Alaskan Morning Walk

It seems to be a lazy morning. I decided to take Yuuki out for a walk around the RV park. 

You can easily discern why it's named Mtn View RV Park

I've decided I want to plant a patch of our property (when we close on it) with these purple flowers (lupine?) and fireweed. We're starting our own little community at the park. Below is Uchi on the left, CoRielle are staying in Rob and Dollie's trailer, and BreZaak and kids are in Ian and Becky's trailer.

There was no observable movement; we left the park and went adventuring. 

Finding these neighbors to the park, gives me hope. I have heard how hard it is to garden in the area, but this farm is doing well - and heavily investing in plastic?

The rumor is when the fireweed blooms to the top, and goes to seed, we have six weeks until winter. I'm going to watch closely. The tippy tops are still not in bloom. 

I've given up any plans for late summer garden. We are hoping winter will hold off long enough to get some of the outside chores done on the house. If not, it will all be covered in snow....

Gingerbread Man Arrives in Alaska

Arielle gave me a reprieve and did not send me up the Alaskan Highway with Cory. We are spending a few days with BreZaak. Some bug seems to have bitten all these girls. This apartment is EMPTY. 

KRISTA is here. She enjoys playing with me (and Bella).

I have had a wonderful few days, but now odd things are happening again. 

Arielle and I went with BreZaak and the kids to a large building. There was noise and lights and I even had a couple of x-rays. I guess they were concerned about my health. I know you won't believe this, but we got into a metal container and then we FLEW for hours.  There was a lot of hugging and such when we arrived. I finally saw all the members of the MALE team. That hasn't happened since New Years.

It appears Arielle and BreZaak fam have moved to Alaska. I met up with Stacia again.  I am currently chilling with CoRielle in a travel trailer. 

This was God's provision. Evidently, the home we are moving into isn't quite ready. Friends of Mom and Dad have loaned TWO TRAILERS for CoRielle and BreZaak until we can get into a house.  

"Kids" Arrive in Alaska

The 31st of July - we're still houseless - but big things are happening. We received this photo early afternoon.  Izaak's parents, my parents and Krista were at the airport to see Arielle and BreZaak off to Alaska. 

Krista, Bre & Gideon, Arielle
Izaak's folks, Dad, Bella, Izaak, Mom 

 Michael opted to stay home. Nolan drove us through Anchorage to the airport. With the Jeep and Cory's Tahoe, we were ready for luggage and passengers. Finally, we saw them come through the hall. I did what Gemma's do....I began to run to the babes. The boys began to say, "Mom, mom!"

"What?"

"Let Cory go first."

"I don't even see Arielle!"

Bella has been calling me on hang out several times a day. "Hi, hi!"  This is the moment when I leaned over the stroller and said, "Hi!" She looked so perplexed. Her phone had come to life.

BreZaak and me on the left - CoRielle on the right

Izaak, Arielle, Nolan, 

Aunt Larissa meets Gideon 

Back the park, everyone settle in.

Baby Quilts

G.G. (Great Grandma) has been busy making quilts for Gideon and Baby Boy S.  These little men are ready for Alaska! Mom has done this for all nine of our children and all "many" of her great grandchildren. 

Today, Nate and Heather are home in OR. They had a big family dinner to say God speed to Arielle, BreZaak and the kids. Tomorrow afternoon they will fly to Alaska. 

Glimpses of Saturday

In Alaska, Nolan and I had a slight laundry emergency. I put the soap in. I have no idea how we got so much. When it got worse than this we HAD to interrupt the machine's program. We scooped out soap and water. Michael removed Yuuki's blanket and rinsed it wrung it out. What a mess. 

Cory and Michael continue to bond in a manly way! 

Meanwhile, back in Oregon....the family has a few days left before hitting the road to Alaska. 

Gideon - my man

Gideon and Baby S meet up 

 Bella is such a good big sister.  

Aunt Krista meets Gideon - so glad she and the girls overlapped a few days. 

Jamin receives a pair of marine boots to break in before OCS. 

These have potential for the game/entertainment room 

WHAT? Butter cream frosting by the gallon! 

We did not receive the appraisal before the weekend. We hope to receive it Monday and be able to close next Friday.....

