Michael is a Genius!

 Check this out! Michael considered our needs, did some research and got to work in the garage. 

::drumroll:::

We'll be able to store several bags of feed in here. There are four feeding spots...the feed will be dry, they can't get in and scratch it all around the coop/yard.  Pietro - our hatched egg - cute hen which turned out to be a BIG rooster...surveys the yard. He's not so sure about changes. 

Michael is a patient Chicken dad. He demonstrates how it works. 

They are willing to check it out - but they aren't convinced. 

Aha....I should have guessed Golda would go first....

Very cool. This is a great addition to our chicken yard. Way to go, Master Chicken Whisperer....

Spring Garden

 It was April 20th and I was DYING to get into the garden. We spent some time cleaning up dog poop (and moose poop) and then I went to check on the condition of the garden. Yes, I AM in a tank - it was in the 60's.  It is amazing to me a girl raised in Africa and the tropics CAN acclimate to this weather. I would have hopped for more of the garden to be cleared by this time in the year. 

We leave these hoops up and stretch plastic over them in the spring to gain a week or so jump....the moose got tangled in it this year..... we'll need to fix this. 

The snow this year came fast and furious. It usually snows, melts, snows and melts and THEN snows for good. This year it came and didn't leave...and we were definitely caught unawares. We found garden tools, toys...the "corn" wasn't harvested, a few tomato plants were still up, flowers weren't removed from their tire planters....

The greenhouse Michael built over the two beds last year (top of photo) needs plastic to be put back on it.  He had wisely removed all he could as the wind and snow does a number on the plastic. 

It's breakup....waters runs down from the mountain, down the street, into a corner of our place, down our yard and my garden is the lowest spot...water is now starting to run around the beds and into the garden. It's wet and swampy at this point. 

April 21st, the snow melts  bit more and we discover treasures....it's not ALL about poop. We left our sweatshirts out when we harvested potatoes and it snowed......the treasures we find in the spring. 

Plastic installed....I've planted some seedlings and put them in here in hopes it will stay warm enough for them to germinate. It beats the dirt and seeds all over the house. We shall see. I may end up having to buy starts this year. 

I've started....

The beds are melted today....and more water is running through...soon it will be patches of snow instead of patches of dirt. It won't take many weeks above 60 for this to melt. 

April 25th - yep - 5 short days and the snow is gone....it's wet but will soon be workable. If only I could talk the girls into seeing how fun this is....I spend many happy, praying hours out here. 

Black plastic covers most of the areas not covered by raised beds. The tires held flowers last year. I may plant potatoes in them this year. 

Last year, the left foreground had potatoes, nothing was in the left rear. The right rear was corn - which didn't have long enough to mature and the corner shows the greenhouse over the beds...which is where we had tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Our melons blossom, we get tiny melons and they fall off. Any ideas what we can do? 

Oh, those moose....I even found moose poop IN the bed. 

It's ghetto but we are desperate to use the space and keep the chickweed under control. We spread cardboard in the middle section, put flowers around and this chair...there is nothing better than sipping a seltzer water and watching the garden be watered.....ah....the winter is over. It really is. Summer will be here in a bit....Winter.Is.Over. 

We have dreams. Michael would like to build a BIG hoop house to grow corn and melons in. I'm not sure it will work - but we have plenty of space.

We need to burn the big "bush" in the middle of the garden and deal with the weeds in the far side. There is some good soil under the weeds. 

I'd like to find "something" to line the paths which would mark out paths between beds and keep the weeds down. Ideas? 

I like the middle section - maybe we'll put in some sort of rock work in the center, with a little firepit and flowers around...it would be a fun place to have friends come for garden tea parties. 

I'd love to build a real fence with arches etc...but the electric has worked and we weren't 100% sure we'd want this big of a garden. We've still not used all the space. We used about 1/3 the first year, 2/3's last year....maybe we'll get it all used this year. 

Lots of plans - it's so MUCH work. Michael reminds me  each year we are making progress...it was a weedy horse pasture. We won't get it all done in one year - but we have no plans to move out....

I'd like to figure out plants and get some landscaping done around the house - but then again - I've not a clue where to start. LOL 

Assisting Breakup

 April 17th - Michael is busy assisting Breakup so spring can begin in earnest. Here is shovels snow from the driveway....

...and uses the blowtorch to melt the ice that is building up as snow melts in the day and freezes at night. It's treacherous! He melted the ice and then laid down gravel. The ice was 5 - 7 inches thick. Much better. 

I took advantage of our first days in the high 50's and 60's to eat outside on the deck. 

Luke and Krista went snow machining and caught these guys....everyone is enjoying the warmth. 

📷 by Krista

This is the perfect time of the year to burn a few brush piles...it had the added advantage of melting snow. 

Michael is so Alaskan....shoveling snow from the yard and making pathways for the water to pass on through the yard....

It will still be a while before I hang anything out here....

April 25th....the snow berms have melted enough that the daffodils have now moved to a crock on the front porch. 

We now have patches of snow rather than patches of grass!!!! The playground is ready for grands! 

There's still quite a bit of snow in the woods...but the yard is clearing. 

Stacia and I have spent quite a bit of time scooping up poop. It is GROSS. Snow covers everything and then it melts...and poop thaws...we scooped and then another layer melted and there was MORE. What a job. 

Shew - it's a tiring helping breakup along....Millie is appreciative of Michael's hard work, but thinks it's time to play! 

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.