THE TOTEMS OF THE HAIDA.....SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA...

     THE HAIDA WERE OUTSTANDING CARVERS. BECAUSE THE COUNTRY PROVIDED AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF TALL, RED CEDAR TREES, THEY EXCELLED IN CARVING VERY HIGH COLUMNS.. THE HAIDA CARVERS USED THE WHOLE WIDTH OF THE TREE TRUNK AND CARVED HEADS OVER WIDE SHOULDERS AND HIPS. THE SURFACES OF THE HAIDA TOTEMS ARE COVERED WITH INTRICATELY ARRANGED FIGURES OF SEVERAL SIZES. SMALL ANIMALS AND IMAGINARY CREATURES WERE CARVED IN EARS AND BETWEEN THE LIMBS OF LARGER ONES. A HAIDA CARVER SELDOM REPEATED THE ARRANGEMENT OF LIMBS AND NEVER REPEATED TWO FIGURES , AS DID OTHER LINGUISTIC GROUPS.  

THE GOLDEN SPIRAL...FROM THE ALIGNMMENT OF THE PLANETS TO THE SNAILS IN YOUR GARDEN.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE OR GOLDEN RATIO

      IT CAN BE SEEN  IN THE EYE OF HORUS

THIS CHART SHOWS BY SIZE THE " SPIRAL OF NOURISHMENT", WITH AIR BEING THE LARGEST PORTION OF SEVEN PARTS.

FROM THE SYMMETRICAL

TO THE SUBLIME

FROM THE OUTER REACHES OF SPACE

TO THE DEEPEST SEAS

FROM THE HAND OF GOD

TO YOUR GREEN THUMB

GROWN FROM A SEED

OR GROWN FROM A BLUB

FROM THE CHAKRAS THAT MAKE YOU

TO THE FOOD THAT YOU CONSUME

THESE FASCINATING GEOMETRIC MODELS HAVE BEEN CALLED BY MANY OTHER NAMES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.  THE SPIRAL HAS OFTEN BEEN TERMED THE "UNIVERSAL MASTER FORM", AND HAS LONG BEEN REVERED AS A SACRED SYMBOL OF LIFE, DEATH, AND TRANSFORMATION. FOUND ABUNDANTLY THROUGHOUT NATURE IN BOTH THE PLANT AND ANIMAL  REALMS.  MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRAL WITH ITS LOGARITHMIC PROGRESSIONS HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED  IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES OF EVERY CULTURE, FROM THE MOST PRIMITIVE TO THE MOST ADVANCED.  IT IS IN THE LOGARITHMIC SPIRAL THAT WE FIND A CONSISTENT  THREAD OF KNOWLEDGE LINKING THE BELIEFS AND LIFESTYLES OF THE GREAT ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS THROUGH ART , ARCHITECTURE , ASTRONOMY, ENGINEERING AND EVEN AGRICULTURE, PASTORALISM , AND FOOD PRODUCTION.  


WHETHER IN INDIA , CHINA, THE MIDDLE EAST, THE FAR EAST, AFRICA, NORTH OR SOUTH AMERICA, THE STUDY OF TRADITIONAL FOODS REVEALS BASED ON A REMARKABLY CONSISTENT WISDOM OF SENSIBILITY , PRACTICALITY, AND PROPORTION.  ON THE SURFACE , THESE TRADITIONS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY OBVIOUS CULTURAL DIVERSITY; 



THERE ARE,  OF COURSE, BROAD DIFFERENCES BASED ON CLIMATE AND TERRAIN. COASTAL PEOPLES NATURALLY CONSUMED MORE FISH AND SEAFOOD THAN INLAND PEOPLES, WHO CONSUMED MORE FOWL AND MAMMAL PRODUCTS. YET AS FUNDAMENTALLY AGRICULTURAL PEOPLES, BOTH GROUPS CONSUMED ANIMAL PRODUCTS OVERALL IN A ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT PROPORTION TO ALL OTHER FOODS.

IT SEEMS THEN THAT A DIET OF TRADITIONALLY GROWN FOODS EATEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOLDEN SPIRAL MAY HOLD THE KEY TO HEALTH.  AFTER CAREFUL INVESTIGATION INTO THE SPIRALLIC NATURE OF THE TRADITIONAL DIETARY PATTERN LEADS TO A PROFOUND TRUTH AT ITS CENTER.

