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• Contact Us 

  We value our privacy! If you would like to contact us, start with our Email: AKZeigers@gmail.com Email us any and all requests for further contact information…

• AKZeigers.com 

  Start your tour at AKZeigers.com

• Site Map 

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• About Us 

  Mark, Michelle & Aly Zeiger (rhymes with "tiger") live off-the-grid in northern Southeast Alaska. Mark (l) Michelle (r) and Aly Zeiger (Photo: Mark A.…

  • Guest Post Policy 

    Our guest post policy is simple: we don't accept them! This is a family blog, so guest posts have no place here. We often receive email from writers who say…

  • Advertise 

    Advertising and Promotion on The Zeiger Family Homestead Website and Blog We originally intended to post photos and blog so that family and friends can see…

  • Disclaimer 

    No one in their right mind would do what we're doing . . . right? The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog provides stories and information on an “as-is” basis.…

  • Web Design 

    Mark works as a freelance Web designer. He's a "hired gun" for designing or improving Web pages, editing, and ghostwriting projects. His business, Yeldagalga…

Blog Posts

• Category: Alaskan Life  (87)
  • "I Read the News Today, Oh Boy!" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 14, 2019, 03:00

    My apologies. I don't really have a post for you today. As the Beatles sang, "I read the news today, oh boy . . . ." I just learned that an artist and…

  • I'm Back by: Mark Zeiger

    July 9, 2018, 10:07

    Sorry to have disappeared. I've been off the homestead, totally absorbed in other projects lately. My sister had to prove the seaworthiness of her sailboat…

  • Living With Cruise Ships (Part 4) by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2018, 03:00

    Since Living With Cruise Ships (Part 1) I introduced a series of questions about cruise ship traffic from a reader, Judy. I will close the series by addressing…

  • Living With Cruise Ships (Part 3) by: Mark Zeiger

    June 10, 2018, 03:00

    Reader, Judy's next question about cruise ships (see Living With Cruise Ships (Part 1)) was "Can you actually wave at the passengers on the top deck of the…

  • Living With Cruise Ships (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    June 5, 2018, 03:00

    Now that I've offered some background information and review about the cruise ship situation in our region (see Living With Cruise Ships (Part 1)) I'm ready to…

  • Living with Cruise Ships (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    June 2, 2018, 08:32

    Recently, Judy, a blog follower, asked about cruise ships in our view shed. She asked: "… how do the cruise ships interfere with your Internet reception?…

  • It Starts . . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    April 20, 2018, 09:50

    This morning, Michelle left the homestead at 5:30 a.m. to get to her office before 7:00 a.m. to help her crew greet the season's first cruise ships. Two…

  • Are Alaskans Unique Enough for "Reality" TV? by: Mark Zeiger

    April 20, 2017, 03:00

    At an Easter dinner with friends, we enjoyed stimulating conversation on a variety of topics. One that struck me particularly focused on "reality" television…

  • "Schooled" By an Outsider by: Mark Zeiger

    July 25, 2016, 06:28

    My sisters held sales on two days to reduce their storage inventory before moving it south. We brought out a few items to sell alongside, taking advantage of a…

  • Writing Retreat by: Mark Zeiger

    May 25, 2016, 03:00

    Oh, the irony! I leave this afternoon to attend a 4-day writing symposium—a writer's retreat, if you will—in Skagway, just north of Haines. While I'm…

  • An Almost Perfect Day by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2016, 07:47

    Yesterday morning I set up on the veranda to enjoy the view. I took a second cup of coffee, binoculars, a camera, a radio for catching the last of the…

  • Lovely, Dark and Deep by: Mark Zeiger

    April 25, 2016, 03:00

    Because my play practices (see "The Play's the Thing") start around 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. and run till about 8:30 or so, I'm walking the trail home in the dusk far…

  • Mounting Tension by: Mark Zeiger

    April 11, 2016, 05:29

    A sense of growing excitement pervades the homestead, as spring advances, and the herring run approaches. Gulls and other sea birds gather in larger flocks,…

  • With a Big Help from Our Friends by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2016, 03:00

    Our recent trip to reunite with family (see A New Year Far From Home) began quite badly. It could have been far worse, if not for the help of friends. It…

  • Baranof Warm Springs Visit by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2016, 03:00

    Aly, Michelle and I returned to the homestead on January 7th after visiting my brother, Dave and his wife, Anke in Baranof Warm Springs (see A New Year Far…

  • A New Year Far from Home by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2016, 03:00

    Happy New Year! As you read this, we are ringing in 2016 in Baranof Warm Springs, on the east coast of Baranof Island. Yes, where else would the Haines…

  • The Late, Late Show by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2015, 03:00

    Our recent clear weather coincided with "moderate" level auroral displays. I understand that the best displays happened in the middle of the night, which is…

  • Off Track by: Mark Zeiger

    June 11, 2015, 06:00

    Perhaps you've noticed a drop in quality on the blog lately? I'm not keeping faithfully to the every-other-day post schedule. Topics stray somewhat from the…

  • Playing Hooky by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2015, 08:38

    We played hooky yesterday, something we don't do often. In fact, in choosing the title of this piece, I learned that I don't even really know how to spell…

  • Early Aurora by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2014, 06:14

    Ironically, we, like most of the United States, are experiencing weather from the recent northern typhoon in the Bering Sea. While much of the Lower 48 gets…

  • Back Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    October 20, 2014, 03:00

    Well gang, I'm back. And, as you can see, I haven't found a new pun on "homestead" to title the essay. I guess I'm still kind of wiped out by the trip. I…

  • Broken Rhythm by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2014, 03:00

    Please bear with us as we readjust our schedule. Michelle's parents are visiting from Outside. Since they're not mobile enough to hike to the "homestead,"…

  • Too Long at the Fair by: Mark Zeiger

    August 4, 2014, 03:00

    I skipped posting on the blog yesterday, because Aly worked the last shift of the Sheldon Museum's booth at the Southeast Alaska State Fair Saturday night. We…

  • Human Hamster Balls by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2014, 03:00

    Before we went to Wrangell (see "Old Homes Week"), I found the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce vendor map on line, showing what booths would be where on Wrangell's…

  • "Old Homes Week" by: Mark Zeiger

    July 10, 2014, 03:00

    The week of Independence Day proved to be "old homes week" for me. As mentioned in the post, Reunions, Michelle and I traveled south, while Aly and her Auntie…

  • One Picture Instead of a Thousand Words by: Mark Zeiger

    July 8, 2014, 03:00

    We're safely home from our visit to Wrangell for Independence Day. Aly is with us once again. All is well. And, to be perfectly honest, I'm not quite ready to…

  • A Christmas Card from the Zeiger Family Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2013, 03:00

    I told you we would have a white Christmas! (see "Just Like the Ones We Used to Know.") We did get an hour or so of very light rain in the afternoon, but…

  • Stranded on Familiar Shores by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2013, 03:00

    We were supposed to return to the "homestead" yesterday. Our best hope at the moment will be to arrive tomorrow. We're stranded in Juneau because of ferry…

  • While We're Away... by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2013, 03:00

    For us, preparing to travel has always been a matter of making checklists and completing them. We're lucky to have started that early, as leaving the "homestead…

  • Homestead Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2013, 05:18

    I've always loved the medieval incantation against scary stuff: From ghoulies and ghosties, and long-leggity beasties And things that go bump in the…

  • A Family Kayaking Adventure by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2013, 03:00

    Aly left on the ferry yesterday evening to return south for school, but before she left, we all got our wish: a family day of kayaking, like the one Aly and I…

  • Aly/Daddy Time by: Mark Zeiger

    September 13, 2013, 03:00

    On Tuesday, Aly and I kayaked south from Mud Bay along Chilkat Peninsula. We had nearly perfect conditions. Lynn Canal that calm day was flat and silky.…

  • Small Town Noteriety by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2013, 03:00

    Life in a small town, particularly a small Alaskan town, means people know you and your business. The title of Heather Lende's first and most famous book says…

  • When It's Spring Time in Alaska . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2013, 03:00

    Ever since I can remember, I've heard Johnny Horton's Springtime in Alaska. My parents played his greatest hits record (check your local independent music…

  • A Good Haul (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    August 24, 2012, 03:00

    Sorry to leave you in the lurch yesterday. If brevity is the soul of wit, I risked becoming a  half-wit. So, as we rounded the tip of our peninsula, I saw…

  • A Good Haul (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2012, 10:14

    While improving our kitchen countertop is our main focus these days, the life of the homestead must continue on all fronts. Progress is uneven, but continual.…

  • Seaside Social Hour by: Mark Zeiger

    July 27, 2012, 03:00

    We had barely finished dinner last night when an echoing crash sent us tumbling out the the front door. A humpback whale breached several times out in Lynn…

  • Cheechako No More? Michelle Marks 20 Years as an Alaskan by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2012, 10:25

    This morning, when I arranged my day according to my Franklin-Covey planner, I saw that today is the anniversary of Michelle and my move to Alaska. The…

  • Sweetheart Summit in Sitka by: Mark Zeiger

    June 18, 2012, 03:00

    Today in Sitka, two people are meeting to spend some time together. I'd never want to get in their way, but I would dearly love to see and hear what's going…

  • 20 Years of Sourdough Stewardship by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 20, 2012, 03:00

    Our relationship with our sourdough has continued to evolve. Recently we ignored the starter in the back of the cool box a little longer than was polite. When…

  • More on Nome Refueling, and Homestead Heat by: Mark Zeiger

    January 20, 2012, 03:00

    Yesterday, I started answering a reader's questions about the current effort to refuel Nome, Alaska. I grew a bit long-winded, so today I'll answer the rest of…

  • The Nome Refueling Effort: Answers to Reader's Questions by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2012, 03:00

    I generally try to avoid writing about current events on this blog, since it focuses on our life here on the homestead. However, I received the following…

  • Perhaps an Angel Flies Over These Waters by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2011, 03:00

    Today, October 25th, as I have done the last few days, I will listen to a song that makes me miserable. The song is Ballad of the Princess Sophia by the…

  • "Y R U Motoring Downwind?" by: Mark Zeiger

    July 31, 2011, 08:04

    Yesterday, the three of us went to the boundary rock on the north end of our beach. The fishing has been pretty good there, and we hoped to catch a pink salmon…

  • Tsunami Watch by: Mark Zeiger

    March 11, 2011, 09:39

    This morning at 5:30 I stepped into the outhouse and, as I always do, switched on the weather radio. Shortly, I heard that a tsunami warning had been issued…

  • Aurora Dances Down by: Mark Zeiger

    March 3, 2011, 03:00

    Early Tuesday morning, I put on my warmest parka and went down to the veranda to see the aurora borealis, the northern lights. Recent sunspot activity has been…

  • The Next Adventure: Haines to Fairbanks and Back Again by: Mark Zeiger

    January 30, 2011, 03:00

    This morning I'll hop a plane to Juneau, then fly north to Fairbanks. My plan is to join my sister-in-law there. She's moving the household to Washington D.C.…

  • A Well-Traveled Christmas Card Part 2 by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2010, 03:00

    As luck would have it, we got a second chance on that misdirected Christmas card back in 2008 after all. We returned to town on December 30th that year and…

  • A Well-Traveled Christmas Card Part 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    December 28, 2010, 03:00

    Alaska is the Land of Misdirected Mail. For some reason we seem to be the nation's, if not the world's repository for lost, badly routed, and delayed post. Ask…

  • Light Struggles with Dark in More Ways Than One! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 22, 2010, 09:18

    Considering how I carried on about the Winter Solstice yesterday, you might expect that we spent the day celebrating—setting everyday cares and work aside,…

  • Limping Home by: Mark Zeiger

    December 12, 2010, 11:52

    At last, we're back in our little cabin—I hesitate to say "cozy," just yet, but we're working on restoring it to its usual warmth. After weather delays, we…

  • It's Christmastime in the City by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2010, 03:00

    We've been in Juneau for the last few days. We're there for a couple of health appointments that we weren't able to take care of in Haines. I'm also taking my…

  • Popping Next Door by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2010, 03:00

    Wednesday we "popped next door" to our nearest full time neighbors. On our way there, it occurred to me that going next door in our neighborhood represents…

  • Homestead on Ice by: Mark Zeiger

    November 19, 2010, 03:00

    We're into our first cold snap of the winter, and suddenly, ice is everywhere. Aly went out yesterday morning armed with an ice ax, eyes protected by goggles,…

  • The Noise in the Forest by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2010, 03:00

    When I began discussing fear on the blog recently, I stated that I don't scare easily. I do startle easily—this quiet lifestyle lends itself to startling…

  • Back to We Three by: Mark Zeiger

    September 29, 2010, 03:00

    I should have known they got away, because after many weeks without seeing any whales, a humpback dove less than 100 feet out from our rocks. The Rule seems to…

  • Golden Days, Emerald Nights by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2010, 03:00

    We are in a very pleasant weather pattern these last few days, with warm, sunny days and clear nights with aurora borealis displays. The aurora is particular…

  • Home From the Sea by: Mark Zeiger

    September 12, 2010, 09:03

    Saturday morning at about 1:30 Slacktide dropped anchor in Mud Bay, bringing me home from the sea. My two-week trip away from the homestead, most of it spent…

  • When High Tides Work For Us by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 11, 2010, 09:43

    This week we have wonderfully high tides. In mid-winter that could be a scary thought...when the winds whip up and the power of the water can move large rocks…

  • Tenakee Springs Might Need YOU by: Mark Zeiger

    September 8, 2010, 03:00

    If reading my family's posts on this blog make you want to try the lifestyle yourself, there may be a golden opportunity to do so, if you have school age…

  • Mark Checks In from His Voyage by: Mark Zeiger

    September 7, 2010, 08:30

    The Gustavus adventure has been great so far! Time's far too short to try to wax eloquent about it all, as it deserves. Briefly: I rendezvoused with…

  • It's a Small World . . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2010, 03:00

    The cutesy, multicultural, animatronic puppets in Disneyland are right: it is, indeed, a small world after all. I spoke with my brother, Dave, yesterday by…

  • Haines, A Hundred Years, and a Big, Hurking Camera by: Mark Zeiger

    August 17, 2010, 03:00

    On the 15th, Haines held a celebration marking the centennial of the town's incorporation. We had a community potluck picnic, a street dance, and a panoramic…

  • Our Alaskan Anniversary by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2010, 03:00

    Today is a family anniversary. Eighteen years ago on July 12th, Michelle and I arrived in Juneau by ferry, beginning our life together in Alaska.I was born and…

  • There's No Place Quite Like Small Town Alaska for the Fourth of July by: Mark Zeiger

    July 4, 2010, 03:00

    For a good old-fashioned Fourth of July, give me small town Alaska, particularly Wrangell or Haines! The quality of Independence Day celebrations in…

  • Valderee, Valderah! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2010, 06:52

    Living where any visit to town requires a mile and a quarter hike out and back, you'd think we wouldn't consider hiking a recreational activity. But when you…

  • Yacht Parade by: Mark Zeiger

    June 22, 2010, 03:00

    Sometimes during the summer months our waters seem to be filled with boats. More interesting, if rarer, than the big cruise ships we see so often, or the local…

  • Floating Cities by: Mark Zeiger

    May 23, 2010, 03:00

    "There's a city floating by," Aly comments, looking out the window. At 9:00 pm the sun, as high as late afternoon in the lower 48, lights up a massive white…

  • Homecomings and Goings by: Mark Zeiger

    May 20, 2010, 03:00

    Our recent trip away from the homestead was all about returning. We drove up to visit family in Fairbanks. My sister, Beth, works there currently, and my dad…

  • Synchronicity: Good Coffee, Good Book by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2010, 03:00

    I was pretty pleased to learn that local author, Heather Lende, has picked up Raven's Brew Coffee as a sponsor for her upcoming national tour to promote her…

  • Travel Pays Off Despite Lack of Planning by: Mark Zeiger

    March 30, 2010, 03:00

    My recent emergency trip to Juneau was less than ideal. I like to savor travel! I want to plan it far enough ahead that I can anticipate it, and take full…

  • Happy 100th Anniversary, Sitka National Historical Park! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2010, 03:00

    Sitka National Historical Park turns 100 years old today. I wish I could be there to mark the occasion! Despite the long and grand name, this park…

  • Tsunami Warnings I Have Known by: Mark Zeiger

    February 28, 2010, 08:43

    The big news in Haines yesterday was the Chile earthquake and the resulting tsunami threat. We learned about it as Aly and I prepared to go to town for her…

  • A Personal Anniversary (I Think) by: Mark Zeiger

    February 12, 2010, 03:00

    In January I applied for my hunting/fishing license, and, as I do every year, I cringed when I filled in the number of years I've been an Alaska resident. I…

  • Remembering the Clara Nevada - A Ghost of Lynn Canal by: Mark Zeiger

    February 6, 2010, 03:00

    Either last night or tonight (sources differ) 103 years ago, the steam/sail ship Clara Nevada sank near Eldred Rock, south of our homestead. This should…

  • Local Author Links to Our Blog by: Mark Zeiger

    January 24, 2010, 03:00

    Heather Lende is a local author, columnist, and radio commentator. If you haven’t read her book, If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name (check your local…

  • On Scramble Alert for the Yukon by: Mark Zeiger

    January 9, 2010, 06:33

    January so far has been a slushfest, lots of rain over snow, freeze/thaw cycles, and very little wind. Yesterday was shaping up to be another day to stay close…

  • A Different Kind of Year in Review: Whale Reports by: Mark Zeiger

    January 3, 2010, 03:00

    I grumble at Christmas time about the family newsletter we traditionally write. A cousin appropriately dubbed it "the Christmas term paper," a major writing…

  • We're Not Alone: "Roughing It" Within a Community by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2009, 01:00

    Because it's our blog, we get to focus a lot on ourselves in the posts. My work on Self-Reliance Works deals with our experiences on our homestead as well, and…

  • Neither Rain, Nor Wind, Nor Dark of Night: Blogging in All Weather by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2009, 01:00

    The winds from Saturday’s storm have abated, the wind generator has slowed, but our heads are still spinning! People use words like “storm” and…

  • Free Land in Alaska? by: Mark Zeiger

    October 23, 2009, 01:00

    You're not going to like this, but it's the truth: you cannot get free land from the U.S. government in Alaska or any other state through the Homestead Act!…

  • Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend: It's Not Just Free Money by: Mark Zeiger

    October 22, 2009, 01:00

    It’s that time of year again: the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends are on their way to most Alaskans. Once again, residents breathe a sigh or relief or rub…

  • Making Russian Tea: The Rest of the Story by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2009, 01:00

    They say one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. In writing previously on Russian tea, I came across information that didn't fit…

  • The Secret of Russian Tea by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2009, 01:00

    It's the time of year for hot beverages! Especially in October, particularly around Alaska Day, I like to turn to an old family staple, Russian tea. We…

  • October 18th - Alaska Day by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2009, 01:00

    Alaska Day, I would argue, means next to nothing to most people—even to most Alaskans—unless they have some connection to Sitka. Elsewhere in the state,…

  • Sitka, Alaska Is on My Mind by: Mark Zeiger

    October 12, 2009, 08:08

    As a boy I lived in Sitka, Alaska for about five years. Since then, it has held a special place in my heart. If you've ever been there, perhaps you know why.…

  • Introducing the Zeiger Family Homestead Blog by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2009, 14:01

    Just shy of one year after we started our first blog, we're returning to try again. Previously, we'd used a hosting site to post stories about life on our…

• Category: Clothing & Gear  (103)
  • Reliable Work Gloves: Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2019, 03:00

    As I explained in the previous post, Work Gloves: Summer, winter (i.e. cold weather) gloves are more expensive and harder to come by. Michelle goes deep in…

  • Reliable Work Gloves: Summer by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2019, 03:00

    Since we've recently covered essential homestead tools (see A Homesteader's Toolbox and A Good Pair of Goggles to Protect the Eyes, we should probably cover…

  • A Filter Mask Upgrade by: Mark Zeiger

    January 24, 2019, 11:28

    About the time I wrote the blog post N95 Dust Masks: Don't Leave Home Without Them? I realized that I should order more masks to keep us stocked up for every…

  • N95 Dust Masks: Don't Leave Home Without Them? by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2018, 03:00

    With all the horrible fires in California, breathing has become a major issue for residents for miles around. On the news, they talk about the importance of…

  • Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the 21st Century by: Mark Zeiger

    November 17, 2018, 03:00

    As we prepared for our trip to Ireland, I began to reconcile myself to the idea of owning a "Smartphone." This represents a bigger deal in our home than in…

  • Solar "Toys": "Back Up" Solar Watch by: Mark Zeiger

    September 9, 2018, 03:00

    Back in March, when my trusty Citizen® Eco-Drive solar watch appeared to act up, I ordered an inexpensive solar watch to keep me on time during the interval…

  • New Cellular Booster by: Mark Zeiger

    May 14, 2018, 09:31

    I finally installed the new cellular booster I've mentioned before. We haven't seen the dramatic improvement I'd hoped for, but I feel like we're in better…

  • Fiskars Ax Pros and Cons by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2018, 03:00

    My last post on this subject, "New Fangled" Axes for the Homestead, got too long. Now, here's some observations on the company's High Performance Splitter, our…

  • "New-Fangled" Axes for the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    April 30, 2018, 03:00

    In the last few days, I've made a gear change on the homestead. I'm turning away from my traditional, wooden handled axes and embracing the newer, synthetic…

  • Bug Out Gear: Pop-Up Tent by: Mark Zeiger

    April 11, 2018, 03:00

    On the night we bugged out of the homestead to high ground after a tsunami warning (see Tsunami Scramble) we whiled away part of the time analyzing what we…

  • Solar "Toys": Hybridlight Headlamps by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2018, 03:00

    Of all the solar "toys" we have told you about recently (latest one: Solar "Toys": Goal Zero Portable Panel) the newest, most useful, and most exciting is the…

  • Solar "Toys": Goal Zero Portable Panel by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2018, 03:00

    Recently,  I wrote about solar "toys" we have on the homestead (see Solar "Toys": Night Light). One recent acquisition I'm still learning to use is a Goal…

  • Solar "Toys": Night Light by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2018, 03:00

    I don't know whether it's the Vernal Equinox marking the switch to more daylight than darkness (locally on the 18th—see Silent Awakening, hemispherically on…

  • Flipping for Lids by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2018, 03:00

    Not long ago, Michelle came home from work and unpacked some late Christmas presents for us all. She had commissioned a friend and neighbor to make custom lids…

  • Introducing "Rhubarbaru" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2018, 03:00

    In early November, we gave up our family car. In 1994 we decided we needed a 4-wheel drive vehicle for family safety, especially our new baby daughter, Aly.…

  • Reflecting on Physical Changes by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2017, 03:05

    I am not myself lately. At least, not when I see myself in a mirror. Such a thing does happen on occasion. We have two or three mirrors in the house. None…

  • The Mysteries of Cellular Internet Explained by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2017, 03:00

    On a recent trip to Juneau, Michelle suggested that I "go see Butch." Butch runs a small communications company. He has a reputation for figuring out how to…

  • Opinel Knives by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2017, 03:00

    As you might imagine, knives are extremely important tools on our homestead. In the past, I've sung the praises of my trusty pocket knife (see Constant…

  • Fitness, Homestead-Style by: Mark Zeiger

    September 5, 2017, 03:00

    She's probably going to kill me for showing you this, but I can't resist . . . . When she was 20 years old, Michelle and her grandmother made a wedding…

  • The Purge: Homestead Hoard-Busting by: Mark Zeiger

    July 26, 2017, 03:00

    The whole time my sisters and I sorted through our parents' belongings to pare things down to size for their move to assisted living (see Fresh Off of Travel…

  • Headlamps on the Homestead: "The Best" and The Rest by: Mark Zeiger

    May 2, 2017, 03:00

    To wrap up the recent series on headlamps, I should mention the lights we're looking at to possibly replace our Princeton Tecs (see Headlamps on the Homestead:…

  • Headlamps on the Homestead: A Troubling Event by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2017, 03:00

    As I teased in the previous post (see Headlamps on the Homestead: Princeton Tec) the Byte seems to be my current favorite headlamp, despite one serious setback…

  • Headlamps on the Homestead: Princeton Tec by: Mark Zeiger

    April 26, 2017, 03:00

    As I explained in Headlamps on the Homestead, we gave up on our favorite headlamps when a design change degraded their quality. We turned back to Princeton…

  • Headlamps on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    April 23, 2017, 03:00

    Recently, while revisiting an old post on the importance of headlamps in our life (see Headlamps: Don't Leave Home Without Them!) I saw how out of date it had…

  • Henry AR 7 Survival Rifle by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2017, 03:00

    I recently bought a Henry AR 7 survival rifle. The Air Force developed this .22 for their pilots in the 1950s. It's now manufactured by the Henry Repeating…

  • Reverse Snobbery by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2017, 03:00

    For years, I've noticed an odd effect of shopping secondhand. The upshot of the effect may be that I have become a reverse snob. I don't find this discovery…

  • A Place for (Some Of) Our Stuff by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2017, 03:00

    As one might imagine, keeping our belongings in some sort of order, while remaining at hand and useful, occupies much time and energy (see Finding Storage…

  • Hoodie Culture by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2017, 03:00

    When my older brother and I were children, we loved a particular style of clothing, in spite of the fact that it included a feature that we considered useless,…

  • Living Up to My Own Words by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2017, 03:00

    So often, as I write these essays on homestead living, particularly on the topics of simplicity, frugality, courage, and the like, I often think to myself:…

  • In Praise of Secondhand Stores by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2016, 03:00

    In many essays on this blog I've sung the praises of shopping at secondhand stores. Beginning with Museum of Lost Desires, and including A Successful Bargain…

  • The "Sunday Go to Meetin'" Pack Board by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2016, 03:00

    Not long ago, I shopped for a new pack board to add to our collection. We probably use open pack boards more than any other pack for larger, heavier loads.…

  • Sole Improvement by: Mark Zeiger

    September 8, 2016, 03:00

    I have a new pair of shoes that needs breaking in. I love the fit, they're perfectly comfortable and warm. But, the soles need help. I've only worn the…

  • A New Dinner Triangle by: Mark Zeiger

    June 8, 2016, 03:00

    For many years, we had a small ship's bell attached to the front wall of our cabin. We used it to summon each other for phone calls, meals, or emergencies.…

  • So Many Questions! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2016, 03:00

    On Sunday, we assembled new bug out bags (see Emergencies Don't Wait). We managed this long-delayed process by declaring our efforts provisional, creating…

  • Emergencies Don't Wait by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2016, 07:44

    We've been sitting on a major project for more than a month now, whittling away at the sides of it occasionally, but waiting for the time to really do it…

  • Kilt Couture by: Mark Zeiger

    April 3, 2016, 03:00

    The blog's been published almost 7 years now. In that time, you've learned a lot about me and my family. What you have not learned here, though, is that I am a…

  • Tidy Drawers Bring Peace of Mind by: Mark Zeiger

    March 16, 2016, 03:00

    Michelle came home with a book on decluttering a few weeks ago, and, heaven help me, it changed my life! Friends of hers had spoken enthusiastically of…

  • Chimes Restored by: Mark Zeiger

    March 4, 2016, 03:00

    As mild as our winter was, we got enough wind to cause a few minor problems around the homestead. One storm trashed one set of our wind chimes. Broken wind…

  • The Repair Manifesto by: Mark Zeiger

    February 14, 2016, 03:00

    I recently learned from a reader about The Repair Manifesto, presented by the group IFIXIT. The Repair Manifesto (IFIXIT.com) I believe strongly in the…

  • The Cat Coat by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2016, 03:00

    At the end of December, Michelle and I hiked through the snow across the ridge to the road. She took a turn at breaking trail, and as I hiked along, staring at…

  • Collins Needs to Get Their Head On Straight by: Mark Zeiger

    December 28, 2015, 03:00

    I recently reported the death of one of my splitting axes (see Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant!). Shortly after that, I shopped for its replacement in our…

  • Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2015, 03:00

    Wood work on the homestead continues, even though we're enjoying a brief hiatus in the firewood harvest. I'm monitoring two ricks of half rounds that we cut…

  • Review: the Bestek 300 Watt Power Inverter by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2015, 03:00

    Ours is largely a 12 volt household. When it comes right down to it, our large inverter doesn't get much use, especially since we no longer access the Internet…

  • Where the Weather Suits My Clothes by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2015, 03:00

    There's a line in a popular song from my childhood about "goin' where the weather suits my clothes." That idea remains stuck in my mind all these years later…

  • A (Temporarily) Unexamined Life by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2015, 03:00

    A couple years ago I wrote about using a Fitbit Flex®, which struck me then, as it still does, as ironic (see Fitbit® Foolishness). The irony increased…

  • Dressing for Work by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2015, 05:05

    Like everyone else, I sometimes have trouble facing the first decision of the day, answering that troubling question, "what am I going to wear?" In my…

  • I Confess, I Sabotaged the Weather! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 18, 2015, 04:18

    I feel compelled to apologize to everyone who lives in our town, perhaps even our region. We enjoyed a warm, dry early summer, with more sunshine than most of…

  • "Goodbye, Old Paint." by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2015, 03:00

    Recently, I sent our old sawbuck to the knacker's yard. Back in 2013, I built a new, lighter, foldable sawbuck to replace one I'd built years before from…

  • Emergency Ready: Eton FRX5 by: Mark Zeiger

    January 23, 2015, 03:00

    Ever since an earthquake near Craig, Alaska spawned tsunami warnings that we missed (see Sleeping Through Another Shaker, also Tsunami Watch) I've wanted…

  • Motion Sensor Lights by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2014, 03:00

    The day before the Winter Solstice, we went to town to finish up Christmas errands. We browsed the private secondhand store, previously known to us casually as…

  • Hand Me Down by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2014, 06:55

    On Saturday, before Aly left on the ferry to return Outside for her last few quarters of college, she had to pack some extra gear, including 50+ pounds of home…

  • Rugs That Wash and Wear by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2014, 03:00

    When we first bought the property, I began looking for braided rugs to cover the cabin's bare wood floors. I remember braided rugs fondly from growing up. Mom…

  • Coffee Yin-Yang by: Mark Zeiger

    August 17, 2014, 03:00

    I'm not big on Asian philosophy at all, but I do recognize that from it we glean a lot of short hand terms for universal human concepts, truths and values. I'm…

  • Loaded for Bear by: Mark Zeiger

    July 18, 2014, 07:48

    The bear that raided the compost pile earlier this week returned the next morning (see Bear Busted). The Critter Gitter greeted him and announced his presence…

  • Fire Pistons by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2014, 03:00

    Have you ever heard of a fire piston? Western society's history came incredibly to this being a common household term. The story goes that British or…

  • Constant Companion by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2014, 05:07

    A friend and I have fallen in to a weird codependency lately, enabling each other's love of knives. We spend a lot of time emailing about them to each other,…

  • Fitbit® Foolishness by: Mark Zeiger

    April 14, 2014, 03:00

    I tipped my hand somewhat in my last post, A Walk Too Far, in mentioning that we have been using Fitbits® since Christmas. I've been meaning to write about…

  • Comparing Pants (A Pants Off?) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 6, 2014, 03:00

    I used to feel extravagant buying the TRU-SPEC 24-7 pants I prefer (see Pants Worth Paying For) until I had the opportunity to test them against a tough pair…

  • Pants Worth Paying For by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2014, 03:00

    I've spoken often about the importance of clothing. As the shelter we carry with us living in Nature, clothing may be our most critical asset (see Clothing:…

  • High Carbon Steel Kitchen Knives by: Mark Zeiger

    February 27, 2014, 03:00

    I sing the praises of the high carbon steel kitchen knife . . . . About a year ago, Michelle and I watched Julia Child's series, The French Chef. In one…

  • Getting Where We Need to Go by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2014, 03:00

    We've eased back into standard Southeast Alaskan winter weather lately, which has me hobbling around like a very old man. Our classic pattern is freeze/thaw.…

  • Snowshoeing by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2014, 03:00

    About a week before Christmas, we strapped on snowshoes to hike the trail. We have not needed snowshoes much the past couple of years. In fact, we didn't…

  • A Simple, Ubiquitous Solution to Keeping Hot Drinks Hot by: Mark Zeiger

    December 23, 2013, 08:26

    Michelle has an idea for repurposing an item that is guaranteed to be found in every single home in the U.S., if not the world. Michelle often carries hot…

  • Make it Last: Reviving Shearling Footwear by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2013, 03:00

    In the cooler part of the year, we rely heavily on shearling boots to keep our feet warm around the house without having to wear outdoor shoes. If you've…

  • Binocular Specs by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2013, 03:00

    The other day I visited The Garage Sale store for the first time since it changed hands and name. The new owner, Helen, is working closely with Ralph, who's…

  • "Lining" and Other Solo Canoeing Tricks by: Mark Zeiger

    September 19, 2013, 03:00

    Even after we acquired a set of single kayaks (see We Need to Get Out More!), our Coleman Ram X Scanoe, a flat-sterned freighting canoe is still the most…

  • Roadside Lost and Found by: Mark Zeiger

    September 1, 2013, 03:00

    Our circumstances require that we park our car on the roadside about a mile and a half from the cabin. We park on the shoulder along with our neighbors. We…

  • Boat "Lost" and Found by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2013, 05:34

    The morning we left the homestead to go to Juneau for a wedding, we noticed that one of our boats had been moved. A flotilla of small boats line both shores…

  • A New Way to View the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    June 30, 2013, 03:00

    After years of apologizing for our point-and-shoot camera's inability to show the homestead views with true magnification, I purchased a camera that gets us a…

  • We Need to Get Out More! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 22, 2013, 03:00

    On Wednesday, we bought a pair of used kayaks from a lovely local couple. They live out on Lutak Road, and it was a hot, sunny afternoon, so we took the kayaks…

  • Hafting an Ax by: Mark Zeiger

    March 11, 2013, 03:00

    Of the myriad tasks to be performed on the homestead, there are few I approach with higher hopes, and finish with less satisfaction, than hafting an axe. Lucki…

  • Surrendering to the Inevitable Upgrade by: Mark Zeiger

    March 4, 2013, 03:00

    These last few days, when I get the urge to explore new territory, I head inside. I recently acquired a “new” computer, and have been exploring its new…

  • A Fifth F and a Reassessment by: Mark Zeiger

    January 18, 2013, 03:00

    The other day, I misremembered Michelle's memnomic for leaving the house. She didn't list four Fs, she listed five. The fifth, that I had missed, was Franklin,…

  • Michelle's 4 Fs of Trail Hiking by: Mark Zeiger

    January 12, 2013, 08:00

    The other morning, as Michelle prepared to leave for work, she ticked off what she calls "The Four Fs": food, flashlight, fob, and phone. "Everything…

  • Snowshoe Repairs by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2012, 03:00

    We've gotten some snow on the homestead over the last few days. The weather band says more is on the way—possibly a lot more. I finally got around to a job…

  • Relearning the Lesson of Secondhand Clothing by: Mark Zeiger

    November 9, 2012, 03:00

    Each of us has our own best learning style, through which we acquire skills and knowledge. Some learn well through reading, others through observation, or by…

  • Losing "Old Friends" by: Mark Zeiger

    June 15, 2012, 03:00

    Developing a good attitude toward possessions is key to living the way we do. However, some things we own leave me feeling their loss when they go. On…

  • Hot Water Fast with a Kelly Kettle/Volcano Stove by: Mark Zeiger

    March 5, 2012, 03:00

    If I want hot water fast, one of the best tools I've found is a device known as a Kelly kettle or volcano stove. Apparently developed by Irish fishermen, a…

  • Choosing the Right Ax for the Job by: Mark Zeiger

    February 28, 2012, 03:00

    Working with firewood on the homestead, I've found a need for specialized axes to some extent. I've spoken before of the uses of a so-called "boy's ax." I also…

  • A Child's Ax Can Do a Man's Job by: Mark Zeiger

    February 15, 2012, 03:00

    Sometimes it takes a boy's tool to do a man's job . . . . I've found a child's ax to be a useful tool around my woodpile. When we moved to our homestead, I…

  • Spring Changes: A New Homestead "Store" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 1, 2012, 03:00

    Spring is upon us, by our reckoning. I think this time I've finally figured it out. As I've mentioned often before, viewing the seasons from the ancient Celtic…

  • The Pulk: Our Homestead's Winter "Truck" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 30, 2012, 03:00

    In winter, we watch the snow pack on the trails for enough coverage to haul heavy loads with the pulk. Our pulk is a Pelican sled that we’ve rigged with…

  • Felted Boot Liners by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2011, 03:00

    Conditions on our homestead dictate that we wear shoes fairly constantly. We try to switch between indoor and outdoor footwear and back, because it's too easy…

  • "Take Off Your 'Hat' and Stay Awhile!" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2011, 03:00

    Every now and then I discover a habit I've fallen into that needs to be broken. Just recently, I've decided I need to take my headlamp off more often. Headla…

  • New Thinking about Boots in the Water by: Mark Zeiger

    August 10, 2011, 03:00

    Back in 2009 I wrote about the recommendation that a person going overboard should kick off their boots to keep from being dragged down. Even as I repeated the…

  • Goodbye, Old Pants by: Mark Zeiger

    June 10, 2011, 03:00

    I love the Thomas Carlyle quotation: “Trust not the heart of that man for whom old clothes are not venerable.” I have lived these words all my life,…

  • Snowshoes for a Song . . . Er, Poem by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2011, 03:00

    Earlier in the year, I entered a week's worth of online contests that the outdoor gear store, REI sponsored. Each day they posted a new photo and asked…

  • How to Repair a Damaged Ax Blade by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2011, 03:00

    I often damage my felling or limbing ax, warping the thin-blade against knots or harder sections of wood. When this happens, I have to repair the blade to make…

  • Getting a Grip by: Mark Zeiger

    February 26, 2011, 09:29

    The yard has become so icy I'm beginning to fear for our safety. We can still get around with considerable care, but I find myself, in particularly perilous…

  • Parka Weather by: Mark Zeiger

    February 18, 2011, 03:00

    As usual, shortly after declaring the coming of spring, we're experiencing a February cold snap. Temperatures have fallen as low as 9°F. High winds drop the…

  • Homemade Socks by: Mark Zeiger

    November 7, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday I insisted on showers, even though it was not a "town day." When I finished, I carefully trimmed my toenails, even though they didn't really need it.…

  • Headlamps: Don't Leave Home Without Them! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2010, 03:00

    It's that time of year again, when we have to change our habits on the homestead. Most importantly: remember your headlamp! Much of the year we grab our…

  • Shoe Laces by the Yard by: Mark Zeiger

    August 31, 2010, 03:00

    We've noticed lately that we go through a lot of shoe and boot laces around here. It seems to be because mass manufactured eyes are more commonly made without…

  • Fancy Gear for Simple Living by: Mark Zeiger

    August 8, 2010, 03:00

    The other day a package arrived at the Post Office containing high-end, quality, very expensive outdoor gear for the family. As if it were Christmas morning,…

  • Getting "Cranky" on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    July 25, 2010, 03:00

    In general, we've had more wind than we usually get in the summer, so power hasn't been much of an issue lately. Often, especially in the summer months, we…

  • When I Am "Outside" I Shall Wear Red and Blue by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2010, 03:00

    On Monday, working toward my resolution to read a poem a day this year, I read Jenny Joseph's delightful poem, Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear…

  • Sometimes Semi-Remote Seems Like Semi-Homeless by: Mark Zeiger

    February 27, 2010, 03:00

    Because we live so far off the road, and own no property on the road system, our car has become over full of things one would normally keep in a garage. The…

  • Socks for Christmas? Yes Please! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2009, 03:00

    If you've been following the blog at all, you may have come to the conclusion that we're not an average American family. If you need one further proof, here it…

  • Develop Healthy Attitudes Toward Your Belongings by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2009, 01:00

    I adhere to the principal that happiness comes not from owning what you love, but from loving what you own. Compared to most Americans we have very little;…

  • How To Dress Like a Southeast Alaskan by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2009, 01:00

    Although we, like all Americans, dress in myriad styles, there are a few modes of dress that distinguish us as Southeast Alaskans. Two distinctive items can…

  • Cotton Kills by: Mark Zeiger

    October 8, 2009, 01:00

    Alaskans have a common saying: "Cotton kills." Those two words  remind us to guard against hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when one's…

  • Clothing: Essential to Survival and Self-Esteem by: Mark Zeiger

    September 25, 2009, 01:00

    “Trust not the heart of that man for whom old clothes are not venerable.”—Thomas Carlyle Clothing is one of the essentials of survival, along with…

  • Happy Camouflage, Everybody! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 6, 2009, 10:07

    Our life on the homestead is self-sufficient enough that we often limit our trips to town to once a week. The weekly visits are mostly to deliver Aly to a…

• Category: Construction Projects  (3)
  • Roof Repairs by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2019, 03:00

    We've had some big winds in the last month or so, but I didn't realize how big some of the gusts really were until Aly showed us a photo she'd taken out of the…

  • Final Touches by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2018, 03:00

    I just put the final touch on the front step I built (see A New Step). While taking photos of it, I also snapped one of the cover to the battery box, which I…

  • A New Step by: Mark Zeiger

    June 27, 2018, 03:00

    One of the side benefits of the new battery bank (see Racing to the Summer Solstice) is a new step for the front door. The new porch step. Simple, elegant,…

• Category: Daily Life  (132)
  • Return of The Invisible Man by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2019, 03:00

    I won't say I've gone into hiding since we closed the community presentation of Noises Off!, but . . . well, I've gone into hiding. No other way to put it,…

  • Celebrating a Survivor by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2018, 03:00

    At this time of year, many people in the northern hemisphere enjoy blooming Christmas cacti. Observing that our Christmas cactus is budding once again caused…

  • Sharing Memories, Not Thoughts by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2018, 12:14

    One of the main drivers of this blog is that we write about what we're thinking about. That works well for the most part, but when a problem takes time to work…

  • "Cat-Who-Eats-Before-Me" by: Mark Zeiger

    September 12, 2018, 07:05

    Michelle got up at 4:30 a.m., as she often does in order to get ready for work and hike out to arrive on time. As usual, I lay in bed a bit longer, half…

  • Gray Water Muck Out by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2018, 03:00

    A week or so ago, our shower drain clogged. That's not a big deal; we keep a plunger in the corner of the shower stall, and one often gives it a few plunges in…

  • Hardwood Floors by: Mark Zeiger

    July 26, 2018, 03:00

    Often an enticement listed in Real Estate ads, our cabin has hardwood floors. Not just any hardwood floors—they're probably antique. The homestead…

  • Gazing Out the Window by: Mark Zeiger

    April 16, 2018, 03:00

    I sometimes wonder how I ever did it. How did I acquire a decent education, how did I hold semi-prestigious, sometimes lucrative, often exciting jobs, when…

  • Silence Is Good for Us! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 19, 2018, 03:00

    I recently read this article, Science Says Silence is Much More Important to Our Brains Than We Think. Apparently, silence can restore brain cells? Now, I…

  • For 2018: Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a Lunar Calendar by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2017, 03:00

    Earlier in the winter, when a blog follower expressed interest in an old project of mine, I pulled it out, dusted it off, and updated it for her. Now that it's…

  • News Flashes by: Mark Zeiger

    December 6, 2017, 03:00

    The last week or so, I've received new information on topics I've covered here in the past. Rather than do a separate post on each one, here's a quick update…

  • Opening Night! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2017, 12:51

    It starts tonight! As Henry II says at one point: "I hope you'll all attend." Wish that were possible. (Poster Design: Amanda Randles.) See also this…

  • A Happy End by: Mark Zeiger

    November 5, 2017, 07:52

    I'm so tempted to title this "A Happy Hind End," but perhaps not? I'm back from Juneau, where I recently had my first colonoscopy (see For Halloween: My Own…

  • For Halloween: My Own Personal Horror Show! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2017, 03:00

    Don't even think about looking for photos here . . . . When I got the call that my FIT test indicated I should go in for a colonoscopy, I swore I'd keep it…

  • Fresh Off of Travel Status by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2017, 03:00

    It's time to confess: I've been away from the homestead for about 10 days. I just got back yesterday. I arrived mid-morning on Aly's 24th birthday, got home…

  • Too Close for Comfort! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2017, 03:00

    Aly made an extremely disturbing discovery Thursday: scorch marks on the cabin! A couple months ago, I found a jug of partly full of white vinegar washed up…

  • Slow Decompression by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2017, 03:00

    I returned to the homestead five days ago, but the "decompression period" in which I re-emerse myself in the homestead has taken longer than it has in the past…

  • Almost Home by: Mark Zeiger

    March 15, 2017, 08:28

    I'm sitting in the cozy living room of my friends' Juneau back loop home, coffee in hand, looking out on a good 8 inches of fresh snow. Michelle and Aly used…

  • "Potato Chipping" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2017, 03:00

    Like every family, we use certain phrases as shorthand for common behavior. For instance, we use "stone boat" to describe doggedly persisting in a futile…

  • A New Tour of the Zeiger Homestead Cabin (2016) by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2016, 03:00

    We cleaned the cabin pretty thoroughly to prepare for Christmas decorating, and for a friend's visit. So, in the days before either, we took a moment to take…

  • A Bloody Business by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2016, 07:16

    Yesterday, as we hiked a visitor out to catch her ferry home, I took a sudden fall, possibly the worst I've experienced here. Falls are a constant danger on…

  • Dog Day by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2016, 03:00

    Our homestead has always been a great place for dogs. From friends and family visiting with their dogs (see A Good Dog Looking for a Good Home) to occasional…

  • Dog on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    September 4, 2016, 03:00

    We have temporarily added a new member to our homestead family. Those of you who have commented, in the past, that our homestead seems like a fitting place for…

  • Plugging Away by: Mark Zeiger

    July 13, 2016, 06:21

    Please stand by . . . . The sister visit has us hopping. We're getting a little done at the homestead as we take a break from sorting their two storage units…

  • Tears and Laughter by: Mark Zeiger

    July 10, 2016, 06:49

    When I checked the mail yesterday and saw the return address on a note with one of the two names crossed out, I felt gut punched. I read the note, which…

  • Townside by: Mark Zeiger

    July 7, 2016, 07:06

    We're living in town for about a week. Michelle and Aly started the night of the 4th, staying overnight with friends so that they could get to work very early…

  • Make Like a Mule by: Mark Zeiger

    June 30, 2016, 03:00

    Cue the old Rolling Stones tune, I'm going to be a Beast of Burden. It appears I'm going to need to make like a mule for the next few weeks. Last Friday…

  • Outhouse Improvement by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2016, 03:00

    If Aly's going to inhabit Shell Cottage, one of the first tasks is to improve the outhouse. Formerly known as "the guest outhouse," this small structure…

  • Aly's Home! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 26, 2016, 03:00

    (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger.)

