There are a lot of little things about Alaska that I would love to remember. For example, muskox are very typical to see around here. You are not allowed to get close to them but there is a short hunting season for them. They are like the cows of the north. They just wonder around the tundra and eat grass. It is always fun to see them in the most random places you can think of. We've seen them everywhere from near White Alice (the weird radio thing on top of Anvil Mountain) to eating grass near the correctional center. I remember reading somewhere that these animals are the closest animals we have from before the Ice Age. There is a picture of muskox above... clearly I don't have a good zoom function.
Another aspect of Alaska that I love is the ability to walk out to the tundra and pick berries. It sounds silly but it is a lifestyle. Many people pick enough berries for the winter. Typically berries go into Eskimo Icecream, which consists of seal oil, crisco, berries, and maybe some other things. It sounds nasty but it is pretty good! I typically make jam out of the berries. Pancakes are another good use of the berries. Between Leah and I, we have enough to last all winter. There is something very peaceful about picking berries so we always try and find an excuse to pick more berries.
Fireweed is another thing that is big up here. It is a flower that grows just about everywhere. It is so pretty and brings a lot of life to this part of the world. This purple flower is used to make honey, wine, and jam. I haven't made wine but my attempts at the other two are pretty good!
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