The Deltana Fair & the big purple slide

After two days of breathing thick wildfire smoke (and more days than that breathing thinner wildfire smoke) in town we decided to give our lungs a break and get out of the smoke swath for the day. We confirmed with the Mason clan that there was clean air to the southeast so we hopped into the car and followed the aroma of cotton candy, hot dogs and fried dough to the Delta Junction Fair.

Oh boy, what a good decision that turned out to be! I think it might have been the single most fun day so far in little Kieran's life. It started with this forestry fire truck and a very enthusiastic firefighter recruiter doing all he could do to get Kieran (and me) excited about Kieran becoming a member of the Delta fire crew 15 years from now. Well, I don't know about that but Kieran sure was excited to let him talk while he slid in behind the wheel. He checked out the radio, turned all the lights on and off, and generally gave the dashboard the closest inspection it's ever had. He must have been in there for half an hour. The only way I was able to lure him out was with a promise of lunch...good thing he was hungry from the drive!


We met up with the Masons, Ellen and (a surprise to us) Fairbanks friend Matt in front of the stage where Papa Mason was playing with his band. When the band was done (and Kieran was extracted from the fire truck) we collected some yummy treats and sat down to lunch. Mmmm, fair food and good friends. Like I said, it was a great decision to come to Delta!




Sure, there were cows, lamas, pigs, balloons, games, music, and horseback races, but the biggest hit of the day (by far!) was the giant slide. When we went down the first time I couldn't tell if Kieran liked it. However, at the bottom he jumped up, ran out the gate, ran around the crowd, blew past the guy taking tickets and was climbing back up the stairs before I could get myself through the crowd. I slapped a couple of tickets into the (now laughing) attendant's hand as I ran by and caught up to Kieran on the stairs. Phew, I guess he liked it!


Look at that hair fly! Whoosh!

Wow! What a ride! Unfortunately, I had only purchased tickets for two times down the slide. As Kieran jumped up the second time to beeline it to the stairs I had to stop him and give him the bad news. What followed was the saddest, longest, and most intense meltdown he's ever had. "Mama, why would you show me that this slide exists and immediately take it away!?!" Oh, the tears! If the rest of the group wasn't waiting on us I might have given in. Poor kiddo. All fingers are crossed that the slide will be at our local fair next week where I will let him slide until his legs can no longer take him up the stairs.

A bag of kettle corn was a good distraction. He carried it around most of the afternoon.

And still wouldn't let it go in the car on the way home. He immediately fell asleep hugging his kettle corn and thinking, I'm sure, about sliding down the biggest slide he's ever seen. What a fun day!

Salmon weekend '09

Max had another whirlwind trip to Chitina and back last week. He returned just 24 hours after leaving home with empty coolers in our little Tracer. He managed to catch all of our fish in less than three hours while dip netters in the days before and after struck out completely. We're not sure if it is science or luck or secret messages he receives directly from the fish but Max never fails to hit it big down on the Copper. I smell a consulting business opportunity...


Kieran was a big helper all weekend. Here he is making the brine for the smoking fish.

With the brine finished he took his big wooden spoon down to where Max was cutting the salmon strips...all ready dad, lets get on with those strips! Max made a little stairway for Kieran on the steepest part of the yard leading down from the driveway. It's now the only way Kieran will access the back yard.

Just a few more...

It was a prefect day for smoking...dry, warm, and breezy.

With the racks full Kieran helped cut the alder for the fire.

He was very happy to help with the lighting of the fire. It's been a long time since the last indoor fire in the wood stove.

Our little supervisor. The freezer is full again...