Shew - May Catch Up

I'm trying to figure out how to integrate our blog and our vlog/youtube channel. The blog can be printed....the videos are saved on my hard drive and also provide a family history. Both have the same purpose....the video is easier, at this point, to compile as my laptop's memory struggles with Lightroom and it takes FOREVER and a DAY to load photos. 🐽😏🐽 In fact, I have a thing about having the blog caught up and the house clean before I travel. I'm not going to edit or watermark photos....I'm just going to "get er done."

It would seem I'm better at daily updates on YouTube. LOL  Allow another "Week or so in a Glance" blog.  The dates and links are to videos, the summaries of the video provide a summary of the day.

April 28/29 Weekend Glimpses - coop building, Benny, Bella and chicks

The only comment I would add to the video,  is that Benny is 5 1/2 months old!

April 30th - Lowe's Intervention - the story of the attacking moose, a trip to Lowes, sign of spring, canning, Chick Cam

We woke this morning to the sounds of Yuuki howling, Alex standing down an attacking moose and a mad moose on the doorstep.  We haven't seen her back. I am seriously praying she does not come here to have her baby.

Spending a lot of time at Lowe's lately 

 Michael and I went out to eat. I avoid tyramine due the migraines it causes me. I ordered their VEGGIE BURGER and asked for them to leave the cheese out. He asked if I wanted it "vegan style."  I said, "Well, I want the veggie burger without the cheese. I guess, yes, that's vegan style."

Nope - not the same. The bun, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, onions - all gone. I received a wedge of iceberg lettuce with a veggie patty in the middle...no sauce, no other veggies, no seasoning.....

Here are some photos of the chicks at 2 weeks

And....more canning. 

May 1st - Fun with Chicks, Grands and Canning - rain,snow....Bella, Gideon and Benny visit, Gideon illustrates his unique crawling style during cousin time, canning

I nearly broke Novia (one of the chick's) neck today. I closed the brooder lid and walked away to get feed and water. Stacia was talking and pointing and when I looked back Novia's  little head was between the top and bottom of the brooder.

Novia - just fine

Cousins came to play....

Benny, Gideon, Bella with Arielle

May 2nd - Spring Projects - Stacia bakes, Chick Cam, building of the Chicken Fortress begins, transplanting, rain, hail and snowflakes

The guys built the frames in the garage and today they began getting the foundation set.

May 3rd - Building a Chicken Palace Part 2 - No VA approval for Michael's new treatment,  so we continue on projects, Chick Cam, That'll Preach, gardening, more work on the coop  - floor and walls go up, an injury and I show you 9 p.m. in South Central Alaska

Nolan, Alex, Michael 

Cory joined the work crew

Cory & Michael 

 Good progress today! 

Not mentioned in the video is that the first injury of  our Chicken Palace Fortress project happened on May 3rd. Michael put the drill bit through his fingernail. OUCH. By this point in time, I can report he is doing well and no infection set in. 

I canned more meat.

May 4th & 5th  - Building a Chicken Fortress  Part 3 - Our Chicken Coop project continues. The chicks are 3 weeks old. We were told they'd be fine in the brooder for 6 weeks, but they are getting big!

May 5th - Girl's Day Out - Stacia gave me a coupon for breakfast out in January 2017. Today, we used it. We ate. We bought crafting supplies. We braved the Target fitting room to find swimsuits....

Alaskans are PALE in spring.

 May 6th - May's Birthday/Anniversary Celebration. We try to celebrate all our birthdays and anniversaries on the first Sunday of the month at our extended family dinner. This month Izaak turned 45, Gideon turned 1 and Arielle turned 21. All wonderful milestones. It is also Jared and Larissa's 2nd anniversary; they were unable to make it so will collect their cards later. LOL

 

Seniors prayed over at Church

Nolan is in the middle

 Four Pot Pies ready to bake for our May Celebration....Veggie Pot Pie...2 Happy Chicken Pot Pie and 1 Sad Chicken Pot Pie (no onions for Larissa).

Arielle turned 21

Lighting cakes

 Jamin brought a pinata and won the "favored Uncle" title for the day. 

May 7th - Chicken Fortress Part 4 We continue building the Chicken Fortress, one of the chicks goes outside for the first time (can't figure out how to get them all out), and Arielle, Stacia, Benny and I enjoy a spring walk.

Nolan and Stacia work to put bones together for "Grandma and Grandpa." 

This little one was the first to come when I called. She got to go outside. 

Benny enjoyed his time outside too!

Shingles going on. 

Uncle Nolan and Arielle

May 8th/9th - Chicken Fortress Part 5  It's a lovely spring day in South Central Alaska. We didn't believe the kids when they said it was 70* at home - it was overcast in the town where we were for Michael's appointments. The weather station confirmed it was Spring in our neighborhood. Also see an injury and more progress on the Chicken Fortress.

Ouch - meeting with a sawsall

All receipts now entered. LOL 

Evening on the deck - 17 hours of sunlight now

May 10th - Drive in Beautiful Alaska - Stacia and I drove to Point Mckenzie to visit with friends and plan an upcoming Homestead Club workshop on making bread and butter. It was a gorgeous drive!

May 12th - Chickens Show off on their 4 week (or 6 week) birthday Stacia and I take a minute to play with Chicks

Each with their own personality! 

May 12th - Chicken Fortress Part 6  Saturday Projects - we are so CLOSE to finishing the Chicken Coop.....Stacia and I transplant quite a few seedlings and prepare to plant more seeds before we leave.

No still shots of the building - but it's on the video..... Stacia and I worked in the dirt.

May 13th - Foraging on Mother's Day Cory picked some Devil's Club and fixed it for us Saturday night. On Mother's Day, he and I picked more...and fixed them for everyone...watch for what they look like and how to fix them....had a great day with everyone.

Jared came to church and lunch with us. 

Jamin and Cy  each brought flowers. 

Jared, me, Josiah 

 Stacia and Cory plant flowers

Cory with the devils club we wrestled for dinner

GREEN!!!!