Random June Glimpses

Wow. It's hard to believe this is the last day of June already! It's been a glorious, sunny, warm month. It's been a month of learning how to step into joyful new memories while deeply mourning the absence of Josiah who would typically be celebrating summer with us.  It's been a month of HARD GOOD. We've picked out cemetery plots, ordered a headstone, gone on first lake trips, first Colony Days, first fishing trips, first trip to Red Shirt - without Josiah. 

Here I am at the end of the month looking at photos saved and trying to decide if they are new blog posts - or a random recap.  Join me at glimpses of the month to precious to forget but which never fit into other blog posts. 

Cory and the boys on a hike📷by Arielle

 June 2nd Jared, Lassie, Noah and Larissa went to the opening of a new dog park in Eagle River. 

📷by Larissa

Hold my tea! Charles visits me on a rainy day!

Charles

Josi 📷by Carrie

Have you ever felt like life was a bit out of control? So have I. 

One step at a time and life can usually be tamed. 

Stacia...ah, Stacia. 

Colony Day Parade in the past - several of us just couldn't do it this year. Josh, my counselor, has said when asked to do things I don't feel like doing I should ask myself, "Is this worth the cost to do it even though I want to avoid it?"  If it is - do it. If there is no benefit, in this season, it's o.k. to say no. Maybe it's o.k. in any season. I'm new to boundaries. LOL  In any event, to me, the parade wasn't worth the cost. 

There's Cy, Carrie and Liv in the back📷by Arielle 

This little one is full of smiles - though she's keeping Mama up every 20 - 30 minutes at night. Sleep training is in her very near future. What a joy it is to see her daddy's smile peek through her smile...his personality begin to show up in her personality...melded beautifully with Carrie's. 

Josi Faith - 📷by Carrie

Cousins! 

Bre and Carrie's kids 📷by Carrie

Our road is a mess! We've watched quick tar patches over cracks and potholes for 7 years...but I guess this is the year that the planned road improvement is happening in our area. Our road leads to a major trail head.  They are widening the road and putting in a "pedestrian pathway."  This looks like a bit mess and lots of trees down at this point. I'm glad the view in the mirror is always beautiful. 

This was GG's toughest puzzle yet...and truthfully Michael and Stacia did much of it, but GG spent many hours sitting with the puzzle. 

Eggs! 

Noah, is the best little campaign side kick in history! Jared and Noah have been in miles and hours meeting up with people in their district and talking about how lead. 

June 19 - cousin play date at CoRielle's - Ellie and Josi 

📷by Arielle 

Danny & Josi 📷by Cory

Larissa and Noah have flown to TX to visit their TX family for a few weeks. Larissa is an amazing traveling mama. How is Daddy going to campaign without his best door-knocking buddy? 

Window Clings for the win! 📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

Check this out! Some sort of sleeping contraption...I usually look like a pretzel trying to sleep. Of course, I'm a bit taller than Noah. 

📷by Larissa

Noah is having the time of his life in TX. He's playing in the ocean for the first time, enjoying play dates with 2nd cousins and spending quality time with his Texas family.  He's having the time of his life - and we miss him and his mama dearly. LOL 

June 21st - they say things must get worse before they get better. That is sure true of our road. I was complaining in the spring that they keep putting a layer of tar over cracks and potholes...but we are down to the dirt now. LOL 

June 24th - Ellie is three months old. 

Krista was home for a weekend before she, Luke and the kids flew off to the lower 48. They landed in Oregon and are taking the road trip of a lifetime down to CA and back up - stopping to enjoy many things along the route. Here are just a few pictures that are meaningful to us. LOL 

Kids and Luke 📷by Krista

On the beach below Michael's childhood home. How we loved this place! 

 📷by Krista

The lighthouse and Redwoods from home. 

 📷by Krista

 📷by Krista

 📷by Krista

 📷by Krista

 📷by Krista

June 29/30th - I've previously written about what Red Shirt Lake has meant to our family. Truthfully, most of us girls opted NOT to hike in 3 miles, sleep on plywood, have no outhouse, and eat beanie wheenies from a can, but the guys loved their trips to Red Shirt.  Jamin and Jared invited Cory to go along with them on a Red Shirt fishing/camping trip this Saturday/Sunday. Cory took Benny along. How FUN to see the next generation joining in the fun.  This trip is another one of those HARD GOOD things in June. 