#WYFF Fish, Friends & Uhaul Trailers

#WYFF Stacia and I made 3 trips to Eagle River and back.....6 jaunts on the Old Glenn Hwy in one day.  This convince me we will need to "plan our errands" now that we live out in the "country." The guys' feet were in the Kenai River.  

This is Cory's Dad's last day in Alaska. He wants to see the Kenai Peninsula. He'd like to watch some fishing. In prep for the day, Cory purchased his non-resident fishing license.  Michael and the boys went along. CORY CAUGHT HIS FIRST ALASKAN SOCKEYE - RED - SALMON! Alas, there are no photos of the momentous event. I was told they were all fishing - I guess there is a reason for me to go along sans license. 🐽 This, was the only fish legally brought in the rest of the day. 

Michael released him....no idea how he was caught

Stacia and Julia (Rob and Dollie's daughter) have been texting. They asked if they could get together today. 0900 found Stacia and I  driving up the Old Glenn to meet Dollie and girls at JITTERS. ☕☕☕ Being in Jitters brought back memories of old friends, even as we nourished new friendships. 

Stacia and Julia scored their own table during the lull between breakfast and lunch

The girls simply hadn't had enough time when we Mom's were ready to move on from the coffee shop - the lunch rush was beginning. The only thing to do was bring Julia back to the RV. The girls seemed to enjoy themselves. I read and may have napped off.  Our second trip up the Glenn was to meet up with Dollie and send Julia home.  We drove by their soon to be home and will be 25-30 min away when we all get moved to our real homes. That beats the trip to base at 45 min. 

Stacia and I ran into 3 Bears and checked out the Kirkland supplies. We bought a cute little sleeper for Baby S, snacks and pizza for the night. We knew the men would be back late - when the sun went down. 😅😃😚 A note - Stacia told me she continues to want to fish, "But not every free day." The pull of people was greater than the pull of the fish. 

As we pulled into the RV park we noted this in front of our trailers...and the incessant baying of Yuuki.

Josiah and Jamin are here with BreZaak's household goods. BreZaak family can't be far behind. The men  were ready to go home and rest. Our 3rd trip up the Glenn was to drive them home. 

We watched a movie, talked, and went to bed. The others got home around mid-night. 

Exploring the Area

We had a couple of hours this morning and so we began exploring the Matsu Valley. The Palmer visitor center seemed like a good place to start.  We picked up a TON of biking, hiking, tourist maps. They have a little museum.  They also have a 1.5 hour movie about the Colony experience.  We will go back to watch it. We do know  in 1935 the Federal Relief Emergency Administration began an experiment to known as the Matsu Valley Colony.  The story is fascinating and I plan to learn more.

We were amused to discover we are closer to Tokyo than Tallahassee. 

I'm trying to convince Stacia she needs a purse like this.  

Moose Heart Bag 

 Other than picking up pamphlets and maps, we wanted to see what grew in the garden behind the center. This is all part of our research as we dream of landscaping and gardening.

This sculpture represents the giant veggies of 2009. These records have been broken since then. 

 Carrot - 18.99 lbs, zucchini 29.65 lbs, beet root 42.75 lbs and the cabbage was 127 lbs. 

We noted kale will do well here. 

And potatoes....

Cabbage is a given - but there doesn't seem to be much of a center to this yet. 

Artichokes! 

The gardener on duty shared a wealth of info and seemed to be happy we were asking questions. We got tips on making a berry hedge.....and how to compost in the nasty weather....and which types of tomatoes do well here....and we learned about stinging nettle and pushki.  He also showed us where the community garden is and told us we can harvest as we'd like.

Michael joined us in the garden but was over at the Alaskan Bible College while we were inside. He was happy to discover someone who had graduated from Western Seminary, as he did.  He found out info about the college and was invited to consider being their chaplain for a semester next year.

We dropped the kids at Uchi and Michael and I drove in to the VA center in Anchorage.  We stopped by Lowe's to see if we could find a riding lawnmower and a smoker.....still looking.

Cory and his Dad were out exploring Anchorage today and came home with a treat for us all - ice cream, even dairy free ice cream.

Lee, is doing laundry. Michael and Cory went out to buy flies - maybe they'll catch some reds tomorrow???? The kids are playing Pandemic and I'm wrapping up the day's "to do" list.

We just heard Josiah and Jamin are in Tok. Back in Alaska. They will make it here tomorrow with BreZaak's things.