Sunday Sweets

I found something sweeter than enjoying a parade with the grands....sitting in church with my grand kids and father there as well. We weren't all on the same pew - Dad wanted to sit behind Michael and I. He said he wanted to make sure we behaved. 😉 That was a blast from the past. 

Today is BreAnne's birthday. She and Izaak brought Bella and Gideon over for us to watch so they could go on a date. They went to lunch and a movie. 

Josiah and Jamin were here when we got home. Arielle and I made Cory's famous Salmon recipe. It's yummy - but something we don't do often as it has brown sugar, butter and mayo in it. 

While we fixed salmon, Bella and Stacia made a yummy peanut butter bar for those who wanted dessert. 

Fun times around the table....

Gideon likes Uncle Jamin's hat  - Photo by Stacia

Jamin, Gideon, Josiah, Michael, Dad, Arielle - Photo by Stacia

When they won't pass the food - a guy does what he needs to do.
Photo by Stacia. 

SWEET.  Photo by Stacia.

 Benny opened the wood stove for the first time and was surprised....

He wasn't happy to have his exploration cut short. 

Play it! 

 The guys settled on a boccie game. Arielle and I tried to keep the kids safe on the trampoline. Stacia is the photographer today -thanks, Sweetie.

Photo by Stacia. 

Photo by Stacia. 

Picking flowers for Auntie yay - A. 

Photo by Stacia. 

Benny was SURE he should be with the guys. 

Bella was impressed with the greenhouse. 

The guys headed back to Eagle River. Cory and Arielle are studying. BreZaak went home. We finished the night with another game of Farkle. G Dog was trash talking - but Alex won both games!

G Dog's 2019 Summer Visit

After the parade, while the guys fished, Stacia, Nolan and I drove into Anchorage to pick up DAD!

Stacia and Dad 

Dad visited last summer for 2 weeks. There is something "right" about having him with us....and two weeks just wasn't long enough. Dad is the only grandparent our children have left and we love any time we can spend with him. He called recently and asked about coming up  this summer. Will (my brother) agreed a summer visit sounded great. The doctors were all on board for 3 months - and here he is!

We ran by Lowes on the way home. Dad experienced culture shock at the prices of hanging baskets. Stacia and I picked out some petunias and baskets to make our own. They won't be nearly as pretty - but the price fits our budget better than $40-50 a basket.

A stop for dinner ended our Anchorage adventures.  

We  wondered how Benny would react to Dad. He did great. He ran upstairs to visit. I told him this was "G G" (Great Grandpa).  He said GG...but within minutes had christened Dad with a Benny name...G Dog. ::snort:: Stacia is yay - a. Michael is Papa. I'm whatever he decides on any given day. LOL Arielle has moved from "My mama" to mama. 

After Benny was in bed and the fish were cleaned - we settled in for the first game of Farkle with G Dog.  G Dog handily beat us all. Sweet times. I always miss Mom and Lorri when we play - but this time I wasn't missing Dad! 

Dad, Nolan, Michael 

OUR FIRST REDS OF THE YEAR!

Michael and Alex joined Josiah in Seward today.  We've all been itching to get to Seward, to fish, to play. Michael being laid up threw plans off by 2 weeks.  He was feeling good enough to give it a try. 

Photo by Josiah

The men won the responsibility of hosting Mr. Gingerbread man again this year. He was starting to despair of ever getting out of our living room. Today - he went fishing in Seward!

Michael and Alex both limited. Our first REDS of the year! Yay! Fresh caught, wild Alaskan Reds for Sunday Dinner tomorrow.

Photo by Josiah

Michael's back was ready to be pampered. Alex took care of filleting the salmon. 

Ewww......

Another first - Josiah flooded his waders. ::snort:: 

Photo by Josiah

Colony Day Parade 2019

Bre invited us to meet them at the Colony Day Parade today. I couldn't sleep last night. I missed getting to sleep when the sun went down... and then the sun came up.....I thought I'd catch a bit of sleep and then clean the house well before Dad arrived. We decided not to go.  BUT....Arielle wanted us to go with her and Benny...and it's always hard to take a baby into a big crowd alone....I decided Dad wouldn't care if the house was family clean instead of company clean. We went to make memories. 

