The Top Three Things - Tuesday

Early this morning I received a text with this photo. And, I KNEW. 

Via Krista's phone

Krista had cleared quarters and was on her way to the airport in Montgomery! Such excitement.

Millie was a bit excited too. "What, you don't WANT me on the leather couch?" 

 I totally understood why I  didn't work out yesterday - but it frustrated me  I didn't figure out how to make it work.  Yes, I'm always open to flexxing and schedule changes....but this week I have about 3 pages of things to get done before Saturday.  I decided, rather than ping ponging around the to do list, I would choose 3 top priorities and make sure they got done.  Time with Jesus and picking up Krista were givens for the day. I chose a walk, paying Dad and our bills (and MAILING Dad's), and emptying and cleaning the Salmon Freezer. 

At the exact moment I settled on 3 Top Things ...my phone rang! Alex needed a ride home from work. I suspected it was a bit early for him to be at work. He spent one more day with antibiotics and around the clock Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I think he's good to go for tomorrow. 

It began to feel like dejavu as my mind spun up on how to make the best out of this trip to town...but rather than run off on 8 errands  because I had to go to town to get Alex....I focused on getting home and working on the THREE TOP THINGS - the PRIORITIES. 

Stacia and Millie joined me for a 2 mile walk. During this walk we encountered a horse...a horse which crossed the street to meet Millie. YIKES. 

It was a nice walk, but my goal for today was at least 5 miles....Sunday's walk was cut short by moose and Monday's walk didn't happen.  I took off to walk another 3 miles. In the end I decided to go another 4 miles, for a total of 6.2 miles...it was such a gorgeous day.

I  told Dad I thank God everyday I am no longer a medically induced vegan during lunch. This had chicken breast and a bit of feta cheese in addition to all the produce and nuts. 

Michael headed off for an appointment. Feeling sufficiently satisfied, I headed to my desk to work on bills. Dad took the opportunity to get out in the GARDEN. He said the corn rows needed hoeing...they did. It's been raining for nearly a week and I need to get in the garden and take care of the wild growth....but the garden did not make the top 3 today. The top 3 are so pressing because the garden has become my favorite place to spend time. LOL  Dad enjoyed it too. 

I had one priority left to give attention to - clean and empty the salmon freezer.  Saturday is the start of our family fish camp 2020....Our immediate family can catch 85 salmon. Josiah and Jamin get 35. BreZaak can catch 65 and CoRielle can get 45 this year.  I think that's 230 fish - though I seriously doubt we all get our limits. Our 65 salmon filled this freezer last year. It's emptied and ready to fill again. No, we are not hoarding. We live at the end of many supply chains and having fish in the freezer means we are at peace living at the end of the supply chain. A moose is on my dream sheet too....and the other freezer will be full of garden produce.

Tomorrow we will see if we can fit this into the RV. LOL 

Michael arrived home and he and I raced out the door for Anchorage. We had a plane to meet. 

Via Krista's phone

We are all thrilled to have our resident Air Force chaplain back in the house. 

As I worked through the 3 top things....my mind found a solution to our dip-netting dilemma. Dad had already informed me I was NOT going to miss dip-netting and I knew I'd need to have a talk with him and let him know that is exactly what was going to happen. He just isn't feeling up to it this year and we totally understand and agree it is best for him to stay home. We brought him here to care for him....I didn't plan on leaving him home alone.  As I worked to get meals ready, RV packed, freezer emptied I realized there would be a hole missing in the team if I'm not there. The beach support and the meal prep person - me.  

Nolan is staying home. He will have the weekend off. He'll be here afternoons and evenings. 

Dad sleeps in and then reads the paper and gets breakfast...there were just a few hours to take care of. I wasn't planning to find a solution, I figured this year I just needed to stay home, until a sister friend told me she knew I hadn't asked her opinion, but  a caregiver needs to keep balance and being at fish camp was important to me and the family.  Dad agrees.

