Full Love Tanks

One thing to get used to around here is the mail system. Our box is .7 mile away - we enjoy 1.4 mile walk....NOW...in the fall. 🐽😵😁 Amazon Prime - well it's FREE SHIPPING which is rare to Alaska - but they save up our orders and then mail them all at once. Gone are the days of ordering something and having it show up two hours later. 😊 The USPS will NOT deliver packages to us. Fed EX and UPS will....so we make trips into town to the post office to get our packages sent via USPS. At the post office, they call those "picking up packages only" to the front of the line. I've waited and waited, while others are called up - and finally - I AM RECEIVING PACKAGES!  I get to go to the front of the line! 

Today, we had two notices, one for us and one for the S family. Neither of us were expecting anything.  The first surprise was who they were from. I received a package from John and Mary (Mike's oldest sister). Arielle received a package from Emma (a young one she used to baby sit, daughter of a friend of mine). 

Our love tanks are full. Mary K heard about the shortage of Pumpkin Spice muffins in the Anchorage/Valley area. (Y'all I checked with THOMPSONS they did not ship any up here.)  She arranged a ride (she doesn't drive), went shopping, WROTE A LETTER, packaged it all up, found another ride to the post office, and totally SURPRISED ME! 

It was like a giant hug from afar! I ate 2 muffins,  and packaged the rest for the freezer. She also sent some pumpkin BREAD. 

Meanwhile, I delivered Arielle's package. Emma is so sweet and smart. She sent Arielle two packages of Pumpkin Spice English Muffins. It's truly fall around here. 

Pretty Section of Lowes or Gravel Spreading Again

 A few weeks ago, I was sent to Lowes. Finding a gadget at Lowes is as befuddling for me, as picking out a frippery at Claire's would be for Michael.  I invariably get the wrong doohickey. I've had lots of Lowe's practice the past few months. On this trip,  I discovered the pretty section of Lowe's. Interestingly enough, I've not been sent back alone since. I came back with everything they asked for!!!! - AND this hanging tree, some pretty work gloves and a BBQ grill. 😉

My pretty work gloves were  essential today. Michael and I ran a couple of errands, the kids did a full day of school and  we continued to spread gravel all afternoon and into the evening. 

 Some have asked about why we had loads of gravel delivered.  There was quite a drop from the road to the top of our driveway and several big pot holes in the driveway. We wanted to fill them before winter arrives and we have big ice slicks to deal with under the snow.  The company insisted we needed this mixture of sand and gravel. I still think more gravel and less sand would have been a better idea. 🐽

Load after load to the top of the driveway

The proper job for an expectant Mommy. 

After weeks of looking, Izaak said I finally found edible mushrooms on the property! 

Wait - where's STACIA?  She stayed inside and made fresh lemonade and Veggie Pot Pie for dinner. 

It was a full and productive day! Hard work in school and home, followed by a yummy meal and relaxing at the table!