  • Shell Cottage by: Mark Zeiger

    June 22, 2016, 03:00

    Our daughter Aly's move back to the homestead will not be a return to old ways, necessarily. When she left, she was a child of the home; she returns as an…

  • Compost Bucket List by: Mark Zeiger

    June 18, 2016, 03:00

    I've spoken before about the immense sense of responsibility we feel to take full advantage of warm, sunny weather. In my last post, I ended up making a quick…

  • "Drizzle Drazzle Drozzle Drome..." by: Mark Zeiger

    June 14, 2016, 03:00

    Right at the edge of my earliest memories lies Tooter the Turtle and his friend/mentor, Mr. Wizard the Lizard. A short subject from the Underdog cartoons, this…

  • It's Time to Replace the Veranda by: Mark Zeiger

    June 10, 2016, 03:00

    One of our homestead's most used and appreciated features requires replacement. The "veranda," as we call it, a salvaged section of decking with a large…

  • Back To Quarantine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 4, 2016, 07:22

    I apologize for breaking the posting schedule. However, I continue to battle this crud, and there's nothing at all worth writing about in that. I feel like all…

  • Social Butterfly? by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2016, 07:49

    My hermit ways seem to have taken a one-two punch last month. First, the local production of the play Incorruptible not only thrust me into a local…

  • A Benediction from "Father Charles" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2016, 08:47

    Last night the cast and crew of Incorruptible: A Dark Comedy About the Dark Ages by Michael Hollinger gave their final scheduled performance (see "The Play's…

  • In the Quiet of the Morning by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2016, 03:00

    As I sit here at the table, enjoying the last of my cup of coffee, I'm surrounded by the quiet sounds of a typical spring morning on the homestead. Even…

  • "The Play's the Thing" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 15, 2016, 08:57

    We've had play practice every night this week, and may continue to do so for the coming two weeks (see "The Show Must Go On")!  I'm thoroughly enjoying it,…

  • Puppy Camp by: Mark Zeiger

    March 14, 2016, 03:00

    Last week our friend, Suki, came to visit the homestead. Suki is a friend's dog. She's a gentle, somewhat elderly lady, medium sized with short hair and…

  • Brief Update by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 20, 2016, 11:09

    The day the previous post went online the weather changed. We had 34° the day before and then it dropped to 26° giving us a window of opportunity for…

  • Change(s) by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2016, 03:00

    Earlier this week, I sat down and reviewed our Website. I should really do this more often. It's too easy to just leave it once it's up and running,…

  • Vacation's Over by: Mark Zeiger

    January 13, 2016, 03:00

    Well, the vacation's over. I often say that we don't take vacations from our homestead, because we don't want or need to get away from it, but our recent trip…

  • Missing Persons by: Mark Zeiger

    September 29, 2015, 03:00

    Last week I lost Michelle. Again. Ironically, I worried as I searched for her that she might not know where I was, either. I decided to fetch a load of…

  • Decompression by: Mark Zeiger

    June 17, 2015, 07:50

    Yesterday we returned to the "homestead" after more than two weeks of travel around Aly's graduation. We had intended to race to the bay in time to cross ahead…

  • Routine Tasks on the "Homestead" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 21, 2015, 03:00

    In a recent post, in which I confessed to writer's block, I mentioned that I had focused on "standard tasks" around the "homestead" (see I Got Nothin' Today .…

  • To Grandmother's House I Go . . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    October 3, 2014, 03:00

    This afternoon I hop the ferry to Juneau, to catch a plane tomorrow for Seattle. I'm headed Outside for a visit to my last surviving grandparents and other…

  • The Rule of Three by: Mark Zeiger

    July 16, 2014, 05:27

    Aly's home for the summer. We're transitioning between being a couple to being a trio, reversing what has become our normal (see Homestead 2.0). We're…

  • A Little Bit of This and That by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2014, 03:00

    I've spoken before about follow up, and lack thereof on this blog (see Random Notes). In a way, I suppose that's fine. Since I tend to view this site as a…

  • "Earthshaking" News by: Mark Zeiger

    June 5, 2014, 03:00

    Wednesday morning, just before 4:00 a.m., a 5.8 earthquake shook our region. As it happened, we were awake to feel the shaking, and hear our wine glasses ring…

  • Cat-Less Naps by: Mark Zeiger

    May 31, 2014, 03:00

    My long standing prediction finally came true: our obnoxious cat has finally driven us from our home. Spice, our perpetual baby, turns thirteen tomorrow.…

  • A Gentleman of Forced Leisure by: Mark Zeiger

    May 25, 2014, 03:00

    I recently laid up for a bit, trying to heal a mysterious injury. Unidentified ailments are an unfortunate byproduct of our constantly-on-the-go lifestyle.…

  • A Walk Too Far by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2014, 03:00

    Thursday, Michelle and I wanted to attend an evening event in town, so I decided to walk into Haines in the afternoon. I've done it once before. That day,…

  • Laid Low by: Mark Zeiger

    March 25, 2014, 04:49

    Whatever's going around—we got it! Michelle came home for the weekend with a dry cough that worked itself into a mean sore throat and sinus drain. That…

  • Random "Homestead" Notes by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2014, 03:00

    Although I try to write a complete essay for each blog post, every once in a while, events pile up that I'd like to mention, but don't necessarily need or want…

  • Deodorant Crystals for Frugal, Effective Hygiene by: Mark Zeiger

    February 5, 2014, 03:00

    In my opinion, the development of deodorant crystals is one of the best innovations in personal hygiene in many years. I've yet to find a better solution for…

  • A Video "Postcard": Snowshoeing the Trail by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2014, 03:00

    We shot this video at the end of December, just to show some of the trail in its conditions at the time. Because of our lower-speed connectivity, it took me…

  • Outhouse Love by: Mark Zeiger

    October 29, 2013, 05:14

    The morning Aly returned to the "homestead" last summer, she came into the cabin and commented on outhouses. I wish I'd written it down! I think she said,…

  • Carrying on the "Homestead" Tradition by: Mark Zeiger

    August 21, 2013, 06:07

    Every once in awhile, I feel as if we might be worthy of the "homestead" that the previous owners created here. Specifically, I may have confirmed my own…

  • All Fall Down by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2013, 03:00

    While Michelle's new garden swing (see Swingin'!) has provided many pleasant moments this last summer, it has had some trouble. After a group of friends…

  • Hoping for a Gentle Homecoming by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2013, 03:00

    Just as most parents of college age children are saying their goodbyes to returning students, we are welcoming Aly home. She finished her camp staffing job…

  • "The Boat People" Have Arrived by: Mark Zeiger

    July 19, 2013, 03:00

    Wednesday afternoon, when I stepped inside from picking currants, I found a message on my phone. My brother Dave and his wife, Anke, had called to say they had…

  • Memory Found! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 8, 2013, 03:00

    My Franklin Covey planner has returned to me! I went to town yesterday to run some errands, and decided to stop by our friend Ralph's Garage Sale Store (see…

  • Memory Loss by: Mark Zeiger

    June 5, 2013, 03:00

    The Unthinkable happened June 1st: After 18 years of constant use, my Franklin-Covey Planner has gone missing. I say "gone missing" because, while I'd…

  • Time to "Do" Windows! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 7, 2013, 03:00

    At last: a sunny day with lighter winds—a day on which to wash windows. Windows are vital to enjoying our cabin's view, of course, but they also provide…

  • Making Do for Myself by: Mark Zeiger

    April 23, 2013, 03:00

    Michelle took the ferry to Juneau yesterday, and flew south today to visit family and help deal with illness and death. She will be gone just short of two…

  • The Story Behind Some of Our Food Photos by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2012, 03:00

    Happy Thanksgiving! We're off celebrating the holiday with friends, but here's a story about food for the day: I mentioned in my last post on Pumpkin…

  • Back Home(stead) by: Mark Zeiger

    October 16, 2012, 09:47

    Yesterday evening, Michelle and I returned to the homestead from a visit to a distant planet: Washington DC. We'd been gone since October 3rd, traveling by…

  • Random Notes by: Mark Zeiger

    August 7, 2012, 09:44

    I may write for a blog, and thereby qualify as a "blogger," but I prefer to think of myself as an essayist. I try to offer a brief essay each posting, making…

  • Mark's Town Adventure by: Mark Zeiger

    July 21, 2012, 03:00

    With Michelle working in town many days each week, I've managed to avoid going to Haines very often. With my recent bout of flu, it had been about two weeks…

  • Reunions by: Mark Zeiger

    June 22, 2012, 03:00

    The last blog post could benefit from further elaboration. I apologize; the blog has been on "autopilot" for a few days, and when the pre-scheduled posts ran…

  • Aly's Home! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 20, 2012, 14:05

    Aly come home! I managed to go down to Juneau to greet her, thanks to a friend who needed two vehicles taken back there on the ferry. We had a pleasant cruise…

  • Music to Our Ears by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2012, 03:00

    The end of the long calm spell has brought a significant and extremely pleasant change to the homestead: we're listening to music again. Music is an…

  • Every Day Ornaments by: Mark Zeiger

    January 16, 2012, 03:00

    As we packed up our Christmas ornaments at the end of the holiday season, part of that transition back to the everyday included a smaller decoration of the…

  • Hermit Mutterings by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2011, 03:00

    Michelle came home Friday evening. I broke trail with snowshoes to the bay to meet her and help her haul in her gear. Welcome home! I passed my time alone…

  • Listening to Silence by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2011, 03:00

    Living fairly far from other people as we do, we are surrounded by "silence." I've noticed this much more lately, spending so much time alone. I quote…

  • Bachelor Homesteader by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2011, 03:00

    Today Michelle's moving out of the homestead for a while. Except for a couple of weekends, she'll spend the next three weeks chaperoning friends' children in…

  • Missing Mary Engelbreit by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2011, 10:28

    Each family member has his/her own favorite artists, all of which combine to complement our home. We have framed prints from one or two artists, but most add…

  • A Good Dog Looking for a Good Home by: Mark Zeiger

    July 20, 2011, 03:00

    We're cat people, but we appreciate a good dog when we see one. Monday, we met a really good dog, and, as luck would have it, he needs a home. One of the…

  • A Glimpse of the Future? by: Mark Zeiger

    July 4, 2011, 03:00

    Happy Independence Day! If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, today is the day to read another one of the extra…

  • Voices In my Head by: Mark Zeiger

    June 26, 2011, 03:00

    This summer as I go about the work of the homestead, I'm hearing voices in my head. I have to say, I'm really enjoying it. One of the nicest results of…

  • "Do You Have Any American Cash?" by: Mark Zeiger

    June 6, 2011, 09:06

    Just before Michelle left for an appointment in town this morning, she turned to me and asked, "Do you have any American cash?" The oddity of this question…

  • Strange Trackways by: Mark Zeiger

    April 20, 2011, 04:07

    The whole family went out to beach comb yesterday's morning tide, a minus 4.5. We looked for starfish for the garden, but didn't see any large enough to…

  • New Windows on the World by: Mark Zeiger

    March 25, 2011, 12:53

    Over the last two days we've had some very pleasant excitement on the homestead. A small work crew came out by skiff with tools, generator fuel, and constructio…

  • A Poemless Moon by: Mark Zeiger

    March 12, 2011, 03:00

    Tonight's first quarter moon has no associated Mary Oliver poem. It's been lean times as far as using Mary's book, Twelve Moons, as a lunar calendar lately.…

  • Midnight Creeper by: Mark Zeiger

    March 8, 2011, 03:00

    The last few nights I've been creeping around after midnight, surfing the Internet between midnight and 6:00 a.m., during the "free," bandwidth period.…

  • "Orphaned" Again by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2011, 03:00

    Today we're extremely busy—lots to do, most of it last-minute, all of it no doubt slightly frantic. When it's all said and done, Aly and I will be "orphaned."…

  • Here's to the Marvelous Egg! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 18, 2011, 08:26

    The egg is, indeed, a marvel of natural engineering. Yesterday, Aly and I went to town for the first time in 7 days. One of our errands included grocery…

  • Returning to Normal by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2011, 03:00

    Twelfth Night is past, and we have returned once again to "normal life" after a long and pleasant holiday season. At the same time, I'm feeling normal again,…

  • Christmas Bookends by: Mark Zeiger

    January 6, 2011, 03:00

    The thing I like about the way we celebrate Christmas is that it's really hard to have a bad year if it starts and ends with such a great holiday. Christmas…

  • Sick Days by: Mark Zeiger

    January 4, 2011, 03:00

    Somewhere, somehow, we picked up a nasty bug! Oddly, we've hardly been around anyone to catch it from. Our trips to town have been rare, brief, and without a…

  • Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as Lunar Calendar by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2011, 03:00

    As I mentioned recently, in evaluating the fulfillment of last year's resolution to read a poem a day, I discovered something interesting about one of my…

  • Fulfilling My New Year's Resolution by: Mark Zeiger

    December 31, 2010, 03:00

    Today I will read a poem, Robert Service's New Year's Eve. When I reach the final stanza, I will have successfully fulfilled this year's resolution to read a…

  • Random Trail Thoughts by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2010, 07:17

    Hiking our trail often becomes a kind of Zen exercise. The way is familiar, so the mind wanders freely. We usually hike in and out in company, at least two of…

  • A Light in the Window, and a Place Called Home by: Mark Zeiger

    December 14, 2010, 03:00

    "When the snow flies and the night falls, there's a light in the window, and a place called home at the end of the storm . . . ." —Judy Collins, The…

  • Amateur Film Making by: Mark Zeiger

    November 11, 2010, 08:42

    One of my favorite cousins made a great suggestion for promoting the new book: a Blair Witch-style promo short film to post on YouTube. Yesterday Aly and I…

  • Headlamps: Don't Leave Home Without Them! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2010, 03:00

    It's that time of year again, when we have to change our habits on the homestead. Most importantly: remember your headlamp! Much of the year we grab our…

  • A Cozy Cabin by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2010, 08:16

    A northerly gale blows at least 30 knots outside, dropping the feel of the current high 30s to low 40s temperature. Still, I'm writing this in my pajamas. I've…

  • Visitation Rites by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2010, 03:00

    Life has been a bit strange this week, with Michelle living in town. It's not as if she's traveling out of state, which we've experienced before. The weirdness…

  • "Orphaned" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 11, 2010, 03:00

    Today Michelle moves to town to take care of friends' children until October 18th. Aly and I will be pretty much on our own for the week. It will be very odd…

  • A Perfect Day by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2010, 03:00

    Most days are good days on the homestead, but Friday may have been The Perfect Day! As The Dog Days finally lived up to their reputation (they end today, by…

  • Spare Me the Harem Jokes, Please by: Mark Zeiger

    July 8, 2010, 03:00

    Even for a guy like me who's used to being outnumbered by female personalities in the home, living as I did until recently with four of them, I'm feeling a bit…

  • Found: One Kindred Spirit by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2010, 03:00

    We didn't really know what to expect when Kim's cousin, Marissa arrived on the ferry the other evening. We'd never met her, nor had we heard much about her.…

  • In Search of the Perfect Chopping Block by: Mark Zeiger

    June 4, 2010, 03:00

    For better and worse, chopping blocks have been much on my mind these days. A good chopping block is, of course, essential to chopping firewood. When I find…

  • Two Out of Three Ain't Bad by: Mark Zeiger

    May 29, 2010, 03:00

    As Meatloaf would say, Two out of three ain't bad. Our efforts paid off, we got things done, and had some fun in the sun as well. Aly and I got our lumber…

  • The Obligations of Sunny Weather by: Mark Zeiger

    May 28, 2010, 03:00

    In Southeast Alaska, people have a different attitude toward sunny weather. We make the most of it while it lasts. That means that if it lasts very long, we…

  • Running for Home by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2010, 03:00

    We decided to stay another day, so today, as you read this from the comfort of your home, hopefully with a nice cup of coffee, we're on our way back to the…

  • Re-Entry to "Civilization" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 14, 2010, 03:00

    An adventure we're currently embarked on involves returning temporarily to "civilization." That means adjusting to modern conveniences most take for granted,…

  • Signs of Occupancy by: Mark Zeiger

    May 13, 2010, 03:00

    I noticed a problem with the "pee" tent that Michelle had set up in the dooryard to provide a bit more privacy for ladies on the homestead. I mentioned it to…

  • A Quarterly Progress Report by: Mark Zeiger

    April 14, 2010, 03:00

    Some topics we cover in this blog should probably be updated occasionally. Among our projects and concerns, I'm sure there's one that weighs particularly…

  • Meet The Rest of the Family: Our Cats by: Mark Zeiger

    April 3, 2010, 03:00

    While I've alluded to them in the past, I've never properly introduced you to two important family members: our cats, Lissa and Spice. These two pampered,…

  • House Hunting by Proxy by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2010, 03:00

    Wouldn't you love to house hunt just for the fun of it, without all the suspense and uncertainty, or the burden of needing to find The Right House for you and…

  • The Haines Public Library - Community Center, Cultural Hub, Haven by: Mark Zeiger

    February 19, 2010, 03:00

    For us, like many Hainesites, the center our community is our local library. It's not just a great library, it's a gathering place, cultural hub, and, for us,…

  • A Tour of the Zeiger Homestead Cabin by: Mark Zeiger

    January 30, 2010, 03:00

    Recently, Michelle took photos around the first floor of the cabin to show the original owner/builders how things had changed lately. Here's your chance to…

  • Dream Time by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2010, 03:00

    In these days of late winter, we find ourselves dreaming more and more. We are in the least active part of our year, so we tend to look ahead to the coming…

  • A Close Call in the Forest by: Mark Zeiger

    January 23, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday we hiked up into the forest on a couple of errands. Michelle and Aly planned a hike around the back loop trail to visit a few homes where the owners…

  • Aluminum Foil - Possibly the Most Versatile Tool in the Kitchen by: Michelle Zeiger

    January 14, 2010, 03:00

    I use, and reuse, aluminum foil everyday. It is possibly the most useful tool in my kitchen. I use it as a cooking tool, a food keeper and then I repurpose it…

  • In Which I Attempt to Defend My Lame Excuse for a New Year's Resolution by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2010, 03:00

    Generally, I try hard not to make New Year's resolutions. Anything important enough to resolve to do should be started right away, not deferred till the start…

  • Planning the Coming Year - A New Year's Day Project by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2010, 06:00

    Today, New Year’s Day, I indulge in a very pleasant activity: updating my Franklin Planner. This task occurs the first day of every month throughout the…

  • Preparing For the Coming Year: Daylight Charts by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2009, 03:00

    As you may well have gathered by now, I'm fond of rituals, especially at the holidays. As this year draws to a close and the new one is about to begin, some of…

  • We're Not Alone: "Roughing It" Within a Community by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2009, 01:00

    Because it's our blog, we get to focus a lot on ourselves in the posts. My work on Self-Reliance Works deals with our experiences on our homestead as well, and…

  • Headed Straight Into Darkness by: Mark Zeiger

    November 15, 2009, 01:00

    The old Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers tune has been running through my head these last few weeks, as we’ve passed through what Michelle poetically calls…

  • The Soundtrack of Our Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    November 12, 2009, 01:00

    Music has always been a vital ingredient to the quality of our lives. Michelle and I both participated in our school music programs. My former radio career…

  • Time to Switch to the Winter Water Supply by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2009, 01:00

    The weather report is predicting a low of 22° tonight, so unless something else comes up, we'll switch from the summer water to the winter water today. This…

  • The Franklin Planner: An Unlikely Homesteading Tool by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2009, 01:00

    Our decision to move to an off-the-grid homestead required answering many questions. Among them: what to take (as little as possible) and what to leave behind…

  • Quest for Cocoa: The Art and Science of the Perfect Hot Drink by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2009, 01:00

    If you've read many of our family's posts you know that hot drinks are an essential part of our lives. Almost every day begins with tea for Michelle and coffee…

  • The Thermos: One Small Step Toward Conservation and Savings by: Mark Zeiger

    October 6, 2009, 01:00

    As more Americans realize that conservation measures must be taken to survive amid rising prices and falling wages, we suddenly discover that small, simple…

  • "Hunker Down" Days by: Mark Zeiger

    September 25, 2009, 17:05

    This morning, like every morning, I walked out into the teeth of the weather in my pajamas. We, like generations of Americans before ours, have a "little…

  • Moose Hunt News Flash: I Actually SAW One! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 08:33

    Yesterday I achieved a new milestone in this year's moose hunt. Suddenly, the process took an incredible step forward. Instantly, things don't look quite so…

  • “Seek and Ye Shall Find”: Setting Search Images by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 02:00

    Since moving to the homestead, my search imaging has sharpened considerably as I increase my reliance on it. Search images are mental pictures humans…

  • Doing What's Necessary: The Homestead "Facilities" by: Mark Zeiger

    September 23, 2009, 03:01

    We’re often asked an indelicate question: “How do you . . . um . . .?” Which obviously translates to “Where do you go?” Here on the homestead we deal…

  • Dang! There Goes the Outhouse! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2009, 15:22

    Yesterday, Michelle went to the guesthouse to work on building a new set of shelves we're installing in the cabin. As she walked in, she looked behind the…

  • Off the Grid Electricity: The "Power" of Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2009, 10:42

    Let me confess to you up front: I am not an electrician. I know very little about electricity. I survived a whole career requiring daily use of electronic…

  • Lending a Helping Hand by: Mark Zeiger

    September 13, 2009, 09:11

    Yesterday, we helped neighbors with a new guest house on stilts that collapsed. Michelle and Aly had been canoeing a load of laundry home from town on…

• Category: Food & Drink  (178)

  Food, drink, recipes, gustatory rhapsodizing.

  • Retro-Popcorn by: Mark Zeiger

    April 11, 2019, 03:00

    We're experiencing an odd shift in the family's popcorn making lately: we're starting to make retro-popcorn. By that, I mean that we've stepped away from…

  • Azure Standard Affiliate! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2018, 03:00

    For years, we've ordered some of our bulk goods through Azure Standard. Azure started on a family farm east of Portland, Oregon that went organic in the…

  • "Dinosaur Eggs" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 3, 2018, 10:13

    We do not raise chickens on our homestead. We have a chicken coop, built and used by the originating family. It serves mostly as a garden shed right…

  • How To Dry Saute Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2017, 03:00

    In writing the recipe for Cheesy Mushroom Pie, I mention dry sautéing. I ransacked older posts looking for instructions to link on how to dry sauté mushrooms.…

  • Recipe: Homestead Cheesy Mushroom Pie by: Mark Zeiger

    September 11, 2017, 03:00

    As I wrote the previous post (see Participation Makes a Good Sauce) I resigned myself to the necessary follow up, posting the mushroom pie recipe itself.…

  • Participation Makes a Good Sauce by: Mark Zeiger

    September 8, 2017, 03:00

    Aly and I engaged in an interesting conversation about home cooked meals recently. We reminisced about the savory mushroom pie from the previous night's…

  • Water On the Brain by: Mark Zeiger

    August 24, 2017, 03:00

    The fallout (as it were) from Typhoon Banyan hasn't been as heavy on us as predicted (see Here Comes Our Rain!). Nevertheless, our water system is quickly…

  • Elderberry Wine! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 14, 2017, 03:00

    Back in the early '70s, long before I ever tasted wine, let alone learned to like it or make it, I loved a song by Elton John called Elderberry Wine. The B…

  • Botching the Ritual by: Mark Zeiger

    May 11, 2017, 03:00

    Recently, I performed one of my most enduring morning rituals: making coffee. I set up my Italian stove top espresso maker, set it on the burner, adjusted the…

  • Seasons Not Schedules by: Mark Zeiger

    March 30, 2017, 06:23

    I got the jump on birch tapping season this year, which is to say, I started early—too early, apparently. Last year I found some very valuable information…

  • Quarter Century Sourdough by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2017, 03:00

    On Monday, we celebrated a family member's important birthday by fattening her up and eating her. Our sourdough strain turned 25 years old on Monday. We…

  • Better Instructions for One of My Coffee Makers! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 16, 2016, 03:00

    I do not obsess over coffee. I do not obsess over coffee. I do not obsess over coffee. Are we clear on that? Good. Now, let me tell you about how I…

  • Mushroom Ketchup by: Mark Zeiger

    September 2, 2016, 03:00

    Earlier this year, I got the urge to try making mushroom ketchup. I knew from recreational reading that ketchup or catsup has been around for a long time.…

  • Frissant Fireworks by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2016, 03:00

    Tuesday morning, at 4:30, all was quiet. Suddenly, a shot rang out! I thought I was having a bad dream. Not "bad" in the nightmare sense, but as in poor…

  • Birch Batch by: Mark Zeiger

    August 10, 2016, 03:00

    As much as I try to carefully document my wine work, every now and then I get some surprises. Such a one came Monday. I saw in my planner that I needed to…

  • Fast Cooking: Steam Vs. Microwave by: Mark Zeiger

    August 7, 2016, 03:00

    Life moves at a slower pace on the homestead. That's part of its charm, particularly when it comes to food. We're definitely part of the slow food movement,…

  • Brandywine? by: Mark Zeiger

    July 29, 2016, 08:18

    I've always liked the word "brandywine." I don't know that it means anything, really, other than an archaic word for brandy. It's also an excellent name for…

  • Drinking Water: Cleaning the Berkey by: Mark Zeiger

    July 27, 2016, 03:00

    The last few weeks of sunny, dry weather before the usual July rains began represent the low point of drinking water filtration on our homestead. When we…

  • It's a Keeper! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 17, 2016, 03:00

    While it's true that I've been singing the praises of our Sun Oven for more than a year now (see Cooking With Solar) it recently proved, unequivocally, that it…

  • Knowing When to Stop by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2016, 03:00

    We find it difficult, sometimes, to figure out when to start projects. Often, we find it even more difficult to figure out when to stop! Birch tapping got…

  • Life is Sweet, But Not THAT Sweet by: Mark Zeiger

    April 1, 2016, 03:00

    We aren't crusaders in any real sense. We don't champion causes for or against much. We're very lucky in that we have no food allergies severe enough to notice…

  • Dribs and Drabs by: Mark Zeiger

    March 22, 2016, 06:49

    My life seems bound by dribs and drabs lately. Much of what occupies me at the moment centers around the flow of liquids, many of which trickle when I wish…

  • Water, Water Everywhere! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 20, 2016, 03:00

    The British Berkfield "Big Berkey"® water filter arrived Monday evening! (See Drinking Water: Better Filtering.) The breaking in period has proven shorter and…

  • Drinking Water: Better Filtering by: Mark Zeiger

    March 10, 2016, 03:00

    In the last post I said that our water filtering process may not be as safe as we'd hoped (see Filtering Drinking Water). I continued researching home water…

  • Filtering Drinking Water by: Mark Zeiger

    March 8, 2016, 03:00

    About a month ago, in a moment of synchronicity, Michelle clicked on an ad in a homesteading/gardening blog she likes just as I admitted we had a problem in…

  • Simple Living: The Parable of Pilot Bread by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2016, 03:00

    I've stated a couple times in the recent essays on frugality (see Homestead Core Values: Frugality) that one of our advantages in keeping costs low is our love…

  • Reducing Sugar Content in a Favorite Hot Drink Mix by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2015, 03:00

    It's autumn, with a long winter ahead. Hot drinks comprise an essential aspect of our life in these seasons. In September, I assembled new hot drink mixes for…

  • Russian Alaskan Cuisine by: Mark Zeiger

    October 3, 2015, 06:18

    If, as it is often said, everyone's Irish on Saint Patrick's Day, then perhaps I can assert that in Alaska, many of us are Russian on Alaska Day. Alaska…

  • Autumn Wines by: Mark Zeiger

    September 23, 2015, 03:00

    Saint Matthew's Day, September 21st is a traditional weather marker associated with the grape harvest: "Saint Matthew's Day, bright and clear, brings good…

  • Long Lunches by: Mark Zeiger

    August 26, 2015, 04:42

    Some days when Michelle stays home, we act like a lady and gentleman of leisure. We tend to enjoy long lunches. For instance, yesterday, the clouds blew…

  • Apple Pie! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2015, 07:15

    Our region's growing season has trended early this year. That includes apples, which we glean from the Charles Anway tree in the front yard of the Sheldon…

  • Mushroom Roast by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2015, 03:00

    Tuesday, to mark the 9th anniversary of our move to Haines, I needed a real homemade meal, something that draws upon the resources of our land and its…

  • Salmon's In the Can by: Mark Zeiger

    August 7, 2015, 03:00

    Do you ever read essays on this blog about the various tasks we perform here on our "homestead" and wonder if we actually do these things more than once, or if…

  • Yes, We Have No Bananas: Struggling to Eat Locally by: Mark Zeiger

    July 16, 2015, 03:00

    Sorry to quote the title of a rather annoying old song, but the line came to me as I uploaded a photo of "Mom's" chocolate cherry cake for the last post. I…

  • Recipe: "Mom's" Chocolate Cherry Cake by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2015, 07:03

    As I occasionally state, a primary purpose of this blog is communication with family. Sharing family recipes has become perhaps the most important job of the…

  • A "New" Feast Day: Saint Sunniva by: Mark Zeiger

    July 10, 2015, 03:00

    I learned Wednesday that July 8th is the feast day of Saint Sunniva. The name caught my attention because our new solar array is comprised of Suniva brand (one…

  • Death By Garlic by: Mark Zeiger

    June 30, 2015, 03:00

    Michelle recently made a comment in town that led to an interesting exchange, followed by a moment of uncertainty in our household. Luckily, a second moment,…

  • The Quest for Longer Fishing Casts by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2015, 03:00

    Summer's here, and it's fishing season again. I spend a lot of time fishing, which means I spend a lot of time thinking about fishing. Particularly, I think…

  • Reliable Rhubarb by: Michelle Zeiger

    May 17, 2015, 03:00

    The rhubarb is amazing this year! I took a photo of the rhubarb mid-May last year. By mid-April this year, the rhubarb was just as big as in that photo. Call…

  • "Ice Wine" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2015, 03:00

    When our weather turned cold enough that I could make apple jack (see Free Drinks) I used the cold to kill yeast in a few batches of wine that continue to work…

  • Free Drinks by: Mark Zeiger

    February 8, 2015, 03:00

    My recent effort to make hard cider (see The Ghost of John Chapman) has, if you will, borne fruit. In fact, the project has provided more benefits than we'd…

  • The Ghost of John Chapman by: Mark Zeiger

    January 13, 2015, 03:00

    Lately, I have been haunted by the ghost of John Chapman. It started at Christmas time, as it does every year, when we listen to a recording of Bing…

  • I Got Nothin' Today...LOOK OVER THERE! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 9, 2015, 06:18

    According to my self imposed schedule, I should be posting an essay today, but, honestly, I have nothing to offer at the moment. I have plenty on my mind right…

  • Cull It and Mull It! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2014, 03:00

    Earlier this winter I joked about culling the "herd" of wine migrating from summer to winter storage (see Wine Migration). Now, I'm thinking a bit more…

  • What Defines "Perfect" Coffee? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2014, 03:00

    I posted the last essay, When "Good Enough" is Best because recently, "good enough" has proven, once again, to be best. After my recent "coffee jag" posts,…

  • “Cowboy” or Campfire Coffee by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2014, 03:00

    Lately, starting with the post Exploring Coffee's "Magic Ratio", I've been on a coffee jag, if you will. To wrap up the topic for the present, here's how I…

  • Coffee Experimentation: Doodles in the Report's Margins by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2014, 03:00

    During my recent study and analysis of my coffee making methods (see Exploring Coffee's "Magic Ratio") I unearthed a few items that seem worth mentioning. I…

  • Exploring Coffee's "Magic Ratio" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2014, 03:00

    Join me in the Zeiger "Homestead" Institute for Coffee Research laboratories, where important testing is underway . . . . I've read recently in a couple of…

  • Wine Migration by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2014, 03:00

    The weather's turning colder. Winter is upon us, annual migrations are underway. That includes our "cellar" of homemade wines! Storing the product of our…

  • Witches Brew, Domestic or Feral by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2014, 03:00

    Halloween has come 'round again. This year, as almost every year, we turn to family traditions, some of which have become, shall we say: less traditional. …

  • Ready to Bottle by: Mark Zeiger

    August 25, 2014, 03:00

    I am a great believer in Abraham Kaplan's The Law of the Instrument: "When you're carrying a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Currently, my hammer is a…

  • Limpets: an Alternative to PSP-Prone Mollusks by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2014, 03:00

    As mentioned in a recent post ("Don't Touch the Water!") Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, or PSP, hangs like the sword of Damocles over beach foragers (see The…

  • Gathering the Greens by: Mark Zeiger

    July 22, 2014, 03:00

    High summer is definitely our green season. We've been enjoying green salads, braises, and stirfries drawn both from garden and beach. While cultivated…

  • Canning Tips by: Mark Zeiger

    July 1, 2014, 03:00

    Soon, our homestead will once again become "canning central" as we preserve our fruit, vegetable, and fish harvests. A few years ago, we attended a presentatio…

  • New from the Zeiger Family Homestead Test Kitchen: Chive Pesto by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2014, 03:00

    Even though we spend a lot of time and energy extracting maximum benefit from our garden, it's taken us a while to address the annual overabundance of…

  • Crab's Back on the Menu by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2014, 03:00

    "Have you gotten any crab yet this year?" It may be the neighborhood's most-asked question. For everyone I've talked to (and asked the question) the answer is:…

  • Toast Your Good Health with Plain Water by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2014, 04:51

    I wrote this essay quite some time ago. With our current flu (which is making it very difficult to compose for the blog  . . . ) it's coming into sharp focus.…

  • Simple Gifts: Choosing the Right Mug by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2014, 03:00

    So many domestic pursuits—sorting beans, sewing, writing letters, or, especially, posting to a blog—are greatly enhanced by the presence of a hot beverage…

  • Taking Local Eating to Extremes by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2013, 05:37

    After bagging the garden-raiding porcupine (see The Critter Gitter Gits Its Critter) Michelle made porcupine bourguignon. The resulting meal was an extreme…

  • Pumpkinpalooza! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2013, 06:10

    Yesterday, Aly and I declared Pumpkinpalooza. Last November, just after Halloween, Michelle and I purchased a few Jack O'Lantern pumpkins for eating (see…

  • "Slow Food" Gets Even Slower by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2013, 07:34

    The other day at a friend's house I had the opportunity to browse through a recent issue of Mother Earth News. You may think I would be an avid reader, if not…

  • Pulled Porcupine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2013, 03:00

    The dinner I created with the porcupine we bagged the other night (see Night Hunt) turned out pretty well. I find that for me, the key to porcupine cooking…

  • A Better Way to Cook Crab by: Mark Zeiger

    June 18, 2013, 03:00

    At this point, we've covered most aspects of dungeness crab: catching  (see Bless You, Charlie White!) cleaning (see Killing and Cleaning Dungeness Crab) and…

  • Keeping Your Crab Catch Safe by: Mark Zeiger

    June 14, 2013, 03:00

    Preserving a seafood catch safely is a ticklish proposition; perhaps one of the most difficult is crab. The best way to keep your crab catch safe is actually…

  • A Good Day to Dine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2013, 05:07

    Early summer harvests have been slow starting this year. Yesterday, two of them that we anticipate most finally produced yield. Yesterday was a good day to…

  • Harvest Time for the Morel by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2013, 03:00

    On June 1st we harvested the single morel mushroom that appeared unexpectedly in our rhubarb patch (see Miracle Morel). We had learned that morels grow…

  • Sprucing Up by: Mark Zeiger

    May 28, 2013, 05:29

    We've had an excellent run of sunny, warm weather in our corner of Southeast Alaska. With the exception of a few brief rain showers, we've been dry for more…

  • Popcorn, The "Homesteader's" Nemesis by: Mark Zeiger

    May 20, 2013, 03:00

    We, like many Americans, love our popcorn. For us, it goes beyond the occasional snack. When my older brother, David, and I were very young, Mom decided…

  • "Moonshine" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2013, 03:00

    If you were to go for a walk on our peninsula these days, you'd see some strange things. You might notice bottles and jugs of clear liquid set along the trail,…

  • Time to Tap that Sap! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2013, 03:00

    Wednesday morning, when I booted up and plodded outside to sweep 3 inches of "isolated snow flurries, no accumulation" off the solar panels, the dense fog and…

  • Community Supported Agriculture by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2013, 05:30

    The new emphasis on self reliance and eating locally has left many Americans at a disadvantage, in that they don't have access to the means: gardening space,…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Alaska Sourdough by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2013, 03:00

    It's been a long time since I've written about our homestead reference library. In honor of our sourdough starter's 21st anniversary today, It'a time to…

  • Guidelines for Converting Regular Yeast Recipes to Sourdough by: Mark Zeiger

    February 18, 2013, 03:00

    From our trusted source, Cooking Alaskan, comes a set of guidelines for converting your favorite baking recipe to using sourdough. We recently found this,…

  • Food Value by: Mark Zeiger

    February 14, 2013, 03:00

    The hardest part about finishing the writing process is the certain knowledge that soon after completing it, the perfect addition to it will appear. The…

  • Wine Light by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2013, 03:00

    Holy cow! I took this photo to show you a nice moment of sunshine in the cabin. This occurred January 9th. Time's gotten away from me. Still life with wine…

  • Travel-Ready Sourdough by: Mark Zeiger

    February 8, 2013, 03:00

    If I may assert that sourdough is particularly associated with Alaska, then transporting sourdough may be said to be a particularly Alaskan problem. The…

  • What I Ask From a Sourdough Recipe by: Mark Zeiger

    February 6, 2013, 03:00

    As I mentioned in a previous post, we've been doing a lot with our sourdough lately. As a result, I've been spending more time with our three primary sourdough…

  • Fermentation by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2013, 03:00

    At present, our cabin is a fermentation center. We've got three major ferments underway. Around Christmas, the sourdough starter reached an intensity best…

  • Here We Come A-Waffling by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2013, 03:00

    Friday, Aly and I made waffles. Waffles may not be a big deal in your household, but they are in ours. We've never had much luck making them, even with a…

  • The Story Behind Some of Our Food Photos by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2012, 03:00

    Happy Thanksgiving! We're off celebrating the holiday with friends, but here's a story about food for the day: I mentioned in my last post on Pumpkin…

  • Recipe: Pumpkin Risotto with Wild Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2012, 03:00

    When Aly graduated from Mud Bay Home School, we made sure she had a recipe box that included many of the family favorites, plus cards and room for a lot more.…

  • "Martha Washington's" Pumpkin Recipe by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2012, 03:00

    As I ramble along from topic to topic on this blog, I sometimes forget to circle back and elaborate, or add information that should have been included in the…

  • Homemade Pumpkin Bread for Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 30, 2012, 03:00

    Tomorrow night is Halloween. Come the next morning, where will your Jack-o-lanterns be? Shattered on the street, in the garbage, or in the kitchen? I have…

  • Simple Pleasures: Steel Cut Oats by: Mark Zeiger

    October 14, 2012, 03:00

    Even as an avid "granola cruncher," I have to admit that there are few meals more homely—in the archaic, more positive sense of that term—than a bowl of…

  • The End of "His & Hers" Mushroom Soup Recipes by: Mark Zeiger

    September 5, 2012, 03:00

    Much of our locally harvested mushrooms end up in mushroom soup. We have two favorite recipes, which have become a sort of "his & hers" affair, in that I…

  • I Can Can! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 2, 2012, 03:00

    Cue Offenbach's Orpheus In the Underworld, please . . . . I had an excellent day fishing on Monday. While seeking out the sparse currant bushes that nestle…

  • Homestead Yogurt by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2012, 03:00

    Michelle has said before in this blog and elsewhere that growing things makes her feel good. One of the ways she stretches our food dollar is to make yogurt at…

  • Bottle Rocket by: Mark Zeiger

    July 9, 2012, 03:00

    Our first batch of rhubarb soda tasted great, and had plenty of carbonation—too much carbonation, as it turned out. We're careful to use sturdy bottles in…

  • Rhubarb Wine, Rhubarb Soda by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2012, 03:00

    Aly and I have been enjoying kitchen duty lately, trying new dishes and old favorites as we prepare dinners. We came up with a homestead-style foccacia that…

  • Porcupine Pie by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2012, 03:00

    My last porcupine story covered half the meat harvested from our recent escapade. I cooked the second half of the meat into a porcupine pie. Armed only with…

  • What the Best Dressed Bottles are Wearing by: Mark Zeiger

    June 5, 2012, 03:00

    This fashion season my wine yeast extender sports an electric lime wet suit as it lounges by the woodstove and other heat sources,  building up a head of…

  • A Wine by Any Other Name by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2012, 03:00

    Our home wine making continues, and has entered an exciting new phase. As the summer advances, we're able to try more cottage wines. But, with the continued…

  • Crunchy Granola (Not So) Suite: Finale by: Mark Zeiger

    May 22, 2012, 03:00

    In a relatively short period of time we moved from a favorite granola recipe to experimenting with new ones, to making a startling, counter intuitive discovery…

  • Crunchy Granola (Not So) Suite: 2nd Movement by: Mark Zeiger

    May 20, 2012, 03:00

    After years of making my own granola, I discovered a new granola recipe that we call "muesli," as it's closer in appearance and consistency to that cereal than…

  • Crunchy Granola (Not So) Suite: 1st Movement by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2012, 03:00

    This is my standard, tried-and-true low fat granola recipe, which I've used for years. I no longer remember the original source, but I've made enough changes…

  • Crunchy Granola (Not So) Suite: Overture by: Mark Zeiger

    May 16, 2012, 03:00

    As I've mentioned previously, my in-laws are visiting us in Haines. Mom asked for my granola recipe, so, like any self-respecting denizen of the 21st century,…

  • Root Beer Time by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2012, 03:00

    Once we started making wine again on the homestead these days, it didn't take long for me to think about other kinds of brewing as well. We don't drink soft…

  • Making Wine is a Little Less "Racking" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2012, 03:00

    As I've proven time and time again, siphoning our homemade wine to rack or bottle it is a perilous undertaking. I'm relieved to report that we recently made a…

  • Feeling Sconish by: Mark Zeiger

    March 31, 2012, 03:00

    Friday morning, after more than a week of sunny weather, the day dawned cloudy and fretful. Rain threatened, a cooler wind blew, the sense of energetic…

  • The First of the Cabin Wines by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2012, 03:00

    We've recently advanced in our home wine making, starting a couple batches of genuine cottage wine. Or, perhaps more appropriately, cabin wine. In the last…

  • Expanding Wine Yeast by: Mark Zeiger

    March 13, 2012, 10:43

    Since reviving our home wine making, we've started 10 batches. The yeast we've used to make these batches has come from only two packets. Yeast is necessary…

  • Homemade Wine Varieties by: Mark Zeiger

    March 1, 2012, 03:00

    People have asked me in the comments section and in personal correspondence what kind of wine we've been making. At the moment, we've got three varieties in…

  • Homemade Wine "Blankets" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 26, 2012, 03:00

    Our home winemaking is bubbling along nicely, with eight 1-gallon batches currently underway. Restarting this process in winter has made consistent temperature…

  • 20 Years of Sourdough Stewardship by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 20, 2012, 03:00

    Our relationship with our sourdough has continued to evolve. Recently we ignored the starter in the back of the cool box a little longer than was polite. When…

  • "Raisin Riesling" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 3, 2012, 03:00

    With great pride, and no little relief, I feel justified in announcing a success in our efforts to make wine at home. Recently, I decided to try our "weakest"…

  • Return to the Vineyard by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2011, 03:00

    To the many wonderful, comforting, homey sounds coming from our cabin this holiday season, we've added one more: the quiet, bubbling click of an airlock. Des…

  • Hawk Wing Parmigiana by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2011, 03:00

    I wasn't joking when I suggested that after "chicken hawks" we'd try hawk wing Parmigiana. We love eggplant Parmigiana, but the eggplants we grew in the…

  • A Homestead Original Recipe: "Chicken Hawks" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2011, 03:00

    We've observed over the years that each local variety of mushroom has its "on" and "off" years. Some years a particular variety will seem to be everywhere,…

  • Wild Mushroom Barley Soup by: Mark Zeiger

    July 26, 2011, 06:44

    While Aly's gone, we've been enjoying meals that wouldn't appeal to her. Because the weather's been so warm and dry, that hasn't included as many soups as we…

  • Doing Rhubarb Right by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2011, 03:00

    Saturday, Michelle and I picked most of our rhubarb patch, stewed it, and canned it. We're proud of this, because it's the first year we've handled our rhubarb…

  • Woodstove Cooking by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2011, 04:50

    The weather's warming up faster than the wood pile's disappearing now. There's hope! But, before the wood heat season ends, I wanted to pass on a few things…

  • A St. Patrick's Day Dish: Colcannon by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2011, 03:00

    Like most Americans, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a "traditional" meal. I even have Irish ancestry. For us, the celebration centers around the evening…

  • Seeking Simplicity: Stripped Down Baked Beans by: Mark Zeiger

    February 24, 2011, 03:00

    Simplifying works on many different levels, large and small. We find the small ones add up in significant ways. A prime example of this is simplifying…

  • Celebrating Our Sourdough's Anniversary with Gingerbread by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2011, 03:00

    Today our family strain of sourdough turns 19 years old. Aly has made 18-hour bread for the homestead, and we'll also likely have more of the sourdough…

  • Time Capsule Split Pea Soup by: Mark Zeiger

    February 15, 2011, 03:00

    As Michelle mentioned in her post Time Capsule Garden, we have some cans of survival food from the previous owners of our homestead. While Michelle is out of…

  • Some Things in Moderation - Evening Out Quality by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2011, 08:56

    We often find that living simply sometimes requires evening out the quality of our consumables. It may seem a bit odd, but our method has some thought behind…

  • A Favorite Recipe: Oven Baked Doughnuts by: Mark Zeiger

    January 23, 2011, 03:00

    When Aly first started getting interested in cooking for the family, she found a good, easy recipe for oven baked doughnuts. OVEN BAKED DOUGHNUTS 2…

  • Cooking with Cast Iron Cookware by: Mark Zeiger

    December 10, 2010, 03:00

    On our homestead, we love old fashioned cooking with cast iron cookware. Properly seasoned cast iron cookware works very well. It distributes and holds heat…

  • When All Else Fails, Wassail! Another Batch of “Differently-Abled” Wine by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2010, 03:00

    A year ago, I wrote about saving homemade wine that had not turned out well by mulling it. This year, we're grateful to have gained that knowledge, because…

  • Christmas “Downsizing” by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2010, 03:00

    We're a family that thrives on traditions—particularly Christmas traditions. Many of the patterns and habits we've grown used to have had to be re-adjusted…

  • Dumplings in Our Soup by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2010, 03:00

    When I was young, my mother often brought dinner to the table explaining, somewhat apologetically, that we were having "first night soup." That meant the…

  • Turkey Frame Soup by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2010, 03:00

    Recently, a friend read our post from last winter on eating leftovers, and emailed to ask for Michelle's turkey frame soup recipe. With Thanksgiving hard…

  • Marshmallows in My Coffee by: Mark Zeiger

    November 15, 2010, 03:00

    I try to be a careful shopper, but sometimes I'm not careful enough. When I fail to be vigilant, problems arise. Luckily, this time, it's not so bad. But I do…

  • For Alaska Day: A “Real” Russian Tea Recipe Finally Surfaces by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2010, 03:00

    Today is Alaska Day! If you've followed this blog through the past year, you may have sensed a certain obsession on my part when it comes to Russian Tea, a…

  • Garlic Sauce over Pasta by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday, in talking about the cooking Aly and I have been doing while alone on the homestead, I mentioned garlic sauce over pasta. I'm not sure this is the…

  • We're Cookin' Now! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 16, 2010, 15:09

    With Michelle working in town for the week, Aly and are discovering that, left to our own devices we don't just get by, we thrive. We're really enjoying the…

  • Quick and Easy Lentil Chili by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle has developed a plan for lentil chili that's hard to beat. I call it a plan rather than a recipe, because the recipe card is basically jotted notes…

  • Gallons of Applesauce by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 20, 2010, 03:00

    Nature has blessed the Chilkat Valley with abundance this year.  The sockeye fish run was better than expected, the blueberries were dripping off the…

  • "Brown Sugar Tea" by: Mark Zeiger

    September 13, 2010, 03:00

    My brother Dave and his wife, Anke are "in the neighborhood" right now, having brought me here from Gustavus on their boat, Slacktide. They anchored in Mud…

  • Channeling My Grandmother by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 3, 2010, 10:51

    Lately I have been thinking a lot about my grandmother, Sarah Mae Eggleston Harris, who was one of my heroines. She knew so much about growing food, fishing,…

  • Canning As Fast as We Can by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2010, 03:00

    The soundtrack of the homestead lately should be Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, because around here, we're doing the can-can! Home canning is a…

  • Gleaning by: Mark Zeiger

    August 27, 2010, 03:00

    It's harvest time, not only on the homestead, but off it as well. At the moment, we're spending more time and effort gleaning than working our own property.…

  • Homemade Chai Tea Mix – Taste Test and Adjustments by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 25, 2010, 03:00

    The first batch of Chai Mix I made didn't last long, so I made a full recipe the second time. I used 1/2 cup less sugar, and it tasted fine. To make sure,…

  • Homemade Chai Tea: First Steps by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 24, 2010, 03:00

    I love chai tea. I especially love the packaged mixes like Oregon Chai, Pacific Chai and Enchanted Chai. They are each a little different blend of spices, but…

  • A Perfect Day by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2010, 03:00

    Most days are good days on the homestead, but Friday may have been The Perfect Day! As The Dog Days finally lived up to their reputation (they end today, by…

  • "Meatless Monday" and Our Place in the Mainstream by: Mark Zeiger

    August 12, 2010, 03:00

    We listened with amusement and bemusement to a recent radio news report about a new campaign to help Americans to cut down on saturated fats by instigating…

  • Living Without Refrigeration: Avoiding Cross Contamination by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2010, 03:00

    Since we have no freezer or refrigerator on the homestead, we take a lot of steps to avoid food spoilage. Some of these have become so basic that we hardly…

  • Halibut Fishing on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2010, 01:00

    Of all our local fish, halibut is probably our favorite. This large deep-sea fish migrates to comparatively shallower waters in the summer months to hunt…

  • Hawk Wing Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    July 31, 2010, 03:00

    Even though I'd already noticed that the mushrooms have arrived a bit early this year, I was still taken by surprise when I found a nice, big hawk wing on the…

  • A Fish Dinner on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday I caught our first salmon of the season. Eagerly awaited, and at least two weeks later than last year, I'm additionally proud of this fish because I…

  • Mushrooms! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 16, 2010, 03:00

    On July 10th, hiking home from town, Michelle and Aly spotted a mushroom on the high trail. The next day I went up to take a look. Sure enough—misshapen,…

  • Living Without Refrigeration – The Butter Bell by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2010, 03:00

    Living off grid, we're constantly realizing the value of "outdated" tools and methods. The old-fashioned butter bell crock is a particularly useful and…

  • A Great Way to Cook Dollies by: Mark Zeiger

    June 8, 2010, 03:00

    Soon after the Dolly Vardens started striking off our beach, Michelle hit on a great way to prepare them  for dinner: In a lidded pan, sauté onions and…

  • A Gustatory War of Attrition by: Mark Zeiger

    May 30, 2010, 03:00

    The day before the forecasted hottest day of the week, Michelle divided our milk jug into several containers. She put one, a lidded carafe, in the cool box,…

  • Synchronicity: Good Coffee, Good Book by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2010, 03:00

    I was pretty pleased to learn that local author, Heather Lende, has picked up Raven's Brew Coffee as a sponsor for her upcoming national tour to promote her…

  • Close, But No Cigar - Morel Mushrooms, False and True by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2010, 03:00

    I've been snooping around a particular patch near home lately. It's time to forage fireweed shoots, which you may know as willow herb, or blooming Sally. They…

  • Review: Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by: Mark Zeiger

    April 23, 2010, 03:00

    Tomorrow the Haines library book club will discuss Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (check your local book store—you'll…

  • Our Favorite Scratch Salad Dressing Recipe by: Mark Zeiger

    April 22, 2010, 03:00

    The first garden greens of the year have reached maturity, meaning that our "salad days" have begun. That means salad dressing!The first green up has been…

  • Answers to Reader Questions about Living Without Refrigeration by: Mark Zeiger

    April 13, 2010, 03:00

    A reader recently asked about living without refrigeration: We use an old fashioned "cool box," a vented cabinet on the shady side of the cabin. What do…

  • VIN-dication: A Second, Better Homemade Wine Racking by: Mark Zeiger

    April 11, 2010, 03:00

    Everything I've read about wine making seems to encourage procrastination. Most of my reference books speak in terms of seasons rather than weeks or months.…

  • Rhubarb's On its Way by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2010, 03:00

    As the days lengthen and spring comes on strong, we're beginning to see one of the more hopeful sights on the homestead. On the mound outside our dining table…

  • Racking Homemade Wine - Learning the Hard Way What the Books Don't Tell You by: Mark Zeiger

    February 26, 2010, 03:00

    Wednesday, we racked our homemade wine for the first time, siphoning it into a new container to remove the lees, the mush of dead yeast that accumulated over…

  • Happy Birthday, Sourdough! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2010, 03:00

    Today marks an important anniversary in our home, the birthday of a family member whose life nourishes and improves ours. Today our family strain of…

  • A Welcome Sound on the Homestead - the Bubbler by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2010, 03:00

    Living out in nature as we do, we have learned to listen. As we go about our daily tasks, our ears stay cocked for unusual or unfamiliar noises. It satisfies…

  • Eating Garbage: Making the Most of Our Food by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2010, 03:00

    I had an odd realization a few weeks ago. My family was eating dinner. Most of our focus and effort was on the meal, although one or the other of us surfaced…

  • Make Your Own Coffee Liqueur by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2010, 03:00

    If you enjoy coffee liqueur, like the commercially available Kahlua, Tia Marie, or similar, here's a way to make your own cheaply at home. I've been using…

  • Life Without Refrigeration by: Mark Zeiger

    January 15, 2010, 03:00

    As outside temperatures creep upward from the low teens we’ve had lately, our food is migrating once again, from the bedroom windowsill back to the cooler. …

  • Our Review of Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2010, 03:00

    Living on a homestead, we’re very devoted to eating locally as much as possible. We share this interest with more and more people around the developed world…

  • Adventures in Wine Mulling by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2009, 01:00

    Michelle and I like wine, so it makes sense for us to try to make our own. We've tried twice so far with wild fruits; the success hasn't been stunning.…

  • Micheal Pollan's In Defense of Food: Straight Talk About Diet at Last by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2009, 01:00

    I recently read In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, by Michael Pollan (available through your local bookstore). I highly recommend it! This might be the…

  • Sacred Coffee: Elevating the Habitual to the Mindful by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2009, 01:00

    Lately I've been considering the problem of habit. For me, habit becomes problematic when the things I like to do become so ingrained that I do them without…

  • Frugal Food: Versatile Homemade Cream Soup Mix by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 21, 2009, 01:00

    I love this very versatile soup base mix that goes well with just about anything! Cream Soup Mix 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 3/4 cup cornstarch 1/4…

  • Ice Cream Season by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2009, 01:00

    Ironically, the consistent cold of winter ushers in ice cream season on the homestead. Colder temperatures allow us to keep ice cream without refrigeration. …

  • Frugal Food: Stretching the Grocery Budget by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 18, 2009, 01:00

    I love to see how far I can stretch our food budget. I have been perfecting this for all of my adult life. When we were newlyweds—still in college—we had…

  • A Cup of Coffee That Brings Tears to My Eyes by: Mark Zeiger

    November 9, 2009, 01:00

    Every great once in a while, whether to comfort myself, or to torture myself—I don't know which—I make a cup of coffee that brings tears to my eyes. My…

  • Am I Working Too Hard? Bumbleweed Pesto by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 7, 2009, 01:00

    I’m not sure whether I’m going about this gardening thing the right way. I do hours of research through the winter to plan the garden. Then I check my…

  • Don't Trash Your Treats! Pumpkins Make Good Eats by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2009, 01:00

    Halloween is almost past, as is its quintessential symbol, the Jack-o-lantern. On November 1st, the sun will rise on streets filled with shattered pumpkins.…

  • Quest for Cocoa: The Art and Science of the Perfect Hot Drink by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2009, 01:00

    If you've read many of our family's posts you know that hot drinks are an essential part of our lives. Almost every day begins with tea for Michelle and coffee…

  • Making Russian Tea: The Rest of the Story by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2009, 01:00

    They say one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. In writing previously on Russian tea, I came across information that didn't fit…

  • The Secret of Russian Tea by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2009, 01:00

    It's the time of year for hot beverages! Especially in October, particularly around Alaska Day, I like to turn to an old family staple, Russian tea. We…

  • A Sure Sign of Winter: Ice Cream Day! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 10, 2009, 01:00

    Living semi-remote in Alaska, we watch for changes in weather and changes in season. Indicators of the transition from summer to winter are myriad, but one we…

  • Eating Alaska: A Documentary Explores "Eating Locally" in a Locale Not So Near You by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2009, 01:00

    Late last January we hiked to town to see Eating Alaska, a documentary by Ellen Frankenstein (no, really!) about eating locally. Ellen, who lives in Sitka,…

  • The Thermos: One Small Step Toward Conservation and Savings by: Mark Zeiger

    October 6, 2009, 01:00

    As more Americans realize that conservation measures must be taken to survive amid rising prices and falling wages, we suddenly discover that small, simple…

  • Fish On! Fishing on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2009, 20:00

    A large part of my family’s success on the homestead is directly due to the abundance of free, highly nutritious food. Perhaps the most valuable, and most…

  • Gourmet Delicacies for Free: Foraging for Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2009, 08:00

    If you think of the hunter/gatherer lifestyle as one of quiet desperation—of primitive, nomadic people roaming from place to place, tasting anything they can…

  • A Season of Madness: Moose Hunting in Alaska by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2009, 03:30

    The local moose opening started last Tuesday. This is a permit-only subsistence hunt, with special antler restrictions. For our family, this is a very big…

  • Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt Day 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2009, 08:00

    This is it! Today's the first day of the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt. That means that instead of sitting here in my PJs, typing a quick note to the blog, I…

  • An "Old Fashioned" Cup of Coffee by: Mark Zeiger

    September 5, 2009, 09:01

    I recently read an excellent book by Jenna Woginrich called Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life (available through your local…

• Category: Foraging  (57)
  • Mushrooms, Finally by: Mark Zeiger

    August 31, 2018, 03:00

    We're finally seeing mushrooms around the peninsula. After early hope, brought on by chanterelle buttons (see Popping Buttons), the mushroom season has, as…

  • Popping Buttons by: Mark Zeiger

    July 20, 2018, 03:00

    On July 14th, on my way to the road to greet and guide in visitors, a vague flash of color on the ground near the trail caught my attention. Leaving the trail…

  • Bitter Greens by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2017, 03:00

    We held an odd conversation yesterday at the breakfast table. It's Passover, the Jewish observance that Michelle and I, raised Protestant Christian, know a…

  • Searching High and Low by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2016, 06:12

    Monday, the three of us took a family foraging hike up one of our local mountains. We chose an upland muskeg bog as our primary goal, to finally check whether…

  • Guilt Free Mycology by: Mark Zeiger

    September 28, 2016, 03:00

    The cartoonist, Charles Shultz, may have summed up the the human condition in one comment when he had his character, Charlie Brown, complain: "Everything I do…

  • Repeater by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2016, 03:00

    One of our chief pleasures of living on the ocean's edge comes from beach combing. Over the years, we've received and appreciated myriad gifts thrown up by the…

  • Mushrooms at Every Meal! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 10, 2016, 03:00

    Led by the recent crop of king boletes or porcini, we're eating a lot of mushrooms (see Mushroom Mania). In fact, some days we eat mushrooms at every…

  • Mushroom Mania by: Mark Zeiger

    August 25, 2016, 03:00

    We've gathered mushrooms for more than a month now. The season seemed to come on early for many varieties, although we have only found our favorites, the king…

  • Apple Pie! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2015, 07:15

    Our region's growing season has trended early this year. That includes apples, which we glean from the Charles Anway tree in the front yard of the Sheldon…

  • Mushroom Roast by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2015, 03:00

    Tuesday, to mark the 9th anniversary of our move to Haines, I needed a real homemade meal, something that draws upon the resources of our land and its…

  • Our Pick of Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2015, 03:00

    On a recent afternoon I wandered through the forest and went a little bit crazy. I started picking mushrooms, and by the time I stopped, I had more than I…

  • Mushroom Season is Off to a Big Start by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2015, 03:00

    Last week mushrooms began to appear on the forest floor. On Thursday afternoon, Michelle and I went for a walk in the woods to see if we could find any of our…

  • Birch Sap is Back "On Tap" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 29, 2015, 03:00

    Even though revamping our power system holds the bulk of my attention and activity lately (see Power Shift: A New/Old Battery Bank) other tasks, especially…

  • Winter Beach Combing by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2014, 03:00

    I'd almost forgotten the joys of winter beach combing. Now that Aly's home, I'm getting outside a whole lot more than I have in recent weeks. Living in an…

  • First Fruits by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2014, 04:57

    Last week Aly and I spent about half a day harvesting domestic currants and cherries at our friends' house. That led to a frenzy of home processing. After a…

  • Limpets: an Alternative to PSP-Prone Mollusks by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2014, 03:00

    As mentioned in a recent post ("Don't Touch the Water!") Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, or PSP, hangs like the sword of Damocles over beach foragers (see The…

  • Gathering the Greens by: Mark Zeiger

    July 22, 2014, 03:00

    High summer is definitely our green season. We've been enjoying green salads, braises, and stirfries drawn both from garden and beach. While cultivated…

  • More(L)! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 27, 2014, 03:00

    Our lifestyle involves a good deal of suspense, in large and small portions. Lately, we've been waiting to see if we would get any more morel mushrooms in our…

  • Finding Hardware on the Ground by: Mark Zeiger

    April 8, 2014, 03:00

    Spring thaws the snow and ice, laying bare a winter's worth of dropped and fumbled valuables exposed to whoever cares to pick it up. It's harvest time for…

