Loving Fall!

Fall is gorgeous in our part of Alaska.  Fall is also the season where we frantically exert energy to FINISH PROJECTS before winter.  We have learned in the last few years - winters are long. If a project doesn't get finished it WILL wait for spring. We are intentionally choosing to embrace FALL this year. To get outside as much as possible and to store up as many memories as possible to carry us through the upcoming winter. 

Fall walks are stunning...lots of colors, leaves to play crunch and play in....

Allie, me, Stacia

Millie does NOT approve of flying leaves on walks

Michael and I are attempting to use our respite hours to be outside rather than simply eating out each week. There are plenty of upcoming dates which will need to be based in doors. Today, we stopped and walked along the Matanuska River. 

Our muscles ache at the end of fall days. We are content to relax inside with hot drinks and another escape room to be mastered by these three. 

Lazy Afternoon with NOLAN

 Nolan is off work today...in fact, Nolan will be off of work for the upcoming week.  He is SUPPOSED to be working 30 - 35 hours a week while he is in college full time. Unfortunately, this seems to translate to 45 - 60 hours a week.  The VA is paying for Nolan's college. They mandate he take 18 credits a semester and that he make a certain GPA.  Nolan decided the only way to get the time off he needs would be to take the week off. 

He kicked off the week by attending church and reconnecting with us. It was a gloriously lazy Sunday afternoon. 

October's Family Birthday Dinner

 Warning - blurry photos will be used in this post...because it's what I have. 

Today's family celebration is brought to us by Carrie and Luke - it's their birthday month! Carrie graciously took one for the team and wore the pig hat! How fun it is to have these two join the family this summer. We love the family members the Gherkins are adding to the mix....we are blessed. 

Carrie, Krista, Luke

This was a particularly fun celebration as most everyone was able to attend. BreZaak and JaRissa were unable to attend but the rest of the gang was all present.  I'm really not sure why there new toys for kids...but it must have been the fall feelings getting to Baachan. 

Score - walkie talkies

Uncle Nolan and a book of his own!

Benny loves to help fix dinner

I picked up a few fall crafts for the kids to do today. Liv and Ellie (cousin) had fun putting together their own Thanksgiving tree. 

Cy, Carrie, GG, Michael, Arielle, Cory, Nolan

The dinner shot

Singing Happy Birthday...

More Crafts for the Grands

Fly high, Danny!

Top secret communication

Random Glimpses of September

The weather is changing...Stacia and I may not be bringing breakfast to the top of the mountain for Bible study many more weeks. 

Sept 3rd fireweed...starting to seed out...

 It seems I'm not the only one who likes to sit by the garden. In future years I see flowers, garden art, maybe a gazebo. It's a common site to look outside and see Michael connecting with one or both of the girls. 

I am not sure what prompted the roar...but both were having fun with it. 

Game Night

Sept 20th and Stacia has finished her Alaska History Course

Lots of time cutting and splitting wood in September

The girls model their new fall looks. 

Stacia says she and Michael were bored. That would explain playing Sorry. LOL 

This cracked the girls and I up. Note the decal says "Student Driver" and the woman INSIDE the care is talking on the phone! 

Allie is knocking ASL out of the park! 

Brit Lit. I planned to keep up with the girls. I gave up on Gulliver's Travel, and I'm ALWAYS behind, but I'm still hanging in there.  Sitting for tea and Lit discussion is becoming a highlight of this school year. 

This is also the month everyone started school. Allie is a senior. Stacia is a junior. BUT Bella is in kindergarten. 

Bella and Jojo 

Gideon is 4 years old and in Pre-school. They are homeschooling with Sonlight, the curriculum we use as well. 

Benny is in Pre-school. Arielle is using an eclectic approach with many hands on projects. 

All the kids are thriving. How humbling it is to see a new generation begin homeschooling. 

Haircuts

 The girls got hair cuts in July. You can see in recent photos it's TIME to get more cuts....but the gal they liked quit and we've been looking for a new place. We received a couple of recommendations to a local salon. It's above our favorite coffee shop. 

 

We saw Courtney. Neither girl is thrilled with their haircut, but I watched, and she did just what they asked for. Next time we'll be armed with pictures, specific instructions etc.  I think both girls look good. 

Stacia absolutely hates getting her hair done because it means she has to talk to a stranger. She would rather go to the dentist. I think the coffee kind of off set the terribleness of having to be social.  ::shaking my head::

#EveryBitCounts September

 I am making it a goal to put a little bit "away" every day....#everybitcounts. I may can, dry or freeze. I am starting to really want a freeze dryer.

4 qts of corn from co-op 

A favorite snack - a start 

A load of tomatoes - great for soups

Nolan has a co-worker who dropped by with 2 Gallon bags of raspberries. I didn't have time to process right then so they are in the freezer. I think I'll do vinegar or syrup with them. 

2 gallons of raspberries 

Bread and Butter pickles

This is a start of preserving for 2021. 

Uneasy Truce

 There are times in the day when Millie goes crazy. She runs from one end of the house to other and back. She barks, jumps, growls.....and when she runs to the window while carrying on...

We know to grab the camera and join her at the window! 

Millie and the moose have an uneasy truce. They glare at each other from their respective side of the window. We have made sure they don't come any closer.