Arielle Finished College!

I am about to schedule 4 "mommy posts." Those posts where I unashamedly brag on the adult Gherkins...because adulting is hard!  We are so very proud of Arielle (and Cory who will finish his course before the fall).  I can't say it any better than she did. Here is what she posted on her Facebook timeline.

Hatcher's Pass - taken by Arielle 

I did it. Turned in my last assignment for my last class with graduation planned for August. So much in 4 years: marrying my love, move to AK, my bennybear, multiple jobs, hours and hours of studying, tears, laughter, learning, growth, friends, countless papers, two different colleges, amazing professors, late nights, and so much LIFE! I don't even have words to really capture my feelings other than I did it. Climbed that mountain and now stand looking back; triumphant but also sad it's over.

It's hard to believe all the changes Arielle has navigated in four years. She's done it with grace and determination...

Way to go, Baby Girl. We're proud of you!  You've come along way since the dolphin cry in the van. LOL

Sunny Saturday

What does one day with unexpectedly sunny, warm temps? Make sun tea! 

Some were disappointed I did not make SOUTHERN sweet tea. I didn't make a simple syrup to add in. We have two who are supposed to be watching blood sugars. I put about 1/4 C Stevia in the gallon.....and then Dad added his little packets (sugar free), Stacia added a lot of sugar, and I added lemons.

It got to 89* here at our place today. Much of the day was spent keeping chickens comfortable, keeping Nolan comfortable and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.

 I took advantage of being home with Nolan to finally make dandelion salve. I plan to write up the directions for myself, "soon."

It was SO nice to have homemade spaghetti sauce canned and ready to go - though there is no sauce in this photo. This photo shows the salve stacked in the basement - a reason to linger in the basement where it was 10* cooler than our part of the house. 

Our ice maker couldn't keep up with the demand for ice from thirsty family members, and Nolan's jaw. I was bemoaning the need to drive to Freddies AGAIN...when I realized. CORY was at work. Cory wins man of the day award. He brought the LAST bag of ice home for us.  YES. But goodness, $100 for a bag of ice seems steep. 😜 (Cory was teasing me. The ice did not cost $100 a bag).

The corn I planted Wed is up. All but 2 or 3 have sprouted. We wonder if birds ate the corn in the garden. The stuff in the greenhouse did NOT gereminate. I decided to pull the corn out from under the light....

.....and put the other stuff under the grow lights. I will alternate them throughout the day so that all get their light....hoping these seeds will germinate with light and more moisture...less heat. 

By the way, the greenhouse is finally warm enough that I chose not to linger in it today. LOL We ended the day watching, "The Greatest Show on Earth."  It is actually a minute after midnight as I type...time to bring this to an end and go turn off the water.

Chicken Shaming and Odd Problem

I raised a ruckus to wake the dead because I wanted the nest box Harriet was in - not one of the 8 others! 

You can't see clearly in the photo above - but there are two hens in the box - jostling for position. Harriet won...and was indignant when I proceeded to take the eggs from under her. 

It started with the weasel attack. Then one of the hens attacked Lucille.  Shortly  they all had missing feathers....tail feathers at first. They had cabin fever. We put "no more peck" on the spots.  The bare spots grew. Their tush's are completely plucked. We gave them plenty of things to do instead of pecking. We isolated Lucille. Each time Lucille goes in she is TERRIBLY injured. She now free ranges during the day and sleeps in the garage.  The girls continue to lose feathers. Around their tails, their bums....Maybe you can blow up the photo and see. Any ideas? Could it be lice or mites? What have you found to help best if it is mites? They have dust baths. I have DE, but haven't used it on them. 

They all look like this.....

This year's group is happy on their side of the fence. There hasn't been much interest from the big girls at this point. 

Full Friday

My marching orders for the day came from an unexpected quarter. Benny said his first sentence. 

"Go find Yay ya."*

I got a picture of his first sentence 

The poor thing has been a bit at a loss with 3 of his people gone from the house.

 Dad, Nolan and I left the house shortly after this conversation. We stopped at Sportsman's Warehouse for a return.  Then we drove out to camp. Everyone was right on time and we were able to pick up Yayya and Ax. *

Beautiful camp

 Our first stop after camp was Walmart. While everyone picked out a sandwich from the deli for lunch, Nolan and I went to pick up a few fans.  We were unsuccessful.

Not ONE in sight. 

 Our next stop was the oral surgeon. Nolan is our 7th to have wisdom teeth extracted. I have never had this experience. No pre-consult. No ice packs, meds and such when we left the office. I expected to be given that stuff and had to run back to town after I got him settled at home.  I'll know what to expect with Alex. Nolan's jaw had started hurting and they got him in and took all 4 impacted teeth out. They had to drill, slice, dice and stitch.  I posted this photo on FB when we got home....

