When we last visited Carole she had just returned to her cabin from her first day of work at Flo’s lodge. Well, a week has now passed and what a week it has been for 
Carole. My goodness, she’s had to take a cold swim to retrieve her skiff; she’s learned how to efficiently start a fire in her wood stove and learned how to tie a bowline knot. She 
even went on her first successful deer hunt.
At the end of LETTER SIX you will find information on how you can order Carole’s memoir in a variety of formats! Enjoy!
Tim
LETTER 6 - A WEEK AT FLO'S LODGE
Dear Mary,
I am back at the cabin, sitting in the chair by the window, having just finished my week 
at Flo’s lodge. There’s bread baking in the oven and it’s 
making the cabin smell like heaven. Ha! That’s not a sentence I ever expected to write, unless composing fiction.
Here’s another one: I built a sweet little fire that is giving off warmth and making a happy crackle.
In just one short week, Flo showed me how to do these things, and more. I made halibut enchiladas, baked salmon, rosemary potatoes, 
overnight soufflé, fish 
chowder, venison shish kebabs, beer-battered salmon, 
and rice that was not only edible, but fluffy! I learned not to fear herbs, and to trust sourdough starter. And with all my heart, I do solemnly believe that if fish is fresh-caught, a marinade has to be extraordinary or it is a crime.
I didn’t become a great cook—but I was inspired by one.
The job involved some outdoor fun, too. I picked 
berries with Flo,
went hunting with Dennis, and one afternoon Flo let me tag along as “assistant guide” while she led the guests into the hills 
behind the lodge.
There are no people-trails, just 
faint, winding game trails, so it was less like hiking and more like bushwhacking.
Flo brought her rifle and every few minutes cut loose with one of her bear whoops, “Whooooo Whoooop! Whoa bear!” I’d heard the advice before: make lots of noise to scare away the bears, but Flo was the first person I encountered who really let out with some serious hollering.
Apparently this island has more grizzlies than people, so to my mind, hollering seems 
like an excellent idea. I imitated her whoop a few times and it felt good. The guests took it in stride, figuring I was a veteran whooper. Come to think of it, I probably over-whooped on that hike, but no harm done.
Ah, the oven timer just went off. It’s time to check on my bread. You tap the loaves on their pretty brown heads and if they make this hollow bread-done sound, you know it’s time to get the butter out.
Let’s hear it for dividends you can eat!
Smooch your boys for me.
xxoo
Carole
To place an order for Carole’s “Fishing for Courage” at Amazon – click here
To read Carole’s Alaska Letters 4 & 5 – click here
Wow! This is such a fun post! The visuals just make it so great. I can’t thank you enough for the beautiful layout, and making it easy for readers to find the book. The blog is such a treasure!
Amazing!