Life

2016 is the 75th birthday of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. For fun or as a challenge, complete the checklist of 75 things to do on the refuge this year.

Refuge Notebook: Celebrate the Kenai Refuge’s 75th birthday in 75 ways

I’ve started a new tradition in our home for 2016. Every Friday night we write down something special that happened to us during the week… Continue reading

2016 is the 75th birthday of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. For fun or as a challenge, complete the checklist of 75 things to do on the refuge this year.

An Outdoor View: Curiosity

I have an irrepressible urge that goes back to my childhood. Whenever I go past water of any description, I look at it and wonder… Continue reading

If you're taking a photo, have the camera ready and keep the fish in the water or just above it. (Photo courtesy Dave Atcheson)

Tight Lines: In defense of catch-and-release

Les Palmer’s recent article, and scathing condemnation of catch-and-release fishing, certainly stirred a great deal of debate and controversy. So, I will open this Tight… Continue reading

If you're taking a photo, have the camera ready and keep the fish in the water or just above it. (Photo courtesy Dave Atcheson)
The low light pollution on the Kenai Peninsula allows for great photos of our nightscape. (Photo by Rebecca Uta)

Refuge Notebook: The Dark Side – photographing our nightscape

I recently received a gift for gracefully aging of a Canon D3300. Being a photography hobbyist and a complete amateur, I have diligently studied our… Continue reading

The low light pollution on the Kenai Peninsula allows for great photos of our nightscape. (Photo by Rebecca Uta)
This May 25, 2013 photo shows French breakfast radishes at the Bayview Farmer's Market in Langley, Wash., that are typical of many edibles that are eaten raw. They need to be washed before serving to remove dirt and bacteria as well as any residual pesticides. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

Making sure food from your garden is safe to eat

Gardening delivers produce that is tastier, cheaper and safer than store-bought, right? Well, not necessarily safer.“There’s always the potential from contamination, whether you grow your… Continue reading

This May 25, 2013 photo shows French breakfast radishes at the Bayview Farmer's Market in Langley, Wash., that are typical of many edibles that are eaten raw. They need to be washed before serving to remove dirt and bacteria as well as any residual pesticides. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

An Outdoor View: The value of patience

“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”— SaadiIt occurred to me the other day that we’re losing our patience.If you’re wondering, I’m… Continue reading

In this Jan. 2 photo, Rich Savoyski, left, and Kara Zwickey furiously sweep in front of their teams' curling stone to bring it into the red-outlined house to score a goal at Kevin Bell Arena in Homer.(Anna Frost/The Homer News)

Curling: Harder than it looks – but lots of fun

The key to curling success is two-fold: put more weight on the broom than the stone and, most importantly, trust the stone will not pull… Continue reading

In this Jan. 2 photo, Rich Savoyski, left, and Kara Zwickey furiously sweep in front of their teams' curling stone to bring it into the red-outlined house to score a goal at Kevin Bell Arena in Homer.(Anna Frost/The Homer News)
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion A man pulls an inflated ball off of his shoulders after playing the inaugural game of "bubble soccer," during halftime at a Brown Bears game on Dec. 4, 2015 in the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.

Soldotna debuts ‘bubble soccer’

Surprise body-checking is a thing. Slide tackling friends is a thing. Soccer on ice is the thing. With the Soldotna Parks and Recreation debut of… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion A man pulls an inflated ball off of his shoulders after playing the inaugural game of "bubble soccer," during halftime at a Brown Bears game on Dec. 4, 2015 in the Soldotna Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska.
Mt. Redoubt provides a scenic backdrop on the Kenai Flats, one of the more important areas visited during the 2015 Christmas Bird Count. These Trumpeter Swans were photographed in April 2006, but the conditions were identical to what was encountered during this year's count. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Christmas Bird Counts – a new family tradition

As we say goodbye to our meager snow accumulation and brace ourselves for another warm week this winter, I can’t help but think about what… Continue reading

Mt. Redoubt provides a scenic backdrop on the Kenai Flats, one of the more important areas visited during the 2015 Christmas Bird Count. These Trumpeter Swans were photographed in April 2006, but the conditions were identical to what was encountered during this year's count. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: Evolution

Author’s note: Nothing much has changed since this column first appeared in the Clarion on Aug. 25, 2006. — LPWhen camping in the late 1940s,… Continue reading

In this Jan. 5, 2016 photo, Blair Bullock walks by his home after he used a homemade snow machine to cover his front yard with snow, in Bristol, Va. The snow, which began "falling" Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning, is the manmade variety thanks to a snow gun - a combination of pipe, valves and an oscillating electric motor - engineered and built by Bullock. (David Crigger/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Virginia man takes snowmaking into his own hands

BRISTOL, Va. — A winter wonderland of up to 9 inches of snow blankets Blair Bullock’s Meadow Drive yard recently — even though official records… Continue reading

