In Memory Of My Father-In-Law

The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children: To such as keep his covenant and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Psalms 103: 17-18
_____________________________________________________________________________________

CHARLES MARION ISBELL
"IZZY"
3/17/1922-8/25/2009




I have had the great honor and privilege of being in the Isbell family and knowing my father-in-law for the past 34 years and what a trip it's been! Even before that, as a kid I occasionally went on the 'white-knuckled' ride up and down Langman's hill on his school bus to stay with my aunt and uncle. My grandma and aunts were friends with and went to the Foursquare church with his mother, Edith. Izzy was my grandpa's friend and because of that I earned Grandpa's permission to date one of Izzy's sons...and so it all began.


They really got me on this prank!!

Izzy generally stayed in the background of the family, a quiet listener, but when he spoke...you wanted to listen. He usually had something funny to say, a family story for us to cherish, or a nugget of wisdom. And the songs he sang..ahem, what fun! Many of the traditions he (and Marion) had with his children have been carried through to our family as well, like pajama rides and night hikes. Family times together have been wonderful as we've celebrated holidays and birthdays with lots of food, fun, white elephant gift exchanges, and the birthday march! We've vacationed together, canoed, worked, laughed, cried, hiked, agreed and disagreed, loved, worshiped, celebrated, grieved, eaten, joked... We've been family and it's been good. How very much you are missed Izzy...Grandpa...Dad.

Fires, Fieltrip, Fair, Fort, & Fall

Forest fires have been burning in every direction, the closest just 20 miles away. We've been in no danger except visibility many days being less than a block. The picture is taken one block away from the hiway intersection near our cabin. There are cars driving with their headlights on that can't be seen. I saw many pedestrians in Fairbanks wearing respiratory masks. I kept the kids inside for a few days when outdoor activities in Fairbanks were called off and pollution and dense smoke warnings were put out, much to their dismay. Steve says he got used to the smoke. We were blessed with an offer from an aquaintance for a place to stay about 40 miles away if the smoke got too bad or the fires too near. I'm happy to report that rain and cooler weather has diminished some of the fires and the smoke, for the most part, has cleared.


We met up with a homeschool group and went on a fieldtrip to Calypso organic farm. It was good to see what can grow in this climate. We all loved seeing the farm animals...ahhh Iowa, how you're missed. The day was unusually clear and hot!


If it grows at Calypso it's either edible or has a medicinal purpose.


Calypso Farm is on the side of a mountain and so beautiful! Many things grow giant-size in Alaska because of all the sunshine.


We got to see the farm animals, hike in the Boreal Forest, tour the gardens and taste all kinds of veggies and flowers. Here the kids are picking and eating chamomille and drinking tea made with the flowers. We all loved this place!


The Tanana Valley State Fair has been going on here for the past week. The kids danced with the Dance For Fun group and afterwards went on rides and basically we ate our way through the fair. All of the usual State Fair food could be had. Crab Legs and Halibut was some we hadn't seen at a fair before.


The Dance for fun group is made up of all ages. All the kids have enjoyed learning country dance with this very fun group of people. Steve and I are and will remain spectators.


Dancin fun!


Yummmmmmm! Elephant ear!


Maggie decided to get the giant bag of cotton candy but she had help eating it!


This Elephant Ear's bigger than Sarah's head! Moriah and I were behind the camera eating deep-fried cheese curds :~) John had a huge plate of curly fries with so much hot sauce he got to eat them by himself.


Sarah said I could say that she loved Smokey The Bear, but that would be a lie. She posed for just for me.


The girls have been building this fort out in the woods for the past couple of weeks. I wasn't allowed to see it until a couple days ago. I was blown away with what they built from what was found in the forest. The ladder can even hold me! Amazing. You rock girls!!


Something educational for those who don't know--This is a midden. Our squirrel family lives here in the winter. During the summer they sit in the trees above eating pinecone and dropping the inedible parts on the forest floor. Then they make tunnels and a home beneath to live in. We saw a huge midden at Calypso Farm that had built up every year. There, maybe you learned something new?

While most of you are sweating in 90+ degree heat, we have had two frosts this week, the furnace started running the 10th, trees are starting to turn, and the down compforters are on the beds. It has been rainy (typical of August here) and in the
50's with many mornings in the low 30's. Even before it cooled off I could feel winter breathing down my neck. We were told that if you blink here you will miss Spring and Fall. We're hoping and praying for another warm spell.

AND THE WINNER IS...

The kids wanted to go back to the Chena River and hang out for the day Sunday but the parents won and we took a long drive north to the Arctic Circle. We had driven as far as the Yukon River in the spring before the leaves were on and the ice was out. The day started out a brisk 32 degrees and warmed up to 65. We were hoping to drive out of the smokey haze we've been living under for a few weeks from wildfires but it prevailed all the way so we couldn't see the beautiful views, oh well! The Dalton Highway is the only road going north all the way to Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic. It is mostly gravel...miles and miles and miles of gravel. They were spraying water on parts of it yesterday and turning it into a mud road. Not sure why. I meant to take a picture of our vehicle at the end of the day but forgot. We couldn't even think of playing a c.d. the road was so bumpy and there were no radio stations way up there, no cell phone coverage. It's a good thing the kids enjoy each other's company. We were grateful to find one place that sold gas at the Yukon River so we could top off the tank. Most people travel with extra gas but not us! Where's the adventure in that? When we arrived at the Arctic Circle there was a man from the DNR handing out certificates that say we've been there...nice. We cooked lunch and the guys fished at Fish Creek next to the 'circle'. It was another fun and beautiful day. Now that we've made the Arctic Cirlce trip we're thinking it's time to get a new windshield. They'd probaby impound our vehicle in Iowa but here we fit right in!


Yukon River visitors center. Notice the pipeline crossing the river alongside the bridge.


Got this unguarded shot of Steve's 'real' crooked, one-dimpled smile!


The Alaska Pipeline in Fireweed. There were purple fields of Fireweed everywhere.


This is the Finger Mountain area. I thought for a moment we'd been transported to Wyoming. Never seen anywhere in Alaska (so far) that looks like this.


And of course the kids had to climb!


Cookin turkey dogs (wieners to you, Mark) at Fish Creek.


Another fishing spot.


The gnats and mosquitoes were bad so Maggie started experimenting with homemade repellents and actually made one that worked (with Sarah's help).


A nice size Grayling to take home.


The girls have no problem filling their time while the guys fish. Moriah and Grace made an Eskimo village that included drying salmon, homes, gardens, dock, and boat. This is Moriah's.


Grace's home and garden.