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Category Archives: Journey

Funny River Fire

An abandoned camp fire turned into this:

The smoke cloud as seen from the north side of Kenai.

The smoke cloud as seen from the north side of Kenai.

The fire started on Monday, Tuesday morning (when this photo was taken) the fire had grown to 2,500 acres. By Tuesday afternoon the fire was estimated at between 6,000 and 7,000 acres.

Taken near Soldotna, Tuesday afternoon.

Taken near Soldotna, Tuesday afternoon.

By Tuesday night the fire had grown to 20,000 acres. It reached Tustemena Lake yesterday and started burning around the lake moving more westerly then east.

We really need some rain. Today the wind direction changed and blew that huge ash cloud over the top of Soldotna clear up to Anchorage even. We worked outside in a eerie overcast and ash fall.

This fire is near Soldotna but burning south and so far hasn’t been a threat to structures or humans. Some folks near Kasilof are getting nervous and voluntarily evacuating. Evacuation procedures are being given to Funny River residents in the event of a change in direction of the fire but no evacuation has been ordered at this point.

Rugs

Many a year ago I made my Dad a crocheted rag rug. I thought it was pretty awful, I told him to put it in the outhouse!  Fast forward to last year and I found that same rug in the sauna, he still had it and it was still in one piece!

So back to today, I have all of these clothes out at the cabin that are well-worn by Dad. Not really worth giving away and besides, I’m such a sentimental sap I would rather keep them. So I decided to make a rug out of his sweatshirts, he had so many of them!

Three sweatshirts worth braided and stitched together, working on the next set of three now.

Three sweatshirts worth braided and stitched together, working on the next set of three now.

I love the look of a braided rug. And this one is so thick and comfy to stand on! The only drawback is that they take a long time to create. I’ve got several hours and trips out to the cabin invested in this rug already and I’m only half done at this point.

I decided that I didn’t want to wait for a rug and opted for a woven rag rug made from T-shirts like this one that Dad has had for 20 years or so…

A blast from the past!

A blast from the past!

And I made a simple loom from a piece of plywood I found out in the shed and some paneling nails…

My simple loom, laying out a pattern with T-shirt loops.

My simple loom, laying out a pattern with T-shirt loops.

Then I went to work wrapping and weaving, and in about 3 hours time I was ready to finish the ends….

Crocheting the edge of the rag rug.

Crocheting the edge of the rag rug.

And then I had a finished rug for my little kitchen floor!

All done! 6 T-shirts worth in this rag rug.

All done! 6 T-shirts worth in this rag rug.

Now if I can just get my braided rug finished….

 

Remembrance

I wanted to do something special to mark the one year anniversary of Dad’s death. Going out to the cabin seemed like the most appropriate but with my schedule this week I couldn’t make that work. So I planned a cook-out at Captain Cook Discovery Picnic area. We had a fire and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. The sky was clear, just a bit hazy across the inlet. The tide was coming in.

Reflections

Reflections

The kids got to play and roam around exploring. We took quite a few pictures!munchkins

We enjoyed a fire, a hot meal cooked over an open flame, and then for the grown-ups, an extra special treat:

Rhubarb wine

Rhubarb wine

Jake gave us a special gift, a bottle of Dad’s rhubarb wine. Dad had spent time showing Jake how to make his famous wine and Jake still had a few bottles, so he gave us one. It was the perfect toast!

A very fizzy rhubarb wine!

A very fizzy rhubarb wine!

The sunset was beautiful. A perfect ending.

"Life has to end, she said. Love doesn't." ~Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven

“Life has to end, she said. Love doesn’t.”
~Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Last of the “Firsts”?

Over the past year I have had several new “first” experiences… Father’s Day. Dad’s first birthday after his death. My first birthday. The first Thanksgiving… so on and so forth. I thought to myself the other day, wow, a whole year has passed, the “last” first is coming up. But will it truly be the  last first? I doubt it. I am sure my life has other new and exciting experiences to offer me, things that I would surely have shared with Dad, if he were still here to hear about them, or participate in them.

I am sure this wont be the last “first”… but it is a momentous one.

The one year anniversary of Dad’s death.

Remembering the man that we loved… and always will.

 

Photo credit: Tim Stringer

Photo credit: Tim Stringer

 

 

The wreath that the kids and I put together. Little Bit helped me mostly.

The wreath that the kids and I put together. Little Bit helped me mostly.

The little flag is a memo book so if anyone stops by, they can leave a few words if they would like. Dad’s picture  is in the frame Little Bit painted for him. The pewter star is about Grandfathers.

The cabin door and wreath.

The cabin door and wreath.

Watch the video tribute from Dad’s memorial last April: CNW Memorial

And for a good laugh, here’s Dad singing karaoke: Chuck Sings

 

So much truth…

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Wildlife

Part of the wonder of living here in Alaska is the wildlife. I enjoy seeing moose and eagles regularly. Once in a while I get to see a caribou or a bear. Today I added the wolf to the list of sighted animals. We were driving down the Kenai Spur Highway and saw a few cars pulled over to the side of the road, this usually means there’s something to look at. As we drove by I spotted the “something”, a lone wolf. I wish I had my camera handy at that moment. Once I got over the initial excitement of seeing my first wolf, I thought of my niece, she would be thrilled. 🙂 Now, seeing one a far off from the comfort of my truck is the ONLY way I care to see a wolf, thank you very much.

Longing

When I first decided to come up here, I wanted to spend a few months in the summer living in Dad’s cabin. That didn’t work out for a number of factors. Now that I’ve been here for a while and spent several days out there, the longing for living there returns. When I think about, all that is necessary to do so for a family, I think to myself that I must be crazy! The logistics and all. But I can’t shake it. It draws me like a beacon on a dark night.
I have no definite plans about being able to do so yet, but the thought is there, revolving in the depths of my mind. Maybe… just maybe… one of these days.

Log Cabin Building Update

Well we have the cabin roof decked and tar paper on, then we put in windows and insulated around them yesterday. Shingles are going on today. Once we get the gable ends enclosed and doors on we can put HEAT inside and work in comfort! 🙂 There is much sanding to be done. I finished one wall up yesterday, only 6 more to go inside and then the entire outside of the house. Yes, lots of sanding.

Plus I was able to see four moose yesterday from the job site. I love moose. I don’t think I’ll ever grow weary of seeing those large goofy looking critters!

Still a girl?

A funny thing I’ve notice lately, how I still refer to myself as a “girl”. I guess I always have, and maybe always will. Does anyone else do the same thing? Is it human nature? Or wishful thinking on my part? Will I still be a “girl” when I’m 60?

Maybe it is because I still like to play and have fun with the little ones. Maybe it’s because I never really grew up on the inside, the female Peter Pan perhaps? nah, not likely, just ask my sister. 😉

Truth is, I’m just a big girl now. Taller, older, a little wider…  er, I mean wiser. 😉 but I’m still a girl.

 

JOlsteenquote

You might work in Alaska if…

  1. a moose walks through your job site
  2. a bald eagle flies over-head
  3. you have to set up lights and shovel snow before you can start work
  4. your “uniform” is Carhartts and Baffin boots
  5. breaks consist of warming your hands in front of the heater
  6. visitors come by on snow-machines
  7. you work outside all week and still dream about going “outside”
  8. you know what #7 means
  9. your co-worker shares moose jerky with you
  10. you don’t pay state income taxes!!!!