Jared, Cory, Benny, Jamin 📷 by Jared

They have to carry everything in and out on this trip. They hiked in 3 miles, paddled across the lake, camped, fished and did it all in reverse. 

Keep Walking - 📷 by Jared

Setting up camp. 📷 by Jared

Jared 📷 by Jamin

Cory's raising him right. LOL 📷 by Jared

View by Jared

Benny caught his first ever fish!!! What a momentous occasion. 

Photo by Jared

📷 by Jamin

Around the fire. 📷 by Jared

Heading home 📷 by Jamin

Productive Saturday

It's been another beautiful summer day spent outside in the yard and garden. I'm not sure we could EVER have everything done at once around here.  The above pot sits in the greenhouse filled with all the essentials for a quick weeding trip to the garden. 

We have a pepper!

I weeded all 10 garden beds and a row of potatoes. The chickens love to see me heading towards them with the brown planter. These are all the weeds from today...I used to do 2 beds a day and get a huge RUBBERMAID tote. I may be gaining on the weeds. 

Speaking of weeds - I sprayed the garden walkways, the parking spaces and the driveway again. Yes, that's the 3rd day in a row. I've used 6 gallons of vinegar this week...and it's time to buy more vinegar. I'm seeing some success. 

Chickweed is dying....

You can see it isn't totally killing everything in the garden...but it's turning it a color that matches the wood chips. I plan to get a handle on the weeds and then keep a bottle of vinegar and salt ready to spray on walkways. I saw some aphids in the greenhouse and read to try dish soap and water in a spray bottle? 

Allie spent the day working on her summer class. Stacia spent the day at a nanny gig. I took a break here and headed to our local Fred Myers to meet up with a gal who had pumpkin starts. She threw in some garlic...I'm game to try.  Michael took the afternoon to make another garden bed. We had 5 more garage door panels from BreZaak's remodel and some lumber from CyRi's yard...so he made a bed. I got boxes from Freddies and threw them over the spot Cory had previously leveled out. I have been spraying the spot with vinegar and salt. 

I lugged the 5 bags of soil I had to the bed. I usually try to fill a bed with compost and branches etc about 1/2 way and then add dirt...but I need this space and don't have time to wait for compost to build up.  We have some 3 panels left - maybe Michael will make another one and I'll use THAT one for compost first....In any event, I need more dirt for this bed. Next year, we need to order a truck load of garden soil. 

I also planted some radishes. I went through the seeds to see what I may have that could still grow in the next two months. I have one or two kinds of squash and lots of greens...which I already HAVE lots of greens...I may or may not plant more.  I actually have space in the greenhouse as I'm not planting melons in there and I didn't start a bunch of seeds this year.LOL  I'm not sure what else to put in the greenhouse. 

It was a productive day. 

Garden Thoughts

 Gardening is hard work!  I dream of a gazebo for tea parties and craft projects with grands in the garden, and I'd love CORN and melons and tall arches covered with green.  I don't have all of that this year, but living PRESENT with what I have - a chair in the garden - has been a game changer.

Not only does it bring a measure of joy to the work, but it also allows me to really grasp the progress and to celebrate little changes. 

Our ONE zucchini plant

In year's past I'd spend hours each day and see little progress. Having a garden felt unattainable. Admitting I would only use 1/2 the space, and putting down wood chips in that space has made a huge difference.  I also applied a trick I learned homeschooling and managing a home. Setting a routine, or a schedule, brings me peace.  I have 10 raised beds and 4 rows of potatoes. If I weed 2 beds and a row of potatoes a day everything will get done once a week. I can be at peace with stupid grass invading a bed as I know within a week it will be dealt with. 

That sitting in the garden thing - now that the weeds are controlled - I often am able to weed the whole garden in about an hour....so it's all getting touched more than once a week. 

