2014-06-16,17,18 Visiting in Hope, AK

Dave's cousin Steve is a great Artist in the making or better yet discovery. He has not recognize or trusted his own tallent. These pictures will speak for themselves. Steve and Dorinda do their own canning. Reminds me of home in my early teens when mom use to do it too. These are salmon, smoked fish and home made Fireweed honey. Umm good. Here in the woods of Alaska folks truely live off the land.

We had a feast at their house. Ribs from Turnagain Armpit BBQ in Anchorage, my beans a salid and Halibut from their freezer.

 Meal fit for a king or queen.

 Dave is dipping some halibut in butter. We followed house procedures and snacked as soon as it came off the stove. 

 Halibut ready for cooking. Yummy.

 Besides great food we get to see some of Steve's artistic talent.  All of the following are done by Steve. This is a stone carving

 Steve donated some "Dimond" Willow for walking sticks. This will be a great treasure for me. Here he is removing the bark. I will whittle on it when sitting around the camp fire.

 Steve made this hat from the dust accumulated when he carved the conch mushrooms. The conch mushrooms grow on trees and take a long time to get to the size in these pictures. Besides that they have to dry for a year or more before he can carve on them. He is one of the few that carve the instead of just painting on them.

 Conch mushroom.

 Conch mushroom.

 One of his wood carvings.

 Conch mushroom.

 Conch mushroom.

 Steve is working on this bear with a chain saw.

 Some photos of their home.

 Another wood carving.

 Diamond Willow hand rails by Steve.

 Birch bark canoe.

 Steve has Cherokee in his blood. His grandfather taught him to make peace pipes. The bottom one was hand made by Steve.

 A figurine of his farther done by Steve.

 Steve's latest artistic adventure is creating bronze looking pieces from clay. He was a taxidermist and understands bone structure which has helped him build the wire frame structure for the clay.

 His last piece. Yep the "Three Bears".

Steve's capabilities have just started to be recognized in the area and a gift shop is displaying his wares.
Have I told you we had a great time.