  • Heating With Wood: Cutting Your Own Firewood by: Mark Zeiger

    February 15, 2014, 03:00

    As I indicated in the last post (Heating With Wood: Scrounging Free Firewood) now that we live on our "homestead," we cut our own firewood exclusively. Our…

  • Heating With Wood: Scrounging Free Firewood by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2014, 06:31

    Gathering and processing firewood may be one of my most contemplative tasks on the homestead. The repetitive tasks involved give me a lot of time to think.…

  • Measuring Hunting Success in Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2013, 03:00

    On Monday the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt ended. With it went my best excuse to wear camouflage, and my reason for carrying a rifle around the peninsula.…

  • Aly's Foraging at College by: Aly Zeiger

    October 3, 2013, 03:00

    One of the things I was looking forward to about my third year of college was the year-round foraging provided by the temperate climate of western Washington.…

  • Late Bloomers by: Mark Zeiger

    September 27, 2013, 06:35

    This has been an odd year for mushrooms in our area. Our favorite mushroom, boletus edilus, has gone AWOL. Normally, we start to see this mushroom in…

  • Mushroom Season Returns by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2013, 03:00

    Mushroom hunting season has begun! Even without consulting the calendar, we could tell the season was upon us. We had a long stretch of hot, sunny days;…

  • Harvest Time for the Morel by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2013, 03:00

    On June 1st we harvested the single morel mushroom that appeared unexpectedly in our rhubarb patch (see Miracle Morel). We had learned that morels grow…

  • Sprucing Up by: Mark Zeiger

    May 28, 2013, 05:29

    We've had an excellent run of sunny, warm weather in our corner of Southeast Alaska. With the exception of a few brief rain showers, we've been dry for more…

  • Miracle Morel by: Mark Zeiger

    May 26, 2013, 03:00

    Friday, Aly called to tell us she'd landed a prime summer job. While we talked with her with one of our phones set on "speaker," I sat at my usual place at the…

  • A Bleak Morning on the Beach by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2013, 03:00

    April may be winding down, but the cold weather still hangs on. Sunday morning I carefully crossed the snow covered rocks to the beach on my way to forage the…

  • "Moonshine" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2013, 03:00

    If you were to go for a walk on our peninsula these days, you'd see some strange things. You might notice bottles and jugs of clear liquid set along the trail,…

  • Time to Tap that Sap! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2013, 03:00

    Wednesday morning, when I booted up and plodded outside to sweep 3 inches of "isolated snow flurries, no accumulation" off the solar panels, the dense fog and…

  • A Pumpkin Full of Chanterelles by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2012, 03:00

    Aly may be away at college, but she continues to live as she did on the homestead to a large extent—much more so in her sophomore year, now that she and a…

  • A New Mushroom to Forage by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2012, 08:26

    We took a prisoner on the peninsula the other day, and, after lengthy interrogation, we ate it. We now have a new mushroom to add to our foraging list:…

  • Back for More Berries by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2012, 03:00

    On Saturday, we went back for more blueberries. We experienced an entirely different day than the first trip, with cloudy, misty weather on the mountainside.…

  • A Berry Good Day by: Mark Zeiger

    September 9, 2012, 03:00

    Come on now. If you've read this blog for any time at all, you knew the day would come when I'd have to use that title, right? Thursday, we went berry…

  • Mushroom Magic by: Mark Zeiger

    July 31, 2012, 03:00

    If you'd visited the homestead last week, you might be excused for believing that we practiced totemic or fetishistic magic. We appeared to be calling…

  • An Auspicious Day by: Mark Zeiger

    July 29, 2012, 03:00

    About a week ago, we experienced a very auspicious day in terms of growing and gathering our own food. I rose early and, finding conditions perfect for the…

  • Tap, Tap, Tap . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    March 29, 2012, 03:00

    We found a jar full of odd metal fittings in our shed when we first moved to the "homestead." We couldn't figure out what they were for. We guessed that they…

  • Biofilter Harvest by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2012, 03:00

    We took advantage of our recent thaw to gather new biofilter for our compost. At this point it seems as if we already had enough to make it through the winter,…

  • A Homestead Original Recipe: "Chicken Hawks" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2011, 03:00

    We've observed over the years that each local variety of mushroom has its "on" and "off" years. Some years a particular variety will seem to be everywhere,…

  • Looking for Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 23, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time for another one of the poem's not associated with a specific…

  • Mussels and Moonlight by: Mark Zeiger

    April 3, 2011, 03:00

    It's the night of the new moon, which means it's time to read another poem from Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons. Today's poem is Mussels. Mussels grow thickly on…

  • Reaching for the Sea Stars by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2011, 03:00

    This morning, just before 9:00 am local time, we had a pretty decent low tide. Not an extreme low, as many news sources blithely reported because of the recent…

  • Charlie Anway Gives the Gift of Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2010, 03:00

    Tuesday, I truly became immersed in Autumn, thanks to one of our most famous and beloved Hainesites, Charlie Anway. I'd driven Aly and my brother and…

  • Gleaning by: Mark Zeiger

    August 27, 2010, 03:00

    It's harvest time, not only on the homestead, but off it as well. At the moment, we're spending more time and effort gleaning than working our own property.…

  • Hawk Wing Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    July 31, 2010, 03:00

    Even though I'd already noticed that the mushrooms have arrived a bit early this year, I was still taken by surprise when I found a nice, big hawk wing on the…

  • Mushrooms! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 16, 2010, 03:00

    On July 10th, hiking home from town, Michelle and Aly spotted a mushroom on the high trail. The next day I went up to take a look. Sure enough—misshapen,…

  • Au Currant - Stink Currant by: Mark Zeiger

    July 15, 2010, 03:00

    Monday Michelle and I wandered down the beach to the cliff that more or less delineates the southern boundary of our property. Michelle has a project that…

  • "You Kids Get OFF My Lawn!" by: Mark Zeiger

    July 7, 2010, 03:00

    At least one raven couple nests near our cabin, so we've become accustomed to seeing one or the other of them drift down to the rocks in front of the veranda,…

  • Close, But No Cigar - Morel Mushrooms, False and True by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2010, 03:00

    I've been snooping around a particular patch near home lately. It's time to forage fireweed shoots, which you may know as willow herb, or blooming Sally. They…

  • The Tide is Out, the Table's Set: Beach Foraging by: Mark Zeiger

    April 1, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday morning, after breakfast and hot cups of coffee and tea, we pulled on our boots, bundled up against the steady southerly, and headed for the beach.…

  • Am I Working Too Hard? Bumbleweed Pesto by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 7, 2009, 01:00

    I’m not sure whether I’m going about this gardening thing the right way. I do hours of research through the winter to plan the garden. Then I check my…

  • Highbush Cranberry Time by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2009, 11:14

    Saturday, we drove upriver in search of moose and high bush cranberries. Highbush cranberry, also known as viburnum and a variety of colloquial names, is a…

  • Mushroom Hunting: Tools of the "Trade" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 2, 2009, 01:00

    In autumn when I leave the house, I always carry a mesh net bag. It’s mushroom season in Southeast Alaska; it’s not wise to enter the woods unprepared! O…

  • “Seek and Ye Shall Find”: Setting Search Images by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 02:00

    Since moving to the homestead, my search imaging has sharpened considerably as I increase my reliance on it. Search images are mental pictures humans…

  • Gourmet Delicacies for Free: Foraging for Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2009, 08:00

    If you think of the hunter/gatherer lifestyle as one of quiet desperation—of primitive, nomadic people roaming from place to place, tasting anything they can…

  • Foraging: Finding Food for Free! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2009, 07:30

    Ours is a hunter/gatherer family, with definite emphasis on the gatherer aspect. We forage or “wild craft” a lot, gathering food, herbs and seasonings,…

• Category: Frugal Living  (52)
  • More Calories Than Cash: The Back Story by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2019, 03:00

    Okay, in the last post, How the New Tax Law Effects Our Household, I "buried the lede" in journalist parlance. Down at the bottom of the post, I announced a…

  • How The New Tax Law Effects Our Household by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2019, 03:00

    After Congress passed the new Tax law in December, I began to wonder just how it would affect us here in our tiny enclave, on the edge of the "known world." …

  • Considering Cryptocurrencies by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2018, 03:00

    A while ago, a customer of my brother's boat design Website, for which I handle orders, asked if we ever considered accepting bitcoin as payment. While Dave…

  • The Car Conundrum by: Mark Zeiger

    January 14, 2018, 03:00

    Ironically, just when I'm thinking a lot about frugality, we're buying cars (see Introducing "Rhubarbaru"). One of the touchstones, if you will, of our…

  • Common Scents by: Mark Zeiger

    July 20, 2017, 03:00

    For a long time, I've been aware of scent warmers, devices that heat scented wax with a tea light or electricity to scent a room. I never quite saw the logic…

  • Reverse Snobbery by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2017, 03:00

    For years, I've noticed an odd effect of shopping secondhand. The upshot of the effect may be that I have become a reverse snob. I don't find this discovery…

  • Waste-Land by: Mark Zeiger

    March 7, 2017, 09:20

    When I left on the trip to attend to my ailing parents (see Going Into Stall Mode) I promised myself that I wouldn't fall into the easy trap of railing against…

  • Deodorant "Refresh" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 14, 2016, 03:00

    In weird and sometimes rather unsettling ways, this blog has come to serve as a diary of sorts. For instance: a while back I posted an essay recommending…

  • In Praise of Secondhand Stores by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2016, 03:00

    In many essays on this blog I've sung the praises of shopping at secondhand stores. Beginning with Museum of Lost Desires, and including A Successful Bargain…

  • Surprised By Income by: Mark Zeiger

    October 11, 2016, 03:00

    An odd thing happened last Thursday, although it took me a bit to figure out what it was. In the morning, a friend posted something on Facebook about trying…

  • Don't Forget the Sledgehammer! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 24, 2016, 03:00

    Aly recently completed a whirlwind packing project to empty her apartment before moving back to the homestead (see Solstice Maximus). She needed to box up and…

  • The Challenges and Opportunities of Frugal Computing by: Mark Zeiger

    February 27, 2016, 03:00

    Over my years of computer use, I feel I've spent way too much time tinkering with the things. Most of this messing around appears to be the price I pay for…

  • Karma Crash by: Mark Zeiger

    February 25, 2016, 08:23

    Before I left for Anchorage as chaperone for the Haines DDF team I wrote about giving time to the community, volunteering on multi-day project so that others…

  • Frugal Generosity: Time Vs. Money by: Mark Zeiger

    February 16, 2016, 03:00

    At the end of last year, in talking about frugality, I mentioned, but did not elaborate on frugal generosity (see Feeling Frugal: It's All in the Attitude).…

  • "It's Only Money!" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 15, 2016, 03:00

    How we think of money as a family may help us to pursue a frugal lifestyle (Catch up by starting with Homestead Core Values: Frugality). Growing up in…

  • Use Public Transportation for a Cheaper Commute by: Mark Zeiger

    January 9, 2016, 03:00

    Since beginning a long series of essays on frugality, I've recalled this post that I wrote several years ago. It doesn't apply much to our current situation,…

  • Simple Living: The Parable of Pilot Bread by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2016, 03:00

    I've stated a couple times in the recent essays on frugality (see Homestead Core Values: Frugality) that one of our advantages in keeping costs low is our love…

  • Frugal Family History: On the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2016, 03:00

    In my last essay, Frugal Family History: Before the Homestead, I described our frugal practices when we lived on-grid. Now, let's look at living off-grid. For…

  • Frugal Family History: Before the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    January 3, 2016, 03:00

    This post continues a growing collection of essays on frugality. To catch up, start with Homestead Core Values: Frugality. Or, start this section with Frugal…

  • The Shopping List by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2015, 03:00

    When we consider a purchase, we have to take into account a wide range of factors. Price is not the only issue (see Homestead Core Values: Frugality). In fact,…

  • Walking the Walk at Christmas Time by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2015, 03:00

    Did I set myself up, or what? Here we are on Christmas Eve, at the most generous time of the year, and I'm busy talking about frugality! I can't tell you…

  • Frugal Family History: Upbringing by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2015, 03:00

    Lately, I've focused on frugality (see Homestead Core Values: Frugality). Now that I've outlined our basic strategy and practices, perhaps a narrative of our…

  • Feeling Frugal: It's All in the Attitude by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2015, 03:00

    In the last post, I started discussing frugality (see Homestead Core Values: Frugality). Frugality may be nothing more than the proper attitude. Once one has…

  • Homestead Core Values: Frugality by: Mark Zeiger

    December 16, 2015, 03:00

    Michelle and I are frugal. If you read this blog much, you know that I rarely make such bold statements. I aspire to critical thought, which leads me to…

  • Homestead Economics by: Mark Zeiger

    October 11, 2015, 07:58

    Life is all about balance. On the homestead we find this particularly true. We're constantly seeking to strike balances: Economy vs. value, time vs. money,…

  • Gift Boxes that Save Favorite Paper Designs by: Mark Zeiger

    August 24, 2015, 03:00

    We take shopping for wrapping paper seriously. We feel that it contributes significantly to gift-giving occasions, enough to spend money on a product that…

  • Yes, We Have No Bananas: Struggling to Eat Locally by: Mark Zeiger

    July 16, 2015, 03:00

    Sorry to quote the title of a rather annoying old song, but the line came to me as I uploaded a photo of "Mom's" chocolate cherry cake for the last post. I…

  • Seasons in the Sun by: Mark Zeiger

    July 6, 2015, 08:00

    We've been enjoying the savings and convenience of our Sun Oven (see Cooking with Solar) this summer. Yesterday, it proved its value even further. We've…

  • A Successful Bargain Hunt by: Mark Zeiger

    June 27, 2015, 03:00

    Frugal living often means delaying purchases and taking more time and effort to shop for the right item at the right price. While many (probably most)…

  • Canscape by: Mark Zeiger

    June 23, 2015, 05:44

    Yesterday we started our first major harvest of the summer. Our garlic crop produced scapes while we traveled down south, so we pickled them. They'll be ready…

  • Rededication by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2015, 03:00

    You may have heard that Alaska faces a financial crisis due to low oil prices. Our Legislature cut the state budget to the bone, reducing and eliminating…

  • Final Frugal Shaving Tips by: Mark Zeiger

    February 24, 2015, 03:00

    (This essay concludes a series on shaving that began with Every Day Tasks: Shaving on the "Homestead".) Call me a Luddite if you will, but I use a shaving…

  • The Razor's Edge(s): More Shaving on the "Homestead" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2015, 08:15

    The key to staying clean shaven in a frugal manner (see Every Day Tasks: Shaving on the "Homestead") lies in ignoring the distortions of mass marketing. Unle…

  • Every Day Tasks: Shaving on the "Homestead" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2015, 03:00

    A while back, a reader asked about performing every day tasks in our semi-remote, off the grid home (see Routine Tasks on the "Homestead"). Shaving is one…

  • Entropy Is Everywhere by: Mark Zeiger

    February 14, 2015, 03:00

    "Entropy is everywhere!" I can't remember where I saw that. It may have been a T-shirt, perhaps a bumper sticker, but it's become a catchphrase in my family.…

  • When "Good Enough" is Best by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2014, 03:00

    A key self reliance strategy is often to obtain the highest quality tool you can afford or find, whenever possible. However, many times "good enough" beats…

  • Striker Force by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2014, 03:00

    A year or two after moving to the "homestead," we replaced the small, broken propane range in the cabin with a "new" one, purchased from neighbors. They'd…

  • Deodorant Crystals for Frugal, Effective Hygiene by: Mark Zeiger

    February 5, 2014, 03:00

    In my opinion, the development of deodorant crystals is one of the best innovations in personal hygiene in many years. I've yet to find a better solution for…

  • A Simple, Ubiquitous Solution to Keeping Hot Drinks Hot by: Mark Zeiger

    December 23, 2013, 08:26

    Michelle has an idea for repurposing an item that is guaranteed to be found in every single home in the U.S., if not the world. Michelle often carries hot…

  • "Black Friday" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 29, 2013, 03:00

    If you've been within 20 feet of a radio or television in the last month, you probably don't need me to point out that today is "Black Friday," the day when…

  • Finding Storage Space for Bulk Purchases by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2013, 03:00

    In the previous post, Buying Bulk The "New" Investment Strategy I supported buying bulk. I also acknowledged that implementing this strategy requires proper…

  • Buying Bulk: The "New" Investment Strategy by: Mark Zeiger

    May 30, 2013, 06:22

    On the news this morning, I was a bit shocked to hear someone advocating a new investment strategy: buying bulk. The person being interviewed pointed out that…

  • Repurposing Old Wall Calendars by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2013, 03:00

    On New Year's Day, I spent a few minutes performing what has become an annual chore: cutting up the previous year's wall calendar to save the art for future…

  • Am I Better Off Now than 4 Years Ago? by: Mark Zeiger

    September 26, 2012, 03:00

    I have avoided politics on this blog even though I have a lot to say on the topic. That isn't the purvue of this publication. However, I, like anyone else who…

  • Biking to Town by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2012, 03:00

    All throughout the recent clear, calm weather, we've discussed getting our bikes out to the road and riding to town. Typically, we finally got around to it on…

  • Reuse Glass Before Recycling It by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2012, 03:00

    As I argued in the last post, anything we can reuse should really never be recycled. For instance, glass. Consider: glass doesn't decompose. This means that…

  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by: Mark Zeiger

    March 19, 2012, 03:00

    Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I would assert that the three parts of this concept are listed in order of importance. If we want to save the planet, cut back on the…

  • Museum of Lost Desires by: Mark Zeiger

    April 10, 2011, 03:00

    Haines has one of the best second hand stores you could ever want. Owned and operated by a friendly proprietor who really only does it to entertain himself in…

  • "Abusing" Credit Cards to Add Value by: Mark Zeiger

    March 5, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle and I are “deadbeats,” and proud of it! To credit card companies, a “deadbeat” is a cardholder who pays their balance in full every month.…

  • The Key to Simple Living: Appreciating the Present by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2010, 03:00

    Our Christmas season ended last night at midnight. We have now returned to the every day. This in itself seems reason for celebration. I’ve been struggling…

  • Develop Healthy Attitudes Toward Your Belongings by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2009, 01:00

    I adhere to the principal that happiness comes not from owning what you love, but from loving what you own. Compared to most Americans we have very little;…

  • Want To Save Money? Set Your Standards Too High! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 27, 2009, 01:00

    Quite unwittingly, I’ve stumbled upon an excellent frugality measure: idealism. I love stuff. This doesn’t mean that I have a lot of possessions—at…

• Category: Gardening/Local Plant Life  (81)
  • Cherry Harvest by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2018, 11:20

    This has been another bad year for our cherry tree, and it shows. Several moose browsed it over the winter, and even as recently as July. A bear got into it…

  • Garden Conference Report by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 25, 2018, 03:00

    The 2018 Southeast Gardening Conference did not disappoint (see Southeast Garden Conference 2018 ). About 120 people attended from Ketchikan, Petersburg,…

  • Southeast Garden Conference 2018 by: Michelle Zeiger

    January 5, 2018, 03:00

    I am really excited about this year's garden conference in Haines! We have a great group of gardeners here, many of whom have taken the Master Gardener…

  • Dandelion Crisis by: Mark Zeiger

    August 18, 2017, 03:00

    The irony of this doesn't escape me, but we're facing a bit of a dandelion crisis on the homestead. Incredibly, our dandelion "crop" is on the verge of…

  • Cherry Blossom Time Comes Earlier by: Mark Zeiger

    May 30, 2017, 03:00

    We got a surprise about a week ago: our cherry tree began to blossom! Our long suffering cherry tree (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger). We have yet to find…

  • Slug! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2017, 03:00

    On Tuesday, I shut down my birch tap for the season. As I removed the tap jug from the spile, I got a nasty surprise: on the far side of the jug, I found a…

  • Seed Saving and Testing by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 19, 2017, 03:00

    Five days ago I made "seed burritos."  I wasn't actually that hungry, I was checking to see how the seeds I saved from my garden would germinate. The…

  • Fat Fingerlings by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2017, 08:17

    Liberty Hyde Bailey once said, "A garden is half-made when it is well planned. The best gardener is the one who does the most gardening by the winter fire." …

  • Spruce Roots in the Yard by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2016, 03:00

    Lately, we experience a victory in our never-ending battle against spruce roots. Our region, so recently scoured by glaciers, geologically speaking, has…

  • Whales and Strawberry Blossoms by: Mark Zeiger

    November 9, 2016, 03:00

    Here we are on the front doorstep of winter, seeing signs of spring. Two that stand out particularly: whales and strawberry blossoms. All of a sudden, we…

  • Kale in the Cracks by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2016, 03:00

    I take great pride in Michelle's "green thumb," but lately, things may have gotten a little bit out of hand! When we gathered at the veranda for lunch one…

  • Cutting the Grass by: Mark Zeiger

    May 11, 2016, 03:00

    The beach grass has matured to the point that I can cut it up to put into the compost, injecting some much-needed nitrogen into the mix. I took a bucket and a…

  • Brief Update by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 20, 2016, 11:09

    The day the previous post went online the weather changed. We had 34° the day before and then it dropped to 26° giving us a window of opportunity for…

  • Freeze, Thaw, Repeat by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 18, 2016, 03:00

    Our property, as many of you have seen on the Website, is mostly spruce and hemlock forest that slopes down to a rocky ocean beach. We have to prune back the…

  • Winter Greens by: Mark Zeiger

    February 12, 2016, 07:47

    Through the winter, we've managed to eat more greens than we usually get at this time of year. About a month ago, Michelle rescued a few dandelion plants…

  • Ever Greens by: Mark Zeiger

    December 10, 2015, 03:00

    Wednesday morning, Michelle bundled up against the December rain, put on a headlamp, and headed outside. A short time later, she returned with her gathering…

  • Garlicky Goodness by: Mark Zeiger

    August 17, 2015, 03:00

    We just harvested garlic, and we're very pleased with the results! Garlic forms one of the pillars of our home cooking. Many of our favorite dishes and new…

  • Canscape by: Mark Zeiger

    June 23, 2015, 05:44

    Yesterday we started our first major harvest of the summer. Our garlic crop produced scapes while we traveled down south, so we pickled them. They'll be ready…

  • Dandelions by: Mark Zeiger

    May 28, 2015, 03:00

    As we begin to eat the very first produce from our summer garden, we focus on one of our easiest and most beneficial "crops": dandelions. As most people…

  • Nagoon Berries in Bloom by: Mark Zeiger

    May 23, 2015, 03:00

    Along with cherries (see Cherry Blossom Time) and a host of wildflowers, the nagoon berries are blooming in the dooryard. Nagoon berries may be the most…

  • Cherry Blossom Time by: Mark Zeiger

    May 21, 2015, 07:27

    Our cherry tree has begun to blossom. It's late by Haines standards; the trees around town get much more sunlight than ours, and bloomed a while ago. Ours…

  • Reliable Rhubarb by: Michelle Zeiger

    May 17, 2015, 03:00

    The rhubarb is amazing this year! I took a photo of the rhubarb mid-May last year. By mid-April this year, the rhubarb was just as big as in that photo. Call…

  • Preparing for Invasion by: Mark Zeiger

    May 7, 2015, 06:51

    The heart of our freehold lies unprotected and vulnerable, even as unseen enemies gather around us and prepare to invade. If we hope to defend one of the keys…

  • Scraping a Living from the Land by: Michelle Zeiger

    April 17, 2015, 03:00

    When we began gardening here I already had a fair amount of experience gardening in a cool climate. I grew up gardening in the back yard under an apple tree in…

  • Gathering the Greens by: Mark Zeiger

    July 22, 2014, 03:00

    High summer is definitely our green season. We've been enjoying green salads, braises, and stirfries drawn both from garden and beach. While cultivated…

  • New from the Zeiger Family Homestead Test Kitchen: Chive Pesto by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2014, 03:00

    Even though we spend a lot of time and energy extracting maximum benefit from our garden, it's taken us a while to address the annual overabundance of…

  • Photo Play by: Mark Zeiger

    May 29, 2014, 03:00

    While I still have a long way to go, I'm improving my familiarity with my fancy camera. I tend not to use it until I really need it, which leads to lousy…

  • More(L)! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 27, 2014, 03:00

    Our lifestyle involves a good deal of suspense, in large and small portions. Lately, we've been waiting to see if we would get any more morel mushrooms in our…

  • The Compost Pile in Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    January 9, 2014, 03:00

    We rely heavily on composting on our "homestead" to provide good, nutrient-rich soil, and to reduce the amount of garbage we haul out on our backs to take to…

  • Time to Put a Lid on It by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2013, 03:00

    A common problem for composters is keeping others from sorting through the pile. A big warm heap of edible material tempts a wide variety of animals, from rats…

  • Time For a New Compost Bin by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2013, 13:01

    Michelle told me I had to shut down our current compost bin so that it'll be available to use in putting the garden to bed next year at this time. We…

  • The Critter Gitter Gits Its Critter by: Mark Zeiger

    September 29, 2013, 03:00

    Early Saturday morning, around 2:00 a.m., the Critter Gitter alarm went off. I jumped out of bed, grabbed a headlamp and an ax handle, and headed for the…

  • Potato Harvest Notes by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 7, 2013, 03:00

    This year's potato tower trial was a qualified success (see Potatoes Grow to New Heights) I had a similar yield to past years for the amount of seed potato…

  • "Gonion" Harvest by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2013, 06:37

    The autumn harvest is in full swing on the "homestead." This year, we're very excited about the quality and quantity of garlic and onions we've produced. gar…

  • Potatoes Grow to New Heights by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 3, 2013, 03:00

    We had more potatoes than beds to plant them in this year. So I finally tried out the potato tower idea I'd heard from Mike McGrath on "You Bet Your Garden." …

  • Foundroot On the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    July 27, 2013, 03:00

    The Southeast Alaska State Fair is underway in Haines. Each year it brings old friends to town, but it often brings new friends as well. When Foundroot came…

  • A Good Day to Dine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2013, 05:07

    Early summer harvests have been slow starting this year. Yesterday, two of them that we anticipate most finally produced yield. Yesterday was a good day to…

  • Community Supported Agriculture by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2013, 05:30

    The new emphasis on self reliance and eating locally has left many Americans at a disadvantage, in that they don't have access to the means: gardening space,…

  • How Spruce Needles May Be Our Key to Aging in Place by: Mark Zeiger

    March 2, 2013, 03:00

    One aspect of our "homestead" lifestyle that cannot be ignored is aging. Presumably we'll want to live like this for the rest of our lives, which means growing…

  • Harvesting the Garden by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2012, 03:00

    This weekend we're harvesting much of the garden. It's been a largely disappointing year because of the cold, wet weather that the Lower 48's draught locked…

  • Transient Beauty by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2012, 03:00

    A week or so ago, as we climbed the first slope of the ridge on our trail toward home, we stopped to admire a cluster of mushrooms growing out of a broken…

  • Carrot Thief by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2012, 03:00

    A carrot thief appears to be working the neighborhood. We hear that a black bear has been visiting gardens around the peninsula stealing carrots and beets. I…

  • Spotlight on Ferns by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2012, 07:54

    Living under the eastern face of the peninsula ridge, we miss out on most of the afternoon sunlight. However, what we do get is highly filtered, which causes…

  • Now We Know That You Are a Shooting Star by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2012, 03:00

    With apologies to Bad Company . . . . For years we've watched a plant in one of our flower gardens. Michelle has long had her suspicions of the plant's…

  • Sifter Plans: Tried and True(r) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2012, 09:07

    Yesterday I did something I should have tried a long time ago: I followed my own instructions. I've been selling plans for the archaelogical/garden shaker…

  • Guerrilla Gardening, Alaska-Style by: Mark Zeiger

    April 15, 2012, 03:00

    Guerrilla Gardening is, if you'll forgive the pun, gaining ground. The term and practice of planting gardens on empty or underutilized land is becoming more…

  • What to Do About Trees by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s November's last quarter moon, time for another poem, The Black…

  • Playing with My Food by: Mark Zeiger

    October 30, 2011, 03:00

    Our parents always told us "don't play with your food." Yeah, well, I'm over 50 now, and I'll play with my food when I want to. Particularly if that food is a…

  • Our Home-Built Archaeology-Style Shaker Sifter by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2011, 03:00

    I recently built a garden tool for Michelle's birthday, an archaeological style sifter. It's also been called an archaeological sifter, garden sifter, compost…

  • More Trapline Tales by: Mark Zeiger

    July 3, 2011, 03:00

    Some people feel that it's wrong to trap mice, voles, and other garden pests, but for us, it's essential. Every mouthful of food we get from the garden is one…

  • Trapline Tales by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2011, 03:00

    As summer continues, so do the "varmint wars" as we fight the local rodents over our garden produce. A neighbor recently asked about traps, which got me kind…

  • Doing Rhubarb Right by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2011, 03:00

    Saturday, Michelle and I picked most of our rhubarb patch, stewed it, and canned it. We're proud of this, because it's the first year we've handled our rhubarb…

  • Preparing for Porcupine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 24, 2011, 03:00

    The porcupine population is on the rise, they say, and we're getting ready. For years, pretty much every summer since the one time we saw a porcupine on the…

  • Humus Hubris by: Mark Zeiger

    June 18, 2011, 06:20

    Recently, I spent much of the day on a tough job that left me sore the next day, but immensely satisfied: I dug the humus out the old compost pile. This…

  • Stone Breaker by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2011, 03:00

    As Michelle leads the family effort to prepare the garden for the coming season, we've gotten serious about locating some of the raised beds. The garden plan…

  • Still Waiting for the Thaw by: Mark Zeiger

    April 16, 2011, 09:14

    Our weather has been fairly warm with a lot of sunshine lately. We feel like spring is here. However, we still see signs that we have a ways to go yet. Our…

  • The Smell of Cedar by: Mark Zeiger

    April 14, 2011, 06:23

    Our cabin is redolent in yellow cedar, and it smells great. While beachcombing the other day, I found a treasure on our north beach: an 8-10 foot long yellow…

  • Reaching for the Sea Stars by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2011, 03:00

    This morning, just before 9:00 am local time, we had a pretty decent low tide. Not an extreme low, as many news sources blithely reported because of the recent…

  • Gallons of Applesauce by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 20, 2010, 03:00

    Nature has blessed the Chilkat Valley with abundance this year.  The sockeye fish run was better than expected, the blueberries were dripping off the…

  • Charlie Anway Gives the Gift of Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2010, 03:00

    Tuesday, I truly became immersed in Autumn, thanks to one of our most famous and beloved Hainesites, Charlie Anway. I'd driven Aly and my brother and…

  • The Great Potato Seed Experiment by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 6, 2010, 09:11

    We have always battled potato scab. Some years I have had better luck than others. I read online that if you grow your potatoes from seed, rather than last…

  • Gleaning by: Mark Zeiger

    August 27, 2010, 03:00

    It's harvest time, not only on the homestead, but off it as well. At the moment, we're spending more time and effort gleaning than working our own property.…

  • Decorating for Moose by: Mark Zeiger

    August 26, 2010, 03:00

    The other day as we hiked home from town, we discovered moose tracks on the trail—lots of them. From the looks of things, we had a crowd of moose crisscrossin…

  • Hawk Wing Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    July 31, 2010, 03:00

    Even though I'd already noticed that the mushrooms have arrived a bit early this year, I was still taken by surprise when I found a nice, big hawk wing on the…

  • Hubris by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2010, 03:00

    We knew our wild neighbors were getting out of hand in the garden, but we didn't realize things had gotten this bad! The other day Michelle took some seeds out…

  • Au Currant - Stink Currant by: Mark Zeiger

    July 15, 2010, 03:00

    Monday Michelle and I wandered down the beach to the cliff that more or less delineates the southern boundary of our property. Michelle has a project that…

  • Mess With Our Strawberries, and I’ll Go "Farmer McGregor" on Your Ass! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2010, 03:00

    Our strawberries started ripening last week, putting us on high alert against garden raiders. We'd been braced for the voles that have troubled us in the past,…

  • Dwarf Dogwood in Bloom by: Mark Zeiger

    June 19, 2010, 03:00

    One particularly nice feature of our area at this time of year is the dwarf dogwood in bloom. Also called bunch berry, the forest floor becomes carpeted with…

  • Catnip Napper (Nipper?) by: Mark Zeiger

    May 2, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle noticed recently that the catnip growing at the base of our cherry saplings has been attacked by an unknown assailant. The other plants, including…

  • Rhubarb's On its Way by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2010, 03:00

    As the days lengthen and spring comes on strong, we're beginning to see one of the more hopeful sights on the homestead. On the mound outside our dining table…

  • Planting Potatoes from Seed by: Michelle Zeiger

    March 29, 2010, 03:00

    A few days ago I transplanted potato seedlings that I started from true seeds. Usually one plants a potato tuber and grows a clone of the parent plant. This is…

  • The Extra, Unexpected Benefits of Worm Ranching by: Mark Zeiger

    March 22, 2010, 03:00

    I'm sorely tempted to title this post "We've got worms!" but I won't. We do have worms now, a whipped cream container full of red wigglers, paper shreds and…

  • Grudge Match 2010: Mark Vs. "The Death Birch" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2010, 08:00

    If I sit here quietly, typing unobtrusively on this blog post, attracting as little attention as possible, perhaps . . . just perhaps . . . I can postpone…

  • "Time Capsule Garden" Revisited by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 5, 2010, 03:00

    It's time to plan for the coming gardening season, which means assessing the previous season. Last year I planted a unique garden with seeds from a vacuum-seale…

  • Does My Garden Need a Mission Statement? by: Michelle Zeiger

    January 21, 2010, 06:00

    "The best gardener is the one who does the most gardening by the winter fire." Last winter I ran across a blog site called Cold Climate Gardening by Kathy…

  • Am I Working Too Hard? Bumbleweed Pesto by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 7, 2009, 01:00

    I’m not sure whether I’m going about this gardening thing the right way. I do hours of research through the winter to plan the garden. Then I check my…

  • A Time Capsule Garden by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 5, 2009, 01:00

    When we bought our property, the previous owners left behind many interesting things. Some of them were obviously not worth packing out the trail, but most of…

  • Supercharge Your Compost by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2009, 01:00

    A compost pile is essential to good gardening. The larger your garden, or the more serious you are about gardening, the more important good compost becomes. If…

  • Highbush Cranberry Time by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2009, 11:14

    Saturday, we drove upriver in search of moose and high bush cranberries. Highbush cranberry, also known as viburnum and a variety of colloquial names, is a…

  • Growing Things Makes Me Feel Good! The Therapeutic Value of Cultivation by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 29, 2009, 03:01

    Growing things, all kinds of things, has become an obsession for me. One normally thinks of growing plants . . . or even animals or children, but how about…

  • Ghost Ferns and Witchy Woods by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 25, 2009, 03:00

    The Autumnal Equinox has passed. The weather shows it … nights are cooling. Days are darker and damper even than the past summer. But more importantly the…

• Category: Homeschooling  (52)
  • Aly's Graduation Day by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2015, 03:00

    As we reported earlier in the year, Aly earned her Bachelor's Degree in March (see Aly Graduates!). She wanted to march in her graduation ceremony, so…

  • Finding the Time to Homeschool by: Mark Zeiger

    May 30, 2015, 03:00

    Even though Aly recently left college (see Aly Graduates!) I still think a lot about homeschooling, unschooling in particular. A while back I wrote a rather…

  • Aly Graduates! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 10, 2015, 03:00

    In the midst of all the activity surrounding the power system and other doings around here, a very significant family event occurred: Aly graduated from…

  • "I Would Bring You Ireland" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2014, 03:00

    One of Nanci Griffith's most beautiful songs, I Would Bring You Ireland, has been on my mind these days. Saint Patrick's Day has paled as a celebration for…

  • Dispatch from Our Wood Sprite by: Mark Zeiger

    February 9, 2014, 03:00

    Aly may be away at college, but she's still finding time to explore and enjoy the natural world around her. Below is an excerpt from a recent email (bracketed…

  • Learning through Play: Settlers of Catan by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2014, 03:00

    Winter is our game playing season. The long evenings and reduced chore load offer extended periods for enjoying a family game. When Aly was still home, one…

  • Aly Finds Her Niche by: Mark Zeiger

    July 3, 2013, 03:00

    This week, Aly starts a summer job that's perfect for her. She will spend a good chunk of her summer at a summer camp on the west coast. Her position: Outdoor…

  • Unschooling Without Commitment Seems Destined to Fail by: Mark Zeiger

    March 19, 2013, 03:00

    "Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability." —Cicero Even though Aly is in…

  • Autumn Encroaches by: Mark Zeiger

    August 16, 2012, 03:00

    According to the method by which we observe the seasons, autumn came to the homestead more than two weeks ago. We've just passed the family event that make…

  • Postcards From the Trip by: Mark Zeiger

    September 25, 2011, 03:00

    We are back. Michelle and I returned to the homestead on the autumnal equinox, having driven Aly and her belongings through Canada to Washington state to…

  • How Homeschoolers Can Help Public Schools with AYP by: Mark Zeiger

    September 11, 2011, 03:00

    Even though we unschooled Aly, we support the local school district when we can. Mostly, we do this because we owe them a debt of gratitude for everything they…

  • Public School and Home School: Helping Each Other by: Mark Zeiger

    September 9, 2011, 03:00

    A couple of days ago I introduced a situation we experienced recently, where our relationship with the Haines Borough School District (HBSD) got it into…

  • Unschooling: Repaying a Debt of Gratitude by: Mark Zeiger

    September 7, 2011, 03:00

    In August, I received a call from the Superintendent of the Haines Borough School District (HBSD). The Alaska Department of Education (AKDOE) was evaluating…

  • "Someday" Starts Today by: Mark Zeiger

    September 5, 2011, 03:00

    Last night we packed up Spice and hauled her to a friend's house on the roadside to be cat-sat. The cabin and gardens are turned over to minders, and we're…

  • Aly's "Bug Out" Preparations by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2011, 12:00

    Considering that yesterday marked the second anniversary of starting this blog, I'm not doing very well keeping it up—my apologies that today's post is quite…

  • Here and Gone Again by: Mark Zeiger

    July 25, 2011, 06:26

    After what amounted to a long weekend, Aly's off on a new adventure once again. Fresh from an archaeological field school in Canada, she's moved in to town to…

  • A Trio Once Again by: Mark Zeiger

    July 21, 2011, 05:43

    Our mission to retrieve Aly from her archaeological field school in Canada succeeded. Michelle and I drove up Tuesday morning, arriving at the professor's…

  • Aly's in Dawson by: Mark Zeiger

    July 16, 2011, 06:16

    We had just returned from a trip to town yesterday, and Michelle had left to water the neighbor's greenhouse when Aly called unexpectedly. She's in Dawson with…

  • Aly's End Game by: Mark Zeiger

    July 13, 2011, 03:00

    We talked to Aly on the phone Sunday evening. Her field school crew has returned from a visit to a dig at Calico Bluff, near Eagle, Alaska. They're wrapping up…

  • A Visit to Aly's Field School by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2011, 06:34

    On Saturday, Michelle and I drove up to Beaver Creek, Canada to visit Aly's archaeological field school. We spent two nights at the dig, working with and…

  • Stories 'Round the Campfire, 21st Century Style by: Mark Zeiger

    June 29, 2011, 03:00

    Sunday we had a good long talk with Aly, who's attending an archaeological field school in the Yukon. She's halfway through the course and still going…

  • Phone Home by: Mark Zeiger

    June 14, 2011, 06:32

    I had just stepped into the shower and turned on the water Sunday afternoon when Michelle's phone rang. I pondered  a moment. Michelle couldn't hear the…

  • News From the North Part 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2011, 07:27

    We finally got word from Aly! She found a moment to reply to an email during her archaeological field school in Canada. You'll note a father's optimism in…

  • Aly's Off to Canada by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2011, 06:05

    We're back. At least, two-thirds of us are. Tuesday morning we loaded up the car and headed up the road for Canada, destination: Whitehorse. Aly's archaeolog…

  • For Our Unschooler, an "Ungraduation" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 30, 2011, 03:00

    The time has come for Aly to graduate from high school. I thought I was prepared for this process to be a bit more difficult and significantly different than…

  • Prom Pictures by: Mark Zeiger

    May 8, 2011, 15:35

    Aly reports that last night's prom was "fun!" Her friend, Rhyan, introduced her to a teammate, Zack, who asked her to be his date. She fit right in with the…

  • Prom Night by: Mark Zeiger

    May 7, 2011, 08:54

    A new urgent project has been added to the various work of the homestead lately, as Aly prepares to attend the Haines High School prom. In the midst of dirty…

  • Aly's New Library Video by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2011, 03:00

    Aly belongs to the Haines Library Film Club, an after school program for teens. Lately, they've been making videos promoting using the library. Aly wrote the…

  • Comic Books as an Unschooling Resource by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2011, 03:00

    Documenting Aly's unschooling education has been an ongoing process, but we allowed certain aspects of it to wait until she began applying to colleges. At the…

  • Earning College Acceptance, or Buying It? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 7, 2011, 04:32

    I've been listening to the radio news, and once again, I'm appalled. Yesterday, the morning host interviewed the author of a new book about applying for…

  • Measuring Success in Unschooling: Real and Perceived by: Mark Zeiger

    February 12, 2011, 09:42

    Helping Aly pursue her education through unschooling has created a dichotomy between achieving the true goals of getting a proper education that will enable…

  • Driving Miss Aly by: Mark Zeiger

    February 11, 2011, 12:31

    Yesterday Aly reached a milestone in her young life, one I had begun to think she might forgo entirely. We went to the DMV, and she took—and passed—her…

  • Is Unschooling a Fad? by: Mark Zeiger

    February 9, 2011, 03:00

    I recently spent a most unpleasant half hour on a well-known writers' collective site to which I used to contribute. I read one of their debate topics: "Is…

  • "This Year's Opportunity of a Lifetime" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2011, 03:00

    Last Saturday we talked on the phone with the head of an archeological dig planned for this summer in Yukon Territory, Canada. Aly had contacted him by email,…

  • Applications Away! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2011, 03:00

    Monday we hiked to town, carrying packets of mail of Great Importance: transcripts and other supporting documents to complete Aly's college application, and to…

  • College Applications Circus by: Mark Zeiger

    January 14, 2011, 03:00

    We're all working on getting Aly's college application together these days. It's been quite the circus. The process appears at first to be very straightforward,…

  • Final SAT Push by: Mark Zeiger

    December 4, 2010, 03:00

    As you read this, hopefully I'm sitting comfortably at Mountain Market in Haines, enjoying a hot drink with Michelle, waiting for Aly to finish her final round…

  • Goddess of Small Things by: Mark Zeiger

    November 21, 2010, 08:40

    For many years, some of the most pleasant moments of my life have come from simply following my daughter around. Ever since she could walk, I've been delighted…

  • Seeking a Really Well-Rounded Education by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2010, 03:00

    There's an irony to our homestead idyll that concerns Aly's education. We're pleased with the results of her unschooling so far. She's done extremely well on…

  • The Trail's Clear Again by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2010, 03:00

    The trail is clear once again. Yesterday, working together, the three of us cleared the windfall that the last storm delivered in less than two hours. We cut…

  • Candlefish Burning by: Aly Zeiger

    September 27, 2010, 13:56

    During the herring run last spring, we caught a single eulachon, or candlefish. The candlefish, traditionally caught in our area for its oil, can be dried, and…

  • Thursday's Child Has Far To Roam . . . by: Aly Zeiger

    September 9, 2010, 03:00

    I’ve had a busy summer this year. As Dad has mentioned, I spent two weeks in the interior, learning about Archaeology through UAF’s summer program, and…

  • Reading Beowulf by: Aly Zeiger

    September 5, 2010, 09:25

    I am a bookworm. I devoured Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Silmarillion avidly, along with many other works of fantasy. I particularly enjoy those with…

  • Back to School! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2010, 03:00

    I'm really glad Aly's an unschooler, because if she attended regular school, I'm not sure I could take it! I became so indoctrinated by institutional…

  • Adventure Girl by: Mark Zeiger

    August 22, 2010, 03:00

    It's difficult to keep up with our teenage daughter these days. Once again, Michelle and I are alone (with Spice, the cat, of course) while Aly goes off on…

  • And . . . She's Off by: Mark Zeiger

    July 18, 2010, 03:00

    It's Done. We hiked out this morning and put Aly on a plane to attend the Alaska Summer Research Academy (ASRA). She caught a local flight to Juneau, where…

  • Another Standardized Test in the Bag by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2010, 03:00

    Saturday we hiked to town far earlier than we care to, in order to get Aly to the high school to take the ACT college entrance exam. She'd been preparing for a…

  • No Joke - Aly's Headed to Fairbanks! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 1, 2010, 12:20

    Being somewhat prone to gullibility, I fear April Fool's Day. I regard any and all information received on that day with extreme skepticism. Thus, it was…

  • "Der Mysterische auf die Kleine Paperscrappen" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 23, 2010, 03:00

    This last week something odd has appeared around the cabin, on the bookshelves, on the door and walls, on the butter dish and elsewhere. Small, thin strips of…

  • Aly: Rereading My Elementary School Writing by: Aly Zeiger

    November 17, 2009, 01:00

    Mom just found a bunch of my writing from elementary school. When she first started to read from my old writing, I was embarrassed. I expected to be…

  • Reading Aloud to Your Family by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2009, 01:00

    The Zeiger family has a favorite activity that entertains, enriches, educates, improves self-confidence, and brings us closer as a family: we read aloud. We…

  • Unschooling: Self-Directed Learning on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    October 20, 2009, 01:00

    Aly crouches on a windswept beach, carefully steadying a digital camera. Below her, a family of river otters chuckles and pipes to each other as they swim…

• Category: Homestead Crafts  (55)
  • Soap Successes by: Mark Zeiger

    March 15, 2018, 08:44

    Lately, we're celebrating a few small, quiet successes in our homestead soap making. First, Made in Alaska has released their Body, Bath and Spa Directory,…

  • To Remake a Bed by: Aly Zeiger

    November 14, 2017, 09:33

    While I have been staying over at the cottage for several months now, it’s been more like camping, because I’ve slept on the guest mattress that’s lived…

  • Crowning Achievement by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2017, 03:00

    Directing The Lion in Winter has made me try many new things beyond directing. I've made props before, for other plays, but this time around, I tried something…

  • Elderberry Wine! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 14, 2017, 03:00

    Back in the early '70s, long before I ever tasted wine, let alone learned to like it or make it, I loved a song by Elton John called Elderberry Wine. The B…

  • Follow Up on Spruce Soap Experiment by: Mark Zeiger

    August 6, 2017, 03:00

    I told you a few weeks ago about our experiment with a new homemade soap fragrance (see Shades of Things to Come?). The batch has cured, and the verdict's in:…

  • Shades of Things to Come? by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2017, 03:00

    Aly and I experimented with a new soap "flavor" recently. Time will tell how successful we were, but at the moment, we see reasons to hope! Hard to say if…

  • Mark's Trilobite "Skull Cap" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2017, 06:07

    Aly just finished a new knit cap for me, one that has a different application than any other cap I've ever owned. To create this particular cap, Aly chose a…

  • Shop Early to Beat the Alaskan Winter! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2016, 03:00

    We just came through a snowy period that has slowed mail in and out of Haines. That, of course, has me worried, as it's Christmastime. Not only do we anticipate…

  • Finally: Our Full Offering of Soap by: Mark Zeiger

    November 29, 2016, 03:00

    Of course we're too late for all the High Holy Days of the season, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, even the more appropriate but often overlooked Small Business…

  • Commerical Considerations Outweigh Seasonality by: Mark Zeiger

    May 11, 2015, 06:48

    Readers of this blog know that we place heavy emphasis on living and celebrating seasonally. I feel that much of our success in this somewhat unusual lifestyle…

  • Things That Go "Bump" in the Night by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2015, 03:00

    Very early Sunday morning, we felt a familiar jolt in the bed, the small shock of the cat arriving in our midst from some nighttime errand. Except, the cat…

  • Looking for Unique Christmas Gifts? by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2014, 03:00

    As Christmas shopping begins, many of us face the daunting task of finding a one-of-a-kind gift for friends and loved ones. While many items appear on almost…

  • Russian Tea Soap by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2014, 03:00

    We've finished the testing period, and have begun production of a new homemade soap variety: Russian tea! If you've read the blog very often, you know we…

  • Shop The Homestead Now for Christmas! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2013, 03:00

    So, you've been logging into this blog for the last year or more, and have liked what you've found here. Now, the year's rolled around to that annual opportunit…

  • Upcycled Bottle Scrubbies by: Aly Zeiger

    September 25, 2013, 03:00

    Experimental knitting is lots of fun for me. I enjoy the initial “what if?” as much as the final product. Last summer, I started making dinosaurs, after…

  • How Many Knitting Days Until Christmas? by: Aly Zeiger

    August 26, 2013, 03:00

    My job at a summer camp over, I returned home to Alaska about a week and a half ago. I have more than a month until school starts, and slightly less than that…

  • Soapy Sales by: Mark Zeiger

    July 9, 2013, 03:00

    On Saturday, I quietly, cautiously added a new item to our Web site's Store page: homemade soap. My caution came from the awesome responsibility of…

  • Swingin'! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2013, 03:00

    I've had difficulty keeping up the blog the past two weeks. Since I write about what's on my mind, if I'm thinking about things that must be kept secret, I…

  • My Latest Creation: A Winemaker's Ornament by: Mark Zeiger

    February 24, 2013, 03:00

    Last week I took a few moments for an arts and crafts project. I'm pretty pleased with the result. The last time my brother and his wife visited, they gave…

  • Repurposing Old Wall Calendars by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2013, 03:00

    On New Year's Day, I spent a few minutes performing what has become an annual chore: cutting up the previous year's wall calendar to save the art for future…

  • Handcrafted Drop Spindles for Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2012, 03:00

    Before Christmas, in discussing the value of homemade gifts, I hinted that I felt particularly proud of the gifts I'd made for Aly this year. Now that…

  • The Real Value of Homemade Gifts by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2012, 03:00

    The phrase "homemade gift" can strike fear into the stoutest of hearts. We all act as if they are a good thing, but if hard pressed, relatively few people…

  • Milling Homemade Soap by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2012, 03:00

    Sometimes when we make homemade soap, we find milling necessary. Milling is a fairly easy way to improve the quality of homemade soaps, either to save a bad…

  • Making Homemade Soap by: Mark Zeiger

    November 27, 2012, 03:00

    I recently wrote about trying to leave our latest batches of homemade soap alone. This led to reader requests for more information on our soap-making. Making…

  • A Home Craft Christmas Tree by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2012, 03:00

    As is our tradition, the Zeiger Family Homestead Christmas season began Friday morning.This year, however, Michelle and I undertook a project that brought…

  • Soap Lust by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2012, 03:00

    It seems like for us, the hardest thing about making soap is keeping our hands off of it until it cures. We recently made a couple of batches of soap for…

  • Aly Launches Hand-Knit Dinosaur Toy Line in Time for Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2012, 03:00

    By now, you may already be too late for Christmas . . . . Aly loves to knit. She joined her college's Fiber Arts Club as a freshman, and this year she's…

  • I Can Can! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 2, 2012, 03:00

    Cue Offenbach's Orpheus In the Underworld, please . . . . I had an excellent day fishing on Monday. While seeking out the sparse currant bushes that nestle…

  • Homestead Yogurt by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2012, 03:00

    Michelle has said before in this blog and elsewhere that growing things makes her feel good. One of the ways she stretches our food dollar is to make yogurt at…

  • Rhubarb Wine, Rhubarb Soda by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2012, 03:00

    Aly and I have been enjoying kitchen duty lately, trying new dishes and old favorites as we prepare dinners. We came up with a homestead-style foccacia that…

  • What the Best Dressed Bottles are Wearing by: Mark Zeiger

    June 5, 2012, 03:00

    This fashion season my wine yeast extender sports an electric lime wet suit as it lounges by the woodstove and other heat sources,  building up a head of…

  • A Wine by Any Other Name by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2012, 03:00

    Our home wine making continues, and has entered an exciting new phase. As the summer advances, we're able to try more cottage wines. But, with the continued…

  • Root Beer Time by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2012, 03:00

    Once we started making wine again on the homestead these days, it didn't take long for me to think about other kinds of brewing as well. We don't drink soft…

  • Making Wine is a Little Less "Racking" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2012, 03:00

    As I've proven time and time again, siphoning our homemade wine to rack or bottle it is a perilous undertaking. I'm relieved to report that we recently made a…

  • Feeling Sconish by: Mark Zeiger

    March 31, 2012, 03:00

    Friday morning, after more than a week of sunny weather, the day dawned cloudy and fretful. Rain threatened, a cooler wind blew, the sense of energetic…

  • Tap, Tap, Tap . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    March 29, 2012, 03:00

    We found a jar full of odd metal fittings in our shed when we first moved to the "homestead." We couldn't figure out what they were for. We guessed that they…

  • The First of the Cabin Wines by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2012, 03:00

    We've recently advanced in our home wine making, starting a couple batches of genuine cottage wine. Or, perhaps more appropriately, cabin wine. In the last…

  • Expanding Wine Yeast by: Mark Zeiger

    March 13, 2012, 10:43

    Since reviving our home wine making, we've started 10 batches. The yeast we've used to make these batches has come from only two packets. Yeast is necessary…

  • Homemade Wine Varieties by: Mark Zeiger

    March 1, 2012, 03:00

    People have asked me in the comments section and in personal correspondence what kind of wine we've been making. At the moment, we've got three varieties in…

  • Homemade Wine "Blankets" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 26, 2012, 03:00

    Our home winemaking is bubbling along nicely, with eight 1-gallon batches currently underway. Restarting this process in winter has made consistent temperature…

  • "Raisin Riesling" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 3, 2012, 03:00

    With great pride, and no little relief, I feel justified in announcing a success in our efforts to make wine at home. Recently, I decided to try our "weakest"…

  • Spring Changes: A New Homestead "Store" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 1, 2012, 03:00

    Spring is upon us, by our reckoning. I think this time I've finally figured it out. As I've mentioned often before, viewing the seasons from the ancient Celtic…

  • Homemade Airlocks for Homemade Wine by: Mark Zeiger

    January 14, 2012, 03:00

    The airlock or fermentation lock is an essential tool of wine making. This device allows carbon dioxide (CO2) to escape as yeast converts sugars into alcohol…

  • Return to the Vineyard by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2011, 03:00

