50 Pounds and Salmon Berries

Well, as life here on Kodiak goes, its always an adventure. Today was the first day of clouds and drizzles in about a month. We have had some gorgeous weather this summer and I was only able to enjoy about a week of it due to an anonymous cold. Thankful, none the less to have tan lines even from my flip flops (I don't think I even had that when I lived at the beach, O, wait that is because I was usually barefoot). Back to today. Will was on duty and due to the time needed to take our vehicle to prevent tardiness. I agreed I had no where to go, so I thought. My friend Denise text a few hours later, "Want to go Salmon Berry picking?" I look around at a cooped up crazy Ailish and Ian rolling around on the floor and think, "Yes! We need to get out of this house and let Ailish get her wiggles out." Then I think, "No, our vehicle is a quarter mile away and I would have to carry Ian in the Ergo and Ailish would have to walk. I could use the double Bob stroller, but that would require carrying it up a flight of concrete steps and the easy stroller is in the vehicle."After contemplating for a half hour and getting affirmation from Will. I hurry these darling children out the door. By the time I reached the end of our street to cross the main road on base Ailish was ready for me to hold her. And so became the process. Hold Ailish as long as I can. Put her down to walk 5 steps and pick her back up. It didn't take long to figure out that the easiest way to carry her was behind my lower back in a cradled sort of position. We made it and then it was off on a half hour drive to the end of the road to pick Salmon Berries. My friend met me in the parking lot (if you could call it that with shot gun shells dispersed on the ground and the aroma of urine). We secured Ian in the hiking pack and awoke sleeping beauty to hike a trail to meet up with the rest of the berry pickers. There were not that many berries left, but Ailish loved it and kept saying, "More!" Ian and I traversed through the thick salmon berry bushes to reach the ripe one. Quite proud of myself, I like to thank my husband for buying me my first hiking pants. I think in some odd way they gave me confidence to push through the brush. Did I mention it was drizzling? Ailish was delighted when I told her she could eat the salmon berries (she loves them). It was quite comical with the men in the group with shot guns to protect us from bears. Although, I think the one guy had a paint ball gun, but then again his wife kept reminding him where she was and not to shoot. Mean while the kids are scampering along the trail. Ailish stepped on her bag of salmon berries on accident. We were reassured by the fact it was going to be turned into jam later. Less than a hour later we were fastening seat belts with only a couple hands full of berries. At least we got to go outside.

Later that night Will is coming in from walking Honey Bear just as Ailish is lifting her shirt up pointing and saying, "He wants this." Obviously, she has been paying attention to her little brother's feeding times. So, our young lass is being a "Mommy" to her baby dolls. She can often be found lifting her shirt up with her  baby doll in place saying, "Baby eat!"