Jumanji Gone Awry

The  highlight of the day was a visit from Jill. I've been wanting to spend time with her. It made my day when she stopped to drop off egg cartons and stayed for a visit.

This week is fairly clear - and we need to work! The greenhouse is scary - it looks like Jumanji gone awry.

Via meme generator.net

I have been out of the garden/greenhouse for two weeks. One week for dip-netting, one week for having fun with Nate and Heather. I need to attack chick weed....eat a ton of Kale and Lettuce....and tame the greenhouse.

I started with the greenhouse. The tomatoes reached the upper heights of the greenhouse and  I could no longer see the path in the middle of the greenhouse. Other plants were suffocating and the Texas Rattler Melons need more space.  The cucumber sent shoots to the opposite side.....intertwined with melons, tomatoes, beans..... The tomato plants got HUGE in the greenhouse. So huge they fell over and were choking out the peppers and everything else......cucumbers were smashed against the sides of the greenhouse...and the peppers were smothered.

I pulled out  two tomato plants along the back of the greenhouse. I also pulled all the bean plants. This allows space for the melon to grow and spread.  This was one plant....

Lots of leaves....I know I needed to cut them back but wasn't quite sure how. I didn't realize they'd grow like crazy before I got back to them.  We salvaged the green tomatoes. We tied the remaining tomato plants to the building supports. We drastically cut the tomato plant closest to the cucumbers....and pulled our poor cantaloupe plant. Now maybe the cucumber will behave and stay put.

The plants we removed from the back and right were taller than the one on the left. This will let a lot more sun in for the melons...and space. I can walk in here again.

I have no idea HOW one is supposed to prune tomato plants...but I have three left and they are big on leaves....with green tomatoes. I'd like to cut some of the foliage and speed up the ripening of the tomatoes. I'll google...unless someone has experience and cares to share?

We'll see if these will ripen under the grow light. Maybe. If not - fried green tomatoes? 

Another bunch of beans

I'm 2 lbs short to make a batch of pickles. I'm considering filling up the last bit with either zucchini or beets? Any suggestions? 

Josiah has renters who want to move in Wednesday.  His kitchen is missing two drawers and he can't find any to match. Michael is making two drawers for the rental. Michael, Dad and I drove over to see the new place, and to give Michael the chance to check out measurements that were bothering him. 

I am about to call it a day. Michael is working in the garage...Lucille is keeping him company. ::snort::

Orchard Update

We are trying to grow a fruit buffet - a mini-orchard. We were told it would take 3 - 5 years before we would see fruit....our peach trees are sad. Our plum hasn't produced any blossoms...but check out the Meteor Cherries. We have two trees like this. 

They are TART - but I've been told we bought two of them to cross pollinate the two Rainier Cherry trees. We only had about four cherries on the Rainier trees....but they were THERE...and the one Michael and I have sampled is sweet. We are dreaming...of a few years down the road.

Too high for Lucille, the free range hen, to get it

We also have apples on the trees....Gala and Braeburn....

The moose have found the orchard; we've had to add electric tape to the fence. 

All in all - we are happy. We planted these in memory of Dad and Mom G. I'm looking forward to shade, fruit, and a picnic table in the orchard. 

Our Craig's List Find

Josiah, Dad, Arielle, Benny, and I were sitting in the living room visiting when Benny alerted us to the fact Michael was home. 

He jumped up and yelled, "Papa!" and headed for the door. Josiah had seen Krista and Stacia riding their bikes in Butte when he came up the Old Glenn. They pulled into the driveway shortly after Michael, Alex and Nolan.  Benny welcomed them home...but he was chattering away about Papa. Papa had never brought anything home in the truck THIS exciting. 

Look what Papa had in the back of his truck! 

Compliments of the kids' rent monies. LOL 

We have been watching for sale and swap boards for at least six months. I wish it had been here earlier in the summer...but we'll love it now. It has a slide Benny will love. A climbing wall Gideon will enjoy and a picnic table I think Bella will like. It also has swings...which Stacia will enjoy. LOL

What a great idea for Papa's truck 

 It was so easy in THEIR yard...but we have discovered, once again, there is not one level spot in our yard. Michael and Alex will have to dig it in....we spent an hour or so hauling the parts to the back and moving it from spot to spot to find the perfect place to install it. In the end...we moved it about 3 feet to the right of the original spot. ::snort:: They are so patient with my need to visually see things before I can decide. 

