Comment: It has been so great to have the up-dates and those wonderful pictures. You must be having a unique experience. We think of you each day, check the weather there, and pray for your safety and welfare. Continue to keep us posted. Much love to both of you.

Comment: Hello!This is the first time I've checked your website in a while! Very interesting photos and commentary! FYI Fried chicken's feet are delicious!! GMA A fixed them when we were raising chickens! Very crunchy (requires parboiling and peeling of skin)! Can't believe the size of the shrimp you have over there! Yum! What an adventure you are having! Thanks for giving us a window into your lives via this website! Montana Susan

Comment: I just want both of you to know that it is okay to miss me bunches. I hope you're both excited for the sky diving, wind surfing, whitewater rafting, surfing, scuba diving, and all the fun you can have. See you two hooligans soon. :D

Comment: Be nice? Since when have I ever been nice? Oh, and also, yay me for being the first to post a comment! Woohoo!Um....yeah, that's all I got.

Comment: Hello ... great pictures, thanks for sharing them. So Eric's gone native, getting malaria and taking up bow hunting ... next thing he'll be going barefoot & wearing a loincloth. Cherine, any quilting over there? Take care, we think of you often. Love, Donald, Gwen, Aiden & Craig.

Comment: Eric in a loincloth? Not sure any of us need to see that! What a great site and wonderful narration and pics. The kids and I talked about lots of it today - they were fascinated! Glad to hear the jobs are going well adn you are getting settled. Please keep posting, adn keep in touch. Patps - How much for the bow!? :)

JUST FOR REFERENCE....THE BOW COST ME ABOUT $10. --Cherine

Comment: bring me a gourd when you come back home!

Comment: We really enjoy your up-dates. You have such a picturesque way of describing your experiences - - in our imagination, we can almost see and hear you relate them. Thanks so much! Do take care and know that we think of you daily.

Comment: Greeting from Las Vegas. We got your web adress from your Dad. Good to see pictures of you and to know all is well.Good luck on your new job and what sounds like a great adventure. Continue to enjoy.NV is still as hot as you remember. Keep in touch.

Comment: Great pictures, and thanks so much on not sharing the pictures of Eric in his loincloth. It's great to hear that Eric has been working out and doing the malaria diet. However, when he becomes a sexy beast again, we still don't want to see pictures of him wearing said loincloth.

Comment: Great to get all your updates, see pictures and hear your mindbending stories! Hopefully, Eric, you've had all the malaria you're going to ever get and that Cherine stays resistant! We want more food and grocery store pictures, too! Miss you two!

Comment: Hey guys! Love the pics. Miss you both so much! Glad you are on an adventure of a lifetime!Love,Misti

Comment: Thanks again for the most interesting and picturesque descriptions - - both of you have such a great talent for bringing your experiences home to us! We certainly enjoy reading and seeing about your adventures. Thanks so much. We miss you and pray that all is OK and that no more malaria shows up. Love to you both. L&E

Comment: Happy 4th of July from Elko! It's supposed to be in the low 100s F here for the next few days. Don't you miss that? Love your site. Glad you are enjoying your stay in Indonesia. Hurry home. You are way too far away to babysit for me. ;)

Comment: So according to the sign, it's ok for Indonesian men to pee sitting down? No wonder Indonesia never won any wars. America has never lost a war, and American men don't sit to pee. Coincidence? I think not!

Comment: I am jealous of your kitchen, as you appear to have appliances that were constructed after 1962. Also, I don't see any spots where the floor is about to cave in. So that's nice. And cool carvings, too. If you see one that looks like Jeff Goldblum riding a whale, could you pick that up for me? Thanks, that'd be great.

Comment: Seriously, WHO is this Matt person? ;)Thanks for giving us a totally entertaining view into your very unique world. You both have a way with words and pictures that make us feel like we're there too! Jess is excited to visit your island SOON! Love you and miss you both.

Comment: WOW!! You have no way of knowing how much your wonderful descriptions and lovely pictures mean to us. They are absolutely super. Each of you has the ability to detail your adventures so realistically that we can almost see, hear, and feel the reality of what it is like in that far-away land. Thanks for the interesting up-dates. We love you both very much and keep you in our prayers.

Comment: So, has Eric started running around in a gourd yet, carrying his bow and arrow? We all hope not, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Comment: Thank you for the lovely scenery pictures - - you are having a real mountain-top experience!! We look forward to the wonderful descriptions and beautiful photographs. Keep them coming! Love to both of you.

Comment: Loved the new National Geographic article on the Bird of Paradise in Papau...how amazing to be able to see those in your own back yard!! Can't wait to see you this fall :)

Comment: Hey there! Miss you guys! I had to go furniture shopping by myself. Not the same... ok Mike did go with me but, Cherine it still just wasn't the same. Miss you guys!!!! Quinton is now walking EVERYWHERE!!!! WOW! He's a ton of fun! Write me and let me know how you two are diong!!!!

