Another Sequestered Sunday

Sunday morning and the family is sleeping in....so I decided to head out for a short-ish walk.  I walked 3.8 miles. I passed by this special spot. This is the RV park where we stayed when we first moved up here. Mike and I came up in May and found a home. We went back to Oregon and drove up in June with the 3 youngest kids. We landed at this RV park.  BreZaak and CoRielle flew up in July.  Wonderful friends offered trailers for each family to stay in....we had 3 side by side spots in the park while we waited to close on our home in August.

The boys had planned to come out this afternoon. It was a bummer both were exposed to covid and were unwilling to chance bringing anything extra to Grandpa. I understood - but it's been 2 months since we've seen them, and we miss them. 

We watched church. We ordered pick up lunch. Arielle and Benny came over to visit. I went on a walk with Benny, Arielle and Kimber.  Krista and Stacia started with us but they walk/run/walk/run and they were going 5 miles. We went .85 miles.

Walking is hard work 

 Back at home we pulled out Croquet. 

 He doesn't quite have the idea yet....

That rascally ball! 

Krista won the day with this frozen treat. 

In the evening Michael and I went out for a bit of a walk. I didn't count it as we went very slow and really didn't make it very far at all. We ran into the builders of our home. They had been visiting their son and were driving by the house. We talked for well over 30 minutes...they gave us the name of a guy to cut down the giant, dead trees in our front....

This was a day when I was simply filled with gratitude to be in this place, at this time. At the end of the day I realized I had walked quite a few more steps than I had thought....

One Saturday in Spring

All the joys of springtime in Alaska! The days are getting longer and longer....and we can't seem to spend enough time OUTSIDE.  We all love it when Benny, Arielle and Kimber stop by to play....this is the time of year when the woods are fun to explore...before the grass and devil's club have grown tall....

Devil's club....the green shoots are good to eat...but soon all that will be left is spiky stalks and leaves....and they are NASTY.  They get taller than I. We hope to beat them back a bit. They are obviously determined to take over our woods - possibly the entire yard....though the chickweed will battle them for the garden plot. 

G Dog has discovered napping on the trampoline! 

Getting off has been a bit rough. 

Yes, I did go for a morning walk - 5.2 miles.  I walked down to the river, along the river, and back up to the house....a nice, scenic square with some of the best views in the world. 

And, yet, in spite of all the lovely views, THIS caught my eye!  How fun! I picked up another rock...

I thought I would continue my inside workout routine - but I love being outside and  don't like being cooped up with the machines.  I don't even miss the Netflix I usually watch while working out. ::snort::  My goal this week was to walk 20 miles. 

I walked 24.5 miles and decreased my pace by a couple of minutes. 

I think I'll continue the goal of 20 miles this week and see how sustainable this will be as a spring workout routine. 

May Day

Hello, May.  This is a May unlike any other. 

 I am proud of myself. I knew I didn't have time for 5 miles. I was tempted to just wait until Saturday and walk 5 miles, but I put on my shoes and headed out. I got a bit over 3 miles in in the time I had...and am now only .04 of a mile away from the week's goal.

I got home in time to Zoom with a friend....hadn't SEEN her since her wedding....and then ALL THIS. LOL It was fun to connect.

Dad has a plan. It started when he viewed this week's ads. He often pours over the grocery ads and tells me which meat is on sale. I begin to wonder if he needs more hunks of meat than I serve. LOL I do a lot of wraps, enchiladas, soups….but I DO have fish once a week, a roast or chicken legs....anyway....this week New York steaks were on sale - IF you buy them on Friday. He started the day by pointing out that fact.

He told me that some night he wanted to grill dinner. I didn't connect the two comments. Then he asked when Mother's Day was and checked out the calendar and told me when it was. I still didn't connect. He asked how many people would be here if everyone came - would we be under the magic number of 20 for a gathering. Yes, barely.  Then he put it all together. Do you think we can grill and eat out on Mother's Day? I want to buy enough steaks for everyone. WHAT?  He insisted and Michael and all the guys will help him (or so I am guessing). An invite was sent.

TODAY he woke up and reminded me immediately...."It's Friday. You need to go pick up the steaks for me." I did. What a DEAL. I got the last 4 packages. Did you catch that price? Normally $50.86, we paid $18.95. $240 worth of steak for $60-70.  They are tucked safely in the freezer and waiting for May 10th.  Last year we did Mother's Day in August so I guess he felt we needed a bit of prodding in this celebration department. ::snort::


While Michael and I were out getting meat....we ordered pizza - it IS Friday night. We walked around the visitor center while we waited...snatching a bit of time together. We found rocks. I took one and re-hid others.  Left this one....locals - go get it.

Arielle and Benny were enjoying our playground when we got home.  Papa and Benny played a game with balls and trampoline.

  I love the reflection of the mountain in the windows. 

Surrounded by some of my favorite people - and dog. 

G Dog (Dad), Kimber, Me, Benny, Stacia

Benny catches air - Kimber struts her stuff. 

 It's nearly free of the snow...sad, sad greenhouse. 

Much work to do in the garden and most of it is now uncovered....there is just a bit of snow on the north side. 

Papa had WORK to do...and Benny loves to help Papa Work!  Papa lives BIG in Benny's mind. Papa made the bridges and rivers. Papa makes the rain and thunder.

Benny actually did blow the tire up - he has the trigger

 Do you think he remembers last fall's rides or did it simply look like a good idea again this year? 

