House Projects #293....

Jamin came over to help us with projects this morning. He thought they'd be sealing the deck, but we surprised him. He helped get photos on the wall. This continues to be a challenge - we have way more photos and quilts to hang than wall space. 😃 I have been asked not to hang anything. I'm not quite as precise as others. Note the masking tape procedure.....It works. 

Nolan and I were looking at the pile of things we couldn't put up and an idea was born! Boom - thinking outside of the box - using unused space.

Our mower has still not arrived. The grass is getting ridiculous. We have a project coming up outside, so the boys took the weed eater and tamed this portion of the yard. 

Arielle is a great supervisor (and photographer). She's entering her 3rd trimester.

These two continue to split wood. 

I keep dreaming one day we'll unpack a box, or hang a photo and realize, "It's done. We're moved in." We could be there by now, but unexpected projects have combined with expected pre-winter projects to keep us busy.

We've decided the chicken coop will have to wait until spring. We want to have a coop and yard built, (a garden fence built etc) before we start those projects.

We would like to fix the retaining wall and add pavers outside the basement french doors before winter. It will be easier for shoveling snow.

This week we plan to focus on getting the RV set up well for winter.

I'm not sure the patio/hot tub and sauna will get done before winter - but it sure would be nice. 😏

House Project #281

We tried another local church today. We were impressed four or five went out of their way to engage us in conversation! More than just, "Good morning." At the previous church we went three times with no one engaging us in conversation and only two saying, "Good morning." Now, it's not all about us - we get that. BUT we are looking for real community and it seems a church serious about community would be a place where you would say, "Good morning," to one another. 🐽

The big goal for the day was getting the deck sealed. This is tricky this time of the year, but we want it done before winter arrives. 

They got it all taped, sprayed and sealed. It hasn't rained so far. It's not real hot, but it hasn't rained. We're hopeful.

TIMBER!

The best way to spend a Saturday after a busy week is to CUT DOWN TREES!!!! Larissa has gone outside (AK speak for anywhere not in Alaska).  Jamin and Jared came over with Cody and Lassie - the grand dogs. They thought they'd seal the deck - a project we are trying to do before winter - but the weather was forecasting rain. They settled on felling four trees, splitting wood and hauling it to the wood-shed.

Cory, Michael, Jamin, Jared, Izaak 

Michael brought the first one down - he barely got into it and it was falling

These trees were a hazard. 

Cory cut them into manageable pieces

There are four less black X's in the yard

Timber

Alex hauled them to the woodshed

Lassie - JaRissa's dog

Cody - Josiah's dog 

 Michael and the boys had built a saw buck earlier in the week - they  put it to use today. 

 Mary Ellen, a neighbor who lives behind us, though we can't see her house this time of year, stopped by. She lived in the bush for years. She lives alone. She's 70. She said we were making her think she should get out her chain saw.  She brought us a bucket of  yummy raspberries from her place. She gardens - organically - and is open to helping me get set up to do the same.

After the trees were down - everyone took a bit of time to play. I met another neighbor when they called to let us know they had Yuuki. She's earned perpetual stake status. 

Dodge ball on the trampoline

Jared, Nolan and Jamin 

Jamin, Nolan and Jared 

 As you can see above, Jared kept getting hit in the chest. This often triggers his SVT - so we watched to see...but all was fine. 

Arielle was finally able to get up on the trampoline - she didn't get to play dodge ball or jump. 

Stacia and I took the raspberries left after lunch, added some service berries to them, and made a cobbler.

After the busy week we've had, it would have been nice to laze around....but it feels good to get so much done. We're in a race against winter. The leaves are turning.

News from the Week

It seems I quit blogging when Maria left! LOL  Seriously the last 11 days have proven to be busy. I don't think I can get the WHOLE time documented in one post - so I'll get started with this one and see where we end.

I spent two full days at IDEA - the state homeschool program we decided to join. I gleaned helpful information and feel like I'm getting a grasp on what we need to get done in the upcoming year. If I hadn't joined them, I'm not sure I would have taken the time to get school started. LOL

I found two women to talk all things homesteading with....gardening, goats, rabbits, 🐓🐔🐓.

After the orientation, and 3 1/2 hour meeting with my contact teacher, I spent a couple of days wrestling up finished ILP (Individual Learning Plans) for the three Gherkins. The difficult part of this was taking what we DO and labeling it to fit the right boxes for the program. They have a limited number of course titles one can use.

Michael had a CPAP appointment. While there we discussed the fact we've not been able to find a Motion Disorder Specialist and we were going to have to fly outside every 6 months for Michael to get care. It turns out the doc, who spends one day a week helping out with the sleep disorder clinic at the VA, is a board certified Motion Disorder specialist who LIVES in Anchorage, has been the assistant at the VA Parkinsons Research clinic in San Francisco, trained at Mayo, has written research grants....the list goes on.   The VA insisted there were NO specialists in this field in Alaska,and then booked an appointment for Michael with one on a different matter. 🐽 It's a God thing we brought up Parkinsons at the appointment. We went to the referral office and found the reason we've not heard from them is they forgot about Michael. We have names and numbers to call to get a referral to this local doc.

That same day we spent hours tracking down the stuff needed to replace my lost ID. 😟

Michael visited three banks trying to set up a special needs trust for his oldest sister. Finally found one who knew the regs.

We had a plumber come out (twice) to make sure the water heated floors were winter ready.