1. WHEN WE ARE BORN, THE FIRST BREATH , A SIMPLE  INHALATION OF AIR, IS THE BEGINNING OF AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY IN SELF-DISCOVERY THAT IS INDIVIDUALLY UNIQUE.  THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES, AIR WILL SERVE AS OUR MOST ABUNDANT RESOURCE OF NOURISHMENT. OXYGEN AND AIR WILL SPARK THE FIRES OF THE METABOLISM, HELPING TO REGULATE ALL MICRO-  AND MACRO CELLULAR FUNCTIONS IN THE PHYSICAL BODY.  THE CONSTANT EXCHANGE OF OXYGEN WITH CARBON DIOXIDE THRU THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM PLAYS A INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE BODY'S ABILITY TOO PROCESS ALL OTHER FORMS OF NUTRIENTS . AIR IS THE ONE FORM OF NOURISHMENT THAT THE BODY CONSUMES BOTH WHILE YOU ARE AWAKE AND ASLEEP. OTHER FORMS OF NUTRITION LISTED IN THE CHART HAVE A PROPORTIONALLY EQUAL INFLUENCE ON OXYGEN'S EFFECTIVENESS - RIGHT DOWN TO THE CELLULAR LEVEL.( INDICATED BY SIZE, IF AIR IS THE LARGEST / SUPPORTIVE SUPPLEMENTS ,THE SMALLEST.)


2.  WATER IS THE SECOND MOST PROPORTIONALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN OUR DAILY DIET. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE MOSTLY WATER. GRAINS BEANS, SOUPS, AND BOILED OR STEAMED FOODS ARE PREPARED IN WATER. ABOUT 75% OF THE HUMAN BODY IS WATER. WE REQUIRE LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER DAILY FOR COOLING THE BODY AND CLEANSING THE BLOOD, CELLS, AND ORGANS OF TOXINS AND WASTES. WATER IS ALSO ESSENTIAL IN MAINTAINING AND REGULATING HEALTHY BOWL FUNCTION AND PERISTALSIS.

3. WHICH LEADS RIGHT TO THE NEXT PROPORTIONALLY CONSUMED  IS CARBOHYDRATES. IDEAL ARE THOSE CONSUMED BT TRADITIONAL PEOPLE; WHOLE GRAINS AND WHOLEGRAIN PRODUCTS, SUCH(  BREADS , PASTA, ETC.) PSEUDO- CEREAL (QUINOA, AMARANTH, TEFF ) AND STARCHY VEGETABLES.( ROOTS, AND TUBERS; SWEET POTATOES , POTATO, YAM, YUCCA, SQUASH.  THIS SECTION ALSO INCLUDES SUPPLEMENTARY  CARBOHYDRATES (ALL FRUITS, AND SWEETENERS). SOME TYPICAL SWEETENERS ARE GRAIN MALTS, HONEY, MAPLE SYRUP, SUGAR CANE, ETC. AMONG THE CARBOHYDRATES, REVERED ABOVE ALL OTHER FOODS , APPEAR THE " SACRED GIFTS OF THE GODS", THE GRAINS AND PSEUDO-CEREALS. ANCIENT PEOPLES BELIEVED THESE STAPLES HELD THE GENETIC MEMORY OF HUMAN ORIGIN AND SPIRITUAL ESSENCE OF MAN AND WOMEN.


4.   VEGETABLES INCLUDE ALL EDIBLE LAND AND WATER PLANTS. ROOTS, SEEDS, LEAVES, STALKS, BUDS, AND MARINE- AND FRESH WATER ALGAE ARE BUT SOME OF THE PLANT FORMS CONSUMED AROUND THE WORLD. ALTHOUGH MANY VEGETABLE S CAN BE CONSIDERED ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF CARBS,  THEY WERE PLACED IN A SEPARATE BECAUSE OF THEIR DIETARY IMPORTANCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR ANCESTORS.


5.  PROTEIN SOURCES FOLLOW WILD AND DOMESTICATED PLANTS AS THE NEXT  CATEGORY IN THE SPIRAL . THIS INCLUDES A WIDE  RANGE OF TRADITIONAL FOODS: EGGS,  WILD GAME , FOWL, WATER FOWL, CATTLE, LAMB, GOAT , PIG, ORGAN MEATS, DAIRY PRODUCTS, SHELLFISH, FISH, BEANS, SEEDS AND NUTS ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF PROTEIN CONSUMED HISTORICALLY THRU OUT THE WORLD.


