Exploring Sunshine Bay

We had a built-in vacation day on Valentine's Day, so we took the snow machine out for a ride.

Getting dressed up.

A couple from our school followed us to Emmonak.

On the way back, Nathaniel took me to "Sunshine Bay," an abandoned fish packing plant on the Yukon River.  I didn't exactly know what all the buildings were used for, so we walked around.

I didn't want to take any of my gear off because it was 13 below zero!

Frosty faces

Nathaniel on the old loading dock.

I took a break on some chairs behind one of the buildings.

There were boardwalks connecting the buildings together.

This building had a sign reading "Sunshine Hilton."  

We went inside the "Sunshine Hilton" and here's what we found:

I don't think we'll ever be spending the night there...

This looked like a house.

The colder temperatures were just what we've been needing to safely travel on the river.  However, the sudden drop in temperatures, and lack of snow fall this winter created some problems for us.

Since our water and sewage pipes are above ground, pipes all around our village had trouble with freezing and some breaking.  Four of our teacher housing units have been out of water/sewage going on day 4.  Unfortunately, we are one of those units.  We had water stored on hand already.

We've been using this 5 gallon container to fill our Brita pitcher for drinking water.

This was one of those weeks where I said, "dishes can wait till the weekend."
So, this weekend I loaded up our dirty dishes in a tote and (hand) washed the dishes at a friend's house just a few steps away.  

Before the sewage went out, we had to throw a pitcher of water down the toilet to make it flush.

Since we can't put anything down the drain, our neighbors invited us to walk over any time we need to go to the bathroom or take showers.

When we brush our teeth, we have to use a cup, and then toss the water outside.

When the water/sewage does get fixed, we will not have anything important to complain about!

Something to Cheer About

We finally got enough snow to take the snow machine out for a ride.  We had to pick up a few snacks for the Super Bowl, but we haven't shopped at the store in so long, I was a little shocked by the prices.

Here was our total for the items above...

I tried a new pretzel recipe.  I was looking for "Auntie Anne's" recipe, but this one [click here] claimed to be a copy-cat.  These pretzels were a little softer and sweeter than the ones I usually make.  Still, they turned out great! 

I was making these for 8 people, so I doubled the recipe... which was WAY too much!

 

Snow covered roads, yay!

The cheerleaders after their half-time dance at a Friday night basketball game.

The game went into overtime, it was a nail biter. 

 We won the game!

Ice in January

Since Christmas, we have been having crazy warm temperatures, unlike the rest of the lower 48.

Unfortunately, with the weather warming and cooling off, we have had to walk around on this thick bumpy ice.

Last week puddles started to form on top of the ice.

The river is still frozen enough to ride on, but we haven't taken the risk.

 Someone riding their four-wheeler on the river.

The sunsets after 5:00pm now!

Cheerleading practice one day after school.

My junior high classes did "buddy reading" with the kindergarten class one morning.

They also got to play P.E. with them for a few minutes.

We got snow last night, so it covered up all this ice, seen here!