It hit me....CoRielle can't come for all of fish camp this year. Arielle and Benny are happy to come over when GG is ready for company to play, have lunch, picnic for a few hours M-W.  

What do you know? A solution. I talked with Dad. I told him why I worry about leaving him alone. I told him I didn't want him to get bored and that Arielle and Benny would like to come over M-W to spend time with him...and Nolan will be home on the weekend.....he loved the idea.

And so now...the list will shift a bit. I don't have to have quite so much meal prep done by Saturday...I do need to keep moving forward on the list and be sure there is something edible left behind - easy dinner plans for Nolan and Dad.

It's been a good day. I would like to think I could get more than 3 things done in a day...but I was pressing all day to master these 3. I'm not sure if I'll chose 3 or 5 things to finish tomorrow. LOL 

MONDAY MANIA

This day went off the rails!

I took Alex to work at 0445.

I expected to spend an hour or two on morning routines and then get a 5 - 6 mile walk in.  INSTEAD I received a call from Alex who was coming home from work.

Alex has been battling an ear ache. We'd thought it was wax and been working on it over the weekend. He felt good on Sunday. By Sunday night he couldn't sleep.  This morning he told me it "sorta" hurt. I took him to the ER and discovered that "sorta" is an 8 on the 0-10 scale. Now I know. LOL  It turns out his ear drum had ruptured Sunday and so it felt better...but as it healed, the infection continued to build pressure and we're on our way to another rupture. He's been home sleeping most the day - and I'm pushing meds, meds, meds.

Stacia gave Millie a bath and she was not happy about it. The whole thing exhausted her. Look how big she is getting. She is 10 weeks old tomorrow...she's loving. NO HAIR...and she loves to cuddle. I'm not sure how we're going to cuddle as she continues to grow. She did not bite me ONE TIME today. It may be because I discovered she HATES Gold Bond Foot Powder spray and so I sprayed...my ankles, feet, calves, knees, hands....

Such a helpful doggo. It appears there is food residue on the drawer front? 

I can't remember what happened the second time I went out to walk - but something came up.  I decided it was ok. My last two walks have been interrupted by more aggressive moose than I like.

Stacia was hoping for a bike ride. I joined her...and thought I was having a heart attack...these hills around here are killers!

I got home and started to work in the garden. It began to rain. I snapped some flower photos....and picked some red leaf lettuce, butterball lettuce, kale, spinach for dinner. I also picked some beets, onions and radishes. Yumm.

I checked out baby chick...sure wish more than 1 had hatched. 

Oreo is some sort of cochin who does NOT look well at all. She's lost a ton of feathers. We assumed the older cabalistic hens were at it again...but now she's growing blue/teal feathers....

We are working to get ready for dip-netting - Fish Camp 2020. We are set to leave on Saturday. Unfortunately, Dad would rather not go. We totally understand and think it's probably best if he doesn't...He's been really tired and we're hoping after his procedure the end of this month he'll have a new lease on life. I'm not 100% at peace with his suggestion he stay home alone. In future years we can plan ahead and have a good plan in place for Dad - but for this year it looks like I may stay home with him.  I'm working to get my heart and head and emotions to meet in one spot. LOL Y'all know we haven't made it out camping one single time yet....and Michael is concerned about losing his beach support...I also keep everyone fed...so we're working to execute a new plan.  There will be other years to dip net. 

Would you believe - we had TWO NEW MOOSE come tearing through our yard at full speed? They high tailed it to the woods!! I think something has all the moose in the town a bit psycho. It's enough to ALMOST make me wish for fall and hunting season....though I really want summer to last forever. I didn't grab a photo - I was racing to plug in the fence before they got in the garden!

I got dinner going and after dinner we took Dad for his 2nd sleep study. We billed it as "Grandpa's spa date," but I don't think he was buying it. ::snort::

I didn't get any miles in today. I didn't finish our bills. I didn't get Dad's bills paid...I DID take care of my people and that is more than enough for this day. I also got a bike ride in with Stacia - even if it was pitifully short because I was gasping for breath and my thighs were about to explode with the burn. LOL

Sundays

Everyone thinks Sunday afternoons are made for napping or curling up with a book! 

