Alone in the Wilderness
Written by admin on March 11th, 2009What a busy but satisfying couple of days it’s been. I’ve been hopping on line barely these last few days. I checked one of my e-mail accounts, but mostly I’ve been busy here at home off line.
The first thing I want to tell you about is a DVD we watched as a family for school. It is so, SO good. I’m going to watch it again soon to pick up little things I missed the first time around. It’s called Alone in the Wilderness
and it’s the story of Dick Proenneke who back in the 1960s went into the wilderness of Alaska alone, determined to see if he could stand his own company for a year and to see if he was a match for anything he encountered there. He tested himself. He built his own cabin. He build his own fireplace from rock found on his travels around the Twin Lakes region. I mean, my goodness, he even carved his own dipping spoon out of wood. After watching this man work and hearing his thoughts, I believe he could have done anything he set his mind to. His talent with film is amazing. We are talking some pretty old footage here, but don’t let that stop you from watching it. It’s breathtaking. Every one of my children were glued to it from start to finish. Even my 20-year-old said, “That helped me. Thanks for getting that.” I bought mine at Sam’s Club, but it looks like Amazon has it (linked above and below), and it looks like you can buy it from the website Alone in the Wilderness as well.
Oh yeah. Dick Proenneke ended up staying there for over 30 years.
This would be a great go-along for Very Last First Time
Hmmm. What else has been going on here at my house? We’re still loving the Workbox System, or our version of it, I should say. I am still very much excited about ordering Sue’s book.
I tried to get some better shots of the terrarium, which is doing remarkably well! The violet in it is about to put out three blooms; blooms that I didn’t even see when I put it in there!
The little Sculpey birdbath is so cute.
Up on the hill in the terrarium, surrounded by rocks, is the violet, taken yesterday. All the blooms popped up after that picture, and they’re still not fully open. See the little puppy in the moss? It’s a very old ceramic puppy I dug up in my front flower garden one year. Wonder who in this yard’s 100-year history had a puppy like that?
Hmmm. What else.
I began planting in the vegetable garden this week. Last fall we raked all of our leaves and put them into the fenced-in garden to cover the soil. I pulled back the leaves this morning and easily turned over a shovelful of dirt. Look at the earthworms! Every shovelful was full of earthworms. I planted arugula, garlic, mustard greens and some peas.
I raked back leaves to make rows. We could have more frost before spring really arrives, so we can use the leaves to cover any seedlings up if we need to.
Isn’t this dandelion the most scruptious thing ever? I see an infusion in my future. Tomorrow. There may even be dandelion greens on the horizon.
Have a wonderful evening.
Lynn
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
11
PM
Hi Lynn,
I had a few minutes and stopped in to visit! I read through your entries and it is amazing how many wonderful ideas you’ve taken the time to share. I really love the terrarium, how pretty! The field trip looked like great fun. I was especially intrigued with the box system-very cool!
We returned from Savannah yesterday and our trip was awesome. We enjoyed 75-85 degree weather during our stay. It is such a beautiful city and so rich in history and culture. I can’t wait to go back!
Have a day filled with adventure and discovery,
Diane
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HI, Lynn,
I saw Alone in the Wilderness on PBS last year, I believe it was during one of their pledge drives. I was absolutely fascinated by this man! My husband and I were like ‘We could SO do that!’
Thank you for showing how your garden is awakening to spring. We have very little signs of it so far here in RI. Whenever we have a gray gloomy day (like yesterday), I think of your garden and it perks me right up.
Have a blessed day!
Liane
12
AM
Oh man- We really enjoyed watching Alone in the Wilderness too- we saw it on PBS once- then found the dvd at the thrift store (great buy for a buck!) In fact for Christmas I got my dh the book that has his Journal in it- One Man’s Wilderness- http://www.amazon.com/One-Mans-Wilderness-Alaskan-Annivers/dp/0882405136/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236860292&sr=8-1 Pretty AWESOME and inspriring as a Nature Journal as well.
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We have watched it on PBS several times and it is wonderful! Would love to have and copy and also of his journal. I didn’t know there was a written journal.
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We are going to have to get this. We define roughing it as any place that is more than 30 miles from a CostCo!
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I also saw this on a PBS station several years ago and was fascinated by it. When I ordered the book, which I HAD to do, his voice was so distinctive, I read it in his voice. Now I may have to have the video too.
I’ve found a lot of good books from your blog, thanks heaps.
13
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Hi, Diane. I was visiting your blog recently and enjoying all the new info and links.
Liane, it made me want to try it too!!
Andrea, you so got a great deal!! Thanks for posting the link to the book. I may have to have that one!
MamaHen, I’m thinking I may have to have the journal too.
Ken, like I said, I got one from Sam’s Club. Maybe Costco has them too. You and I have the same idea about roughing it!
Sheila, thank you! I thought his voice was very distinctive as well. I enjoyed listening to him.
Lynn
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Hi! I saw that you’re using Seq. Spelling with your son. I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that AVKO has a new blog at http://www.avko.blogspot.com Check us out! Thanks