Noses to the Grindstone

Shew! It's a lot of work to leave town. 😅

Dad's first paper was delivered - right to the top of our driveway.  It was a luxury not to have to drive to town for a paper.  I had thought about doing this when we returned from Oregon...but Dad signed up a couple of days ago.  I'm learning to make a mean cup of Folgers so I guess he's content to get the paper here now. Some days I even skip putting the dried chaga mushrooms in his coffee. LOL

Michael and Dad took all the garbage and recycling to their appropriate centers.

I wrestled with paperwork and curriculum orders...and had an honest to goodness conversation where I insisted AK is ALASKA and NOT Arkansas.

"Are you sure? It seems Arkansas would have picked AK."

"Arkansas was a state way before Alaska, maam. I'm sure if they wanted to be AK they would be.  AK is Alaska. Please ship my things to Alaska."

Honest to God! I'm not sure she EVER totally believed me. ::snort::

Alex and Stacia had Japanese lessons.

Michael and Alex then took the shelves out of our utility trailer and are working to clean it up for our upcoming trip.

Stacia and I made a trip to the garden for a few veggies for lunch and dinner. This photo doesn't show how large the broccoli is. Stacia is in heaven....Cauliflower and Broccoli are her favorites.  I picked our first yellow squash and a zucchini for lunch - the "right" size. LOL  I was checking to see how the carrots are doing - yep - they'll be fine to stay in the ground until we return....but they are respectable this year. There are new tiny broccoli shoots starting so we should have more when we return....

Look! Our first VINE RIPENED tomato...there are many of them. I may see if I have enough to try some salsa tomorrow. We leave Saturday a.m. 

We cut the cabbage patch WAY back. I'm not sure if any more will grow...but I know last year it regrew several times when the moose repeatedly ate the center.....I gave the chickens 3 small, sluggy heads....once we got all the leaves trimmed, and any buggy leaves removed...this is what we had. 

Which I turned into this - yes, canned coleslaw. I read all the reviews for this recipe from TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE...same recipe...and decided to try it. 

I haven't sampled any yet - but it was great before it was canned. I have hope. Everyone SAID it was crispy when they opened their jars....you can eat it as is, drain and add mayo/sugar....or use it in egg rolls...I got 18 pints from 5 heads of cabbage. Not bad.

I noted my green cabbage had slugs and my red did not. Is that normal?????

Krista came home in the midst of the  canning craze. She and Nolan cleared her things out of the RV so we can pack it tomorrow.

She made Carne Asada for dinner. What a treat. We paired it with rice, tortillas, lettuce/kale, cucumbers, tomatoes from the garden, canned chili beans I'd made, a bit of the pre-canned coleslaw, and  steamed cauliflower and broccoli.

Krista and Stacia left to drive to Anchorage. They are taking a family friend who has been visiting BreZaak back to the airport.

Nolan and Alex left to buy "soap."

Michael, Dad and I played two rounds of Farkle (AKA "the game").

Nolan and Alex called from Dairy Queen to say Nolan's car wouldn't start. 😅😂😁 I guess they sell soap at DQ these days.

Michael went to help get the car started.

Dad went to bed.

The guys just got home. I'm about to go take care of the evening animal chores... I'm hoping the girls are home shortly. Krista works tomorrow.

The mornings are chilly. The evenings are brisk. Leaves are turning colors and falling.  Would it be "wrong" to say it's fall - even though it's only August?

And...will I be able to find pumpkin spice English Muffins outside? As in outside of Alaska? I could bring them back and make a mint. LOL

9:08 p.m. and the girls are home. They made good time.

Working Hard - Really; We Are.

We have had several VERY windy days around here.....So windy we didn't get outside to work in the garden.  We spent time on Monday weeding and harvesting. Goodness - things went CRAZY with a bit of rain and no one tending to the growth. I aim for small ones (front center) but these WERE a bit smaller than that small, front and center one,  a few days ago. WhUT?

Stacia and I  turned the above zucchinis into 22 quarts of shredded and 8 quarts of chunked pieces in the freezer. I may have to plug in the other small freezer. Moose or no moose. ::snort::

I want to be sure to get all the produce that will go bad the 2 weeks we are traveling out of the garden.  Here are the cucumbers I picked.

Stacia and I worked to fill both canners...and made 14 more quarts of kosher dill pickles. 

I bought pickle crisp for this batch - hope it works

The house smelled so strongly of pickles that I could feel it in my chest. LOL 

Such a pretty sight

It took quite a bit of hunting but I eventually found the window which had blown out of the left side of the greenhouse..... We're going to have to figure out how to get it back in. The mornings and evenings are getting colder....

Alex spent much of the day helping Michael. They have a long list of RV things they need to get done before our trip. Benny and Dad helped me weed and pick things....and then I looked up to find all three of them like this....Those characters! Planking at it's best.

