Fantastic Friday

For a stymied extrovert like myself (living out here where folks keep to themselves) today was amazing. My love tank is filled.

This morning found me enjoying a big mug of chai at the Hometown Deli with a friend I'd not seen since the end of February. It was delightful to catch up. I did not take a photo - though I THOUGHT of doing so.  I shared earlier this week my summer rhythm has been to meet a friend in the morning and spend the afternoon working outside.

Not today! I came home to grab a bite to eat and pick up Stacia. Izaak dropped by and helped Michael and Alex in the garden for a couple of hours! We are blessed.

Michael harvested yet more gravel. 😏

Alex cut down the brush so the rototiller could handle it. 

We had a bit of time before we needed to leave. I took down the chicken fencing, folded tarps, and removed debris from the garden plot. Stuff  like this giant ball of rope left over from the spot's use as a horse pasture.

Before we knew it, it was time for Stacia and I to venture downtown.  Our women's ministry is hosting a few small groups this summer...Super Moms (Park Play dates, Zoo trip), In Step (walking group), and Gather Around Town (various fun things together in the area). Today was our first gathering around town. We explored Colony Days/Friday Fling.   Each time we gather we learn more about each other. For instance; Siakayle really IS a super mom, Brenda and I are meandering window shoppers, Rose likes tart lemonade, and Jacque has a link for ANY info one may need at her fingertips! It was a fun afternoon. The weather was beautiful. I couldn't help but think we were "moving naturally," "downshifting,"  and participating in a "community of faith," all at the same time! This healthy lifestyle is a great one.

Before the end of next week, we will endeavor to have a home for these chicks in the chicken yard. They have taken to waiting at the garage door....

C'mon Phoenix GROW. We are just waiting for him to be big enough to hold his own with the mean matrons in the chicken yard before we attempt to integrate the flocks. He's started squawking like a duck. I'm sure he's trying to crow. 🐓🐓🐓

Phoenix and seven of his girls

 Helen Petunia - our lame chick

Look at all the progress the guys made! Lucille is happy to be inside the fence....so far she isn't eating any of the plants. Hmmm.....how AM I going to keep her out? The electric fence is operational - but it isn't going to keep Lucille out. 

After dinner we set up Dad's summer room. We moved the table from this spot to under Stacia's bed. I was a bit alarmed when the mattress was so SKINNY - but it plumped up. 

Just waiting for Dad. 

Stacia usually has 2 bean bag chairs and the cubes seen on the right under her bed. It's a cute seating area. We thought G'pa would like somewhere for his suitcase instead. 

At this point the chairs are in the living room - a few extra seats will come in handy. I DID have trouble getting OUT of the chair once I got down. Stacia doesn't have this problem. It must be the yoga she does. 😊 Stacia is moving to the library nook until Krista arrives. They will spend the rest of the summer in the RV - until CoRielle move to their new home.

Did I let something out of the bag? CoRille put an offer on a home just 5 minutes from here. It was accepted. They'll have great neighbors - BreZaak! God is so fun. The home will close mid-August. It's a fixer upper  - not sure when they'll have it ready to move in. Exciting times around here.

The guys are out hunting for shoes they can wear with their chest waders. They are going to take a bit of time off tomorrow.

Alaskan Chandelier

Alex and I have been suffering through a new workout phenomenon. It began when the sun started staying out longer and the temps warmed above freezing.

There are swarms - SWARMS is not an exaggeration - of flies and mosquitoes in the garage. This leads to an array of wild arm motions and kicks while on the elliptical. It's been wild.

I had an idea... I tossed it out there...we now have an Alaskan Chandelier. It's the bug zapper from the RV hung on the moose hook in the garage. There is a plug in the ceiling; it didn't require any tripping hazards with cords stretched across the garage.

I went to Lowes hoping to splurge and buy a mosquito magnet. They are ALREADY sold out. I tried in July last year, and they were gone. I thought early June was safe.

Send all your proven mosquito combatant tips. These things are ALASKAN size mosquitoes!

Alex was more than willing to help with the idea....

Michael agrees it was a good idea! A pile of bug carcasses met us in the morning, but not a one while we worked out!

Moving Naturally - Together!

One of our principles in our Choose Health Family Initiative is to, "Move Naturally."  Our goal is to create an environment which constantly nudges us into moving.  We knocked it out of the park today!