    To the many wonderful, comforting, homey sounds coming from our cabin this holiday season, we've added one more: the quiet, bubbling click of an airlock. Des…

  • Felted Boot Liners by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2011, 03:00

    Conditions on our homestead dictate that we wear shoes fairly constantly. We try to switch between indoor and outdoor footwear and back, because it's too easy…

  • Making Spice-Scented Christmas Ornaments by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2010, 03:00

    We have, for a long time, had a small Christmas ornament that I've really liked. It looks like a gingerbread cookie, but it smells of cinnamon, perfuming our…

  • For Alaska Day: A “Real” Russian Tea Recipe Finally Surfaces by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2010, 03:00

    Today is Alaska Day! If you've followed this blog through the past year, you may have sensed a certain obsession on my part when it comes to Russian Tea, a…

  • Homemade Chai Tea Mix – Taste Test and Adjustments by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 25, 2010, 03:00

    The first batch of Chai Mix I made didn't last long, so I made a full recipe the second time. I used 1/2 cup less sugar, and it tasted fine. To make sure,…

  • Homemade Chai Tea: First Steps by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 24, 2010, 03:00

    I love chai tea. I especially love the packaged mixes like Oregon Chai, Pacific Chai and Enchanted Chai. They are each a little different blend of spices, but…

  • A Welcome Sound on the Homestead - the Bubbler by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2010, 03:00

    Living out in nature as we do, we have learned to listen. As we go about our daily tasks, our ears stay cocked for unusual or unfamiliar noises. It satisfies…

  • Make Your Own Coffee Liqueur by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2010, 03:00

    If you enjoy coffee liqueur, like the commercially available Kahlua, Tia Marie, or similar, here's a way to make your own cheaply at home. I've been using…

  • A Cup of Coffee That Brings Tears to My Eyes by: Mark Zeiger

    November 9, 2009, 01:00

    Every great once in a while, whether to comfort myself, or to torture myself—I don't know which—I make a cup of coffee that brings tears to my eyes. My…

  • Quest for Cocoa: The Art and Science of the Perfect Hot Drink by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2009, 01:00

    If you've read many of our family's posts you know that hot drinks are an essential part of our lives. Almost every day begins with tea for Michelle and coffee…

  • Making Russian Tea: The Rest of the Story by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2009, 01:00

    They say one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. In writing previously on Russian tea, I came across information that didn't fit…

  • The Secret of Russian Tea by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2009, 01:00

    It's the time of year for hot beverages! Especially in October, particularly around Alaska Day, I like to turn to an old family staple, Russian tea. We…

• Category: Homesteading  (194)

  Water systems, outhouses, heating with wood – alternative lifestyles that move us toward more self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

  • A Good Pair of Goggles to Protect the Eyes by: Mark Zeiger

    March 12, 2019, 03:00

    In a previous post, I listed some of the essential tools of our homestead (see A Homesteader's Tool Box). The idea came from my response to Sam Sciapaldi's…

  • A Homesteader's Tool Box by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2019, 03:00

    A while ago, Sam Schipani of Hello Homestead asked me for a list of essential homestead tools for this article she subsequently wrote. My reply seemed like…

  • The Fat Wood Tree Finally Comes Down by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2019, 03:00

    After years of watching, waiting, and—well, whittling, I felled a significant tree on our homestead. The current wood lot, showing the broken stump and…

  • Heat Shielding for the Cottage Wood Stove by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2019, 07:43

    After we incorporated homemade heat shielding into our water heater install (see An Alarming Debut) we turned our attention to another problem on the homestead:…

  • Solving Our Smoking Problem by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2019, 03:00

    We have battled a smoke problem in our cabin for a while. Recently, it reached a head, and Michelle discovered a simple, easy solution. Occasionally, we…

  • "The Iron Giant's" Back Story by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2018, 03:00

    We're settling in to life with "The Iron Giant," the home-built wood-fired hot water heater we recently installed in the cabin. It has an interesting history. …

  • An Alarming Debut by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2018, 08:46

    Yesterday, we got showers! On Sunday, a friend came over and helped us complete the final stage of installing our new hot water heater, "The Iron Giant"…

  • "Paging Doctor Frankenstein . . ." by: Mark Zeiger

    November 29, 2018, 03:00

    Tuesday, I plumbed the new hot water heater, which I dubbed "The Iron Giant" (see "The Iron Giant" Comes!). Even though it's a lot less complicated than the…

  • "The Iron Giant" Comes! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2018, 08:08

    The last two days have proved exciting here on the homestead, with the arrival of "The Iron Giant." Since our Agua Heater hot water heater sprung a leak…

  • Testing the Limits by: Mark Zeiger

    November 11, 2018, 03:00

    Our homestead's resources seem to have suddenly reduced to the lower limits too many fronts. Our battery has drawn down close to 40%. In many ways, this is…

  • The Homestead Springs a Leak . . . Again by: Mark Zeiger

    October 30, 2018, 03:00

    Saturday evening, Aly walked by the water heater, and pointed out a puddle around it. The homestead has sprung a leak once again. We've been here a…

  • Jetsam by: Mark Zeiger

    August 25, 2018, 03:00

    We've been seeing a lot of flotsam in the water out in Lynn Canal in the last month, and a whole lot of jetsam on the beaches. The Katzehin River, about 3…

  • Gray Water Muck Out by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2018, 03:00

    A week or so ago, our shower drain clogged. That's not a big deal; we keep a plunger in the corner of the shower stall, and one often gives it a few plunges in…

  • Trying to Gain Headway by: Mark Zeiger

    May 6, 2018, 10:04

    Here on the homestead, we have entered the early days of what we consider the summer season (see Circle of the Seasons: Summer). This year, it's all different. …

  • "It's Worth a Shot!" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 8, 2018, 08:44

    This is kind of stupid, but I'm inordinately proud of myself because . . . I shot a tree. I wrote last time about the tree hanging over the trail, and my…

  • An Unhurried Sense of Time by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2018, 14:20

    "An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth." —Bonnie Friedman I saw this quote recently, and it hit home. I've written on the blog…

  • Whittling Away by: Mark Zeiger

    March 6, 2018, 03:00

    Do you remember the tree I felled back in October? (see 30/30".) All winter we've been whittling away at it, cutting the log and hauling it down the hill,…

  • Our Water Returns! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2018, 08:32

    Sunday evening, we sat upstairs watching a movie. Just short of the film's climax, Aly suddenly asked me to hit "pause." When I did, we listened for a second,…

  • Speculation by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2018, 03:00

    Perhaps the worst part of the homestead's water system freezing up is not the inconvenience, but the uncertainty. We are a family of speculators. We can't…

  • Hygge NOT by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2018, 03:00

    Yesterday, February 1st, I flipped my calendar page to reveal a lovely work of art by Kathleen Edwards. The scratch board rendering of a wood fired cook stove,…

  • A New Year, A New Chopping Block by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2018, 03:00

    I confess, I'm fudging the dates a bit here, but essentially, I ushered in the New Year with a new chopping block. I can't remember how long I'd used the…

  • NIMBY by: Mark Zeiger

    November 17, 2017, 03:00

    Today, my comments on the proposed University of Alaska Timber Sale on our peninsula will get mailed. I have written some difficult letters in my life, but…

  • 30/30" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2017, 03:00

    I didn't mean for it to become "A Thing." We need firewood for the winter, and we've had a large standing dead tree above the cabin for some time. I wanted to…

  • Homestead High Gear by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2017, 03:00

    Homestead life has kicked into high gear. On top of our usual increased autumn activity (See Upterrlainarluta: "Always Getting Ready") I'm rehearsing and…

  • Something New to Worry About by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2017, 03:00

    We find ourselves facing potentially lifestyle-changing events here in our off-the-grid neighborhood. About 400 acres of forested land on our peninsula, some…

  • Shell Cottage Gets A Review by: Aly Zeiger

    September 2, 2017, 03:00

    Well, gang, I finally did it. I spent the night in my cottage! Encouraged by the positive review of a friend who stayed there for several nights this…

  • Homo Homesteadus: Homestead Man by: Mark Zeiger

    July 29, 2017, 03:00

    Eons from now, if they dig me up, if they can use their technology to reconstitute me from my funereal ashes, and create an adequate reproduction of what I may…

  • July Cottage Renovation Updates by: Aly Zeiger

    July 5, 2017, 03:00

    Cottage work slowed almost to a halt over the winter (see The Many Lives of Shell Cottage). Cottage writing slowed even further! Here are a few things that…

  • A New Bench/Picnic Table for the Veranda by: Mark Zeiger

    May 24, 2017, 03:00

    When I built the new veranda last autumn (see The Deck's Finished) I knew I'd need to put off building furniture for it till spring. I just finished building…

  • Dry Cabin by: Mark Zeiger

    March 18, 2017, 09:48

    I returned home on Thursday. In true Zeiger Homestead fashion, I arrived in town in the early afternoon, but because of an evening event at Aly's work, and a…

  • Where There Is No Gym by: Aly Zeiger

    February 16, 2017, 03:00

    This winter, I started a gym routine for myself on the homestead. Why would I do that? Isn't homesteading enough work? The truth is, I don't do that much…

  • "I Can Touch My Nose!" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2017, 03:00

    I need to say from the start that I have not injured myself recently! Before starting The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog in 2009, I wrote a similar blog for…

  • Mission Accomplished by: Mark Zeiger

    November 7, 2016, 03:00

    Back when I first started writing the blog, I was advised to never, ever remove any material it. The advisor said that if one posts something on line, it…

  • A New Rain Gutter for the Outhouse by: Mark Zeiger

    October 23, 2016, 03:00

    Back in December 2008 I replaced the roof of our main outhouse. To finished the job, I built a gutter for the front "porch," above the door. I used a scrap…

  • Wood Push by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2016, 05:31

    I've been scrambling the last few days. We've had a stretch of unseasonably sunny weather, which will change up in the coming days after a day or two of strong…

  • Good Morning, Starshine! by: Aly Zeiger

    September 20, 2016, 04:48

    I subscribe enthusiastically to the idea of playing certain music for certain occasions. Last weekend, the occasion required me to broadcast Good Morning…

  • The Deck's Finished by: Mark Zeiger

    August 29, 2016, 03:00

    Monday, I added a set of stairs to the deck, allowing access to the beach from the deck, and adding stability to the structure (see On Deck). The steps…

  • The Many Lives of Shell Cottage by: Aly Zeiger

    August 27, 2016, 03:00

    On my family's property, just out of sight of the main cabin, there sits a small greenish building with a shed roof. The porch looking over the water is full…

  • On Deck by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2016, 03:00

    After procrastinating far too long, I've gotten back to work on building a new veranda for our homestead. Deck construction as of Sunday (Photo: Mark A.…

  • Occasional Neighbors by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2016, 03:00

    Our nearest full time neighbors live about a quarter mile north of us. Our nearest occasional neighbors are much closer, a few hundred yards away. A young…

  • Breaking Silence by: Mark Zeiger

    July 19, 2016, 05:57

    My sisters and their household goods left Haines on the ferry last night. This morning, I'm able to take a few moments and post on the blog for the first time…

  • Warm Resolve by: Mark Zeiger

    May 19, 2016, 06:07

    I'm entering the new season with a sense of resolve: I intend to keep my home warm. Even though we've been heating exclusively with wood since moving to the…

  • Diversions by: Mark Zeiger

    May 7, 2016, 03:00

    Thursday, I created my best diversion yet: I brought water down to the guest/boat house. We've done this once before, splicing a tee into our summer water…

  • Benign Neglect by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2016, 03:00

    As Michelle's town job gears up for the summer tourist season, I'm busy preparing for a community play. Consequentially, we're not spending as much time on the…

  • Wonderful to Be Home by: Mark Zeiger

    February 23, 2016, 07:38

    I'm home! The Haines Glacier Bears van rolled into town yesterday evening. Michelle came from her work to pick me up, and we hiked home by dinner time. We…

  • Homestead Core Values: Family by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2016, 03:00

    If I were called upon to line up our Homestead Core Values in order of importance, Family would fill the first position (see Homestead Core Values). The…

  • "Sacred Idleness" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 21, 2016, 03:00

    "Work is not always required . . . there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected." —George MacDonald I…

  • Homestead Core Values: Hard Work by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2016, 03:00

    When I first conceived of the topic of my family's core values (see Homestead Core Values) I created a short list after very little thought. Second place after…

  • Homestead Core Values by: Mark Zeiger

    December 14, 2015, 03:00

    We have expressed the values we hold dear, that drive and/or direct our lifestyle, in many ways across 6 years and nearly 1500 posts (so far) on this blog.…

  • We Are All Homesteaders by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2015, 03:00

    I've used the word "homestead" in quotes through most of this blog's six years of publication. I do it to point out that The Federal Homestead Act is no longer…

  • Branching Out by: Mark Zeiger

    August 20, 2015, 03:00

    Yesterday, this blog branched out a bit: I contributed to a great homesteading Website, The 104 Homestead. My first post there summaries my feelings on…

  • Not As Different as We Used to Be by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2015, 03:00

    2015 has been a year of changes for our "homestead." Some of these make me feel a bit strange. You may have inferred from the posts on this blog that we…

  • Whittling Away at It by: Mark Zeiger

    July 24, 2015, 03:00

    Slowly but surely, I'm cutting the coming winter's firewood. Most of my current effort focuses on the far end of the property, in "the Blowdown" where I…

  • A Little Excitement in the Wood Lot by: Mark Zeiger

    July 8, 2015, 03:00

    I'm late harvesting firewood for the coming winter. With another stretch of dry weather, I'm making a push to cut more rounds to get them drying. The project…

  • Rededication by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2015, 03:00

    You may have heard that Alaska faces a financial crisis due to low oil prices. Our Legislature cut the state budget to the bone, reducing and eliminating…

  • Practicality Intrudes by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2015, 06:01

    I really hate how practicality sometimes trumps idealism. I especially dislike it when it happens at Christmas time. This year, practicality suggested we…

  • Don't Alter Your Wood Stove: A Cautionary Tale by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2014, 03:00

    When we bought our homestead, it already had a woodstove. It was a fairly large, ‘70s-era Earth Stove that was nearly burned out. The former owners told us…

  • Clawing Our Way Back by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2014, 06:18

    This week I'm continuing the process of catching up with homestead tasks after visiting family Outside. I'm cruising back into some jobs; others, I'm having to…

  • The Lamps by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2014, 03:05

    Yesterday, on the last day of September, I cleaned and filled the oil lamps. I originally planned to perform this autumn chore on the Autumnal Equinox, either…

  • The Firewood Supply: Chopping and Stacking Firewood (Part 3) by: Mark Zeiger

    September 6, 2014, 03:00

    I've been sharing with you my strategies for cutting and stacking firewood for seasoning in rain country (start with The Firewood Supply: Chopping and Stacking…

  • The Firewood Supply: Chopping and Stacking Wood (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    September 4, 2014, 03:00

    Previously, in The Firewood Supply: Chopping and Stacking Wood (Part 1) we discussed finding the right length of wood for your particular stove. Now we’re…

  • The Firewood Supply: Chopping and Stacking Firewood (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    August 31, 2014, 03:00

    "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice." —Henry David Thoreau The quotation above always makes me laugh, then retort, "only if you're doing it…

  • Round and Round Again by: Mark Zeiger

    August 29, 2014, 03:00

    I think often of the cyclical nature of life; it's a common theme on this blog. This week, one of our seasonal cycles came rather sharply into focus, as I near…

  • Seasoning Firewood: A Scientific Approach by: Mark Zeiger

    August 27, 2014, 03:00

    After a fairly wet summer, I'm beginning to see the end of this year's firewood gathering. Obviously, wood gathering, and perhaps more important, wood drying…

  • Let It Rain by: Mark Zeiger

    June 25, 2014, 03:00

    I can tell it's almost Independence Day, because it's raining. I've noted before the irony that the Summer Solstice has become known as the "first day" of…

  • Outdoor Power Outlet by: Mark Zeiger

    June 11, 2014, 03:00

    On June 1st I opened my Franklin Planner to find the following task on that day's page: "Make an outdoor outlet." Accompanying notes explained further: "Set up…

  • Improvements to the Water System by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2014, 03:00

    Last weekend we improved our water system in a major way, increasing our water security on the "homestead" and making our lives easier in the process. We've…

  • Summer Kicks Us into High Gear by: Mark Zeiger

    May 12, 2014, 03:00

    On May 1st, summer snapped on like a thrown switch. All the signs had been accumulating in the preceding days and weeks, but on that day, it suddenly felt like…

  • "Shawl Season" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 6, 2014, 03:00

    We have entered another shoulder season. Or, considering its nature, it might better be called a "shawl season." The weather grows warmer daily, which means…

  • Forbidden Substance: The Styrofoam Packing Peanut by: Mark Zeiger

    March 7, 2014, 03:00

    Shortly after we moved to our "homestead," we realized that certain materials should not be allowed on the property. We've never explicitly banned any…

  • Homesteading for Beginners by: Mark Zeiger

    February 19, 2014, 03:00

    Last December I contributed to an online article, Fulfilling a Dream: Living off the Land on the Ruple Properties blog (see Homestead Opinions Featured in New…

  • Coming Into the Wood Work by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2014, 03:00

    I'm beginning to gather next winter's firewood. We've got nearly perfect weather for it: dry, cold, sunny days and high winds—northerly gales to 40 knots…

  • Dodging a Bullet by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2013, 03:00

    As I mentioned in a previous post, we're mystified by what might have happened to our water system (see Contemplating The Mysteries of the Homestead). It now…

  • Homestead Opinions Featured in New Online Article by: Mark Zeiger

    December 17, 2013, 06:06

    The Zeiger Family Homestead appears in a new online article, Fulfilling a Dream: Living off the Land on the Ruple Properties blog. Their hope is that the…

  • Comfort and Joy by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2013, 03:00

    Yesterday, around noon, I took the first real shower I'd had in nine days. We worked hard all day Friday on rebuilding the water system. We brought the…

  • Contemplating The Mysteries of the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2013, 17:30

    Just because we've been running and gunning since returning home in an effort to repair/rebuild our water system (see Crisis and Opportunity) doesn't mean we…

  • Danger and Opportunity by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2013, 03:00

    We ferried to Haines on Friday, crossed the bay, stepped through our cabin door, and have been managing crises ever since. It's my fault, really. Before we…

  • Temperatures Dropping; Time to Get to Work! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2013, 07:32

    The temperature continues to drop; the north wind seems unwilling to abate. The ground has already frozen hard. Time to get to work! I've been waiting for…

  • Last Season's Water by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2013, 06:20

    Last night I started a draft of this post, then held off. "What if it doesn't get cold after all?" I thought. It appears I needn't have worried. What…

  • "But Enough About Myself. What Do YOU Think of Me?" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2013, 03:00

    Me, me, me, I, I, I, we, us, we, us. You'd think this blog is all about the Zeiger family or something. Well, for today, here's what someone else thinks…

  • The Firewood Supply: Cutting Kindling by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2013, 03:00

    As our weather turns colder, this homesteader's heart and mind turns to managing the firewood pile. That includes cutting and managing a lot of kindling. I…

  • The Firewood Supply: Kindling by: Mark Zeiger

    October 11, 2013, 05:26

    Our wood heating season has returned. Now that it's a daily focus of my life, I'm thinking about it a lot. And who am I to keep my thoughts to myself? Kindli…

  • A Little Bird Told Me by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2013, 03:00

    For months I've been dreaming of the perfect "last tree," which would provide us with the last firewood to be harvested before winter. This tree would need…

  • Fighting Fire by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2013, 03:00

    Every autumn I face a period of internal struggle, deciding when to start using the wood stove to heat the cabin. My head tells me to start lighting fires…

  • Skyhorse Comes to Mud Bay by: Mark Zeiger

    September 11, 2013, 03:00

    We met the most amazing couple Saturday night. We had attended an event at the Chilkat Center. As we came out of the theater, I looked out the center window…

  • Back On Track by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2013, 03:00

    We've enjoyed an extended period of socialization that may be, as yet, unprecedented. Dave and Anke left recently, after more than a month of visiting with…

  • Seven Years Good Luck by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2013, 07:03

    Seven years ago today, we moved to the "homestead." At the time, we promised ourselves to give it five years, then re-evaluate. After the first year, no one…

  • A Tree Falls in the Forest by: Mark Zeiger

    July 30, 2013, 09:25

    When we returned from an overnight Thanksgiving celebration last November, we found a tree above our cabin had broken in the wind. As often happens in this…

  • Everything Happened Today by: Mark Zeiger

    May 24, 2013, 03:00

    About 3 years ago I wrote about a typical day on the homestead in which a lot of stuff got done. I called it Nothing Happened Today. Yesterday felt like the…

  • Farewell, My Hermitage by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2013, 03:00

    Today, as soon as the tide falls far enough for me to hike the bay, I'll head to the ferry terminal to pick up Michelle. At that point, my hermit life of the…

  • Quest for Firewood by: Mark Zeiger

    April 3, 2013, 03:00

    A few days last week were clear, crisp and dry. Like a large, crazed, and possibly hyperthyroid Easter Bunny, I began stashing piles of firewood rounds at…

  • A New Foldable Sawbuck by: Mark Zeiger

    March 6, 2013, 03:00

    Yesterday I tore myself away from configuring the new computer to get some fresh air and build a new sawbuck. Soon after we moved to the "homestead," I…

  • Work Around for a Failed Water Shut-Off by: Mark Zeiger

    February 28, 2013, 03:00

    We're very concerned with water conservation on the homestead for a variety of practical reasons. Because we burn scrap wood to heat water, we must conserve…

  • Time to Change the Water Heater by: Mark Zeiger

    January 21, 2013, 03:00

    I knew for sure that we'd repaired the wind generator properly when Michelle called me to say that the water heater is leaking again. No time to rest on our…

  • "Have a Nice Day at the Office, Dear!" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2012, 03:00

    The other day when Michelle geared up to hike out for her part time job, I had to take a couple of pictures. She works an office job! But, living as we do, the…

  • B.Y.O.D. by: Mark Zeiger

    November 29, 2012, 03:00

    We've had a long cold snap recently—nothing severe, just daytime highs in the low to mid-20s, but enough to make going to the outhouse a strictly B.Y.O.D.…

  • Soap Lust by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2012, 03:00

    It seems like for us, the hardest thing about making soap is keeping our hands off of it until it cures. We recently made a couple of batches of soap for…

  • The Cost of Living by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2012, 03:00

    Yesterday, a reader named Jacquie commented: "Ever since I can remember I have wanted this lifestyle. It’s tough here because everything is about money.…

  • Kitchen Counter Complete by: Mark Zeiger

    September 12, 2012, 03:00

    A fewdays ago we finished the kitchen countertop. We've been enjoying the new surface and its trim for a while, but the finishing touch, a rail along the back…

  • Up On the Roof by: Mark Zeiger

    September 1, 2012, 05:53

    Because Friday appeared to be the last day of a run of sunny weather, we swept the chimney before the winter wood heating season. Besides, it was a blue…

  • Morning and Me by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2012, 07:19

    Michelle has spent the last two nights away from the homestead for work and to help out friends in town. With Aly away at college, I'm enjoying a little alone…

  • I'm an Expert—Just Ask Me! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 26, 2012, 03:00

    Here's something I did recently that's a little weird: I have declared myself a Homesteading Expert. I occasionally read, and have bought material from the…

  • Kitchen Renovation Continues by: Mark Zeiger

    August 20, 2012, 08:38

    Resurfacing our kitchen counter continues. The project has been very rewarding so far. We're taking it slow, largely to allow maximum cure time for adhesives…

  • Kitchen Renovation by: Mark Zeiger

    August 18, 2012, 08:15

    Our first order of business upon returning to couple status has been to install a new countertop in our kitchen. Our kitchen counter consists of the cabin's…

  • Internet Disconnect by: Mark Zeiger

    June 11, 2012, 03:00

    It must be the 21st Century if a homestead feels crippled when the Internet's down. But, that's what's happening, and that's exactly how it felt. Something…

  • Leaving Normal by: Mark Zeiger

    May 24, 2012, 03:00

    There's a pleasant, quiet movie I rather like called Leaving Normal, about two women who abandon their life in the lower 48 to travel to Hyder, Alaska. The…

  • The Giving Tree by: Mark Zeiger

    April 23, 2012, 03:00

    As I've mentioned before, the local variety of birch tree is our most precious wood resource on the homestead. While its harvest can be highly problematic,…

  • Felling Follies by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2012, 03:00

    As so often happens with my firewood harvesting, a recent felling effort turned into a "situation," dangerous and frustrating at the time, but not without its…

  • Wood Stove Season Ends by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2012, 03:00

    With the onset of warmer weather, we've gone without fires in the woodstove some days lately. If it's particularly cool or wet, we might have a small fire in…

  • Depleting the Woodpile by: Mark Zeiger

    March 15, 2012, 03:00

    The time has come to admit that the woodpile is effectively depleted. I'm one of those people who looks for patterns in life a little too often. The woodpile…

  • Biofilter Harvest by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2012, 03:00

    We took advantage of our recent thaw to gather new biofilter for our compost. At this point it seems as if we already had enough to make it through the winter,…

  • More on Nome Refueling, and Homestead Heat by: Mark Zeiger

    January 20, 2012, 03:00

    Yesterday, I started answering a reader's questions about the current effort to refuel Nome, Alaska. I grew a bit long-winded, so today I'll answer the rest of…

  • Spontaneity in Reserve by: Mark Zeiger

    January 10, 2012, 03:00

    Lately, in looking at how we live on the homestead, I'd begun to conclude that we have lost our spontaneity. Admittedly, a life like ours, in which we are…

  • A Very Good Year: Reassessing the Annual Assessment by: Mark Zeiger

    January 4, 2012, 03:00

    Now that the year has progressed so far—here we are, already in the fourth day! I've had a bit more time to think about 2011. Perhaps I ought to reassess my…

  • "Just Right" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2011, 03:00

    Yesterday I pulled the milk jug out of the cool box, reserved ½ cup to make sourdough bread, and used what was left to sample my new batch of coffee liqueur.…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: The Complete Tightwad Gazette by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2011, 03:00

    Recently, I introduced two enduring inspirations and guides to our frugal lifestyle, Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, and Amy…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Your Money or Your Life by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2011, 03:00

    My family and I have been living frugally for a long time, longer than I sometimes realize. We've been at it so long, in fact, that our first sources of…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Essential Titles by: Mark Zeiger

    October 2, 2011, 03:00

    As a first post on the homestead reference library after introducing the topic and qualifying the statements to be made, perhaps I should go ahead and try to…

  • Homestead 2.0 by: Mark Zeiger

    September 26, 2011, 03:00

    For various reasons, we're retooling the homestead this autumn. We're unveiling "Homestead 2.0." For the first autumn in 2 or 3 years, I'm not hunting…

  • Homestead Reference Library: Qualifying Statement by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2011, 03:00

    “When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.”—Desiderius Erasmus Before diving into the details of our "homestead…

  • Introducing the Homestead Reference Library by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2011, 03:00

    Recently, a reader asked me to suggest a list of books I would recommend as homesteading resources. This request took me a bit aback, as I've been slowly…

  • Biofilter Snob by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2011, 03:00

    I've recently added a new word to my vocabulary, and I find myself using it often in conversation and internal monologues. The word: biofilter. I learned it…

  • Reaching the Tipping Point by: Mark Zeiger

    July 9, 2011, 03:00

    Several days ago I went up to the summer water tank to check its level. I found the water within a quarter inch of spilling out of the tank. The next day we…

  • Sweeping the Beach by: Mark Zeiger

    June 17, 2011, 03:00

    "If seven maids with seven mops Swept it for half a year. Do you suppose," the Walrus said, "That they could get it clear?" "I doubt it," said the…

  • Assessing the Firewood Effort by: Mark Zeiger

    May 29, 2011, 11:07

    Other than a bit of shifting and filling, the firewood shed is full for the coming winter. I'm feeling really great about this, particularly since we have so…

  • The Last Tree, for Now by: Mark Zeiger

    May 27, 2011, 08:42

    Wednesday, Michelle and I felled a large standing dead spruce near our trail. Hopefully, this will be the last tree we'll fell this year, as the first few…

  • Mom's-Eye View of the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    May 21, 2011, 12:02

    Seeing the homestead and its surroundings in a new light seems like a recurring theme lately. I got permission from my mother-in-law to post some of the photos…

  • The Homestead Springs a Leak by: Mark Zeiger

    May 20, 2011, 08:36

    Tuesday morning, Aly and I worked to fell a standing dead tree near our trail. When we'd finished, we hurried down the ridge to the cabin to get showers.…

  • One Way to Wake Up in the Morning by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2011, 03:00

    The herring dribble in. Monday, we launched the canoe and our flatboat, the one we refer to, perhaps incorrectly, as the Jonboat, to set and tend a gill…

  • Summer People, Winter People by: Mark Zeiger

    April 26, 2011, 03:00

    I remember a long time ago there was a trend in personal color analysis. A person's skin tones were assessed and labeled by season. People started telling each…

  • Stone Breaker by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2011, 03:00

    As Michelle leads the family effort to prepare the garden for the coming season, we've gotten serious about locating some of the raised beds. The garden plan…

  • "Returning" to the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    April 8, 2011, 03:00

    I hope this isn't becoming repetitive, but I'm almost overcome by a variety of feelings—mostly satisfaction— as we "return" to homestead life. Last…

  • Fish or Cut . . . Wood by: Mark Zeiger

    March 29, 2011, 03:00

    I haven't gotten the feeling yet, but I know it's coming. I get it every year around this time. Or, more precisely, around this weather. We're getting the…

  • "Treeage" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 20, 2011, 03:00

    We've mobilized to harvest firewood. Not only do we need to begin stockpiling fuel for the coming winter, we need to be ready to supplement our current supply,…

  • Tree Work by: Mark Zeiger

    March 13, 2011, 03:00

    The return to colder temperatures has allowed us to get much of our tree work accomplished. We've had to prioritize it, with limbing and felling live trees…

  • "Trust Fund Hippies?" I Wish! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 27, 2011, 03:00

    Since setting up an analytic program to track traffic to our Website, I've been snooping around a bit to see who's linking to the site, and why. Recently, I…

  • Winter Trees by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2011, 08:08

    If you're following Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me, today is the first quarter moon, at least in my time zone. The U.S. calendar, based…

  • Finding Our Way Home - A Story for "First View" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2010, 03:00

    December 4 is a family holiday we call "First View," commemorating the anniversary of the first time we saw the homestead property. Last year, I related the…

  • Back on the Bay - Home for the Holidays and Beyond by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday, Michelle came home from "kid" and house sitting for friends in town. Aly and I hiked out to meet her on the bay and help carry her gear in. Low…

  • "Every Last Drop": Trying Not to Waste Water by: Mark Zeiger

    November 17, 2010, 03:00

    One would think that the homesteading life is one of hard-headed pragmatism, but ours seems to include more than its share of tilting at windmills (ah . . . as…

  • The Family's Whole Again by: Mark Zeiger

    October 20, 2010, 03:00

    Our family is whole again; Michelle came home Monday from a week of caring for friends' children in town. We arrived  home at dinner time. Michelle was free…

  • The Trail's Clear Again by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2010, 03:00

    The trail is clear once again. Yesterday, working together, the three of us cleared the windfall that the last storm delivered in less than two hours. We cut…

  • The Best-Laid Plans of Moose and Men by: Mark Zeiger

    October 8, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday, the last day of the Tier II Moose Hunt, was sunny and cool, a perfect day for hunting. Michelle went into town to help a friend and attend yoga…

  • Leaky Roof by: Mark Zeiger

    October 2, 2010, 03:00

    During the last storm, the roof started to leak. It's not a big deal, it does it at least once a year. We expect it, and know how to deal with it. We pull…

  • Getting the Wood In by: Mark Zeiger

    September 25, 2010, 03:00

    On Thursday, ahead of the first equinoctial storm, we finally gathered in all of the firewood. For months, newly cut wood has been drying in stacks around our…

  • Gallons of Applesauce by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 20, 2010, 03:00

    Nature has blessed the Chilkat Valley with abundance this year.  The sockeye fish run was better than expected, the blueberries were dripping off the…

  • "Dream Time" Fulfilled by: Mark Zeiger

    September 19, 2010, 03:00

    Back in January, I wrote about "Dream Time," when we made plans for the more active time of the year. We progressed significantly in making some of the dreams…

  • When High Tides Work For Us by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 11, 2010, 09:43

    This week we have wonderfully high tides. In mid-winter that could be a scary thought...when the winds whip up and the power of the water can move large rocks…

  • The Great Potato Seed Experiment by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 6, 2010, 09:11

    We have always battled potato scab. Some years I have had better luck than others. I read online that if you grow your potatoes from seed, rather than last…

  • Channeling My Grandmother by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 3, 2010, 10:51

    Lately I have been thinking a lot about my grandmother, Sarah Mae Eggleston Harris, who was one of my heroines. She knew so much about growing food, fishing,…

  • Canning As Fast as We Can by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2010, 03:00

    The soundtrack of the homestead lately should be Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, because around here, we're doing the can-can! Home canning is a…

  • Vanishing Act by: Mark Zeiger

    August 18, 2010, 03:00

    David Copperfield isn't the only one who can make landmarks disappear! A neighbor recently erected a satellite Internet dish like ours. We…

  • Homestead Water Security by: Mark Zeiger

    August 16, 2010, 03:00

    Part of what made Friday a Perfect Day was learning that our homestead's water supply is secure for the moment. We learned this by taking a long-overdue…

  • Trail Improvements by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2010, 03:00

    In keeping with Michelle's birthday wishes, we repaired a bad place on the trail from Mud Bay to our homestead. There's a certain hill, which, when we first…

  • Celebrating Our 4th Homestead Anniversary by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2010, 03:00

    On this day four years ago, we moved from Juneau to our homestead. With each passing year, the joyful memories outweigh the unhappy ones.For all the planning…

  • In Which I Whine About Slightly Less Convenient Technological Miracles by: Mark Zeiger

    July 28, 2010, 03:00

    This blog and our main Web site come to you via satellite Internet. It's a less-convenient, far more expensive alternative to on-the-grid Internet services,…

  • Bath from the Past: Using an Ewer and Basin by: Mark Zeiger

    July 21, 2010, 03:00

    The ewer and basin Aly and I made for Michelle in 2000 (Photo: Michelle Zeiger). Our family first learned how easy and pleasant it is to use an ewer and…

  • Keeping Clean on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    July 19, 2010, 03:00

    If you were to joke that cleanliness on the homestead is next to impossible, I admit that some days we'd have a hard time proving you wrong. Living semi-remotel…

  • You Buck 'Em, We Chuck 'Em: Wood Work Continues by: Mark Zeiger

    June 14, 2010, 03:00

    Last week, Burl came back and cut up more of the beach log that's been such an important boost to our firewood supply. He cut it all up except for the last…

  • Ensuring Warmth this Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    June 5, 2010, 03:00

    Last Saturday our neighbor, Burl came over with his chainsaw and started bucking up the big log that washed up on the beach. By Monday I had it chopped and…

  • There But for Grace Go I? by: Mark Zeiger

    May 31, 2010, 03:00

    I kind of did a number on my foot the other day, falling off the platform at the boat house. I got hurt in a way I've become familiar with from repetition…

  • An Embarrassment of Riches by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2010, 03:00

    One of the joys of living on the ocean's edge is receiving Gifts from the Sea, useful objects washed up on our beach. Occasionally, this boon becomes a case of…

  • Answers to Reader Questions about Living Without Refrigeration by: Mark Zeiger

    April 13, 2010, 03:00

    A reader recently asked about living without refrigeration: We use an old fashioned "cool box," a vented cabinet on the shady side of the cabin. What do…

  • Nothing Happened Today by: Mark Zeiger

    April 9, 2010, 03:00

    Ever since I started this blog at the end of last August, I've feared a day like this. Normally, I write my blog posts in the morning. Usually, there's…

  • The Family Breathes a Collective Sigh of Relief by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2010, 03:00

    Recently, behind the scenes, behind the light chatter about moose and house hunting and the mysterious treasures of the far shed, a crisis played out, one…

  • In Praise of Pack Rats by: Mark Zeiger

    March 26, 2010, 03:00

    The man who built our homestead is a master pack rat, a quality that I greatly admire. When he and his family moved away, everything they left behind came with…

  • Acting Early to Avoid a Possible Water Shortage by: Mark Zeiger

    March 4, 2010, 03:00

    While our unusual weather here in Alaska is far less dramatic than what the east coast has experienced lately, it's far enough from normal that we're taking…

  • Sometimes Semi-Remote Seems Like Semi-Homeless by: Mark Zeiger

    February 27, 2010, 03:00

    Because we live so far off the road, and own no property on the road system, our car has become over full of things one would normally keep in a garage. The…

  • Watch For Falling Firewood by: Mark Zeiger

    February 21, 2010, 03:00

    Friday started out as a really good day. I made good progress cutting up firewood, but it didn't end well. I felled a standing dead spruce I've had my eye…

  • Grudge Match 2010: Mark Vs. "The Death Birch" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2010, 08:00

    If I sit here quietly, typing unobtrusively on this blog post, attracting as little attention as possible, perhaps . . . just perhaps . . . I can postpone…

  • A Day at the Beach: Passive Solar and Wind Power at Work by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2010, 03:00

    Monday, a starry morning gave way to sunshine. The wind blew a steady 25 knots from the south. It was a classic alternative energy day, one that went beyond…

  • Cleaning Wood Stove Glass: How and Why by: Mark Zeiger

    February 9, 2010, 03:00

    Our woodstove is the center of our home. Like the fire pit of our forefathers, it creates a focal point for most of our activities. We take good care of it to…

  • Life Without Refrigeration by: Mark Zeiger

    January 15, 2010, 03:00

    As outside temperatures creep upward from the low teens we’ve had lately, our food is migrating once again, from the bedroom windowsill back to the cooler. …

  • The Guest Outhouse is Complete (for Now) by: Mark Zeiger

    December 14, 2009, 03:00

    On Friday we finished rebuilding the guest outhouse that got knocked over by a falling rock in September. We did very well on the project, especially considerin…

  • Outhouse Reconstruction Begins by: Mark Zeiger

    December 7, 2009, 01:00

    We're getting a run of clear, cold weather, so we've begun rebuilding the guest outhouse that got knocked over by a falling rock on September 20th. We moved…

  • First View: A Homestead-Made Holiday by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2009, 01:00

    December 4th marks the fifth anniversary of our first visit to the homestead. We observe this day as "First View," a family day of "little T" thanksgiving. T…

  • We're Not Alone: "Roughing It" Within a Community by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2009, 01:00

    Because it's our blog, we get to focus a lot on ourselves in the posts. My work on Self-Reliance Works deals with our experiences on our homestead as well, and…

  • Zeigers Emerge from Burrow, See Shadow, Hurry Back Home by: Mark Zeiger

    November 19, 2009, 01:00

    Tuesday morning, Aly and I hiked out to the road, the first time any of us has left the homestead in the last 10 days. We went expecting trouble—we…

  • Celebrating Sight: A Personal Anniversary by: Mark Zeiger

    November 11, 2009, 01:00

    Today marks a personal anniversary for me. Four years ago today I underwent lasik surgery to correct my vision. For one whose extreme near-sight needed…

  • Time to Switch to the Winter Water Supply by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2009, 01:00

    The weather report is predicting a low of 22° tonight, so unless something else comes up, we'll switch from the summer water to the winter water today. This…

  • A Nasty Surprise: Our Boat Disappeared! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 7, 2009, 15:31

    Yesterday we hiked out to attend a movie at the library in the evening. The tides dictated that we cross around noon. Because we had the time, and because it…

  • Oil Lamps as Alternative Lighting in the Home by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2009, 01:00

    Oil lamps provide low level, alternative light to a home, while lending an elegant and pleasant ambiance. Properly fueled and maintained, they may help save on…

  • Develop Healthy Attitudes Toward Your Belongings by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2009, 01:00

    I adhere to the principal that happiness comes not from owning what you love, but from loving what you own. Compared to most Americans we have very little;…

  • “Pioneer Night”: Making Conservation and Emergency Preparedness Fun by: Mark Zeiger

    October 26, 2009, 01:00

    When we lived in Juneau, we developed a tradition that is so ironically juxtaposed to our current lifestyle that when friends remind us of it, we’re…

  • The Franklin Planner: An Unlikely Homesteading Tool by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2009, 01:00

    Our decision to move to an off-the-grid homestead required answering many questions. Among them: what to take (as little as possible) and what to leave behind…

  • Make Your Belongings Last—Read The Instructions Often! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2009, 01:00

    Resistance to reading instructions is so pervasive that I needn't bother belaboring the old jokes. Who doesn’t approach a new tool with the certainty that…

  • Doing What's Necessary: The Homestead "Facilities" by: Mark Zeiger

    September 23, 2009, 03:01

    We’re often asked an indelicate question: “How do you . . . um . . .?” Which obviously translates to “Where do you go?” Here on the homestead we deal…

  • A Season of Madness: Moose Hunting in Alaska by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2009, 03:30

    The local moose opening started last Tuesday. This is a permit-only subsistence hunt, with special antler restrictions. For our family, this is a very big…

  • Heating With Wood by: Mark Zeiger

    September 19, 2009, 08:50

    While heating with wood makes a comeback around the U.S., here on the homestead, it’s far more than a smart economic move, it’s a necessity. Wood is our…

  • Fresh Water: Collecting and Conserving a Precious Resource by: Mark Zeiger

    September 19, 2009, 03:30

    A frightening number of reports, predictions and indicators tell us that fresh water will be the most valuable commodity over which mankind will struggle,…

  • Off the Grid Electricity: The "Power" of Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2009, 10:42

    Let me confess to you up front: I am not an electrician. I know very little about electricity. I survived a whole career requiring daily use of electronic…

  • Living On the Edge: Security Through Insecurity by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2009, 03:00

    When the news came last autumn that the government had taken over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, our decision to chuck the standard suburban lifestyle to head for…

  • Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt Day 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2009, 08:00

    This is it! Today's the first day of the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt. That means that instead of sitting here in my PJs, typing a quick note to the blog, I…

  • Introducing the Zeiger Family Homestead Blog by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2009, 14:01

    Just shy of one year after we started our first blog, we're returning to try again. Previously, we'd used a hosting site to post stories about life on our…

• Category: How To  (72)

  This might teach you something.

  • Making Gift Bags to Replace Gift Wrapping by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2018, 03:00

    Last Christmas, Michelle surprised us all with gifts presented in a unique, lovely, and environmentally responsible way: she made reusable cloth gift bags for…

  • How to Make Time for Your Children During the Holiday Rush (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2017, 03:00

    This concludes this essay on making time for children during the holiday rush. For the first part, go here. We pick up with checking with your children to see…

  • How to Make Time for Your Children During the Holiday Rush (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2017, 03:00

    Like the two-part essay, How to Beat the Post-Holiday "Blues", I wrote this article for a now-defunct Web site. And, as before, I need to cut it into two parts…

  • How To Dry Saute Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2017, 03:00

    In writing the recipe for Cheesy Mushroom Pie, I mention dry sautéing. I ransacked older posts looking for instructions to link on how to dry sauté mushrooms.…

  • Recipe: Homestead Cheesy Mushroom Pie by: Mark Zeiger

    September 11, 2017, 03:00

    As I wrote the previous post (see Participation Makes a Good Sauce) I resigned myself to the necessary follow up, posting the mushroom pie recipe itself.…

  • The "Julia Grip" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2017, 03:00

    We find that as well as we think we know how to do something, it never hurts to brush up on the technique. Recently, Michelle read Julia Child's advice and…

  • Beeswax Food Wrappers by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2016, 03:00

    Lately, friends have been sharing a link on Facebook to a site that sells beeswax food wrappers. We decided we'd better write about how to make your own. Bee…

  • Silver Hunting: Caveat Emptor by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2015, 03:00

    For the past several posts I've discussed tips on acquiring silver (start with Silver Hunting for a Less-Than-Ideal Future). To close out the series, I'll…

  • Silver Hunting: Silverware by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2015, 03:00

    In my recent essay, Silver Hunting: Coin or "Junk" Silver, I talked about looking for silver coins. Eventually, I realized that I had allowed the configuration…

  • Silver Hunting: Coin or "Junk" Silver by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2015, 03:00

    Previously in this series on silver hunting, I wrote about collecting silver against the possibility of a future "soft collapse" in the economy (see Silver…

  • Silver Hunting: Jewelry and Keepsakes by: Mark Zeiger

    November 12, 2015, 07:40

    Previously, I wrote about the idea of collecting silver against the possibility of a future "soft collapse" in the economy (see Silver Hunting for a Less-Than-I…

  • Silver Hunting for a Less-Than-Ideal Future by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2015, 03:00

    I don't spend a lot of time writing about the possibility of societal collapse. I leave that mostly to my brother, Dave, who writes an excellent, though…

  • Gift Boxes that Save Favorite Paper Designs by: Mark Zeiger

    August 24, 2015, 03:00

    We take shopping for wrapping paper seriously. We feel that it contributes significantly to gift-giving occasions, enough to spend money on a product that…

  • Recipe: "Mom's" Chocolate Cherry Cake by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2015, 07:03

    As I occasionally state, a primary purpose of this blog is communication with family. Sharing family recipes has become perhaps the most important job of the…

  • How to Block a Hat by: Mark Zeiger

    June 19, 2015, 05:19

    Those who live, work, and play outdoors know that a good brimmed hat provides shade from sun or protection from rain and snow. For many, a hat is not so much a…

  • Using Snow to Insulate Your House by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2015, 03:00

    If you're getting snow these days, whether that's normal or not, the good news is that you can use it to your advantage to insulate your house. The bad news…

  • Canning Tips by: Mark Zeiger

    July 1, 2014, 03:00

    Soon, our homestead will once again become "canning central" as we preserve our fruit, vegetable, and fish harvests. A few years ago, we attended a presentatio…

  • Heating With Wood: Cutting Your Own Firewood by: Mark Zeiger

    February 15, 2014, 03:00

    As I indicated in the last post (Heating With Wood: Scrounging Free Firewood) now that we live on our "homestead," we cut our own firewood exclusively. Our…

  • Heating With Wood: Scrounging Free Firewood by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2014, 06:31

    Gathering and processing firewood may be one of my most contemplative tasks on the homestead. The repetitive tasks involved give me a lot of time to think.…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Pain Free by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2014, 03:00

    I haven't written about our Homestead Reference Library in a long time. It's time to return to that topic. One book that we rely on has come back to our…

  • Make it Last: Reviving Shearling Footwear by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2013, 03:00

    In the cooler part of the year, we rely heavily on shearling boots to keep our feet warm around the house without having to wear outdoor shoes. If you've…

  • Removing Tree Pitch by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2013, 05:26

    Working in the woodpile and forest, pitch can be a real problem. Around our homestead, spruce and hemlock sap can make our hands sticky, gum up work gloves,…

  • DIY Carpenter Ant Bait by: Mark Zeiger

    July 11, 2013, 03:00

    I had begun to hope that this year, our annual carpenter ant invasion might be curtailed somewhat. However, a few days ago I began to hear the telltale patter…

  • Killing and Cleaning Dungeness Crab by: Mark Zeiger

    June 10, 2013, 03:00

    In my recent post, A Good Day to Dine, I reported that we'd enjoyed our first crab of the season. That reminded me of a series on crabbing that I wrote a few…

  • A Strange, Easy Way to Discourage Flies by: Mark Zeiger

    May 16, 2013, 03:00

    Flies are one of the plagues of summer. Controlling them seems impossible; deterring them is difficult. Yet, we've learned an improbable but effective method…

  • Milling Homemade Soap by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2012, 03:00

    Sometimes when we make homemade soap, we find milling necessary. Milling is a fairly easy way to improve the quality of homemade soaps, either to save a bad…

  • Making Homemade Soap by: Mark Zeiger

    November 27, 2012, 03:00

    I recently wrote about trying to leave our latest batches of homemade soap alone. This led to reader requests for more information on our soap-making. Making…

  • Recipe: Pumpkin Risotto with Wild Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2012, 03:00

    When Aly graduated from Mud Bay Home School, we made sure she had a recipe box that included many of the family favorites, plus cards and room for a lot more.…

  • A Slight Shift in the Blog by: Mark Zeiger

    October 2, 2012, 03:00

    A bit of blog "housekeeping" . . . . For the past 3 years, I've written for two blogs, this one, and Self-Reliance-Works (SRW). The latter is a team of self…

  • Homestead Yogurt by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2012, 03:00

    Michelle has said before in this blog and elsewhere that growing things makes her feel good. One of the ways she stretches our food dollar is to make yogurt at…

  • Homemade Airlocks for Homemade Wine by: Mark Zeiger

    January 14, 2012, 03:00

    The airlock or fermentation lock is an essential tool of wine making. This device allows carbon dioxide (CO2) to escape as yeast converts sugars into alcohol…

  • Sweeping the Wood Stove Chimney by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2011, 03:00

    Chimney sweeping is the most important preventative maintenance a wood stove user performs. Burning wood inevitably creates ash and creosote that congeals on…

  • Our Home-Built Archaeology-Style Shaker Sifter by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2011, 03:00

    I recently built a garden tool for Michelle's birthday, an archaeological style sifter. It's also been called an archaeological sifter, garden sifter, compost…

  • Making a Native-Style Halibut Hook (Conclusion) by: Mark Zeiger

    May 16, 2011, 03:00

    Today I'll complete my description of making a Northwest Coast Native style halibut hook. To catch up, start here. The incredibly rich and innovative…

  • Making a Native-Style Halibut Hook (Continued) by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2011, 03:00

    Over recent posts, I've been describing making a Northwest Coast Native style halibut hook. To catch up, start here. When I embarked on the project, I…

  • Making a Native-Style Halibut Hook by: Mark Zeiger

    May 14, 2011, 03:00

    As mentioned previously, I recently decided to try to make and use a Northwest Coast Native style halibut hook. My purpose is not to try to reproduce a Native…

  • An Alternative to Commercial Cat Litter by: Mark Zeiger

    April 9, 2011, 03:00

    Yesterday, in describing our recent haul of goods to the homestead, I mentioned cat litter. I thought that I had talked about that before on this blog, but it…

  • Woodstove Cooking by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2011, 04:50

    The weather's warming up faster than the wood pile's disappearing now. There's hope! But, before the wood heat season ends, I wanted to pass on a few things…

  • How to Repair a Damaged Ax Blade by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2011, 03:00

    I often damage my felling or limbing ax, warping the thin-blade against knots or harder sections of wood. When this happens, I have to repair the blade to make…

  • Making Spice-Scented Christmas Ornaments by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2010, 03:00

    We have, for a long time, had a small Christmas ornament that I've really liked. It looks like a gingerbread cookie, but it smells of cinnamon, perfuming our…

  • Surviving The 12 Days of Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2010, 03:00

    Last Christmas, I laid out the "correct" way to count the Twelve Days of Christmas—if you want them to come out correctly at the end of the traditional…

  • Cooking with Cast Iron Cookware by: Mark Zeiger

    December 10, 2010, 03:00

    On our homestead, we love old fashioned cooking with cast iron cookware. Properly seasoned cast iron cookware works very well. It distributes and holds heat…

  • Sewing Machine "Re-tread" by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 4, 2010, 09:55

    Recently we bought a Singer model #66 treadle sewing machine manufactured in 1918 and a treadle from a lovely lady in town. After buying the machine she…

  • Homemade Chai Tea Mix – Taste Test and Adjustments by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 25, 2010, 03:00

    The first batch of Chai Mix I made didn't last long, so I made a full recipe the second time. I used 1/2 cup less sugar, and it tasted fine. To make sure,…

  • Homemade Chai Tea: First Steps by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 24, 2010, 03:00

    I love chai tea. I especially love the packaged mixes like Oregon Chai, Pacific Chai and Enchanted Chai. They are each a little different blend of spices, but…

  • Living Without Refrigeration – The Butter Bell by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2010, 03:00

    Living off grid, we're constantly realizing the value of "outdated" tools and methods. The old-fashioned butter bell crock is a particularly useful and…

  • Happy Birthday, Sourdough! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2010, 03:00

    Today marks an important anniversary in our home, the birthday of a family member whose life nourishes and improves ours. Today our family strain of…

  • Your Input on the Blog is Now Easier by: Mark Zeiger

    February 17, 2010, 09:20

    Thanks to my online friend, The Frugal Girl, I have discovered that up until now it's been very difficult for readers to comment on our blog posts. I've taken…

  • Cleaning Wood Stove Glass: How and Why by: Mark Zeiger

    February 9, 2010, 03:00

    Our woodstove is the center of our home. Like the fire pit of our forefathers, it creates a focal point for most of our activities. We take good care of it to…

  • Make Your Own Coffee Liqueur by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2010, 03:00

    If you enjoy coffee liqueur, like the commercially available Kahlua, Tia Marie, or similar, here's a way to make your own cheaply at home. I've been using…

  • Aluminum Foil - Possibly the Most Versatile Tool in the Kitchen by: Michelle Zeiger

    January 14, 2010, 03:00

    I use, and reuse, aluminum foil everyday. It is possibly the most useful tool in my kitchen. I use it as a cooking tool, a food keeper and then I repurpose it…

  • Fire As a Living Organism by: Mark Zeiger

    January 10, 2010, 03:00

    Fire is like a living organism, requiring oxygen, fuel, and warmth to "live." Removing any of these reduces the burn until it “dies.” I try to think of…

  • Family Violence Our Way - A Raucous Card Game by: Mark Zeiger

    December 28, 2009, 03:00

    When Beth and Kim came for Christmas, we anticipated playing a raucous card game that Beth had introduced to us years ago. It became a family favorite, and…

  • Counting the Twelve Days of Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 25, 2009, 23:45

    Every Christmas brings up the old question: how do you count the twelve days of Christmas? The days between Christmas and Epiphany or Twelfth Night don't quite…

  • Frugal Food: Versatile Homemade Cream Soup Mix by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 21, 2009, 01:00

    I love this very versatile soup base mix that goes well with just about anything! Cream Soup Mix 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 3/4 cup cornstarch 1/4…

  • Ice Cream Season by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2009, 01:00

    Ironically, the consistent cold of winter ushers in ice cream season on the homestead. Colder temperatures allow us to keep ice cream without refrigeration. …