My dad, my son and my grandson - Blessed

 I have worked HARD to grow corn. It is expensive up here. Last year the corn began to tassel and then we got frost. This year we planted earlier with black plastic - only 11 came up. I started 150 plants inside and transplanted them...still well within the 60 days needed for maturity. The corn actually looked better than any others I've seen around town...as far as height....and lots of tassels, and cobs forming....and then the wind! I have no idea what to do about it now. I probably should pull it all - but it won't hurt to let it stay until we return. Maybe we'll get an ear or two. It makes me sad.

Most of it was quite a bit taller than me....and now it's all flat. 

In cheerier news we had a productive planning meeting last night with our women's ministry team. I'm excited to see where God takes us this year.

Dinner tonight was salmon we caught, a salad with lettuce, kale, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower from the garden, pasta, and a cucumber/tomato salad picked 10 minutes before dinner....we aren't sustainable, but we're certainly eating more variety of organic veggies than we have for years. I think we can be legit baby homesteaders after this year. LOL

It's about to kill me to leave again at this time of year. This is CRUNCH time for projects before the winter sets in for the long haul.  We are going to miss the state fair again too.....ugh. BUT we need to make the trip...and it is best to make it before we are into the fall swing of school and church community. On the other hand, it will be nice to get away from the smoke!

Look at this face....but GRANDMA - WHY do I have to pick up? 

Yeah - Papa is WAY more fun! 

Photo via Krista 

We'll end this quick catch up on that happy note. 

Sunday Fun

Church this morning.

Lunch with BreZaak, Donna, Krista and us. Unfortunately, I never remember to take photos.

We came home and Stacia made a couple of pot pies while Krista and I made cookies. No, we weren't peckish. Alex and Michael (more driving practice) drove to the next town to deliver a meal to a sweet friend's family who had surgery on Friday.

I set out munchies and we played "the game" - Farkle.  THIS is one of many reasons I'm excited about our multi-generational nest! I never had the opportunity to know any of my great-grandparents.  It's been a rich season having our kids, our grandkids, and dad living under our roof.  We had heard of such families - dear friends have multi-generational homes, Michael was raised in one, as was Cory - but we didn't see it with the military lifestyle.

 Dad invited Benny to roll for him.

Benny has a unique roll  - his whole body gets into the action. 

Earlier in the day I happened on GG reading his paper - check out all the dinosaurs with him....on the arms of the chair, his knee, his shoe....::snort:: 

CoRielle will be moving to their new home within a month or two....but the chance for Benny, Bella, Gideon, and Annnie to get to know their GG is priceless! What a blessing. I know without a doubt, he is blessed by their presence as well.

We consider ourselves lucky to have Dad moving into our home. We are thrilled we are "retired" and have the ability to stay in one place and have Dad join us. It's such a great time for our kids to deepen a relationship with dad as well.

Through the past few challenging years - when deeply desired dreams were denied - we continued to believe there was a reason. We would eventually see why we weren't allowed to be missionaries in Japan.  I am not sure this is "all," but this is one very special reason we can find joy in being denied our dream - we've been given another we'd not even considered wishing for.  God is always good. 

Alaska Zoo Trip

Our church planned a trip to the zoo today....then there was talk of un-planning it as everyone was busy. Stacia and I talked with Arielle and decided to go early in the morning anyway. This would work better with Benny's nap and my driving time. I tend to get tired in the afternoon and want to nap. ::snort::  It was 50% off day at the zoo - a deal too good to pass by.

In the end BreZaak and Donna met up with Pastor and family at the zoo at the planned time. We crossed paths and got to share hugs on the run.

Harper, Sydney and Bella - photo via Lindsey 

The GPS took us to the BACK of the zoo - but after we figured that out - we were fine. It turns out zoo memberships were also 50% off. If we go one time we will have paid our price for the membership - so yes, we are now members of the Alaska Zoo.

Benny had no clue what he was about to see. Here he is at the first exhibit - the Polar Bear.

Fun Times

 Another Girls Day plus 1. 

Arielle, Stacia, Benny and Me

 So much to see...

Benny got real excited about the antlers! "Cor, My daddy," he squealed. 

We haven't been to this zoo in 15 years and they have gotten many new animals. While we still had quite a few animals we could see in our yard (Moose, lynx, owl, porcupine) there were many we do NOT see in our yard...polar bears, brown bears, camels and tigers come to mind. LOL 

Beautiful tigers

Seeing how big the claws on the brown bear are gave us a bit of a start. 

Napping happened on the way home. 

You can't make a person nap...but I'm firm believer of putting one's feet up, grabbing a book, and resting mid-afternoon, for children and adults. I did just that when we got home.

