The kids all came over for lunch at 2 p.m. We were still working on getting our money out of the power auger before it had to be returned. This was a big project....
Alas, it's since dried up and fallen off, but we had the start of fruit. LOL
Jamin and Josiah dug post holes and holes for planting trees.
Bella was interested.
Others visited.
Bella (2) and Benny (6 1/2 months)
Benny and Lassie come to an understanding of some sort...
The older ones all had to leave for a softball game in Anchorage. The boys, Michael, Izaak and I worked late into the night. We shored up some trees, and began the cementing process for the posts.
It was a full day, but in the end we were ready to take the auger back on time and we were done with the job we needed it for. Score.
Kathy sent us these photos from Fort Logan National Cemetery.
It's been six years at Father's Day. The ache is still acute. There are times I need to simply hear one of Dad G's stories. We still share many of them with each other. Michael puts it best. Over and over there are times he just wishes he could discuss this or that with Dad.
Feb 2017, Mom G joined Dad in heaven, and then, at Fort Logan. She is buried in the same plot as Earl and we were allowed to have her information inscribed on the back of his tombstone.
When our sleepy town has traffic jams. The parking lots fill with rented Class C's. Tour buses clog the intersections, and parking lots at rivers.
It truly is spring time in Alaska.
Michael rented a power auger to dig the fence posts of our moose fence in. Jamin and Jared decided to come out and spent a couple of hours helping us. We knew the fence wouldn't be done, but it's a start.
Click below to view clips from the day...building an orchard
There is so much to get done in our short spring/summer here in Alaska. I find it hard to snatch time to blog or edit videos. We work all day (sometimes until midnight), and then fall into bed to repeat the next day. We are enthusiastic in our effort to "work" now, so we can "play" when the salmon begin to run.
In an effort to make progress," I am not going to edit photos - just post and go.
May 26th - and the chicks are still timid about the great outdoors.
Note Olga the guard of the chicken house
The garden plot is our main agenda today. Benny is a great cheerleader...though some of us are fairly distracted by his cuteness.
Benny - six months old
Benny and Arielle
Izaak had the day to help....the tilling often had to stop as they pulled long lengths of rope from the ground. Our guess is the previous owners fed their horses here and simply dropped hay bales and cut the rope - letting it stay where it lay.....and so....
Nolan, Michael & Izaak
We also worked on the compost and burn piles. Nolan manned the fire a good portion of the day.
Nolan
Nolan and Izaak finally "helped" the chicks out to the run and shut the doors behind them. Our hope is they will get used to it an hour or so at a time.
Stacia decided it was a good day to work inside. She cleaned, helped me move transplants and learned how to make doughnuts. Everyone proclaimed her experiment a great success.
Stacia
Jared and Larissa stopped by late afternoon. We always enjoy unexpected visits. We ended the day with s'mores around the fire.
Stacia and Bre
Nolan and Benny
Arielle
Nolan, Benny, Arielle - Cory was at work
Yes, I was in the manure in crocs. I soaked my feet.
Midnight in the Valley
You may enjoy more details by viewing the video below from our You Tube channel.
FRIDAY....no appointments, no school and lots of projects.
Every day begins and ends with a visit to the Chicken Fortress, or Tajmachicken, as Michael calls it.
Motivated by the bread success at homestead club and by the fact I've not gone grocery shopping since our return, I baked a couple of loaves of bread before breakfast.
The next project Michael has queued is a "moose fence" for the front yard, in order to plant the fruit trees currently on the deck. The fence is laid out. The supplies are in hand. Unfortunately, a big Birch tree in the front will have to come down to build the fence. The electric company has an easement and has already shown, as well as communicated, they will cut down trees at any time. The trees were planted with the easement in mind by the first owners - but the foliage has encroached on the easement. They topped the evergreens this year and said they'll be back in 3 - 5 years to take them out. They are eyeing a couple of Birch, which aren't on the easement but they volunteered to remove as they could be dangerous. I LOVE the green curtain that shields us from the road....and the birds that visit the tree. I like to sit in the nook and watch them. The birch is split, MEA has their eye on it.....if we leave it - it will be coming down into our fruit orchard. Today, it comes out.
The big part is already out in this photo
Stacia and I visited the wooded area of our yard. We've not been out there since it was green. It's a new world. I took videos but not photos....though here is one. We set on a fallen tree and talked about putting some benches, maybe a table out here. It's good to be home in Alaska.
We ended the afternoon making homemade pizza... It was nice having the pizza sauce, burger and chicken already cooked and canned. We also harvested a cup of basil from my window garden and made vegan/no oil pesto. We had a heavy meat lovers, a Hawaiin, and I made a small pesto/veggie pizza.
The day begins and ends with chickens around here.
Talia and I met before we left on our trip. Today is the final IDEA Homestead Club meeting. We are going to teach how to make bread and butter. It went well. Poor Talia had most of the stress of the event. She did great. Our Lauren and Hardy show illustrated different personalities in the kitchen and in the end everyone went home with a new apron, spoon or dough hook, a loaf of bread to bake and a 1/2 pint of yummy butter.
Each station had a mat, 2 bread pans, bowl, pre-measured ingredient cups, flour, aprons, wooden spoon and a dough scraper.
Talia (right) checks things out
Fuzzy - oh well
Marvilie, Avilee and Stacia
All finished!
We had fish, yummy bread, garlic butter and veggies for dinner. I really need to go shopping, but haven't made it since the trip. There's always fish in the freezer!
We were home in the valley by 10:00 a.m. on the 23rd.....21 hours (but take away the time zones) maybe 19 hours? Michael was right, It IS GREEN! I am happy.
Michael had an LSVT Therapy appointment. He told me to skip it and take a nap. I did. Stacia slept all day. Before sleeping we visited the chickens. There is much more to be seen on video. I'll get to that next.
Novia is my special chick - she isn't very frightened of me
Michael installed a chicken door. The boys and I made a temporary run for them this afternoon. Golda gamely tries the new ramp...and we discover the boards are slippery. Michael added bits of roofing tiles to the ramps. At this point only 2 or 3 will come out. The other 16 huddle inside in a mass and complain about what they are sure must be killing the ones outside.
Golda
This little one was outside before - she seemed to remember and came on out.
Lucille Ball
Home - one word to say a lot. This is truly feeling like home, the place we belong. As Michael and I begin work, we keep reminding each other, "We can STAY here. This is ours. We don't have to leave in 2 years." It's a fantastic feeling.