Early Sunday mornings are great for walking....except this morning I met Mama Moose and her teeny baby. She's proven to be touchy.  Usually the moose look up at me, and go back to munching. I can cross on the opposite side of the road....but since I had the experience of watching moose RUN at my car....I'm a bit leery - especially if teeny babies are involved.

 

How DID I get from the red dot back to the green dot? I usually would have turned around and back-tracked but I knew I didn't have time for a 6 mile walk. 

 I called Stacia and her phone wasn't working. I knew Michael is likely to sleep through his phone. I called Nolan. He graciously got up on his day off work and came to my rescue. I met a nice tourist and pointed out the moose to her as I waited.  It was frustrating not to finish my planned walk...but I'm learning in a variety of ways, it really isn't "all or nothing."  This was a truthful try - even though I didn't totally succeed at my try. LOL

We were happy to be back at church this Sunday. Still no word on Krista's test result. We are hoping she'll be able to fly home on Tuesday. There is a chance she'll have to have another test when she lands and isolate until THOSE results are back too. 

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon. Arielle and Benny stopped by.  Michael and Benny had a great time on the trampoline. They also played baseball. It was heart-warming.  I teased Benny  it was time to take a nap - but he wasn't having it. 

Kimber and Millie are wild about their puppy play dates. 

Saturday Adventures

Saturday morning and Krista has not received test results. She will not be home this evening.

I enjoyed a solitary 5.7 mile walk....it was drizzly, clear, pouring and drizzly....lots of variety is always nice. ::snort::

I simply can't get enough of the mountains, the roads, being OUTSIDE. 

The kids were up and doing household chores when I got home. An outing was proposed. In the end Alex wasn't feeling good, Michael wanted to plant a couple of trees, Nolan stayed to help him and GG isn't up to walks....and it was raining. 

Stacia and I grabbed Millie and headed out...we stopped at a popular fishing spot...and discovered a nice hiking path...we also got all the intel on how and where to get the reds and kings (salmons).

We noted though everyone knew the perfect spot to catch em - we didn't SEE any salmon anywhere! Not one on a line or in a cooler etc.  It cleared up enough for us to enjoy our walk.

We spent time trying to figure out HOW all these cars got down to the river's edge...up and down the bank. 

We plan to come back again - with a lunch and a boat....and a pole or two - just in CASE there ARE reds and kings in here. 

While we enjoyed this spot - it wasn't the one we set out to find. We decided to move on over to the lake we had originally been aiming for. I got us a bit beyond where we needed to be as I was on the old highway.  It rained pretty hard as we arrived - so we waited it out in the car. Millie was napping.

Stacia has the leash around her waist. When she begins to teach Millie to run with her (18 months or so) this is the way she'll do it....so she decided to try it on the walk. It worked well.

Everyone left the lake when it began to downpour. This was good for us. We had the place to ourselves until near the end of our walk. LOL 

We got home and had dinner, played some video games and relaxed. Millie slept well.  I walked a total of 8.36 miles when I added up both lakes and the morning walk.

Weekly Data from my Wellness Journey

• 44.24 miles walked this week (real walks not steps)
• 18,660 average steps a day 
• 22 bites averaged a day 
• 1,111 calories consumed a day 

Both my miles walked and daily step average are up! This is great. I'll see if I can maintain or increase....probably doing good to maintain but this is #justtryjuly2020 so I'll give it a shot. 

