Taking Dad to Reflection Lake

Reflection Lake is one of my happy places. We discovered this jewel shortly after moving to the Valley. It's serene, beautiful, and has a nice walking path that wanders around the lake for a mile. It has some ups and downs and I knew it would be challenging for Dad. I've wanted to share this spot with him since he moved, but he's not been interested before. We always knew he wouldn't be able to walk around it. Ironically, now that he WILL use a walker, it may be possible. 

Yes, I DID buy this hat on a cruise. Don't judge. 

I told Dad earlier in the week my goal was for him to get strong enough I could take him to the lake and he could walk around it with me.  He thought that was "ok."  Today, the girls were done with all of school except for cardio. I suggested a walk around the lake. I would park as close as possible. I was sure Dad could walk out to the lake and we could simply enjoy the lake and visit while they did the loop if he didn't want to walk any further. 

It was .1 from our car to this table.  Our first day out last week Dad had walked .18 of a mile. We visited. The girls showed up about 15 minutes later.  I suggested they do a second mile. I then suggested Dad and I walk "just a bit" up the boardwalk, which wasn't muddy or slushy. I assured Dad we would sit whenever he needed too and we'd come back if he was tired.  He was interested. This walker with the seat is a God-send. Thank you again, Lynette. 

It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining brightly. There weren't many people and the ones we met were friendly and happy. 

One lady passed us and came back and asked if she could take a picture for us. I'm glad she did.  It's a day to remember. I finally got Dad to the lake. 

By the time we got back to the van, Dad had walked .41 of a mile, we had enjoyed an outing and he'll sleep well tonight. Alas, there are no pictures of the girls or Millie as they were zipping off down the trail before I whipped out my phone. LOL 

The First Fire of the Season

 We worked hard today and then tonight we relaxed together (minus Alex) around the fire ring! The first fire of the season... Whilst living in the RV we came to LOVE family nights around the fire. We determined to keep the habit when we moved into a home. There is something magical about gathering and remembering...The fire we sat around when we met Cory for the first time,  the fire in the OR campground where we laughed long and hard with Mom and Lorri, the fire in CA where friends drove up to see us and showed us how to make "pies" in the fire.... It is good for us to gather and remember and make new memories. We've laughed and cried around this fire ring. We've introduced new grandbabies to the magic and counseled young couples around this fire ring...

Nolan, Stacia, Allie, Millie, Grandpa, Michael 

and though we've had ice cream on Sunday AND Monday...the first fire of the season calls for S'mores and Patrick McManus...so we had both. 

My "nearly sugar free" s'more. I'd love a sugar free marshmallow

 As Michael read, "A Fine and Pleasant Misery" and about a dog named Strange, I let my mind wander. 

The temps were in the mid-50's, the sun shining bright, grass starting to show through the slush,  only one mosquito* out...yes, I'm content.  This season, when we expected to be entering "empty nesting" doesn't look anything like we expected...The house is as full as our hearts.  We're learning to dig deep for energy and to depend on each other (all members) to "make it all work."  I'm leaning into grace in new ways. Grace and perseverance - themes for this season. 

Tonight, we sat around the fire and enjoyed each other's presence....and it was sweet....in many ways. ::wink:: BTW, if  YOU know what to sub for marshmallows I really DO want a truly sugar free option. Today had been so busy I didn't eat anything but an apple until dinner - which was a salad and chicken breast I'd meant to have at lunch....and so I had plenty of calories left for my 203 calorie nearly sugar free s'more. 

The very first roasted marshmallow of 2021

....and then many marshmallows were roasted....

Stacia's so very patient....

Check out Allie's "blanket" - gift from Stacia

Ewww...there is one in EVERY crowd....flaming marshmallows

I could really covet that fuzzy blanket thing

It's only fair I show Nolan with tonight's most perfect roasted mallow....since his last one resembled a lump of coal. 

The moment I try to pass my s'more off as Nolan's because Michael grabbed the camera. 

The winter is over. The ice and snow are breaking up. We are truly blessed to live where we can enjoy s'mores for so many months of the year....and it turned out good that we can't go to church functions until Friday. LOL 

If you're local, we'd love to host you around the fire ring sometime before the snow flies again. If you're interested, let's set a date.  If you're NOT LOCAL - the door is always open, we'd love to host you. We do have an RV, a full hook up for your RV and a fire ring near the garden.  Whether you live in Alaska, or outside, can visit or can't...enjoy your summer...one s'more at a time. 

My s'more kit...it's great! An assortment of candies, crackers,
marshmallows and hand wipes. LOL 

*The mosquito magnet will start up tomorrow....there's a clear patch of grass and we saw one tonight. We will get ahead of them this year. 