Annie's First Parade

Izaak, Bella, Arielle, Benny, Stacia
Back - Annie, Bre, Gideon 

Arielle staked out the perfect spot.  It was a great spot - at the start of the parade with "easy getaway" in mind. It was also rather away from the majority of the crowd as the parade got ready to begin. I commented, "Oh - this is the spot for the anti-social parade goer." We laughed. 

Note Benny's expression - he's impressed! 

We hadn't been on our corner long before I spotted Al, a friend from church. Elaine, his mom, is the friend I had tea with on Friday.  I rectified my deplorable failure to take photos this week with friends. I also called them to come watch the parade with us. Arielle joked that I'd build a crowd before too long....and as late comers joined us our corner did become quite full.

Al, Elaine, Me

 This was Benny's favorite

The family Arielle works for drove/rode on this float.

People kept putting candy in his stroller...Arielle kept snagging it....

The first Lynden Tractor Trailer to be driven to Alaska in 1954.  

Cousins

::snort:: He managed to unwrap and insert lollipop without Mom catching him. 

The end of our parade. 

Is there anything more sweetly innocent than a founders parade in a small town on a sunny day? Three generations enjoying it together! Great memories!  I am glad Bre and Arielle instigated this break in the schedule. LOL

Fantastic Friday

For a stymied extrovert like myself (living out here where folks keep to themselves) today was amazing. My love tank is filled.

This morning found me enjoying a big mug of chai at the Hometown Deli with a friend I'd not seen since the end of February. It was delightful to catch up. I did not take a photo - though I THOUGHT of doing so.  I shared earlier this week my summer rhythm has been to meet a friend in the morning and spend the afternoon working outside.

Not today! I came home to grab a bite to eat and pick up Stacia. Izaak dropped by and helped Michael and Alex in the garden for a couple of hours! We are blessed.

Michael harvested yet more gravel. 😏

Alex cut down the brush so the rototiller could handle it. 

We had a bit of time before we needed to leave. I took down the chicken fencing, folded tarps, and removed debris from the garden plot. Stuff  like this giant ball of rope left over from the spot's use as a horse pasture.

Before we knew it, it was time for Stacia and I to venture downtown.  Our women's ministry is hosting a few small groups this summer...Super Moms (Park Play dates, Zoo trip), In Step (walking group), and Gather Around Town (various fun things together in the area). Today was our first gathering around town. We explored Colony Days/Friday Fling.   Each time we gather we learn more about each other. For instance; Siakayle really IS a super mom, Brenda and I are meandering window shoppers, Rose likes tart lemonade, and Jacque has a link for ANY info one may need at her fingertips! It was a fun afternoon. The weather was beautiful. I couldn't help but think we were "moving naturally," "downshifting,"  and participating in a "community of faith," all at the same time! This healthy lifestyle is a great one.

Before the end of next week, we will endeavor to have a home for these chicks in the chicken yard. They have taken to waiting at the garage door....

C'mon Phoenix GROW. We are just waiting for him to be big enough to hold his own with the mean matrons in the chicken yard before we attempt to integrate the flocks. He's started squawking like a duck. I'm sure he's trying to crow. 🐓🐓🐓

Phoenix and seven of his girls

 Helen Petunia - our lame chick

Look at all the progress the guys made! Lucille is happy to be inside the fence....so far she isn't eating any of the plants. Hmmm.....how AM I going to keep her out? The electric fence is operational - but it isn't going to keep Lucille out. 

After dinner we set up Dad's summer room. We moved the table from this spot to under Stacia's bed. I was a bit alarmed when the mattress was so SKINNY - but it plumped up. 

Just waiting for Dad. 

Stacia usually has 2 bean bag chairs and the cubes seen on the right under her bed. It's a cute seating area. We thought G'pa would like somewhere for his suitcase instead. 

At this point the chairs are in the living room - a few extra seats will come in handy. I DID have trouble getting OUT of the chair once I got down. Stacia doesn't have this problem. It must be the yoga she does. 😊 Stacia is moving to the library nook until Krista arrives. They will spend the rest of the summer in the RV - until CoRielle move to their new home.

Did I let something out of the bag? CoRille put an offer on a home just 5 minutes from here. It was accepted. They'll have great neighbors - BreZaak! God is so fun. The home will close mid-August. It's a fixer upper  - not sure when they'll have it ready to move in. Exciting times around here.