  • Frugal Food: Stretching the Grocery Budget by: Michelle Zeiger

    November 18, 2009, 01:00

    I love to see how far I can stretch our food budget. I have been perfecting this for all of my adult life. When we were newlyweds—still in college—we had…

  • Reading Aloud to Your Family by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2009, 01:00

    The Zeiger family has a favorite activity that entertains, enriches, educates, improves self-confidence, and brings us closer as a family: we read aloud. We…

  • Oil Lamps as Alternative Lighting in the Home by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2009, 01:00

    Oil lamps provide low level, alternative light to a home, while lending an elegant and pleasant ambiance. Properly fueled and maintained, they may help save on…

  • Don't Trash Your Treats! Pumpkins Make Good Eats by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2009, 01:00

    Halloween is almost past, as is its quintessential symbol, the Jack-o-lantern. On November 1st, the sun will rise on streets filled with shattered pumpkins.…

  • Making Russian Tea: The Rest of the Story by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2009, 01:00

    They say one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. In writing previously on Russian tea, I came across information that didn't fit…

  • The Secret of Russian Tea by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2009, 01:00

    It's the time of year for hot beverages! Especially in October, particularly around Alaska Day, I like to turn to an old family staple, Russian tea. We…

  • Make Your Belongings Last—Read The Instructions Often! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2009, 01:00

    Resistance to reading instructions is so pervasive that I needn't bother belaboring the old jokes. Who doesn’t approach a new tool with the certainty that…

  • How To Dress Like a Southeast Alaskan by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2009, 01:00

    Although we, like all Americans, dress in myriad styles, there are a few modes of dress that distinguish us as Southeast Alaskans. Two distinctive items can…

  • Cotton Kills by: Mark Zeiger

    October 8, 2009, 01:00

    Alaskans have a common saying: "Cotton kills." Those two words  remind us to guard against hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when one's…

  • The Thermos: One Small Step Toward Conservation and Savings by: Mark Zeiger

    October 6, 2009, 01:00

    As more Americans realize that conservation measures must be taken to survive amid rising prices and falling wages, we suddenly discover that small, simple…

  • Whining, Thrashing, and Coughing – I'm Calling Moose! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 30, 2009, 01:00

    Calling moose is my favorite part of the autumn moose hunt. Keeping silent takes a lot of effort; calling is an excuse to make some noise! I studiously…

  • “Seek and Ye Shall Find”: Setting Search Images by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 02:00

    Since moving to the homestead, my search imaging has sharpened considerably as I increase my reliance on it. Search images are mental pictures humans…

  • Heating With Wood by: Mark Zeiger

    September 19, 2009, 08:50

    While heating with wood makes a comeback around the U.S., here on the homestead, it’s far more than a smart economic move, it’s a necessity. Wood is our…

  • Off the Grid Electricity: The "Power" of Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2009, 10:42

    Let me confess to you up front: I am not an electrician. I know very little about electricity. I survived a whole career requiring daily use of electronic…

  • Avast! Talk Like a Pirate for Fun and Profit . . . Mostly Fun. by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2009, 10:45

    Saturday, September 19th, is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye swabs! Me thinks there's never been a need for a day such as this as there be here 'n' now. It…

  • An "Old Fashioned" Cup of Coffee by: Mark Zeiger

    September 5, 2009, 09:01

    I recently read an excellent book by Jenna Woginrich called Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life (available through your local…

• Category: Hunting/Fishing  (65)
  • Bad Casting by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2017, 03:05

    I've often asserted that this blog may offer more advice on what not to do on a homestead than what to do. Case in point: flubbing a fishing cast badly enough…

  • The Obligation to Bear Arms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2016, 03:00

    Our rights, responsibilities, obligations and privileges have been hot topics across the nation lately. This last week, though, what weighs most heavily on my…

  • Maybe I'm Not Wasting My Time After All by: Mark Zeiger

    September 25, 2015, 03:00

    Wednesday I spent much of the day hunting moose and/or mushrooms and hauling firewood to the cabin from the Blow Down. When evening came, I plopped down on the…

  • Plans Change . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    September 11, 2015, 03:00

    It's not like I didn't have stuff to do that day. I had five tasks on the day's Franklin Planner page. At least three of them are "C level," which, in the…

  • Salmon's In the Can by: Mark Zeiger

    August 7, 2015, 03:00

    Do you ever read essays on this blog about the various tasks we perform here on our "homestead" and wonder if we actually do these things more than once, or if…

  • Sidelined by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2014, 03:00

    The annual Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt must have started this week. All the signs are there: On Saturday evening, we startled a nice young bull moose on…

  • The Power of Self Pity by: Mark Zeiger

    September 12, 2014, 03:00

    "I haven't caught a fish in at least two weeks!" I complained to our neighbor, Nancy. She had just eased up alongside the rock on which I stood, casting…

  • Northern Exposure by: Mark Zeiger

    August 7, 2014, 03:00

    As one might imagine, we enjoy a great deal of privacy here on our "homestead." We move about our property unseen most days, although we have learned to be a…

  • Crab's Back on the Menu by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2014, 03:00

    "Have you gotten any crab yet this year?" It may be the neighborhood's most-asked question. For everyone I've talked to (and asked the question) the answer is:…

  • Nature's Pace by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2014, 03:00

    "Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience." —Ralph Waldo Emerson It's April, and a sense of expectation permeates the "homestead." Although the…

  • Grasping Those Transitional Straws by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2013, 03:00

    I've been meditating on transitions lately. As we prepared for Aly to leave the "homestead" to return to college, I grasped at straws, looking for the…

  • Night Hunt by: Mark Zeiger

    June 26, 2013, 03:00

    Over the last several weeks, most of our thoughts have focused on what to do about the moose. As I mentioned in a past post, A Close Encounter, we believe a…

  • A Better Way to Cook Crab by: Mark Zeiger

    June 18, 2013, 03:00

    At this point, we've covered most aspects of dungeness crab: catching  (see Bless You, Charlie White!) cleaning (see Killing and Cleaning Dungeness Crab) and…

  • Keeping Your Crab Catch Safe by: Mark Zeiger

    June 14, 2013, 03:00

    Preserving a seafood catch safely is a ticklish proposition; perhaps one of the most difficult is crab. The best way to keep your crab catch safe is actually…

  • Killing and Cleaning Dungeness Crab by: Mark Zeiger

    June 10, 2013, 03:00

    In my recent post, A Good Day to Dine, I reported that we'd enjoyed our first crab of the season. That reminded me of a series on crabbing that I wrote a few…

  • A Good Day to Dine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2013, 05:07

    Early summer harvests have been slow starting this year. Yesterday, two of them that we anticipate most finally produced yield. Yesterday was a good day to…

  • I Believe We'll Bag Some Bunnies by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2013, 03:00

    Right around Easter, Michelle started finding snowshoe hare tracks on our trail. Ironically, so close to a holiday known for its cotton tailed mascot, we began…

  • Water Watch by: Mark Zeiger

    November 25, 2012, 03:00

    We have a lot of reasons to watch the waters of Lynn Canal in front of our homestead. Lately, though, there's been a new reason to keep an eye on what's…

  • Hunting Haunts by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2012, 03:00

    The Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt has begun in Haines, and, unlike last year, I have a permit. This year I resolved to change my methods. Normally, I hunt…

  • Angler's Heartbreak by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2012, 08:44

    Yesterday morning I commented that I had not seen any salmon jumping for a couple of weeks. Shortly after that, we began to see them jumping inside our bight.…

  • An Auspicious Day by: Mark Zeiger

    July 29, 2012, 03:00

    About a week ago, we experienced a very auspicious day in terms of growing and gathering our own food. I rose early and, finding conditions perfect for the…

  • Porcupine Pie by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2012, 03:00

    My last porcupine story covered half the meat harvested from our recent escapade. I cooked the second half of the meat into a porcupine pie. Armed only with…

  • Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Porcupine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 9, 2012, 03:00

    "Honi soit qui mal y pense" has always been one of my favorite sayings. The motto of The Order of the Garter (I had to look it up, too). The most literal…

  • The Herring are Here. Now What? by: Mark Zeiger

    May 1, 2012, 03:00

    For the last couple of days, we've suspected that the herring have arrived, but because of the choppy conditions, we haven't been able to confirm this by…

  • Stand By for Herring by: Mark Zeiger

    April 25, 2012, 03:00

    We're on standby for herring these days. All the signs are in place: restless sea lions cruise the beach, seabirds flock on the water, including the bonaparte's…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Indian Fishing by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2012, 03:00

    I'm grateful to blog reader Judy for her comment the other day that recalled me to a series I've been neglecting lately, on our homestead reference library. …

  • Hunter's Moon by: Mark Zeiger

    October 11, 2011, 03:00

    If you're following my lunar calendar observance, today, on the full moon in my time zone, perhaps tomorrow in yours, it's time to read another poem from Mary…

  • At the Mercy of Time and Tide by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2011, 03:00

    Earlier this week I fished for salmon from the boundary rock, a flat topped, terraced beach rock that stands at the point our northern boundary meets the next…

  • In the Pink by: Mark Zeiger

    July 10, 2011, 03:00

    Yesterday morning I went down to the water to fish while I could on the falling tide. It seemed like a perfunctory effort. I only took the pole rigged with the…

  • Lure Allure by: Mark Zeiger

    July 6, 2011, 06:00

    There's an old joke about the effectiveness of fishing lures, the punch line asserting that the lure caught the fisherman. I am the butt of that joke. I…

  • "Sticky Sharp" Fishing Hooks by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2011, 03:00

    Our recent visit to Canada took us to the country of the BuzzBomb, my favorite fishing lure. We did a little shopping, and I kept an eye out for the lure,…

  • Blood Lust by: Mark Zeiger

    May 22, 2011, 03:00

    "Every once in a while, the squirrels get out of hand, and we had to shoot them all." So read the "owner's manual" the family who built our homestead wrote for…

  • Making a Native-Style Halibut Hook (Conclusion) by: Mark Zeiger

    May 16, 2011, 03:00

    Today I'll complete my description of making a Northwest Coast Native style halibut hook. To catch up, start here. The incredibly rich and innovative…

  • Making a Native-Style Halibut Hook (Continued) by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2011, 03:00

    Over recent posts, I've been describing making a Northwest Coast Native style halibut hook. To catch up, start here. When I embarked on the project, I…

  • Making a Native-Style Halibut Hook by: Mark Zeiger

    May 14, 2011, 03:00

    As mentioned previously, I recently decided to try to make and use a Northwest Coast Native style halibut hook. My purpose is not to try to reproduce a Native…

  • The Genius of the Native-Style Halibut Hook by: Mark Zeiger

    May 13, 2011, 03:30

    Yesterday, I told you about making a discovery in one of the Haida legends recounted in Bill Reid and Robert Bringhurst's The Raven Steals the Light (check…

  • Instructing Myths by: Mark Zeiger

    May 12, 2011, 03:30

    Like most people interested in myths and legends, I know that one of their primary purposes in a culture is to instruct the people. When I read a culture's…

  • The Herring are Here by: Mark Zeiger

    April 25, 2011, 03:00

    I'm feeling pretty damn smug right now. Or, I would be, if I weren't so doggone tired. The herring arrived off the homestead beach on Easter, just as I…

  • Moose Forensics by: Mark Zeiger

    February 24, 2011, 08:04

    Even now, a couple of days after the fact, I'm still shaking my head over our moose encounter. As I said, things got a little fuzzy there, but I didn't realize…

  • Hunting for Dummies, Part 2 by: Mark Zeiger

    October 26, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday I told about my incredible luck on Sunday, managing to bag a grouse above the dooryard despite many missteps. Every year we  hear sooty (formerly…

  • Hunting for Dummies Part 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2010, 03:00

    At about 9:30 am yesterday, we had about two hours before company arrived for lunch. The house needed some final cleaning, the dishes needed to be washed, a…

  • Wake Up Call for Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    October 23, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday we realized we needed to go to town to pick up a prescription, even though we'd decided to stay home. We knew that if we left in the morning, we…

  • The Best-Laid Plans of Moose and Men by: Mark Zeiger

    October 8, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday, the last day of the Tier II Moose Hunt, was sunny and cool, a perfect day for hunting. Michelle went into town to help a friend and attend yoga…

  • Bycatch by: Mark Zeiger

    September 26, 2010, 03:00

    Bycatch, a term that applies to commercial fishers catching fish other than the species they were targeting, applies to my efforts on the homestead as well.…

  • Blog as Confessional or, Don't Be So Crabby! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle proves time and time again that it doesn't take a fool to marry one. While I was out of town, she and Aly kayaked out to the mouth of the bay to…

  • Moose Hunting Again by: Mark Zeiger

    September 16, 2010, 03:00

    Okay, despite the "official anniversary" having passed, now I know I've been blogging for a year, because I'm writing about moose hunting again. The Tier II…

  • Halibut Fishing on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2010, 01:00

    Of all our local fish, halibut is probably our favorite. This large deep-sea fish migrates to comparatively shallower waters in the summer months to hunt…

  • Autopsy Results End the Crab/PSP Scare by: Mark Zeiger

    August 3, 2010, 03:00

    Perhaps the biggest news in Haines this summer was the sudden death of a local man attributed to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) from eating crab. The…

  • Mystery Fish Revealed by: Mark Zeiger

    July 20, 2010, 03:00

    Many of the eagles that live around our homestead eat their meals in the trees above the cabin. The remains of these meals "decorate" the property here and…

  • A Fish Dinner on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    July 17, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday I caught our first salmon of the season. Eagerly awaited, and at least two weeks later than last year, I'm additionally proud of this fish because I…

  • A Bad Day Fishing by: Mark Zeiger

    June 11, 2010, 03:00

    You know the old saying, "a bad day fishing beats a good day at the office." I've tested the limits of that saying lately. Conditions aren't optimal at the…

  • A Great Way to Cook Dollies by: Mark Zeiger

    June 8, 2010, 03:00

    Soon after the Dolly Vardens started striking off our beach, Michelle hit on a great way to prepare them  for dinner: In a lidded pan, sauté onions and…

  • Hello Dolly! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 24, 2010, 03:00

    Dolly Varden char have returned to the waters off our homestead. This means the season of easy fish dinners has returned! Identified by the pink…

  • Bless You, Charlie White! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 12, 2010, 03:00

    I'm a big fan of Charlie White! I bless the man every time we sit down to another crab dinner. He's the author of a series of books on fishing. Of the several…

  • Homestead Multitasking by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2010, 03:00

    The admonition, "fish or cut bait" has little meaning on our homestead, largely because it's deficient: it only offers two alternatives. Many of our activities…

  • Eating Alaska: A Documentary Explores "Eating Locally" in a Locale Not So Near You by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2009, 01:00

    Late last January we hiked to town to see Eating Alaska, a documentary by Ellen Frankenstein (no, really!) about eating locally. Ellen, who lives in Sitka,…

  • Dispatch #2 From the Alaskan Moose Hunting Grounds: Counting the Costs, Defining Success by: Mark Zeiger

    October 4, 2009, 01:00

    The end of the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt looms, and I have yet to bag my moose. You would think that I’d be feeling a bit desperate by now. And—you�…

  • Whining, Thrashing, and Coughing – I'm Calling Moose! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 30, 2009, 01:00

    Calling moose is my favorite part of the autumn moose hunt. Keeping silent takes a lot of effort; calling is an excuse to make some noise! I studiously…

  • Dispatch #1 from the Alaskan Moose Hunting Grounds by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 17:13

    This year’s Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt isn’t going well. Harvest numbers are down, while illegal kills are way up. If the better hunters are bagging…

  • Moose Hunt News Flash: I Actually SAW One! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 08:33

    Yesterday I achieved a new milestone in this year's moose hunt. Suddenly, the process took an incredible step forward. Instantly, things don't look quite so…

  • “Seek and Ye Shall Find”: Setting Search Images by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2009, 02:00

    Since moving to the homestead, my search imaging has sharpened considerably as I increase my reliance on it. Search images are mental pictures humans…

  • Fish On! Fishing on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2009, 20:00

    A large part of my family’s success on the homestead is directly due to the abundance of free, highly nutritious food. Perhaps the most valuable, and most…

  • A Season of Madness: Moose Hunting in Alaska by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2009, 03:30

    The local moose opening started last Tuesday. This is a permit-only subsistence hunt, with special antler restrictions. For our family, this is a very big…

  • Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt Day 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2009, 08:00

    This is it! Today's the first day of the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt. That means that instead of sitting here in my PJs, typing a quick note to the blog, I…

  • Happy Camouflage, Everybody! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 6, 2009, 10:07

    Our life on the homestead is self-sufficient enough that we often limit our trips to town to once a week. The weekly visits are mostly to deliver Aly to a…

• Category: Just For Fun  (78)

  Nothing earth-shaking or life-changing, just things we think about now and then . . . .

  • Noises Off! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 30, 2019, 03:00

    Tonight and tomorrow afternoon, I'll appear in Noises Off by Michael Frayn on stage in Haines. That will end a four-show run, and over two months of rehearsing,…

  • The Lion in Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    September 30, 2017, 03:00

    In the past, I've written much about Christmas time, particularly its sacredness in our family, and the importance of separating that sacred time from…

  • Hair Fallout by: Mark Zeiger

    August 3, 2016, 12:39

    It's been a few days since we marched in the Southeast Alaska Fair Parade (see "Mudbay Hippies"). We've only seen a few photos from the parade itself. My…

  • "Mud Bay Hippies" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 1, 2016, 06:00

    I despise reinforcing stereotypes. So why, one may ask, were Michelle, Aly, and I prancing around Haines's main street dressed as hippies, singing selections…

  • "The Show Must Go On!" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 28, 2016, 03:00

    I'm cast in a local production of Michael Hollinger's play, Incorruptible: A dark comedy about the Dark Ages. I learned that the high school Drama, Debate,…

  • Life's Little Victories by: Mark Zeiger

    March 18, 2016, 03:00

    Life ticks along sweetly on the homestead most of the time. Occasionally, the good moments stack up more than at other times. Lately, I've notice a few…

  • Finding Myself at the Library by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2016, 03:00

    Ever since we moved to the homestead, our public library has become a vital aspect of our lives. In the past, I've outlined some of the many ways we depend on…

  • An Unusual Cabin View by: Mark Zeiger

    January 23, 2016, 03:00

    Apparently, offering a photographer friend our cabin while we traveled recently worked out pretty well for us. Not only did he care for our home and cat, he…

  • I Confess, I Sabotaged the Weather! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 18, 2015, 04:18

    I feel compelled to apologize to everyone who lives in our town, perhaps even our region. We enjoyed a warm, dry early summer, with more sunshine than most of…

  • Found Objects on the "Homestead" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2015, 06:49

    With the advent of the 2015 gardening season, the "Homestead" Archaeological Dig resumes. Ever since we moved here, we've found an amazing array of…

  • Human Hamster Balls by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2014, 03:00

    Before we went to Wrangell (see "Old Homes Week"), I found the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce vendor map on line, showing what booths would be where on Wrangell's…

  • Go Fly a Kite by: Mark Zeiger

    June 23, 2014, 03:00

    Earlier this month, I took about half an hour off to fly a kite. Even with the wind we get here in Lynn Canal, we don't fly kites often. Chores and projects…

  • Why Zombies "Bite" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 17, 2014, 08:46

    Lately, I've been thinking about an odd inconsistency in my entertainment preferences. I enjoy horror stories, but I prefer supernatural elements. I don't…

  • The Homestead Acquires a Rubber Ducky by: Mark Zeiger

    July 25, 2013, 03:00

    The other day I scrambled south along our beach to check the ripeness of the currants in the pocket of our southern point. As always, I kept an eye out for…

  • Of Butts, Kitchens, and the Turveydrop School of Deportment by: Mark Zeiger

    February 26, 2013, 03:00

    A year or so ago, we watched the BBC mini-serialization of Charles Dickens's Bleak House. We enjoyed it, but one aspect of it particularly stuck with me. A…

  • Aly Launches Hand-Knit Dinosaur Toy Line in Time for Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2012, 03:00

    By now, you may already be too late for Christmas . . . . Aly loves to knit. She joined her college's Fiber Arts Club as a freshman, and this year she's…

  • End of Times as Reality T.V. by: Mark Zeiger

    June 30, 2012, 03:00

    Since the first offer in 2010, we've received about 5 or 6 offers to participate in "reality" television programs. We've been invited to participate in…

  • Shadow Play by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2012, 03:00

    The play of light on the homestead is fascinating, especially on sunny days. I finally uploaded a short film I recorded in the cabin toward the beginning of…

  • You'll Find It at Your Library! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 24, 2012, 08:52

    I haven't sung the praises of our wonderful, award-winning Haines Public Library in a while. Recently, a quick glance at the books on one of the display…

  • Mary Oliver's Poem for the Last Quarter Moon by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time to read the poem for September's last quarter moon,…

  • Full Immersion Participation in International Talk Like a Pirate Day by: Mark Zeiger

    September 19, 2011, 03:00

    Imagine, if you will, the situation of your humble blog hosts today. Yesterday we attended Aly's college orientation weekend. Today we're either on the road…

  • The Swamp by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s August's new moon, time to read Swamp. When we talk of "the…

  • Camo Clash by: Mark Zeiger

    July 29, 2011, 03:00

    Wearing camouflage is a fashion statement of sorts in Alaska and elsewhere. It can mean many things: an enthusiasm for hunting, service in, affinity for, or…

  • Cooling Soup: A Childhood Memory by: Mark Zeiger

    July 27, 2011, 03:00

    When Michelle and I ate our first bowls of wild mushroom barley soup, we altered the recipe slightly by skipping the milk the recipe called for until we sat…

  • Homestead Haberdashery by: Mark Zeiger

    April 30, 2011, 03:00

    Yesterday's royal wedding has reached even our remote shore. Today Michelle and Aly will be attending a charity event for the Chilkat Center for the Arts, a…

  • An April Fool's Day Gambit - We're Out of Here! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 1, 2011, 03:00

    I've always cherished the conceit that this blog attracts a more intelligent class of reader. I may have proved it with this April Fool's Day post, which…

  • Stupid Fun by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2011, 06:03

    If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you may be justified in forming the opinion that we take life pretty seriously around here. Most of the posts seem…

  • Shy Ghost/Rude Ghost by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2011, 03:00

    One of the many satisfying aspects of independently producing a book of short stories included creating my own cover art. The process reminded me, however,…

  • Deprogramming My Wife by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2011, 08:26

    Yesterday, Michelle arrived home on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, Malispina. She's been away since February 7th, visiting her parents in Bellingham,…

  • Dispatch from "Occupied Canada" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2011, 03:00

    I generally take offense at insults, but sometimes they're just so good it's hard not to appreciate them. Historically, the rest of the state has held a…

  • Incidence Coincidence by: Mark Zeiger

    January 26, 2011, 03:00

    Any observer of our day-to-day life on the homestead who judged us to be a bit jumpy would be justified in doing so. In our defense, there's a specific reason:…

  • Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons Begins Today by: Mark Zeiger

    January 12, 2011, 03:00

    Today's the day I start reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar. If you plan to join me, please use the comment section below to let me know. If…

  • Fulfilling My New Year's Resolution by: Mark Zeiger

    December 31, 2010, 03:00

    Today I will read a poem, Robert Service's New Year's Eve. When I reach the final stanza, I will have successfully fulfilled this year's resolution to read a…

  • Surviving The 12 Days of Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2010, 03:00

    Last Christmas, I laid out the "correct" way to count the Twelve Days of Christmas—if you want them to come out correctly at the end of the traditional…

  • Random Trail Thoughts by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2010, 07:17

    Hiking our trail often becomes a kind of Zen exercise. The way is familiar, so the mind wanders freely. We usually hike in and out in company, at least two of…

  • Aly Explains the Strange Smudge on the Wood Stove Window by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2010, 03:00

    Now that winter's upon us, I make a fire in the wood stove most mornings. I'm usually the first one up, so I like to get the cabin warmed before Michelle and…

  • Waiting for Snow by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2010, 14:22

    Today is Martinmas Eve, or Old November Eve. Tomorrow, Martinmas, has been overshadowed since the early part of the last century since we began observing…
  • Drum Making Class by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2010, 03:00

    This afternoon we're headed to town for Aly's film club and other errands. This time, unlike most times, when I look for excuses to stay home, I'm excited to…

  • Anticipation by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2010, 03:00

    Most years, for my birthday, my in-laws send a gift check. The one stipulation they place on it (besides, you know, "cash it sometime this year, please!") is…

  • Superstition Is the Word by: Mark Zeiger

    September 14, 2010, 06:00

    I try very hard not to be superstitious, but there are times (and lately there have been many) when all empirical evidence points toward superstition as the…

  • It's a Small World . . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2010, 03:00

    The cutesy, multicultural, animatronic puppets in Disneyland are right: it is, indeed, a small world after all. I spoke with my brother, Dave, yesterday by…

  • Reemay: Gotta Have It! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 27, 2010, 03:00

    A couple of years ago, Michelle noticed movement out by the garden. I went out to investigate, and found that a local red squirrel had decided the reemay…

  • Spare Me the Harem Jokes, Please by: Mark Zeiger

    July 8, 2010, 03:00

    Even for a guy like me who's used to being outnumbered by female personalities in the home, living as I did until recently with four of them, I'm feeling a bit…

  • Goodbye Netflix, See You in September by: Mark Zeiger

    June 29, 2010, 03:00

    A few days ago we suspended our Netflix membership until September, as we always do this time of year. With long hours of daylight and so much to do in this…

  • Becoming One of the iPod People by: Mark Zeiger

    June 27, 2010, 03:00

    The night of my friend's wedding, he and I stood by his truck after retrieving the last of the rented tuxedos. My friend is an amazingly low key person,…

  • When I Am "Outside" I Shall Wear Red and Blue by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2010, 03:00

    On Monday, working toward my resolution to read a poem a day this year, I read Jenny Joseph's delightful poem, Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear…

  • Sleep Over! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2010, 03:00

    Our friends, Bill and Susan, arrived yesterday on the ferry, and we had a great visit with them. We'd assumed that they would need to press on to see other…

  • An Unhelpful Comment Helps Out by: Mark Zeiger

    May 17, 2010, 03:00

    In my family, joking around is a form of communication—not always a good or appropriate one. Yesterday, I made a crack that actually helped my little sister…

  • Signs of Occupancy by: Mark Zeiger

    May 13, 2010, 03:00

    I noticed a problem with the "pee" tent that Michelle had set up in the dooryard to provide a bit more privacy for ladies on the homestead. I mentioned it to…

  • Soundtrack of the Homestead: Dennis Hysom by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2010, 03:00

    When I first wrote about the importance music plays in our homestead life, I thought about whether or not it would be possible to choose one single album that…

  • A Quarterly Progress Report by: Mark Zeiger

    April 14, 2010, 03:00

    Some topics we cover in this blog should probably be updated occasionally. Among our projects and concerns, I'm sure there's one that weighs particularly…

  • Modifying Cat Behavior and Personal Firearm Responsibility by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle returned from town recently and presented me with a pair of pistols. I admired their heft, the quality of the maker's craft, and their action. They…

  • Shopping While Impaired: An Unorthodox Approach to Frugality by: Mark Zeiger

    March 31, 2010, 03:00

    My recent trip to Juneau for eye care created some rather unorthodox and unintended frugality strategies that might be worth considering—should the opportunit…

  • 2012: The End of the World Turned Out to be Worth the Wait by: Mark Zeiger

    March 19, 2010, 03:00

    We finally got to see the big-budget disaster movie, 2012. It was worth the wait! I may have set my expectations low enough to end up being surprised. It isn't…

  • Michelle's Winter Sprite by: Michelle Zeiger

    March 14, 2010, 03:00

    My Winter Sprite is hiding right now. I think she’s getting ready to leave the garden to the Spring Fairies. I have caught glimpses of her from time to time…

  • "SuSPEEEND Disbelief!" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2010, 03:00

    Years ago, when the movie Independence Day came out, my brother, Dave and I decided to go see it. I mentioned this to our sister, Beth, in a phone call. She'd…

  • The New York Times Crossword Puzzle: Providing New Life for Old Reference Books by: Mark Zeiger

    March 2, 2010, 03:00

    In the Internet age, it's easy to forget the importance of reference books. Lately, a family activity has led me to remember, use and appreciate the family…

  • This Blog's True Value Revealed by: Mark Zeiger

    February 15, 2010, 03:00

    Our slower paced homestead lifestyle lends itself to a fair amount of introspection. Lately, I've been thinking a fair amount about this blog—is it worth…

  • A Personal Anniversary (I Think) by: Mark Zeiger

    February 12, 2010, 03:00

    In January I applied for my hunting/fishing license, and, as I do every year, I cringed when I filled in the number of years I've been an Alaska resident. I…

  • Our Cabin Comes Complete with . . . a Piano by: Mark Zeiger

    February 11, 2010, 03:00

    Our homestead has many interesting features, some of which one wouldn't expect to find so far from the nearest road. Of these, perhaps the most surprising is…

  • An Alternative to the Superbowl - Austen Fest by: Mark Zeiger

    February 8, 2010, 03:00

    Try as I might, I've never been able to muster proper enthusiasm for American football. It's not my fault—I grew up in Southeast Alaska, where the only true…

  • Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me Brings the Homestead to a Weekly Stand Still by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2010, 03:00

    Living semi-remotely on our homestead, we're secluded, which is not to say isolated . . . except on Saturday mornings. Every Saturday we take steps to isolate…

  • Developing Critical Thinking through Play: Bananagrams by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2010, 03:00

    This Christmas we received a game called Bananagrams. After playing it these past weeks, I’ve realized it’s an excellent way to learn critical thinking…

  • In Which I Attempt to Defend My Lame Excuse for a New Year's Resolution by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2010, 03:00

    Generally, I try hard not to make New Year's resolutions. Anything important enough to resolve to do should be started right away, not deferred till the start…

  • Family Violence Our Way - A Raucous Card Game by: Mark Zeiger

    December 28, 2009, 03:00

    When Beth and Kim came for Christmas, we anticipated playing a raucous card game that Beth had introduced to us years ago. It became a family favorite, and…

  • Counting the Twelve Days of Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 25, 2009, 23:45

    Every Christmas brings up the old question: how do you count the twelve days of Christmas? The days between Christmas and Epiphany or Twelfth Night don't quite…

  • Casting the Movies in My Mind by: Mark Zeiger

    December 22, 2009, 01:00

    Recently, I discussed the problem of finding a good Christmas book to read. Michelle just reread one of the books I mentioned, Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter…

  • A Gift of Time for Christmas: Consenting to Learn Backgammon by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2009, 03:00

    A week or two before Christmas, I've already received one of the best gifts I could hope to get this year. The fact that I had to ask for it myself hardly…

  • An Annual Problem: Finding a Good Christmas Read by: Mark Zeiger

    December 4, 2009, 01:00

    Every year at Christmas time I have trouble finding good seasonal fiction to read. I have a good collection of Christmas books, which I'm certainly willing to…

  • Applying Girl Watching Strategy to Wildlife Viewing by: Mark Zeiger

    December 1, 2009, 06:00

    I love to watch people. I especially like to “girl watch.” I enjoy seeing attractive women of any age—I admit it. I also love viewing wildlife. I had a…

  • The Innocents Abroad: Reading Mark Twain Aloud by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2009, 07:00

    Shortly after telling you about how we like to read aloud, we picked out and started a new book. We're reading The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (available…

  • Reading Aloud to Your Family by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2009, 01:00

    The Zeiger family has a favorite activity that entertains, enriches, educates, improves self-confidence, and brings us closer as a family: we read aloud. We…

  • Want To Save Money? Set Your Standards Too High! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 27, 2009, 01:00

    Quite unwittingly, I’ve stumbled upon an excellent frugality measure: idealism. I love stuff. This doesn’t mean that I have a lot of possessions—at…

  • “Pioneer Night”: Making Conservation and Emergency Preparedness Fun by: Mark Zeiger

    October 26, 2009, 01:00

    When we lived in Juneau, we developed a tradition that is so ironically juxtaposed to our current lifestyle that when friends remind us of it, we’re…

  • The Secret of Russian Tea by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2009, 01:00

    It's the time of year for hot beverages! Especially in October, particularly around Alaska Day, I like to turn to an old family staple, Russian tea. We…

  • How To Dress Like a Southeast Alaskan by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2009, 01:00

    Although we, like all Americans, dress in myriad styles, there are a few modes of dress that distinguish us as Southeast Alaskans. Two distinctive items can…

  • Avast! Talk Like a Pirate for Fun and Profit . . . Mostly Fun. by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2009, 10:45

    Saturday, September 19th, is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye swabs! Me thinks there's never been a need for a day such as this as there be here 'n' now. It…

  • Happy Camouflage, Everybody! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 6, 2009, 10:07

    Our life on the homestead is self-sufficient enough that we often limit our trips to town to once a week. The weekly visits are mostly to deliver Aly to a…

• Category: Local Wildlife  (190)

  Some of our neighbors are pretty wild!

  • Visitations by: Mark Zeiger

    April 15, 2019, 03:00

    I've complained before about our local wildlife's reluctance to perform on cue for homestead visitors (see Visitors Have Arrived: Cue the Whales). It happened…

  • Video: Killer Whales in the Canal by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2019, 03:00

    Of the many whales that visit the fjord in front of the homestead, my favorite, perhaps the most dramatic, are the killer whales, also called orcas. On…

  • Deer in the Compound! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2018, 03:00

    Sunday morning, as Michelle prepared for work, she uttered a sentence not heard on this homestead in the 12 years we've lived here: "There are deer in the…

  • Wild Life by: Mark Zeiger

    August 18, 2018, 03:00

    Things are getting . . . wild around here. We have kept wildlife journals ever since moving to the homestead (see "Who Sights It, Writes It"). For 12 years…

  • A View from the Other Side by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2018, 07:24

    We got a text that morning from Aly, after she'd reached town for work: "Doggone pain-in-the-butt moose tried to stop me crossing the bay this a.m. It's on…

  • Nature, Red in Tooth and Claw by: Mark Zeiger

    May 30, 2018, 03:00

    A recent event involving the tour company Michelle and Aly work for, Rainbow Glacier Adventures, compels me to rethink an event from about five years ago. Ap…

  • Songbird Central by: Mark Zeiger

    May 17, 2018, 03:00

    It's mid-May, and the homestead feels like songbird central. A hermit thrush pauses while foraging in the homestead dooryard (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger). It…

  • Things to Do, Places to Go, Things to See! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2018, 03:00

    Tuesday, snow fell in a wonderful fashion. Large, light flakes covered the ground like sequins. By the next morning's sunrise, an inch and a quarter of snow…

  • Hedwig in Haines? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2017, 03:00

    Our local bird watching community, to which we claim membership, has joined many others along the U.S./Canadian border in watching for the latest snowy owl…

  • "Wait Till 'Marten' Comes!" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 27, 2017, 10:54

    Friday night, I thought for a moment that I was living a bad old 'ghost' story from childhood . . . . An old American folk tale uses repetition (not to say…

  • Many Moose by: Mark Zeiger

    October 6, 2017, 03:00

    This year's Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt ended Tuesday at midnight, after 25 bulls had been harvested. For us, it has been an unusual season, because so many…

  • Be Careful What You Wish For! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 3, 2017, 03:00

    The Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt started September 15th, and runs till midnight tonight, when it'll be  shut down by emergency order. As often happens, I…

  • Kroschel's Wildlife Center by: Mark Zeiger

    September 27, 2017, 03:00

    Michelle's boss, Joe, treats his employees and their families generously. You may have "met" Joe in the past on this blog (see Where Eagles Gather). Recently…

  • Midnight Moose by: Mark Zeiger

    August 12, 2017, 03:00

    Just before midnight Wednesday evening, Aly awoke to the sound of browsing in the dooryard. She went downstairs and looked out the window, where she saw an…

  • Babes in the Woods by: Mark Zeiger

    July 11, 2017, 03:00

    The many songbird fledglings around us are leaving their nests, turning our homestead into an avian nursery. I first noticed a gang of Pacific wrens moving…

  • Squirrel Dark Ages Descend by: Mark Zeiger

    July 8, 2017, 03:00

    Evening begins to envelop a small farmstead when the princess—weary, sobbing, quietly fearful—stumbles into the protection of an outbuilding porch. Unsee…

  • Bear on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    June 22, 2017, 03:00

    Wednesday evening, Michelle called upstairs, "There's a bear on the beach!" Aly and I clattered down the stairs to join her in our bedroom, where she…

  • Praised Today, Prey Tomorrow by: Mark Zeiger

    May 27, 2017, 03:00

    "The squirrel—" Michelle's outrage and alarm choked off her sentence, unfinished. "What could it be doing now?" I thought. It had to be something far…

  • "Dirty Tail" by: Mark Zeiger

    May 21, 2017, 03:00

    Recently, the family took a kayaking tour with Michelle's work, Rainbow Glacier Adventures, as "guinea pigs" for a pair of new guides. On the trip, we talked…

  • Meeting the "Neighbors" at Home by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2017, 03:00

    Over the weekend, Aly and I had an opportunity to meet our nearest neighbors at home: a boat we traveled on took us close to the area around Gran Point, across…

  • A Squirrel's Breath by: Mark Zeiger

    May 8, 2017, 03:00

    Saturday we experienced one of those ineffable Southeast Alaska spring mornings: calm, cool air, fragrant with alder blossoms; sun rising clear over the Coast…

  • Waiting for Hummingbirds by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2017, 03:00

    Late spring always brings a sense of anticipation to the homestead. We're eagerly awaiting the herring run and the accompanying humpback whales, orcas, and …

  • Pacific Wren Nest by: Mark Zeiger

    April 9, 2017, 03:00

    A while back, Michelle found a bird nest while trimming tree limbs. It's an interesting ball of plant material, about the size of a soft ball, with a small…

  • Visited by an Angel by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2016, 03:00

    Last week I was visited by an angel, and I'm ashamed to say I squandered the moment. I sat in the outhouse in the morning, listening to an audiobook through…

  • Whales and Strawberry Blossoms by: Mark Zeiger

    November 9, 2016, 03:00

    Here we are on the front doorstep of winter, seeing signs of spring. Two that stand out particularly: whales and strawberry blossoms. All of a sudden, we…

  • Transients by: Mark Zeiger

    October 29, 2016, 03:00

    Once again, because the things I've seen happen too fast to catch on film, I'm left describing them, and once again, they've left me speechless. Of all our…

  • New Neighbor? by: Mark Zeiger

    June 12, 2016, 06:02

    Michelle tells me we have a mink under the house again. She watched a mink come out from under the cabin and cross toward our Power Point on two separate…

  • The Queen Must Die by: Mark Zeiger

    June 6, 2016, 07:08

    The homestead really quieted down squirrel-wise after the power struggles earlier in the year, as a new dominant female claimed our territory as her own (see…

  • Of Moose and Monks by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2016, 03:00

    The dress rehearsal for Incorruptible: A Dark Comedy About the Dark Ages is tonight (see "The Play's the Thing"). As you might expect, the past couple weeks…

  • What's In a Name?: Local Wren Name Changes by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2016, 03:00

    As migrating songbirds arrive in our region, they "set up shop" around our homestead, singing loudly to establish their territories. Perhaps loudest of all,…

  • Beaver Sighting by: Mark Zeiger

    April 13, 2016, 03:00

    Monday afternoon, Michelle walked along Beach Road, which passes along Haines's Lynn Canal waterfront. She saw a teenaged girl who was very excited about an…

  • Early Onset Ant Wars by: Mark Zeiger

    April 9, 2016, 03:00

    A few weeks ago, we saw that carpenter ants had begun exploring the kitchen. We felt like they'd become active far earlier this year than others. We stepped up…

  • A Good South Wind by: Mark Zeiger

    March 26, 2016, 03:00

    We hadn't given much thought yet to the arrival of hummingbirds for the summer (see Hummingbird Homecoming) until we heard local naturalist, Pam Randles,…

  • Mano a Mano, Man vs. Mouse: Hand Trapping Tips by: Mark Zeiger

    March 2, 2016, 03:00

    Michelle is currently waging war against garden raiders. Some rodents, either voles or mice, have been nibbling the shoots off her flower bulbs, and, amazingly,…

  • Of Groundhogs and Grouse by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2016, 03:00

    It is February 2nd, Candlemas, and one of my family's longest-standing pseudoholidays, Groundhog Day. A couple of years ago I described how my family, led…

  • "White Lightning" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2015, 03:00

    A few days before our first significant snowfall recently, I looked out our front window and saw a small flash of white glinting along the edge of the beach.…

  • Bird House Discovery by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2015, 03:00

    Michelle took advantage of our most recent sunny day to clean our bird houses. Ideally, we would clean them every winter, to prepare them for use in the spring…

  • I Need to Get Bigger by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2015, 07:49

    The cow moose that visited our property a couple of times recently (see Maybe I’m Not Wasting My Time After All and Moose Hide) has become a bit of a problem…

  • Moose Hide by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2015, 03:00

    Okay, now that's just rude . . . . Monday morning, just days after the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt closed early, we had another moose in the yard. True,…

  • Maybe I'm Not Wasting My Time After All by: Mark Zeiger

    September 25, 2015, 03:00

    Wednesday I spent much of the day hunting moose and/or mushrooms and hauling firewood to the cabin from the Blow Down. When evening came, I plopped down on the…

  • Anarchy in Squirrel Land by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2015, 03:00

    Last summer, a neighbor told me a bit about the cultural life of our local red squirrels. He said that among this tribe, single females hold territory. This…

  • More Wildlfe Than We Can Snap a Pic At by: Mark Zeiger

    July 20, 2015, 04:53

    Lately, our wildlife viewing opportunities kicked into high gear. As usual, we found it easier to watch the animals than to take decent photos of them. A…

  • Trap Napper by: Mark Zeiger

    June 25, 2015, 05:08

    Tuesday morning, movement in the dooryard caught my eye. I stared, dumbfounded, as a red squirrel ran across the yard with a large black rectangle attached to…

  • A Good Day's Work/A Good Day's Goof Off by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2015, 03:00

    Saturday we worked with our nearest neighbors to improve the main trail over the ridge. For reasons none of us understand, the people who built our…

  • Avian Apartment High Rise by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2015, 03:00

    Saturday morning we hiked out to the road to go to town. On the way, we found a tree fallen across the trail. The rotten section of log shattered into several…

  • Perimeter Breach by: Mark Zeiger

    December 28, 2014, 03:00

    One evening just before Christmas, we all stepped out into the dooryard. Aly, first out the door, stumbled when a walking stick fell into the cabin as she…

  • Cock of the Walk by: Mark Zeiger

    August 21, 2014, 05:23

    The winter wren is one of our friendliest and most steadfast songbird neighbors here on the "homestead." These tiny birds reside here year 'round. One or more…

  • Toad Says "Hello" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2014, 03:00

    A while back, I wrote about catching a fleeting glimpse of a boreal toad on the Power Point. I mentioned that I'd tried to get a photo of it (see A New Toad…

  • A New Toad Sighting by: Mark Zeiger

    July 28, 2014, 03:00

    On a recent sunny day, I stood in the cleft in the rocks that form our Power Point, the promontory that holds our wind generators and solar panels. A small…

  • Loaded for Bear by: Mark Zeiger

    July 18, 2014, 07:48

    The bear that raided the compost pile earlier this week returned the next morning (see Bear Busted). The Critter Gitter greeted him and announced his presence…

  • Bear Busted by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2014, 03:00

    Everywhere that can be remotely considered bear country, every publication that refers to compost tells the reader not to put fish waste in their pile. Fish,…

  • Resident Rodent by: Mark Zeiger

    June 18, 2014, 03:00

    Over the weekend we had an uninvited guest. No one knows when this guest arrived, but about 2:00 Sunday morning, Michelle and Spice got up and started…

  • Rogue Moose Taken Down by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2014, 06:10

    The neighorhood's breathing a bit easier these days. Word has it that the cow moose that had been charging people on the trails (see Through Moose Infested…

  • Through Moose Infested Forests by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2014, 03:00

    Yesterday morning I trotted through the forest, headed for the bay. As usual, I had an audiobook running on my personal device (see Voices in My Head) but only…

  • Photo Play by: Mark Zeiger

    May 29, 2014, 03:00

    While I still have a long way to go, I'm improving my familiarity with my fancy camera. I tend not to use it until I really need it, which leads to lousy…

  • Buzz/Kill by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2014, 03:00

    I often write about the cyclical nature of life here on the "homestead." Currently, we're beginning the mosquito season once again. Apparently, some…

  • An Abundance of Wildlife by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2014, 03:00

    In an email from Ireland the other day, Aly closed by expressing the hope that I was enjoying the abundance of wildlife during the ongoing herring run. Well…

  • Rufous Rough-and-Tumble by: Mark Zeiger

    April 30, 2014, 03:00

    The rufous hummingbirds have returned to the "homestead" and are up to their usual behavior, belligerently guarding "their" feeders. We've grown accustomed…

  • Location, Location, Location by: Mark Zeiger

    April 24, 2014, 03:00

    To Let: snug, picturesque birdhouse in quiet neighborhood. Thoughtful, loving landlords, ,000 view, and more mosquitoes than you can eat. Inquire within. I…

  • Spring Break (2014) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 22, 2014, 03:00

    We've been watching carefully, and have finally seen it: Spring Break. The moment when spring, slowly building from its wintry birth in February, tilts the…

  • Nature's Pace by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2014, 03:00

    "Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience." —Ralph Waldo Emerson It's April, and a sense of expectation permeates the "homestead." Although the…

  • Mystery Poop by: Mark Zeiger

    March 1, 2014, 06:09

    The other evening, Michelle arrived home with digital photos of animal sign she found on the trail. She discovered it on her morning hike out to work; her…

  • Music to Annoy the Savage Beast by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2014, 03:00

    The moose I encountered on Wednesday (see Yet Another Moose Encounter) came back Thursday. Dang, but he's big! I don't think we've ever had any bulls in the…

  • Yet Another Moose Encounter by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2014, 03:00

    I stepped out into the porch Wednesday morning, headed for the outhouse, and saw The Wall of Moose. A young bull moose stood in the dooryard, munching berry…

  • Tossed by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2013, 03:00

    Saturday, we hiked over the bay to retrieve some things from our car. When we came down the slope to the head of the trail, we found our boot tote opened and…

  • The Critter Gitter Gits Its Critter by: Mark Zeiger

    September 29, 2013, 03:00

    Early Saturday morning, around 2:00 a.m., the Critter Gitter alarm went off. I jumped out of bed, grabbed a headlamp and an ax handle, and headed for the…

  • Baby Birds by: Mark Zeiger

    July 7, 2013, 03:00

    We sensed a shift in the bird world a week or so ago when we started seeing hermit thrushes again. We confirmed the shift when we began to be overrun by this…

  • Pulled Porcupine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 28, 2013, 03:00

    The dinner I created with the porcupine we bagged the other night (see Night Hunt) turned out pretty well. I find that for me, the key to porcupine cooking…

  • Night Hunt by: Mark Zeiger

    June 26, 2013, 03:00

    Over the last several weeks, most of our thoughts have focused on what to do about the moose. As I mentioned in a past post, A Close Encounter, we believe a…

  • A Close Encounter by: Mark Zeiger

    June 12, 2013, 03:00

    Monday morning I hiked to the road with Michelle to see her off to work, and to haul a few items out from the "homestead" and others in. We had said our…

  • For the Birds by: Mark Zeiger

    May 14, 2013, 03:00

    We have positively identified our hummingbird feeder raiders as Wilson's warblers. The two that had been hanging around our dooryard are immature and/or…

  • Invaders in Birdland by: Mark Zeiger

    May 11, 2013, 03:00

    A day or two ago, the hummingbird situation took an odd turn: a pair of warblers began competing with the hummingbirds for the feeders. We are used to…

  • Recipe: Hummingbird Feeder Nectar by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2013, 03:00

    My recent post on setting up the hummingbird feeder prompted reader questions about the nectar we use. First, let me say that while I thought it very…

  • Feed the Birds by: Mark Zeiger

    April 25, 2013, 03:00

    When Michelle stopped by her office in town before catching the ferry south, she got buzzed by a humingbird. We'd been expecting their imminent return. I…

  • I Believe We'll Bag Some Bunnies by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2013, 03:00

    Right around Easter, Michelle started finding snowshoe hare tracks on our trail. Ironically, so close to a holiday known for its cotton tailed mascot, we began…

  • Minke in March by: Mark Zeiger

    March 30, 2013, 03:00

    Yesterday, I'd just returned to the cabin with a load of firewood. I took it out to dry on our "Power Point," the ridge of rock that houses our wind generator…

  • Goat on the Ridge? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 25, 2013, 03:00

    Recently, a neighbor told me some interesting news: people have seen signs that a mountain goat has visited our ridge. The ridge is a fairly gentlly sloping…

  • Walkin' My Baby Back Home by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2013, 03:00

    Yesterday afternoon, I prepared to walk Michelle home from work. I brought down my hunting rifle and loaded it, strapped my best headlamp to my forehead, and…

  • That Moosey Feeling by: Mark Zeiger

    February 16, 2013, 03:00

    "Watch out for moose today, okay?" Michelle said this to me as she prepared to leave for work on Tuesday morning. I knew she hadn't really been outside yet,…

  • Attitude Adjustment through Animism by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2013, 03:00

    On a summer day, a friend and I stood on the cobble beach of Mud Bay, pulling crabs from the floor of my canoe and butchering them on the rocks. I worked…

  • Quiet Thrills by: Mark Zeiger

    November 12, 2012, 03:00

    Our homestead is usually pretty quiet, but lately, it's been downright silent. As far as we know, we're the only people on our side of the peninsula right now.…

  • Pandemonium on the Porch by: Mark Zeiger

    September 7, 2012, 07:12

    We spent Wednesday in town, staying late because of tides. We arrived home as dark fell in the forest, and, as we often do, we let Spice out onto the porch. …

  • Carrot Thief by: Mark Zeiger

    September 3, 2012, 03:00

    A carrot thief appears to be working the neighborhood. We hear that a black bear has been visiting gardens around the peninsula stealing carrots and beets. I…

  • These Magic Moments by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2012, 10:54

    On Tuesday, Aly and I experienced some magical moments on the homestead. Up until today, we've had heavy rain and very calm weather, creating a lot of fog.…

  • Otter Neighbors by: Mark Zeiger

    August 4, 2012, 03:00

    The other day I noticed some movement down on the edge of our rocks. A couple of river otters had climbed ashore to have lunch. A couple of otters stopped…

  • A Curious Crow by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2012, 03:00

    When I arrived home from town on Thursday, I heard whales blowing off the beach, so I dropped my pack at the cabin door and went down to our "veranda" to see…

  • Visitors, Welcome and Otherwise by: Mark Zeiger

    July 15, 2012, 13:39

    In the last week or so we've seen a lot of visitors on the homestead. Most were welcome, even expected. One other was neither. Just after Independence Day,…

  • Calf Encounter by: Mark Zeiger

    July 6, 2012, 03:00

    A few evenings ago, we were all preparing for bed about 10:30. Spice, our cat, was going ape, meowing and tearing around the house. This isn't unusual, as she…

  • New Tenants by: Mark Zeiger

    June 26, 2012, 03:00

    To our surprise, someone finally showed interest in a rental property we've had "on the market" for several years. A family of chickadees moved into one of the…

  • Great Bungling Bullwinkles! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2012, 03:00

    Thursday morning Michelle and I hiked to the road. She had work, and I had a training for a new contract. As we loaded our packs in the car, we looked down at…

  • The Herring are Here. Now What? by: Mark Zeiger

    May 1, 2012, 03:00

    For the last couple of days, we've suspected that the herring have arrived, but because of the choppy conditions, we haven't been able to confirm this by…

  • An Unusual Wildlife Sighting by: Mark Zeiger

    April 10, 2012, 03:00

    We see a lot of wildlifeon and around our homestead, from shrews to whales. We live close to animals that many people spend big bucks and travel hundreds of…

  • Tough Love by: Mark Zeiger

    March 25, 2012, 09:17

    The moose calf we assume to be an orphan has been hanging around the homestead the last couple of days. Michelle encountered her a couple of times on outhouse…

  • Moose Mobilization by: Mark Zeiger

    February 18, 2012, 03:00

    The moose are on the move. It's common, in winter, to hear of increased moose encounters in Alaska's interior. Heavy snows make the moose seek browse along…

  • Whales in Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2011, 06:52

    One of the more thrilling features of life on our homestead is our close proximity to humpback whales. We regard this as a seasonal phenomenon. Generally…

  • Moose Mischief by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2011, 03:00

    They say a man's home is his castle. In that case, mine's under siege. As I predicted, we grew tired of beating pots as we moved about the homestead to ward…

  • The Little Drummer Boy by: Mark Zeiger

    December 4, 2011, 03:00

    As of Friday afternoon, when I need to relieve myself, I head outside with a pot and metal spoon. Whatever I do outdoors, as I walk around the property, I beat…

  • Side Benefits of Chimney Sweeping by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2011, 03:00

    I had just finished sweeping the chimney last Sunday. I refastened the wire harness that secures the chimney cap, and started to ease the cramps in my leg…

  • "Time Stirs with Her Slow Spoon" by: Mark Zeiger

    September 27, 2011, 03:00

    Tonight is the new moon. If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time for another poem, Bone Poem. As…

  • Buff Bufo Boreous by: Mark Zeiger

    August 6, 2011, 03:00

    The other day Michelle encountered our garden toad once again. She questions whether it's the same toad she found in June, or a different one. This one, she…

  • Otter Outing by: Mark Zeiger

    August 2, 2011, 03:00

    When Aly arrived home Friday evening for a weekend visit, we were just in time. Walking through the yard I heard a sharp tweeting sound, similar to, but…

  • Bats by: Mark Zeiger

    July 30, 2011, 03:00

    July has two new moons, one on July 1st, the other today. I've been looking, but have not found a term for this. I would have thought the term "blue moon"…

  • Smash 'N' Grab, Alaska Style by: Mark Zeiger

    July 24, 2011, 06:02

    Any groceries brought into the property need to be canoed around Point Comfort if tide and winds serve, or packed in on our backs. While we try to bring…

  • The Pitter Patter of REALLY Tiny Feet by: Mark Zeiger

    July 15, 2011, 03:00

    Michelle made a discovery recently that made us feel better at first, but now we're not so sure. When we first started hearing ants in the walls this summer,…

  • Buck Moon: Living with Bugs by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, today is the full moon (at least in my time zone) so let's read Buck…