We had an appliance repairman come out to work on the upstairs stove/oven.  I will admit it frustrates me  we had the home inspected and the owners said things were in, "working order," when two of the burners won't even ignite and the oven doesn't work.  We know they KNEW as we found the knob and the drawer under the oven held on with DUCT TAPE. 🐽 We've fixed one burner that wasn't starting downstairs and need them to look at the oven....but the warranty company won't work on it until this one is done. ??? Turns out the upstairs oven needs over $700 in repairs.....then the warranty office called to say they wouldn't fix the knob or the hinge (which is sprung). They wanted us to pay the repairman $267 for a knob and a hinge. I told them that wasn't happening and we'd find the parts and fix it ourselves.

The boys began this year's Japanese study with Kim. Stacia is taking weekly online lessons too.

That summarizes the  week......

Red Shirt Trip

 As I shared in "yesterday's" post, the boys and Michael went out for a grand adventure. Jared and Josiah walked in the 3.5 miles, spent the day fishing, and walked out.  Jamin and the other two boys, agreed to spend a night at the cabin. The plan was to divide the hike so Michael could accompany them.  Thanks, guys.

Michael, Jamin, Alex, Nolan

Everyone had a great time and many Pike were removed from the waters. Pike are a menace. They have rows of teeth and they eat anything. Jared caught one, who spit out his hook AND a real live mouse at the same time. 🐽 I'm told pike taste, "better than trout".

Josiah 

Nolan 

Jared

Jamin, Michael, Alex, Jared, Nolan 

 Yes, it was another one of  those "fine and pleasant misery" escapades. It rained and rained. But they were fishing. They stayed in a forest service cabin.

Everyone had a good time and the stories will be worth any discomfort experienced.  I'm glad they got this trip in before Jamin leaves the state, and am happy Michael was able to go with them.

Girls Day Rock

0630 and Jamin was knocking on our door. No, he wasn't simply creating havoc. The boys have been planning a trip to Red Shirt. Michael had taken the older four there ice fishing 12 years ago, and they fished their often during that assignment.  The older 3 have enjoyed the hike and fishing since moving up here. There was talk the hike would be too much for Michael to attempt. There was talk of waiting for Izaak and Cory to arrive so for a true "bro bonding" weekend. There was talk of trying to canoe in so Michael could go. In the end, Jamin wants to go before he leaves for OCS....Jamin, the younger two boys and Michael will spend the night in a cabin - this is a concession for him so that he doesn't have to hike 7 miles in one day. Josiah and Jared will go up, fish and hike back in one day. Izaak and Cory had other plans for the weekend.  It will be Alex' first time to join the guys on this hike. Stacia opted NOT to go....she enjoys girls weekends with me from time to time.  (AND as a side note - contrary to good-natured teasing this is NOT because she likes shopping, she said she likes spending time alone with me sometimes. I like spending time alone with her too.) 

The guys loaded into Jared's van and headed out

 Maria and I woke up Stacia and had a final breakfast together. 

Yes, Maria and Mako took off this morning too.  I will write more about our visit when I post photos of Maria and Mako playing in the yard. 

Maria's departure left a gap in the day for Stacia and I. We miss her. We first, re-arranged the office/school room she was sleeping in. Then we headed to church. We parked in the visitor spot, even though it was our 3rd time, as NOT ONE PERSON had spoken to us in the other two visits. Stacia figured, and I agreed, that until someone talked to us we could still park in the visitor's spot.

I don't know if it was the fact that the boys and Michael weren't with us and they are intimidating, or that someone saw us parking in the visitor spot...but we received two "Good mornings," AND I overheard the lady in front of me talking about where she lives - the same road we branch off of. I introduced myself and got into a conversation.

Stacia is frustrated one of her new pairs of jeans are already too shirt. She bought them July 3rd. They just don't make non-shrinking jeans these days. 🐽She is getting taller by inches. I have one pair of jeans that will zip, I have mentioned my weight gain since retirement.  I decided it was time to buy a pair that fit. I'd looked at Walmart and Target....and I wanted a pair of "mom jeans."  We hit the mall.  VERY proud of ourselves for finding it and navigating the parking maze, sky bridge....

We each found two pairs of jeans on clearance! We stopped by Teavana to sample and buy some tea - I plan to do this periodically until they close - as long as my favorite tea is in stock. 

We ate at the food court and worked on this week's meal plan and grocery list. 

We stopped in Eagle River at the Walmart on the way back to the valley and shopped for groceries AND two pairs of rain boots. 

We went to try out the boots and research a noise coming from the wooded area. We discovered a new type of mushroom.

And Cory working hard to clear dead logs and trees. We have so many projects to do,  it boggles the mind. Thanks, Cory for your work this afternoon. 

We went to talk to a neighbor about her missing cat. Her cat is happy at home now. We cuddled up and watched Descendents 2  - a movie Stacia likes and I tolerate for the discussions. 

I had snuggle time with Gideon and a fun few moments with Bella. 

I was struggling to sleep due to my hands and arms....and so I was awake for this a.m.'s 4.3 quake north of Hatcher's Pass at 2:43 a.m.  It was a familiar feeling.  I wasn't at all alarmed. This is the first one I've felt since moving here.  I got up to see if anyone was alarmed - nope. I stayed up to try to ease the pain in my hands. 

Yes, Things Grow Up Here

Several have asked me if I really want to attempt a garden in Alaska. The intimation is nothing will grow up here.  The first picture below shows my garden spot (a former horse pasture) on 27 June. 

Note the tree with greenery around it in the center of the above photo. Below the tree is just left of center. Look at what grew in 1 months and three weeks. 

Obviously, SOMETHING will grow in Alaska. I know that wildflowers, weeds, strawberries and mushrooms thrive on our property.

A note for those alarmed at the condition of the yard. It was not mowed since June. We don't have a lawnmower but have ordered one....it was supposed to be here the 17th - now they say the 30th.  We are looking for a push power to rent or buy cheap, but we may simply have to live with it until the 30th.