Surpise!

On Sunday Berry came home from Anchorage. First, Joe and I went up with the HOnda because I heard the plan come. When we got to the airport there was no plane in sight. We waited a half hour and Joe had the wise idea of checking to see if Sopie, our Frontier Flying Service Agent, brought her down. Well, we went back to the apartment and Sophie was there and she told me that Berry had to stay because there was not any room on the plane. I was a little upset and thought Sophie was joking so I went to look in my apartment and there was the little monster. I was so happy to see her. She seemed pretty calm and later she passed out because she was so tired. I really wanted to take her berry picking but thought it would be best if she rested one more day. A good friend Matt (Mandy's husband) watched her for me and said she slept almost the whole time.

So we (Joe, Mandy, and I) went berry picking for Salmon Berries by Mukluk. This is also the place where we have our duck blind. There are lots of little ponds around and very muddy in some places. It was nice to walk with Mandy all the way out there to discuss the plants and the uses for them. As I was walking I stepped in what I thought was solid ground but was mud and it sucked me right in. It was pretty funny.

The mosquitos were so bad that you could hear the buzzing in the air. We found lots of big Salmon Berries in a few different patches. Then we walked a little further into more of a salt water marsh and found some more. We were so surprised when we found hundreds of bushes full of blueberries! We picked a quart in only 30 minutes! The mosquitos were so bad we wanted to leave but I was torn: leave or pick more berries?

I was thinking to myself as I was picking berries, this is why I love Alaska. I can pick fresh fruit from the land, surrounded by mountains and the beauty of God's creation.

I can't wait for blueberry pancakes and Jam!