Captain's Log

Notes from Chase on first few days of dredging

Helped mike assemble a dredge
Kind of “help” we offered reminded me of 6 year olds trying to help build a multilevel structure
Hot and dry day
Worked well for us because it helped get rid of mosquitoes
Finally at end of long day went home
Met up at dredging location at 7 am
Watched Mike put dredge in the water with excavator
Felt useless and inadequate
Watched him maneuver the excavator
It was like watching a beautifully choreographed ballet in the heavens
After he built the dam better, the dredge was finally put in the water (9 am)
Came back to camp and wet-suited up to jump in the pool of 40 degree water
Of course the dredge wasn’t working yet
Thought we were ready but it turns out there were a couple of problems
After a couple more hours of “helping” Mike work, we were able to jump in the water and start dredging.
Started running the 8” dredge (which is an extremely large dredge)
Ran for about 2 ½ hours. The entire time we were down in the water, we found that the compressor pump wasn’t pumping enough air.
Physically intense and demanding to run this big huge piece of equipment
Takes a lot of energy and makes breathing very difficult
The pump is supposed to pump the air down to you so that you can breathe more freely.
You’re trying as hard as you can to get enough air, but it’s just not working so your heart starts beating harder to try and circulate more blood to get more oxygen which just makes you breathe harder
Finally after 2 ½ hours under the water with a pump that wasn’t pumping enough air for two divers, I needed to go up and get air.
Took me about 5 or 6 hours to catch my breath
Meanwhile Dax was down in the water dredging for about 3 more hours while I stayed up top making sure everything was in running order
It was great to finally be working, even though we continually were running into problems
There are other people mining up the river from us so it’s a little bit tricky to try to figure out a time we can mine. The rest of this week we’ll need to start between 4 and 5 am so we can be finished before they start. Otherwise, the water is too murky to see and dredging is pointless. Good thing there’s enough light!
Found a fairly good sized nugget about the second day
All in all, not bad for the first few days of work

Menacing Mosquitoes

There are a few things in life that I loathe:

Ignorant people.

Being cold.

Mosquitoes.

The later may just move up the ladder after this summer.

They say, “Oh the mosquitoes aren’t bad yet. Just wait until July when they really come out.” Uh… I’d sooner rather break a number of bones in my body about then and have to be sent home in a body cast.

We’ve been here a total of two weeks now and already I feel like a feasting frenzy for the little buggers. Really, what is their purpose in the circle of life? I mean I’m all for the food chain, but quite frankly I can’t seem to see the good they do in the world. Besides suck my blood and keep me up at night.

I thought I could protect the Little Man from those sneaky fellas. Mosquito netting: Check! Baby-friendly mosquito spray: Check! Layers upon layers and more layers: Check! The problem is that I didn’t want to put the spray on his face or hands for fear it would get into his little eyes or mouth. So that left wide-open, prime sucking space for the vicious vampires.

Look at this face. So sweet. Too sweet for them to resist!

As you can tell, he still thinks he’s a pretty handsome fella. Even with the pink lotion dotting his cute little face.

We do what we can. The baby is wrapped in his mosquito netting.

We go through our nightly ritual of “Smug the Bug” to rid our tent of them as best we can. Our clean canvas walls quickly decorated themselves with black and red splatters as we soon found out that when they land there to test the material, that is your one chance to smash them as hard as you can. By golly, I’ll tell you, it works! Even little Phi gets into it (you tell her to “Swat the bug” and she claps her hands in various places in the air).

It works so well in fact that I may just put that on my next resume.

Jamie Shillig- Expert mosquito swatter. Average 80-90% swats.

Unfortunately, it isn’t ever enough.

One night my feet accidently poked out through the sheets. That’s all it took. I now have a fair number on each foot. They itch so bad that I simply scratch until they bleed. Then they just become open sores. Oddly enough, I’d rather that then the constant itching.

So, here’s to you, you horrible, retched things.

Every time I swat and kill one I think, That’s one less pesky creature that’ll suck my blood.

So for now, just know that it’s Us: a few, against Them: a few thousand.

Let’s hope we make it through the summer.

Gone are the days I stayed awake worrying about bears. Hello to the days lying awake scratching feverishly all over my body.

Love,

Hating Those Menacing Mosquitoes.

Going on a Moose Hunt

“Going on a moose hunt… I’m not afraid”

Ok, so I changed the song from Bear Hunt to Moose. And rightly so. It’s that season. They’re out and about. When driving to Watson earlier this week we saw two beautiful, large moose grazing in the field. Unfortunately, it was so rainy and wet that I knew it wouldn’t make a good picture so I never got one.

Then today, while Chase was out filling up our water at the well, he saw one (a young cow) shoulder-deep in the water about 400 yards from where he was crouched down. Apparently she didn’t see him as she began to bound out of the water and play merrily on the shore. She began trotting right toward him (he was sure she saw him) and when he got in the rhino to drive away, the engine spooked her and she ran into the nearby clearing of trees.