Comment: I just got your email, it was great to hear from you guys! Sounds like you're having a lot of fun down there. Keep the updates (and photos!) coming. :)

Comment: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHERINE - - Sept. 14

Comment: So this one time I left an every so loving comment...and then I was chastized for not commenting...so I'm leaving another one. Are you excited to see me? I'm excited to see me.Hmmm...well then, you better have saved me a pizza for when I arrive, none of this fish for breakfast business.

Comment: Very cool that you two are getting OFF THE ISLAND for a weekend!! Go relax, unwind and get ready for the long-haul across the pacific back home. Your steak is waiting!

Comment: I hope that when Mom Smith said, Steak, she forgot to put on the end, When you come to South Dakota. Cuz we all know that the best steak comes from our cows, and it's fresh stuff, not that Canuckian beef that's up north.Your REAL steak is waiting for you, here. And burgers. And all the pizza you can eat. :)

Comment: Cris...you're just TOO funny! I didn't know SD was famous for Eyetalian cuisine! PIZZA?? There's only ONE way for you to really judge who'll make dasmiffs the best steak. Come on up and try for yourself! You're on! :)

Comment: Now, hold on...I didn't say that I would be the one making them steak. I'm just going to take them somewhere where they serve awesome corn-fed, midwestern steak, and cold beer. I figure that will probably win them over on the STEAK WAR!! Oh and Cherine, bring the heat; I'm ready.

Comment: Cris...didn't I read about SD having a case or two of mad cow disease...??? ;)

Comment: Nah, it was a big misunderstanding. Those cows were just ornery, not mad.

Comment: I just wanted to tell you that I really miss you guys.When are you coming home from work?

Comment: Hmm...squirrel...do you have supper ready for dasmiffs? Is it STEAK?? :)

Comment: Thanks for recent pictures - - we always enjoy what you send. Those sunset scenes were beautiful, and we were surprised to read about the SNOW there. You beat us - - we haven't had that yet! See you soon. Needless to say, we are anxious for your arrival. Love to you both.

Comment: just wondering what happened to november... and december is halfway over... how are things going?

Comment: It is good to see your comments again - - we have missed getting them. Our weather has been very tolerable also - - not the 60's or 70's that you have, but good for this time of the year! We hope that you do have a Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. Love to both of you.

Comment: Merry Christmas and Greetings of the season to you both. We look forward to seeing you in January.

Comment: Merry Christmas you two! How odd for it to be a tropical Chrismtas, but enjoy it for all of us that are wearing parkas. Hugs :)

Comment: Just want you to know that we miss you but still want you to know that we wish you a Very Merry Christmas. Your kringla look great - - keep up that tradition! Much love to both of you.

Comment: Hey there! I've been thinking about the two of you. Thanks for the update FINALLY on your website.... (joking well, kind of) ;-) Merry Christmas (late) but, early Happy New Year! I still miss the two of you. The wind is blowing 40mph here... don't think you're missing much. Love, Lorna

Comment: Hey--Merry Christmas and let me just say the flowers look GORGEOUS! What a neat place to be! We're thinking of you both!

Comment: Happy New Year to you both!! Love the new format and pictures. Hope you both have a wonderful year. Miss you!

Comment: Hey there guys!!!! Thanks for the updates and for the reflections! Things we can all think about however I'm sure experiencing them first hand is a totally different thing! I love the new website update. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!! I miss you! I loved seeing that you consider Big Timber as your home town. Miss you two so much!

Comment: You are getting to be such amazing photographers! Maybe you should call National Geographic and see if they want an onsite Papauan photographer!? Have a great trip back to the US of A!

Comment: Just wanted you to know that we do check your web page often - - it is awesome. Keep up the good work.

Comment: We've always thought that you had a way with words - - not everyone can do justice to a dream play or bathroom narrative and make them as interesting as you do! Maybe it's that good Norwegian background that gives you that talent. I'll award you an A+ for your efforts.

Comment: Eric, you get an A+ also. We loved your description of the trip back to the USA. We're just glad that we weren't the ones trying to maneuver all the obstacles - - at our age we'd still be floundering around, lost forever! Even though we are many miles apart, your messages seem to bring us closer. Keep it up. Love to you both.

Comment: Hey guys, just wanted to say thanks for everything you did during the wedding. Thank God it's over with! We're getting psyched to jump over to Jamaica for a few days and escape from the freezing cold weather that we have been putting up with lately. We'll take lots of pictures and send them your way. Gotta go

Comment: So, Eric....should we make that reservation NOW to come see you after reading that story??? I think I'll need a week to recover just because I read about your trip :) Kidding....It'll take more than that to scare me!

Comment: We just viewed your latest photos (those taken on March 7 and March 8. It's hard to believe that so much beauty is evident from your home there. It is wonderful of you to share that beauty with us. Thank you so very much. We're not sure that we want to taste your caramel - - but we did enjoy your description of it!

