We’ve been busy this summer working and doing everything else so our woodshed is looking pretty empty. For the last two Sundays we’ve been felling beetle kill at an elder friend’s house. Both to keep her safe and fill our heating needs. It’s a win-win.
Everyone helps, in some way or another. But of course it’s the biggest and strongest who do most of the work.
The wood stacker
The felling feller
The red dot in the brush pile is the little guy staying out of harm’s way.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
We’ve dropped 7 trees at her place, with a couple more to go. Those beetles have been busy. That has given us with a full cord and a half. 5 more cord to go. It takes a lot to heat this big old house when it gets cold.
The biggest helper trying to avoid the camera. He’s cute when he’s not making scary faces
This morning at work a nice little bull moose walked right out of the trees and headed right for us. We had to dodge into the nearby shed to avoid him. I tried to get a pic but wasn’t fast enough, just got a quick video of him walking off.
Just a little gift from Jake this morning. His friend grew it and left it on his deck, a “little” cabbage. So he sends it to me and asks for a jar of sauerkraut. Okay!
After I trimmed the outter leaves and root off.
I forgot to weigh it before I started cutting but the best guess is it weighed about 20 lbs. It wasn’t a very tight head so not as much there as you might think.
BTW, to get the whey I strain out some plain organic yogurt in cheesecloth. The resulting cheese will be used like cream cheese, it’s delicious. It also makes the BEST cheesecake.
Straining my yogurt.
After it was all said and done I got about a gallon of kraut. Jake gets the little jar. 😜
This past week has been a whirlwind of activity. I’m not sure if I’m coming or going but it’s been great. The tail end of the previous week I spent time out hunting for moose, with no luck yet. Saturday we headed into town, the kids and I that is, to see Niki who’s home for a quick visit. And Sukkot is happening too.
We have enjoyed the time with our dear friends and have tried to do most all of the things we used to do when she lived here full time: foraging, bonfires on the beach (it’s not fish camp but it’s close!), Solstice Sisters Dinner, MNO, and just visiting while the kids all play.
True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart.
Author Unknown
All in all it’s been great for us. I know Niki has been going non-stop and these kind of trips aren’t really relaxing! But it’s been wonderful having her back, even for a short while. And having my Solstice Sisters all together again has been magical.
She’s been out on the road for two years. That separation has taught me to be thankful for all of our times together and share the gratitude I feel with others. Life is too short to do otherwise. Tell someone special in your life that you appreciate them today and why. You never know what your impact your words can have for good!
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Melody Beattie
She heads out to Wasilla today, we said our goodbyes last night. Until next time!!! 💕❤️💕
Alaska on my mind... 