It's a "dog's" day = "qimmiq" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Spending the limited daylight days now working on projects. The long vertical window is begun, I've put a bison rubbing against a tree and a wolf howling at the moon. More pieces will be added and then grouted.

Our gallery has closed and I am now concentrating on finishing projects and maintaining the game ranch. We have hunts and are feeding. All is well as we've only had one real cold day at -45 oF so we're feeling pretty smug about now.

The assassination of Former Pakistan Primer Minister Bhutto yesterday was very sad.

Jake spent the day visiting with me...he's good company.

December is seeing the kids come back for Christmas

"Student" = "ilisaqtuaq" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Sisters Lisa and Lana Green are home to visit family.

The same goes for Julie Luke, Brandon, Tyriq and Sierra .

Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season

Merry Christmas......we had a nice Christmas Eve dinner with family and friends.

May yours be a great season.

Let us not forget to send our love and prayers to all our great troops who have served and are serving overseas~our thoughts are with you this season!

Thank you for all you have done for us in the United States of America.

God Bless You!

the Hollembaeks

Soldiers and their families, just give us a call and when we feed our herd of bison and elk, we will gladly take you and yours on a tour of the animals if you find yourself in our neck of the woods.

Happy Birthday Grandsons

Well, we have 3 birthdays in December now, Wes, Wyatt and Landon.

Here are the 3 grandsons........

G-reat source of fun

R-ambunctious

A-lways a joy

N-ever a dull moment

D-eliver mountains of happiness

K-indle new family love

I-nstant love

D-elightful giggles and laughs

S-o wonderful

I wished I could see all my grandchildren, every day......everyone of them, every day......know what I mean?

It's so cold................

It was -45oF when we went out to feed the animals. Feed them hay and protein blocks.
"It's so cold the letters fell off the sign at the end of the road." :)

It's so cold........
My nostrils freeze together when I breathe
My finger tips freeze when I wear those lousy $1 mittens I picked up in the checkout line
The smoke from the woodburning stoves creates icefog when it hits the cold air in Fairbanks
The elk asked to borrow the bison's fur coat
Santa Claus mailed out gift certificates this year
The hole in my jeans now tells me to mend it
My truck has square tires and I bump along the first 1/4 mile
Family members fight over garage space
Kids don't ask to go outside - they beg to stay in
The dogs no longer come over for treats
The magpies and jaybirds hide out
Going to get the mail from the rural mailbox takes an hour due to "heating up my vehicle"
The Christmas lights blink begging to be turned off
You plan a holiday party making sure you note, postponed if past -40 oF
The shutter on my camera moves at caveman speed
You beg the fuel man to put you on auto - delivery
The moose come out of the woods to eat the hay instead of the boring willows
Leaves are freeze dried to trees
Voles stick their tails out their homes before venturing out......

from yours truly, Ruby

Fire = "igniq" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Donations Requested for Norm Hilliker
As some of you know, Norman Hilliker had a fire at his home on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 and lost everything. He has 1st and 2nd degree burns on his head and back and is recovering. Ernie Wyrick and Kent Brown have been coordinating efforts to help Norm. Kelly's Inn graciously donated 3 free nights for Norm. Norm was provided some clothes from God’s Helping Hands.

Several men have volunteered to assist with the reconstruction of a small cabin for Norm on Norm’s property. Norm needs a temporary place to stay and some funds towards the construction project.

An account has been set up in Norm’s name at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations are welcome and are needed to help with rebuilding. Several people have donated already.
His sizes are:
Shirts - large
Pants - 33x32
Shoes - 10 1/2
If you would like to donate funds, building materials, help with construction, provide a temporary place for Norm, or anything else, please contact Ernie Wyrick. Checks should be made out to Norm Hilliker and mailed to PO Box 157, Delta Junction, AK 99737.
Please contact Ernie Wyrick if you have any questions or can offer assistance in any way.
Thanks for all your help,
Steve Joslin

Ernie Wyrick
Chaplain of the Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department
P O Box 157
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Mobile Phone: 907-378-6691
Home Phone: 907-895-4820
ruraldeltanavfd@firefighting.net

Baby Isaiah Peyton John's Benefit a S-U-C-C-E-S-S

While I was in Anchorage enjoying my daughter's family and newborn grandson, Scott was busy with hunters. Viewed here are Robert Cannon, Jr. and friend, Jay Goldberg, with young bull elk; Maury Oswald and nephew, Patrick, with 3.5 year old bison; and Ron Gilson with 5 point elk.

Brand new baby Landon Russell Bobo

3.5 year old Colton, baby Landon's first day and daughter, Leslie, welcome their new family member. Our first family redheaded grandson.

It is time "to butcher" = " pilak" in Inupiaq Eskimo

Derek Mills & son, Derek, pose next to the 2.5 year old Bison Bull that Derek Shot when he won the Lion's Club Raffle
Derek used a 300 Win Mag Model 70 with Federal Power Shok 180 grain ammo. He split his winning bison meat with Dave Hecimovich. He and Dave went in together on the tickets, Derek won the raffle and he was happy to have this opportunity to take a bison. One Shot! Good shooting & great to see a local Delta resident win and appreciate this raffle.


I don't know when I've enjoyed the company of anyone more! Beverly Curtiss is a class act. She'd never shot a large animal before and she was honest about her trepidation. But she did a fine job. One shot and the animal went down! Beverly used a 7MM Savage with a Leopold Scope, 175 grain trophy bonded bear claw ammo. She and her husband, Glen along with son, Shakobi (Kobi for short) made a day of, traveling up from Kenai. She spent the first late afternoon deciding which animal she wanted and the next day, with patience, waited until the animal was in a position that would give a clean shot. Bev loves to fish and she brought me up a cooler of treats: salmon, halibut, smoked fish and more! Thank you from the interior residents. By the way, she is Kelly Curtiss sister who came up and took an elk off the ranch earlier in the season.