Berry Picking 2021

 It has been raining a LOT.  

Fall is probably here near.   There is absolutely NO WAY we will get our projects done before winter. We accept that. However, last winter, the snow caught us before the garden was fully harvested, all the dead trees felled, or yard furniture and toys put away for the season.  We have had a busy July and August...company, fish camp,  one wedding and another by the end of August.... We planned to spend this week working around our place...and it RAINED...all day....every day.  We've had appointments for Michael or Grandpa in the rare breaks of rain. 

Church was cancelled on Sunday.  Sunshine was predicted.  Alex would be home to help. Michael began to plan to fell  trees. No one should work with chainsaws in downpours. Safety first and all. 

BreZaak suggested a blueberry picking trip Sunday afternoon. I SO wanted to go. I also KNEW why Michael wanted us to work and that he would not go berry picking. We reached a compromise. I stayed home (this is a help in itself as he could focus solely on work and not divide is attention between work and caregiving). Grandpa can't climb around the mountains picking berries. We sent the girls with the berry picking crew. This allowed us to get work done AND get berries...and they enjoyed the time in the mountains with the family.  

They had a great time. Thanks to Arielle and Bre for sharing these photos. 

Soon it will start to go to seed and fall will be here

Danny's first berry picking adventure

Cousins - Benny, Gideon and Bella 

Stacia, Allie, BreZaak in the distance, Bella
Benny, Jamin 

Bre, Jojo, and Izaak 

Bella 

Jojo's first berry picking excursion 

Annie - may be her first berry outing too

Gideon

I have plans to make more blueberry jam. I hope to get out to pick some more this week. We shall see. I needed quick right now...these berries went into the freezer to be used later for smoothies, snacking, pancakes, muffins....

I'm loosely participating in an instagram challenge....#everybitcountschallenge. The idea is to preserve something every day of August.  While I'm not going to make the daily challenge (started late) I do love the focus on putting just little bits away - and it adds up. This was Monday's put away. 

TGIF

There is a canning challenge going around homestead circles...the challenge is preserve a little bit every day in the month of August. I am NOT doing well with that challenge...frankly, I'm not sure pulling out all the canning stuff to do a "bit" fits my lifestyle.  BUT I love the emphasis of  doing a bit throughout the month, rather than loads and loads in September. LOL  I have been making a conscious effort to use our garden produce as it comes on rather than waiting for the end of the season to "put it up."   Today, I put up 7 quarts of dill pickles....not a huge amount, but a start. I'm hoping to get more cucumbers - we shall see. It's not been a huge year for the garden. I think all the rain is resulting in lots of lush, green, foliage but little actual produce.

I had planned to have tea with a friend today in town... I had been trying for several weeks to meet with her and was excited we finally had a date we were both in town and neither of us had obligations. I told the girls early in the week if they had all their school done I could drop them to explore the Friday Fling while we had tea. 

We were informed just hours before our "date,"  that the friend we'd had lunch with yesterday was exposed to someone who has tested positive for Covid. Brenda works with the at risk community.  Out of an abundance of caution she opted to postpone our date.

To get out of the house requires a lot. We'd made arrangements for the boys to be back from their study and home with Grandpa. We'd gotten all our work finished early so we could go play. Michael got home and was surprised to see us all sitting dejectedly around the house instead of racing to town.  He said none of us have been exposed to a positive case and we should go ahead and go to the Friday Fling, an outdoor event.  I was glad he shooed us out. It had been a let down to a busy week. 

Next week is the last Friday Fling of the season - I suppose THAT could be a marker that summer is truly over in our little town.  We went to a coffee trailer and got teas, and sipped them while we walked around outside for an hour or so. 

We were talking to a young lady Allie knows when BRENDA popped up. ::snort::  She had also decided to go ahead and go downtown. I told her Michael had shooed us out of the house. Thinking back on this she and I should have just opted to get our drinks and walk outside... 

The Friday Fling is a weekly outdoor summer celebration hosted by our town.  When I first heard of it, I thought of the farmer's markets I'd known in other locations and, frankly, was disappointed. There isn't a lot of produce to buy...but there ARE lots of food trucks, craft vendors, and entertainment.  It has become something Stacia and I look forward to attending. We've not made it often this year - its been raining on many Fridays and as I mentioned we don't drop and go as easily as we have in previous years. I was happy this worked out. I have been looking for a light plate to match the ones I bought a couple of summers ago. I haven't run into the vendor. Brenda told me he was HERE this week.  I bought one more.  I had been planning to put up towel bars, all the electrical plates etc in our bathroom - but we've since gone with an ADA look rather than a cabin look. ::snort:: Michael suggested I buy one for the nook anyway. 

I have been wanting to buy pretties for the garden and yard. Our focus has been functional and I'm at the point I'd like to start thinking beyond functional. I'm convinced we'll never really be done with all the "infrastructure" around here. I haven't gotten out a lot and so my spending money has been growing...and I got this today. 

I haven't decided if I'll put it in the garden or the yard. I think mounting it on one of the orchard fence posts may work....though I'm not 100% sure HOW to mount it. LOL 

We picked up pizzas and headed home....we watched the last two episodes of Home Before Dark! That is a GOOD series if you've not watched it....well we enjoy it anyway and it hasn't offended our sensibilities...

Not Fall

 It is not fall! It is August 8th. The fireweed has not bloomed to the top OR gone to seed - both I've been told are indicators of 6 weeks until winter - and as we know fall comes BEFORE winter. I think I will concede fall when the fireweed is going to seed. Seems fair? Logical, even? Last year I held out through a couple of weeks of snow as the leaves were on top of the snow. 

