Stormy Weather.

It seems that every time an earthquake occurs, I'm sitting still in my bed. Which means that I can really feel the earth's strength rocking my house.

But earthquakes in Alaska shouldn't come as a surprise. On average, Alaska boasts 40,000 earthquakes per year. In fact, 75% of all earthquakes in the United States over magnitude 5 happen in Alaska

That's a lot of earth shaking.

I have to say, it's one of the more terrifying sensations I've felt. Fear grips you and you're completely susceptible to Mother Nature's moods.

So that happened yesterday, this mere 4.2 quake.

Then I wake today, to yet another side of stormy weather. Instead of quakes though, we received a torrential wet windstorm, one that continues to wail outside.

It's the type of weather that warrants cups of hot tea and shelter on the cosy couch. 

And..... A bright bomb outfit.  

I'm a big believer in the power of color and how it can influence a person's mood.

I know summer is near its end, and knowing the weather would be pour (pun intended), I chose an outfit that would not only brighten my day (in the hopes of stretching summer out just a wee bit longer), but other people's as well.  

And it worked! Multiple people noticed and appreciated my effort at bringing color to a stormy weather day.  

All I can do is be hopeful that Mother Nature notices my effort and rewards us with a day of sunshine.

At the very least, she could let off on the earth shaking and rainy windstorms!  

Eat Local.

Tonight's dinner menu:

• Moscow mule (rhubarb vodka made from the garden)
• Bison back strap (shot by Dad)
• Caesar salad (gathered from our garden)
• Mashed potatoes (gathered from our garden)
• Sautéed beet greens (gathered yet again from our garden)

Everything we ate was either hunted, harvested, or from local land.

I have to say, summertime in Alaska is one of the best places to eat locally.

It's harvest season here at the Krull Castle and between silver fishing, halibut fishing, berry picking, potato digging, and collecting a bountiful assortment of greens from our garden, we rarely make trips to the grocery store anymore!

Granted, this is a very short season indeed, but Alaska makes sure to provide as much as she can to those living off the land.

It's become a bit of an afternoon tradition for me then, this time of year, to spend an hour or so in our garden picking raspberries.

Store bought raspberries (like store bought anything else) simply do not compare to the real deal. Not only is taste drastically different, but there's something so satisfying about taking a little bucket, parking yourself in a cacoon of bushes, and hand picking your own delicious raspberries, organic and all natural.

I've even taken to bringing Fudge along out with me, as she keeps me company romping through the greens. Together, we gather, her finding bugs to eat, and me turning up leaves and plucking ripe juicy raspberries to put in my bowl (unless they're the big ones, in which case they go right to my mouth).

It's a berry nice place to be this time of year, especially when the weather tangibly becomes cooler. It helps offset the chill, knowing we have such deliciousness just outside of our front door.

I wanted to end with a food pun, perhaps about berries, bison, potatoes, or vegetables. If you think of one, will you lettuce know?