Hot & Lovely Mosquitoes!!

Greetings Everyone!

Has it ever been so hot?!  The National Weather Service issued a "red flag'' alert the other day -- letting Alaskans know that our temperatures have been abnormal, record breaking, fire danger high and snow melting fast from the mountains-- so everything is official -- it's DARN hot for most of us. 

Of course with all the above normal temperatures our lake water has been rising more quickly than usual.  Below the waters are coming closer and closer to the barge. Once the waters get a bit closer and a bit deeper -- we can push the barge out and go for a fuel run.

With all this hot weather -- the mosquito population has explored!  Lots and Lots of mosquitoes to bug everyone constantly.  Only the Swallows seem to enjoy all the mosquitoes.  Ernie had put out our mosquito magnet a few weeks back and its been going full-time.  Below -- I took a photo of all the dead mosquitoes crammed into the mosquito magnets mesh bag before we emptied it.   

Yesterday we went into town to get a few supplies and I dressed in typical Alaskan fashion.  Chest wades for 'water boat work' -- and to ward off mosquitoes -- a long sleeve shirt and a mosquito net head cover. I was also sprayed with lots and lots of  "Essence of Mosquito Dope".

 

The mosquitoes have been so bad -- that all the stores in town were sold out of mosquito zappers and repellents.  I'm glad we stocked up on mosquito dope the last time we went into town because everything was sold out!  We couldn't believe it - even all the mosquito magnets and related supplies. 

Another interesting happening in town -- was seeing all the Alaskans going about with sunburns and 'real' tans!  Below - is our temperature reading at 7:30 pm!!  Today's temperature is suppose to be the same as yesterdays.

Since I'm not used to hot weather - I try and get out of the hot sun in the late afternoons when it seems to be the hottest.  So to do something fun, I decided to try my skills at making a no-sew, four-strand, braided rug from all the old sheets we no longer use.  So far - I seem to be following directions well.

Oh - Ernie has been doing a lot of bar-b-cuing lately -- and I wanted to share a trick he found on the Internet for charcoal grilling smoked chicken.  The technique produces cooked and very moist, tasty chicken. I suppose it could also be used on other meats.

Place a pan half-full of water directly onto the bed of charcoals when they are gray. Leave some room along the sides to place 4-6 handfuls of soaked wood chips (apple or hickory). Put the soaked chips directly onto the hot coals.

Then, put the chicken on the grill over the pan of water.  Use medium heat! Cover and smoke the chicken.  If you are doing a whole chicken (not cut up) - it'll take about two hours.  About half-way through the cooking process, check and add more water, coals and wet chips if needed. Yummy!!

Take Care Everyone!!