Frank & Fern Feral

Here are a few glimpses of some of the experiences we have had, things that make us who we are. We published another article like this about a year ago covering the time we lived in Barrow, Alaska. Questions, comments and discussions are welcome. We all have pasts that have brought us to this point. What are some of the things you have experienced that have prepared you for what is taking place in our lives right now? Please share.

The house we built, 1998

First goats, different homestead, about 1998

When we were law enforcement, about 1996

Summer driving to Oklahoma from Alaska, about 2001

When we lived in Dillingham, Alaska on Bristol Bay, we were able to set a gill net out on the beach to catch salmon. We set the net at low tide, went back the next low tide and harvested the catch. One year we canned 96 pints of salmon, our first canning experience.

Frank's largest catch, a 60 lb. king salmon

Summer trip to the lower 48 in our 21sq. ft. home, 2002

Our 20th Anniversary trip

We went camping at Lake Nerka, about 40 miles north of Dillingham, Alaska where we lived, 25 miles by road, the rest by boat through some connected lakes. We went with another couple and only saw two other people during our three day camp out.

Snow on the lake's edge during our August camping trip

In 2004, Fern's 45th birthday present was her one and only hunting trip, on the Nushagak River about 30 miles from Dillingham, Alaska. That was a fun trip. She got a young bull moose within an hour of the start of opening day and was back in town by 1:00pm. It was good timing because the return trip had to be timed with the tides.

Church camp out on a island on Aleknagik Lake

Floating through a herd of caribou

Next up is Nunam Iqua, Alaska where we moved in 2005. Frank was the principal and Fern was the special education teacher. The only way to get to this location at the mouth of the Yukon River on the Bering Sea is by air. The first leg of the trip was done on a plane that holds ten people, usually a King Air. The second leg was completed on a plane that held six passengers, landing on a gravel runway with no buildings or services.

Boat ride on the Yukon River to the store at the next village

The school in Nunam Iqua

Frank the principal

You never know where the experiences of your life will take you or what you may learn from them. We feel we have been preparing for this time in our American history all of our lives. Alaska taught us a lot about ourselves, what we are capable of in extreme circumstances.

And by the way, tomorrow (July 2nd) is our 38th anniversary!

Draw from your experiences, put your skills and knowledge to good use. Keep your wits about you and your powder dry.

Until next time - Fern