I came in from my workout as Michael was going outside to start the day's work. He suggested a shower, at this point, would be a waste of time and water.

The kids had Japanese - Michael and I got a couple of hours head start on the work.

While Michael put the new mower together, I gathered eggs and dandelions. Our first two crops at Wibbly Wobbly Acres.  (Dandelion post to follow - sometime).

Michael was still in the garage - so I watered the plants in the greenhouse and raised beds. We have some lettuce coming up.  The greenhouse continues to be my happiest place on earth. 90* today....

I have a dream for this plot of land, nice rows of FOOD, a wooden fence, an arched entryway, a bench in the garden... I asked Michael if it is crazy to think we could make a cultured garden out of this jungle. Everything we did last year has to be done again this year. The vegetation seems to be winning. He said, "It's a work in progress." I will remember these words. 

Don't all good gardening seasons begin with a lawnmower?

Our garden spot was a horse pasture. Last year this area was BARE. Everything I planted here died. It was still too hot.  THIS year it has a lush grass covering . Michael suggested we try planting corn here. It appears to be rich soil.  It gets more sun and better drainage than the other end of the pasture er....garden. It became apparent we needed to mow before tilling. I had put cardboard and shavings and such down last year....and we removed that first.

Michael  insists his back is feeling better. I believe it is. He is OUT of bed. He's working - carefully - but he's UP.

Alex cut down the grass under the fence so it will conduct electricity. 

He also tilled a couple of rows. We have much more to go - but we got a thunderstorm at about 5:30 and called it a day.

I didn't get a photo of Stacia, she took the hedge trimmer to these big bushes near the garden fence. We are trying to cut back the moose food - take away her reasons to explore close to the garden. She has an acre or so of forest back there...nothing to see here. LOL

Papa's shadow is always a big help. 

He runs to find Papa and grabs MY water bottle. 

Granna is making a gardening partner

 I used the weed-eater to take down the grass by the greenhouse,  around the fire pit, by the compost bin - places where the riding lawn mower doesn't go and which may have too many rocks to attempt use of the push mower.  I took over the push mower and did the detail work in this area. Stacia had the weed eater and took care of the space under the laundry poles....

Photo by Michael

I am so proud of Arielle. She went on a MOPS hike this morning. It takes courage to walk into a group where you don't know anyone and ask to participate. She and Benny had fun and came back with a recommendation for our In Step Walking Group at church.  Benny offered great moral encouragement as I mowed. Each time I turned towards him he waved big - then ran. 

This area wasn't covered with the riding mower. It looks civilized for the evening. 

The grass had been up to the first square on the greenhouse.  

Tomorrow - we'll do more. It's o.k. we didn't get done what we'd hoped to get done.

We moved!

I moved unnaturally on the elliptical and bike this morning. I moved naturally all afternoon and I ended up with over 5 hours of my heart rate in the "zone," over 16K steps, burned 3352 calories and the four of us did it together!

I love being outside with this tribe.  It reinforced another one of our principles on our Choose Health journey (adopted from The Blue Zone Solution) - Family first. It was a great day of pulling together.

Phenomenal Workout Partner

Our exercise equipment is in the garage for the time being. The downstairs living room will become a workout/game room sometime this fall.  It has taken time for me to be content working out in the garage. The lights buzz, it's crowded, flies attack... BUT, today, I discovered the funniest reason to work out in the garage.

It provides a phenomenal opportunity for fun workout partners. 

Lucille is our free range hen. After she healed from the weasel attack, the others didn't accept her back in the yard. They tore open her side. She healed from that. They tore open another spot. She WANTS to be back with the others.

We have been letting the new chicks out during the day. She picks on them. She wanted back into the chicken yard and so we let her back with the other. Last night she had a bloody comb. She is back to free ranging and sleeping in the garage on my freezer.

Evidently she decided to check out all the excitement in this part of the garage. 

I finally had to stop and get her down. I had visions of her leaving a deposit on the treadmill.

Lucille is our healthiest looking hen. All the others have plucked bare behinds - I don't know that we can break them of this nasty habit. I'm worried about putting our new ones in with them.

This Morning's Rush

 It appears we are a haven for free range animals!