In this Jan. 5, 2016 photo, Blair Bullock walks by his home after he used a homemade snow machine to cover his front yard with snow, in Bristol, Va. The snow, which began "falling" Monday night and continued into Tuesday morning, is the manmade variety thanks to a snow gun - a combination of pipe, valves and an oscillating electric motor - engineered and built by Bullock. (David Crigger/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this undated photo, large and small pores abound in this well-aggregated soil, offering roots access to both air and moisture in New Paltz, N.Y. (Lee Reich via AP)

Let’s talk dirt: soil terms every gardener should know

Good gardens start from the ground up, but to be a good soil steward you have to understand some basic terminology.A few important terms associated… Continue reading

In this undated photo, large and small pores abound in this well-aggregated soil, offering roots access to both air and moisture in New Paltz, N.Y. (Lee Reich via AP)
Winter is a great time to visit the new Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: New refuge visitor center a 2015 highlight

By Almost universally, Alaskans share a “sense of place.” I think this is borne out of a special pride associated with living in one of… Continue reading

Winter is a great time to visit the new Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: On the jig

This is about the jig and jigging — not the lively dance with the leaping moves, but the artificial bait that’s jerked up and falls… Continue reading

This Aug. 25, 2012 photo shows a varied assortment of heirlooms and hybrids tomatoes at the Bayview Farmers Market near Langley, Wash. More than 700 different tomato varieties have been brought to the market and each year sees still more new introductions. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

Despite new varieties, search for the perfect tomato goes on

Page through any of the freshly arrived seed catalogs and you’ll note the words “new” and “improved” splashed across many of the tomato varieties available… Continue reading

This Aug. 25, 2012 photo shows a varied assortment of heirlooms and hybrids tomatoes at the Bayview Farmers Market near Langley, Wash. More than 700 different tomato varieties have been brought to the market and each year sees still more new introductions. (Dean Fosdick via AP)
Photo courtesy/Architect of the CapitolThis year's Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. is a Lutz spruce from Primrose on the Kenai Peninsula.

Refuge Notebook: How the Capitol Christmas Tree was named

On this Christmas Eve, most of us have an ornamented tree of one sort or another in our house, a tradition that goes back at… Continue reading

Photo courtesy/Architect of the CapitolThis year's Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. is a Lutz spruce from Primrose on the Kenai Peninsula.

An Outdoor View: Wild Fishing

Author’s note: This column previously appeared in the Clarion on Aug. 1, 2003. I’ve edited it slightly for brevity. Merry Christmas! — LPOn July 19,… Continue reading

FILE - In this Saturday, March 18, 2006, file photo, Tim Osmar of Ninilchik, Alaska, left, who drove his dog team in front of Rachael Scdoris, right, as her visual interpreter during the Iditarod Trial Sled Dog Race, stands with Scdoris at the finish in Nome, Alaska. Scdoris completed the race, placing 57th among 72 finishing teams, and the 10-year anniversary of her becoming the first legally blind musher to finish the Iditarod is just three months away. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

Blind musher reflects on her history-making Iditarod career

ALFALFA, Ore. — The ranch is a flurry of activity, and Rachael Scdoris is at the center of it.All at once, it seems, she is… Continue reading

FILE - In this Saturday, March 18, 2006, file photo, Tim Osmar of Ninilchik, Alaska, left, who drove his dog team in front of Rachael Scdoris, right, as her visual interpreter during the Iditarod Trial Sled Dog Race, stands with Scdoris at the finish in Nome, Alaska. Scdoris completed the race, placing 57th among 72 finishing teams, and the 10-year anniversary of her becoming the first legally blind musher to finish the Iditarod is just three months away. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)
Ranger Gary Titus (left) with Brian Taylor and Ivan Sjodin after restoring the 1920s era sauna at the Moose Creek Cabin on the shores of Tustumena Lake. Gary leaves a legacy of a vibrant cabin management program after 15 years of service at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Public use cabins a legacy of retiring refuge ranger

Have you ever stayed at a Kenai National Wildlife Refuge cabin enjoying the beauty and peace of nature? Or browsed the historic Elwell and Andrew… Continue reading

Ranger Gary Titus (left) with Brian Taylor and Ivan Sjodin after restoring the 1920s era sauna at the Moose Creek Cabin on the shores of Tustumena Lake. Gary leaves a legacy of a vibrant cabin management program after 15 years of service at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Pam Paquin poses with an "accidental fur" raccoon neck muff she created in Central Massachusetts, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Paquin's company, Petite Mort, uses roadkill fur harvested from animal carcasses culled with the help of highway departments and animal control officers. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

‘Accidental fur’: Boston company turns roadkill into fashion

BOSTON — Pamela Paquin’s source for fashion is either “tres chic” or will make you shriek.She creates neck muffs, leg warmers, hats, purses and more… Continue reading

Pam Paquin poses with an "accidental fur" raccoon neck muff she created in Central Massachusetts, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. Paquin's company, Petite Mort, uses roadkill fur harvested from animal carcasses culled with the help of highway departments and animal control officers. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)