Summarizing Week of April 11th

This week began a bit "odd." Michael and I usually take 2 - 3 hours and go out alone, while Arielle and the boys hang out with Grandpa. Michael was in Eagle River taking care of Josiah and so I almost cancelled Arielle. In the end, I decided I could hang out in parking lots for a few hours.  I ran a couple of errands, then picked up Alex and brought him home from work. I spent the last hour of my time visiting with Arielle and the boys. 

Danny is now 5 months old. He really does think we should pay more attention to him. 

In baby news JoJo is also 5 months old...and looks at his new trick. He rolls.  He is also 5 months old!

The school year is nearing it's "end" and I have told the girls I need all their PE hours in and logged so I can turn in our work early. I am hoping for the first week of May but will settle for the 2nd week. 

I discovered this week, I can take Stacia to work at noon and then just SIT until 1 while I wait for Alex. I have been filling the time with errands, which I do need to do at least once a week....but I have gotten some reading, thinking, catching up on polos - just sitting and waiting. I know just where the best places are to park for the most refreshing views.  If my feet would heal, I would use that time to walk. 

This week we tried something new. Our driveway is still a mess, but most of the ice is gone. The temps have climbed. Dad used the outside walker to go down the ramp and up the block a ways. 

This first day he made it about halfway up the front of our property. He walked .18 of a mile and his pace was 78 minute mile. 

Michael is spending his quarantine time in our room (I am not in there), in the garage and outside working on projects. This day he was trying to break up the ice jam so things will flow down the hill as they melt. Break up is here....

The chickens love being outside more.  THIS is the egg we hatched last year. Sometime in the last month he fought and killed Phoenix. I'm not sure what I think of him. He's much bigger than any of our other roosters. We think he's a mix between our buff orpington and Phoenix. 

I am LOVING a bit of sun. I BADLY want to get back to walking 5 -7 miles a day outside. My feet aren't allowing that....and even if they would...the dynamic of needing someone to sit with dad so I can walk is just not happening every day. I would go early, but I can never tell when Dad is going to wake up. I try to get his breakfast and then go, but that doesn't work well either....at this point I'm settling for the elliptical which doesn't hurt my feet, short walk with Dad, and still trying to figure out HOW I can get out to walking more. I miss it. I need it. 

Our second walk this week Dad walked .25 mile....at a pace of 117 mile.  He cracked me up. He said, "De'Etta if you walk with me it may help you get fit." Um....I told him I WAS doing 5 - 7 miles a day in the time we are taking......anyway....I'm not going to get back into shape this way...but we ARE enjoying the sun and DAD is improving. My goal is for him to be able to walk around lakes and boardwalks by the end of the summer. 

 How long HAVE I been walking? 

I didn't make him walk Saturday as he was complaining his legs hurt from the past two days. The girls got a bit sun crazy me thinks. They ran OUT into the snow...barefoot. Millie thought it was a great game. This was their, "Thank God the school week is over!," celebration. 

The chickens are happy to be outside again. They really have NOT laid the eggs that our Norpros did. We get 2 eggs one day and 6 eggs the next day. We were getting 1 - 2 dozen a DAY with the other gals. We may try to add some of them to the mix this year. They were the aggressive ones before...but they would be the babies this time. I'd like to get some blues and Easter Eggers too....but we have a problem with the chickens. The rooster terrifies me....

Check out the three moose which greeted us early Friday a.m. 

Michael's Excitement

What can this mean? Well...someone is eating meals alone. 

Our eldest son caught Covid. His brother moved out to avoid catching covid. He seemed to have a light case, until it was no longer a light case. He was in such a condition it really wasn't safe for him to be alone. Someone needed to be with him if it became necessary to take him in.  While we UNDERSTAND there are no guarantees, our health care professionals feel pretty confident we still have immunity from our personal run with Covid.  We decided Michael would go to Eagle River and stay with Josiah.  I would remain un-exposed so that I could take care of Grandpa with little risk to him. We knew this meant he would need to quarantine when he came back home, and he and I would stay separate for the 10 days. Again, the common thought is the family is not at risk, but since 80 yo grandpa lives with us, we all agreed to quarantine Michael. He has at no point been in the same room or closer than 10 feet from Grandpa. He eats meals, showers, etc separate from the family.  His quarantine began on the last day he was with Josiah - April 13th. 

Thus, the RV has become Covid island. Michael has spent his time this week working in the garage, taking care of spring jobs outside, resting....and has no symptoms at all of Covid (writing this on the 19th). 

We notified 3 employers in the valley. All said that WE have not had primary exposure and that they were fine with the kids working. Doctors offices do not care if we come in - as none of US have been exposed to anyone who is positive....and though we have been exposed to Michael WHO HASN'T TESTED POSITIVE  - we haven't been closer than 6 feet at any time since he came home. 

Out of an abundance of caution, and not wishing to infect anyone at risk, the decision was made we would all quarantine from church activities....and all of a sudden we have lots of margin in our schedule. 

Ah, the new tricks we've learned.

