Hi Margaret. I hope you are keeping warm with all this cold weather. Sorry I haven’t written sooner, but Harold has been under the weather which means I have been playing nurse again. I swear that man is such a big baby when he isn’t feeling well. We even had to give away our tickets to Carol Burnett at the Paramount which made me almost sick myself. So I made soup like I always do when someone is sick.
Speaking of soup, there isn’t enough in the world to cure what ails Sarah Palin. Is she maybe a little touched in the head? I mean, I keep hearing that she’s still complaining about how the media “mistreated” her. But she seems to forget no special affects were used. For goodness sakes Sarah, she simply asked you what magazines you read. I swear, the only difference between a moron in real life and a moron on TV is about 10 pounds. And speaking of morons…
I hope I never find myself in the same room as George W. Bush because I love my shoes and it would be a shame to lose one up his ass. I just can’t handle much more of this “legacy tour” of his. A few years ago he was asked if he had made any mistakes and he couldn’t answer the question. Now he decides to let us know that “Mission Accomplished” might not have been a good idea. Oh Really? Turning the war into a public relations opportunity wasn’t a good idea? Announcing mission accomplished when thousands of soldiers would continue to die isn’t just a mistake you jack ass. It’s unforgivable.
So I have a legacy for you Mr. President. When you go to war with other people’s children, you need to take it seriously. Because when you are President and you take your country to war, they ALL become YOUR children.
January 20, 2009 just can’t get here fast enough. Everyone should have a bowl of soup that day and let the healing begin.
Sorry I haven’t been able to write more everyone. Family takes precedent, but below is a little soup recipe you might enjoy. Thanks for stopping by again. I mean it. Really.
Aunt Mary Lou’s Peanut Butter and Carrot Soup
1 large onion diced
1 stalk celery diced
2 lbs. carrots, peeled and diced
1 tsp. vegetable oil
6 cups chicken broth
1 tbs. Worcestershire Sauce
Juice of one large lime
2 tbs. peanut butter
salt/pepper to taste
Using one large stock pot, heat the onion, celery and carrots in the oil until soft. Add broth and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add all other ingredients and continue soft simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Let cool for a bit and then use a blender to puree little by little until the entire stock is smooth. Return to pot to heat before serving. Tastes even better the second day!
Helen, you are a riot and dead on accurate about W. Thanks for the laugh and the recipe.
@Ann – can’t wait to try the potato sausage soup, but I am going to skip the fish and crisco ice cream.
By: Jim on May 23, 2011
at 8:37 PM
I made your soup. I added a little more PB and about an extra 1/2 lb of carrots. It was delicious!
Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts and your recipe.
By: RickU on January 20, 2009
at 10:48 AM
Evening everyone!! or well maybe morning by the time some of you read this.
Well the Anchorage Daily News called me today and interviewed me over the phone for 45 minutes!!!
So hopefully our cry for help will get out there even more.
I am receiving several emails a day asking questions about sending stuff here so that’s encouraging.
I also spoke to our local fisheries rep. and he called a higher up in Anchorage who then called me and was asking how much money an airlift cost and I told him I have no idea. I explained to him that some of you have been talking about that on here and that we needed a contact in Anchorage to help coordinate. He said he was going to call Calista and see what they were doing and would get back to me. He is with YDFDA, Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association. They have given my youth center several donations over the past 3 years. Their last donation paid for 120 brand new coats from Coat for Kids that enabled us to give every child here a new coat. So I am hoping he will be able to help.
As I have been blogging here I have noticed y’all posting recipes so as I sit here enjoying the last of my potatoes in a wonderful potato/sausage soup I thought I would share a couple recipes. Hope thats ok….
Potato Sausage Soup
Ok this isn’t going to be listed right b/c I never measure anything but here it is.
First I chop up some bacon and throw it in a soup pan, then I add 2-3 Johnsonville Sweet Italian Sausage that I took out of the skins and crumbed. I cook those until they are done then I dice up half to a full onion and throw that in. OOh while the bacon and sausage are cooking I peel and dice up some potatoes 2-6 depending on how much I am making.
After the onions are translucent I throw in the potatoes sprinkle in some garlic and add water to cover plus a lil more. I bring that to a boil reduce the heat and simmer it until the potatoes are cooked. Then I dump in some evaporated milk mixed with a lil bit of flour b/c I don’t care for runny soups like them a lil thick. Heat that until it thickens and is heated thru.