  • More Trapline Tales by: Mark Zeiger

    July 3, 2011, 03:00

    Some people feel that it's wrong to trap mice, voles, and other garden pests, but for us, it's essential. Every mouthful of food we get from the garden is one…

  • Trapline Tales by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2011, 03:00

    As summer continues, so do the "varmint wars" as we fight the local rodents over our garden produce. A neighbor recently asked about traps, which got me kind…

  • Entering the Kingdom by: Mark Zeiger

    July 1, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, tonight is the new moon, the day to read Entering the Kingdom. This is…

  • Raccoons: An Extra Twelve Moons Poem by: Mark Zeiger

    June 27, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, today is the day to read one of the extra poems, that's not matched to a…

  • Preparing for Porcupine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 24, 2011, 03:00

    The porcupine population is on the rise, they say, and we're getting ready. For years, pretty much every summer since the one time we saw a porcupine on the…

  • Bears and Rumors of Bears by: Mark Zeiger

    June 23, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it's the first quarter moon, and time to read another poem, The Truro…

  • A Hermit Thrush's Nest by: Mark Zeiger

    June 20, 2011, 09:20

    The other day I found egg shells behind the cabin, a couple small sections of light blue shell. I collected them on a little sushi plate and took them…

  • "Murder" in the Forest by: Mark Zeiger

    June 12, 2011, 03:00

    A while back, Aly discovered a three-toed woodpecker nest on the trail, a ways above our trail head on Mud Bay. In a round hole 15 feet up in a small hemlock…

  • With Friends Like These . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    June 11, 2011, 03:00

    Our interaction with the local ravens has increased recently, for better and worse. Unlike the ravens that frequent towns, our ravens are relatively mild…

  • A Boreal Toad in the Garden by: Mark Zeiger

    June 9, 2011, 03:00

    Last Friday, Michelle made a very welcome discovery in the garden: a boreal toad. This is the second one she's found here. The first one appeared last…

  • "Who Sights It, Writes It" by: Mark Zeiger

    June 8, 2011, 03:00

    We generally engage in low-level competition around here, taking pride in being the one to spot local wildlife. That enthusiasm doesn't seem to extend to…

  • Mystery Bird Returns to the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    June 2, 2011, 03:00

    As I wrote last year, I have to relearn most of the local bird songs each year in order to identify them. This year, I seem to have lost one of them. The song…

  • Summer Invaders by: Mark Zeiger

    May 31, 2011, 03:00

    Summer's in full swing on the homestead. We realized that not when the garden began to flourish, not when the weather felt right (warm and overcast—wow, it…

  • Slow Shrews by: Mark Zeiger

    May 26, 2011, 07:39

    Normally, as we roam about the homestead and the surrounding forest, we often see brief flashes of movement, small gray streaks along the ground barely…

  • Blood Lust II by: Mark Zeiger

    May 23, 2011, 09:07

    Happily, the squirrel war I instigated Saturday may be short lived. I seem to have broken up the clan that had been nesting in the shed and causing a fuss…

  • Blood Lust by: Mark Zeiger

    May 22, 2011, 03:00

    "Every once in a while, the squirrels get out of hand, and we had to shoot them all." So read the "owner's manual" the family who built our homestead wrote for…

  • Visitors Have Arrived: Cue the Whales by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2011, 03:00

    An open letter to the whales of Lynn Canal: Okay guys, help me out here. The in-laws are visiting from "outside" for the first time in three years. Dad…

  • Our Summer's First Hermit Thrush by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2011, 08:10

    This morning, Michelle and i sat at the table, enjoying a morning hot drink and gazing out the window. We noticed a newcomer to the front yard, a fairly…

  • Bears in the City by: Mark Zeiger

    May 5, 2011, 06:26

    Alaska-connected folk singer, Katie Henry, recorded a funny song called Bears in the City that was pretty popular in Juneau. I thought of it the other day when…

  • "Wermine" Visits the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2011, 10:31

    A few days ago we had a surprise visitor to the homestead: a short tailed weasel. We often see weasels around the homestead, sometimes up close, but it's been…

  • Sea Lions in Action by: Mark Zeiger

    April 15, 2011, 03:00

    The sea lions have begun roaming up and down Lynn Canal in noisy gangs. They pass back and forth in front of our homestead most months of the year, alone, in…

  • A Minke Whale Returns to Upper Lynn Canal by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2011, 03:00

    Yesterday morning, Aly commented that she saw a porpoise out in Lynn Canal. A while later I glanced up and saw the same thing, but recognized right away that…

  • A Dramatic New Flight Pattern by: Mark Zeiger

    April 6, 2011, 03:00

    Lately we've noticed a change over—or, to be more precise—beside the cabin. Bald eagles have started passing low, swooping upward across the gap in the…

  • Awakening Seas by: Mark Zeiger

    March 28, 2011, 03:00

    Our local waters are beginning to be repopulated as spring advances. The humpback whales have returned, although the brief sightings are still somewhat rare. A…

  • Charged By a Moose by: Mark Zeiger

    February 23, 2011, 03:00

    Greetings from "Pamplona on the Pacific." Halfway through a second cup of coffee yesterday, I heard ice crunching in the yard. I looked up and saw a pair of…

  • Killer Whales Came in Close! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 6, 2011, 03:00

    On Friday afternoon, while catching up the blog, I glanced out the window and saw a killer whale go by. We see them now and then, and have come to expect them…

  • The Sea Lions are Up to Something by: Mark Zeiger

    January 21, 2011, 03:00

    Lately, our neighbors, the sea lions, are partying hard. Something's going on in their community. They've been around a fair amount lately, but the recent…

  • Moose Mysteries and Coyote Conundrums by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2011, 03:00

    We're puzzling over signs in the yard. At lunch yesterday we realized that a path in front of the house is littered with fresh moose nuggets. What has us…

  • Christmas Visitors by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2010, 03:00

    Christmas, like most things in life, is what you make it. Our Christmas Day was wonderful! A day that, even more than on regular days, was devoted to family…

  • Squirrel Condo Approved by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2010, 03:00

    The squirrels really seem to be enjoying the new condominium I built them in the wood shed. That had not been my intention. I thought I was stowing firewood…

  • Autumn Magic Part 2: Loon Migration by: Mark Zeiger

    October 4, 2010, 03:00

    On the last day of September, Aly called down to me from her bedroom. She had seen something out her window, and wanted to share. "There are 7 loons out in…

  • The Squirrels are Going Nuts! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 21, 2010, 03:00

    Signs of a coming winter are apparently not lost on our local red squirrels. Not the most sedate of neighbors at the best of times, these bossy, high strung…

  • Decorating for Moose by: Mark Zeiger

    August 26, 2010, 03:00

    The other day as we hiked home from town, we discovered moose tracks on the trail—lots of them. From the looks of things, we had a crowd of moose crisscrossin…

  • Ermine Tales by: Mark Zeiger

    August 21, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle's recent encounter with a short tailed weasel on the beach has recalled other encounters on and near our homestead. Early birds reading yesterday's…

  • Never Tease a Weasel: A Brief Visit with a Neighbor by: Mark Zeiger

    August 20, 2010, 03:00

    This isn't my story to tell, but if I don't write it down, it may never be told. The other evening, Michelle was out on our beach, finishing up some laundry…

  • Hawk Silhouettes for the Birds by: Mark Zeiger

    August 6, 2010, 03:00

    Our cabin has two large, beautiful picture windows that unfortunately present a hazard to our local birds. One window, in particular, seems to be a problem.…

  • A Boreal Toad Calls the Homestead Home by: Mark Zeiger

    August 4, 2010, 03:00

    A few days ago, Michelle came into the house with her hands cupped. Moving quickly to the table, she asked me to pull out the camera and take a picture of what…

  • Reemay: Gotta Have It! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 27, 2010, 03:00

    A couple of years ago, Michelle noticed movement out by the garden. I went out to investigate, and found that a local red squirrel had decided the reemay…

  • Hubris by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2010, 03:00

    We knew our wild neighbors were getting out of hand in the garden, but we didn't realize things had gotten this bad! The other day Michelle took some seeds out…

  • Mess With Our Strawberries, and I’ll Go "Farmer McGregor" on Your Ass! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 14, 2010, 03:00

    Our strawberries started ripening last week, putting us on high alert against garden raiders. We'd been braced for the voles that have troubled us in the past,…

  • Singing Lessons by: Mark Zeiger

    July 13, 2010, 03:00

    Last year at about this time, we began asking each other who had been trying to imitate the local songbirds. We each had heard rather poorly executed bird…

  • Whales Sound "All Clear" by: Mark Zeiger

    July 10, 2010, 03:00

    I once discussed with a neighbor an irony of living with the local whales. They come so close to our beach so often, yet when we have visitors to the homestead,…

  • "You Kids Get OFF My Lawn!" by: Mark Zeiger

    July 7, 2010, 03:00

    At least one raven couple nests near our cabin, so we've become accustomed to seeing one or the other of them drift down to the rocks in front of the veranda,…

  • Chasing Bears or Butterflies by: Mark Zeiger

    July 6, 2010, 03:00

    While we were in town to celebrate Independence Day with Beth and Kim, we took Marissa out to Chilkoot River to see some bears. I got talked into it, but I…

  • Hummingbird Update: New Kids on the Block by: Mark Zeiger

    June 24, 2010, 07:52

    The homestead's primary viewing entertainment has entered a new chapter. The new generation of local hummingbirds appears to have fledged, and, like most…

  • When I Am "Outside" I Shall Wear Red and Blue by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2010, 03:00

    On Monday, working toward my resolution to read a poem a day this year, I read Jenny Joseph's delightful poem, Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear…

  • The Hummingbirds are At It Again by: Mark Zeiger

    June 13, 2010, 03:00

    There's a popular bumper sticker in Alaska that reads: "Alaska girls kick ass!" This is definitely true, particularly if one is speaking of female rufous…

  • Eagle Vs. "Mystery Creature" by: Mark Zeiger

    June 12, 2010, 03:00

    One of my favorite things about fishing off our rocks is the ringside seat it provides. Often I'm joined in my fishing efforts by bald eagles that live and…

  • Horse Flies and Deer Flies by: Mark Zeiger

    June 7, 2010, 03:00

    We knew they'd come eventually. The predominantly sunny, warm weather had to bring horse flies and deer flies sooner or later, and now they're here in…

  • The Bears are Back in Town by: Mark Zeiger

    June 6, 2010, 03:00

    We'd heard from neighbors that a moose had a pair of twin calves on the little peninsula between Mud Bay and Viking Cove, where a huge mansion sits. The other…

  • Living with Carpenter Ants by: Mark Zeiger

    May 27, 2010, 03:00

    As I sit at the table working on the computer, a very slight noise attracts my attention. A minute ticking I hear in the walls could  be the cabin logs…

  • Mother/Child Tours of the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    May 25, 2010, 03:00

    Saturday morning we arose to find unexpected footprints in the door yard. As we examined them, we found more and more, all over our homestead and extending on…

  • Ptalking Ptrash with a Ptarmigan by: Mark Zeiger

    May 21, 2010, 03:00

    On our recent trip to Fairbanks, we saw a lot of willow ptarmigan. Going over the pass to Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, Canada, we must have seen 50 each…

  • Attack of the Slime Molds by: Mark Zeiger

    May 11, 2010, 03:00

    Of all the inhabitants of our local forests, perhaps none is weirder than the slime mold. Imagine, if you will, hiking through the forest and coming upon a…

  • A Shy Summer Neighbor: the Hermit Thrush by: Mark Zeiger

    May 7, 2010, 03:00

    Last year at this season, I stood in the dooryard, getting some fresh air and checking the weather. A small songbird ran around on the far edge of our…

  • Our Rowdy Neighbors, the Sea Lions by: Mark Zeiger

    May 6, 2010, 03:00

    The neighbors are at it again. Loud parties at all hours, noisy fights that threaten to spill across the property line, intimidating stares . . . and absolutely…

  • Loving Loons by: Mark Zeiger

    May 4, 2010, 03:00

    It feels like homecoming, with all the birds returning to our area. The latest arrival actually never really left, but changed plumage with the season, and…

  • Catnip Napper (Nipper?) by: Mark Zeiger

    May 2, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle noticed recently that the catnip growing at the base of our cherry saplings has been attacked by an unknown assailant. The other plants, including…

  • Hummingbird Wars by: Mark Zeiger

    April 28, 2010, 03:00

    If you have hummingbirds around your home, you know how fascinating these tiny birds are. For all their apparent ineffable delicacy, they are tough little…

  • "Whale Day" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 26, 2010, 03:00

    The herring run continues in fits and starts. They've spawned in Mud Bay, but continue to cruise our rocks in small shoals. The eulachon (more commonly called…

  • Bachelor Pod by: Mark Zeiger

    April 20, 2010, 03:00

    The herring are here, but they're hitting pretty lightly off our beach. We're not too concerned, as they tend to continue shoaling off our beach long after…

  • A Family Affair: Humpbacks and Killer Whales Feeding Together by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2010, 03:00

    Saturday evening we saw something that might not be that unusual, but we'd never seen it before, nor had we ever heard or read of such a thing. Movement about…

  • Birdsongs 101: A Class that Bears Repeating by: Mark Zeiger

    April 18, 2010, 03:00

    One of the most reassuring results of a scientific study I've ever heard indicates that songbirds must relearn their distinctive songs each year. This comforts…

  • Coffee With a Whale by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday morning, I sat on the edge of our rocks. Cats paws rippled the water's still surface; pale sunshine bathed the mountains and me, while wisps of cloud…

  • Hummingbird Homecoming by: Mark Zeiger

    April 16, 2010, 03:00

    Wednesday morning at breakfast we had an unexpected, but very welcome visitor to the homestead: a male rufous hummingbird appeared in front of our window to…

  • Return of the Humpback Whales Foreshadows "The Next Big Thing" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 10, 2010, 03:00

    This morning, a humpback whale appeared very close to our rocks. This is the first baleen whale we've seen since January. Though they have arrived earlier in…

  • April and May: Southeast Alaska's Prime Time by: Mark Zeiger

    April 6, 2010, 03:00

    Whenever anyone asks us when they should visit the homestead, we always urge them to come at this time of year, in April or May. This is probably when…

  • Celebrating Easter: No Ravens Allowed by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2010, 03:00

    On this Easter Sunday, children and the young at heart all across the nation are hunting Easter eggs. In Alaska, those who do so face stiff competition from…

  • Am I Crying Wolf? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 28, 2010, 03:00

    Hiking to the road yesterday, a set of tracks arrested our attention: canine prints larger than we usually see on the peninsula, either from the local coyotes…

  • Have the Moose Committed to Eating Locally? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 25, 2010, 03:00

    The moose cow and her calf continue to linger on the peninsula. Tuesday, hiking home, we passed them as they browsed near the trail. First thing the next…

  • Wild Swans in the Chilkat River Valley by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2010, 03:00

    On Monday, March 15th, we took a trip up the Chilkat River Valley. On the way home, we saw the wild swans that tend to winter in the area. A pair of them were…

  • Following Otter, Meeting Moose by: Mark Zeiger

    March 18, 2010, 03:00

    Early yesterday morning, as I dreamed of following deer over the knoll, moose visited the yard again. A cow and calf came through the dooryard, revisiting the…

  • Shrews Like Popcorn? by: Mark Zeiger

    February 17, 2010, 03:00

    Shrews are classified as insectivores, which implies they eat mostly insects, arthropods, and invertebrates like snails and earthworms. Some species of shrews…

  • Living With Spiders by: Mark Zeiger

    February 16, 2010, 03:00

    I have friends who hate me for saying this, but naturalists tell us that no human being is ever more than three feet away from a spider. Here on the homestead,…

  • Rethinking the Coyote's Visit in Light of Natural Pest Control by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2010, 03:00

    A recent daylight visit to our homestead by a local coyote had us somewhat concerned. We don't foresee any danger, but it's unwise to become complacent about…

  • Killer Whales in Lynn Canal by: Mark Zeiger

    February 3, 2010, 03:00

    Sunday afternoon we watched a flock of Barrows goldeneyes, a type of sea duck, fish off our rocks. The current tide cycle's highs are around 20 feet, so they…

  • A January Whale by: Mark Zeiger

    January 28, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday afternoon, just before dark, we'd all gathered in the living room. Intent on various projects, it took a moment for a familiar sound to register.…

  • An Uneasy Peace in the Moose Wars by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2010, 03:00

    They're gone for now, but they may be back! If so, we've vowed to be ready for them. The moose came back late Monday night. Michelle and I were still up.…

  • Moose In the Yard by: Mark Zeiger

    January 26, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday morning, Michelle and I lingered over our morning mug up, chatting about plans for a new fire pit on the beach and enjoying the sunlight streaming in…

  • Coyote In the Compound by: Mark Zeiger

    January 20, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday, when we came home from a trip to town, Aly found tracks near the outhouse. They were so small she guessed they were marten tracks, but they were…

  • A Different Kind of Year in Review: Whale Reports by: Mark Zeiger

    January 3, 2010, 03:00

    I grumble at Christmas time about the family newsletter we traditionally write. A cousin appropriately dubbed it "the Christmas term paper," a major writing…

  • An Unwelcomed Visitor to the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    December 16, 2009, 07:50

    The other day we saw an animal on our property we hadn't expected: a small, black, long haired house cat. Currently, none of our neighbors have house cats,…

  • These Are the Halcyon Days by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2009, 01:00

    To my surprise, these are the Halcyon Days! This term, which we now use to describe a more peaceful, idyllic past or calm period, comes to us from the Greeks.…

  • Applying Girl Watching Strategy to Wildlife Viewing by: Mark Zeiger

    December 1, 2009, 06:00

    I love to watch people. I especially like to “girl watch.” I enjoy seeing attractive women of any age—I admit it. I also love viewing wildlife. I had a…

  • Screams on the Beach by: Mark Zeiger

    October 11, 2009, 16:08

    Early one Sunday morning a year ago, Michelle and I heard screams. We had stepped out briefly into the cold, wet day, neither dressed nor prepared to stay…

• Category: Off-the-Grid Power  (129)
  • Assessing the Solar Array by: Mark Zeiger

    March 6, 2019, 03:00

    As we gain about 5 minutes of daylight each day, and teeter on the edge of official drought conditions, we're seeing a sharp increase in the amount of power…

  • Electronics Cabinet by: Mark Zeiger

    December 12, 2018, 03:00

    The irony of my timing is not lost on me. I recently completed a long-delayed project: I built an electronics cabinet for the homestead, in the middle of a…

  • Feeling Powerful by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2018, 03:00

    I have written before of the power of self pity (see Confessions of a Squeaky Wheel or The Power of Self Pity) and once again, complaining seems to have given…

  • Analog Days, Oil Lamp Nights by: Mark Zeiger

    December 6, 2018, 03:00

    Our 21st century homestead seems like a 19th century homestead lately. As often happens at this time of year, we've entered a period of "doldrums." Our weather…

  • A New Inverter for the Cabin by: Mark Zeiger

    July 30, 2018, 09:56

    Yesterday, after playing hooky all week at the Southeast Alaska State Fair (more on that soon) I got back to the business of the homestead. In a hot, frustratin…

  • Racing to the Summer Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    June 24, 2018, 03:00

    The summer solstice seems to be a favorite time for races (or, "runs", as they're generally billed). The famous "Only Fools Run at Midnight" springs to…

  • Homestead Going Dark for Summer Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    June 20, 2018, 03:00

    Ironically, as we approach the Summer Solstice, the blog's likely to go dark. But, that's because it's the solstice. You may remember that, in 2015 when we…

  • Low Power by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2018, 03:00

    We're weathering a "perfect storm" of . . . calm weather. In the middle of January, we can't rely on the solar array to power our homestead as it does most…

  • Slow Season by: Mark Zeiger

    June 29, 2017, 03:00

    The summer tourist season is in full swing. Since Michelle works for a local tour company, you can imagine how the hectic pace bleeds into our homestead. It…

  • Stormalong by: Mark Zeiger

    January 10, 2017, 03:00

    The recent windy weather continued through Monday before dying down to reasonable winter wind levels (see Stormy Start to the Year). Ironically, this period…

  • Power Flex by: Mark Zeiger

    October 26, 2016, 03:00

    Recently, we hit a milestone of sorts in our power generation: for the first time in a year and a half, our battery bank fell below 80%. The situation appeared…

  • Wind Generator Problems, Yet Again by: Mark Zeiger

    October 2, 2016, 06:17

    We've long known the day would come: last week, the wind generator controller's circuit board failed. I'm still cackling with glee over our new solar array,…

  • Back On Line! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 17, 2016, 03:00

    We got Internet connectivity back a lot sooner than we'd been told to expect . . . the third time around. After a couple of calls to AT&T, each of which…

  • Down But Not Out? by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2016, 03:00

    Our Internet connection went out Thursday. Apparently, AT&T is having tower trouble in town, but only on the southerly one that serves us (more or less).…

  • Bush League by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2016, 03:00

    As I discussed in a previous post (Homestead Advantage) our recent time in town showed us a few advantages our off-grid life gives us over living in town.…

  • Homestead Advantage by: Mark Zeiger

    July 21, 2016, 03:00

    Our recent sojourn in town proved eye opening in certain ways. As usual, we found many small confirmations of our off-grid lifestyle. We started on…

  • Here Comes the Sun! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 6, 2016, 03:00

    The optimist within me wants to announce: "It's been sunny all month long!" Perhaps some may find that outlook a little, well, sunny, but the first week of…

  • Sweeps Season by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2015, 03:00

    Snow has fallen periodically on our homestead since Halloween. Most days it briefly covers the new solar panels, then melts away without needing our help. The…

  • Reducing Radio Frequency Interference in LED Lights by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2015, 03:00

    Back in March of this year, I mentioned on the blog that our radio had developed interference when we turned on some of the cabin lights. A reader asked if…

  • Dismantling the Satellite System by: Mark Zeiger

    October 29, 2015, 03:00

    Now that we've solved our Internet connection wrinkles (see Well Connected) it's time to clean up the mess from the satellite system. The satellite dish…

  • Well Connected by: Mark Zeiger

    October 25, 2015, 03:00

    Our transition from satellite to cellular Internet coverage hasn't been as smooth as we'd hoped. Our remote location, the very reason for needing satellite…

  • Telecomplications by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2015, 03:00

    I joke sometimes about our 21st Century Homestead, where we use outhouses and heat with wood, yet communicate via Internet and cell phone. Some days, though,…

  • Entering New Territory by: Mark Zeiger

    September 7, 2015, 03:00

    In my last post, Use It or Lose It, I talked about monitoring the new solar array's output and performance. On August 12th, we entered a new phase of this…

  • Use It or Lose It by: Mark Zeiger

    September 5, 2015, 04:51

    You know, I really do make an honest effort not to be stupid. I often find myself stupidly, stubbornly pursuing an idea or practice beyond reason. A classic…

  • Insulation Installation by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2015, 03:00

    Winter is coming. Friday I wrapped the battery bank exhaust pipe with vinyl-backed fiberglass insulation. I didn't even know we had this stuff until…

  • Switching from Satellite to Cellular Internet Service by: Mark Zeiger

    August 3, 2015, 03:00

    As I mentioned in the last post (see Eviction Notice) Starband, our satellite Internet provider, will shut down at the end of September. Rather than continue…

  • Eviction Notice by: Mark Zeiger

    August 1, 2015, 05:52

    Rumors flew around our neighborhood lately, the kind of rumor that I doubt would be heard in most U.S. neighborhoods: Starband plans to shut down. Not my…

  • Our Homemade Power Reference Manual by: Mark Zeiger

    July 26, 2015, 03:00

    When we upgraded our off-the-grid power system (see Power Shift: The Plan in Place) I also took the time to upgrade our documentation. Handling documentation…

  • Seasons in the Sun by: Mark Zeiger

    July 6, 2015, 08:00

    We've been enjoying the savings and convenience of our Sun Oven (see Cooking with Solar) this summer. Yesterday, it proved its value even further. We've…

  • The Nickel Iron Batteries Arrive by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2015, 03:00

    When we ordered our new nickel iron battery, we learned that it would take about 3 months to arrive, and that' turns out to be about right (see Power Shift:…

  • Shifting Power, Shifting Perspective by: Mark Zeiger

    May 26, 2015, 03:00

    To recap the plan, we are renovating our off the grid power in the following ways: Replace our current lead acid battery bank with a nickel iron battery…

  • Final Breakthrough by: Mark Zeiger

    May 19, 2015, 03:00

    The long, drawn out process of installing the new solar panels included one final touch: the addition of a vent fan. Lead acid batteries "gas" at high…

  • Hangover by: Mark Zeiger

    May 13, 2015, 08:18

    I arose late this morning, around 7:30, feeling woozy. My head aches. My muscles, especially in my arms and hands, are cramping. There's a dent in one palm…

  • The End of the Honeymoon by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2015, 03:00

    We had a week of sunny days beginning the morning after we turned on the new PV array. Talk about a honeymoon! The array produces an amazing amount of power…

  • Power Shift: An Early Unveiling by: Mark Zeiger

    May 1, 2015, 03:00

    We expected, and therefore were not surprised by rain delays during a PV array installation in Southeast Alaska. We did not anticipate that the weather might…

  • Power Shift: Making Progress by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2015, 05:27

    We moved ahead briskly on installing the new solar array over the weekend, despite stiff competition from other projects. The correct connectors arrived…

  • Cooking With Solar by: Mark Zeiger

    April 25, 2015, 03:00

    Recently, we bought a secondhand Solar Oven. We've experimented with it, with excellent results so far. We've made our own temporary solar ovens in the…

  • Learning to Trust the Person I Used to Be by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2015, 03:00

    In my life I seem to find a lot of opportunities to revisit past efforts. Typically, I complete a project, then, years later, return to it to maintain,…

  • I Lack Connections! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2015, 03:00

    In the last few decades, society seems to obsess over connections and/or lack thereof. We all need to be connected for business success, and to feel connected…

  • Piecing the Puzzle Together by: Mark Zeiger

    April 12, 2015, 03:00

    Replacing one photovoltaic array with another might compare to disassembling an old jigsaw puzzle while assembling a new one on the same table at the same…

  • The Shipment in Transit by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2015, 03:00

    Our new solar panels arrived in Haines Monday evening, meaning we could pick them up Tuesday. Unfortunately, we had to pick them up—something I hadn't…

  • D'oh! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2015, 03:00

    I appreciate a good mystery. I appreciate it far less, though, when the mystery's solution turns out to be that I'm an idiot. Over the weekend we had some…

  • Power Shift: Charting the Sun Path by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2015, 03:00

    Our biggest debate concerning our new photovoltaic array may be placement. We mounted our current array on a southerly rock face on the promontory we refer…

  • Power Shift: The Plan in Place by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2015, 03:00

    All the steps previously outlined in the Power Shift essays here on the blog, most recently Power Shift: Sizing the PV Array, led to assembling our new PV…

  • Power Shift: Sizing the PV Array by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2015, 03:00

    In the post, Power Shift: Apples and Oranges, I described auditing our power usage to arrive at an estimated average daily electricity use: 1438 Watt hours…

  • Power Shift Interlude: Tribute to a Household God by: Mark Zeiger

    March 19, 2015, 03:00

    "Jesus' name is 'Omen'. Omen says we can watch a movie!" Aly announced this one evening at the dinner table when she was about 4 years old. The statement,…

  • Power Shift: Apples and Oranges by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2015, 03:00

    Our H40 wind generator is rated at 105 Kilowatt Hours per month (kwh/mo). Our current solar array is rated at 30.7 kwh/mo. If we truly want to change our power…

  • Power Shift: Affordable Power by: Mark Zeiger

    March 15, 2015, 03:00

    When we decided that solar panels may make better sense than wind generators for our power needs and peace of mind (see Power Shift: Increasing Our Energy…

  • Power Shift: Increasing Our Energy Independence by: Mark Zeiger

    March 13, 2015, 03:00

    As I mentioned in the previous post, Power Shift: A New/Old Battery Bank, we will soon receive a nickel-iron "Edison" battery to replace our weakening…

  • Power Shift: A New/Old Battery Bank by: Mark Zeiger

    March 11, 2015, 03:00

    Our lead acid battery bank may—or may not—be wearing out (see Is It Time for a New Battery Bank?). Back in October or November, we decided to work toward…

  • Is It Time for a New Battery Bank? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2015, 03:00

    Many readers may have picked up on hints dropped here and there on the blog that our power supply needs improvement. I think that's true, although I confess…

  • "It's Aliiiive!" by: Mark Zeiger

    March 5, 2015, 03:00

    Yesterday morning, I put our newly repaired wind generator back on the tower and hoisted it back into position. That afternoon, when the southerly breeze…

  • Seeing the Aladdin Light by: Mark Zeiger

    March 2, 2015, 03:00

    Years ago, when I became interested in oil lamps (see Oil Lamps as Alternative Lighting in the Home) I read about Aladdin lamps. I'd occasionally seen them in…

  • Emergency Rationing by: Mark Zeiger

    February 28, 2015, 03:00

    We continue to experience trouble with our wind generator (see Tilting Windmills). Until we can track down and fix the trouble, we are limited to our solar…

  • Tilting Windmills by: Mark Zeiger

    February 26, 2015, 03:00

    After a sweet, trouble free year and a half, the wind generator began making a familiar, troubling sound Monday evening. We'd last heard it two years ago,…

  • Wind Damage by: Mark Zeiger

    February 16, 2015, 03:00

    Saturday, I found that one of the examples of entropy that I complained about in that day's post (Entropy Is Everywhere) but did not mention specifically was…

  • Rechargeable Batteries (Part 4) by: Mark Zeiger

    February 6, 2015, 03:00

    In this, the final installment of our series on Rechargeable Batteries (begun in Part 1), we'll look at the chargers and battery suppliers we prefer. The…

  • Rechargeable Batteries (Part 3) by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2015, 03:00

    This essay continues a series of posts on rechargeable batteries, beginning with Rechargeable Batteries (Part 1). For the moment, we use two types of…

  • Rechargeable Batteries (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2015, 03:00

    In the last post, I talked about using rechargeable batteries instead of standard, one-use alkalines (see Rechargeable Batteries (Part 1)). Many battery…

  • Rechargeable Batteries (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2015, 03:00

    Our "homestead" runs on rechargeable batteries. Besides our main battery bank, charged by wind and solar, we rely on battery powered items throughout our…

  • Northwest Wind by: Mark Zeiger

    December 10, 2014, 03:00

    Our local marine forecast resolutely predicted north wind at decent intensity to drive our wind generator for several days, but we saw precious little of it.…

  • Trimming Oil Lamp Wicks for More Efficient Burn by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2014, 03:00

    We will very likely rely more heavily than usual on our cabin's oil lamps for lighting this winter. So I trimmed our wicks this week. I'd noticed that the…

  • Clawing Our Way Back by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2014, 06:18

    This week I'm continuing the process of catching up with homestead tasks after visiting family Outside. I'm cruising back into some jobs; others, I'm having to…

  • The Lamps by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2014, 03:05

    Yesterday, on the last day of September, I cleaned and filled the oil lamps. I originally planned to perform this autumn chore on the Autumnal Equinox, either…

  • Down the Upgrade by: Mark Zeiger

    September 16, 2014, 03:00

    Our amplifier/receiver of many years recently failed. I tried to repair it, but couldn't. Eventually, I decided to replace it. Doing so offered us an opportunit…

  • We Didn't Know Our Own Strength! by: Mark Zeiger

    April 10, 2014, 03:00

    We've been on the "homestead" almost eight years now. I've noticed that this has been long enough that we've forgotten a lot of what we've done over the years.…

  • Saving the Best for Last? One More LED Bulb by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2014, 03:00

    There's a late comer to our recent order of LED light bulbs to try out on the "homestead" (see Light Housekeeping: Concluded). The last bulb in the group…

  • Striker Force by: Mark Zeiger

    March 21, 2014, 03:00

    A year or two after moving to the "homestead," we replaced the small, broken propane range in the cabin with a "new" one, purchased from neighbors. They'd…

  • Light Housekeeping Concluded by: Mark Zeiger

    March 15, 2014, 03:00

    For the last two posts I've been discussing our recent revamp of our lighting system. If you want to catch up, start with the post Light Housekeeping. When…

  • Light Housekeeping: Further Adventures in Off the Grid Lighting by: Mark Zeiger

    March 13, 2014, 03:00

    In the last post (see Light Housekeeping) I said a pair of burned out bulbs motivated me to get our cabin lighting under control. After years of washing…

  • Light Housekeeping by: Mark Zeiger

    March 11, 2014, 03:00

    Ever since coming to the "homestead," we've dealt with the problems and opportunities of lighting our living spaces. We've mostly focused on oil lamp,…

  • Winterizing the Wind Generator by: Mark Zeiger

    October 23, 2013, 03:00

    'Tis the season to winterize the "homestead." I completed one of our most critical preparations over the weekend. Earlier this year, I fixed and mounted our…

  • The Grid: On...and Off Part II by: Mark Zeiger

    August 17, 2013, 03:00

    In the last post I shared information on the precarious state of our nation's electrical grids (see The Grid: On...and Off). This and other experiences have…

  • The Grid: On...and Off by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2013, 03:00

    On our homestead, we generate our own electricity. We do this because the original builders of the homestead set it up that way, because we're far beyond…

  • My Wind Generator's Company Goes Missing by: Mark Zeiger

    July 13, 2013, 03:00

    After removing our wind generator from our tower and replacing it with our old wind generator (see Threat of a Brown Out) I began the process of sending the…

  • Threat of a Brown Out by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2013, 03:00

    At various times in the past I've been pretty smug about producing our own power, which keeps our electricity going when communities near us have outages.…

  • Time to Unwind by: Mark Zeiger

    May 18, 2013, 06:06

    Just when I thought the general weirdness of our wind generator had finally settled for a bit, a new twist appeared. One morning, a breeze developed from…

  • DC Cheat Sheet by: Mark Zeiger

    April 17, 2013, 03:00

    In the last post I complained about searching for basic electrical information, such as wire color coding, in the middle of an electrical project. This…

  • Confessions of an Electrophobe (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 15, 2013, 03:00

    In my last post, I cracked my facade of cool, logical, competent home electrician, calmly installing a set of 12 volt outlets in our cabin. The confession…

  • Confessions of an Electrophobe (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 13, 2013, 03:00

    After a faithful reader commented on how easy I'd made my 12 volt outlet installation sound, I joked that that was because I'm the one who writes the blog. H…

  • New 12 Volt Outlets for the Cabin by: Mark Zeiger

    April 11, 2013, 03:00

    We have found a set of 12 volt outlets to be very useful in our off-the-grid cabin. While we have an inverter to provide our AC power needs, there's little…

  • Buried Treasure? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 9, 2013, 03:00

    When we first moved to the homestead, the outhouse sheltered the electrical system. The battery bank took up one end of the small building, and the wind…

  • Fermentation by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2013, 03:00

    At present, our cabin is a fermentation center. We've got three major ferments underway. Around Christmas, the sourdough starter reached an intensity best…

  • Courage by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2013, 03:00

    I have had far too many opportunities in these last few weeks to meditate on the meaning and qualities of courage. This lifestyle requires courage on many…

  • Demonstrating Flexibility by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2013, 03:00

    Things rarely go according to plan. The last few days have been busy. Major projects that we thought were finished developed new twists; others we planned…

  • We DID IT!: Fixing the Generator by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2013, 07:06

    After some gales that exceeded predicted wind speeds, we got our chance to fix the wind generator. Waiting for the opportunity was particularly harrowing…

  • The Curse is REAL! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 16, 2013, 03:00

    I find that there's only one rational conclusion to be made: The "January Curse" is real! Tuesday, a week after I sent the first email to the Support…

  • The January "Curse" Strikes Again by: Mark Zeiger

    January 10, 2013, 03:00

    Luckily, I'm not an overly superstitious person, or I'd be seriously freaking out. Once more, the early January "curse" has struck our homestead. In the wee…

  • Procrastination Vs. "Empowerment" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 3, 2013, 03:00

    After we returned from our task, flushed with success and relief, Michelle thanked me for my patience. I thanked her for choosing to interpret my procrastina…

  • Using Wind to Predict the New Year by: Mark Zeiger

    December 31, 2012, 03:00

    At the turning of the year, as I gather the coming year's astronomical data and track the weather, as we do at all times, I have been thinking of an old saying…

  • Lighting a Candle in the Darkness by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2012, 03:00

    Wednesday, Aly and I put a couple of strings of Christmas lights on the cabin. We did this mostly for ourselves, particularly to surprise Michelle, who came…

  • If It's Chilling, I'm Stilling by: Mark Zeiger

    December 1, 2012, 03:00

    As our cold snap lingers, we burn the woodstove all day long. I'm using this to our advantage by setting up our juicer as a still on the woodstove's burner…

  • Results Inconclusive by: Mark Zeiger

    November 3, 2012, 03:00

    As I predicted, I climbed the wind generator tower twice more to try to correct the problem with the furling. And, as is so often the case, the situation…

  • Furling Follies by: Mark Zeiger

    October 26, 2012, 03:00

    On Wednesday, I told you how I intended to try to fix the wind generator. Since I intended to wait till the sun was fully up that day, I hiked part of the way…

  • Wind, Wind Everywhere . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2012, 06:24

    With apologies to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, lately we've had wind, wind everywhere, nor any puff to charge. Our high, dry, north winds continue to blow.…

  • Clear Labeling Helps Brake the Wind Generator by: Mark Zeiger

    October 12, 2012, 03:00

    Not so very long ago, exchanges like the following were all too common in our cabin: "Stand by the brake, and turn it on as soon as I tell you!" "Wait,…

  • Building a Homemade Wind Generator Brake by: Mark Zeiger

    October 10, 2012, 03:00

    Our home wind generator features a charge controller with a regulation feature, which the manufacturer claims eliminates the need for an actual brake for the…

  • Internet Disconnect by: Mark Zeiger

    June 11, 2012, 03:00

    It must be the 21st Century if a homestead feels crippled when the Internet's down. But, that's what's happening, and that's exactly how it felt. Something…

  • Feeling 100% by: Mark Zeiger

    April 13, 2012, 08:41

    At last, we got some wind! As much as we've been enjoying and taking advantage of the long period of sunny, calm weather, the lack of wind has put a serious…

  • Please Stand By . . .  by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2012, 08:30

    A massive high pressure system continues to blanket our region. On the weather radio's current conditions report, station after station lists as "calm." The…

  • Off-the-Grid Electricity: Maintaining the Balance of Power by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2012, 03:00

    How sunny has it been lately? Thursday, just before the local Vernal Equinox, which falls today, I cut incoming power from the solar panels for a while! The…

  • Solar "Extraction" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 28, 2012, 03:00

    In winter, we spend a lot of time keeping the solar panels free of snow and ice. Sometimes, like recently, rapid snowfall makes it a fruitless task. By the…

  • The World Turned Upside Down by: Mark Zeiger

    January 22, 2012, 03:00

    Michelle and I sit in our cabin, more than a mile from the nearest road. Daytime highs have been below 14° for a week. A 60 knot storm (69 miles per hour)…

  • 12-Volt Outlets by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2011, 03:00

    I've spoken before of the flurry of new projects, small and large changes to our property since Aly went away to college. I refer to it as "Homestead 2.0."…

  • Mary Oliver's The Lamps by: Mark Zeiger

    September 4, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time to read the poem for today's first quarter moon, The Lamps.…

  • Nuclear Energy Vs. Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2011, 03:00

    I wrote a short version of the piece below for the Self Reliance Exchange about a year ago. I try not to comment on political issues, but considering that we…

  • Wind Generator Problem Appears to be Solved by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2011, 08:54

    The day we had trouble with the wind generator got even weirder. However, we seem to have solved the problem! Late in the morning, the generator just flat…

  • Paranoia Surrounds a Dark Homestead Anniversary by: Mark Zeiger

    January 10, 2011, 03:00

    Sunday morning we listened anxiously to the wind generator, trying to sort out sounds that seemed new, but also uncomfortably familiar. As usual, since the…

  • Update on Wind Generator Reflectors by: Mark Zeiger

    October 30, 2010, 03:00

    Since I decided to go to all the trouble of climbing the wind generator tower recently, to head butt the machine back into position, I wanted to make the most…

  • Time to Head Butt the Wind Generator Again by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2010, 03:00

    We had a "wind drought" recently, a few days when we had no wind. The timing was bad, as my book, Shy Ghosts Dancing, had just hit the bookstores in e-book…

  • Time to Prepare the Oil Lamps for the Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    October 12, 2010, 08:42

    The days grow noticeably shorter, telling me it's time to prepare the oil lamps for the winter. Ironically, and to my personal disappointment, we don't use…

  • Sewing Machine "Re-tread" by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 4, 2010, 09:55

    Recently we bought a Singer model #66 treadle sewing machine manufactured in 1918 and a treadle from a lovely lady in town. After buying the machine she…

  • Reflectors Help Monitor the Wind Generator by: Mark Zeiger

    September 1, 2010, 03:00

    Generating our own power means monitoring the equipment, particularly the wind generator. Like any piece of machinery, it operates within certain limits: it…

  • Using the Gas Generator by: Mark Zeiger

    August 7, 2010, 03:00

    The "wind drought" of the last couple of weeks has us contemplating drastic measures, namely, starting up the gas generator. Our three gas generators pulled…

  • Irony Whups Me Upside the Head Once Again by: Mark Zeiger

    August 1, 2010, 03:00

    Hot on the heels of my griping about our satellite Internet system, it comes through in the pinch and saves the day! Friday, the Alaska Summer Research…

  • The Charge Controller's Installed - Again by: Mark Zeiger

    February 22, 2010, 03:00

    Sunday afternoon I installed the charge controller for our wind generator. I didn't require much time, and the job went smoothly. It should—this is the third…

  • A Day at the Beach: Passive Solar and Wind Power at Work by: Mark Zeiger

    February 10, 2010, 03:00

    Monday, a starry morning gave way to sunshine. The wind blew a steady 25 knots from the south. It was a classic alternative energy day, one that went beyond…

  • Christmas Is Over - It Must be Time for Wind Generator Trouble! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 19, 2010, 03:00

    I recently told my brother that I am not the master of our off the grid power system, I am it's most humble and dedicated servant. Recently, I've had another…

  • Storm Warnings by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday the New Year came in with a 50-knot storm from the north. The "wind drought" is now in reverse—we're working off the batteries without wind…

  • Reemergion or Reemersion? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2009, 08:58

    Late last night, our “wind drought” ended. The weak northerlies that have prevailed since December 22nd finally strengthened enough to drive our wind…

  • Christmas, Mother Night, and a Period of Low Power by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2009, 09:00

    This Christmas has been unusual for its lack of wind. On the 22nd I wrapped up my Christmas communications, sending out our Christmas newsletter electronically,…

  • Tracking the Homestead's Individual Winter Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2009, 11:54

    This year's Winter Solstice, like last year's, arrived on a bright, clear day! That's always so gratifying. Just as we did last year, we tracked our solar…

  • Heavy Weather Has Moved in Again by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2009, 12:57

    Weather can change in a hurry around here! We had a good night and day of battery charging yesterday, but the wind slacked off in the evening. The…

  • Foul Weather Friends - The Wind has Returned by: Mark Zeiger

    December 17, 2009, 08:23

    Maybe I shouldn't have talked about the Halcyon Days? Our season of calm came early this year. For about the last week or so, our wind forecasts have fallen…

  • Time of Diminishing Returns From Our Solar Array by: Mark Zeiger

    November 3, 2009, 07:15

    We received a foot of snow in the first two days of November. Yesterday morning we went out again to sweep the solar panels. This chore reminds me that we're…

  • “Pioneer Night”: Making Conservation and Emergency Preparedness Fun by: Mark Zeiger

    October 26, 2009, 01:00

    When we lived in Juneau, we developed a tradition that is so ironically juxtaposed to our current lifestyle that when friends remind us of it, we’re…

  • The Hidden Cost of Convenience: Phantom Loads by: Mark Zeiger

    September 28, 2009, 03:00

    Converting from the average middle class, tied-to-the-grid home to our off-the-grid, alternative energy homestead opened our eyes to conservation measures like…

  • How Sizing Our Battery Bank Led to Uncomfortable Truths About Our Lifestyle by: Mark Zeiger

    September 26, 2009, 11:55

    I get so tired of hearing people condemn alternative energy by saying the power is only available when the wind blows or the sun shines. This belief, like so…

  • Off the Grid Electricity: The "Power" of Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2009, 10:42

    Let me confess to you up front: I am not an electrician. I know very little about electricity. I survived a whole career requiring daily use of electronic…

• Category: Philosophy  (70)
  • A Habit of Poetry by: Aly Zeiger

    February 1, 2019, 03:00

    Americans have gotten out of the habit of poetry, I think. The impression I got growing up was that poetry is something poets do. “Ordinary people”…

  • Sacred Space by: Mark Zeiger

    October 27, 2018, 03:00

    Obviously, the effects of our recent trip to Ireland may never fully wear off (see Every Sign a Song Cue). But now, it's time to return to the work of the…

  • Hermit at Heart by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2018, 03:00

    The other day, fresh from the shower, I chose a clean pair of pants to wear. Seeing particular favorites, I quickly reviewed my coming week's obligations and…

  • John Tillotson Offers a Few Words of Inspiration by: Mark Zeiger

    August 1, 2017, 03:00

    "To always be intending to live a new life, but never to find time to set about it: this is as if a man should put off eating and drinking and sleeping from…

  • Celebrate Independence from Debt by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2017, 07:49

    The Fourth of July  is upon us, time to celebrate freedom, and, if we're honest, assess just how free we actually are. This year, I'm thinking about the…

  • Work Like a Peasant, Live Like a King by: Mark Zeiger

    June 19, 2017, 08:34

    As we complete our eleventh year of residence on our homestead, I recall a motto we adopted early on: "work like a peasant, live like a king." From the very…

  • What's In a Name? by: Mark Zeiger

    March 10, 2017, 09:10

    I've often pointed out that we started this blog to keep our friends and family updated on our life off-grid. It didn't take long for new friends in the wider…

  • Becoming "Aware" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 13, 2017, 03:00

    I recently read a very interesting article from The New Yorker called The Glossary of Happiness by Emily Anthes. It came to my attention because of our…

  • Moving On . . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2016, 03:00

    After about a week of looking for the best way to express what I feel, I realized I'd already done it. About 4 years ago, I wrote what may be, up until this…

  • Independence Day Every Day by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2016, 07:38

    Yesterday, on Independence Day, I didn't spend a lot of time thinking deeply about the meaning of the holiday. Like most other Americans, I was too busy having…

  • "Happy Holidays!" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 28, 2015, 08:03

    A long time ago, I heard or read the following story: A man and a woman, strangers to each other, approached a door. The man, reaching it first, opened the…

  • Hunger by: Mark Zeiger

    October 23, 2015, 03:00

    "I'm hungry." "I'm starving." "I could eat a ." We all say such things without thinking. It's small talk, cultural shorthand, a complaint tossed off when…

  • Preparing for the Best by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2015, 06:54

    I sometimes wonder where, exactly, we fit in the category of self reliance. We don't seem to fit the neat niches chosen by or imposed on people who live as we…

  • Werefisteria by: Mark Zeiger

    September 9, 2015, 03:00

    We're slowly, casually compiling a Homestead Lexicon in this blog, as we find more and more unusual words and terms from around the world that apply to our…

  • Customer Service as Customer Outreach by: Mark Zeiger

    June 9, 2015, 03:00

    This year, I've had opportunity to experience customer service of varying quality. It caused me to consider more carefully the true importance of good…

  • Learning to Trust the Person I Used to Be by: Mark Zeiger

    April 21, 2015, 03:00

    In my life I seem to find a lot of opportunities to revisit past efforts. Typically, I complete a project, then, years later, return to it to maintain,…

  • Looking Forward by: Mark Zeiger

    January 25, 2015, 09:07

    Despite my efforts at mindfulness, at living in the moment (see Living in the Moment) I find myself looking forward to an awful lot in my life. As I lie in…

  • Hygge by: Mark Zeiger

    December 14, 2014, 03:00

    We recently found another term to apply to our lifestyle; and, like the others, (see Shin-rin Yoku) it's foreign. I read the other day about the Danish concept…

  • Living In the Moment by: Mark Zeiger

    December 12, 2014, 03:00

    Let's face it: certain catchphrases just go with our family's lifestyle: off the grid, self-reliance, self-sufficiency (two different concepts, let's not get…

  • The Illusion of Security by: Mark Zeiger

    July 26, 2014, 03:00

    Lately, we've been discussing risk. The other day as I stepped off the trail to relieve myself, I asked Aly to keep an eye out for trouble. When she asked what…

  • A Stupid Way to Die by: Mark Zeiger

    June 29, 2014, 03:00

    Living on the "homestead" is risky business. This lifestyle offers more than its share of opportunities for serious injury or death. Many of these opportunities…

  • Self-Reliance at Christmas Time by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2013, 03:00

    Michelle and I had an interesting conversation last Sunday. We brainstormed about blog post topics for Christmas week. I'd just finished the Christmas day post…

  • More Words to Live By by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2013, 03:00

    A few years ago, I wrote the post Words to Live By. Since including a version of it in my book, Sacred Coffee: A "Homesteader's" Paradigm, I've read other…

  • Beyond "Conventional Wisdom": Thinking Critically in the Information Age (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2013, 03:00

    Previously, I've pointed out how our society relies on anecdotes, "conventional wisdom" and rumors for information (see Beyond "Conventional Wisdom": Thinking…

  • Beyond "Conventional Wisdom": Thinking Critically in the Information Age (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2013, 03:00

    We have become an anecdotally-educated society that would rather believe what we're told, or our own experience, than think critically about issues. The basic…

  • The Importance of Family Meals by: Mark Zeiger

    April 9, 2013, 03:00

    Yet another recent study on the subject lends truth to what many of us consider common sense: sitting down to family meals is important to developing and…

  • Attitude Adjustment through Animism by: Mark Zeiger

    January 31, 2013, 03:00

    On a summer day, a friend and I stood on the cobble beach of Mud Bay, pulling crabs from the floor of my canoe and butchering them on the rocks. I worked…

  • A Fifth F and a Reassessment by: Mark Zeiger

    January 18, 2013, 03:00

    The other day, I misremembered Michelle's memnomic for leaving the house. She didn't list four Fs, she listed five. The fifth, that I had missed, was Franklin,…

  • Early to Rise by: Mark Zeiger

    December 7, 2012, 06:53

    Our nearest neighbor is a singer/songwriter. An off-hand comment he once made on his creative process has had a very positive affect on my family and me. The…

  • More on Thinking Little by: Mark Zeiger

    November 7, 2012, 03:00

    Previously, I wrote about the Wendell Berry's concept of Thinking Little. Along these same lines, an observation in Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible…

  • Cursive Writing: A Dying Art Form? by: Mark Zeiger

    October 4, 2012, 03:00

    I wrote the following essay a few years ago in response to an online discussion about teaching handwriting in school. Most people advocated abolishing…

  • "Think Little" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2012, 09:16

    I recently read Wendell Berry's excellent essay, Think Little (from A Continuous Harmony: Essays Cultural and Agricultural, check your local independent…

  • "Loss of a Sense of Well Being" by: Mark Zeiger

    July 11, 2012, 07:16

    I should have known I was getting sick when I started feeling sad on Saturday. I chalked it up to being tired. We'd just come off the Independence day…

  • Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Porcupine by: Mark Zeiger

    June 9, 2012, 03:00

    "Honi soit qui mal y pense" has always been one of my favorite sayings. The motto of The Order of the Garter (I had to look it up, too). The most literal…

  • More on Being a Tourist in One's Own Town by: Mark Zeiger

    May 28, 2012, 03:00

    As I mentioned last time, I've been thinking about the importance of being a tourist in one's own town. That attitude is far more common here in Alaska, where…

  • Be a Tourist in Your Own Town by: Mark Zeiger

    May 26, 2012, 03:00

    The recent visit with my in-laws reminded me of the importance of being a tourist in one's own town. Back in my 20s and early 30s, we lived a gypsy life. I…

  • Avoiding “The Chilkoot Breast Stroke” by: Mark Zeiger

    February 9, 2012, 03:00

    With no road to our homestead, everything we bring in must be hauled. We bring it by canoe or pulk when we can, but most of it comes in on our backs. We rarely…

  • Waiting for Perfection by: Mark Zeiger

    February 5, 2012, 03:00

    "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the…

  • To Be or Not to Be by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s the full moon, time for Beaver Moon—The Suicide of a Friend. T…

  • Sacred Places by: Mark Zeiger

    October 3, 2011, 03:00

    It's time for another Mary Oliver poem as part of my lunar calendar. It's also time for an apology. Every time I mention a new poem from the calendar, I…

  • Mary Oliver's Poem for My Father's Ghost by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time to read one of the poem's not associated with a specific moon…

  • Opening Up to Nature by: Mark Zeiger

    August 17, 2011, 12:14

    A reader named Joy recently commented on last year's post about our homestead anniversary. Her request for advice on how to create a life similar to ours, and…

  • Mary Oliver's The Fawn: Outdoor Spirituality by: Mark Zeiger

    June 1, 2011, 03:00

    If you're following Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me, the poem for tonight's new moon is The Fawn. If I were to choose a single poem that…

  • Words to Live By by: Mark Zeiger

    February 21, 2011, 03:00

    Recently, I've been reading quotes that ring particularly true for me. I don't know if this is synchronicity, or simply a case of running more general advice…

  • Museum Meditation by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 17, 2011, 03:02

    I am visiting my parents in Bellingham, Washington. I am having a lovely time reminiscing and meeting their friends. On Sunday Mom and Dad took me to see the…

  • A New Year Without Fear by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2011, 03:00

    It would be trite, flowery, and over-dramatic to say that my days lately have been filled with poetry, but that is, in fact, the case. As 2010 came to a close,…

  • Thanks Giving by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2010, 11:20

    For the past month, my whole attention and energy seems to be absorbed by two intertwined projects, publishing a book of short stories, and setting up a new…

  • The Noise in the Forest by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2010, 03:00

    When I began discussing fear on the blog recently, I stated that I don't scare easily. I do startle easily—this quiet lifestyle lends itself to startling…

  • What Is Scary? by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2010, 03:00

    I’ve been thinking a lot about the nature of fear lately, for two reasons. First, my short story collection, Shy Ghosts Dancing: Dark Tales from Southeast…

