A Walk in the Woods - Flowers, Hammock & Hidden Eggs

 We have had a lynx around here a couple of times in the last month. I heard it again this morning. Stacia has a hammock out in the woods. She's not been comfortable going out there since she was surprised by Mama Moose and babies.  She and I walked back there to check out the summer finery and retrieve her hammock.

We have Monkshood

Colorful mushrooms

 Maybe elderberry? 

We found the hammock. It has moose prints in it. We moved it a couple of trees near the swing set. 

And then....

It's a live Egg Hunt....

Lucille has a hiding place. 27 eggs in total. This is Lucille. You can tell it's Lucille because her feathers aren't plucked like the others AND she has a turquoise beak.  Free ranging does make for some adventures. 

I LOVE Today's Projects!

I introduced Dad to yet another of our favorite coffee spots in town. This one plays Christian music, has plenty of seating, and is open and airy. It never feels crowded, or like the people at the next table can hear your conversation. It actually houses a church on Sundays , and they run the cafe as well. I suspect we would have loved the church if God had led us here during our grand church search of 2017. LOL

I'm sure putting down roots - home - means something different to each person. I'm always surprised what makes this missionary kid, retired military spouse, Third Culture Kid suddenly have a sense of permanence - roots.  All of today's projects speak of permanence to me. We certainly wouldn't have picnic tables and play structures if we were "hot" for orders. We have been here for two years and there are no orders on the horizon - a joy of retirement.

Once we went into the military, and began living in base houses and moving every 2 - 3 years,  we never had a garden or a swing set. I DID grow some things in containers, but it isn't the same. We certainly didn't plant things with an eye to "3 or 5 years from now we'll see this or that." Some families do have swings - but we had a large homeschooling family and were always too near our weight limit to haul around a play structure.  We made liberal uses of play areas on, and off, base. Today, Michael and Alex began tearing up the sod to level a spot for our very own play structure. 

These Gherkin guys can do anything

Dad enjoyed supervising...he even gave up the chance for a second outing of the day in order to stay hoe  and supervise.

Dad, Michael and Alex

 While they worked on leveling a spot for the structure, the girls and I painted....OK - so turquoise is my current favorite color. It's bright and cheery and makes me smile. It also reminds me of PWOC and freedom. It says, "Welcome," to me.  I picked this shade as it reminded me of the ocean in Belize...lots of happy reasons to pick this color.

I was aiming for the color of my accent wall in the house. Inside is a bit darker...close but this is by far BRIGHTER. LOL

I love that we are giving these Mother's Day gifts new life...and that Stacia and Alex (our babies) are now personally connected to them as well. They should withstand the winter much better this year.

The three picnic tables are the same color...yes, we have literal turquoise tables now.  I actually do plan to place one in the front yard...and in years to come the orchard will shade it.  The man at Lowes encouraged me to get the BEST exterior/advanced weather protection they sell....and I did.  He also encouraged me to get high gloss. I didn't. I'm glad I didn't. This is so shiny and bright, I think they'll see them on satellites from space. In fact, I'm pretty sure small planes will begin to use the three bright, shiny tables by the mountain as navigational landmarks.

I love them

  We ran out of paint and  need to do the undersides and a second coat....Krista suggested we leave the undersides so it won't be a problem if the paint isn't a 100% match.

Stacia and I ran to Lowes for another gallon of paint. We also bought some plastic lawn chairs at 50% off. I REALLY want to have wooden Adirondack chairs...but that project is a ways in the future...and these will be more comfortable and hold up better than the camp chairs are holding up. I also bought some hardware for another project in my mind. I only need to learn how to use one of the fancy saws and how to paint pretty words on the pallet Michael found for me.

We broke for dinner and then hit the play structure again.....and it began to take shape. It was a family affair. 

The picnic table and awning are attached

The slide is attached and tried out

The rock wall is attached - but no one has climbed it yet

  Stacia and Alex were excited to try out the swings. It seems I'm not the only one who was looking forward to our very own play structure.

Oh yes, I'm going to make up for lost years and take lots of family photos right here. I surrendered the idea of trimming it in turquoise. ::snort:: 

Stacia, Krista, Alex, Nolan and Dad in the background - he wouldn't climb the slide. 

