Monday, May 31, 2021

May's Catch Up Post

This post will contain a lot of photos - and random memories from the month of May.  Each of these photos captures memories that could easily turn into a blog post, but I'll never "catch up" and I'll feel terribly behind and simply quit if I attempt that many posts..... 

And so - here are some fun photos from May, along with the memories they rattled loose. 

Michael and I continue to take 2 - 3 hours of weekly respite. Arielle and the boys hang out with GG and everyone is refreshed. 



While Michael and I picnic and play, the others play at home with playdough....and GG keeps them all up to date with the latest from the ADN.

Danny is full of smiles and has found his voice

I told the family our goal was to increase our produce consumption to the point where we gained our OWN table at co-op. We did it. LOL  This was our produce and Azure orders. 

While we aren't always 100% sure what to do with everything, we are enjoying the cooking adventures. Unfortunately, I couldn't grasp what to do with the fennel. We made an eggplant/zucchini/cheese concoction with the eggplant. 

Avocado toast is a new hit around here...when you have 52 avocados....

Get the grill hot he said! ::snort:: 

I still maintain I got the grill hot...and I learned the importance of pulling the grill away from the deck railing. LOL  Michael prefers a much tamer grill. 

Stacia has been practicing for the wedding cake she is making for KrUke.

The  girls and I  joined Arielle and the boys to shop for Bridal Shower "things." Baachan may have thought Benny would love this hat. Seriously it reminded me of  our fun Korean adventure....the day we got lost trying to find the Suwan Toilet Museum. Mama vetoed the purchase. LOL 

Stacia and I took in the Vintage Fair

Bikes! We are enjoying the nice weather to the fullest. 

Warm enough to hang laundry outside

He insists he doesn't fall - but we have proof he does. 

I began to walk outside again - good for me in so many ways. 

The chickens are happy for warmer weather too. 

When you have peaches -  Paula Dean's Peach Cobbler. It worked well with monk fruit and was a hit. 

We are enjoying SPRING. I do enjoy the intensity of the seasons up here. I enjoy them best in any season but mid-winter. LOL 

When the weather warms up we get rainy days in the midst of sunny days. Stacia and I enjoyed studying together inside our warm bubble. 

I love this picture - illustrates contentment. LOL 

A good word? Word to live by? Some days it's the perfect word. LOL 

The view from the hammocks changed from branches to green leaves. These Birch leaves are the size of squirrel's ears...time to plant the garden. 

Benny likes to share the hammocks

GG wanted ARIELLE to give him a hair cut. She did exactly what I do, but he is sure she does a better job. ::snort:: 

"I can help, Baachan!" Long weeks end with Pizza around here. 

I find it ironic  this fell off the wall during our latest quake. 

Spring brings poop collection to our yard....
 
Goodbye May, Hello June. Bring on the summer! We know there will be two weddings, family gatherings, unexpected opportunities to gather with others....and lots of yard work. LOL 


Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Josiah Proposed to His Girls

The all-star, big event in May happened on THIS day. We KNEW an engagement was on the way, but we waited, patiently. Josiah talked to Jerry, Carrie's father. He kept their talk secret. He ordered the ring he wanted for Carrie as it wasn't made in Alaska.  

Meanwhile, Jamin and Josiah visited the Eagle River Nature Center to find the perfect location for the proposal....AND the spot where they wanted family to hide. CyRi (JoSIah and CarRIe) would arrive and begin a leisurely  hike. Jamin and the rest of us would meet in the parking lot 10 - 15 min later and quickly walk to the meeting point. 


Reno leads the way 

All we needed was the RING, a NICE DAY, and all of us to keep it a secret until everything arrived. It was HARD not to put Carrie out of her delightful misery....but all knew this was a surprise that would be well worth the wait. 

Finally, the ring arrived on the 24th. The weather was GORGEOUS and Josiah knew better than to wait too long or the weather could change. And so on the 25th of May, Michael, Dad, Stacia, Allie and I met up with Jamin, KrUke,  and Jerry and Pam (Carrie's parents) in the Nature Center's parking lot. 