MMMM now for those of you that have access to Yukon Dried Smoked Salmon when you throw in the potatoes chop up some 1/2″ by 2″ pieces of dried fish and cook them along with the potatoes.
And ENJOY!!! I never add salt or pepper or too much other spices b/c I have an 18 month old who doesn’t need that stuff in her diet.
Now for dessert
AKUTAQ aka Eskimo Icecream
ok I know y’all are gonna freak out about this but YOU CAN’T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU TRY IT!!!!
First catch a fresh Chee fish or other White fish
clean, gut it, scale it, and slice it up and throw it in a soup pan and cover it with water. Bring it to boiling and cook it until its done.
Let is cool, then remove all skin and bones. Now painstakingly squeeze the heck out of by the handful getting as much water out of it as possible. Crumb/flake it into a bowl paying extra attention to finding any stray bones or scales that might have gotten in there and removing them.
Ok now in another bowl place a little bit less Crisco than there is fish, you gotta kinda eyeball it.
With your hands cream the crisco, have someone add sugar while you go. How much sugar depends on how sweet y’all like your akutaq. I personally also stir in a little bit of vegetable oil just a couple of tablespoons to help make it creamier.
Once you have mixed that like crazy and really beaten in a lot of air with your fingers then have someone poor in frozen berries. Usually about a gallon of them. Now my favorite are Bush AK blackberries and raspberries. Mix like mad until all the berries are thoroughly coated with the fish/crisco mixture. And yes you will have to stop and thaw your hands out occassionally as they will half freeze once you start pouring the frozen berries in.
Clean off your hands. Give a lil bit to the past elders and family members who have passed on then grab a BIG BOWLFUL and enjoy!!!
Hope y’all will try these recipes. Ok I don’t really expect you to try the AKUTAQ but I can guarantee you the soups fabulous.
Talk to y’all later,
Ann Strongheart
By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua on January 19, 2009
at 11:15 PM
To Avotresante–
Thanks for the greeting, Neighbor…I’m in Johns Creek. I know it seems almost sacrilegious talking food in this particular column today, but rather than an Italian beef only, tho, can I make it a combo, with beef AND sausage, extra peppers, please…just like I used to get at”Garden on a Bun” at Harlem and Belmont? (They had great hot dogs, too, hence the name.. but their beef or combo sandwiches were SO much better I’d always make that my first choice. And there are still days, I’d kill for a TomTom tamale from a hotdog stand…or the roast duck and fluffy Bohemian dumplings with gravy from Old Prague Restaurant on Cermak Rd in Berwyn. I still can’t bring myself to do the headcheese, but just in case “The Urge” ever strikes , you might want to get yourself to Adam’s European Deli (P’tree Indl between Abbot’s Bridge (120) and Rogers Bridge in Duluth…and you can likely smell your childhood all over again:-)
By: Joe in Atlanta on January 19, 2009
at 8:07 PM
I made your soup last night–fabulous!
By: PDX MB on January 19, 2009
at 2:54 PM
Charles said:
“I have had some contact with a few grassroots organizations over the years…and though I haven’t been that involved, one of the things I have seen them do as well is post the names, emails, phone humbers of government officials that need to be contacted. In dealing with the Emmonak situation could someone there in Alaska do that for us?”
—————————-
Trying to get that going.
AKM at mudflats made a forum thread for us to kick stuff around in. A couple of folks are getting info but right now session is due to start Tuesday ( Inaugural day not as much fun here- with projected return of the ghastly gov…) and most of those folks are just getting here, unpacking, and trying to get their feet on the ground. They are not reachable yet…
State agencies all answer to the gov. Want to get to legislators…
By: Alaska Pi Δ on January 19, 2009
at 12:19 AM
Oh crap Greytdog-
I’m gonna cry again.