In the process, I've learned something about myself. I like planting and tending, I'm not a great harvester. I like planning beds and envisioning what could be (thus the gazebo dream). I love finding a bed like this....

And seeing THIS after a bit of work. 

In the past, I've let everything grow all season in part to get the absolute most harvest and also because I'm not sure how or when to harvest a lot of things. In the end I really don't care too much about picking and preserving.   I have grown asparagus for 5 years and never harvested it - always letting it go to seed. The process fascinates me. 

THIS year I am making an intentional effort to HARVEST. I've cut the asparagus 4x now. I've harvested leaf lettuce, spinach leaves and kale...and the amazing thing is - it grows back. 

I'm learning it's wisest to plant what we want to eat - not just what grows well. I will never have 12 zucchini plants again! The tomatoes may produce this year....there are flowers. 

I'm trying news things...like STEVIA. It says to dry and powder the leaves and it will be 300x sweeter than sugar. I have 3 plants. I keep eating the leaves....and they ARE sweet without the aftertaste of store purchased stevia. 

Through it all I've realized it's ok to have a favorite part of gardening. Mine is the planning and tending. Of course, it will be best for the garden, and more productive if I also do the parts I don't love...BUT others love harvesting and hate the planning and tending. It seems the apostle Paul talked about this....each of us with our own task in the mission. 

LIGHTBULB moment... this planting and tending seems to transfer over to my spiritual giftings as well. This may be why I've been used in ministry to BEGIN things, to set systems in place...start Bible studies and life groups, start women's ministries, start mom groups, recruit and train teams, establish and participate in mentor groups, stand up a new region of women's ministries for PWOC (military women's ministry)...and I've been thrilled and happy to do each thing. I have NEVER burned out when teaching studies or mentoring groups of women. 

 I've had others ask me HOW I stay motivated when I haven't been able to remain and see the fruit of the labor.  THIS has to be part of it. I truly take joy in casting vision, living life with women and seeing the growth, starting new things.... I've seen harvest.  I do enjoy watching growth and spiritual maturity develop, strongholds broken. Yet, in every area of ministry we've moved on while things were still thriving. We're familiar with a "short growing season" in our ministry.  I've not seen the completion...and that's o.k. I've been faithful with the time I had in each location, and I have LOVED my part in people's stories...and I know things carry on just fine when I'm called to leave. 

I was discussing this with Michael, and he thought it funny I'd not made the connection before. He pointed out this is probably why when others have invited me back to see what is ongoing from my time of ministry in a place, I find myself thinking, "You are STILL doing the same thing 20 years later?"  where others are taking so much pleasure in the fact that what they planted is still doing the same thing. 

And so...I will joy in the planning, planting and tending AND I will be intentional to harvest as well. Even now when it's mostly greens. 

There you have it - deep thoughts from a shallow mind; or deep thoughts from the garden! ::snort:: 

Weeds, Bread and a Debate

 And what was OUR Friday like?  Cory showed up bright and early and cleared a 10 ft radius around our well pump. He also spread weed and feed on the entire yard! 

I was outside before GG woke up pulling weeds in the garden and spraying MORE Vinegar and salt. 

I took a quick look around to see if anything looked like it was dying...and yes...it seemed good to me to douse it all again. I focused on the back area of the yard and the garden walkways... It seems to be shriveling up the dandelions and chick weed. It's not great with grass so probably won't work well to kill the grass under the electric fence (it grows quickly and interrupts the working of the fence). 

Starting to shrivel - another dose sprayed today. 

I continued to play with the fresh flour/bread flour ratio in the artisan sourdough loaves.  

Oh, I came in after a few hours of yard work and watched the presidential debate clips with GG. It turns out it was good Stacia, Michael and Allie were gone. They probably would have gone stark raving crazy. I was happy to sit. I also blogged that "Garden Thoughts" post. 

Allie went out with a friend after work and didn't get home until late. Stacia and I watched several episodes of Scorpion. 

It was, all things considered, a good day. 