We rushed to our places. Yes, they were there, our timing was spot on...WHAT Josiah was walking towards US...we were supposed to be hidden. Willow was acting up and distracting him.  We watched from a distance as Josiah proposed to Carrie. 



                                

And then he proposed to Olivia. He had purchased a beautiful necklace months ago with three silver hearts on it to give her on this occasion. Watching Josiah with Olivia takes me back 12 years when he would dance Stacia around on his feet.  We are so thankful God brought Carrie and Olivia into Josiah's life. 




Carrie shares it all so sweetly - let me share her words: 

I was not expecting this tonight!!! In fact, I was so surprised, I peed in the woods on the way to the engagement spot!

🤭 thankfully, our families were hiding in the woods further away! 😂
Josiah proposed to both Olivia and I and we couldn’t be happier!!
Since Josiah came into our lives, we have both felt such a comforting calmness. He has stepped into the father roll for Olivia with such Grace and patience.
He prays with us every night, brings Olivia to school/daycare when I work and sends “good morning beautiful!” texts daily!
He has accepted me... all of me and shown me more love and appreciation than I knew possible.
He makes me feel like the most beautiful person in the world and finds it endearing that I cry at everything.
Olivia and I are so happy & so so thankful!!
We love you FOREVER, Josiah!! 🥰

We hung out and took a few photos before heading back to the parking lot. Michael had waited with GG in the lot. He didn't want to take the wheelchair and it was too far for him to walk. 
CyRi (a new blog name)

Get used to it, Livie. 

KrUke


The walk back was much noisier...
Our two engaged couples 

Cy had brought out all the fixings for Root Beer Floats. We met up with Michael and GG and celebrated at a picnic spot their on the grounds. 
Jamin did a great job getting us all where we were supposed to be!

Pam and Jerry - Carrie's parents

Glad Krista and Luke (KrUke) could join us

GG, Jamin, Me, Livie, Cy, Carrie, Pam
Jerry, Allie, Stacia, Krista, Luke

Olivia, Josiah and Carrie (CyRi)

Well done, son. We began to fall in love with Carrie the Sunday she joined us for lunch at Pizzeria Delphi. She gave HUGS and I KNEW she was "our kind of people." LOL  The conversation flew back and forth touching on Air Force life and  shared experiences.  I think Carrie was comfortable chatting with the Chaplain and we are happy to share the Air Force connection with her and Olivia. She'll understand your childhood wanderings. The picture was complete when we met Livie a few weeks later.  Carrie and Livie have become family in the past year and we are excited you have proposed to your girls. 

The wedding is set for August 28th and will be here in our yard. 

Just one more confirmation of the great things God had in store for us when we began that Gherkin Migration four years ago. 

Monday, May 17, 2021

Garden in May

Thus begins the Garden 2020 - it takes a bit of faith to try to do something as normal as gardening in 2020.  I love watching the little shoots push their way through the dirt....

May 10th


May 11th - the old timers say to plant when the birch leaves are as big as squirrels ears. Others say to wait until Memorial Day weekend as one can never count on frost free evenings until that point.  The leaves are THERE...and it's getting hard to resist planting in the beds that are ready....

Krista and I went to a plant sale at the high school. I bought two beautiful fuchsia's for the front. I've NEVER grown these - but I love the colors and this is a partial shade spot.



Moving  these in and out is getting old...and I need space for more starts. Next year I will build some sort of growing set up with more space and lights...but this is working and the priority this year are new garden beds and fixing the greenhouse.  

Michael has a plan for covering a couple of the new beds so that the tomatoes can go outside. 

May 14th - Michael finished a couple of beds and Alex is working on the last two. 

While they worked on building beds, I weeded the two we have. I covered them with plastic and figured that would help to heat the soil....it's getting harder and harder to wait until Memorial Day Weekend - May 31st/June 1st to plant.

Another couple beds ready. The garage door panels were a free find. They are working great for beds. 

May 15th and I've moved a couple of card tables outside. The starts which have been in the greenhouse shelf are hardy enough to spend their days on the tables outside. This frees up the greenhouse shelves for new starts.  I carry everything inside at night. I am loving the color GREEN. 

Zucchini can always be counted on to grow. 

Dreaming and planting for pickles.