When Chase came back to camp all he said was, “Honey, bundle The Boy up,” (it was cold!) “we’re going on a moose hunt!” Though his idea was just to find her again and get a picture, as a non-resident he isn’t able to actually shoot one (something he is so sad about because he had his bow with him and it would’ve been a super clean and easy shot).

We went out to the lake and waited. We turned off the engine, and wadded in the water with our rain boots. Nothing. Walked into a few clearings and waited quietly. Chase entertained the baby while I went in for a closer look.








Sadly, he must have really scared her off because she was nowhere to be seen. I did, however, see two beautiful bald eagles (I’ve seen a few on the way up but never had a good photo opportunity). They were graceful and beautiful. I was glad they allowed me to photograph them for even a moment.

We also drove around the little area of “Laketon” and I got a short history lesson.


Here is what I concluded:
Laketon was originally a pretty booming town during and before the gold rush.
Many homesteads still stand (well sort of) today.


There is also a cemetery. It’s oddly beautiful, set in the trees and its melancholy feel adds to the peacefulness felt here.

Here are a few of my favorite graves and headstones.




There is even one headstone of a more recent date (1904). While trudging through the woods, Chase sat the baby next to the headstone. He kept saying, “Take a picture Mom. Take a picture.” I protested, “But it’s weird Dad. It’s weird!” What resulted was this odd commodity:

Besides the “regular” cemetery, you’ll also find two separate headstones on the pathway. These are said to be murderers and not allowed to be buried with the others. I guess that’s what you get.


As we walked through the woods, it began to grow warmer.


We took advantage of such beautiful weather and walked down by the lake.







It’s a beautiful day and I’m beginning to think I don’t need to see a moose to make it a great one.

Love, Going on a Moose Hunt

Doting on Dad

Happy Father’s Day to my best friend, my confidant, and my “Baby Daddy”. I couldn’t imagine my life without you!

Today was truly, Father’s Day. The thought has occurred to me many times that this is indeed a dream come true for my husband. I know I joke around and say that not many girls get to make their husband’s dream come true TWICE in their lifetime, but I feel like it is such a small price to pay for all he does for me.

Today couldn’t have been any better. We started the morning off with showers.

Yes folks, I finally showered! I don’t think I’ve ever gone this long without showering. Even at girl’s camp. You may ask how my hair got nice and shiny so quickly, I’ll tell you a secret- that’s not shine. That’s grease!

After our much needed showers, we took off down the road to the Swenson’s home for church (nothing like riding in the Rhino in your Sunday best!). What a treat that was for me! Their family radiates the spirit and I was floored at how well every one of their children not only knew but truly showed a deeper understanding of the gospel. I learned more, and felt the spirit stronger there than I have in months (mostly due to a lack of participation on my part). I walked away more excited about church each week than anything else so far.

After church, the Swensons invited us to have lunch with them and we gratefully accepted. Last Thursday was the first day Jillian and I were able to set up some sort of makeshift cook tent and while the boys were busy building floors, we boiled chicken and veggies and made chicken soup. Sadly, that meal has been the only one we’ve eaten for days. Any variation was a welcome one!

When Chase and I and the baby returned home, we found our tent unseasonably warm. Because we took our showers in the tent, we had started a fire that morning and when we returned home, we found it roasting inside. We tried napping, but not one of us could. That’s when we decided to go on a Sunday drive.

Our usual Sunday drives consisted of Placarita canyon or similar places like that around LA. What a contrast to our drive today! Because of the weather, the drive in the Rhino was a welcomed relief. We stopped a few times so Chase could fish and the baby and I took in all of the beauty that surrounded us.

To top it all off, tonight at supper, all three of us sitting together, what a joy it was to listen to our little boy say over and over, “Da-da Da-da”. Just in time for Father’s Day. (This video was taken just a few days ago. This is a new phenomenon for us. The sweetest thing I’ve ever heard- until he learns to say “Mama”, of course).

Click Here for "Da-Da" Video

Love, Doting on Da-da

Fanatic about Floors!

How to build a home in the “Ewok Village 3000” style in 13 steps or less:

Step 1: Find you some big strong, handsome men to build it for you (oh and a little dog too!)

Step 2: Find a prime piece of land. Hopefully in some sort of shade and somewhat leveled ground

Step 3: Find and cut down some logs

Step 4: Fashion those logs into a foundation

Step 5: Next, take a rest after nailing all of the 2x4s into place- you deserve it!

Step 6: Complete the frame. Pat yourself on the back.

Step 7: Find a handy-dandy-generous-neighbor who will lend you not only his excavator, but also his time and talents just out of the goodness of his heart.

Step 8: Use said excavator to haul ply wood (purchased from Watson Lake) into camp to save SO MUCH time!

Step 9: Entertain the babies while the boys work

Step 10: Scratch step 9. Instead, use the dog (since he’s not helping much anyway) to entertain the kiddos

Play “Where is Chauncho?” with Phi

Water the “Garden” and cross your fingers (and green thumb!) that it will revive.

Step 11: Fasten your previously purchased ply wood onto completed foundation. Test it out for stability.

Step12: Begin constructing tent

Step 13: Vwa-la!

Step 14: Rest. You’ve worked hard.

Love, Fanatic about Floors!