Comment: It's been great to read up on your experiences so far! Until now, Christy and I have been passive consumers of your work, but I thought I'd throw one up for posterity as well. Sadly, Big Timber is the same as you left it, although I think it's managed to become more boring. A lot of the local crew has been going down to Greybull, and our house is now on the market for a move to Billings. On the other hand, I'm going to list you as a reference for a Freeport job in AZ. Too cold here.

Comment: Hey there Eric and Cherine! I love reading your website!!! It's one of the top things to do on the internet. I look forward to it! THanks for sharing so much. Miss you guys! I love the pot calling the kettle white I laughed out loud. I tried to blog you but, then I realized I can't remember my login info.... computer challenged.... I'll order a cheese burger from The Grand for you. Ill be thinking about you. ;-)

Comment: Ooh--I finally looked at the picture of your new dining table. I love it! I hope you have a lot of dinner parties now that you have places for everyone to sit. You should probably wait until after your water is turned back on, though. I hate going to dinner parties where the hosts are all stinky and everything is cooked in apple juice.

REPLY from Cherine - LOL!  True story: I bought a case of Tonic Water to wash my hair, just in case the water is murky!

Comment: Hello Cherine & Eric - your Mom sent on the site for your recent visit to the Asmat Festival ... glad you enjoyed it, I don't think I could! Good to see you looking better, Eric, tho somewhat pale among all the dark skin folks! Continue to enjoy ... greetings from Calgary.

Comment: This looks terrific, the flowers, the scenery, all GREAT. We are glad that you are having a terrific tim.!! Uncle Jack and Arlette Harris in Michigan. YOu have our love and prayers. Hope to see you someday to hear about your experiences.!!! Enjoy!! God made an amazing world.

Comment: What a great time you two must have had while you were in Australia. We look forward to the day when you can tell us about your experiences in person. Both of you look great in those pictures - - and the food choices appear very delicious and tempting. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experiences with us. We love you both and think of you every day.

Comment: Took quite a bit of asking around to find a way to get in touch with you two!! Hope that things are going great for you halfway across the world, get in touch with us when you have a few extra minutes! (Chris has a few questions about mining life in Indonesia...) Happy New Year!!

Comment: Eric and Cherine!!! A nice tax lady gave me your webage! How the heck are you two!?!??! I suppose you have heard about East Boulder laying everyone off? I was not fortunate enough to be called back but have been thinking about trying to get in over there and wanted to talk to you and see what its like! Email me when you have a spare few minutes! I have so many questions! Cant wait to hear from you! EB was never the same after you left what a loss for them! But looks like it worked out great!

Comment: Oh my gosh - I just checked out all of your pictures and journal entries. I LOVE Indonesia. Let me know if they are hiring, Ill nip even I dont care. I am so eager to talk to you guys!! And am so happy for you!

Comment: Eric & Cherine,Enjoyed your pictures of the scenery and the beautiful flowers. What an adventure for you... enjoy every bit of it. love, (your cousin from Warner,SD)lavonne

Comment: Nice foto orang putih.

Comment: Eric and Cherine: This will be short because I went over my maximum characters! Sorry!! I have really enjoyed your web page. What a wonderful time you are having and getting paid for it besides!! On your trip to Alaska for bears, take a couple days for a Halibut charter out of Seward Bay. If there's a Heaven on Earth it's there!! You'd never regret it. I remember how you liked to FISH!! and it's beautiful on the ocean.Easter Blessings to you and I send my love, Greetings from SD!!!!!

Comment: It was so good to see you two for a few days last month. It meant so much to your family to have you here...flying that many hours for so little time on the ground. See you in May!

Comment: I just finished reading your message from April 12 and looking at those beautiful pictures. Seeing how things worked out for you on that particular day of your departure reminded me of a book that I am reading. It is all about miracles that have happened to various people; I can't help but think that what you were a part of that day was a miracle. Everything seemed to work out just the way it should. Someone upstairs had His eyes on you, I'm sure. Thought of you both on Easter Day!

Comment: Hey Cherine and Eric!! Wow--what great photos....what a memory living in Indonesia! We havd a great visit w/your mom and dad and G & G...cannot wait to see you guys again!!! Karen

Comment: Just happened across your web page! Very interesting, and feel so glad that all the varied experiences are happening to you two, and not to us! Always glad to see you when you come to Calgary.

Comment: Hey Guy's, Thanks for all the help this last week while we were visiting the site. We are back home now trying to catch up on sleep and of course answering all kinds of questions from the kids. Take care. And who knows, maybe we will be seeing you in the next few months. :)

Comment: We are thinking about you as a special occasion nears - - someone has a birthday on the 14th!!! "A granddaughter is a wonderful thing - - a treasure from above! She's laughter, warmth and special charm, she's thoughtfulness and love." These happy birthday wishes come to let you see that you are all the lovely things a granddaughter could be. Have a great day. Love, Grandma and Grandpa

Comment: Can't wait to see you guys!

Comment: We wish you both a wonderful 2010 with good health, less stress and lots of joy! We can't wait to see you in March!!