Visits, Projects, and Accidents

Bre has a delightful friend from her days on staff at Calvary. Donna and Bre shared an office for years. Donna has come to Alaska to visit BreZaak. Krista and I deemed it easier for us than Bre to make the morning drive to Anchorage.  It was fun to catch up with Donna...hear a bit from our home church and here a bit of the reaction to dad's upcoming move to Alaska. 

She brought us avocados. I asked her to buy some as they were much cheaper than I can them here...and these are in great shape and big! 

It rained today - really rained! Dad and I smelled the rain and smiled and commented on how familiar and comforting rain can be. We're Oregonians. Michael, Krista, Alex, and Benny were outside putting trees on the ground when the downpour began. They weren't so enamored with the smell of the rain.

Just like Papa - sort of

 I heard a huge crash and then crying and moaning....I was worried dad had fallen. Stacia had slipped in a puddle of Yuuki's making (she's out of control these days) and fallen FACE FIRST onto the brick that lines the nook for our wood stove.

Benny sympathizes. He was covering his nose when I began to take the photo. Yuuki expresses her apologies. 

It took quite a bit of time to stem the bleeding to be able to see if we were dealing with broken teeth or WHAT....a very sore nose, a gash...lots of ice and we'll see what we have tomorrow. Poor thing.

She jumped back and helped me make some yummy salmon chowder and biscuits for dinner. As we cooked...I pondered....the biscuit recipe is one I've used for decades....Barb's recipe, a friend from Hardin, MT. The chowder recipe is Sandy's, a new friend. There is something so satisfying in fixing yummy food with connections to friends.  Chowder recipe to follow.

AN AMAZING DAY

Michael and I left home at 0845 today for a meeting.

I had a stack of library books to return and we needed to pick up a gallon of milk and Dad's paper, so we ran those errands while out.

We passed Krista, Stacia and Dad on our way home....I called to let them know we HAD a paper for Dad.  They came back to get it - the plan was for him to get coffee and a paper to enjoy while Krista and Stacia ran a errands around town. It turns out he also got a doughnut - it seems to be the game we play that tomorrow a.m. when his sugars are high he will say, "WHY are they high, we eat healthy?" ::wink:: I'm on to him. I know the outings are for more than coffee (which I make here each morning for him) and a paper (which I could have delivered). ::snort::  I may just join him for a maple bar one of the mornings. Mom certainly wasn't the only one in the family with a "sweet tooth."

Michael and Alex left for the DMV. Alex has a bit of test anxiety, and the test IS harder than many state's tests we've taken...but today he PASSED.....Watch out world. He has a permit and will have a license in short order.

Way to go, Alex! 

I worked on book work, made an appointment to go over this year's ILP's with our contact teacher, cleaned out my nook which had become overrun with both empty and filled canning jars, did a bit of clean up, and then headed outside to the garden.

Benny saw me heading for the fence and said, "No. Ouch." ::snort::

He's learned well not to go near the fence, though he's never been shocked. I have learned WELL to unplug the fence when I walk into the backyard. I HAVE been shocked numerous times. It's a bit sad the moose haven't been back since they were shocked...and yet...they stripped our peach tree and destroyed several plants on their previous forays. I'm relieved they aren't getting into the garden like they did last year.

Fun garden helpers

Today we picked a nice big head of broccoli, a pan full of lettuce, 7 quarts worth of Kale (and sealed and froze it), a couple of carrots, a cucumber, 2 zucchinis (avoided the rest), and a bunch of tomatoes were ready in the greenhouse.  I may make salsa yet.

I was pulling up lettuce that went to seed and putting it my lasagna bed....but "someone" ahem...a 6'2" man in his 50's....has a soft spot for the hens and suggested they get the choice lettuce.  They do love lettuce and kale.

Michael was in the front starting the overwhelming job of spreading gravel on the driveway. Dad came out to help. Don't FUSS! Just out of camera range is a chair and a cold drink. He threw a few shovelfuls and then sat and visited while they worked.

This girl, Krista, has been offered two jobs in the school district. She could be a building sub in the town over - about a 30 min drive on a nice summer day, or a district sub....she liked the flexibility. She got a call today and was offered the job of Spec Ed aide at the High School in our town.  She accepted and will start tomorrow or Wednesday. HR is having trouble keeping up with the last minute hires. School starts on Thursday.

Road Runner had to come get into the action. She wasn't a lot of help. 

Krista brought Michael a "Sustain" drink, and he relaxed before dinner on the deck. 