Happy to have Nolan off work today - he and Cy were gracious to help

Michael, Alex, Nolan, Dad, Cy and Krista....

I think Benny would have been happy to play in this part for an hour or so....

In the midst of the discussing...Benny found the bubble container, filled it with water, and doused Papa. 

He went on to chase us all....his joy is contagious. 

Yes - he got G Dog. 

 Alex helped him get Mama.

When a location was firmly decided....Michael got busy putting in stakes and string to begin the leveling process. Benny was a big help. 

Michael has a project for Josiah's rental which will take priority over setting up the swing set...but we can dream of when it is in OUR yard and looks like it did in THEIR yard. 

BTW, we really enjoyed visiting with this young family we met through Craig's List. I'm excited to try my first lasagna garden. Michael is talking about a bee hive. I'm brainstorming how to install an honest to goodness zipline in our back yard. Doesn't that sound like fun????

Odds & Ends Saturday

And now....a current post....because I'll never catch up if I don't post current as well as past. LOL

We took care of a lot of little odds and ends today....

Arielle cleaned rabbit hutches in preparation to sell or leave.

Krista, Nolan, Alex & Stacia did Panda Express yesterday

Stacia and I took Benny for a walk around the block.

Alex edited a video.

Michael prepped for a sermon.

I bottled kombucha...without getting ANY on the ceiling - thank you very much. 

Krista got a new phone working and moved back into the RV.

Michael and I went to look at a possible Craig's List purchase....and had a great visit with a fellow homeschooling family....and checked out her lasagna garden and his bee hives...and ZIP LINE.

Nolan worked a mid-shift....when they tried to take his Sunday off away; he told them he HAD OTHER PLANS FOR SUNDAY! We are excited to have him home on a Sunday.

Stacia made a slouch hat for Krista.

Krista, Dad, and I read.

Michael went to the church for a bit more quiet than we can provide around here....and so....the rest of us had breakfast for dinner....and played a few rounds of Farkle.

Well - this isn't from tonight as Michael and Nolan are in the photo
BUT you get the idea. ::snort:: 

We continue to be blessed by Dad's visit. He'll be heading back to Oregon after Labor Day. The house will seem emptier.

Mr Gingerbread Goes Dip Netting - Fish Camp Day 4

This is our last day of dip netting for this trip. Most of us are nearing our limits.  THIS is the day Mr. Gingerbread man went dip netting with the guys. LOL

We skipped the morning tides.

We slept in. Which felt fantastic after our 15 1/2 hour fishing day yesterday. 

We had our big meal at lunch time.

We spent the afternoon napping, reading, playing games, fixing nets.... 

Papa and I (my name seems to have settled into Baba (for Baa-Chan) took Benny for a walk at the campground.

He was fascinated by this guy, but was sure turkeys "roaaarrr." 

We hit the beach at 5 p.m. hoping to come close to finishing out our limits. 

Many others had the same idea. This was the most crowded tide we fished. If you look closely you can see people waiting behind those fishing to get into place. When a fish is caught, the person must drag the fish to shore.....and others jump right in. The beach crew is essential to getting the fishing members back into line or place ASAP. 

Photo by Nate

 This is a short net...ours had another extension. 

Photo by Nate

I decided to leave the beach and try my hand at fishing. That current is STRONG. It was a challenge to remain on my feet and keep the net upright in the current.  I realized quickly I was shorter than those I was trying to stand by....I got swamped...cold wave down my waders..... I was worrying to much about those beside me and getting in their way... I decided to back out and tripped. I went under...wet from head to toe.... Michael showed up on the beach about then and suggested I try a shortened net (like the one above) rather than the longer nets. I'll try again next year. It was a cold evening on the beach.  Alack and alas - no photos. ::snort::

Photo by Nate

 Mother/Son bonding 

Photo by Nate

 Such a sweet photo

Krista, Benny, Stacia - Photo by Nate

Nate and I - Photo by Krista 

Having Krista, Dad and Nate on the beach made my job much easier and more enjoyable. We moved coolers and equipment down and up the beach. They were great new play mates for Benny, as well. 

