Allie is 18

 Allie turned 18 today! 

Yes, the celebrating began early with gifts and cake on Sunday, gifts arrived on Monday for Allie from her parents...and today is IT...another full day to celebrate Allie. 

 We began with a zoom between Allie, her academic advisor at UNCO and myself at 0745.  It was good to talk to Kate and get her input on the course we've charted here for Allie and ASL. She agrees we should continue with the one on one tutoring through the summer and fall semester.  She said passing the SLIPI (Sign Language Interpreter Proficiency Interview) was an excellent goal. 

We also discovered there is a hold on Allie's account and have plans to take care of that tomorrow. 

We finished the zoom and began our celebrating. Allie had requested Sticky Toffee pudding for her birthday dessert. Stacia made it a day early so it would set a bit before she began shaping and decorating it. NO, you do not usually frost nor decorate this rich dessert. Stacia, however, was determined to have it be a bit more special than the normal "pudding." She wanted a cake in the shape of an 18. 

Allie is excited about the process. 

The moment of truth arrived.  Stacia managed to keep it intact and carve an 18. 

This was one RICH dessert. I think the plain sticky toffee pudding may end up on her cafe menu. 

Allie and Stacia stayed up until midnight last night, visiting, doing school and watching a show.  They thought that would allow them to sleep in as they wouldn't have school. Except for the 7:45 zoom.... They didn't regret last night.  They spent the day visiting, Allie fielded a lot of wonderful text messages....and we drove over to BreZaak's to share some cake with them. 

Alas, Jojo missed out on the fun. 

We opted to have Allie open her gifts from the household Gherkins when the boys arrived home from work. 

A journal from Alex

Sweatshirt with a joke from one of her favorite shows

Panda Express card from Alex and Nolan
Bag of Ghirardelli Chocolate from Nolan

"What's the worst that could happen?" 

A tote bag from Michael and I...I found it at the vendor market the girls and I went to with Carrie and Livie. It says something to the effect of, "Wake up and go outside - worst case scenario you get eaten by a bear," with a funky bear on the front. The UNCO are the bears. Bear jokes have become commonplace around here.  

And...um...we also got Allie a rather obscure gift, but it was meaningful to us and we hoped it would be meaningful to Allie.  I mean seriously, don't you think one needs to remember to always be a bit of a child at heart? No matter how old they are?  

It was fun to think about what Allie might like. Allie is an amazingly thoughtful gift giver. She's motivating us to up our gift giving game... ::snort:: 

Next on the agenda was a family trip to Eagle River.  Our birthday celebrant always chooses if they want to eat out or in and what they'd like to eat. Allie chose Chinese. Panda Express has had their dining room closed so we weren't sure if we'd be able to go there or if we'd go to Kim's Asian Fusion (which is another yummy place we love). It turned out Panda's lobby was open.  We were about to seriously increase their business for the dinner hour. All those in line are our people. 

All 7 of us drove in. CoRielle and the boys came. Krista drove up from Anchorage. Carrie had to work, but Cy and Livie came. Jared and Jamin were also there.  It was a treat for us to watch everyone interact, laugh and truly enjoy each other.  A lot less rushed than Easter. 

Arielle, Danny & Uncle Nolan

We took over this section.

Benny loves chow mien

Benny, Livie and Auntie Allie

The drive back to the valley was VERY quiet, and everyone headed to their rooms when we got home. 

Allie is 18. Her heart for God amazes us. She pursues Him hard. We look forward to watching His plan  unfold in her life as she follows him day by day. Allie is incredibly empathetic, a trait God is sure to mature and use even more in her life. We love you, Allie. 

2022 Garden Update

 This is a good day for a garden update! 

No, the snow is not gone in the garden. 

No, the danger of frost is not gone in our area (we have another 6 weeks to hit that milestone). 

But, look! Michael is shoveling snow from the 3 small beds by the chicken yard....

Our first greenhouse, a kit from Costco, was attached to the footers you see in the front of the picture. It was great for one season. During a winter wind storm the frame and walls blew apart. They just blew away. 

That same season Michael had made hoops over 3 of my beds. We brought the plastic in during the winter...but the moose and wind did a number on them as well.  If you look closely at about middle/right of the photo you can see twisted pvc pipe and chicken wire.... We did use these for 3 growing seasons.  There is still too much snow to see how much we will salvage of them...but they weren't a great place to start seeds. 

The next year Michael put some plastic over existing beds in the garden. This was GREAT. I could roll up the sides, and it had a door. It lasted through two growing seasons and 1 1/2 winters. That wind storm in January snapped the pipes in two as you can see below.  It will take work to rebuild this. This was where I started seeds and grew cucumbers and tomatoes. 

Last year Michael built a hoop house type thing. He built it strong. It was to go over the corn patch - but was finished too late in the year for corn. It stood through most the storms...until January. The plastic tore off first...and we can replace that easily. But then some of the arches snapped in two in the back half.

As we talked over the garden...we need something fixed where seeds can go to germinate. I looked at buying the little ones you see at stores...in fact I do have a 3 shelf mini-greenhouse I use....but the others were just too flimsy for the prices they ask around here for them.  Michael will fix the big hoop house and we'll try to grow some warmer weather crops in there...maybe corn, or tomatoes and beans....

The second one over the bigger beds may be rebuilt as it was nice to have....our season is cool and short...but long sun during that short season...the season extenders are helpful. As we looked at options for a nice place to start seeds, Michael drove me by a place that sells greenhouses. We wanted an 8x12 WITHOUT a floor  so that the beds you see Michael shoveling could be utilized and we could attach it to the footers already in place. Alas, the company had none left for this season without floors. We briefly talked about paying more for one with a floor and Michael wanted to hinge the floor so the beds could be opened. Why? BECAUSE this is where I attempt to grow melons and he didn't want to lose that space. LOL  They had an 8x12 with a floor or an 8x16 without a floor. Michael put money down on a greenhouse without a floor. It can be delivered when we have the foundation ready. 