I did note a few yellow leaves on the trees and on the ground as we sat around the fire ring.  I thought a graham cracker was floating at one point, only to realize it was falling leaf. 

And it DID get dark as we huddled around the fire. We've been out until 11:30 p.m. without it getting dark....

Why in the world are these on the shelves months before fall? Now if they'd only order some pumpkin spice English muffins! 

While I still maintain we are simply nearing the end of summer, it may be a good time to note a few changes and what I LOVE about fall. 

I love the twinkle lights in the nook on fall/darker mornings.

Candles - all types, anywhere...I like it to be dark enough for candles. Sadly, I discovered years ago fragrant candles (which I LOVED) gave me migraines...but I'm finding unscented options. 

Hot apple cider, sweatshirts, crisp mornings, pumpkin patches, apple harvest, all the reds and yellows, scarecrows, conversations around the fire, hay bales, hay rides, Pyrah's Fall Harvest festival (which I haven't blogged from last year), sense of expectancy in the air (or dread), fall snack mixes, pumpkin hater memes, flannel shirts, wool socks, Alaskan Happy Hats, caramel apples, Thomas' Pumpkin Spice English muffins (which aren't sold up here), fall baking tastes better on a rainy day....as does soup, tea, stew....yep...we do love fall.....

But...it's still not quite fall? Right?  Maybe it IS fall around here....if I wait too long, I may miss it altogether...and it IS one of my favorites. 

"Favorite" Son to My Rescue

There was a night this week when I needed to be out of the house in the evening. I knew it would be a busy day and began prepping dinner EARLY in the day. Before 0900 I had pie crusts made, chicken and veggies chopped.  

The day was as chaotic as predicted, still I had time to get home from Dad's appointment, throw dinner together, and eat before leaving for Bible study. Until, in the midst of making dinner,  I somehow turned the oven off. I suspect this happened when I checked the pies 30 minutes into their baking time.  I reluctantly had to leave without any of the Country Chicken Pot Pie.  Both boys were home....I suspected I wouldn't get a piece.....

I debated who would be most likely to READ a text sent while they were eating....and texted both girls. "Please make sure I get a piece of pot pie."  Check out this photo....it appears my "favorite" son had grabbed me a BIG piece. It's a beautiful sight....my favorite dinner, on my favorite Polish pottery plate, going into the fridge! LOL  It's been fun having Nolan home two nights this week. 

I had 2 meals with that piece! LOL 
📷by Allie 

I came home to this....Grandpa and Alex had gone to bed....these were in the midst of trying to get themselves out of a fire. I think they failed. I was focused on my pot pie and missed the finer points of the game. ::snort:: 

The moral of this story is - be sure the oven isn't turned off when restarting the oven timer!  As for that "favorite" title....they all carry it...and they know it. 

Blessed Day's End

 How blessed we are to live in Alaska and end our days like this. 

After a very busy day filled with  food co-op volunteering, doctor appointments, school work and paperwork, friends stopping by, and meeting with friends in the evening...we were tired. 

10:54 p.m. and Michael called back in from putting out chickens...."Look out the window."     

Do you see it? There are blessings to staying up late around here....We had seen a female moose eying our Aspen trees earlier in the day. We think this is a different one. She is younger and has a teeny baby....

 Baby was a bit shy to begin...

Mama gave Baby lessons in stripping our foilage

Scratching and Snacking 

Baby caught on quick. 

And...did you catch these photos were taken at 10:50 - 11:05....natural light, no flash, no adjusting of colors....we ARE seeing night come quicker...but we do still have nice long days. LOL 

PSA for Gherkins

 It's HISTORIC! For the first time EVER *I* found the first 2021 penny. I exchanged it for five dollar coins. Dad wishes to remind all the Gherkins, young and old, he'll still exchange a 2021 penny for a dollar coin for everyone that finds one...one per person.  

Keep looking! 

Benny Helps me Hunt for Chicken Candy (aka slugs)

I love being a Boy Baachan - like a boy mom but better!  Today, after our date, I asked if Benny could help me with a special job before they went home. Arielle agreed.  I took a few minutes to explain and Benny was excited to help. It's rained all day but we had a clear patch to get out and take care of this. 

I SEE ONE, BAACHAN!

What is he doing? Picking slugs. Yep, of all the ways to deal with them, this is the one I could do without going to the store and it seems the least invasive. He was thrilled to hunt for them, point them out, and grab them. 

📷 by Arielle 

I told them they were like chicken candy and he was happy to find lots for the chickens.  We also took the time to pick some radishes, sugar snap peas, 2 kinds of kale,  swiss chard, cucumber and cauliflower to send home with him.  

Benny thought it was pretty special  he was "working" for  food for the family.  

He was quick to tell his mom I fell in the garden. LOL 

Dad went out to eat and up to Hatcher's Pass with Walt and Judy this afternoon. What a fun outing for him. 

Stacia and Allie are busily working on new school routines. 

Stacia continues to work on her sewing project. Allie and I snuck out to buy a few birthday surprises for Stacia's upcoming birthday...and to look for elastic. We didn't have luck - think we'll have to drive to Wasilla. 

Dinner. The first of 2021 salmon made it's way to the table. 

We ended the night with a visit with Walt and Judy. 

I bought Epsom salt and I've been collecting egg shells to get out there in the garden and try to stop the slugs. . . and I'll continue to hunt them for the chickens.