I heard squealing and Krista told me Benny was under the deck spraying up and people who came outside. I got wet to grab this photo. 😀

Michael and Alex did some driving instruction....and cut down another spruce tree.

Stacia has a Birthday

It is nearly impossible to believe our baby - OUR BABY - is FOURTEEN and entering HIGH SCHOOL. 😏 We have four short years of homeschooling left. We have NEVER started school before her birthday - it just seems it should be a holiday. 

Stacia asked for Yakisoba for dinner. This is a favorite of hers - not so much with the men-folk.  I stopped at the commissary and picked up ingredients we can't find locally. We were able to use carrots, cauliflower and broccoli from the garden.  It looked yummy.....but um...when Krista doesn't add Sriracha sauce one KNOWS it's spicy! 

We gave it a valiant effort. We tried all the "cut the heat" tricks any of us had heard...we drank milk, plugged our noses and at pickles with it. I finally mixed mine with mashed potatoes and that tamed the heat a bit. Our lips burned. Krista said it was just a step below ghost peppers.  I served it on paper plates. I am NOT making this up. When we moved the plates it had taken the varnish off the table.

I have promised to make it again - and to be SURE to cut the heat! LOL

Josiah and Jamin came over after dinner. Bre, Donna and the kids came over. The S's came upstairs for dessert and cards.

Auntie and Sweet Bella

Cory has two short weeks left until he is FINISHED with his college degree! We're proud of all the hard work he's put in to make this happen. It would have been easy to  be derailed with the move, Benny joining their family,  and his full-time job. He often has to stay downstairs and "focus" - but he joined us for Stacia's birthday and it made just that much more special of an event. Benny was impressed Daddy can make noise with his noise maker. Benny can't. 

Unfortunately, the cake photos were blurry. Michael made a yummy Mint Moose Track ice cream cake....and then we moved the fun outside. Adults played disc golf  or visited, while the kids enjoyed the play structure.

Oops - Gideon is tough

Note I have added a bit of a padding at the bottom of the kami-kazi slide. 

It remains a blast to give Stacia gifts.  Alex got her more pieces for looms. 

 CoRielle and Nolan get her a DVD which should be here soon....and we've been warned we'll have to expect a Descendants marathon.

Krista gave her a DQ card and Gpa gave her a bit of spending money.

She had requested an adult Bible. Specifically, she asked for one with adult language rather than a 3rd grade reading ability. (Did I mention we are shocked she's going into HIGH SCHOOL? She's our baby.) Um - that would be New American (high school level). She was happy with her engraved name on the front. 

It was a fun day of reflection and celebration for the blessing Stacia is to our family.

Berry Picking with the Girls

We've been wanting to go blueberry picking. I had scheduled an event for the women's ministry at church - but it was the week school began and many of our ladies were  back at work. It didn't happen. TODAY is Stacia's birthday. Krista had to work and Bre had other plans; but  Arielle, Stacia and I decided to make this happen. Stacia wanted to do it for her birthday - a free gift we could give her - time.  It was "Girl's Day plus 1."

Stacia and I were sure to grab the bear spray. Unfortunately, neither of us realized we couldn't wear the can without a belt.😜 It may have been a bit more effective if we'd worn belts. We tried to post the name of the trail and where we were for safety reasons - but it didn't post until we were out of the mountains. ::snort::

Arielle brought Cory's gun. She wasn't 100% sure how to wear it - but we were happy to have a back up if the spray didn't work and back up was needed. Yes, she knows how to shoot. 

We GREATLY over-estimated how many berries we would get! ::snort:: We got about a quart all together.  Once we figured out the bushes on the ground were berry bushes - we set to work.

Benny did not understand why we'd put "boo barrys" in the container rather than eating them. LOL 

"The hills are alive...with the sound of...music." 

It was a beautiful day to be out in nature. It was quiet and we had to remind ourselves to make noise....When we worked up the rise to the point where we no longer had a sweeping view of the mountain - we left. It was eerie not to be able to scan far for bears. 

Iconic Alaskan Photos....Benny on her back and a gun on her front.

This was our maiden voyage with Benny's new car seat. Arielle had assured us it would make it easy to take Benny on adventures in my van. It did. 

We couldn't help noticing that the Fireweed is blooming out. 

When we were done picking we set out to find a fun place to eat our lunch. We usually stop at Gold Mint Trailhead and it's nice....but we drove on to Government Peak Trailhead this time. I think I liked it even better. It was a very easy walk down to the water.

14 years old today! 

We ate, visited, threw rocks, and played pooh sticks. 

Before any of us were quite ready - it was time to head back to town. We had birthday prep to finish. It was a great day. I think we need to have more outings like this.