And so, Michael shoveled snow, and built this little lean to on the front of the old greenhouse foundation. He is extending it by 4 feet...more growing space for melons. LOL 

Are you puzzled about the lean to? It's TIME to start seeds and the ground is frozen. We need to thaw the ground so we can extend the foundation and get the greenhouse delivered.  He set up his propane heater and set about melting snow and thawing the ground. We may move the thing to the garden next. 

Today, Michael said the ground was thawed enough for he and Alex to begin the project. 

Michael assures me this is going to be wonderful. He's out looking to buy concrete and lumber. He hopes to find a concrete saw to take out the door/step in the front....but we are going to be good to go by May.  

And maybe, just maybe, we can grow a melon this year.  

Easter 2022

 Resurrection Sunday.  Service was great, the sermon about God being Greater was wonderful. 

We've realized we miss the richness of celebrating the Lent season/ Resurrection in a base chapel. We are not from a high church/liturgical tradition but some of the rhythms we've learned through the years really DO focus one's heart and soul on the season.  We found ourselves remembering the Friday Lent Lunches and Devotionals, the Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday services, the studies and readings on the sayings from the cross, the march towards that terrible sacrifice paid on our behalf and then Jesus' victory over the grave. He arose! We'll be looking to add a few of those practices back into our celebration next year. 

After our church service there was a giant egg hunt. Our crew chose to head home. We had wild thoughts of a quick nap before everyone arrived at the house - but that was not to be.  Look at Annie's excitement. 

Annie - 📷by Lindsey

Bre and Josiah - 📷by Lindsey

Quite the haul! At least as much sugar potential as Halloween. LOL They'll be bouncing off the walls unless Bre can hide the stash VERY well. ::snort:: 

Bella & Gideon - 📷by BreAnne

Twenty-one Gherkins gathered at the house. The table stretches from the dining room across the living room....we may have to begin figuring out another seating arrangement if the family continues to grow. We were all so happy to have both Nolan and Alex at home this month. Nolan has previously put in lots of over-time and missed family gatherings.  SO....Nolan baked over 70 pigs-in-a-blanket and Jamin was NOT going to give up the title quite so easily. He brought the red plates. My WORD. That's a WHOLE LOTTA pigs-in-a-blanket! NO, we did not eat them all. ::snort:: 

I think the girls got a bit carried away with the torch. 

Thankfully, the rest were very edible. 

In addition to the aforementioned food, we burned burgers and brauts. I had hoped the yard would be melted - but it wasn't. Oh well. We still cooked out.  The Gherkins brought plates and plates of go withs. It was the easiest meal yet. 

Cy and Michael manning the grills 📷by Carrie

Jared! is here this year. This is our first time to catch up with him since he arrived in the area! Larissa will be here soon, and we can barely wait! 

Jared - the human jungle gym

CyRi - the boys report standing room only crowds at their services. There were 40 new baptisms at the first service. What a great day to make a public confession of faith!  CoRielle - Arielle successfully navigated her first Easter as the Children's minister at their church. She was downing ibuprofen and finding a happy place when she arrived. LOL 

CyRi, CoRielle and Danny

Sweet Girls - Auntie Allie and Livie

We missed Izaak today. He is in Fairbanks. It was great to have Bre and the children join us. 

Bre, Jojo and Jamin 

Cousins for the win! Benny and Bella 

Auntie Stacia mans the munchy table - Gideon/Annie

Benny moves on to tickle Uncle Alex

Benny's going to get Uncle Jared! 📷by Carrie

Pure Joy! 

"Someone" might have shown the kids an old tradition from our years in San Antonio....and someone may have suggested they smash a few eggs on Papa. One thing led to another....

Such pretty confetti...and such scratchy egg shells down the back....

I had hoped the egg fight would range the breadth of the yard - but I'm thankful it was on the deck...though we are sweeping up confetti inside. 

In addition to the Resurrection, we celebrated March and April birthdays. Cory (always sweet to wear the pig hat) is 29, GG is 81, Allie is turning 18 and Bella has turned 6. 

Since Cory and Grandpa had their gifts last month, and Bella is having a party on the 30th when her daddy can be home, Allie scored the most gifts. The kids were quite willing to help her open gifts. LOL 

Mr. Jojo was quite happy to finally be home! It was a long day for him. 

📷by BreAnne

Carrie and Cy 📷by Carrie

GG and Jared enjoying the sun 📷by Carrie

 

Gideon 📷by Carrie

Livie and Bella discovered there was still enough snow to slide. LOL 

📷by Carrie

Benny 📷by Carrie

Gideon and Annie📷by Carrie

Bre and Jojo📷by Carrie

More cascarones! Gideon, Benny, Bella and Livie loved them.

📷by Arielle

📷by Arielle

📷by Arielle 

It was a fun day. We'd not seen Krista and Luke for a month and they were able to come. They sure looked tired. Krista is in the midst of transitioning to a True North billet, but as the chapel is low she is still doing her current job as well. It was good to see them. They brought a sweet-smelling Easter Lily. 

It was a great day. And now....the sun is rising earlier, the days aren't dark and gloomy....it's time to retire the tree until fall. I mean we COULD keep it going through the summer, but there will be lots of outside things to focus on for the next few months.  

Jared seemed aghast to see the Christmas tree still up. I told him it is an Easter tree and it was an Iditarod tree and a Valentine's tree before then....

"No," he said, "It doesn't work like that." 

Yes, it works just like that when one is embracing winter and finding whatever light and cheer they can in the long dark months.