Productive Saturday

This was a very productive Saturday in the kitchen. I THOUGHT I had finished with all of last year's salmon and FOUND MORE....I have decided not to process any tomorrow....and hit it again next week. Izaak is to blame for the craziness in the kitchen today. Stay with me.....

I woke up with great energy. I found all the salmon tails in the freezer and pulled them out to make jerky. If I use other pieces I have to pull the pin bones...and I don't know how. It looks tedious. I watched Cory do it for a few minutes. 😏

I also pulled what I guessed would make one canner load of salmon. It did.

I filleted my finger. It hurts. Since I was bleeding, I checked my fasting blood sugar. 110. Not great but better than it could have been.😉 I learned there are special gloves I can use in the future to keep from slicing my fingers or filleting my palm. I got all the skin off a LOT of salmon. I set the salmon, which was to become jerky, in a marinade. I combined both the recipes from  yesterday and I think we're all happy. 😜 I cut the other salmon into chunks and covered it. It needed to thaw before I canned it.

Dad and I headed to Fred Myers. There doesn't appear to be a paper on Saturday, at least it isn't delivered to the Valley....we ran into Dakota and Izaak as we went in. Izaak told me pork roasts are on sale and he was going to can some. Hmmm....that reminded me the chicken is on sale (buy one get one free) and I have been waiting for a sale to replenish our canned meat.  I stocked up.  I also picked up 25# of blueberries. See....Izaak brought this on me. ::wink:: ::snort:: ::gasp:: It certainly had nothing to do with over-ambitious planning.

Dad and I got drinks and set and enjoyed our coffee and conversation.

When we got home I realized I was going to be canning until 3 a.m.  I've been thinking of buying a second pressure canner and Michael thought this was a good day to just do it. I've not snatched one worth the price being asked on the for sale lists....I have been looking since about January.  Krista and the men childs (Nolan and Alex) volunteered to find a canner.  Of course,this is the EXACT wrong time to buy a pressure canner in Alaska. It's also a hard time to find things like sugar, kosher salt, jars, lids and rings. 😅 They went all over the Matsu Valley. They called stores in the Anchorage Bowl without luck. As they were out, I remembered, BreZaak have a canner. I called and diverted the kids to pick it up. 🐽 They DID manage to track down wide mouth lids, thanks to another searcher of canning supplies. I HAD stocked up...but I've canned over 103 jars of food this week...from 1/2 pints to quarts, but all wide mouthed. Izaak gave me 6 or 7 doz pint jars....shew.

ANYWAY -  by mid afternoon I had jerky going - as well as 2 pressure canners.

Krista sanded the rockers - we'd inadvertently painted what shouldn't have been painted. 

I love the way they turned out. 

Dad picked up one of my current books. SCORE. He read the whole thing...we discussed the method as I worked in the kitchen. I have a new garden bed Alex made. We want to try this method in it....Dad is ready to give it a shot. We'll work on getting it started next week.

I kept working in the kitchen.....the play structure was enjoyed. 

Playing UNDER the trampoline is a favorite. 

Krista came in to make SUGAR FREE drinks....and I went outside to join them. Both canners were up to pressure...what could go wrong? 😜

Slowing down...living wide awake and fully present....in the midst of the chaos. 🐽

KRISTA cooked dinner. Score.  The kids cleaned up. They are all such a blessing. The pressure was up for the last batch of meat.  Dad, Stacia and I ran to return BreZaak's canner (and get hugs from the kids), while Michael and Krista kept an eye on the pressure. LOL 

We got home and played a round of Farkle. Realizing it was 10 p.m. we stopped at one round....Michael won. We thought Dad had it, but Michael zoomed from behind with a big roll and snatched victory from him. 

Jerky making tip of the day....line the bottom rack with a fruit roll up tray or even foil. I didn't put any meat on this tray....but it was worth the loss of space..... It only took one load of jerky to realize I didn't want to clean this mess up every time.....

The bottom was clean and the insert soaks; whereas the base/motor does not. 

Today's results....32 1/2 pints of salmon, 22 pints of chicken, 6 pints of pork, 4 pints of dried beans and 7 bags of salmon jerky! OH - and 12 pounds of blueberries frozen. Getting ready for winter....

I am getting into the rhythm of an Alaskan summer this year. We spend as much time as we can outside....and we are squirreling away the salmon.

It is just after midnight and it's DARK outside. I'm up to see if the predicted Northern Lights materialize. I'm not sure if I should wake people up if they do...tomorrow is church and Michael has to preach....

Salmon Galore

There's a line in the Lord of the Ring series...."Mutton yesterday, mutton today and blimey if it doesn't look like mutton tomorrow." Substitute "salmon" for mutton and that's what it feels like in my kitchen. 😛 I was nervous about what to do with last year's salmon, but friends put my fears to rest. I didn't really have much time in the spring to do this anyway....but today I processed as much as last year's salmon as I could. 

I baked Salmon Bellies. They aren't anyone's favorite at this point.  Brenda reports, Carl simply puts them in with the rest of the salmon when he is canning. I will try that next. 

Michael smoked a smoker full and I canned them. Thirty-two half pints. 

I made two kinds of jerky. I threw some in Teriyaki. I used this recipe as well. I loved the peppery recipe....less sugar and more pepper. I was the lone hold out for something different from Teriyaki. 

Whichever flavor one likes  - this stuff appears to be addicting!

Yes, there was than salmon to the day....Michael and Alex made a Lowe's run and bought some stuff for a family project we're hoping to complete tomorrow. It's a "surprise" for someone; I can't say more. 😏 Dan kept me entertained with stories from the book he is reading (Of Moose and of Men). The girls finished painting. 

Benny Approves

We asked Arielle to let us know when Benny went outside this morning. We wanted to see his reaction when he noticed the play structure that appeared over-night.

Benny came upstairs to wake up Papa; I went outside with the camera and the zoom lens. 😃😉😃 He LOVES to go outside and often uses visiting us as an excuse to get out via the deck. He walked out on to the deck and saw the structure.

"Nice," he said.

Followed by, "wow!"

Just in case there is any doubt about his excitement.  

He tried out the picnic table. I think Gideon will love the climb and Bella will have many happy tea-parties here.  He stayed just a minute - there was much to check out. 

It was right about here when he thrilled Papa and Bachan by stopping, looking at us, and saying, "Thank you."  (That'll preach). 

He's a bit unsure about the height - and that's o.k. 

"Look! The hammock moved!"

The slide is a hit. 

I planned to get a bucket swing.  Arielle says he doesn't like them. I'll see if Bre thinks it would be nice for Gideon, Bella or Annie.  Benny likes to swing on his tummy so this is fine for him. 

                        He's not so sure about sitting on his bum. 

The rock wall is still quite a challenge.

Shew! Auntie Koko shared her protein drink. 

Stacia and Benny

 He is content! 

 I could let you think he's a young praise dancer....up on his tip toes. 

We haven't shown him one can hang upside down from this bar. 

He's a tease....

This was his favorite way to slide today. 

Talking the new things over with Lucille....she's ready to run. 

Ah - a past time they both enjoy. 

New chairs too.

The planned gravel quarry for trucks under the structure will take care of the dusty bum syndrome.

We took a big step towards making the yard a fun place for the grands. Benny approves. I am quite sure Bella, Gideon and Annie will approve as well. We need to get the Frisbee goals put up again for us older folks.  The lynx has put a damper on the fun of hiding a few in the woods. 😜

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.