A Well-Lived Summer Day

Summer evenings* are made for campfires. We set around the fire until after midnight with sweet friends last night. Tonight - it's a family circle around the fire. Cory is just 2 weeks away from finishing his degree and is pushing to finish, Dad decided he wanted to turn in early tonight (he was out until 8:45 p.m. last night).  We LOVED nightly campfires when we lived full-time in our RV. This is a habit we have worked to carry over into our stationary lifestyle. It is FINE if everyone simply reads at the campfire...some nights we talk, or read a chapter of Patrick McManus....tonight we relaxed.

Michael, Stacia, Nolan, Krista, Alex

We don't have s'mores EVERY night, but I have converted a tool box to a "s'more kit" and it IS always ready to go. 😉

Of course, relaxing around the fire is much more satisfying if one has been productive during the day.

I mailed off packages....and had a 2 hour ILP (Individual Learning Plan) meeting with our contact teacher at IDEA,  the charter school where our children are registered.  She loved the kids' plans....she knows our family and we truly like each other. She is a Pastor's wife and I keep thinking it would be fun to visit their church - but I haven't found a week where I want to miss our church. ::snort::  She said there will be no problem waiving the extra credits Stacia is taking as she knows we will do what we say we will do, and  she has seen how we are working to keep Stacia engaged and challenged. She had suggestions for Alex which I think will prove to be beneficial as we steer him towards his future. Specifically, she helped me create a much stronger "Career Prep" credit for him than the Sonlight texts I had....we'll incorporate local and state resources. She also explained  he qualifies for the Alaska Performance Scholarship and can use the money  for Voc Tech classes. As we talked, I realized Ales hasn't taken Ramsey's Foundation of Personal Finances - a requirement to graduate from our home school.  I mentioned we'd be working on that on the side and she suggested we incorporate it with the Sonlight Economics course to make it a full credit course.

And then....we simply talked. We shared about her recent visit home and my summer....and what it is like to be a woman in your 50's with parents aging and grandblessings thrilling....and to do it all from, and in, Alaska.

I stopped at Lowes for marking paint, peat moss and lime. Gardening and timber felling.... LOL I made a final stop before coming home for Dad's paper.

The front of our place is wonderfully private in the spring/summer/fall. It's very public in the winter when the cottonwood and birch trees lose their leaves.  It's a forest - and we're always working to keep the cottonwood from taking over.....

Michael and Alex went into this mess and cleared out Cottonwood. They left a a one deep stand between our home and the clearing. 

So handy to have these two in our midst

They planted four evergreens. It's a start. We'll leave the cottonwood as these grow...and then remove some of the Cottonwood to gain a bit more yard once the new ones provide privacy.  Once again, thinking in terms of years from now is an oddity for us - and we're enjoying it. We have the time to change this. 

Dad likes to come out and do what he can - always providing encouragement, and a few jokes, along the way. 

Michael, Dad and Alex 

THIS is the squash which grew from our secondary compost pile. This gives me great hope for my lasagna beds....it's taken over the area to the north of the garden which I hadn't weeded or planted. 

We aren't sure what it is. Arielle and I have talked about it and we both had spaghetti and butternut squash seeds we threw in the compost....maybe it will be one of those? Regardless, we have a lot of blossoms on it.... What do you think?

This tells me our compost is not heating up enough to really "compost" and that it IS providing enough nutrients to grow things...more than our soil. LOL  I have not been able to use the compost we started last year....we aren't adding to it any longer and I hope to be able to use it next year. I think it will just take longer for it to "cook" due to the cold winters.

I'm doing my best to awaken a love of growing things in the next generation. 

Bachan - look! 

 We have cauliflower! 

We have both red and green cabbage. It's amazing how much better it looks without moose eating the center out of them. LOL 

The bed is terribly over-crowded. I pulled off the lower leaves and put another green layer on the lasagna bed. I don't have any more "frames" for a bed...and the guys are busy with trees, so won't be making more beds. I think I'll stake out a few more beds so I can utilize our grass clippings, barnyard litter, and fall leaves. 

This is kale AFTER I've harvested 7 quarts. I think I'm going to harvest it all before we leave for OR and freeze it. I suspect more will grow while we are gone and we'll have plenty fresh when we return. 

We are getting lots of broccoli. 

We had another night of yummy veggies from the garden...zucchini, kale, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots....garnished with fresh basil....

Um....I tried to show him the goals for disc golf...but he thinks the goal is to throw the disc through the trees. Come to think of it, he has observed such playing. LOL 

My heart! Benny's new pose when he knows I'm going to take a photo. 

Playing with Mom is always more fun than playing with anyone else! 

It was a fun day.....and while I don't want to concede fall's arrival - I am looking forward to many fall evenings around the campfire. LOL


*Summer Evenings - it's getting dusky at 9 p.m. now, and it doesn't get light until 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. We have a few leaves on the ground, and the trees are starting to turn golden....fall is certainly on it's way...but for now, my calendar still says this is summer!