A Hard Good Fishing Trip

Michael and Stacia did a hard good today. They went fishing. Fishing was something both of them have most often, and last done, with Josiah. I was sad to stay home with GG and Allie had to work. BUT in the end, I think it was a good thing for these two to make this trip alone.  I didn't get to go with them, but my Bahaman cruise hat did. LOL  

 

Michael hasn't gone fishing, except for dip netting, the last two summers. Hiking much more than a mile can be excruciating for him. The fact that he and I cannot go together due to GG's needs, and the boys' trips involved longer hikes, limited his fishing partners. Stacia bought herself a fishing license and told Michael she would like to go. I suspect both felt the trip was "for the other," but in the end both were blessed. 

The day began with the tradition of packing a lunch which will not be looked at all day. I seem to be the only one who needs sustenance when out fishing. 

A favorite place for Josiah, Jamin and Dayton (youth leader when we were at Elmendorf) was Red Shirt. Michael made several trips up with the boys as well. When we moved back Michael, and the boys went on several overnight trips to Red Shirt - staying in a US Forest cabin.  This involves driving to the Nancy Lake area, hiking in 3 miles and then back out. Mike can do the hike in - he cannot do the hike out the same day.  This limited his fishing trips with the boys the past few summers. An overnight trip was being planned with Josiah, Michael and Krista buying in....it was not to be. 

The plan today was to drive up to South Rolly campground and put the rowboat in. They would see if there were pike at this spot. 

They also rowed up the water trail a bit of the way to see if they COULD get to Red Shirt via water. The conclusion is a paddle board would be a better bet. LOL 

They saw a couple of trout jump - maybe the same one. Both were unimpressed with it's size. They didn't see any pike. 

Stacia put it best - my goal was to spend time with Dad so it was a success.  I was told it was a great day - but it was a hard day. One couldn't help thinking of past fishing trips with Josiah and missing him in this favorite area. 

Summer Routines

It's tricky baking bread in the summer when the temps are in the 70s. I open all the windows and start preheating the oven FIRST thing. I'm still playing with fresh ground wheat ratio to bread flour...this was a bit better...but I can do better. LOL  Making two loaves at a time keeps the oven at 450* twice as long. I think I'll just focus on the  whole wheat for a bit of time. LOL

left=bread flour; right=fresh ground whole wheat 

My summer routine is to get outside for a couple of hours in the morning, either around 0700 or after I get GG's morning routine accomplished and him settled with the paper.  I shower AFTER the yard work so I can wash away the devil's club and stinging nettle leftovers.  I am making great use of my new weed eater. 

In addition to weed eating, I sprayed 2 gallons of vinegar/salt/dish liquid in the upper part of the driveway and in the walkways in the garden.  I sure hope this works! I gave up with both the vinegar and the weed eater when I encountered dense devils' club taller than I. These things are ridiculous - why couldn't the corn grow this well? LOL 

Allie had an early morning counseling session followed by a full day at work. Stacia attended Japanese class and taught a Japanese class today.  Michael had his weekly visit to the chiropractor and stopped off to buy refills for our mosquito magnet and vinegar for more yard work. 

I spent an hour working on paperwork for Dad. I think I'm about 1/4 of the way through. Maybe. LOL 

Thursdays are dinner with Jenni. We kept it simple this week - chicken and potato salad from the deli and green salad, sour dough dinner rolls and pasta salad.  Jenni and Stacia played a game of Cribbage while we waited for Allie and Michael to arrive home. We are nearing the end of season 3 of All Creatures Great and Small. 

Stacia used to give Millie used peanut butter jars when she was a puppy. Millie hit the motherlode when she got this "jar" today. She is very protective of her bucket. In fact she gets so little peanut butter for all the drama...I think she likes the smell as much as the bits of butter left in the bucket. 

Millie is in dire need of a bath. This is the result of all her playing sessions at the river. If we give her a bath dealing with her coat of tight, corkscrew hair is a nightmare. I think she's got another 2 weeks before she sees the groomer. 

Nolan reports his hand is uncomfortable, doesn't seem much better or worse today. 

I tend to be one of those "up with the sun/down with the sun" people...this makes for VERY long Alaskan summer days. I'm enjoying every minute of sun...honestly, I enjoy the 4 a.m.  and mid-night sun a bit less than the middle of the day sun. 😀