  • Anticipation by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2010, 03:00

    Most years, for my birthday, my in-laws send a gift check. The one stipulation they place on it (besides, you know, "cash it sometime this year, please!") is…

  • Do My Words Convey What I Feel? by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 10, 2010, 03:00

    While writing my recent post, Channeling My Grandmother, I realized my words did not convey the feeling that I associate with those memories. I can relate…

  • Thursday's Child Has Far To Roam . . . by: Aly Zeiger

    September 9, 2010, 03:00

    I’ve had a busy summer this year. As Dad has mentioned, I spent two weeks in the interior, learning about Archaeology through UAF’s summer program, and…

  • "Meatless Monday" and Our Place in the Mainstream by: Mark Zeiger

    August 12, 2010, 03:00

    We listened with amusement and bemusement to a recent radio news report about a new campaign to help Americans to cut down on saturated fats by instigating…

  • Further Thoughts on Swimming Vs. Drowning by: Mark Zeiger

    July 11, 2010, 03:00

    When I posted about being thrown upon one's own resources versus deliberately choosing that route, I began to think it over again (I wrote most of that post…

  • Swimming Vs. Drowning by: Mark Zeiger

    July 9, 2010, 03:00

    A while back, Clair Schwan, the originator of Self Reliance Works, used us as an example of living on reduced resources. He compared us favorably to another…

  • Time to Break Up the Team by: Mark Zeiger

    June 15, 2010, 03:00

    The time has come to break one of our family's most important rules: Don't break up the team. As I've explained previously, this rule started because…

  • Chopin and Shoals by: Mark Zeiger

    May 22, 2010, 03:00

    Living on a homestead in the age of the personal music player, I often ask the question: should nature be enjoyed unaccompanied whenever possible, or does…

  • Denying "Reality" by: Mark Zeiger

    April 15, 2010, 03:00

    We just made a pretty big decision that has been on our minds since February, and are relieved to have done so. A respectable television network offered us a…

  • Modifying Cat Behavior and Personal Firearm Responsibility by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2010, 03:00

    Michelle returned from town recently and presented me with a pair of pistols. I admired their heft, the quality of the maker's craft, and their action. They…

  • "Everyone's Okay." by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2010, 03:00

    "Everyone's okay." Funny how that phrase freezes my blood!Michelle and Aly hiked out yesterday morning to go to town. Michelle had a doctor appointment, and…

  • Thoughts on Britain's "Weaponization" of Classical Music by: Mark Zeiger

    March 7, 2010, 03:00

    On Thursday, I read a disturbing article: Great Britain is using classical music to punish unruly youth. Days later, I'm still thinking about it. Ironically,…

  • Words to Live By by: Mark Zeiger

    February 18, 2010, 03:00

    A daily feature of my Franklin Planner is an "inspirational" quote. I quote inspirational, because they favor a few sources with which I vehemently disagree—i…

  • Thanks Mom and Dad! by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 14, 2010, 03:00

    The other night we watched Blast from the Past for the first time. It’s full of nostalgia for those of us who grew up in the ‘60s. In the movie, the…

  • Our Review of Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2010, 03:00

    Living on a homestead, we’re very devoted to eating locally as much as possible. We share this interest with more and more people around the developed world…

  • The Key to Simple Living: Appreciating the Present by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2010, 03:00

    Our Christmas season ended last night at midnight. We have now returned to the every day. This in itself seems reason for celebration. I’ve been struggling…

  • The Stone Boat and Other Irrational Behavior by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2009, 01:00

    Last year I read what still seems the most important book I've read in a long time. The book is Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior, by Ori…

  • “I’ve always done it that way” – Thinking Critically about Habits by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2009, 01:00

    “I’ve always done it that way.” That may be the most dangerous phrase in the English language! Humans are creatures of habit. Some habits place us on the…

  • Self Discipline: The Key to Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    November 29, 2009, 01:00

    Self Discipline. This is a good term, which, I confess I haven’t given a whole lot of thought until recently. It’s a phrase we hear all the time. I've…

  • Sacred Coffee: Elevating the Habitual to the Mindful by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2009, 01:00

    Lately I've been considering the problem of habit. For me, habit becomes problematic when the things I like to do become so ingrained that I do them without…

  • Space and Time Enough for Family by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2009, 01:00

    Since I was young, I've loved reading books set before the early 19th century. In many of them, if the owners of a large house, particularly one situated out…

• Category: Reviews  (40)
  • Book Review: The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water by: Mark Zeiger

    August 30, 2017, 03:00

    If you haven't read the comments from my previous post, Water On the Brain, please do so. I mentioned Charles Fishman's book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life…

  • Review: Bread, Wine, Chocolate by: Mark Zeiger

    October 20, 2016, 03:00

    I recently read an excellent book: Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of the Foods We Love by Simran Sethi. The book's description reads in part:…

  • I'm a Stranger Here Myself by: Mark Zeiger

    February 8, 2016, 03:00

    I recently read Bill Bryson's book, I'm a Stranger Here Myself (check your local independent bookstore). I always learn a lot from Bryson's books, and his…

  • Where Eagles Gather by: Mark Zeiger

    November 6, 2015, 03:00

    Michelle brought her work home with her Monday night. I couldn't have been happier! Her work right now centers around promoting our neighbor, friend, and…

  • Movie Review: Goodbye World by: Mark Zeiger

    July 30, 2014, 03:00

    Imagine my delight when, smack dab in the middle of another if my frequent Apocalyptic/Post Apocalyptic fiction binges, a new movie came out called Goodbye…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Pain Free by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2014, 03:00

    I haven't written about our Homestead Reference Library in a long time. It's time to return to that topic. One book that we rely on has come back to our…

  • Read These Books . . . BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2012, 03:00

    "The Mayan calendar ends December 21st, 2012." People cling to this idea. Despite all the studies that show that the Mayan system did not indicate that the…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Solar Living Source Book by: Mark Zeiger

    March 7, 2012, 03:00

    Some of the titles in our homestead reference library, including a few in our list of essential titles, have proven their value so well that they must be…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: The Complete Rigger's Apprentice by: Mark Zeiger

    February 13, 2012, 03:00

    The Complete Rigger's Apprentice: Tools and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging, by Brion Toss, is an important volume in our homestead reference…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: The Alaskan Bootlegger's Bible by: Mark Zeiger

    January 18, 2012, 03:00

    For every human interest, there are those who participate, and those who watch from the sidelines, participating vicariously. These are known as "armchairs."…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: The Complete Tightwad Gazette by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2011, 03:00

    Recently, I introduced two enduring inspirations and guides to our frugal lifestyle, Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, and Amy…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Your Money or Your Life by: Mark Zeiger

    October 13, 2011, 03:00

    My family and I have been living frugally for a long time, longer than I sometimes realize. We've been at it so long, in fact, that our first sources of…

  • The Homestead Reference Library: Essential Titles by: Mark Zeiger

    October 2, 2011, 03:00

    As a first post on the homestead reference library after introducing the topic and qualifying the statements to be made, perhaps I should go ahead and try to…

  • Review: Self Sufficiency: A Complete Guide to Baking, Carpentry, (etc.) by: Mark Zeiger

    August 25, 2011, 03:00

    If you're a regular reader of this blog you might recall that I received a couple of books to review. I've previously reviewed The Complete Guide to Edible…

  • A Portrait of Jennie Raises Uncomfortable Questions about Memory by: Mark Zeiger

    August 4, 2011, 03:00

    Tuesday night I watched A Portrait of Jennie, a very pleasant old movie that I've had on my list to see for a long time. So long, in fact, that finally seeing…

  • Review: The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants by: Mark Zeiger

    July 19, 2011, 03:00

    As I told readers in the past, I recently received a couple of books to review. We've been using them for a while, evaluating them in a couple of different…

  • An Overabundance of Oliver by: Mark Zeiger

    July 11, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, today is another day to read an extra poem, one not matched to a particular…

  • Book Reports by: Mark Zeiger

    July 7, 2011, 06:55

    Today or tomorrow, depending on your time zone, is the first quarter moon, time for another poem from Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons. Today's poem is Turtles. I…

  • A New Book Chronicles Gold Rush-Era Shipwreck Near the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    June 25, 2011, 03:00

    I just finished reading a great book about a local shipwreck: The Clara Nevada: Gold, Greed, Murder and Alaska's Inside Passage (check your local independent…

  • Strawberry Moon by: Mark Zeiger

    June 15, 2011, 06:07

    Tonight is June's full moon. Mary Oliver's poem, for those readers who are reading her book, Twelve Moons, as a lunar calendar with me, is Strawberry Moon. I…

  • W.S. Merk, BRIGHT SILENCE: A New Volume of Poetry by: Mark Zeiger

    May 10, 2011, 10:55

    Tonight is the first quarter moon, but there's no corresponding poem from Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons. But for me, that's okay right now, because my poetic…

  • The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog in Print by: Mark Zeiger

    April 22, 2011, 02:47

    I mentioned recently that an expanded version of my blog post, Coffee with a Whale has been included in a brand new publication, New Homesteading. I received a…

  • Comic Books as an Unschooling Resource by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2011, 03:00

    Documenting Aly's unschooling education has been an ongoing process, but we allowed certain aspects of it to wait until she began applying to colleges. At the…

  • Museum Meditation by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 17, 2011, 03:02

    I am visiting my parents in Bellingham, Washington. I am having a lovely time reminiscing and meeting their friends. On Sunday Mom and Dad took me to see the…

  • Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as Lunar Calendar by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2011, 03:00

    As I mentioned recently, in evaluating the fulfillment of last year's resolution to read a poem a day, I discovered something interesting about one of my…

  • A Great Holiday Read: A West Coast Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 7, 2010, 03:00

    This year, as I do every year, I struggle to find a really good "Christmas read," adult-level reading with a seasonal theme. This year, I'm returning to the…

  • Thanks Giving by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2010, 11:20

    For the past month, my whole attention and energy seems to be absorbed by two intertwined projects, publishing a book of short stories, and setting up a new…

  • Back to School! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2010, 03:00

    I'm really glad Aly's an unschooler, because if she attended regular school, I'm not sure I could take it! I became so indoctrinated by institutional…

  • Rediscovering Galway Kinnell by: Mark Zeiger

    July 30, 2010, 03:00

    More than halfway through the year, I'm managing to keep faithful to my New Year's Resolution to read a poem a day, every day. I even kept it up when we drove…

  • My Father-in-Law has Released his Book of Poems by: Mark Zeiger

    May 10, 2010, 03:00

    A package arrived the other day that we've anticipated for a while. In fact, part of my resolution this year, the one to read a poem a day every day, relied…

  • Review: Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by: Mark Zeiger

    April 23, 2010, 03:00

    Tomorrow the Haines library book club will discuss Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (check your local book store—you'll…

  • Jenna Woginrich's Made from Scratch: Homesteading Now, Not Later by: Mark Zeiger

    April 8, 2010, 03:00

    In talking to people about our lifestyle, we commonly hear them say they'd like to do it when the time and conditions are right. If you're one of those people,…

  • 2012: The End of the World Turned Out to be Worth the Wait by: Mark Zeiger

    March 19, 2010, 03:00

    We finally got to see the big-budget disaster movie, 2012. It was worth the wait! I may have set my expectations low enough to end up being surprised. It isn't…

  • Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me Brings the Homestead to a Weekly Stand Still by: Mark Zeiger

    February 7, 2010, 03:00

    Living semi-remotely on our homestead, we're secluded, which is not to say isolated . . . except on Saturday mornings. Every Saturday we take steps to isolate…

  • Developing Critical Thinking through Play: Bananagrams by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2010, 03:00

    This Christmas we received a game called Bananagrams. After playing it these past weeks, I’ve realized it’s an excellent way to learn critical thinking…

  • Our Review of Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2010, 03:00

    Living on a homestead, we’re very devoted to eating locally as much as possible. We share this interest with more and more people around the developed world…

  • The Stone Boat and Other Irrational Behavior by: Mark Zeiger

    December 11, 2009, 01:00

    Last year I read what still seems the most important book I've read in a long time. The book is Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior, by Ori…

  • Micheal Pollan's In Defense of Food: Straight Talk About Diet at Last by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2009, 01:00

    I recently read In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, by Michael Pollan (available through your local bookstore). I highly recommend it! This might be the…

  • The Innocents Abroad: Reading Mark Twain Aloud by: Mark Zeiger

    November 14, 2009, 07:00

    Shortly after telling you about how we like to read aloud, we picked out and started a new book. We're reading The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (available…

  • Eating Alaska: A Documentary Explores "Eating Locally" in a Locale Not So Near You by: Mark Zeiger

    October 7, 2009, 01:00

    Late last January we hiked to town to see Eating Alaska, a documentary by Ellen Frankenstein (no, really!) about eating locally. Ellen, who lives in Sitka,…

• Category: Seasons & Celebrations  (304)

  Observations of the seasons, particular holidays and special days.

  • Spring Breaks by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2019, 03:00

    It seemed too cliché to be true, but spring really seemed to kick into high gear on March 19th. I find that date significant: our latitude's spring…

  • An Irish Interlude by: Mark Zeiger

    March 18, 2019, 03:00

    Stuff's piling up here, folks. As ever, the blog reflects what's on our minds. Unfortunately, two major subjects weighing on our minds are not blog-worthy,…

  • Making Gift Bags to Replace Gift Wrapping by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2018, 03:00

    Last Christmas, Michelle surprised us all with gifts presented in a unique, lovely, and environmentally responsible way: she made reusable cloth gift bags for…

  • Twenty Years Gone by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2018, 03:00

    Today marks a sad anniversary in our family: Gertie, Mark's mom, passed away 20 years ago today. Gertie Zeiger at Ocean Cape, Yakutat, Alaska, autumn 1995.…

  • A "Fortress Homestead" Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2018, 03:00

    Ever since I can remember, I've held in my heart and mind a particular ideal of Christmas, or, perhaps more precisely, Christmas Eve. My ideal involved my…

  • Winter Solstice 2018: Far and Near by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2018, 03:00

    Today is Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere (see Season of Darkness, Season of Light). This year's shortest day/longest night is significant to…

  • Cruising Into the Holidays by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2018, 03:00

    This year's current holiday season seems like an easy cruise this year. I enjoyed the calm before the storm, as it were, anticipating Thanksgiving, Christmas,…

  • Anarchy by: Mark Zeiger

    November 5, 2018, 07:12

    It happened again this year: we changed the clocks back yesterday! I despise the whole concept of Daylight Saving Time. I've railed impotently against it…

  • And, Just Like That, It's Winter! by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2018, 03:00

    I hate feeling rushed. As much as I loved our recent trip to Ireland (see Every Sign a Song Cue), I regretted traveling during autumn. It's my favorite…

  • Every Sign a Song Cue by: Mark Zeiger

    October 24, 2018, 09:45

    Yesterday afternoon, Michelle and I hiked home, returning to our homestead after more than a month away. Now, with a nice fire warming the cold logs of the…

  • The Zeigers Head to Ireland! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2018, 03:00

    We're embarking on a major family trip starting this coming week. First, we'll go to the Oregon coast to gather with friends from our college days. A group…

  • A Successful Vacation by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2018, 03:00

    We returned from our Canada trip Saturday afternoon (see Get Out of Town!). We knew we had a good time, because, while we only left Haines around noon on…

  • Get Out of Town! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2018, 03:00

    This week we celebrate Michelle's birthday. As usual, it creates a certain amount of tension in the homestead. Autumn started for us on August 1st, but…

  • So Long at the Fair by: Mark Zeiger

    August 2, 2018, 10:51

    What a week! I feel like I've been on vacation. I blew off almost all homestead chores and tasks last week so that I could attend the Southeast Alaska State…

  • Celebrating Aly's First Quarter Century by: Mark Zeiger

    July 23, 2018, 07:01

    Yesterday, we celebrated a special birthday for Aly: she's now 25 years old! She enjoyed a rare consecutive two days off, so we stretched out the celebration…

  • Silent Awakening by: Mark Zeiger

    March 18, 2018, 03:00

    For the last few days, Tina Malia's song, The Silent Awakening, has been running through my head. All around us, a "silent awakening" has definitely been…

  • Out of Time by: Mark Zeiger

    March 12, 2018, 03:00

    Sunday, I tried to perform a chore I hate more than almost any other: I tried to change my watch to Daylight Saving Time. I utterly despise Daylight Saving…

  • Austen Fest 2018 by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2018, 20:14

    Rumor has it there's a pretty important football game today. Instead of watching that, we held Austen Fest. We held our first Austen Fest in 2010, for…

  • Plow Monday by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2018, 03:00

    Today, in Medieval times and after, is Plow Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Night, when men traditionally returned to work in the fields. It is paired…

  • A Homestead Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2017, 03:00

    Earlier in the season, Judy, a long-time reader of this blog, asked how we spend Christmas Eve and Christmas. I replied, but why not expand on that reply, and…

  • Simple Gifts: A Cherished Christmas Decoration and "Friend" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2017, 03:00

    Every year, as we pull out our Christmas decorations, we anticipate seeing an old friend: Bob the snowman. "Bob" has been with us so long that we no longer…

  • Winter Solstice 2017 by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2017, 03:00

    Today marks the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere. It is Yule, Midwinter's Day and Night, as I never tire of relating on this blog (see Season of…

  • How to Make Time for Your Children During the Holiday Rush (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2017, 03:00

    This concludes this essay on making time for children during the holiday rush. For the first part, go here. We pick up with checking with your children to see…

  • How to Make Time for Your Children During the Holiday Rush (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2017, 03:00

    Like the two-part essay, How to Beat the Post-Holiday "Blues", I wrote this article for a now-defunct Web site. And, as before, I need to cut it into two parts…

  • Be Proactive to Beat the Post-Holiday "Blues" (Part 2) by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2017, 03:00

    With Be Proactive to Beat the Post-Holiday "Blues" (Part 1), I began a discussion of suggestions for keeping the holidays from turning dark afterward. The…

  • Be Proactive to Beat the Post-Holiday "Blues" (Part 1) by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2017, 03:00

    Several years ago, I wrote a long article with personal recommendations for beating the "post holiday blues." The Website the article appeared on has since…

  • For Halloween: My Own Personal Horror Show! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2017, 03:00

    Don't even think about looking for photos here . . . . When I got the call that my FIT test indicated I should go in for a colonoscopy, I swore I'd keep it…

  • A Day Late, a Dollar Short, Yet Wealthy Beyond Measure by: Mark Zeiger

    October 22, 2017, 09:24

    Sitting in the wreckage of yesterday's activities, I'm torn between two important writing projects: this blog, and commenting on the looming University of…

  • Crossing the Autumnal Equinox—Both of Them by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2017, 06:56

    Today is the local Autumnal Equinox on the Zeiger Family Homestead. At our latitude, the balance between darkness and light falls two days later than the…

  • Eight Years of Blogging by: Mark Zeiger

    August 27, 2017, 03:00

    Tomorrow, August 28, marks the 8th anniversary of starting this blog. As with many other jobs or responsibilities, it hardly seems that it could be either that…

  • Spring Cleaning by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2017, 03:00

    On Tuesday, at precisely 3:00 p.m., the kitchen faucet began to drip, then trickle, then pour. After more than two weeks of freezing, our water line thawed. …

  • Epiphany Week by: Mark Zeiger

    January 4, 2017, 03:00

    It is the last week of our Christmas season, which generally ends on Epiphany or Twelfth Night, January 6th (see Twelfth Night Brings Christmas to a Close).…

  • A Brave New Year by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2017, 03:00

    A song that I enjoy listening to at this time of year includes the lines: "I wish you a hopeful Christmas/I wish you a brave New Year." The artist, Greg Lake,…

  • Beside the Christmas Fire by: Mark Zeiger

    December 25, 2016, 03:00

    Christmas Eve sunrise above the Coast Range. Red sky at morning, homesteader's take warning . . . of a white Christmas, perhaps? (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger). Me…

  • Turning Toward the Light by: Mark Zeiger

    December 23, 2016, 03:00

    Today, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, our local daylight begins to increase. Here on the homestead, we reached the Winter Solstice daylight low of…

  • Earth Hard as Iron by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2016, 03:00

    As I write this, we are in the midst of a cold snap. Temperatures hover between the low-teens and mid-twenties each day. Most days, gale force winds create…

  • Thank You for Smoking by: Mark Zeiger

    December 17, 2016, 08:38

    We maintain a strict non-smoking household. Michelle has reacted so badly to cigarette smoke throughout her life, that we just say, for the sake of simplicity,…

  • Season of Gratitude by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2016, 08:56

    This year, as we often do, we're celebrating Thanksgiving with three feasts: one with friends in town on Thanksgiving Day, our own meal, which we made Friday,…

  • End of the Season by: Mark Zeiger

    September 26, 2016, 06:59

    Yesterday, we hosted one of Michelle's coworkers and his girlfriend for lunch at the homestead. Michelle walked Lettie out to the bay to reunite her with…

  • August Ends by: Mark Zeiger

    August 31, 2016, 03:00

    It's time to close out August for the year. The other evening, we sat on the new deck (see On Deck and The Deck's Finished) and enjoyed the view, featuring a…

  • Evidence of Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    August 21, 2016, 07:08

    Recently, I posted on my personal Facebook page that Aly and I were enjoying an excellent homestead breakfast. The post got a lot of positive response from…

  • Ten Years At Home by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2016, 05:25

    Today marks the 10 anniversary of our move to the Zeiger Family Homestead. None of us can quite believe that we've been here a full decade now. Originally,…

  • An Independence Day Play List by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2016, 03:00

    Independence Day is almost upon us. Likely, it's already here for you, as it is for us, as the local celebration starts today, continuing through the weekend,…

  • Solstice Maximus by: Mark Zeiger

    June 20, 2016, 03:00

    I don't think a Summer Solstice can get any brighter than today. Not only will we see the maximum amount of daylight for the year (in the middle of the stasis…

  • An Almost Perfect Day by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2016, 07:47

    Yesterday morning I set up on the veranda to enjoy the view. I took a second cup of coffee, binoculars, a camera, a radio for catching the last of the…

  • Weather Mirror by: Mark Zeiger

    March 30, 2016, 07:39

    I must be a weather mirror. If so, that would explain a lot about my life, especially right now. I've spoken before about how weather affects me. Particularl…

  • Right Place, Wrong Time by: Mark Zeiger

    March 12, 2016, 03:00

    Mornings have been ineffably sweet lately. As we gain 5 minutes of daylight each day, we wake to softly increasing sunlight coming through the window at the…

  • Leap Day by: Mark Zeiger

    February 29, 2016, 03:00

    Today is Leap Day, the every-four-years catch-up day that keeps our Gregorian Calendar ticking along at a fairly steady clip. Traditionally, it's a day that…

  • Of Groundhogs and Grouse by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2016, 03:00

    It is February 2nd, Candlemas, and one of my family's longest-standing pseudoholidays, Groundhog Day. A couple of years ago I described how my family, led…

  • Where Did Winter Go? by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2016, 03:00

    I kind of hate to say this, but I feel like we're running out of winter! We make an effort to celebrate and appreciate winter for its own sake, rather than…

  • A New Year Far from Home by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2016, 03:00

    Happy New Year! As you read this, we are ringing in 2016 in Baranof Warm Springs, on the east coast of Baranof Island. Yes, where else would the Haines…

  • The Gift of Weather at Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2015, 03:00

    Our weather this Christmas took center stage. I could be wrong, but this might have been the best Christmas, weather wise, we've experienced here on the…

  • Walking the Walk at Christmas Time by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2015, 03:00

    Did I set myself up, or what? Here we are on Christmas Eve, at the most generous time of the year, and I'm busy talking about frugality! I can't tell you…

  • A Satisfactory Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    December 22, 2015, 03:00

    I have anticipated yesterday's Winter Solstice since last April, when I finished installing our new solar array (see Power Shift: The Plan in Place). Luckily…

  • "Come Darkness, Come Light" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 12, 2015, 03:00

    Less than two weeks away from the Winter Solstice, this hemisphere's longest night of the year, our Christmas season is pervasive darkness, punctuated by a…

  • Decorating for Christmas on Saint Nicholas Day by: Mark Zeiger

    December 6, 2015, 14:24

    I'm late and brief posting for the blog today, because Michelle and I are lighting the cabin and putting up our Christmas tree! This activity may make which…

  • First View: Technically, Second View... by: Mark Zeiger

    December 4, 2015, 03:00

    Today marks the 11th anniversary of the day Aly, Michelle and I first toured the property that would become our homestead. "First View" is now one of the high…

  • "Happy Holidays!" by: Mark Zeiger

    November 28, 2015, 08:03

    A long time ago, I heard or read the following story: A man and a woman, strangers to each other, approached a door. The man, reaching it first, opened the…

  • Thanksgiving by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2015, 03:00

      (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger.) Here on the homestead, every day is Thanksgiving! However, today we get turkey, too. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

  • Stir It Up Sunday by: Mark Zeiger

    November 22, 2015, 03:00

    Last year I stumbled across a marker day for this season. I love it, because it does several things simultaneously: it reminds us to start early on upcoming…

  • Winter's Sunny Start by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2015, 03:00

    For the first time in at least five years, November 1st—Samhain, the natural year's first day of winter—dawned clear and crisp. What an excellent way to…

  • Happy Halloween! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2015, 03:00

    Happy Halloween! We've grown to love the view from our main cabin window, with the silhouette decorations my father created more than 50 years ago, set against…

  • On Turning 55 by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2015, 03:00

    How old am I? I'm old enough to still imagine that turning 55 represents some sort of milestone. Not so, apparently. I knew that the retirement age had…

  • Soundtrack of the Homestead: Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 27, 2015, 03:00

    A while back, I mentioned a song I particularly love to listen to at this time of year (see Ain't It the Fall). Thinking of the song reminded me of the…

  • Ain't It the Fall by: Mark Zeiger

    September 1, 2015, 03:00

    The Starland Vocal Band, infamous for a frothy Top 40 hit in the 1970s, Afternoon Delight recorded some really nice music in their day. My favorite song of…

  • All Good Gifts by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2015, 05:32

    Here on the "homestead" we're enjoying our annual week of celebrations: Michelle's birthday, the anniversary of moving to the property (our 8th, today) and…

  • A "New" Feast Day: Saint Sunniva by: Mark Zeiger

    July 10, 2015, 03:00

    I learned Wednesday that July 8th is the feast day of Saint Sunniva. The name caught my attention because our new solar array is comprised of Suniva brand (one…

  • Happy Independence Day! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 4, 2015, 09:10

    (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger)

  • Independence Day Weather by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2015, 07:29

    Even though we've had a drier, hotter summer than many in recent years, July seems to be conforming to the normal weather pattern for this region. As we…

  • Solar Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    June 21, 2015, 07:48

    Each year we eagerly anticipate the Summer Solstice (see High Summer). This year I'm even more anxious to mark the event, as this day and a few days around it…

  • Month of Renewal by: Mark Zeiger

    March 7, 2015, 03:00

    Many different cultures regard March as a month of renewal. This year's March, we definitely feel renewal in the air. The recent period of low power while…

  • Thawed by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2015, 03:00

    When winter arrived last November, I began thinking about all the good qualities of the season, qualities which sometimes get lost in celebrating the Christmas…

  • Practicality Intrudes by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2015, 06:01

    I really hate how practicality sometimes trumps idealism. I especially dislike it when it happens at Christmas time. This year, practicality suggested we…

  • Back(ing) to the Future by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2015, 03:00

    Certain Aboriginal nations conceptualize life as backing into the future. To the western mind, this seems wrong—we face the future, hurling ourselves…

  • Merry Christmas! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2014, 03:00

    (Photo/Artwork: Mark A. Zeiger.)

  • Mild Midwinter, Super Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    December 22, 2014, 03:00

    Yesterday, this year's Winter Solstice, may have been the darkest one we've experienced yet, a Super Solstice, if you will. For one thing, this month's new…

  • Aly's Home! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2014, 03:00

    Aly arrived home for Christmas on Monday! Now our Christmas season progresses full speed ahead. For all we cared, we could have rolled the trail up behind us…

  • Enduring Christmas Music by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2014, 05:55

    As I mentioned in Christmas Now and Then, it's Christmas time on the Zeiger Family "Homestead." This means that almost all the music played here these days is…

  • Christmas Now and Then by: Mark Zeiger

    December 6, 2014, 03:00

    As far as we're concerned, it's Christmas time! Starting the day after Thanksgiving and lasting until Twelfth Night on January 6th, the "homestead" is in…

  • Our Tenth "First View" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 4, 2014, 03:00

    Today we mark an important family holiday, First View, the anniversary of the day we first saw the "homestead." In fact, today marks the 10th anniversary of…

  • A Kick Back Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2014, 06:16

    This Halloween strikes me as relatively obligation-free—a kick back Halloween, if you will. Not that this is at all unusual. It's just that we have a few…

  • Soundtrack of the "Homestead": Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 30, 2014, 03:00

    On Sunday morning, NPR's Weekend Edition disgusted me with an anemic, unimaginative article on Halloween music. Host Rachel Martin introduced the piece by…

  • Witches Brew, Domestic or Feral by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2014, 03:00

    Halloween has come 'round again. This year, as almost every year, we turn to family traditions, some of which have become, shall we say: less traditional. …

  • Preparing for the Dark Half of the Year by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2014, 03:00

    Today marks the autumnal equinox for the northern hemisphere. This so called "first day" of autumn approximates the point when we have equal hours of daylight…

  • Forever Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2014, 03:00

    The summer sun is fading as the year grows old And darker days are drawing near. The winter winds will be much colder Now you're not here. —Justin…

  • Last Light by: Mark Zeiger

    September 8, 2014, 03:00

    Aly returns south for her last year of college in less than a week. We're working hard to balance the desire to "fit it all in" against the knowledge that…

  • Breaking the Autumn "Rule" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 13, 2014, 03:00

    Monday, Aly and I broke "the rule." As rain poured on the fog-shrouded land and water, we turned on our favorite autumn music, brewed hot drinks, and settled…

  • Reserve Week by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2014, 08:37

    This week in August is so important to our family that I've taken to referring to it as "Reserve Week," marking it out on calendars to keep us from accepting…

  • Reunions by: Mark Zeiger

    July 3, 2014, 03:00

    This year my sister, Beth's high school class celebrates its 30th anniversary reunion. Instead of attending her fellow graduates, she's headed to Wrangell,…

  • Summer Solstice Sun Survey by: Mark Zeiger

    June 21, 2014, 03:00

    Our observance of the Summer Solstice will be a bit of a departure from normal this year. On a day that we generally associate with Nature (even more so than…

  • Spring Break (2014) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 22, 2014, 03:00

    We've been watching carefully, and have finally seen it: Spring Break. The moment when spring, slowly building from its wintry birth in February, tilts the…

  • The Coming of Spring by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2014, 03:00

    Last year at this time I doubted that anyone would fear the possibility of a too-warm February in our region (see Groundhog Day, Alaska Style). This year, I…

  • A Toast to Brewing! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 13, 2014, 03:00

    Two years ago, I learned about the Celtic Festival of Brewing, which fell on January 13th. As detailed in the post, Happy "Brewing!" the ancient Celts…

  • Yuletide Ebbs by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2014, 03:00

    Tonight is the Eve of Epiphany, which makes tomorrow Twelfth Night. Another "homestead" Christmas season draws to an end. This has been our eighth Christmas…

  • Personal Thoughts on Self Reliance at the Turning of the Year by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2014, 03:00

    "Nature never said to me: Do not be poor; still less did she say, Be rich; her cry to me was always: Be independent." —Nicolas Chamfort Last night we…

  • A Christmas Card from the Zeiger Family Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2013, 03:00

    I told you we would have a white Christmas! (see "Just Like the Ones We Used to Know.") We did get an hour or so of very light rain in the afternoon, but…

  • Self-Reliance at Christmas Time by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2013, 03:00

    Michelle and I had an interesting conversation last Sunday. We brainstormed about blog post topics for Christmas week. I'd just finished the Christmas day post…

  • "Just Like the Ones We Used to Know" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 25, 2013, 03:00

    My Christmas wish for you, dear Reader, is that you are reading this Christmas post (prepared and scheduled a day or two before Christmas day) on December 26…

  • Solstice Solitude by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2013, 03:00

    Despite my best intentions, this year's Christmas season started later than we had intended (see Early Onset Christmas). We've caught up, but may not be quite…

  • Comfort and Joy by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2013, 03:00

    Yesterday, around noon, I took the first real shower I'd had in nine days. We worked hard all day Friday on rebuilding the water system. We brought the…

  • Toward a Less-Commercial Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 1, 2013, 03:00

    The Christmas season's upon us. Insert your favorite phrase here to express loathing for the over-commercialization of holidays. Of all the simple gifts our…

  • Early Onset Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    November 20, 2013, 03:00

    If you've read the blog long enough to form any impressions of me, no doubt you've learned that I value (dare I say sacralize?) the separation of the Sacred…

  • Winter Comes by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2013, 07:37

    Winter has come. No snow has fallen on the "homestead," no frosts or freezes that linger more than an hour past daylight, but it won't be long. The air has…

  • Homestead Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2013, 05:18

    I've always loved the medieval incantation against scary stuff: From ghoulies and ghosties, and long-leggity beasties And things that go bump in the…

  • Autumn is Upon Us by: Mark Zeiger

    September 9, 2013, 03:00

    The coming of yesterday's daylight revealed Lynn Canal whipped into large white-capped waves as a 40-knot equinoctial gale charged through the region. The rain…

  • Seven Years Good Luck by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2013, 07:03

    Seven years ago today, we moved to the "homestead." At the time, we promised ourselves to give it five years, then re-evaluate. After the first year, no one…

  • Worry-Free Weather Watching by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2013, 06:24

    If our weather has been unusual this year, it normalized on the first of the month. Our hot, sunny, calm June turned into a cooler, cloudy, windy July, with…

  • A Midsummer's Day Bouquet by: Mark Zeiger

    June 20, 2013, 03:00

    You'd hardly know it, but today is the Summer Solstice, midsummer's day. It'll likely pass unnoticed by many, because most people think of the solstice as a…

  • The Tide Turns by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2013, 03:00

    The transition seems as abrupt as the flipping of a switch. On April 30th, on my way to town, I saw a sight in a neighbor's front yard that inspired me to…

  • Spring Break (2013) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 1, 2013, 03:00

    Ours has been a somewhat unusual spring. After a mild winter, early spring turned cold. Looking back to previous years, marker after marker seems late: the…

  • When It's Spring Time in Alaska . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2013, 03:00

    Ever since I can remember, I've heard Johnny Horton's Springtime in Alaska. My parents played his greatest hits record (check your local independent music…

  • Saint Patrick's Day, Equinox, and Signs of Spring by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2013, 03:00

    It's Saint Patrick's Day. Despite being largely Irish in my heritage (the last name doesn't necessarily indicate blood dominance) I've always thought of the…

  • Groundhog Day, Alaska Style by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2013, 03:00

    Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is the only weather-related "holiday" on the calendar. Considering our lifestyle, you'd think that would make it the high holy day…

  • It's National [Illegible] Day by: Mark Zeiger

    January 23, 2013, 03:00

    In early December, I added the January pages to my Franklin-Covey planner. Each month I adjust my planner to contain the current month and the ones immediately…

  • St. Distaff's Day by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2013, 03:00

    Once upon a time, today was known as Saint Distaff's Day. The first and second working days after Twelfth Night marked the traditional return to regular work.…

  • Using Wind to Predict the New Year by: Mark Zeiger

    December 31, 2012, 03:00

    At the turning of the year, as I gather the coming year's astronomical data and track the weather, as we do at all times, I have been thinking of an old saying…

  • A Modest Proposal for Christmas Day by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2012, 03:00

    Merry Christmas! The blog likely won't get updated tomorrow, or even the next day, as we keep Christmas on the Zeiger Family Homestead. If you happen to be…

  • A Wild Winter Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    December 22, 2012, 09:36

    Yesterday, in the 9:00 am hour, we huddled against the sheltering Power Point slope on our beach, wrapped in our warmest coats, watching the sun transit our…

  • Lighting a Candle in the Darkness by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2012, 03:00

    Wednesday, Aly and I put a couple of strings of Christmas lights on the cabin. We did this mostly for ourselves, particularly to surprise Michelle, who came…

  • The Real Value of Homemade Gifts by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2012, 03:00

    The phrase "homemade gift" can strike fear into the stoutest of hearts. We all act as if they are a good thing, but if hard pressed, relatively few people…

  • Aly's Home for Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 17, 2012, 03:00

    We are so glad to have Aly home again. Home is where you hang your Christmas stocking (Photo: Mark Zeiger).

  • Celebrating the Light by: Mark Zeiger

    December 13, 2012, 03:00

    We have entered my favorite time of year, the Winter Solstice, midwinter, the darkest part of the year and the Christmas season where light and dark are…

  • Fixing the Date by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2012, 03:00

    The phrase "fixing the date" has always seemed a bit odd to me, but I've always understood its meaning. This year, however, we're using it in the sense of…

  • A Home Craft Christmas Tree by: Mark Zeiger

    November 23, 2012, 03:00

    As is our tradition, the Zeiger Family Homestead Christmas season began Friday morning.This year, however, Michelle and I undertook a project that brought…

  • The Wild Hunt by: Mark Zeiger

    November 5, 2012, 03:00

    Now, in the darkening days between Halloween and the beginning of the Christmas season, is said to be the time of the Wild Hunt. One of my favorite…

  • October by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2012, 06:21

    As I write this, skies are clear over the homestead. The first pale glow of dawn shows in the north, but the brighter stars are out: the constellation Orion,…

  • Celebrating a Micro-Milestone by: Mark Zeiger

    September 28, 2012, 03:00

    I've spoken before about celebrating small events in our life. Recently, I found myself celebrating a really small event, a micro-milestone, if you will:…

  • Wrap Myself in Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 16, 2012, 03:00

    The time has come To wrap myself in Autumn Scratchy, heavy, and slightly Musty like an old wool blanket The season settles on and around me As comforting…

  • Season's First Snow on the Mountains by: Mark Zeiger

    September 10, 2012, 15:16

    This morning, when the low clouds cleared off the mountains, we saw "termination dust," the first snows of the coming winter on the peaks of the Coast…

  • Autumn Encroaches by: Mark Zeiger

    August 16, 2012, 03:00

    According to the method by which we observe the seasons, autumn came to the homestead more than two weeks ago. We've just passed the family event that make…

  • 30 Years is Not Enough by: Mark Zeiger

    August 14, 2012, 03:00

    Today, Michelle and I celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Like most of our celebrations, this one will be simple, low key, and will center around food.…

  • Cheechako No More? Michelle Marks 20 Years as an Alaskan by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2012, 10:25

    This morning, when I arranged my day according to my Franklin-Covey planner, I saw that today is the anniversary of Michelle and my move to Alaska. The…

  • The Glorious Fourth by: Mark Zeiger

    July 4, 2012, 03:00

    Hey, Baby, It's the Fourth of July! Time for another good old-fashioned small town Independence Day. Today we're in town, hanging out with friends,…

  • Spring Takes Hold by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2012, 07:58

    Somewhere in the final days of March, we began to fell as if spring had finally taken hold. Although we still had plenty of snow on the ground, we had a run of…

  • March Astronomical and Weather Trivia by: Mark Zeiger

    March 3, 2012, 03:00

    Here's a cool little coincidence: on this 3rd of March, the month named for the god Mars, the planet named after the same deity is in opposition to earth. That…

  • Spring Changes: A New Homestead "Store" by: Mark Zeiger

    February 1, 2012, 03:00

    Spring is upon us, by our reckoning. I think this time I've finally figured it out. As I've mentioned often before, viewing the seasons from the ancient Celtic…

  • Happy "Brewing!" by: Mark Zeiger

    January 12, 2012, 03:00

    I read recently that tomorrow, January 13th was once the date of the ancient festival called, simply, "Brewing." The ancient Celts saw the 13th as the…

  • Twelfth Tide by: Mark Zeiger

    January 6, 2012, 03:00

    "Old Christmas is past Twelfth Tide is the last And we bid you adieu, Great joy to the new!" —The King, traditional English Christmas song Today is…

  • 2012 by: Mark Zeiger

    January 2, 2012, 03:00

    Here it is, a brand new year. My impulse is to try to write something profound and inspirational about it. Perhaps I should assess the past year on the…

  • Sleep Walking by: Mark Zeiger

    December 31, 2011, 03:00

    If you have been reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me through 2011, it’s time for the last poem of the year. In keeping with the…

  • A White Day After Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2011, 03:00

    Last autumn, the common prognostication called for this to be a colder winter, with a lot more snow. If that's the case, then we're in for it soon. Because, up…

  • "I'm Afraid I was Making Rather Merry Yesterday, Sir!" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2011, 03:00

    Season's greetings! I try to post on this blog at least every other day, which means today, St. Stephen's Day, or Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, I should…

  • A Poem for Christmas Eve by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2011, 03:00

    Christmas Eve has come. Tonight is the new moon; if you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, tonight's poem is…

  • A Blank Slate by: Mark Zeiger

    December 23, 2011, 10:05

    As I've tried to express in many different ways, the Christmas season is very important to us, full of major and minor holidays and observances. One of the…

  • The Watches of the Longest Night by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2011, 08:00

    The Winter Solstice has come, Midwinter's Night, or, for those completely out of touch with the reality of our hemisphere's seasons, "the first day of winter."…

  • Stark County Holiday Ramblings by: Mark Zeiger

    December 17, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time for a Christmas poem for today's last quarter moon, Stark…

  • You Want Breakfast in Bed? Go Get it Yourself! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 13, 2011, 03:00

    Today is St. Lucia Day, a little holiday within the Christmas season, observed primarily in Sweden. It has a lot to offer families around the world, particularl…

  • First View and the Feast of St. Nicholas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 6, 2011, 03:00

    Today is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, a day we like to observe as part of our Christmas celebration. Yesterday, the Eve of Saint Nicholas, is a family…

  • For Eleanor: Cancer at Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time for another poem, for this month's first quarter moon, For…

  • Now Comes Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2011, 03:00

    Thanksgiving has passed, now comes Christmas, perhaps the highlight of our year. It started yesterday. We had spent Thanksgiving in town with friends,…

  • Storm Season by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2011, 03:00

    Happy Thanksgiving! If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s the new moon, time to read Storm. I've…

  • Winter Sleep by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time another poem, this one for the first quarter moon: Winter…

  • Hanging On to Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 28, 2011, 03:00

    Halloween is here. We're facing our first major seasonal observance (I am of the generation taught not to refer to Halloween as a "holiday") without Aly, who…

  • Falling Leaves by: Mark Zeiger

    September 30, 2011, 07:04

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time for another one of the poem's not associated with a specific…

  • Looking for Mushrooms by: Mark Zeiger

    September 23, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time for another one of the poem's not associated with a specific…

  • Fires of August by: Mark Zeiger

    August 27, 2011, 03:00

    As August draws to a close in our corner of Southeast Alaska it continues to imitate October very convincingly. We've already lit fires in the woodstove on…

  • So Far, So Good by: Mark Zeiger

    August 15, 2011, 05:53

    The second week of August is one of celebrations for our family, important anniversaries that fall within a few days of each other. Generally, we try to set…

  • Living Cyclically: Autumn Comes Again by: Mark Zeiger

    August 1, 2011, 03:00

    The problem with blogging about a life lived cyclically, in harmony with the seasons, is that the topics eventually become redundant. Today is Lughnasad, or…

  • Turning Some Corner by: Mark Zeiger

    July 22, 2011, 06:49

    If you're reading Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it's the last quarter moon in my time zone, possibly tomorrow in yours.…

  • High Summer by: Mark Zeiger

    June 21, 2011, 03:00

    Today is the Summer Solstice, Litha, Midsummer's Day, the longest day of the year. Looking out my window as I write, it appears this will be a day to mark…

  • On Fatherhood by: Mark Zeiger

    June 19, 2011, 03:00

    Father's Day, and my only child is far from home, participating in an archaeological field school in Canada. My plans today are to be petulant, surly, and…

  • Remembrance by: Mark Zeiger

    May 24, 2011, 16:24

    It's the night of the first quarter moon, which means it's time to read another poem from Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons. Today's poem is Stone Poem. This will…

  • "Royal Wedding" Photo and Twelve Moons by: Mark Zeiger

    May 2, 2011, 03:00

    As usually happens when we're having fun, Michelle and Aly didn't get enough photos taken of them at the "Royal Wedding" Luncheon benefit for the Chilkat…

  • Summer's Just Come, Yet Seems Half-Gone by: Mark Zeiger

    May 1, 2011, 03:00

    It's May 1st, May Day, Beltane, the first day of summer by the Celtic calendar reckoning. Most years, it seems appropriately timed. This year, however, we're a…

  • The Most Wonder-Full Time of the Year by: Mark Zeiger

    April 28, 2011, 07:31

    A certain phrase from a popular Christmas song has been going through my head lately. As much as I love Christmas, I have to say that here in our part of…

  • Easter Eggs by: Mark Zeiger

    April 24, 2011, 03:00

    It's Easter Sunday. Among other celebratory activities, we'll be hiding eggs for Aly to find, perhaps for the last time, as she'll likely be away at college…

  • Still Waiting for the Thaw by: Mark Zeiger

    April 16, 2011, 09:14

    Our weather has been fairly warm with a lot of sunshine lately. We feel like spring is here. However, we still see signs that we have a ways to go yet. Our…

  • April, Come She Has by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2011, 09:09

    Okay, so we're not really selling up and moving to Tuscany . . . . I can't remember the last time I even tried to pull off an April Fool's Day joke. I never…

  • Early Equinox by: Mark Zeiger

    March 18, 2011, 03:00

    As I learned last year, even though the "official" Vernal Equinox, the time when we have equal amounts of darkness and daylight on our way to the Summer…

  • A St. Patrick's Day Dish: Colcannon by: Mark Zeiger

    March 17, 2011, 03:00

    Like most Americans, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a "traditional" meal. I even have Irish ancestry. For us, the celebration centers around the evening…

  • Spring Break (2011) by: Mark Zeiger

    March 10, 2011, 10:20

    Hard on the heels of my post expressing disbelief that spring could ever come again, something has shifted, changed—broken. Nothing dramatic has transpired…

  • 6 to 8 Weeks by: Mark Zeiger

    March 6, 2011, 03:42

    Michelle has started planning this year's garden. I see this as a symbol of indomitable hope, as the homestead remains deep in the grip of bitter winter…

  • An Alaskan Blessing by: Mark Zeiger

    March 4, 2011, 08:43

    Today is the new moon, which means it's time to read another poem from Mary Oliver's Twelve Moons. Today's poem is A Blessing. As a calendar, this is the time…

  • March Arrives in Leonine Fashion by: Mark Zeiger

    March 1, 2011, 03:00

    March has arrived in classic form in our part of Southeast Alaska. Unlike last year, the month's "coming in" is distinctly leonine. The gales we've seen for…

  • Celebrating Our Sourdough's Anniversary with Gingerbread by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2011, 03:00

    Today our family strain of sourdough turns 19 years old. Aly has made 18-hour bread for the homestead, and we'll also likely have more of the sourdough…

  • Driving Toward Spring by: Mark Zeiger

    February 1, 2011, 03:00

    Today (and/or tomorrow) is the ancient festival of Imbolc, the first day of spring by Celtic reckoning. As I reflected last year, this is the most elusive of…

  • A New Year Without Fear by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2011, 03:00

    It would be trite, flowery, and over-dramatic to say that my days lately have been filled with poetry, but that is, in fact, the case. As 2010 came to a close,…

  • Making Spice-Scented Christmas Ornaments by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2010, 03:00

    We have, for a long time, had a small Christmas ornament that I've really liked. It looks like a gingerbread cookie, but it smells of cinnamon, perfuming our…

  • Christmas Visitors by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2010, 03:00

    Christmas, like most things in life, is what you make it. Our Christmas Day was wonderful! A day that, even more than on regular days, was devoted to family…

  • Surviving The 12 Days of Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2010, 03:00

    Last Christmas, I laid out the "correct" way to count the Twelve Days of Christmas—if you want them to come out correctly at the end of the traditional…

  • A Zeiger Family Homestead Christmas Reader by: Mark Zeiger

    December 25, 2010, 03:00

    Christmas Day is here! There's no way we're going to be on line today, too many more important things to do. For those of you who check the blog today,…

  • A Thought for Christmas Eve by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2010, 03:00

    Christmas Eve. Tonight is a Holy Night, whether you follow any religion, or none at all. Simply the fact that a large percentage of the world's population…

  • In the Bleak Midwinter: Winter Solstice on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2010, 03:00

    In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan/earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone . . . . —Christina Georgina Rossetti, In the Bleak Midwinter …

  • A Lost Day by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2010, 08:47

    I'm fond of speaking of the Christmas season as a "time out of time," when the normal "rules" of time are warped, even disregarded. I seem to have gotten a…

  • The Winter Solstice Approaches by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2010, 03:00

    Our family's Christmas celebration is a complicated affair, pulling in days, events, and moments to celebrate from many different traditions. At the moment,…

  • Halcyon Days are Here Again - Can't You Tell? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 16, 2010, 03:00

    The Halcyon Days, traditionally a two-week period of calm seas around the Winter Solstice, began yesterday. Typically, they were ushered in on Lynn Canal in…

  • O Christmas Tree by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2010, 03:00

    We had to delay putting up and decorating a Christmas tree this year, but I think it has been worth it. After a few transitional years, I think we finally…

  • One Last St. Lucia Day by: Mark Zeiger

    December 13, 2010, 09:20

    When the holidays rolled around, Michelle and I became aware of a lot of "lasts." Aly is a senior this year; next year, she'll be off to college. Because she's…

  • A Great Holiday Read: A West Coast Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 7, 2010, 03:00

    This year, as I do every year, I struggle to find a really good "Christmas read," adult-level reading with a seasonal theme. This year, I'm returning to the…

  • Finding Our Way Home - A Story for "First View" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2010, 03:00

    December 4 is a family holiday we call "First View," commemorating the anniversary of the first time we saw the homestead property. Last year, I related the…

  • Christmas “Downsizing” by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2010, 03:00

    We're a family that thrives on traditions—particularly Christmas traditions. Many of the patterns and habits we've grown used to have had to be re-adjusted…

  • "Closed" for Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2010, 08:43

    This morning we're in the middle of one of the biggest transitions of the homestead year. We've already dug out our special mugs; I'm setting up new playlists…

  • A Zeiger Family Homestead Thanksgiving Reader by: Mark Zeiger

    November 25, 2010, 03:00

    The Zeiger family is not online today, we're celebrating the holiday. If you're reading this on Thanksgiving day, hopefully it's during a lull in your family…

  • Mary Oliver to the Rescue Once Again by: Mark Zeiger

    November 5, 2010, 08:33

    I am still faithfully fulfilling my 2010 New Year's Resolution to read a poem a day. This morning, before reading the poem I'd preselected for the day, I…

  • Winter Falls by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2010, 03:00

    It's November 1st, Samhain, the first day of winter according to the Celtic or Natural calendar. After celebrating Halloween in town last night, we can attest…

  • Happy Halloween! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2010, 03:00

    Tonight is Halloween! As it has been since we moved to the homestead, Halloween has meant making some hard decisions. It takes a fair amount of energy and…

  • For Alaska Day: A “Real” Russian Tea Recipe Finally Surfaces by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2010, 03:00

    Today is Alaska Day! If you've followed this blog through the past year, you may have sensed a certain obsession on my part when it comes to Russian Tea, a…

  • Time to Decorate for Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 10, 2010, 09:19

    We've been planning to do this for three days now, but life has been getting in the way. Today, a down day after the excitement of yesterday (Aly's SAT,…

  • Autumn Magic Part 1: Red Sunrise by: Mark Zeiger

    October 3, 2010, 03:00

    As September drew to a close, and October began, we had a string of magical events on the homestead. The morning of October 1st we had a beautiful sunrise.…

  • I'm 50, Dammit! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2010, 03:00

    Today I turn 50 years old! I can now claim a half century of life. I've been looking forward to this—honestly! You see, I was lucky to be born in 1960, a…

  • Termination Dust by: Mark Zeiger

    September 28, 2010, 10:02

    We've had snow on the peaks of the Coast Range across the way off and on for the last week or so, but I finally got a good photo of it on "LC Mountain." In…

  • The Time of Two Sunrises by: Mark Zeiger

    September 24, 2010, 03:00

    At this time of year, and in March, we get two sunrises each morning. The sun rises first in the valley between The Mountain With No Name and LC…

  • Autumnal Equinox by: Mark Zeiger

    September 23, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, which my ancestors called Mabon, when the amount of daylight and darkness balances for a moment before tipping toward…

  • Happy Unbirthday to Us by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2010, 08:16

    Since we hadn't seen my brother, Dave and his wife, Anke in three years, Michelle and Aly decided that we needed to have an "unbirthday party" to celebrate the…

  • The Zeiger Family Homestead Blog, Year One by: Mark Zeiger

    August 29, 2010, 03:00

    I started the Zeiger Family Homestead Blog a year ago today! It began with this post, then I left if alone for a week. I'd been recruited by another blog that…

  • Autumn Advances by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2010, 03:00

    I just might love autumn more than the other seasons of the year, but I have a little trouble celebrating it as I see fit in its early days. For all my talk…

  • August 14, 1982 by: Mark Zeiger

    August 14, 2010, 03:00

    Ah, but she was a beautiful bride! A girl, really, just turned 21 four days before, honey blonde hair, slender in a long, simple white gown with a blue ribbon…

  • Celebrating Our 4th Homestead Anniversary by: Mark Zeiger

    August 11, 2010, 03:00

    On this day four years ago, we moved from Juneau to our homestead. With each passing year, the joyful memories outweigh the unhappy ones.For all the planning…

  • Birthday Wishes, Homestead-Style by: Mark Zeiger

    August 10, 2010, 03:00

    It's Michelle's birthday today. Aching as I am from fulfilling one of her birthday wishes, I can have no doubt that she's cut out for homestead life. When…

  • Autumn Arrives on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    August 2, 2010, 03:00

    Yesterday, August 1st, is known in parts of the world as Lughnassadh or Lammas Day. According to the Celtic calendar, which we tend to follow, this day, the…

  • The News from Snare Creek by: Mark Zeiger

    July 24, 2010, 03:00

    The reception was so bad we missed half of what she said, and we got cut off completely once, but we did get to talk to Aly Thursday at the Snare Creek…

  • Aly Turns 17 Today by: Mark Zeiger

    July 22, 2010, 03:00

    Today, somewhere on Snare Creek in the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve, a young girl—or, I should say, a young lady, turns 17 years old. Today, on the…

  • Our Alaskan Anniversary by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2010, 03:00

    Today is a family anniversary. Eighteen years ago on July 12th, Michelle and I arrived in Juneau by ferry, beginning our life together in Alaska.I was born and…

  • There's No Place Quite Like Small Town Alaska for the Fourth of July by: Mark Zeiger

    July 4, 2010, 03:00

    For a good old-fashioned Fourth of July, give me small town Alaska, particularly Wrangell or Haines! The quality of Independence Day celebrations in…

  • The Dog Days of Summer by: Mark Zeiger

    July 3, 2010, 03:00

    Today the Dog Days begin. They will last till August 15th. Generally regarded as the hottest part of the summer, the term has always called to my mind large…

  • Family for the Fourth by: Mark Zeiger

    June 30, 2010, 03:00

    The other day I talked to my sister, Beth, on the phone. She and Kim are on a major road trip, bringing their RV up to Fairbanks, Alaska. "So," I asked…

  • Remembering Lissa by: Mark Zeiger

    June 26, 2010, 07:59

    I warned eight years ago that a day like yesterday would come, but when it finally did, that didn't help one bit. We regrettably laid our older cat, Lissa, in…

  • Lissa's Gone by: Mark Zeiger

    June 25, 2010, 03:00

    Our sweet friend, Lissa, passed away last night. We are going to miss her very much. The homestead won't be the same without her.