Bites and calories averaged out fine. I had some very heavy days and a couple of very light days...so I may see about smoothing those out a bit - but it worked. LOL 

TGIF

Friday morning began with Small Group Coaching on Zoom.... Tamara, is a gal I first became aware of on WW connect. She hosts monthly challenges and when I joined in October I saw her hashtag everywhere. When I began to realize I would need to take control of my wellness journey as the ww offerings locally weren't going to work well for me, I was sad at the thought of not being able to follow Tamara on WW Connect...then someone told me she had an Instagram account. It took me FOREVER to find her (she was going by a different name then) but I was happy to find her...and then she began posting her Trail Talks on YouTube . Honestly, her talks, challenges and encouragement was the one thing I felt I would miss from WW.....so the rest is pretty much history if you're a blog reader. I won't go there again. I WILL say  I felt a small group would be beneficial to my journey, and save my friends and family from having to process the journey with me. I was thrilled when Tamara began offering small group and personal wellness coaching. I meet with a small group over zoom once a week...and the meetings are incredibly helpful to me as I work towards a good relationship with food.  I have been trying to make Monday night at 4:30 p.m., but that has been difficult with our crazy household. This week the Friday a.m. group moved to 9:30 a.m.  EST - which puts it at 5:30 a.m. Alaska time.  This is  much easier for me than the previous 3:30 a.m. I plan to settle into the Friday a.m. slot...which will work well with our schedule.

Right as we finished up with small group I remembered....THIS....

I got Michael up so we could watch Krista's graduation from the USAF Basic Chaplain's Course. Many of you know she has missed her last week of classes as she developed a cough. She was sent to sick call and they did a CV-19 test.  She  was then confined to quarters until the results come back. It is highly doubtful she will fly home on Saturday. BUT this also means she's done her last week of classes via Facebook Live, took her final in her room, and today, graduated from her room/quarters.

Krista won the Commandant's Award. The essay she wrote comparing civilian and military chaplaincy was read during graduation.   Here she is....at graduation.

I'll edit these photos when Krista is home to help me remember who is who.....

After our zoom meetings and graduations....Stacia and I hit the pavement....the wet pavement. Millie doesn't do selfies very well. LOL

She loves the walks...though she does need some training breaks at times to get her attention back on Stacia and what Stacia wants her to do. She wants to please. Unless she is focused on biting, but puppy biting won't last forever. Right? 

We tired her out. This appears to be one of Millie's favorite resting spots....under my chair (mom's old recliner) in my nook.  Look how big she is getting. 

I went out for an after dinner walk and LOOK who greeted me the street over...

I turned around and walked the other way....when I got home CoRielle were at our house. I played with Benny - and the dogs - while they watched a "Bad Guy movie"....some Avenger one I think. Ultran?

Its felt like a full day....a full week...and tomorrow we are OUT OF QUARANTINE.

Fireweed

 Fireweed blooms have shown up this week in our area. I can no longer deny the blooms have begun.

The local wisdom says when the fireweed blooms all the way to the tip top one has 6 weeks left before winter....but surely fall comes first. I've also heard when the bloom completely dies you have 6 weeks left....but why talk about 6 weeks...let's just enjoy the OUTSIDE. 

BreZaak's Big News

BreZaak and CoRielle are both expecting new little ones the same week in November.  It is hilarious to me that they keep having their OB appointments on the same day, right after each other.

Monday was an exciting day in Alaska....

Via Bre's camera

Izaak dropped off some very special Oreos for each of us. The attached note read, "Pink or blue? We'll soon know, but here's what we know for sure: you will be adored."

Via Bre's camera

We eagerly sampled our cookies. 

Oreos - a part of every Gherkin celebration 

 It's green - that can only mean BOY! We are so excited.

Baby D4 is a BOY!  Gideon is thrilled with the promise of  "2 boys!

Via Bre's camera

Annie has no idea what excitement awaits! 

Via Bre's camera

Bella is becoming an old pro at welcoming new siblings. What fun! 

Via Bre's camera

For those who aren't 100% able to sort out the family....Bre is our eldest. She and her husband, Izaak, are about to welcome their 4th child. This will make 2 grils and 2 boys. Perfect.

Yes, this does mean we are expecting two new grandsons in November! Woot!