Nolan treated us all to a celebratory dinner via Papa Murphy's. He headed for bed after dinner. Dad and Michael followed on his heels. 

We spent 1/2 an hour playing Flashpoint. We didn't save the victims....I had a hard time even understanding what I was supposed to be doing. LOL Stacia loves this game so I put forth the effort. 

Today Mom G would have been 91. Stacia always remembers as it is 4 days before her birthday and we had a wonderful joint celebration for them on Mom G's last birthday.

Sunday Sights

Michael woke up too dizzy to sit, get up, or move around. This happens from time to time. His blood pressure goes low.  Doc says there is nothing to really take or do unless he is passing out.  He is too think safety and stay down when this happens. It usually clears in minutes to hours. He stayed home from church.  

After church the kids, Dad and I, Krista, BreZaak and Jonathan (a guest of CoRielle's and friends of both CoRielle and BreZaak) went out to DQ. 

We came home to lovely Sunday afternoon naps. When I woke, I viewed a very naked Benny outside our window. Now THIS isn't a sight I thought I'd see in my yard during my middle years. LOL 

I headed over to join the reading party in the hammocks. Such a fun place to read - though Stacia had fallen asleep. I have no clue where the photo I took disappeared to...from my phone to some odd spot online I'd guess.

Michael, Alex and I ran into Anchorage. Michael bought himself a table saw. 

Driving home it was impossible to note leaves are turning yellow and orange. Not a lot of them - but enough of them to signal a change. We were driving home at 9 p.m. and it was dusk - instead of bright sunlight.

Phoenix has been crowing at 4:30 every morning, this morning it was 5:30.

I may have to face reality fairly soon.

Dad's Moving

Dad has been visiting since June 8th. The days have been full and we've loved every minute  we've shared.  Our talks have shifted to his return to Oregon and finding the best date for Will and Sherri, as well as the best prices for a ticket to OR. We could tell Dad has been deep in thought.

Wednesday, everyone was out of the house except he, Michael and I.  We had been looking for a chance to discuss all the living arrangements available to him in the upcoming years.  He surprised us by cutting to the chase and saying he would like to move up here.

We told him we would love to have him here. Dad is the only grandparent our kids have left and we treasure any amount of time we have with him. Mom's absence still pains me...and it has been comforting to have Dad here.

Will, Nate and I have always been in agreement Dad should be the one to choose where he lives. We're all happy he will be staying with family.

We weren't sure when he would want to move up. Maybe next spring? No. He wanted to move up NOW...and so we want to make this happen before snow flies on the Alcan. We will be leaving the last week of August to drive to Oregon. We'll bring back things we have stored in Will's barn from both our mothers, and Dad's things.  Dad wants to make the trip with us both ways - we've suggested he fly one way...but I think he's gotten a bit addicted to our crazy adventures and doesn't want to miss any of the fun. Unfortunately, well be at Calvary over Labor Day weekend and many will be camping....but we'll leave to get back here the day after Labor Day.  At this point dad plans to drive back with us.

He has talked to grandkids in Oregon, his brother, best friend, friends in OR and the pastor of the church he has attended for 60 years.  Now he told me to , "Put it on Facebook."  And so - for internet consumption....

A rather fun confirmation involves Dad's primary care doctor. I called to see if we could have an appointment with her before Dad leaves and it would need to be the 30th - due to travel dates and the holiday.  She said, "Oh we moved his appointment to August 30th and was going to call you. " We're going to do our BEST to push through to OR by the evening of the 29th.

Dad is moving to Alaska. He will be living with us. Our empty nest has turned into a revolving nest or something. CoRielle sign for a house in 5 days...and hope to move in by the beginning of October. The girls will stay in the RV until they move. Dad will have Stacia's room.

We loved having 3 generations here. It was kick having 4 generations this summer. I was thinking 2 generations would seem a bit odd after the past couple of years we've lived...and I'm thrilled we are going to continue to have 3 generations around the place - a different 3 but still 3. LOL

I grew up in cultures where the norm was having multi-generations in a home. Japan is much like this as well....this feels natural and right to all of us.

Saturdays!

 Krista suggested Stacia and I ride our bikes along the river trail, while she ran. She is working her way back to her former fitness level.  We have wanted to ride this trail for two years, but couldn't seem to get it together. Mainly, getting the bikes to a starting point because we did NOT want to ride up our hill. Krista has a bike rack that fits on the back of her hatchback. Off we went.