Such determination on that little face

Man Work 

Baachan is good for talking, bouncing, rolling down hills....Papa Works! 

We continue to research dog breeds. Something this size or bigger so Stacia feels safe when she goes on walks....big enough to have instant respect from children, intelligent, good with children and elderly, hypoallergenic or low shed....what will that breed be? Kimber would be perfect except for the husky shed...hair everywhere.  Kimber does have an odd idiosyncrasy. I think it comes from her being born and trained in the winter. She insists on pooping on SNOW. She saves it to get to our house and poop on one of the few patches of snow we have left. CoRielle have no snow left.  Poor thing is going to be in a world of hurt shortly. 

See? We'll settle for lap dog size. 

We ended the day with Pizza and watching, "The Greatest Show on Earth." Which led to a discussion on P. T. Barnum....can we not let Mom have ONE illusion?

GREAT DAY

Thursday's mean Bible study (and piano lessons, Japanese and  Life Group, if we can ever meet). This week, in our on-going study of communication/words, we dug into the content of our words. We considered when to hold our tongues, lying, speaking truth in love, gossip and our online voices.  We reasoned in my van surrounded by mountains and the river. This is actually a turn-out near town - no time for grand exploring this week. 

Stacia shared a great illustration as we deliberated the topic of lies. Lies are like dog dung in a manicured yard. Think about it - such a great analogy.  Share the similarities you see in the comments. 

I had Stacia home in time for her piano lesson. Alex is finished with Japanese, Stacia has asked to continue her lessons/tutoring through the summer. Today was her first summer lesson with Kim.

I met a friend at a river at 1 p.m. We hadn't seen each other for 6 or 7 weeks. We sat under the bridge and talked, it's always fun to catch up.

On the drive home, I received a text from Arielle. "I'm gonna find a sidewalk spot for Benny to ride his bike if anyone wants to join...." The boys were at work. Michael was out and about. Krista and Stacia were hiking the Butte with Krista's co-workers.  I am making an effort to get Grandpa outside each day....a drive, the yard...somewhere OUT but not exposed to crowds. This fit the bill. I asked if he was up for a trip to town to play with Benny. Sure thing.

We found rocks....

We had fun re-hiding them...I did bring a couple home. Grandpa hid this one - I thought it was a great spot.

Great rock I wanted to keep - but resisted

Benny appreciated this find. 

Grandpa and Arielle talked. I chased around with Benny. I taught him how to roll down a hill....we did it 3x, resulting in nausea for me the rest of the night. Benny was unscathed.

We arrived home and I was chilled and nauseated. I couldn't face  raw salmon. Michael suggested YOYO (Your On Your Own) or Encore Presentation - LEFTOVERS y'all.  That's what they did. I plopped myself under several layers of quilts and contemplated the wisdom of rolling down hills at this stage in life. 😜 I'll do it all again if given the chance.

I find it hard to accept this is the last day of APRIL. March and April are certainly not what I expected them to be - but are completely what a loving God allowed into our lives for this season.  Earlier this year I felt the word "Pause/Anticipate" for 2020. I couldn't fully figure out what either what have to do with 2020 - I sure understand NOW. LOL

LOVING OUTSIDE

 I was out walking and a funny thing happened - I just wanted a new route...so I turned right...I hadn't decided if I would simply walk until I had gone 2 1/2 miles and turn home...or if I'd try to make the big circle home and hope it would be close to 5 miles. I walked until I hit the river.....

I decided to walk along the river until I got to the road that leads home....and realized how long of a climb was in front of me...It was either forge ahead or turn around and go 3 1/2 miles back....7 miles was more than I wanted to walk.

THIS is the moment I wanted to simply sit down and stop. I had climbed up an incline and down to the valley and ahead was nothing but 3/4 a mile of steady incline...

I decided I needed to just keep moving my legs...nothing fancy...just keep moving the legs...and then TWO MOOSE JUMPED DIRECTLY IN THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME.  I paused and contemplated my options. I could walk ahead and hope to pass them without trouble...I was 3/4 of a mile from home...I could turn down a little road and go about 3 miles and come at home from the other direction. A family in a truck stopped to ask if I needed help getting past them. For some odd reason I told them I was FINE and sounded oh so confident. With nothing left to do, I kept moving my legs and the moose decided I wasn't worth their attention.

I enlisted Stacia and Dad to help replant a couple of blueberry plants and to start more seedlings.  Michael put the finishing touches on a bookshelf he has been building for Jamin - or I think it's the finishing touches.

Dad is happy for the season change

We were just finishing up when two carloads of fun pulled into the driveway.  CoRielle surprised us.

Benny and Yay ya (Stacia)

Benny & Cory 

What a treasure it is for these kids to get to know their great grandpa. 

Cory brought over some great kindling for our campfires. ::wink::

Michael and Cory 

GG and Cory 

 Tis the season...we've decided we DO have a long fall up here....it's just divided by summer. ::snort::  The weather is crisp and cool...and we're already sunburned after the long, dark winter. Sixteen hours of sun is to be celebrated and we spend as much time as possible outside. I was told we are gaining 6 minutes of sun a day.

Anyway - it's spring...even if it feels like fall - and it's asparagus season!

As well as mosquito season - time to get the magnet working for us. 

*Note - if I'm going to keep taking selfies while walking I may want to do something about the bed hair and put on some make up. LOL