying the Grandchildren

It is fall and school has started. Amelia and family came for a brief visit before their big move to Boston. Since they will not be here at Christmas we made a haunted spooky gingerbread house for Rostam.

Rostam was dressed for the holiday as a fuzzy-fronted bat. His cousin Maya opted out of her cheerleader costume for a lovely outfit brought to her from Vietnam by family friends.

Auntie Anne always jumps at the chance to read to her nieces and nephews. Maya is sporting the cheerleader outfit.

Yasent was here on picture-taking day so I was able to photograph him in the new shirt.

Maya's choice for an S item during alphabet week was an obvious one, a large snake made by my niece, Whitney.

Lucas is always making fantastic creatures out of legos.

Maya had a couple of sick days when her mother was out of town. She was a good patient and so sweet with her rosy pink cheeks.

Trying new Activities

Yasent produced an excellent pan of scones on Saturday, scones that he shared with his cousins and later with his Nana. Apparently the children discussed the possibility that they have innate cooking skills since their Nana's maiden name was Cook. I'm going to give a lot of credit to Lucas and Maya's dad who is a chef.


Lucas quite happily lost another front tooth during the tea party.

Through Alaskan Eyes

This past week we spent on the Kenai Peninsula. We took the ferry from Kodiak to Homer and were met by dear friends who live on the Kenai River. We spent the week at their lovely home and enjoyed drives, berry picking, playing cards, dominoes, good food, and lots of laughs. Old friends are such good friends.

Getting down to the Kenai River was easiest on a 4-wheeler.

This is the view from the deck.

Reflections on the road from Kenai to Seward.

Some of the magnificent views in Seward.

Part of the town of Seldovia as seen from the ferry.

What the folks of Seldovia see from their waterfront.

Kodiak's Bounty

Last night a dear friend brought a bucket of fresh blueberries to bridge club. She had picked them herself and brought along zip-lock bags so we could take some home. There were berries for everyone and I was reminded of how lucky we are to live in a place with such fantastic food and friends.

Last week another friend offered Bill a spot on a fishing charter.

The result was several filets of king salmon to smoke.

And some was even the most prized of all fish, the white king!

Efforts by Yasent and his cousin Jordan resulted in this salmonberry pie being enjoyed by Lucas.

Together Again

Anne and Yasent arrived in Kodiak today after two months away. Their extra three weeks in Africa were spent on a private preserve and in and around Cape Town. Yasent got to have a week of board lessons in the wonderful South African surf.


The travelers came laden with African gifts. Here Maya poses with her beaded headband, her wooden animal necklace, and her vuvuzela.

There were vuvuzelas for everyone and after a brief practice inside the house the children were sent outside to see if the sound would echo off the lake. I'm sure the neighbors near and far will soon be clamoring for more.

And a Few More

It is too hard to limit all the photos to a favorite few but I'll give it a try. Here are two young impala

I love this giraffe photo because of the golden tones of giraffe and leaves.

Could be a matched set of kudu.

I have to give Anne credit for this fantastic waterbuck photo.


This kudu had the typical impressive horns

Some of my Favorites

We have left South Africa but are still basking in the warm glow of the fantastic hospitality we were shown, the memories of thousands of animal sightings, and the extreme pleasure of sharing it all with family members. Here are a few of my favorite photos that Anne took.


The black-backed jackel followed the lioness all over. He was probably hoping for some left-overs.



There were seven giraffes crossing in a line. They didn't all make the photo.

I love the way Anne caught the water pouring from their mouths.

Up Close with the Critters

Conveniently just down the road from our cottage was a reptile park, practically walking distance. Yasent first enjoyed a bit of crocodile wrestling.

Seriously the croc above is made of concrete. But the boa that Yasent has draped around his neck is very much alive. Note the tail of the snake beneath his right arm.

Feeding an ostrich can be a bit intimidating.

This is a close-up of one of the bateleurs we got to see and pet. Bill holds Yasent so he can reach the bird.


Here is the very young spotted hyena that we were able to see at the rehabilitation center. He is being hand-raised.