6.   FATS AND OILS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF DIETARY TRADITIONS.  CONSUMED EITHER AS A PART OF OTHER FOODS OR AS A BASE USED TO PREPARE PARTICULAR FOODS.  OLIVES, AVOCADOS, AND NUTS ARE WHOLE- PLANT SOURCES OF FAT. SALMON , EGGS, AND BEEF ARE EXAMPLES OF ANIMAL SOURCES.  SOME TRADITIONAL , STANDALONE FATS INCLUDE, ANIMAL- DERIVED BUTTER,(GHEE) AND LARD, AND THE PLANT OILS FROM OLIVES, SESAME SEEDS, HAZELNUTS, PALM KERNELS, AND COCONUTS. 


7.   THIS SECTION OF THE DIETARY  SPIRAL INCLUDES HERBS, SPICES, SALT, MINERALS,  AND NATURAL MEDICINAL FOODS , SUCH AS BEE POLLEN, SPECIALIZED FUNGI AND MICRO ALGAE. IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE " NON-SYNTHETIC", WHOLE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS.



THE GOLDEN SPIRAL,( GOLDEN RATIO)....HOLDS SO MANY SECRETS.  THE TIME IS NOW TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US. FROM THE AIR YOU BREATH , TO THE FOOD YOU EAT , TO THE PEOPLE YOU TOUCH. WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THE BIG PICTURE....HAVE RESPECT FOR THE THINGS AROUND YOU!!! THEY MAY HOLD THE ANSWERS TO WHAT LIES AHEAD... BENEATH..... BEYOND!!!!!!        REF; www.stevegagne.com. ( THE GOLDEN SPIRAL OF TRADITIONAL FOODS. ) DTD: 2004/2009......

THE PIONEERS OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN...

  ACCORDING TO " WEBSTER'S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY"...A PIONEER IS , A PERSON OR GROUP THAT ORIGINATES OR HELPS OPEN UP A NEW LINE OF THOUGHT OR ACTIVITY OR A NEW METHOD OR TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT;  ONE OF THE FIRST TO SETTLE IN A TERRITORY. BUT THEY DON'T CALL THEM TERRITORIANS DO THEY???....  AFTER ALL THE RESEARCH  I HAVE BEEN DOING ON THE GREAT NORTHERN STATE OF ALASKA, I FIND THAT THE NATIVES  ARE A PEOPLE TO BE ADMIRED. THE PIONEERS MAY HAVE BROUGHT," TECHNOLOGY", BUT THE NATIVES GAVE THEM," TECHNIQUE"!!!!!   THEY ARE A PEOPLE THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING ON MY TRIP NORTH. I HAVE AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER BE DRAWN TO ALASKA. I DON'T LIKE THE COLD AT ALL. BUT MOVING, GOING, VISITING ALL OF THE ABOVE HAS BEEN MY DREAM. 
     

    JACK MC QUESTEN,  ARTHUR HARPER, AND AL MAYO,WELL KNOWN TRADERS, ARRIVED ON THE YUKON RIVER IN 1873. GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA IN JUNEAU IN 1880., THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT THE PIONEER PROSPECTORS TO ALASKA. THEY WERE OF VARIOUS WORLDWIDE NATIONALITIES, SUCH AS SLAVIC, GERMAN, IRISH, ENGLISH, SWEDISH, AND NORWEGIAN. THEY CAME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, AND RELIGION. SOME OF THEM ONLY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO GET TO ALASKA. THERE ARE STORIES OF SOME OF THESE PIONEERS COMING INTO FORTUNES IN GOLD AS MUCH AS 2MILLION DOLLARS ONLY TO LOSE IT TO GAMBLING IN DAWSON AND NOME. 


