Ok. It’s May 1st. I think it is safe to say goodbye to winter. Or is it?? Just kidding. We are getting nothing but sun and warmER days now. I say warmER since highs are still only hitting upper 40’s. For all you non Alaskans that probably sounds laughably cold. But for us that is a heat wave after this last winter.
Spring ushers in all sorts of new visitors to Homer. Along with the two legged variety, we are seeing those infamous Sandhill cranes all over town. We were making breakfast this morning and noticed these two outside our window.
Salmon Sisters
If Alaska is nothing else, it is home to those who harbor a love of its rugged beauty and share that rare Alaskan can-do entrepreneurial spirit. In our minds, these two women embody these traits. Meet the Salmon Sisters.
Salmon Sisters is run by co-founders, fishermen, and sisters Emma and Claire, with support from their amazing all-women team. Emma and Claire grew up on a homestead in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands. Their family makes their livelihood harvesting wild seafood from Alaska’s pristine and bountiful waters. Since they were young, Emma and Claire have worked on commercial fishing boats and continue to fish each summer while running Salmon Sisters from land and sea.
Although they were likely well known around Homer, they certainly landed in the state-wide spotlight when they designed their version of Xtratuff boots. Xtratuff’s are a neoprene boot that is nicknamed the Alaskan sneaker. The boots are a statewide favorite and many folks wear them all year long. The sisters ingeniously came up with a slight design change to appeal to women. Different ocean designs were added to the top of the boot which could then be folded over for that extra fashion flare. Needless to say they sold like hot cakes.
The next Salmon Sisters achievement is a new seafood store on the Spit. They took over a dormant warehouse next to the Fish Dock. They already have another store on the way to the Spit that retails their line of clothing and accessories. The fish shop will be a welcome addition and is in a perfect location to serve up super fresh fish straight from the boats.
Restaurants and shops are buzzing with activity as they get ready to open for the summer season. We wait with baited breath (pun intended).
Be well & enjoy your summer!
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