  • Daddy's Home by: Mark Zeiger

    June 23, 2010, 08:50

    I have returned from down south with good news: "the course of love" does, in fact, "run smooth." My friend and college roommate's wedding was wonderful! They…

  • Summer Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    June 21, 2010, 03:00

    If all goes according to plan, I'm in Alaska for the Summer Solstice, but sadly, not Haines. Juneau is one degree south and one degree east of Haines, which…

  • Midsummer's Eve by: Mark Zeiger

    June 20, 2010, 03:00

    Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, Midsummer's Day, although most of the modern world will claim, belatedly, that it's the first day of summer. As if the season…

  • Remembering My Mother's Hugs by: Mark Zeiger

    June 9, 2010, 07:41

    The issue and question of memory is very much on the minds of my family, as, tragically, it is in so many families these days. With focus on Alzheimer's…

  • Food, Friends, and Music by: Mark Zeiger

    June 3, 2010, 03:00

    After an excellent evening of dining, reminiscing and enjoying excellent views from the homestead, and Aly's sourdough pancakes the next morning, we saw our…

  • Summer Days by: Mark Zeiger

    May 26, 2010, 03:00

    So far, the weather has supported our observance of the Celtic view of the seasons, marking the beginning of each at its beginning rather than midpoint. For…

  • Saint Brendan's Day, May 16th by: Mark Zeiger

    May 16, 2010, 03:00

    Today is the Feast of Saint Brendan. Of all the saints I venerate, if that's the proper term for my interest in them, Brendan is one of my favorites. He's not…

  • Cold Sophie by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2010, 03:00

    Today is traditionally the day of Cold Sophie in southern Germany, marking the end of the days of the Eisheilige, or Ice Saints. Apparently in that part of the…

  • Mother's Day Without Mom by: Mark Zeiger

    May 9, 2010, 03:00

    Since my mother, Gertie Zeiger, passed away in 1998, Mother's Day has become a day of remembrance more than tribute for me.Mom, I'm sure, would have loved the…

  • Wind in the Willows, and Cottonwoods, Alders, and Birches by: Mark Zeiger

    May 8, 2010, 03:00

    This is a most fragrant time of year in Southeast Alaska. Our few hardwoods, willow, cottonwood, alder, and birch, flower in pendulous, light green or reddish…

  • Circle of the Seasons: Summer by: Mark Zeiger

    May 1, 2010, 06:00

    It's May 1st, the first day of summer according to Celtic reckoning, a way of looking at the seasons that is arguably more sensible, particularly for our…

  • Saint Mark's Day, April 25 by: Mark Zeiger

    April 25, 2010, 03:00

    Today, April 25th, is Saint Mark's Day. Ironically, considering my casual interest in saints and iconography, I have no icon of my namesake saint, and I…

  • Show Your Clan Colors! April 6th is National Tartan Day by: Mark Zeiger

    April 6, 2010, 09:00

    It's National Tartan Day! This day, first recognized nationally in 1997, recognizes the accomplishments of Americans of Scottish and Scottish-Irish descent and…

  • April and May: Southeast Alaska's Prime Time by: Mark Zeiger

    April 6, 2010, 03:00

    Whenever anyone asks us when they should visit the homestead, we always urge them to come at this time of year, in April or May. This is probably when…

  • Celebrating Easter: No Ravens Allowed by: Mark Zeiger

    April 4, 2010, 03:00

    On this Easter Sunday, children and the young at heart all across the nation are hunting Easter eggs. In Alaska, those who do so face stiff competition from…

  • Spring Is Blossoming into a Full-Grown Beauty by: Mark Zeiger

    April 2, 2010, 03:00

    When Aly was 9 days old, we moved into our first house in Juneau. A friend who managed a local moving company brought a container truck by to move our stuff.…

  • Happy 100th Anniversary, Sitka National Historical Park! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 23, 2010, 03:00

    Sitka National Historical Park turns 100 years old today. I wish I could be there to mark the occasion! Despite the long and grand name, this park…

  • An Unequal Vernal Equinox by: Mark Zeiger

    March 20, 2010, 03:00

    Today, officially, is the Vernal Equinox, the day when we have equal amounts of darkness and daylight. It's also regarded as the first day of spring. We here…

  • It's Happening Again: Daylight Saving Time Returns to Screw Things Up by: Mark Zeiger

    March 13, 2010, 03:00

    Tomorrow, Sunday, March 14th, Daylight Saving Time begins again. This always takes us by surprise; more so in the years since Congress moved this arbitrary,…

  • Rumex Super Goat Res (Sorry About the Goat Thing) by: Mark Zeiger

    March 10, 2010, 03:00

    It's beginning to look like I may need to apologize for the goat comment. The first week of March, after an ambiguous beginning, turned into a series of wild…

  • Best Man by: Mark Zeiger

    March 3, 2010, 03:00

    My college roommate is getting married this summer, and he just asked me to stand up for him as his Best Man. I couldn't be more proud! He stood up for me…

  • March Comes in Like a . . . Goat by: Mark Zeiger

    March 1, 2010, 08:46

    March is upon us, and, as I have every year since I can remember, I'm analyzing the weather to judge whether the month is coming in like a lion or a lamb. And,…

  • Happy Birthday, Sourdough! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 20, 2010, 03:00

    Today marks an important anniversary in our home, the birthday of a family member whose life nourishes and improves ours. Today our family strain of…

  • A Personal Anniversary (I Think) by: Mark Zeiger

    February 12, 2010, 03:00

    In January I applied for my hunting/fishing license, and, as I do every year, I cringed when I filled in the number of years I've been an Alaska resident. I…

  • An Alternative to the Superbowl - Austen Fest by: Mark Zeiger

    February 8, 2010, 03:00

    Try as I might, I've never been able to muster proper enthusiasm for American football. It's not my fault—I grew up in Southeast Alaska, where the only true…

  • The Circle Turns Toward Spring by: Mark Zeiger

    February 2, 2010, 03:00

    It's got to be here somewhere! I have spoken before of our observance of the Celtic view of the seasons; how, as opposed to the current view that the first…

  • Heaven Help Us, It's February! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 1, 2010, 03:00

    With apologies to those born in the month, a rant: I can be a pretty cynical person, so to compensate, I make an effort to be positive, particularly about…

  • Sun Showers by: Mark Zeiger

    January 22, 2010, 03:00

    Here on the homestead, we sun ourselves when we can, but it's less sunbathing than sun showering. We don't "lay out" to get a tan, but we do go out and sit or…

  • Twelfth Night Brings Christmas to a Close by: Mark Zeiger

    January 6, 2010, 03:00

    Today is Epiphany, the Feast of the Three Kings, Twelfth Night. For us, it's the end of our Christmas season. It's time to be, as the old tune says, "breakin'…

  • Preparing for Re-Entry by: Mark Zeiger

    January 4, 2010, 03:00

    Our Christmas season will soon draw to a close. It’s time to plan an exit strategy! As I’ve mentioned before, we celebrate Christmas in a way that…

  • Planning the Coming Year - A New Year's Day Project by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2010, 06:00

    Today, New Year’s Day, I indulge in a very pleasant activity: updating my Franklin Planner. This task occurs the first day of every month throughout the…

  • Spending New Year's Eve with the Moon by: Mark Zeiger

    December 31, 2009, 03:00

    Tonight, for New Year’s Eve, we’ll be going outside and watching the sky. Not for fireworks, but for the moon. For the first time in 19 years, since before…

  • Preparing For the Coming Year: Daylight Charts by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2009, 03:00

    As you may well have gathered by now, I'm fond of rituals, especially at the holidays. As this year draws to a close and the new one is about to begin, some of…

  • Reemergion or Reemersion? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 29, 2009, 08:58

    Late last night, our “wind drought” ended. The weak northerlies that have prevailed since December 22nd finally strengthened enough to drive our wind…

  • Christmas, Mother Night, and a Period of Low Power by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2009, 09:00

    This Christmas has been unusual for its lack of wind. On the 22nd I wrapped up my Christmas communications, sending out our Christmas newsletter electronically,…

  • Christmas Larceny and Deceit: A Memory of Mom by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2009, 03:00

    Today is the First Day of Christmas, St. Stephen's Day, memorialized in the old carol, Good King Wenceslas. I guess it's not properly Boxing Day, since it's…

  • Counting the Twelve Days of Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 25, 2009, 23:45

    Every Christmas brings up the old question: how do you count the twelve days of Christmas? The days between Christmas and Epiphany or Twelfth Night don't quite…

  • A Blessed, Merry Christmas to One and All! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2009, 03:00

    We've been blogging "by remote" a lot lately, prescheduling posts as our holiday activities take precedence over being online. Tomorrow's post is scheduled and…

  • What My "Old Fashioned" Christmas is Missing: Ladies' Magazines! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 23, 2009, 03:00

    A common, if not universal complaint at Christmastime is that “something is missing.” No matter how wonderful the current Christmas season turns out to be,…

  • Tracking the Homestead's Individual Winter Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2009, 11:54

    This year's Winter Solstice, like last year's, arrived on a bright, clear day! That's always so gratifying. Just as we did last year, we tracked our solar…

  • Season of Darkness, Season of Light by: Mark Zeiger

    December 21, 2009, 01:00

    The Winter Solstice is upon us. On December 21st this year (it varies slightly) in the northern hemisphere, it's the longest night of the year, literally…

  • A Gift of Time for Christmas: Consenting to Learn Backgammon by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2009, 03:00

    A week or two before Christmas, I've already received one of the best gifts I could hope to get this year. The fact that I had to ask for it myself hardly…

  • No Webcast of Winter Solstice Sunrise at Newgrange this Year? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 19, 2009, 03:00

    I’ve been monitoring the Website recently, hoping for an announcement, but it appears that the Winter Solstice sunrise will not be Webcast live from…

  • Socks for Christmas? Yes Please! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 18, 2009, 03:00

    If you've been following the blog at all, you may have come to the conclusion that we're not an average American family. If you need one further proof, here it…

  • These Are the Halcyon Days by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2009, 01:00

    To my surprise, these are the Halcyon Days! This term, which we now use to describe a more peaceful, idyllic past or calm period, comes to us from the Greeks.…

  • St. Lucia Day, December 13th: A Swedish Christmas Tradition Featuring Breakfast in Bed! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 13, 2009, 04:00

    Today is Saint Lucia Day. This is an important day in many family Christmas celebrations around the world, and has become so in our family as well. Sometimes…

  • Fairy Infestation on a Sailing Schooner: A Favorite Christmas Story by: Mark Zeiger

    December 12, 2009, 07:55

    I remember a pleasant day of sailing with my brother, David in my home built sailing dinghy, Forget-Me-Not. We lived in Juneau then, and on that day we went to…

  • A Beloved Christmas Ornament by: Mark Zeiger

    December 10, 2009, 01:00

    To me, one of the chief joys of Christmas time is the opening of the Christmas decoration boxes. The parade of nostalgia that issues forth in many ways defines…

  • The Christmas "Tree" is Up - It's Down! - It's Up Again! by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2009, 06:00

    Okay, sometimes things just don't work out the way we'd envisioned them. Monday, we went out and cut some hemlock boughs to create our Christmas "tree". We…

  • Adventures in Wine Mulling by: Mark Zeiger

    December 8, 2009, 01:00

    Michelle and I like wine, so it makes sense for us to try to make our own. We've tried twice so far with wild fruits; the success hasn't been stunning.…

  • Saint Nicholas Day, December 6th by: Mark Zeiger

    December 6, 2009, 01:00

    December 6th is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, Saint Nicholas Day. I can't imagine what the year would be like if this day fell outside of the Christmas season!…

  • First View: A Homestead-Made Holiday by: Mark Zeiger

    December 5, 2009, 01:00

    December 4th marks the fifth anniversary of our first visit to the homestead. We observe this day as "First View," a family day of "little T" thanksgiving. T…

  • An Annual Problem: Finding a Good Christmas Read by: Mark Zeiger

    December 4, 2009, 01:00

    Every year at Christmas time I have trouble finding good seasonal fiction to read. I have a good collection of Christmas books, which I'm certainly willing to…

  • The Christmas Tree Question: Real or Artificial? by: Mark Zeiger

    December 3, 2009, 01:00

    Our Christmas decorating is moving slowly ahead. The biggest issue for us is what to do about a Christmas tree. As I'm fond of saying, some people arrange…

  • Saint Andrew's Day, November 30 by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2009, 09:35

    Today is Saint Andrew's Day. I wasn't raised Catholic or Orthodox, but I've had a certain fascination with iconography for a long time. Saint Andrew is…

  • Homemade Christmas Gifts: A Success Story by: Mark Zeiger

    November 28, 2009, 01:00

    "Make homemade gifts." The advice is so common, particularly at Christmas time, that it has become cliche, and easy to ignore. Last Christmas, however, I…

  • Feeling "Holidaisical": Christmas Comes to the Zeiger Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    November 27, 2009, 01:00

    Thanksgiving has passed. Now, it’s Christmas Time! Today through January 6th, Twelfth Night, it’s all Christmas all the Time on the Zeiger homestead. We…

  • This Thanksgiving We're Thankful for the Spirit of Adventure by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2009, 01:00

    Each Thanksgiving we mark seems to find us even more grateful than the last. Our lives are so very blessed that it hardly seems right to focus our thankfulness…

  • A Thanksgiving Memory: If We Want Family, Sometimes We Have to Go Get Them by: Mark Zeiger

    November 25, 2009, 01:00

    This Thanksgiving brings to mind pleasant memories of the past. My brother and his wife, Dave and Anke, live aboard their home built sail boat. They base…

  • Thanksgiving Music: Last Chance to Hear This Year by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2009, 06:00

    It seems like only yesterday I posted about the all-too-short Thanksgiving season, and now the day's almost upon us! It really is too short a time to enjoy…

  • Headed Straight Into Darkness by: Mark Zeiger

    November 15, 2009, 01:00

    The old Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers tune has been running through my head these last few weeks, as we’ve passed through what Michelle poetically calls…

  • Time to Switch to the Winter Water Supply by: Mark Zeiger

    November 10, 2009, 01:00

    The weather report is predicting a low of 22° tonight, so unless something else comes up, we'll switch from the summer water to the winter water today. This…

  • The All-Too-Brief Thanksgiving Season by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2009, 01:00

    Halloween’s over, its decorations packed away. Christmas is yet to come. Now comes the briefest of holiday seasons, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving gets short…

  • Season's First Snow on the Homestead: Photos of Snow on the Creek by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2009, 12:09

    Last night, after Aly finished trick-or-treating, and we'd all settled to bed at our friends' cabin in Haines, snow fell. Their kerosene heater's on the blink,…

  • Samhain Welcomes Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    November 1, 2009, 01:00

    As I’ve pointed out previously, we follow the ancient Celtic view of when seasons begin and end. By this reckoning, known as the "natural calendar," today is…

  • Don't Trash Your Treats! Pumpkins Make Good Eats by: Mark Zeiger

    October 31, 2009, 01:00

    Halloween is almost past, as is its quintessential symbol, the Jack-o-lantern. On November 1st, the sun will rise on streets filled with shattered pumpkins.…

  • Stop Messing Around with Time! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 30, 2009, 07:45

    Sunday, November 1 marks the return to Standard Time for Alaska and many other states. It's time to be reminded—as we are twice yearly—that time is…

  • A True Ghost Story for Halloween by: Mark Zeiger

    October 29, 2009, 01:00

    I love a good ghost story. I like to hear or read them, and I like to tell them. I don't often get the opportunity to do that, and when I do, I always have to…

  • Making Russian Tea: The Rest of the Story by: Mark Zeiger

    October 19, 2009, 01:00

    They say one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. In writing previously on Russian tea, I came across information that didn't fit…

  • The Secret of Russian Tea by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2009, 01:00

    It's the time of year for hot beverages! Especially in October, particularly around Alaska Day, I like to turn to an old family staple, Russian tea. We…

  • October 18th - Alaska Day by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2009, 01:00

    Alaska Day, I would argue, means next to nothing to most people—even to most Alaskans—unless they have some connection to Sitka. Elsewhere in the state,…

  • It's Time to Decorate for Halloween - Just in Case! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 16, 2009, 01:33

    It's a classic autumn day on the homestead! Aly and I have a date to decorate the cabin for Halloween. I love the yearly ritual of decorating, but it does…

  • October 14, Winter's Day by: Mark Zeiger

    October 14, 2009, 04:00

    In the old European calendar, today, October 14, is "Winter's Day." Sometimes called "Winter's Night," (which to me has a more appropriately atmospheric ring…

  • Sitka, Alaska Is on My Mind by: Mark Zeiger

    October 12, 2009, 08:08

    As a boy I lived in Sitka, Alaska for about five years. Since then, it has held a special place in my heart. If you've ever been there, perhaps you know why.…

  • A Sure Sign of Winter: Ice Cream Day! by: Mark Zeiger

    October 10, 2009, 01:00

    Living semi-remote in Alaska, we watch for changes in weather and changes in season. Indicators of the transition from summer to winter are myriad, but one we…

  • Cotton Kills by: Mark Zeiger

    October 8, 2009, 01:00

    Alaskans have a common saying: "Cotton kills." Those two words  remind us to guard against hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when one's…

  • Highbush Cranberry Time by: Mark Zeiger

    October 5, 2009, 11:14

    Saturday, we drove upriver in search of moose and high bush cranberries. Highbush cranberry, also known as viburnum and a variety of colloquial names, is a…

  • Living By the Season: A Meditation by: Mark Zeiger

    October 3, 2009, 01:00

    People talk about living more deliberately, being more self-sufficient, decoupling from the breakneck pace of the modern world. We believe in that, which is…

  • October: Beginning of Our Holiday Season by: Mark Zeiger

    October 1, 2009, 01:00

    October is an important month in my life. It has three dates that are particularly special to me. It begins with my birthday. Midmonth, October 18th, is Alaska…

  • Ghost Ferns and Witchy Woods by: Michelle Zeiger

    September 25, 2009, 03:00

    The Autumnal Equinox has passed. The weather shows it … nights are cooling. Days are darker and damper even than the past summer. But more importantly the…

  • The Circle of the Seasons: Autumn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 22, 2009, 00:05

    Today is September 22nd, the Autumnal Equinox in the northern hemisphere. Your radio announcer or T.V. news anchorperson will proclaim today "The First Day of…

  • A Season of Madness: Moose Hunting in Alaska by: Mark Zeiger

    September 20, 2009, 03:30

    The local moose opening started last Tuesday. This is a permit-only subsistence hunt, with special antler restrictions. For our family, this is a very big…

  • Avast! Talk Like a Pirate for Fun and Profit . . . Mostly Fun. by: Mark Zeiger

    September 17, 2009, 10:45

    Saturday, September 19th, is National Talk Like a Pirate Day, ye swabs! Me thinks there's never been a need for a day such as this as there be here 'n' now. It…

  • Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt Day 1 by: Mark Zeiger

    September 15, 2009, 08:00

    This is it! Today's the first day of the Tier II Subsistence Moose Hunt. That means that instead of sitting here in my PJs, typing a quick note to the blog, I…

  • A 9/11 Memory: The World Turned Upside Down by: Mark Zeiger

    September 11, 2009, 09:43

    Today is, as most Americans are well aware, the eighth anniversary of the plane attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Surely we all remember…

  • Happy Camouflage, Everybody! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 6, 2009, 10:07

    Our life on the homestead is self-sufficient enough that we often limit our trips to town to once a week. The weekly visits are mostly to deliver Aly to a…

• Category: Self Reliance  (32)
  • Garden Conference Report by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 25, 2018, 03:00

    The 2018 Southeast Gardening Conference did not disappoint (see Southeast Garden Conference 2018 ). About 120 people attended from Ketchikan, Petersburg,…

  • A Two-Car Family Once Again by: Mark Zeiger

    June 4, 2017, 06:50

    Quite improbably, we find ourselves a two-car family once again. Our first experience with "The American Way" came many, many years ago. I replaced my…

  • Train Yourself to See in the Dark by: Mark Zeiger

    March 27, 2017, 07:17

    While we use headlamps and other flashlights a lot on the homestead, (see Headlamps: Don't Leave Home Without Them!) we also practice seeing in the dark. I…

  • Independence Day Every Day by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2016, 07:38

    Yesterday, on Independence Day, I didn't spend a lot of time thinking deeply about the meaning of the holiday. Like most other Americans, I was too busy having…

  • Bug Out Boats by: Mark Zeiger

    April 7, 2016, 03:00

    As we finish out our tenth year on the homestead, I sometimes forget that our first plan to "get away from it all" involved escape by water. My brother,…

  • Homestead Core Values: Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    February 6, 2016, 03:00

    The biggest challenge to identifying our homestead core values (see Homestead Core Values) may be defining those values. We should and can only define them by…

  • Clean Drinking Water: Misplaced Trust by: Mark Zeiger

    February 4, 2016, 03:00

    For the first 10 years of our marriage, Michelle and I lived in apartments. If we add our college years, that would be 14 years. I never felt comfortable…

  • I've Been Interviewed Again by: Mark Zeiger

    December 2, 2015, 03:00

    Recently, Nick Rosen from the British self reliance site, Off-Grid.net interviewed me via Skype. They posted part of that conversation on YouTube several…

  • Upterrlainarluta: "Always Getting Ready" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 22, 2015, 03:00

    The Yupik nation in Alaska has a great word, which I don't know how to pronounce: "upterrlainarluta." As I understand it, the word means "always getting…

  • Missteps by: Mark Zeiger

    July 30, 2015, 06:30

    I apologize for a lack of posts recently. I returned yesterday from a 3 day adventure out of town. My activities, and the circumstances that brought them…

  • Learning from Elders by: Mark Zeiger

    June 6, 2015, 06:03

    If you wish to live a self-reliant lifestyle on any level, you must be proactive about aging. Denying the aging process guarantees failure—it’s that…

  • A Good Day's Work/A Good Day's Goof Off by: Mark Zeiger

    April 29, 2015, 03:00

    Saturday we worked with our nearest neighbors to improve the main trail over the ridge. For reasons none of us understand, the people who built our…

  • Back On the Air (Sort Of . . .) by: Mark Zeiger

    April 16, 2015, 03:00

    Sometime in November 1993 I signed off the air, ending a 16 year career in radio broadcasting. This afternoon or tomorrow, I'll return to the air . . . sort…

  • Reviving the Summer Water Intake by: Mark Zeiger

    April 14, 2015, 09:07

    Last autumn I went up to the creek to remove the diversion hose from the catchment bucket, stopping our summer water tank from filling. As I always do when I…

  • The Triumph of the Pack Rat by: Mark Zeiger

    March 31, 2015, 05:18

    When I designed mounting and framing for our new solar array (see Power Shift: The Plan in Place) I wanted red or yellow cedar 2X4s to build a sturdy, weather…

  • EROEI by: Mark Zeiger

    December 16, 2014, 03:00

    "Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it…

  • When "Good Enough" is Best by: Mark Zeiger

    November 30, 2014, 03:00

    A key self reliance strategy is often to obtain the highest quality tool you can afford or find, whenever possible. However, many times "good enough" beats…

  • Cold Mountain: A Novel of Self-Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    November 24, 2014, 03:00

    I have read Charles Frasier's Cold Mountain (check your local independent bookstore, or your nearest garage sale) many times over the years. I enjoy it on a…

  • Before Buying Land, Make Sure You Can Get There! by: Mark Zeiger

    September 10, 2014, 03:00

    Many people who yearn for a simpler, off the grid lifestyle find inspiration from this blog. I try to pass along specific advice for how to pursue this kind of…

  • "Don't Touch the Water!" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 5, 2014, 03:00

    News from America's heartland last weekend could not have been worse. Toledo, Ohio and any surrounding area served by Toledo's municipal water system, could…

  • Fire Pistons by: Mark Zeiger

    July 5, 2014, 03:00

    Have you ever heard of a fire piston? Western society's history came incredibly to this being a common household term. The story goes that British or…

  • Municipal Water: To (Con)serve and Protect by: Mark Zeiger

    June 27, 2014, 03:00

    Writing recently about our water catchment system (see Let It Rain) reminded me of this essay I wrote for another blog a few years ago. It's a little more…

  • Improvements to the Water System by: Mark Zeiger

    May 15, 2014, 03:00

    Last weekend we improved our water system in a major way, increasing our water security on the "homestead" and making our lives easier in the process. We've…

  • Know Your Knots by: Mark Zeiger

    April 19, 2014, 05:22

    Knots are, essentially, tools that you make yourself. More than just helpful, they can be lifesaving in many instances. On our homestead and sailboats, knot…

  • The Media Puts a Negative Spin on Self-Sufficiency/Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    January 21, 2014, 03:00

    A good friend recently showed me an article made me pretty angry. The article, 10 Years After Trying to Live off the Grid, Farmer Wonders, 'What am I Doing…

  • Well Balanced by: Mark Zeiger

    January 15, 2014, 04:00

    A good sense of balance is key to survival and safety here on the "homestead." Far from medical help, we're extremely vulnerable to injury from falls. I have…

  • Personal Thoughts on Self Reliance at the Turning of the Year by: Mark Zeiger

    January 1, 2014, 03:00

    "Nature never said to me: Do not be poor; still less did she say, Be rich; her cry to me was always: Be independent." —Nicolas Chamfort Last night we…

  • Self-Reliance at Christmas Time by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2013, 03:00

    Michelle and I had an interesting conversation last Sunday. We brainstormed about blog post topics for Christmas week. I'd just finished the Christmas day post…

  • Nuclear Energy Vs. Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    April 5, 2011, 03:00

    I wrote a short version of the piece below for the Self Reliance Exchange about a year ago. I try not to comment on political issues, but considering that we…

  • Swimming Vs. Drowning by: Mark Zeiger

    July 9, 2010, 03:00

    A while back, Clair Schwan, the originator of Self Reliance Works, used us as an example of living on reduced resources. He compared us favorably to another…

  • Self Discipline: The Key to Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    November 29, 2009, 01:00

    Self Discipline. This is a good term, which, I confess I haven’t given a whole lot of thought until recently. It’s a phrase we hear all the time. I've…

  • Off the Grid Electricity: The "Power" of Self Reliance by: Mark Zeiger

    September 18, 2009, 10:42

    Let me confess to you up front: I am not an electrician. I know very little about electricity. I survived a whole career requiring daily use of electronic…

• Category: Simple Living  (32)
  • Life Is Good by: Mark Zeiger

    January 20, 2018, 09:03

    The Zeiger Homestead is back. Last night the wind rose to steady northerly, and charged our battery bank to 100%. This morning we've got lights on, we're…

  • Simple Gifts: A Cherished Christmas Decoration and "Friend" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2017, 03:00

    Every year, as we pull out our Christmas decorations, we anticipate seeing an old friend: Bob the snowman. "Bob" has been with us so long that we no longer…

  • Work Like a Peasant, Live Like a King by: Mark Zeiger

    June 19, 2017, 08:34

    As we complete our eleventh year of residence on our homestead, I recall a motto we adopted early on: "work like a peasant, live like a king." From the very…

  • Simple Pleasures: Fire Gazing by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2016, 03:00

    For a while, we've been back in the heating season of the year. As days grow colder and shorter, we're heating the cabin with fire, and often lighting candles…

  • Tidy Drawers Bring Peace of Mind by: Mark Zeiger

    March 16, 2016, 03:00

    Michelle came home with a book on decluttering a few weeks ago, and, heaven help me, it changed my life! Friends of hers had spoken enthusiastically of…

  • Simple Living: The Parable of Pilot Bread by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2016, 03:00

    I've stated a couple times in the recent essays on frugality (see Homestead Core Values: Frugality) that one of our advantages in keeping costs low is our love…

  • Chair Man of the Pack Board by: Mark Zeiger

    March 25, 2015, 03:00

    A couple weeks ago, our patience paid off. We found a set of chairs that match the new dining table we got from a friend for free (see Downsizing the Dining…

  • Simple Gifts: Stamps by: Mark Zeiger

    January 15, 2015, 03:00

    A few years ago I advocated writing personal letters (see Letters Keep Cursive Writing Alive). I still practice this, with the majority of the effort focused…

  • "I Know This Place" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 22, 2014, 03:00

    After more than two weeks of travel outside (see To Grandmother's House I Go . . . .) I'm re-emersing myself in our home. These last couple of days I've…

  • Television on the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    October 9, 2014, 03:00

    Living as we do, you may be surprised to learn that we watch television on our "homestead." As with many other lifestyle choices, we use it in moderation. We…

  • Shinrin-Yoku by: Mark Zeiger

    February 11, 2014, 03:00

    “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home. Wilderness is a necessity.”…

  • Simple Gifts: Choosing the Right Mug by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2014, 03:00

    So many domestic pursuits—sorting beans, sewing, writing letters, or, especially, posting to a blog—are greatly enhanced by the presence of a hot beverage…

  • Splinter-Free Cabin Access by: Mark Zeiger

    January 3, 2014, 03:00

    Our rustic little cabin features an old fashioned cabin latch. a piece of broken ax handle, pinned toward one end, sticks through a large iron marine cleat…

  • Toward a Less-Commercial Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 1, 2013, 03:00

    The Christmas season's upon us. Insert your favorite phrase here to express loathing for the over-commercialization of holidays. Of all the simple gifts our…

  • Simple Gifts by: Mark Zeiger

    November 26, 2013, 03:00

    An old Shaker hymn, particularly popular at this time of year, says, "T'is a gift to be simple, t'is a gift to be free." These are words my family and I live…

  • Winter Comes by: Mark Zeiger

    November 2, 2013, 07:37

    Winter has come. No snow has fallen on the "homestead," no frosts or freezes that linger more than an hour past daylight, but it won't be long. The air has…

  • Aly's Foraging at College by: Aly Zeiger

    October 3, 2013, 03:00

    One of the things I was looking forward to about my third year of college was the year-round foraging provided by the temperate climate of western Washington.…

  • Potatoes Grow to New Heights by: Michelle Zeiger

    August 3, 2013, 03:00

    We had more potatoes than beds to plant them in this year. So I finally tried out the potato tower idea I'd heard from Mike McGrath on "You Bet Your Garden." …

  • Food Value by: Mark Zeiger

    February 14, 2013, 03:00

    The hardest part about finishing the writing process is the certain knowledge that soon after completing it, the perfect addition to it will appear. The…

  • Safety First! by: Mark Zeiger

    January 14, 2013, 08:55

    The seep that came down our main trail around Christmas time has all but melted away, but while it was in its prime, friends hiked out to visit. Michelle…

  • The Cost of Living by: Mark Zeiger

    October 18, 2012, 03:00

    Yesterday, a reader named Jacquie commented: "Ever since I can remember I have wanted this lifestyle. It’s tough here because everything is about money.…

  • Simple Pleasures: Steel Cut Oats by: Mark Zeiger

    October 14, 2012, 03:00

    Even as an avid "granola cruncher," I have to admit that there are few meals more homely—in the archaic, more positive sense of that term—than a bowl of…

  • Simple Pleasures: Writing With a Fountain Pen by: Mark Zeiger

    October 8, 2012, 03:00

    I've been focusing the last few posts on cursive writing and its uses. To return to the topic one more time, I'd like to recommend my favorite tool for this…

  • Am I Better Off Now than 4 Years Ago? by: Mark Zeiger

    September 26, 2012, 03:00

    I have avoided politics on this blog even though I have a lot to say on the topic. That isn't the purvue of this publication. However, I, like anyone else who…

  • "Think Little" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2012, 09:16

    I recently read Wendell Berry's excellent essay, Think Little (from A Continuous Harmony: Essays Cultural and Agricultural, check your local independent…

  • Living Like There's No Tomorrow by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2012, 10:47

    The flip side of my . . . well, flip comments about the end of the world as we know it in my last post, is that there are very legitimate and pressing reasons…

  • A Home Spun Hearth Stone by: Mark Zeiger

    November 12, 2011, 03:00

    Thursday, Michelle came home for a brief visit in the middle of the day. She brought a package I've been eagerly awaiting for a long time. Inside: a rock. I…

  • Mary Oliver's The Lamps by: Mark Zeiger

    September 4, 2011, 03:00

    If you're reading Mary Oliver’s Twelve Moons as a lunar calendar with me this year, it’s time to read the poem for today's first quarter moon, The Lamps.…

  • Feast or Famine by: Mark Zeiger

    August 23, 2011, 03:00

    Even though we garden, our existence often relies on hunter/gatherer mentality. Particularly, anthropologists tell us that hunter/gatherer societies operated…

  • Missing Mary Engelbreit by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2011, 10:28

    Each family member has his/her own favorite artists, all of which combine to complement our home. We have framed prints from one or two artists, but most add…

  • What Would Grandpa Think? by: Mark Zeiger

    July 12, 2011, 03:00

    Yesterday morning, as I savored a bowl of stewed rhubarb fresh from the garden, I mused on our homestead, and commented to Michelle that I wished that Grandpa…

  • Museum of Lost Desires by: Mark Zeiger

    April 10, 2011, 03:00

    Haines has one of the best second hand stores you could ever want. Owned and operated by a friendly proprietor who really only does it to entertain himself in…

• Category: Think Little  (6)
  • A Tiny Home? by: Mark Zeiger

    November 8, 2018, 03:00

    According to a survey about Tiny  Homes done by the National Association of Home Builders more than half of Americans would consider living in a home that's…

  • Simple Gifts: A Cherished Christmas Decoration and "Friend" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 24, 2017, 03:00

    Every year, as we pull out our Christmas decorations, we anticipate seeing an old friend: Bob the snowman. "Bob" has been with us so long that we no longer…

  • Simple Gifts: Stamps by: Mark Zeiger

    January 15, 2015, 03:00

    A few years ago I advocated writing personal letters (see Letters Keep Cursive Writing Alive). I still practice this, with the majority of the effort focused…

  • Downsizing the Dining Table by: Mark Zeiger

    November 18, 2014, 03:00

    Even though we preach the gospel of downsizing on the blog, in our conversations, and by example—even though we take this concept further than most Americans…

  • More on Thinking Little by: Mark Zeiger

    November 7, 2012, 03:00

    Previously, I wrote about the Wendell Berry's concept of Thinking Little. Along these same lines, an observation in Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible…

  • "Think Little" by: Mark Zeiger

    August 28, 2012, 09:16

    I recently read Wendell Berry's excellent essay, Think Little (from A Continuous Harmony: Essays Cultural and Agricultural, check your local independent…

• Category: Weather, Tides & Geography  (245)

  The physical world around us – weather, tides, and natural land features.

  • Monthly Movie for April by: Mark Zeiger

    April 8, 2019, 03:00

    Here's the Zeiger Family Homestead Monthly Movie for April. This close to the arrival of herring, I'd hoped for whales, or at least sea lions in the shot,…

  • Monthly Movie for March by: Mark Zeiger

    March 15, 2019, 03:00

    Here's the March Monthly Movie. I shot this on March 8th, the first cloudy day in quite a while. We've had sunny, windy weather for a long stretch…

  • Monthly Movie for February by: Mark Zeiger

    February 19, 2019, 03:00

    Here's the February Monthly Movie. I intend to shoot a short, 30-60 second video of the homestead's view every month, hopefully from the same spot on the…

  • A Snowy Optical Illusion by: Mark Zeiger

    February 16, 2019, 14:03

    For me, life in Alaska (41 years total now, as of February 12th!) has largely featured optical illusions. I am constantly confounded by looking around me and…

  • When the Tide is Up, Go Kayaking by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 13, 2019, 03:00

    15.5 foot tide (Photo: Michelle Zeiger) Last Friday I was ready to come home, but the tide was too high to cross the bay by foot. My town errands were done…

  • A Lovely Morning by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2019, 03:00

    I know a lot of posts have been about scenery lately, but we live in a beautiful place. Can't argue that. On a recent morning, although we expected and got…

  • Monthly Movie for January by: Mark Zeiger

    January 8, 2019, 03:00

    Here's a new project I hope to pursue this year. I want to shoot a short, 30-60 second video of the homestead's view every month, hopefully from the same…

  • Taking a Moment to Look Around by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2019, 03:00

    Tonight is Twelfth Night, the end of our Christmas season. Time to pack away the decorations, lights, music, and movies. In the meantime, Nature's putting…

  • Feeling Powerful by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2018, 03:00

    I have written before of the power of self pity (see Confessions of a Squeaky Wheel or The Power of Self Pity) and once again, complaining seems to have given…

  • Maybe We Really Can Trust Weather Forecasts by: Mark Zeiger

    August 22, 2018, 03:00

    One of the classic American truisms is that you can't trust the weather report. We all learned at our parents' knees that weather forecasts are unreliable,…

  • "Real" Rain by: Mark Zeiger

    June 30, 2018, 03:00

    A recent local news story shocked us: a weather expert told us that we are experiencing a drought. Drought in a temperate rain forest doesn't look like…

  • Tuesday's Gone with the Wind by: Mark Zeiger

    May 23, 2018, 03:00

    What a day, Tuesday! We started with a peek at the mountain tops across Lynn Canal. Like a Victorian coquette offering the briefest glimpse of her shapely…

  • Goodbye Blue Sky by: Mark Zeiger

    May 20, 2018, 09:23

    Oddly, Pink Floyd has provided the soundtrack of my life recently. Today, the song, Goodbye Blue Sky* runs through my head. Our fair weather has turned to…

  • Confessions of a Squeaky Wheel by: Mark Zeiger

    May 10, 2018, 03:00

    I try not to complain in public. I really do. Unfortunately, I'm beginning to see benefits when I do! In my last post, Trying to Gain Headway, I tried to…

  • Spring Time, and the Livin' is Easy! by: Mark Zeiger

    March 31, 2018, 03:00

    What a refreshingly reassuring day today! At the end of March, our Alaskan spring is finally beginning to feel like . . . spring. We've had a few false…

  • Winter, Slumbering in the Open Air . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    February 16, 2018, 03:00

    "And Winter, slumbering in the open air, wears on his smiling face a dream of spring!" —Samuel Taylor Coleridge Fresh February snow (Photo: Mark A.…

  • Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse by: Mark Zeiger

    January 30, 2018, 03:00

    We will have two blue moons this year, one coming up at the end of January, the second at the end of March. But, that's not enough—our next full moon will be…

  • Assessing the Bug Out by: Mark Zeiger

    January 27, 2018, 03:00

    When we bugged out of the homestead in the middle of the night recently, moving to higher ground because of a tsunami warning (see Tsunami Scramble) we not…

  • Tsunami Scramble by: Mark Zeiger

    January 24, 2018, 03:00

    Early Tuesday morning, at 1:05, our weather alert radio activated, announcing a tsunami warning after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake south of Kodiak. We leapt out…

  • WTF? (What the Forecast?) by: Mark Zeiger

    December 15, 2017, 03:00

    As I understand it, there's a high altitude, high pressure system sitting over our region, which is holding a system of heavy rain over our homestead. I'm no…

  • Dwindling Daylight by: Mark Zeiger

    December 12, 2017, 03:00

    There's truth in the old Joni Mitchell song that says: "Don't it always seem to go/that you don't know what you got till it's gone?" Perhaps that's one reason…

  • Snow Day by: Mark Zeiger

    November 11, 2017, 03:00

    Haines has gotten an occasional fine skiff of snow recently. Friday overnight, we got the homestead's first snowfall of the year. We awoke to a light but…

  • Here Comes Our Rain! by: Mark Zeiger

    August 21, 2017, 03:00

    Sunday morning, we received a Special Weather Statement: "...PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... A weather front with moisture…

  • Seeking Balance by: Mark Zeiger

    August 9, 2017, 03:00

    Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the so-called "Goldilocks Zone." This term applies primarily to the just-right (not too hot, not too cold) conditions…

  • Postcards from the Edge . . . of Lynn Canal by: Mark Zeiger

    August 3, 2017, 05:50

    Cell and Internet connectivity continues to vary wildly here. In other words, we barely manage to text each other, let alone send an email or post on the blog.…

  • Same Old Summer Solstice by: Mark Zeiger

    June 25, 2017, 03:00

    We tend to make a fuss over the solstices, summer and winter. Winter Solstice is easy in many ways—the darker the better. Summer Solstices, in Southeast…

  • A Squirrel's Breath by: Mark Zeiger

    May 8, 2017, 03:00

    Saturday we experienced one of those ineffable Southeast Alaska spring mornings: calm, cool air, fragrant with alder blossoms; sun rising clear over the Coast…

  • Winter Wanes by: Mark Zeiger

    February 1, 2017, 03:00

    Today is the first day of spring according to the old Celtic reckoning (see The Circle Turns Toward Spring). Most years, we mark this day with a certain amount…

  • A Winter's Crossing by: Mark Zeiger

    January 22, 2017, 03:00

    Friday, I took a turn at driving Aly to and from town for work so Michelle could stay home. In the process, I got a taste of what the two of them face every…

  • Creeping Forward on All Fronts by: Mark Zeiger

    January 16, 2017, 07:59

    I suppose it's inevitable at this time of year to feel that progress on our various projects has reached a sort of nadir. I feel like we're creeping forward on…

  • Stormy Start to the Year by: Mark Zeiger

    January 7, 2017, 10:29

    We're in the middle of a 4-5 day stretch of harsh weather. We've had storm force winds for a couple of days, and will see them through the weekend. The winds,…

  • Ice "Cathedrals" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 27, 2016, 08:32

    When we hike north, past the adjoining property, with its tiny cabin owned by a couple who live in Juneau, to our nearest permanent neighbor, a quarter mile…

  • Earth Hard as Iron by: Mark Zeiger

    December 20, 2016, 03:00

    As I write this, we are in the midst of a cold snap. Temperatures hover between the low-teens and mid-twenties each day. Most days, gale force winds create…

  • A Whiff of Winter by: Mark Zeiger

    October 17, 2016, 03:00

    The forecast warned us, but I didn't believe it until I saw it early Sunday morning. It wasn't much, merely a skiff, or, perhaps more appropriately, a whiff of…

  • Storm's Edge by: Mark Zeiger

    October 15, 2016, 09:10

    It looks like the Pacific Northwest is getting clobbered by the tail end of an Asian typhoon. This explains why our weather forecast has become so vague, even…

  • Black Moon by: Mark Zeiger

    September 30, 2016, 03:00

    Recently, with clear nights and the autumnal equinox tipping us back toward more darkness, the night sky has become quite interesting over the homestead. Clear…

  • Triage by: Mark Zeiger

    September 12, 2016, 03:00

    So much to do: update a client's Website, make food wrappers, trim and wrap soap, and sign books for a local store, clean my rifle and prepare other gear for…

  • September Morn by: Mark Zeiger

    September 6, 2016, 03:00

    Perhaps less titillating than the famous painting by Paul Chabas, yesterday's sunrise over The Mountain With No Name took my breath away. Here are a few photos…

  • Just Enough Rain by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2016, 03:00

    I'd heard the reports of severe flooding on the news, but the extent of the weather crisis down south didn't fully hit home until a friend told us that parts…

  • Go Outside and Work! by: Mark Zeiger

    June 16, 2016, 07:30

    What I'd intended to write yesterday as a thoughtful, detailed piece, has turned into a quick note and a couple of photos . . . . The saying, "Make hay…

  • Goldilocks Day by: Mark Zeiger

    May 21, 2016, 03:00

    No doubt you've heard the term "Goldilocks Zone" to describe planets that have Earth-like conditions "just right" for hosting life? Yesterday, it struck me we…

  • Heatwave! by: Mark Zeiger

    May 13, 2016, 03:00

    Cue Martha Reeves and the Vandellas—it's like a heatwave! Warm sunny weather has moved into our region, making us all a bit giddy. Forecasts call for…

  • Water Work Called on Account of Rain by: Mark Zeiger

    May 3, 2016, 03:00

    As I write, rain dumps down on the homestead. The yards quickly became mires, the trails deep puddles and small creeks. Perhaps, then, it's not unexpected that…

  • A Sweet Spring Day by: Mark Zeiger

    April 23, 2016, 03:00

    One would expect that we who live in the temperate rainforest might cherish sunny days above all others. I find that is not particularly true. There's…

  • Weather Mirror by: Mark Zeiger

    March 30, 2016, 07:39

    I must be a weather mirror. If so, that would explain a lot about my life, especially right now. I've spoken before about how weather affects me. Particularl…

  • Reflections of the Day by: Mark Zeiger

    March 24, 2016, 03:00

    Wednesday morning, we had a red sunrise. I got pictures! The solar panels are just waiting to soak that up! (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger). Sunrise reflection…

  • Leap Day by: Mark Zeiger

    February 29, 2016, 03:00

    Today is Leap Day, the every-four-years catch-up day that keeps our Gregorian Calendar ticking along at a fairly steady clip. Traditionally, it's a day that…

  • Brief Update by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 20, 2016, 11:09

    The day the previous post went online the weather changed. We had 34° the day before and then it dropped to 26° giving us a window of opportunity for…

  • Freeze, Thaw, Repeat by: Michelle Zeiger

    February 18, 2016, 03:00

    Our property, as many of you have seen on the Website, is mostly spruce and hemlock forest that slopes down to a rocky ocean beach. We have to prune back the…

  • Where Did Winter Go? by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2016, 03:00

    I kind of hate to say this, but I feel like we're running out of winter! We make an effort to celebrate and appreciate winter for its own sake, rather than…

  • The Gift of Weather at Christmas by: Mark Zeiger

    December 26, 2015, 03:00

    Our weather this Christmas took center stage. I could be wrong, but this might have been the best Christmas, weather wise, we've experienced here on the…

  • Sweeps Season by: Mark Zeiger

    November 16, 2015, 03:00

    Snow has fallen periodically on our homestead since Halloween. Most days it briefly covers the new solar panels, then melts away without needing our help. The…

  • Winter's Sunny Start by: Mark Zeiger

    November 4, 2015, 03:00

    For the first time in at least five years, November 1st—Samhain, the natural year's first day of winter—dawned clear and crisp. What an excellent way to…

  • "Mind the Gap" by: Mark Zeiger

    October 27, 2015, 06:36

    We've been watching the moon approach tonight's full these last few, clear days. Right now, it rises through the gap between The Mountain With No Name and L.C.…

  • Soft Trail, Harder Traveling by: Mark Zeiger

    October 21, 2015, 03:00

    A series of torrential rains have changed our trail conditions recently. Most of our main trail has been established for more than 30 years now. The passage…

  • Weather Shots by: Mark Zeiger

    September 13, 2015, 03:00

    We caught the tail end of a tropical storm that rushed up out of the South Pacific to dump rain on us. Besides filling the winter water tank, it gave us quite…

  • Hoping for Rain by: Mark Zeiger

    August 19, 2015, 03:00

    Last April, when we diverted the little creek to the summer water tank, we decided not to switch the cabin over to that source from the winter water tank (see…

  • Some Enchanted Evening by: Mark Zeiger

    July 22, 2015, 03:00

    The other evening, Michelle and I went out to sit on the veranda with a bottle of homemade wine, dessert, and binoculars. Luckily, I also took along my…

  • I Confess, I Sabotaged the Weather! by: Mark Zeiger

    July 18, 2015, 04:18

    I feel compelled to apologize to everyone who lives in our town, perhaps even our region. We enjoyed a warm, dry early summer, with more sunshine than most of…

  • Independence Day Weather by: Mark Zeiger

    July 2, 2015, 07:29

    Even though we've had a drier, hotter summer than many in recent years, July seems to be conforming to the normal weather pattern for this region. As we…

  • Reliable Rhubarb by: Michelle Zeiger

    May 17, 2015, 03:00

    The rhubarb is amazing this year! I took a photo of the rhubarb mid-May last year. By mid-April this year, the rhubarb was just as big as in that photo. Call…

  • Softer Days, Softer Nights by: Mark Zeiger

    February 18, 2015, 03:00

    Our recent cold snap ended a few days ago, bringing temperatures back up to the mid 30s to low 40s, where they were most of the winter. In the latter half of…

  • Told You So . . . . by: Mark Zeiger

    February 12, 2015, 03:00

    Back in January I commented on our general lack of winter weather (see Thawed). In that essay, I speculated on the possibility that we might get a taste of it…

  • Using Snow to Insulate Your House by: Mark Zeiger

    January 29, 2015, 03:00

    If you're getting snow these days, whether that's normal or not, the good news is that you can use it to your advantage to insulate your house. The bad news…

  • Thawed by: Mark Zeiger

    January 17, 2015, 03:00

    When winter arrived last November, I began thinking about all the good qualities of the season, qualities which sometimes get lost in celebrating the Christmas…

  • Easing by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2015, 03:00

    Our cold weather has eased. We've warmed up to above freezing during the day. The gale and storm force winds have died to nothing. It's positively balmy. I…

  • Wild Nights by: Mark Zeiger

    January 5, 2015, 03:00

    Aly headed south just ahead of our first really severe winter weather of the season. The evening she left, north wind built to a multiday wind storm, bringing…

  • No Day to Leave Home by: Mark Zeiger

    January 3, 2015, 06:18

    We put Aly on the ferry yesterday afternoon, putting a major dent in our Christmas celebration. This probably is no more true than a lot of "doesn't it…

  • Northwest Wind by: Mark Zeiger

    December 10, 2014, 03:00

    Our local marine forecast resolutely predicted north wind at decent intensity to drive our wind generator for several days, but we saw precious little of it.…

  • Living on the Traffic Routes by: Mark Zeiger

    October 12, 2014, 06:31

    I really like to look at houses and property, speculating on the lives lived there, wondering what it would be like for me and mine to live there. When I…

  • Monsoon Trail by: Mark Zeiger

    September 28, 2014, 10:11

    Southeast Alaska has monsoon rains right now. Supposedly, most of it's hitting the southern panhandle, but we're getting plenty—we've recorded 2½ inches in…

  • Fair Weather by: Mark Zeiger

    August 1, 2014, 03:00

    We enjoyed a dramatic display of morning mist on the Coast Range across Lynn Canal from us recently. It appears to be the wet weather's farewell for the time…

  • A Cool Summer by: Mark Zeiger

    July 20, 2014, 04:52

    Despite a warm start, this summer may prove to be cooler and wetter than many. I've heard some local teenagers, particularly those who have spent time in…

  • Summer Solstice Sun Survey by: Mark Zeiger

    June 21, 2014, 03:00

    Our observance of the Summer Solstice will be a bit of a departure from normal this year. On a day that we generally associate with Nature (even more so than…

  • Low Bow by: Mark Zeiger

    June 9, 2014, 03:00

    Yesterday afternoon, we saw a rather unusual rainbow over Lynn Canal. I've seen a lot of rainbows over the years, even a fog bow once (you can see photos of…

  • Rinse and Repeat by: Mark Zeiger

    May 21, 2014, 03:00

    Our recent run of hot, sunny weather has ended for now. We're glad, because we needed to get clean. We received an inch of rain over the 14th and 15th of…

  • Springtime Scenery by: Mark Zeiger

    April 27, 2014, 05:14

    A few evenings ago I got the camera out around 6:30 pm to record the view. A lot of our evenings have been like this—which is why this is one of our most…

  • Champion Post Hole by: Mark Zeiger

    March 19, 2014, 03:00

    Just before our recent storm, I expressed hope we'd be able to use the snowfall to move firewood (see We've Been Warned). Unfortunately, my main Southeast…

  • We've Been Warned by: Mark Zeiger

    March 5, 2014, 06:04

    Our weather forecasts tend to be dry, informative, and to-the-point. When the writers at NOAA Weather Service become verbose, I pay attention. This morning,…

  • Correction Conundrum by: Mark Zeiger

    February 23, 2014, 03:00

    After a lifetime of viewing aurora borealis, I'm thrilled to finally have the equipment and knowledge to capture photographic images of it. It has been, if…

  • Prime Time! by: Mark Zeiger

    February 21, 2014, 03:00

    Tuesday evening, just about 7:00, I stepped outside and found the sky alight. We saw one of the best aurora borealis displays we've seen here. As a bonus, we…

  • The Breaking Point by: Mark Zeiger

    January 23, 2014, 03:00

    There's an odd moment that comes several times each winter to the "homestead." Truthfully, it often comes in the late autumn and early spring as well. It's a…

  • Getting Where We Need to Go by: Mark Zeiger

    January 11, 2014, 03:00

    We've eased back into standard Southeast Alaskan winter weather lately, which has me hobbling around like a very old man. Our classic pattern is freeze/thaw.…

  • The Return of the Sun by: Mark Zeiger

    December 30, 2013, 07:50

    The Winter Solstice celebrates the return of the sun, in that the days begin to grow longer (on December 23rd, actually, as the Solstice period is about 6 days…

  • Winter "Widower" by: Mark Zeiger

    December 13, 2013, 03:00

    A hefty winter storm hitting the Southeast Alaska panhandle has left me a "winter widower" for the time being. Currently, high tide hits the bay in the…

  • Contemplating The Mysteries of the Homestead by: Mark Zeiger

    December 9, 2013, 17:30

    Just because we've been running and gunning since returning home in an effort to repair/rebuild our water system (see Crisis and Opportunity) doesn't mean we…