   PRIOR TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ALASKA WAS NOT THE PLACE ANYONE WOULD GO FOR ANY OTHER REASON THEN THE LURE OF SUDDEN WEALTH.  MANY OF THE PEOPLE CAME TO ALASKA WITH NO IDEA OF THE HARDSHIPS AHEAD FOR THEM COMING HERE UNTRAINED IN SURVIVING THE HARSH ELEMENTS. NOT TO MENTION THE LURE ITSELF DID NOT COME WITHOUT A PRICE. THEY WERE UNSKILLED IN MINING METHODS. THE GOLD EXTRACTION WOULD PROVE TO BE AS DIFFICULT A LESSON AS STAYING ALIVE..THESE PIONEER MEN AND WOMEN WOULD ESTABLISH TOWNS ALONG THE WAY . THEN ROADS AND BRIDGES TO CROSS TURBULENT WATERS. THEY LEARNED TO USE THE LONG SUMMER DAYLIGHT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE IN SURVIVING THE WINTERS. THOSE THAT LEARNED FAST LIVED TO TELL THE STORIES OF GREAT GOLD RUSH... MANY OF WHICH WERE IN THE GOVERNMENT THAT CAME TO ALASKA IN 1900. JAMES WICKERSHAM WAS APPOINTED AS DISTRICT JUDGE AT EAGLE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE MIGHTY YUKON. THE VALDEZ TRAIL AND THE YUKON RIVER BROUGHT MANY PEOPLE INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE STATE. THE FIRST AUTO TRIP WAS MADE BETWEEN VALDEZ , AND FAIRBANKS IN 1913. BY 1923 A RAILROAD CONNECTED ANCHORAGE, A SOUTHCENTRAL TOWN, TO NENANA IN THE INTERIOR. ALSO IN THE 1920'S THE DEVELOPMENT OF AVIATION CAME FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT SO ISOLATED. IN THE PAST COMMUNICATION WAS ONLY BY DOGSLED. IN THE 1930'S CAME AIRFIELDS, ROADS, AND RADIO BEACONS. IN 1938 ALASKA WOULD HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST MILITARY INSTALLATION THAT WOULD TEACH WINTER SURVIVAL.  LADD AIR FORCE BASE WOULD LATER BECOME FORT WAINWRIGHT.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS FROM FAIRBANKS COOKBOOK DATED 1910

1.  TO KEEP CHEESE FROM MOLDING AFTER IT IS CUT,  WET A CLOTH IN VINEGAR, WRING IT OUT, AND SMOOTH IT OVER CUT END.

2.  TO TAKE THE ODOR OF FISH FROM A FRYING PAN PLACE A GOOD HANDFUL OF POTATO PEELINGS IN IT, POUR BOILING WATER ON , AND LET STAND FOR 10 TO 15 MIN.

3. USE A STRING FOR CUTTING FRESH BROWN BREAD ( SUCH AS BANANA BREAD ) . TURN THE LOAF ON ITS SIDE USING BOTH HANDS TO PULL THE STRING THRU. 

4. PASTRY SHOULD ALWAYS BE COOLED IN A WARM ROOM. TAKING IT FROM A OVEN TO A COLD PLACE WILL MAKE IT HEAVY.

  

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE SPOONS IN THE WORLD????

                     I DON"T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT WHEN I ORDER A CUP OF COFFEE IN A RESTAURANT I DON'T FEEL I HAVE TO ASK FOR A SPOON. I CAN REMEMBER WORKING IN RESTAURANTS IN THE 60s AND 70's YES EVEN THE 80's WHOSE SIDE WORK INCLUDED ROLLING 50 TO 60 SILVERWARE BEFORE YOU GOT OFF SHIFT. THEY ALWAYS INCLUDED SPOONS!!!! maybe their all stored in the CABOOSES you don't see anymore!!  LOL!!

BIG GAME MEATBALL SOUP

SLOW-COOKER /  STOVE-TOP.......................
I HAVE COOKED BOTH WITH THE SLOW-COOKER AND THE STOVE-TOP AND I PREFER THE SLOW-COOKER METHOD. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THEM IS THE COOKING TIME. SLOW-COOKER GENERALLY TAKES LONGER. 3/5 HOURS ON HIGH. WHEN USING FROZEN MEATBALLS. IF USING FRESH GROUND MEAT; BRAISING IS ADVISED. IF YOU USE THIS METHOD DON'T WASTE ANY OF THE JUICES. SCRAP THE PAN. 


6 CUPS WATER

AS MANY MEATBALLS AS YOU DESIRE. DEPENDING ON SIZE....

3 CUBES BEEF BOUILLON ( DISSOLVED )

4 CLOVES GARLIC (MINCED)


SMALL BAG BABY CARROTS


2 TBSP. BUTTER


1 CUP CHOPPED CELERY


1/2 HEAD CABBAGE


1 TSP. THYME

1 TSP. BASIL LEAVES

1 TSP. TARRAGON

DASH OF CAYENNE PEPPER

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS ......

LET MOTHER NATURE DO THE REST!!

SERVE WITH A LOAF OF FRENCH BREAD .