Dad is enjoying reading with us. He finished, "Your God is Too Safe," and is now reading "Of Moose and Men: Lost and Found in Alaska." This is written by Torry Martin, of Wooten fame on Adventures in Odyssey. It's sort of a Christian Patrick McManus. It's fun to see Dad enjoying it. 

Ah, look.....doesn't it say...this is home and we plan on staying.....unless, of course,  God says, "Move!!" ?

We can't wait to see Benny discover it in the morning. And then Bella and Gideon will discover it the next time they are over. We plan to put pea gravel under the fort part as a gravel quarry for Tonka trucks. Eventually, we may make a big gravel pit - but this will work for now.

Team Win

We continue puttering around the place this week....Michael got the drawers installed last night at Josiah's rental.  He had a slowish, rough start this a.m., but came out of the gate at top speed - when he was able to get out of the gate. LOL

Krista and Arielle went running again. Krista reports her ankle is doing well. She is working her way back to the times she was achieving before the accident...when she was running 8 miles. They ran 1 1/2 miles.

Meanwhile, I took Dad and Stacia to run errands. I am looking into shipping fish. I checked out UPS - they guarantee one day; they estimated $200. I went to the Post Office....their fastest is 1 - 3 days...flat rate - not sure if that's a good bet for frozen fish.

I noted at the post office 1/2 the big flower bed is KALE and celery. Kale - it's everywhere you want to be in Alaska.  At the library, I finally noted the cabbage in the midst of the flowers. I may have to do some beds like this next year.  I am convinced my soil needs HELP....because I planted the same time as everyone else and my cabbage is just starting to form heads. Maybe it's too crowded...I HAVE discovered the square foot gardening charts are NOT made with Alaska days in mind. Things get BIGGER than expected - they just aren't making lots of food. LOL

This is NOT our cabbage! This is at the library. 

Our biggest stop of the day was Walmart. Time for some groceries in the house. Honestly - I have a challenge. I save money shopping once a month. I no longer have freezer space for ANY meat other than the salmon and veggies already in the freezer.  The plan IS to buy a big freezer - but we don't have room for it in the garage quite yet. I've contemplated putting it outside until the end of September - but that seems a bit too Alaskan for me....at this point. The family really doesn't want salmon EVERY meal. I've been running to Freddies every day for  meat for dinner. It is the rhythm of Japan. I don't mind it terribly much - this makes it easy for one of us to take Dad up for his paper and coffee....BUT it isn't easy on the budget.  We headed out to buy groceries - hoping they will last a week.  Stacia and Dad made a pit stop at McDonald's while I started shopping. Dad found a nice recliner to rest in when they were done with lunch and Stacia and I shopped. I think Dad thought we'd left him by the time we finished. LOL

I came home and Michael was busy in the garage. Alex and Krista were sanding picnic tables and the rockers the kids gave me 10 - 14 years ago for Mothers Day. (Yes, we still date things by assignments and we were at Goodfellow from 2005-2009.)

Alex - Photo by Krista 

The belt sander was running, white, powdery footprints went through the kitchen. They were getting it done.  It became apparent we need to prime the tables with Kilz.  The photo was less than flattering of Krista - but you can see her reflection in the window. LOL

Stacia joined Krista in working on the rockers

I'm excited to give the rockers a face-lift. I love that Alex and Stacia are helping....they were tiny babies when the big kids gave me the rockers....makes them part of the history of the rockers. They bought them for me at a time when I was dreaming of time to sit in the rocker and visit, share lemonade...you know "rock on the porch."  For far too many years the rockers were simply a decoration. I've taken steps to live more present in this season,  and intentionally find time to relax and rock. LOL

I headed out again to search for Kilz and canning supplies. It turns out Freddie's (both Wasilla and Palmer), Walmart and Target are all out of what I need. I came home with Kilz. Izaak called and has a bunch of pint jars I can have. He's switching to 1/2 pints.

Stacia and Krista had dinner 90% ready! Michael grilled burgers, the table was set, salad, fries (loving the air fryer) and fresh-squeezed lemonade* were ready to go....What a blessing.

Michael and I painted a coat of Kilz on the top surfaces of the picnic tables while the kids cleaned up after dinner.  Nolan headed to bed.