It is a beautiful ride along the Old Glenn Hwy...but one barely notices the hwy. The River, ponds, mountains, interesting property capture your attention....it was a great ride.  We stopped to get a close look at an old RV park, an interesting house?, and a cemetery. The bike Stacia rode was giving her trouble. I think we need to get her a "real bike" of her own. 

Matanuska River

 The fireweed bloom is at the top - it will soon die out. Six weeks until winter? 

Back at home we set up the disc golf goals and played a round...Michael was getting ready to butcher a chicken or two (a long, frustrating, sad story), Krista helped in the garden a bit and then headed out for dinner with a friend before the baby shower....Dad, Alex, Stacia and I cleared chickweed and started a lasagna garden (another post coming).

Dad called a couple of his grand kids....and then hauled weeds to the chickens. Even the new ones know to come to the corner of the fence and wait when they see us go into the garden. LOL

In the midst of clearing I grabbed onto something. It HURT. Bad. My hand swelled up. I felt like I was being stung over and over, all over both hands, for hours afterwards. 

I do think they are going to ripen. Yay! 

The chicken received a reprieve but her days are numbered. Josiah came by for dinner. Stacia, Krista and I went to a baby shower. The guys had dinner here and played games.

Josiah said he was going home. Everyone but Michael and I headed for bed. Josiah stayed two hours talking - love connecting.

New Appliance

Michael is a researcher. He researches what he wants to purchase. He watches the for sale lists for the item to show up. He is content to watch for months (years even - ahem - a hot tub) for a good deal. He also scans on-line sources and local ads.

Last fall we saw how useful a vacuum sealer would be. We knew we wanted one before we began putting things away this summer/fall. I was content to pick up a Food Saver. Michael wasn't happy with the consumer report reviews and purchases reviews.

I froze 25 lbs of blueberries (in Ziploc). We smoked and made jerky salmon and put it into Ziploc bags.  I noted things were already getting ice crystals.

I told Michael we needed to figure out what we wanted. He said he KNEW what he wanted. I asked him to please buy it now - it was time.

I came home today to THIS on my kitchen counter. ::snort:: 

It's a home model, much like the commercial ones we use in Seward to process salmon. It comes with great reviews all the way around. It's a chamber seal....I don't understand the difference, but I DO know that the chamber sealer we use in Seward does a GREAT job.  The bags are FAR cheaper than name brand bags (like 1/4 of the price) and we can use the bags we bought for Seward.

This thing seals WATER. I'm not sure WHY we'd want to seal water...but it does. ::snort:: I've now sealed all the blue berries and salmon for long term storage.

I plan to make the downstairs kitchen (CoRielle's kitchen) a "Preservation Kitchen" when they move out. I'll do the canning, dehydrating, sealing down there....leaving a clean kitchen to use upstairs. This will not stay on my counter forever - AND it will match the tile downstairs. :snort::

Fun-filled Friday

Our plan was to go with Arielle and Benny to the park. We would then take Dad to Freddies, and I would work on fulfilling Michael's wishes to "fill the freezer." This will help with energy efficiency. We have emptied the chest freezer into the new one and still have ample room. 

We headed to the park.  This is a fun park with lots of shade. Stacia and I diligently looked to find some hidden rocks - alas - nothing. 

Benny discovered a squirrel. 

He is a bit unsure of the SOUND it makes.  

"YayYa!" He seemed to think if she was with him they'd be able to get close. 

Benny and G.G. came to an understanding. G.G. said, "Oh, my hat," and took Benny's hat.

 "No! My hat, not G.G.'s,"  he emphatically replied! 

Stacia got a call asking her to babysit.  We decided she'd play a bit longer and I'd deliver her after we left the park. I love Benny's expression in this photo. Such trust to do it anyway - if his hand is in Stacia's. That'll preach.

A Challenge

In the end it's a bit too much of a challenge. He'll save it for another day. 

Snack time! 

Dad and I dropped Stacia off and headed for Freddies.  They are having a GREAT meat sale....Buy one Get one on steaks, ribs, and pork loins, fresh Chicken at 1.29 a pound, ground turkey cheaper than hamburger. I stocked up. They were out of steaks.

I came home for a couple of hours and then headed for the church. Lindsey, our sweet Pastor's wife, has been out of town. I met to help her set up for an upcoming baby shower. Stacia walked to the church after baby-sitting.

Stacia and I stopped at Freddies again as they were expecting a delivery of steaks. We stocked up on steaks. The freezer is respectably full.

Dinner was grilled steak, accompanied by one lone pizza.

We played a few rounds of Farkle, rather than watch a movie. There will be plenty of watching  movies and such in the winter.