I haven't known an adrenaline rush such as the one from being in the greenhouse and spotting a baby moose in the garden. Subsequently finding Mama - the aggressive visitor - on the other side of the greenhouse. There I was caught in the middle... Not a happy place for me.

We are going to have to move the hammock. That is sad. Baby got caught in it today. I certainly don't want to have one of them unable to get out and us trying to figure out how to help them. That is one of those moments where your desire to help a critter in distress truly puts your life at great risk. Mama moose are well-known for stomping on people for coming too close to their baby.

I haven't captured pictures of the fox, eagle, owl, hawk, weasel, cats and dogs.....


We don't mind sharing Wibbly Wobbly Acres with all.....we would just like to be able to sit in the garden without being terrified of every rustling noise in the brush....or drive in the driveway without having to dodge one of them. 😀

Chickens aren't scary! 

Phoenix - the roo, Oreo and Lorri

Seriously, we love it! We're happy to co-exist with Alaska's wildlife. I even planted extra cabbage this year after the moose debacle of last year.

We simply want to be able to be outside without big quadrupeds sneaking up on us.

For the most part, if we make noise, they stay away....but now we know our aggressive one is a mama. She is going to be aggressive for a few months. We hope she'll eventually be content in the woods as Rosie (of the collar) was last year.  When Rosie had her baby with her, she would come and wreak havoc in the garden only when we were inside. This gal seems determined to take over the yard and prove her fearlessness of people.

Summer Routine/ Alaska Rhythm

We are falling into a routine. I spend a bit of time blogging or with friends in the morning. We spend the afternoon/evening working on projects.

There are MANY projects. People don't fully comprehend how VERY short our season is when we CAN work on projects.  We save up $ and energy during the winter/breakup/spring, and when the light hits and the snow melts, we work hard and play hard until the snow flies again.  Personally, I find I don't drop off until after midnight, and I'm up at 0400 most mornings. This seems fairly common. It's the Alaska rhythm. Who wants to waste time inside or sleeping when the SUN IS OUT???? Not I. 

Spending our days outside has led to the inside of the house looking, well, less nice. Michael commented we hadn't "company cleaned" for quite a bit of time...::snort::  Since the last week of Life Group. ::Snort:: He's been stuck laying on the couch or in bed with lots of time to watch the inside deteriorate.  I noted Stacia doesn't like being outside all afternoon. She doesn't enjoy weeding, hauling gravel or sifting dirt....and so a deal was struck.  I would let her out of the outside chores if she would do the inside chores. It's working.  It's livable again. 😅

I spent time this morning with a friend at a local tea spot. I suppose it's known more for coffee and vegetarian food....but it was a tea spot for us.  It was lovely. Once again, I didn't take photos. 

Let the afternoon work begin! 

The sure sign I'm working in the garden

At home this afternoon? PROJECTS. Michael has been up more since Sunday. He is trying to build up to his big cross country trip at the end of this month. Our goal was to cover our second bed. I had vague hopes of getting the electric fence working for the season...and getting a place for the chicks OUTSIDE of the garage. 

Look at those dandelions. As noted before, we are trying to avoid chemicals - it's a Parkie* thing. The vinegar and soap recipes are obviously not working. I'm trying to resign myself to fields of yellow...but this is not the Oregonian way. I will research some dandelion jelly recipes as my cousin, Darla, suggested. 

 There is usually something animal related to tend to around here.   

Tending to the chick's brooder

 Alex has been Michael's back and our muscle. He's a hard worker and is making it possible for us to keep getting things done even with Michael's back on the fritz.  BTW, please pray the VA referral for a chiropractor arrives SOON.

Arielle takes care of rabbits 

 For those wondering why everything seems to take us so long - THIS is our soil. Whenever we have a project to do, we have to deal with compacted clay and gavel!

We had sifted the gravel from the garden beds. While Michael and Alex finished the cover, I moved gravel to the greenhouse. I wanted the center aisle filled with gravel. I was happy to have plenty of free gravel to harvest from the garden plot. I also put roof shingles down around the beds - it worked well as a weed block last year between rows of veggies. We have it, and it's free to use. 

As we worked, I heard a SNAP! She was back. We haven't named her, yet. She's aggressive. She doesn't seem intimidated by our presence. Her hackles are raised. She came fairly close to the "fence." The t post marks the fence.  We're on the other side working. 