Before we knew it it was time to get off the beach. These photos were taken at 10 p.m. and we still had an hour of cleaning in our future. 

Leaving the beach for the last time this year.  I'm so glad the kids were able to join us this year. It's a LOT of hard work, long days...but it's time to be working towards a goal together...and we all go home with a healthy protein source for the winter! 

Izaak decided to drive home tonight and surprise BreAnne. 

Day 4 Fish Counts 
Personal Day Count - 41 Total Fish 
Alex - 8
Arielle - 5
Cory - 7
Cy - 10
De'Etta -
Izaak - 4
Michael -5
Stacia - 2

Cumulative Counts *
Personal Count (176)
Alex - 35
Arielle - 13
Cory - 32
Cy - 41
De'Etta -0
Izaak - 21
Michael - 22
Stacia - 12

Group Total 164
Our Household Total 64

*I find it HILARIOUS that the personal counts are 12 fish higher than the Group Total. I asked and notated over and over and the numbers simply don't match. LOL This tells me several Gherkins are truly the master of the "fishing tale."  The Group total of 164 was taken from the final totals on each household's harvest card. It's the accurate number. 

Dip Netting 2019 - Fish Camp Day 3

We were on the beach at 6 a.m. and we didn't come home until 9 p.m.  That about says it all. LOL

Heading for the beach 

The guys insisted we would be home at 9:30 a.m. and then go out again in the afternoon - but when the time came...the fish were hitting....they didn't want to lose their spot by coming off the beach....and so...we stayed.

Alex

Josiah, Cory, Alex, Michael, Stacia, Izaak 

This was our rainiest day

In the midst of the day - Jamin arrived. I drove back to the campsite, picked him up, got lunch things for the crew and headed back. Jamin was only able to fish for a few hours - but it was fun to have him drop in.  I drove him back to camp and then hit the beach again.

It rained the whole time Jamin fished. 

Benny is a great fisherman. He went out with CoRielle and he also stayed on the beach with me and Stacia.  When I walked with him up and down the beach people knew him and greeted him with, "Hi, Benny!"  He's a social person this one.

Cory and Benny come to talk with Arielle as she fishes

Precious times together on the beach 

Michael got tired and sent Stacia back in. 

Stacia builds a sand castle and Benny makes a new friend

There was an emergency order saying we couldn't keep kings on the Kenai River during the time we were there. We saw several netted - and released. Cory got one. I took the photo through a ziploc bag - but it's a photo. It was fighting hard and Cory had to get to a spot where he could help it get free from the net. It did. 

Cory's King

The fish began to hit fast and hard....and within no time we knew it was time to break and count. We realized we had a couple of hours of work ahead to lug the coolers up the beach, ferry everyone to camp, have dinner and clean fish. 

We had just decided to go back to camp when Krista called to say she, Nate (my brother) and Dad had arrived. She got dinner going while we lugged things back up the beach.

Stacia and Alex....

That's a heavy cooler when it's loaded with salmon

It was nice to have dinner waiting when we got home....and then we had to clean 97 salmon. LOL

Nate - my youngest brother

 Nate and Krista were happy to jump in and help with the cleaning. Here we are at 10:42 p.m. 

Nate, Krista, Izaak

I was never so thankful for my shower - at midnight. Tomorrow, we will finish off those who still have fish to catch and then it's off to another spot.

Day 3 Fish Count
Personal Day Count - 97 Total Fish 
Alex - 17
Arielle - 7
Cory - 18
Cy - 19
De'Etta -
Izaak - 15
Michael - 11
Stacia - 10

Cumulative Counts 
Personal Count
Alex - 27
Arielle - 8
Cory - 25
Cy - 31
De'Etta -0
Izaak - 17
Michael - 17
Stacia - 10

Group Total 136
Our Household Total 64