Joanie Wagner took a spontaneous trip to Ireland with her daughter, Katie Sevigny, and family. While in Belfast, they took a guided tour and had an informative history lesson of Northern Ireland. They toured the Jamesons Distillery and Guinness Brewery, of course. The group toured Trinity College and viewed the Book of Kells, visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Cliffs of Moher, Waterford glass factory and many castles.
Wagner also car-camped in Scotland. She reports that driving in Scotland was challenging and she got honked at often. No signs of Nessie on Loch Ness. She also found time to join in a rally for trans rights at St. Andrew’s College, enjoyed pub music, bagpipers and lovely gardens. Welcome home, Joanie!
Pastor Dana Perreard oversaw the “Blessing of the Fleet” at the harbor on Sunday. The weather inspired a new name, “Blessing in the sleet,” as the icy cold wind pelted the hardy group. Matt Jones brought the chairs and Perreard brought the sound system to the event. It was attended by participants from Mosquito Lake Church, Catholic Church, Port Chilkoot Bible Church, Klukwan Assembly of God church, Assembly of God, Salvation Army and the Presbyterian Church. The group rang a bell and placed palm branches in a basket as a visual representation of the blessing and a reminder of those who have been lost at sea.
A mycophile is a devotee of mushrooms. A person whose hobby is hunting wild edible mushrooms. A few of these folks were in the crowd on Saturday at the Klukwan Alaska Native Sisterhood Hall. They attended the mushroom workshop with Tommy Thomson, and were enthusiastic to learn the basics of handling, cloning and making “fruiting plates” with local mushrooms. The workshop, supported by The Four Winds Resource Center and Ecotrust, offered a “take home kit” for attendees. Michelle Strohecker has her fingers crossed that she will have some pink oyster mushrooms in four to six weeks.
The 50th annual Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau inspired all kinds to make their way to the big event. Mardell Gunn counts this as her 27th Folk Festival. She says that she has not played a single note of music in all those years. Justin Letson got to experience his very first Folk Fest as the drummer in the band Save the Pool as well as Nalimu. Gregg Bigsby reports that this was his 12th Folk Fest, and he played banjo with the Fish Pickers. Mardell says that the highlight for her was being surrounded by like-minded people and really feeling the value in that. Justin enjoyed the supportive community for local music and was inspired by all of the Juneau talent. Others, back in Haines, enjoyed the live video and audio broadcast with KTOO.
Alex and Chase Belcher have been on an adventure in Sri Lanka. They have seen peacocks, elephants, monkeys, mongoos and monitor lizards out on the open road in a tuktuk. The couple happened to be there for the Sri Lankan New Year and have attended heaps of festivities. A high point along the way was a train ride from the town of Newara Eliya to Dambulla, when they got to hang out of the train and pick flowers from the tracks and high-five locals.
Casey and Jamie Rard have had a busy week. They celebrated their 11th anniversary and also welcomed three baby goats into the world. Tiny, April and Floppy are doing well under the care of the Rard’s two watchful daughters. They have been learning the finer points of collecting goat milk and raising baby animals. The family has been busy raising chickens, ducks, and rabbits, as well as their adorable goats.