She seemed to get irritated we were in her favorite dinner spot. She stomped off to Stacia's hammock.

Do you see her there in the purple? 

Notice the dead spruce tree in the photo above. Cutting all the spruce is another project. We are in discussion with the borough. They will not allow us to cut the spruce beetle-infected trees in the walking easement behind our house. They want us to pay $200 for a permit and then they want us to pay to have the property lines surveyed before we cut the trees....and the trees are theirs. We offered to take them out so they didn't infect the whole area. Red tape is a thing to behold - wherever it is found.

She came back this morning  (June 5th). She's not very big, but she's aggressive. 

Anyway - we did get both beds covered. Michael changed the design a bit on the 2nd, so he re-worked the 1st. 

At this point, I was sifting a pile of dirt and mining more gravel for the greenhouse. Alex insisted on taking over. I was glad to let him. My muscles are sore at night. It's a good sore. 

The chicks on the outside want in, and the mean girls on the inside want out. LOL That'll preach! 

These girls enjoy their dust baths. Their bedraggled, bare bohonkuses are so sad. They keep pecking each other's tail feathers... I can't figure out what to do with them. I took the chicks in when I got them and told the girls, "Shape up. I have your replacements." It didn't seem to help.😏 Michael is thinking of sending  the worst offenders to the stock pot.  Our last hope is that Phoenix, the roo, will be able to establish some sort of order when he's big enough to be in with them. 

Michael began talking about a trip to the store. I had dough rising and went inside at this point to prepare calzone.  Oh YUM! Veggie for me - meat and cheese for the others. Michael finished a project with string and beans in the greenhouse.

We popped the prepped calzones into the fridge and went to Lowes. Michael points out what he wants, and the kids load it up.

Our final stop was Walmart where we bought a frame and mattress for Dad. Between now and Saturday we need to move Stacia to the study and get the bed set up for Dad. 

I popped the calzones in the oven, and we had dinner...finally. Michael needed loctite so we headed to Freddie's to try to find some. No luck. 

It was a tiring day - but a productive day. 

*Parkie or Parkies - those with Parkinsons. 

Sometimes a Man needs a little Nudge from the Women in His Life OR Most Excellent Monday

Breakfast with a friend. Building a most excellent tribe here in Alaska.

After breakfast, I headed to BreZaak's. Bre had a doctor's appointment. It was hilarious that as soon as Bre walked out the door, the kids ran for their shoes and wanted to go outside. It was a beautiful day, and I was happy to oblige them.

 I think this photo is hilarious! Bella gave Gideon a little nudge to get him moving! ::snort::  

This was Gideon's response. I'm just SURE he is trying to figure out how to get water out of that hose  - just to add a bit of excitement to Bella's day. LOL

I love hand-picked bouquets

It was such a nice day we had lunch outside. 

The afternoon was spent working in the garden/yard/forest of a yard. 

THIS!!!! Our favorite Garden Pest is BACK....except it ISN'T Rosie (with the collar). This one is a mean, aggressive moose. She tromped right through the bed with the guys THERE.  She ate one little cabbage plant, flattened the beets and her hoof-prints wreaked havoc with the planted seeds....spinach, cilantro and lettuce.  There you have it - 2nd planting of the year.

She didn't bother the covered bed. Michael began building a cover for the second bed. 

We will have an electric fence...but it's been torn down (by moose) over the winter. It will be up and working shortly. I have made it known to all I want to smell moose burgers a mile away if one of them touches it.

Our 8 week old chicks....free ranging until we get them a safe spot in the chicken yard. The mean girls are just too nasty for these sweet ones. 

This is Petunia. She's lame. We thought she had died. We got home from vacation, and she was here....and we don't have the heart to take her life after she's displayed such a fighting spirit. SO....she goes where we are. She can hobble, and fly a bit. We are trying to figure out the best thing to do for her. 

Our work was cut short when it began sprinkling. Soon, we heard thunder in the distance. CoRielle got home and said our little town was flooding. Bre sent a polo of HAIL.  Up here, we didn't have any of that...and I'm glad. Hail would have been the end of my fledgling garden. LOL

Photo from KTUU via google pics

The photo doesn't do it justice. There was water over the hoods of cars...they even saw a man out in a kayak paddling his way down the center of one of the streets. LOL