By: Alaska Pi Δ on January 18, 2009
at 9:45 PM
Bruce Springsteen sang this today, and I think it fits this community:
The Rising
Can’t see nothin’ in front of me
Can’t see nothin’ coming up behind
I make my way through this darkness
I can’t feel nothing but this chain that binds me
Lost track of how far I’ve gone
How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed
On my back’s a sixty pound stone
On my shoulder a half mile line
Come on up for the rising
Com on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Left the house this morning
Bells ringing filled the air
Wearin’ the cross of my calling
On wheels of fire I come rollin’ down here
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
Spirits above and behind me
Faces gone, black eyes burnin’ bright
May their precious blood forever bind me
Lord as I stand before your fiery light
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
I see you Mary in the garden
In the garden of a thousand sighs
There’s holy pictures of our children
Dancin’ in a sky filled with light
May I feel your arms around me
May I feel your blood mix with mine
A dream of life comes to me
Like a catfish dancin’ on the end of the line
Sky of blackness and sorrow ( a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness ( a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear ( a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow ( a dream of life)
Your burnin’ wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life ( a dream of life)
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
Copyright © Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)
By: Greytdog Δ on January 18, 2009
at 9:35 PM
troutay- Thank you for the miracle. It made me cry. Not much makes me cry. My sisters have said this was all over the news -over and over- but all I can see are news photos.
This take on what went right is what made me cry .
Well trained everyday people doing their job well- all across the board, every one of them.
Everyday people…
all most of us are ever gonna be.
Yes- they did!
Yes- we can!!!!
Hey Ann- Come on over to Glass Houses and celebrate a smidge. We’ve all been working so hard. Especially you.
See lots of work done here today. Whew. Yee haw- here we go!
By: Alaska Pi Δ on January 18, 2009
at 8:57 PM
OK I am getting requests for donations via paypal. My youth program does not have the ability to accept credit card payments. I do have my own personal paypal account but I am not comfortable using it for this.
All I can suggest is priority mail checks or money orders made out to the City of Nunam Iqua. For those of you who have requested the list of actual families names/addresses/needs I would strongly discourage sending them checks made out to them. There is absolutely NO WHERE here or upriver that will cash 3rd party checks.
And I do not know how many of them have bank accounts that they could send them into. I couldn’t even cash my baby’s x-mas check from her grammie and auntie in WA, even tho I am a City Employee. So 3rd party checks won’t work. They would have to be made out to the City.
Ann
By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua on January 18, 2009
at 8:36 PM
ok here’s the address again,
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Program for Youth
c/o City of Nunam Iqua
101 Mudd Street
P.O. Box 26
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
Thats the address for boxes and or checks if you send a check please make it payable to: City of Nunam Iqua.
Butt paste LOL I personally don’t care for it, first off it looks like Anaq ( Yupik for BM, POOP, S**T) whatever y’all wanna call it. And secondly it doesn’t cover well, seems to rub off too easily. My personal favorite is Bag Balm, or Teat Balm the one that comes in the green tin, it’s awesome put it on diaper rash and a couple of hours later the rash is gone!!!
Crisco sticks are fine but make sure they the original plain kind, can’t use butter flavored to make Akutaq LOL
Ok gotta go finish dinner, mmmm teriyaki moose, rice and veggies, and fruit for my daughter.
Be back later
Ann
By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua on January 18, 2009
at 8:12 PM
Butt paste? Now I’ve heard everything. LOL.
By: drbuzzieboombatz on January 18, 2009
at 8:01 PM
Oh and just recd text from friend – Costco has “emergency food kits” – her thought is that those could go out first while we assemble the rest of the list provided by Ann – more a stopgap measure but Costco ships!
By: Greytdog Δ on January 18, 2009
at 7:21 PM
Hi folks – consider sending the Crisco shortening bars rather than the cans – less weight. Raji, there’s BJ’s & Sam’s – I didn’t include Sam’s earlier because Wally World, as a company, doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to community projects and assistance
By: Greytdog Δ on January 18, 2009
at 7:14 PM
I forgot, I wanted to say hello to Joe in Atlanta, from the 50s in Chicago. Same here! My folks were in Irving Park; Czech/German/Bavarian, and I don’t have the same fond food memories you do. The table was laid with blood sausage, pig knuckles, too many gross things to remember …. I was a very thin child. Outside NE of Atlanta for the last 30 years. Now, old, fat, and eating fresh unpoisoned food from the garden all year round. But I’d give my BFFs right arm for an Italian Beef sandwich. I still smell it in my dreams.
By: avotresante on January 18, 2009
at 7:13 PM
You all might want to repost addresses and info so no one has to go back and find them.
tks!
Ann, you have a beautiful family. And all those lovely people. NO ONE deserves to starve or freeze in our modern world.
