Anchorage, Ak. July 8

Good evening folks!  Alaska is really not so bad, you know?  The temperatures are cooler than we like but it wouldn't feel like Alaska if it were too warm.  We went into town today and had a nice seafood lunch at a cafe.  We were outside but they had heaters around and they had 2 at our table.  Hot chocolate sure tasted good!  We visited the shops and picked up some gifts for the kids and I visited a shop that really took me by surprise.  My knitter friends would really appreciate this!  It is called Qiviut Alaskan handknits.  This company harvests Musk ox, which is an Arctic animal who survived the Ice Age.  Their body is compact to conserve heat and their long guard hair protects them from weather, wind and mosquitoes.  In order to survive the harsh Arctic winter temps. musk ox grow a thick layer of Qiviut over their entire body.  This fine under wool is shed naturally each spring when it is no longer needed.  The farm in Palmer is managed by Musk Ox Development Corp.  They comb off this fine fiber each spring.  "Oomingmak" Musk Ox Producers Co-op purchases all the fiber harvested on the farm and has it spun into yarn.  This fiber is very rare and one of the finest fibers in the world.  It compares favorably with cashmere and Vicuna.  Most of the members of the Co-op are Yupik.  The opportunity to knit the beautiful Qiviut items by hand allows them to earn a supplementary income to enhance their mostly subsistence lifestyle.  For a yearly, nominal membership fee, the Qiviut yarn is sent to them.  They knit at their own pace, with no pressure from quotas or a set time frame for completion.  Payment is per piece, along with a profit sharing at the years end.  They live in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.  The villages are small and isolated.  The only way to travel is by air.  Since there are no roads, all their supplies must be transported in the summer by barge or flown in during the rest of the year.  Cost of heating fuel, electricity, groceries etc. are many times higher than Anchorage.  They hunt and fish for most of their food. They also speak their native languages and follow their Native traditions such as arts, crafts, dancing and songs.  I am so glad I experienced this shop.  The picture you see is a decendent of one of the Yukik people.  He has been knitting since he was 7 and I only dream of knitting like him. 
I forgot to tell you that we saw our Venture Out friends, Leland and Alice in Denali Nat'l Park when we were boarding the bus.  What a small world, huh?  See you later!