Allie's Birthday Trip

Allie turned 18 back in April. Krista and Brittany gifted her with a road trip for her and a friend. I was scheduled to go along and was SO looking forward to getting up North. We've not gotten out of the valley much since we moved back up here. The plan was a road trip to Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs and North Pole. They also sought out a hike near the springs and they were sure to visit the Santa Clause house. 

Rooms were booked. Krista bought supplies and the day finally arrived. Alas, I was too sick to go with them. They had a great time. Thanks to Allie and Krista were keeping me supplied with photos! 

Road Trip Food

An essential

 

Always fun when they're together

Oops. 

Allie & Stacia

Lunch adventures

Chena Hot Springs

Watch out!

In Santa's sleigh

Brittany, Allie, Krista, Stacia

Such a fun trip for all! Our next girl's trip will be to Maria's wedding. I need to get those details nailed down! 

Last Fall Hike?

 Alex and Jamin went on an adventure today. They set out to use their drones....which "required" a hike up the south fork....

📷by Jamin 

It turns out the drones won't work unless they are paired with the aps on their phones and by the time they hiked up to where they wanted to use the drones, they had no cell service. 

I think that's how it went...but still they enjoyed a beautiful hike, didn't meet any grump grizzlies and spent time together....a win. 

September Snippets

 Dad (GG) spends MUCH time at this table poring over the newspaper. The paper has just raised it's price by $7 and frankly, I don't think it's worth the price....BUT for the hours of pleasure it gives Dad it IS worth the price. Most days he's plotting what he wants to buy from the classified ads. We've had some close calls...dogs, boats, cars, houses, jewelry...it is actually sort of fun to see what captures his interest each day. 

I filled Mom Mary's antique blue canning jars with twinkling LED lights last year. This year I replaced the batteries. Embracing fall and prepping to enjoy the magic of winter. 

Everyone was busy or working...Michael, Stacia and I opted to play Farkle.  It was a bit sad that GG can no longer enjoy Farkle. 

The colors didn't show as they did with the naked eye, and I refuse to digitally add color. I LOVE the fall colors when they parade with the snow on the tops of the mountains. The yellows and oranges are marching up the sides of these snow-topped mountains. 

My friend, Dorothy, posted this photo for me while she was on vacation. Dorothy lives in England, and this is a casual cream tea from the National Trust. In any event, I love the photo and it shows English scones are round and they do indeed list.  I love the reflection in the tea pot. It made my day just to see that Dorothy thought of me. LOL 

📷 by Dorothy

I continue to be amazed at the comparison between the Kuroda (Japanese) carrot and the Scarlet Nantes. 

It's a blast to visit the chicken yard since the new flock of chicks have matured. Lots of new eggs. Tiny ones continue to show up in the yard which clues is in that there are still some just starting. We continue to get 12 - 17 eggs a day. 

Fall bike rides - it doesn't get much better. Olivia is turning into such a beautiful young lady. 

📷by Carrie

Then there was the morning I slipped and fell in the chicken yard. This batch of hens are EXUBERANT. When I open the door in the a.m., they all CHARGE out the door with great noise and excitement. I fell. They charged me as I had the bowl with their scraps. What a mess. This is AFTER I hosed off. 

I love how the snow is coming down our montains. It isn't down to the treeline yet - but it's getting close. This was taken Sept 21st. We are guessing 2 - 3 weeks until snow in our yard. This photo doesn't do the fall colors - they've been gorgeous! 

We kept the community going after Women's Conference by having a potluck on Sunday. We had an abundance of eggs when we got home. This will make the world's smallest deviled egg. ::snort:: 

We pulled it together. These ones peeled eggs and Allie turned them into her famous deviled eggs, while I baked caramel apple and pumpkin spice cookies (two kinds - not one). I also threw together broccoli, salmon, rice, cheese, mayo and made salmon slop which all got eaten at the potluck. 

There's been a grizzly in our area. He has been eating turkeys, getting into chicken coops and crossing the river to town. Now, he's back out here. A friend's husband saw him in their woods. Their woods back up to ours - sorta - Michael says they are 200 yards up from us.... If I posted the map you'd be truly impressed - but I don't plan on posting a map with street names online. LOL On the 26th Millie began to bark and alert. Stacia saw something brown in our woods - heading for our neighbors. Michael and he got on the phone and determined it was these moose. 

I love fall. 

An A+ Day

Some days are simply perfect - A+ days. We've had a few of those days this week...mixed in with the sore throats, busy schedules, cancelled meetings and meetings kept.  We woke up one day with a desire to celebrate Allie: her journey and the nearing completion of her first round of college classes. 

Why, yes, we DO look for reasons to celebrate. Everyone needs a good party. Lunch found many of us at the restaurant in town with a table big enough to seat us all spur of the moment. Liv and Carrie, Nolan, Arielle and Benny joined Nolan, the girls, Michael, Dad and me. We love the family who runs the restaurant, and, on this day, Allie scored a cinnamon roll nearly the size of her face! We split it the next morning for breakfast.  

We all made sure not to eat past 80% so we could head over to our town's local ice cream shop after lunch.  Alex, Cory and the little boys and Bre and kids joined us there. We took over the establishment...and they seemed happy for our business.

Such hard choices

CoRielle, Danny and Little Buddy 

CoRielle and BreZaak live within walking distance of the ice cream shop. All the kids were excited about their unexpected walk - and the final destination. 

Carrie, Stacia and a photo bomber

Michael and Dad - we opted not to have ice cream as they
have no sugar free - solidarity with Dad

Livie, Allie, Jamin and Nolan 

BreZaak's kids 

The gang

Cousins - Annie, Bella, Gideon and Benny 

The only grizzly I care to meet! 

We cherish days when we can gather so many dear gherkins at the drop of a hat. We don't take the blessing for granted after all our years of wandering. We ended the night playing a bit of Pando. 

It was an A+ day! A day we'll remember with smiles for years to come. 

Time with Grandblessings!

CoRielle's boys were quick to jump help me one morning this week. What the lack in attention to detail they make for with exhilaration.  Oh yeah, I remember. It's easiest to get chores done when the little ones nap. LOL 

Little Buddy and Danny 

Benny and Danny - Danny stayed the course with
the water

The broom was great fun. 

Still washing dishes. 

After work came books and play! 

Bre had an OB appointment this week and I was happy to play with their kids as well. The kids were quite impressed that neither Alaska nor Hawaii were on this globe. 

The kids talked me into getting the bag of tents out. Oy VEY. I have nothing but respect for young moms. I told them we would NOT be doing this again. LOL We did eventually get them all back into the bag. Such a small bag that explodes to fill the entire family room. LOL