By: troutay on January 18, 2009
at 7:12 PM
A humorous note! Bordeaux’s Butt Paste is better than Destin and you can order that from Drugstore.com along with many other items.I will have to look into a website that supplies Crisco.
By: Raji on January 18, 2009
at 7:12 PM
This one is for Pi!
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/16/this-miracle-brought-to-you-by-americas-unions/
By: troutay on January 18, 2009
at 7:11 PM
Hi everyone, just another suggestion. Since Ann mentioned they got packages fairly quickly from places like Amazon, what about ordering supplies from websites that offer free shipping? I’m going to look into that tomorrow. That might help those who would like to donate but can’t get out to shop. Greytdog mentioned Cosco but there are others out there as well.
By: Raji on January 18, 2009
at 6:59 PM
smteaches
Why don’t they get it?
We need a ‘No Child Left without a Career Path’ for the ones who are being left behind in spite of…
By: Jane in Miami on January 18, 2009
at 6:21 PM
Struggling in NI…I hope you (and those in Eme) are flooded w/ boxes! You’ll be receiving some from me as soon as the USPS can get them there! And yes, I’ll send shortening and pack them w/ candy & bubble gum!
)
Thank you for letting us know what practical things you all need. Reading your list is very humbling b/c it is so basic. We’re doing our best to get you everything you need ASAP and to sustain the help through June.
Helen & Margaret, look what the two of you have initiated! What heroes you are! Octogenarians STILL changing your world…and inspiring all of us to stand up and act right along with you!
By: smteaches Δ on January 18, 2009
at 6:20 PM
My neighbor and her husband own a plane. I think they use it mostly to escape from Florida in less than a day.
Enlisting him is not a feasible option but there might be a network of pilots he knows that might have ideas.
When we walk our two miles tomorrow morning, I’ll ask.
By: Jane in Miami on January 18, 2009
at 6:14 PM
Jane in Miami,
You’re absolutely right. We should have MANY more vo/tech schools. Not everyone is going to be academically successful or work successfully in a white-collar job. If we trained more young people to support themselves financially by learning a vocation or trade, we would change the future of our country and our children! I daresay we would cut crime rates, reduce welfare expenditures, reduce drug trafficking, etc., etc., etc., while increasing the self-esteem and self-sufficiency of hundreds of thousands of teens who — right now — are becoming high-school dropouts.
By: smteaches Δ on January 18, 2009
at 6:14 PM
avotresante – omigod, how dense can I be???? I have THREE pilots on my client roster! I’ll email them tonight. I don’t know where they are right now – one flies for US Air, another works with a charter company ferrying highfaluting tooters, and the other is with – holy crap! – DHL international. Okay gotta go send those emails.
By: Greytdog Δ on January 18, 2009
at 6:01 PM
Jane in Miami,
The address I just posted is fine. My youth center is capable of receiving, sorting and distributing whatever comes in. We have experience we have done Coats for Kids twice and Toys for Tots 3 times now, and books from our local health corporation.
I have a list of each family here and what they specifically need and we have enough vehicles and workers so we can deliver to those who can’t make it down to the NIPY Center or don’t have transportation or sleds.
And (knock on wood) if it gets to be too much stuff for the Youth Center then we will put any overflow into the community hall. I have about a dozen workers who can help and I am sure I will not have any problem finding volunteers.
Ann
By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua on January 18, 2009
at 5:53 PM
Hey all. I know I’ve been doing some ranting of my own lately and this might sound like more of it, but please keep an open mind.
I worked for a major disaster relief org, and from my experience, it’s another huge scam. We can’t count on the government for timely help either. The “celebrities” might be something to check out, but who knows one? I have an idea.
Would anyone be willing to hire a private plane to carry supplies? I have a friend who owns a couple of large planes for the business she’s in, and I’ve asked for help for Emmonak. Waiting for a response, and I’m sure there are considerations I’m not aware of as well as the cost. (contracts, insurance, etc. ) She may or may not be able to do it. But private companies might be an idea worth investigating. Is there anyone else out there who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone with some planes? Would anyone be willing/able to contribute to the transportation cost? I’ll let everyone know as soon as I hear one way or another from her.