The rest of us played a few games of Farkle. I know Dad and I did not win. I'm not sure who won - I suspect Alex. I was not fully present. I was on my phone to stay awake. LOL

The day was a team win.

Can you believe this is the LAST day of July? I'd better get some curriculum ordered. ::snort:: (Not to worry - I have all of Stacia's core subjects from Alex's previous school year, and HE has all his core credits completed. Nothing big will be missed if our curriculum isn't here by Aug 15th.)

*Sugar Free Lemonade.....2 packets of Stevia (I found some with stevia leaves only - NO malitol, maltodextrin, or erythitol), juice of 1/2 a lemon, ice and water to fill a pint mason jar.

A Very Good Day

Krista had a job interview this a.m.  She was offered a job - not her dream job - but a good job nonetheless. When she got home I took her and Dad out to one of my "favorite" coffee shops and treated them to a celebration.  Dad says I "sure have a lot of favorites." ::wink::  I will miss the daily routine of taking dad for a paper and coffee - both things readily provided here - but it's his routine in OR to go to Freddies for coffee and a paper every morning. 

When we got home Dad took a nap. 

I got busy in the garden - I need to spend quite a bit more time out there. I picked a whole bush of kale...we've been eating lots of kale...12 plants may have been too much to plant. I'm not sure how to preserve it - so we keep eating it. Kale in the salad, kale in the stir fry, kale skillets for breakfast, kale/quinoa salad......"Kale in the morning. Kale in the noontime...and blimey if it doesn't look like kale in the evening." 

I took an armload of kale inside and then gave the roots and main stem to the chickens. I hung it on the fence and enjoyed watching them get it down...and strip it. 

I pulled enough chickweed to find the remaining bean plants....poor things were overrun. I pulled other chickweed....and found more cucumbers.

I visited Michael in the garage. He worked late into the night on the drawers, and was at it again this morning. Note Krista in the background....they have gone to meet Cy at the rental to attach the "runners" and paint them.

I left them working and went inside to figure out how to make Kosher pickles....this was my first water bathing experience...and I overfilled the pot of boiling water....had a big flood when I lowered the jars....and I need a second big pot....but I got er done.  I did a jar of beets as I need to figure out what to do with the beets in the garden next. They are not quite as wild as the kale and radishes, but nearly as bad and ready for me to deal with them.

 I also sauteed the celery and put it in the freezer for soups and stir fries this winter. Stacia was amazing and made veggie pot pie for dinner. I used the air fryer to prepare a big zucchini. I didn't get a crisp result  - but it was good; all but Alex had seconds.

Krista and Michael are gone - but the burn ban has been lifted and we've not had one campfire or s'mores this summer. Alex got the fire going.

Bachan started something. Benny came beside me while I roasted a marshmallow...the smoke was ferocious and so I said, "Cover your eyes, Benny," and covered his eyes with my hand.  When he and Arielle went to roast....yep....he covered his eyes.....years from now when he is asked WHY he covers his eyes when making s'mores this post will explain it for him. LOL 

Nadia called or Dad called Nadia....in any event they talked beside the fire. 

Road Runner is our smallest hen of the new ones. Well the lame hen is smaller....but anyway...she is thin enough to fly out of the chicken yard - and she does often.  Tonight she perched on the door of the big girls' coop. She flew into their yard. They weren't too fazed. Alex got her into the other side before they attacked her.

Stacia tells me it's time to replenish the s'more kit. I have found sugar free chocolate.....but I don't believe they make sugar free marshmallows...I'll have to settle for melty chocolate on a graham cracker. LOL 

Enjoying Summer - One S'more at a Time
Taken at 10 p.m. 

It hit me today we have about a month left of our visit with Dad. We have  enjoyed having him here. He is the only grandparent our kids have left. We are treasuring time to sit over a cup of coffee, or visit in the back yard....and trying not to get overly sad as we think of him going back to Oregon. It is enough that we've had these months with him.  We have eight of our nine children within driving distance (and we CAN drive to Juneau if need be)....I choose not to be anything but grateful about our location.   It's been a very good day.

Silly Me....

I thought the hooks on the house were for flowers! ::snort:: 

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.