Then, I ran to FM to see if THEY had a fan, to buy some cold, soft food for Nolan and pick up meds for him. Everything cold is missing from the shelves. LOL I bought juice and made popsicles.   Brenda called me as I got home and said she had something which would be useful.  She insisted on bringing it to me, rather than me running to pick it up. Look at this - a jaw bra. I think I'll buy one.  This has made it much easier to ice around the clock.  

Somewhere in here I got dinner for everyone - though I couldn't tell you what it was.  I also connected with both  Alex and Stacia and heard about their camp experience. Their story to share or not to share.

10:30 p.m. is my favorite time of night around here. Here's a shot of the mountain. I love the light.  There is still a tiny bit of snow on the mountain - but it's in a crevice I didn't catch.

I was watering and heard a noise...we've not had moose since they tangled with the electric fence. 

 This one was very interested in our home....greenhouse and garden in particular. She wasn't too impressed with Phoenix's crowing. 

I took photos of the flowers in case she ate them. Can you believe this was about 11 p.m.? 

 I have been watering late at night....leaving the house open as long as possible so it can cool off....I will buy fans the next time they are in stock....even if it's 30*.

*Yayya is how Benny says Stacia (Stay Shu); Ax is Alex

Thursday Tidbits

The plants seem to grow INCHES every day....Cory suggested much more watering and they are loving the water, warm weather, and sunlight. 

I thought it about time to take down the Easter flags. 😏 

It is proving DIFFICULT to get any strawberries around here...the moose, Lucille the free range hen, Blondie the free range bunny, and some rodent all like the strawberries. BUT I got a handful this evening. 

CoRielle will be moving within a couple of months. It's been a blast to have them nearby to catch moments like this.....

And this - Benny practices to run marathons with Uncle Jamin

Krista has journeyed from Florida to Colorado and met up with Michael.  We miss these two. 

I think that ties up all the loose ends of the day. It's been a full day.

Park Day with Bre & Kiddos

We don't get to see these dolls nearly as often as we did when they lived here at Wibbly Wobbly Acres.😄😏😃 I miss them AND their Mama and Daddy. We SEE them on Sunday and at family dinners - but it has been a while since we saw JUST THEM. I called Bre and asked if they could come play.

Everything worked out for us to meet at a local school to play.  

Isn't this an endearing smile? Gideon at 2. 

 Gideon LOVES to climb. Today he climbed to his heart's content. 

This is a wonderful play structure! What child wouldn't create hours of fun on a fire truck? 

A word about Bella....she has been in a "don't take my picture" phase. That's o.k. I've learned, having parented nine children, most phases can be waited out. 😍 She USED to say "No, Bubbie. NO Pictures!" when I tried to take photos of Gideon. She is now happy to have me take Annie and Gideon's photos. She doesn't even mind when I take her photos - but I have to be quick, she has far too much to do to site and pose for Grandma. 

Three years old - it hardly seems possible.

I wasn't quite quick enough for the photo I imagined - but I love her smile and the action in this shot. 

Today was hot! It got up to 84*. I KNOW that is not CA hot, or TX hot, or Philippines or Liberia hot - but it IS Alaska hot. 🌞🔥🌞 I am loving it.  That is - until today on the playground with no shade. I envied Annie in the stroller with shade. LOL

Annie - 5 months

Sweet moment - Bella is telling me to come sit with her. I took the photo and then joined them. We live at the foot of the mountains, below the white clouds on the right.

I LIKE this design better than the old jaw-rattling kind we had when I was kid.

GG on the Buddy Bench - Is a buddy bench a time out bench? So if you break a rule you get a buddy? Or is it a place to go when you need a buddy to come sit with you a spell? I like that idea....maybe I'll put a buddy bench out here. 

"Gemma! It's REAL gold. It's a treasure." She gave it to me. I saved it. It IS a treasure. I'm not sure it's REAL gold. 😉

These big xylophones are FANTASTIC. I want one in my yard....they have a great sound too. I see no way to make my own (or have Michael make one), but I saved the company's name.

Beautiful music

 Mommy made the best music. 

Thank you, Bre for coming out to play with us. I know it's hard to get 3 little ones ready and out the door. We treasure the time we spend with you and your family.

Chicken Shaming

Mom gives me kale to eat....but I discovered a whole garden of kale and lettuce instead. *

We raise a racket just to watch Mom run out at 10:30 p.m. to check on us. **

*Lucille is the one the others attack each time she goes into the yard/coop. She free ranges.

**10:30 PM is my favorite time of day. The light and shadows on the mountains and trees are beautiful...but it's not my favorite time to check on chickens.  It DOES seem to be a favorite time for moose to visit the back yard.