By: avotresante on January 18, 2009
at 5:48 PM
OOH Joe,
Sorry forgot to respond to you. MMMM AKUTAQ yeah it doesn’t sound good, but once you try and don’t think about what it is, it is absolutely WONDERFUL!! My favorite is Chee fish and Blackberry or blueberry or raspberry Akutaq. Not a real big salmon berry fan altho I did use some that we picked to make jam and that was really good.
We didn’t get to go out berry picking this year. But thankfully the year before we picked over 30 gallons of berries and we still have about 3 gallons left.
OOOH and Potlatch yeah it’s fun. I actually had my first dance at last years potlatch. You have to have your first official potlatch before you can dance. We had to give out lots of gifts to ask permission for me to dance but I am very happy to be an official GRADUATED YUPIK DANCER now
They are starting to have practice for this years potlatch which will be held in March. I love to eskimo dance.
If you looked at that link I put up a few posts back there are some pictures under the Town Hall Meeting Album of me eskimo dancing.
Maybe I can talk the elders into having a special mini potlatch once things start arriving and we can hand out to the community and celebrate with eskimo dancing. Hmm have to think about that, sounds like fun but I definitely do not want to make people wait to get stuff.
Well I am for a bit, need to cut up some moose and marinate it in Teriyaki sauce for dinner.
Ann
By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua on January 18, 2009
at 5:39 PM
HEY Everyone,
Sorry had to be offline this afternoon was waiting on a phone call from the airlines for some freight for my youth center. Yes I have dial up so when I am online I can’t receive phone calls.
Grandma Katie and others:
The fastest/cheapest way to get things here from what I am hearing on this website is priority mail a flat rate box. Wait can you priority mail the flat rate boxes??? I don’t know much about the flat rate boxes but I do know priority mail arrives here fairly quickly.
The address to send boxes to is:
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Program for Youth
c/o City of Nunam Iqua
101 Mudd Street
P.O. Box 26
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
Me (I’m Ann
) and my youth center employees will be collecting and distributing whatever comes in.
Here is the list again of what is needed:
Diapers Sizes 1, 3, & 6
Similac Advanced Formula Powder
Canned Evaporated Milk
Dry Powdered Milk
Baby Cereal
Baby Food
Powdered Eggs
Crackers ( Sailor Boy Pilot Bread unsalted tops are the most used here)
Rice (minute rice)
Noodles
Peanut Butter
Honey
Jam
Juice
TOILET PAPPER (everyone is running out)
Flour
Sugar
Coffee
Cereal
Crisco
Coffee Creamer
Pancake Mix
Tea
Canned Vegetables
Dried Fruit
Instant Soups
Ramen Noodles
Cup a noodles
Diaper Rash Ointment
Just basic pantry staples. Even salt, pepper, etc.
If you would like a list of specific families to adopt or send boxes to please email me at nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com I will give you the list which includes name, address, family size, and specific needs.
If anyone wants to send a check please make it payable to the CITY OF NUNAM IQUA and send it to the above address. We will be taking any money sent and dividing it among the needy for heating fuel and electricity bills.
Any other questions please feel free to contact me.
Thank you all so much for your help.
Bless all of you.
Sincerely,
Ann Strongheart
Project Director/Supervisor
Nunam Iqua Program for Youth
By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua on January 18, 2009
at 5:29 PM
Hi there Anonymous Bloggers,
You folks are really cool! Gov Palin used Anonymous Blogger as if it were a bad thing. She is being proven wrong.
Here is a link to native music with Alaskan Native as well as Greenland Native roots.
http://tribalfunk.wordpress.com/
Anne: Drumming – At the Potlatch, the drumming and dancing are amazing. A reat tribute to past and present events in the life of natives.
A person needs to experience it to understand. The whole experience, music and dancing, portrays the past and present of the people and animals which allow them to live in such a harsh habitat.
By: JuneauJoe Δ on January 18, 2009
at 4:51 PM
This is the response I got from ABC News:
Thank you for your request to ABC News.
To submit a story idea to one of the ABC News shows listed below, write a single page letter including your name, phone number, and address. Include photocopies of backup information. On the outside of the envelope, write “Story Idea.” If a producer is interested in your story, he/she will contact you. Here are the show addresses:
20/20
147 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Primetime
147 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
Nightline/This Week
1717 DeSales Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
World News With Charles Gibson
47 West 66th Street 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10023
Good Morning America
147 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
By: Julie the Jewel on January 18, 2009
at 4:43 PM