Last October we began the process of buying the house we’ve been living in since 2014. It was an exhausting task to be sure. We had some things to do to satisfy the lender but we finally closed in late January 2020.
After signing our life away, we began the process of renovating to suit our large family and our lifestyle.
In no particular order…
We had our driveway regraded as it was super steep and on icy winter days our vehicles would slide right down to the bottom of our property.
We took out the large front window to create a main entry.
Girl’s room, they picked the color and scheme.
The main bath was a blank slate.
Framing the front entry hall/master bedroom wall.
Jake grading the driveway.
Dean moving the improperly installed gasline in the kitchen ceiling. There was a lot of this sort of thing. Major frustrations.
More wall framing.
We took out the side entry door and put in a window.
Added a front window, and my new bedroom will be bright and cheerful!
Flooring going down in the girl’s new room.
My new front door.
Painting prep in the girl’s room.
The inside view of my new bedroom windows.
Girl’s room, painted and ready for final trim.
The beach themed bathroom coming together. I built a linen storage, installed beadboard wainscoting and picked some cheerful colors!
Thing 2 doing some painting.
Getting ready to make the first cut.
Pocket door in the bathroom.
Drywall going up in the kitchen.
My new vessel sink for my beach bathroom.
Tile backer board around the tub. A whole lot of prep work.
We’re no where near done, but we’ve got a good start. After winter sets in and our outside work schedule slows down we’ll start working on the master bedroom and front entry again.
Outside the Salty Dawg Saloon, Homer AK, after our kayaking trip.
Playing our grown up dreidle challenge game at Hanukkah.
He said he could eat the whole 5# block of cheese!
My little flower.
Visiting my Rickerd in the hospital after his aneurism surgery in August.
Pesach.
My holiday wreath at the office, Central Peninsula Advocacy Center.
Mark enjoying his 2nd, or 3rd? Childhood. What a sport he is! 
Lil Bit and the star of Willy Wonka.
Lil Bit & Lil Mister playing at Little Puffins.
Me & Lil Bit. She sure is growing up.
Our kayaking trip out of Homer.
Lil Bit and her violin instructor at Odies Deli, for a recital.
Thing 1 and her boyfriend at Pesach.
Her first formal recital.
Shirley Mae came to visit me! What a special treat!
Yom Kippur with Mark & Laquita.
Pirate’s 23rd Psalm driftwood art. Gifted to me by my fellow piratty dreadie at heart. 
Pesach flowers.
All spiffy!
Me and my girl at Salmonfest. 
Our violins.
Pretty lil butterfly at Mom’s house.
He wanted to be in the picture too.
Fishcamp sunset.
These two…
Lil Mister’s new Play-Doh set, he said look Mom, it’s you, she has dreadlocks!
Glorious cheese and fruit trays made by Mo.
Sukkot campfire.
Thing 1’s first multimedia art project.
Just us gals at our holiday party.
Hanging with my chicks at their birthday party.
Working on my copper salmon for the Kenai River Festival recycled art show.
Thing 1 helping my on a tile job.
Thing 1 with her new bunny “Francis” Franny, or bad bunny as I call her.
Solstice Sister’s dinner at Princess Lodge above Cooper Landing.
A glorious fire at Mo’s.
Miss Jane trying to infect Lil Mister with the bug.
Fun at Salmonfest.
Solstice Sisters dinner at Shawna’s before Niki leaves.
Wine & paint for Elaina’s birthday.
Fierce ninja warrior. He cracked his head open roughhousing with his brother. This child goes not do well with blood.
She wanted to try curly hair, so her sister put her up in rollers. Cute, but too much work.
Passing the time before our plane arrives. Our family trip to Kansas & Georgia to see family.
Epic ice unicorn. We had some killer icicles this winter.
Practice makes perfect.
Rock climbers out at Gray Cliffs.
Truth!
Dean’s siblings & Lil Mister in Georgia.
Solstice Sisters Fourth of July cookout. Photo bomber Thing 2.
Thing 2 learning to tape & mud. Working on the girl’s new room.Whew, what a upload of photos! 
Lil Mister was in charge of Panda Bear. She has a sweater because she gets cold.
Eating the fruits of her labor.
I even scattered some grass seed. Who knows if it will grow or not, stuff might be 10 years old. I’m ready to try out my new pit, can’t wait to build that first fire!
Our Conductor Wanda.
Wormwood, I think.
One plant turned bright red in the midst of all the others.
A trio of ‘shrooms huddled together.
A piece of ice was fished out of the lake and inspected by all before being launched back out into the water. 
The glacier is so blue. But this piece was so clear, with tiny bubbles throughout. 
The wait for our return trip was filled with silly antics, arm wrestling and more specimen collecting.
The return ride seemed far shorter and before we knew it our trip was complete. 
We were off to Coast Pizza for dinner and then the drive home.
Alaska on my mind... 