The guys are out hunting for shoes they can wear with their chest waders. They are going to take a bit of time off tomorrow.

Alaskan Chandelier

Alex and I have been suffering through a new workout phenomenon. It began when the sun started staying out longer and the temps warmed above freezing.

There are swarms - SWARMS is not an exaggeration - of flies and mosquitoes in the garage. This leads to an array of wild arm motions and kicks while on the elliptical. It's been wild.

I had an idea... I tossed it out there...we now have an Alaskan Chandelier. It's the bug zapper from the RV hung on the moose hook in the garage. There is a plug in the ceiling; it didn't require any tripping hazards with cords stretched across the garage.

I went to Lowes hoping to splurge and buy a mosquito magnet. They are ALREADY sold out. I tried in July last year, and they were gone. I thought early June was safe.

Send all your proven mosquito combatant tips. These things are ALASKAN size mosquitoes!

Alex was more than willing to help with the idea....

Michael agrees it was a good idea! A pile of bug carcasses met us in the morning, but not a one while we worked out!

Moving Naturally - Together!

One of our principles in our Choose Health Family Initiative is to, "Move Naturally."  Our goal is to create an environment which constantly nudges us into moving.  We knocked it out of the park today!

I came in from my workout as Michael was going outside to start the day's work. He suggested a shower, at this point, would be a waste of time and water.

The kids had Japanese - Michael and I got a couple of hours head start on the work.

While Michael put the new mower together, I gathered eggs and dandelions. Our first two crops at Wibbly Wobbly Acres.  (Dandelion post to follow - sometime).

Michael was still in the garage - so I watered the plants in the greenhouse and raised beds. We have some lettuce coming up.  The greenhouse continues to be my happiest place on earth. 90* today....

I have a dream for this plot of land, nice rows of FOOD, a wooden fence, an arched entryway, a bench in the garden... I asked Michael if it is crazy to think we could make a cultured garden out of this jungle. Everything we did last year has to be done again this year. The vegetation seems to be winning. He said, "It's a work in progress." I will remember these words. 

Don't all good gardening seasons begin with a lawnmower?

Our garden spot was a horse pasture. Last year this area was BARE. Everything I planted here died. It was still too hot.  THIS year it has a lush grass covering . Michael suggested we try planting corn here. It appears to be rich soil.  It gets more sun and better drainage than the other end of the pasture er....garden. It became apparent we needed to mow before tilling. I had put cardboard and shavings and such down last year....and we removed that first.

Michael  insists his back is feeling better. I believe it is. He is OUT of bed. He's working - carefully - but he's UP.

Alex cut down the grass under the fence so it will conduct electricity. 

He also tilled a couple of rows. We have much more to go - but we got a thunderstorm at about 5:30 and called it a day.

I didn't get a photo of Stacia, she took the hedge trimmer to these big bushes near the garden fence. We are trying to cut back the moose food - take away her reasons to explore close to the garden. She has an acre or so of forest back there...nothing to see here. LOL

Papa's shadow is always a big help. 

He runs to find Papa and grabs MY water bottle. 

Granna is making a gardening partner

 I used the weed-eater to take down the grass by the greenhouse,  around the fire pit, by the compost bin - places where the riding lawn mower doesn't go and which may have too many rocks to attempt use of the push mower.  I took over the push mower and did the detail work in this area. Stacia had the weed eater and took care of the space under the laundry poles....

Photo by Michael

I am so proud of Arielle. She went on a MOPS hike this morning. It takes courage to walk into a group where you don't know anyone and ask to participate. She and Benny had fun and came back with a recommendation for our In Step Walking Group at church.  Benny offered great moral encouragement as I mowed. Each time I turned towards him he waved big - then ran. 

This area wasn't covered with the riding mower. It looks civilized for the evening. 

The grass had been up to the first square on the greenhouse.  

Tomorrow - we'll do more. It's o.k. we didn't get done what we'd hoped to get done.

We moved!

I moved unnaturally on the elliptical and bike this morning. I moved naturally all afternoon and I ended up with over 5 hours of my heart rate in the "zone," over 16K steps, burned 3352 calories and the four of us did it together!

I love being outside with this tribe.  It reinforced another one of our principles on our Choose Health journey (adopted from The Blue Zone Solution) - Family first. It was a great day of pulling together.