December in Twin Hills

Dear Family and Friends:

Uivik (December)
"Time of Going Around:  The turning point, more literally, the place to turn.  The longest night, near the end of the month, in turn promises the gradual lengthening of the days".

Bristol Bay Value of the Month:
Illaten llu angussaagucimaluki kesianek:
Provide for and take good care of your family!

Here is my last post for 2015!  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas or Happy Chanukah!  December in Twin Hills has been mild.  We have had a variety of weather: cold rain, snow, and frost!
During this time of year generally people will hunt for a white bird called ptarmigan.  It has been a little difficult to hunt for ptarmigan this year because the winter has been mild.  Andy Redmond (Meghan's husband) gave me my first hunting lesson.  We only spotted 2 ptarmigan and Andy was able to shoot one of them.  I have learned that it is hard to see these feathered friends because they can often be mistaken for snow!
Another common activity in the winter is that people will go ice fishing.  I have yet to experience the ice fishing, but I hope to soon!
Once the frost settles in the most common form of transportation is a snow mobile.  One of the parents created a path on the river with his snow mobile to Togiak.  People were able to travel by snowmobile to Togiak for about 2 weeks tops.
We had  a successful ornament fundraiser at our school.  It was great to see family and friends get together to make ornaments and drinking hot chocolate on a cold night!  We also had our Christmas Potluck and Meghan presented the school wide digital Christmas program.  Another successful potluck and I did try walrus blubber and clams!  The walrus blubber was an interesting experience needless to say!
Here are a few parting words to wrap up 2015.  I pray and hope that everyone has an adventurous, healthy, and prosperous 2016!  I pray that everyone keeps living this life as each day is an adventure because it is!  Thank you to all my family and friends who have inspired me and supported me in taking this life time adventure.  There are not enough words to express my gratitude.  Enjoy the various pictures I have taken this December and I look forward to sharing with you more pictures and learning experiences!

Quyangalleq Nutaghamun Ayumiqulleq- Happy New Year

Remember
"Not all who wander are lost"
~Lil' Adventurers

Ingricuarr

Welcome To Ingricuarr- Twin Hills

Dear Family and Friends:
Happy December!  I know it has been awhile but finally here it is.  I am giving you a tour of Twin Hills, Alaska with a little history!  Enjoy and let the countdown begin until Christmas!

Twin Hills was founded or developed in 1965 after the "Great Flood" that occured in the village of Togiak which is across the river from Twin Hills.

Above is Twin Hill's first fuel storage which held 10,000 gallons of fuel for the entire village.  

This stump is by the old teacher housing.  This stump is what is left of the first school that was built in Twin Hills.  It burned down in the late 1970's.  Thankfully no one was in the building . Some people believe the furnace overheated to cause the fire and some believe it may have been an electrical wiring issue.

This little green building is the pump house that provides water to our entire community.

Salmon cut and hung to dry.  

Next to the "house" used for drying salmon is a closed in house in which the dried salmon is then smoked.  I have to say it is a tasty treat.  It reminds me of beef jerky!

The first Church and school building for the village that was built somewhere between 1966-67.  The first school teacher was from Boston.  John Mark, Jessica’s Father and the village Health Aid, explained that the teacher used to run every day from the Church to the top of the road.  He had asked why the teacher always ran like he was in a hurry and the teacher explained “Don’t your people eat humans?”  After he was reassured that was not the case, the teacher did not run or sprint anymore.

The little brown building above I believe was the first Health Aid Clinic in the village.

Above the modern looking, brown building stores the generator for the village.

This blue building currently is the Twin Hills Council and the laundromat for the village.  This blue building used to at the airport. 

This little grey building is part of our airport today.  On top are rotating lights that go on when planes are landing at Twin Hills.  

This is the second Church in Twin Hills.  Currently this is where services are held weekly or monthly. 

The current building is the second Health Clinic built in Twin Hills.  The clinic is named after the person Julius Pleasant who named Twin Hills.  When deciding on a name apparently Julius looked to the North and saw the two hills.  He claimed the appropriate name for the village would be Twin Hills. 

 Since an ambulance is not available in Twin Hills, if there is a true emergency where a person needs to be put on a stretcher, the top wagon with wheels can be attached to a four wheeler.  The springs you see near the tires help absorb the shock when transporting a person.  The red wagon below with the skis on would be used for when it is icy and can be hitched to a snow mobile. 

The Cannery that looks out over Togiak River was in Twin Hills before people decided to reside in Twin Hills.

 The shore of Bristol Bay as the sun sets.

Quyana (Thank You) Jessica and John Mark for making this history lesson of Twin Hills possible!

I hope everyone enjoyed this little virtual tour of Twin Hills.  You will notice the change of leaf colors in this blog.  The pictures were taken in October.  

I love you and miss you all!  Stay tuned for the next blog which will feature December in Twin Hills!

Remember, 

"Not all who wander are lost"

Until next time!
Lil' Adventurers!