 

Alaskan Spring Update

 It's the time of the year when everyone begins to share photos of their grass, budding trees, tulips and daffodils.  Spring was formerly my favorite time of year. The jury is still out, but I am leaning towards summer or fall being my favorite time of year in Alaska....spring...hope of a summer while winter lingers on and on. 

I can tell it's spring in Alaska because some days get up into the 30's and it is comfortable to go for outside walks again. 

This walked started out well. A few skirmishes where dogs seemed to be hyper aware of checking us out, but always stopped at the end of their driveways - no tie downs, no fence. We rounded a corner 1 1/2 miles from home and out of nowhere a snarling, snapping chocolate lab was on us. He was mad. All the hair on his back was raised. We were in the middle of the road. He lunged at us. Kids were running at us screaming at "Jake."  Jake wouldn't back off. We continued to slowly walk. Jake begin to seriously try to bite Millie and us....he was foaming.  Mother came out yelling at Jake and still Jake wouldn't back down. Dad was called. They began kicking Jake and screaming at us to kick Jake. Jake was undeterred. Jake chased us for a block before the kids and Mom formed a line across the road with shovels and kicks between him and us. It was horrible. Millie had only surface damage.  Dad came home and drove out to find us before we reached home. He wanted to know what had happened. We told him we hadn't even known Jake was around until he was in the middle of road, bristling, snapping and foaming. He said Jake had been bitten a month ago "in a very private place"  - which led to him being neutered. Jake is friendly. Jake is not aggressive, Jake IS SAFE - which is why Jake was in an unfenced yard, off leash with no one in arm's reach...um...come on people. We were walking down the middle of the road.  Stacia commented she wanted a dog to protect her from these dogs, not to attract all the hyper dogs in the neighborhood. We won't walk that way again....because I doubt they tie Jake down. He's NEVER done this before.  We will remember our pepper spray and bear spray from here on out.  I just wish dog owners would remember that dogs are animals and we never know completely WHAT they will do...I mean I am sure Jake is usually a well-mannered dog and comes when called. Something made him attack us. A fence or tie-down would help. 

Spring walks...usually a favorite sign of spring.  We don't get the stereotypical spring colors. Ours tend more to white and brown....sand and snow mixed on the sides of the roads.  

HOWEVER - on our warm days we see water running down the road. This is a sign of break up - which is really more of what we have than "spring."  Our vehiciles are also COVERED in mud on the warm days - this is a sign of break up. 

I am noticing grass in town. Up here near the mountains - we still have lots of  snow.  Our first year here I planted seedlings in Feb and they were all worthless by June. Last year I planted in March. I haven't planted any yet....this is what our spring garden looks like. 

The fire ring is still under snow... BUT this is 9:40 p.m. 

9:40 p.m. 

Our sunlight is amazing. We are up to 14 hours and 35 minutes of "sun" a day...longer if you count the twilight hours.  This is a SURE sign spring is coming. This sunrise was around 6:30...its the time of year when the colors from the sunrise peep over the mountains that ring our home. It's pretty. I'll try to catch it...we had these pinky colors in the back, side and front of the house. 

6:40 a.m.

Grandpa is going from waking at 10 or 11 a.m. to waking at 7 - 9 a.m.  As for spring flowers? 

I really TRIED not to put these out this year...but it's APRIL 12th  and we don't even have brown grass. I always smile when I put out the daffodils. They remind me of the Japanese farmer who was our neighbor for 4 years. Each season he'd bring over a GIANT bouquet of daffodils as a thank you for the time the kids pushed his wife's car out of the snow.  I'm glad I put them out - even if they make it look like a little old lady lives here. 

I set tulips in the kitchen. Grandpa was excited and asked if they'd come from the yard. ::snort:: Well - sort of. He couldn't believe they were silk.  I removed them from the snow bank so it felt a bit like picking tulips from the yard.  I plant to plant some bulbs this summer or fall....maybe we'd have tulips by June. 

Millie loves spring. She is horribly matted. We've been trimming her face, trying to comb her, cutting the worst matted bits out. She is going to have to get a short hair cut. We were doing our best to wait for warm weather. I'm not sure what our plan should be for next year. She's going to probably be shaved...so we're trying to wait for weather in the 30's and 40's before doing it.  It will be best for her to be shaved before she begins playing in the woods anyway. 

The sure sign of spring around here is the calendar. It says it's April - so it's spring - an Alaskan spring.  I will not covet your spring flowers and green grass. I love distinct seasons and we get them here. Nowhere we have lived is as beautiful, or wild, as Alaska. We love it. I'm just done with snow this year. 

Thursday when I drove Alex to work at 4:30 a.m. it was -10* outside. Today when I drove Alex to work at 4:30 a.m. it was 37*.  Maybe....just maybe...last week's snow storm and cold snap was the last of it....maybe this week things will melt....fire rings will reappear and in a week or so....GRASS....trees will bud....I probably should plant some seedlings.