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!!!!

This Week in Review

Monday 

• Michael had his two normal appointments
• Michael was evaluated by a therapist certified in LSVT BIG - and accepted into the program. More on that later - maybe. 
• Kids worked on school - this is our last week 
• Arielle found the flag from the front of the house while out walking - it's been gone awhile 
• I released my wifely wolverine (similar to mama bear) and began conversing with members of his care team about Michael's care schedule. More on that later - maybe. There are some things which simply must be done. We found one thing to put on hold (2 appointments a week). It's a start. 
• Michael and I attended the Alaska Ministry Network Missionary Banquet (Assembly of God)

At the banquet we enjoyed the table fellowship and hearing a bit from Torrey Martin. Torrey is a comedian, writer, actor... The Wooten character in Adventures In Odyssey is based on him, and he wrote for them for a bit of time. 

Michael, myself and Torrey Martin 

Tuesday

• AT HOME DAY  - yay. Incredibly windy! 

Blown head over head by the boys' window

Blowing up and down the length of the deck - sideways - with the wheels locked.

• Michael worked in the garage on the chicken coop - Alex & I helped. 

• I canned beef and chicken  and worked with kids on school

Beef, Taco meat and chicken

• Chicks continue to grow

Nearly 2 weeks 

Everyone likes the chickens

• Planted more seeds
• Trees move inside - home looks like Jumanji
• Video of Monday/Tuesday....the one where I pick up a drill and Wibbly Wobbly Construction is born. ::snort::  

• A video of our Watermelon Challenge - no takers. ::sniff:: 

• No women's Bible Study due to Alaska Ministry Network Conference

Wednesday 

• Michael had an appointment
• The kids had Japanese lessons
• Picked up more lumber
• Michael attended the Alaska Ministry Network Conference Men's Ministry Luncheon 
• I attended the Alaska Ministry Network Conference Women's Ministry Luncheon
• No Youth Group due to Alaska Ministry Conference

Thursday

• Michael and I spent the day at the 2018 IDEA Curriculum Fair in Anchorage  - all day. 
• A video of of lazy evening - chicks , family, compost, Benny belly laughs.... 

• Stacia makes an End of the Year Cake

• No Life Group at our home due to the Alaska Ministry Network Conference

Friday 

• Michael had two appointments 
• We celebrated the last day of school for the year AND Nolan's last day of High School

Michael proofing the last essay

• BreZaak and kids joined us at Dairy Queen to celebrate Nolan's last day of High School 
• We told Nolan we had to get wood shavings for the chicks at Walmart. The movie theater is next to Walmart. We totally surprised him and met Josiah, Jamin and JaRissa there to watch Infinity Wars. 
• Here's a video on our You Tube Channel about Nolan's surprise and the Last Day of School. I must say - it's hard to believe that little 5 yr old boy with the giant, green eyes is finished with high school. I BLINKED AGAIN!!!!

Saturday

• The chicks are 2 weeks old - here's a video for a couple of days ago. They grow a LOT - EVERY day. 
• I finally decided not to move and to ice my back - hurt it on Tuesday afternoon
• Michael and the boys finished a lot of work on the Chicken Coop.  We need a day without rain and a bit of time....and we'll have a chicken coop. Here's a video of some of the building....

• Planted watermelon seeds

There are other highlights, but they are stories belonging to others to tell. The other thing of note for ME to share is the wildlife in the area....the birds are back....we can add porcupine to the list of rodents, fox, hawk, owl, moose......

Doesn't she look like she is scowling? 

Sundays.....

If you'd like to see and hear a video about this day check out our YouTube channel by clicking the underlined text.

Sunday was the G family's first Sunday on the nursery rotation at church. We had a lot of fun playing with the children. Michael also had fun fixing toys and door knobs. 

Cory attended a men's retreat Friday night and so had to work Sunday. Look at Benny sporting his DUCKware. He is 5 months old now. 

Josiah, Jamin and Jared came out. We had fun visiting, eating, playing and working. Jamin has been busy and passed the realtor exam. His license will be final this week.  He's working with a group in his hometown, and also pursuing a couple of teaching/coaching type things. 

Jamin, Nolan and Alex, prepare to pound Stacia and Jared

 Josiah helped Michael map out where the Chicken Coop will go. 

These chicks are so much fun. They are fascinating....and we've seen several incidents that make me wonder why God calls us sheep and not chickens. ::snort:: 

For instance, one little gal pecked away at the paper towels and was rewarded with a nasty, dirty, piece of towel in her beak. I don't think the others even KNEW what she had, but they began to chase her around and around the brooder. It seems we always want what we don't have.  That'll preach. 

We have been trying to isolate a bird with diarrhea. We think we have it figured out. Michael suggested we put a small dot of food coloring on her back.  I did so. She immediately reached around to peck at her back. She ended up with blue dye on her beak. The others turned on her! They cornered her and pecked and pecked at her beak.  It seems the raised nail gets hammered down, not only in Japan but also in the hen house. That'll preach.