In our new fire pit.
We drove out for an overnight, weiner roast with s’mores in our new fire pit.
It was so nice to easily get to the cabin for an overnighter.
The next day we cut some more firewood to stock our woodsheds.
Panda was a trooper. She did really well with the drive out and being in a strange new place. She’ll make a good Gray Cliffs dog.
We picked apples today! What a great fall activity! The Park’s orchard on Robinson Loop, not far from our house.
Lil Mister was in charge of Panda Bear. She has a sweater because she gets cold.
A tree dweller.
Eating the fruits of her labor.I’ve got cabin fever, not the kind you’d think either. I wish to go back to the cabin. Back to the change of pace, the different priorities, the quiet riot.
We’ve been home two days now, after spending 9 days out there. It’s moose season so we went out in hopes of filling our freezer with delicious moose meat (sorry Patty) but alas, not a moose was seen by myself or Dean.
We spent some time teaching the older ones how to hunt spruce hens. Thing Two managed to bag one early on but that was the extent of his marksmanship. Guess we’ll add target practice to our PE regimen!
In between gun toting and walking in murky muck, we worked around the place. Sanded the cabin down and applied some new sealer. I’m in love with the deep rich color.
We also put a new coat on the outhouse. It was showing some weather but looks pretty nice now. The kids all chipped in and “painted”.
We also filled the woodshed here and at the main house! Since the road crew took out an enormous amount of trees putting in the road extension, we took advantage of the plethora of stacked logs. Easy getting firewood, you don’t have to tell me twice!
The toolshed was looking a little weathered too so I had enough sealer and time to get the front coated. I resealed Tami’s memorial sign for Dad as well and hung it over the door. I decided to do a memorial wall on the shed and hang the things I find that remind me of Dad. Just got a few things up, next time I’ll add more.
The stand of trees in the middle of the drive had become a problem. We took the alder out earlier this year as it was taking over the driveway. The two tall spruce have succumbed to spruce bark beetles and will need to be dropped this winter. Dean spent some time working on the alder stumps but finally got them pulled out. With all that new space I decided we needed a fire pit! This one is much smaller than our bonfire pit and will be better suited for weiner roasts and marshmallows. 
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!
Now that we can drive out to the cabin our time spent out there will increase exponentially. As will our projects!
Next on the list is a new deck and an outdoor, gravity fed sink for hand washing. Can we get them started before winter?
#winteriscoming
#cabinlife
#lovealaska
Our new school year kicked off with a train ride field trip to Spencer Glacier.
Lil Mister was so excited to see and ride the big train. He kept inching closer and closer to the track when the train was approaching.
Our Conductor Wanda.
Thanks to Covid-19, masks we’re a requirement on the train, so we acquiesced and have the pictures to prove it.
The trip to Spencer Glacier is a quick one, but we saw an eagle nest with protective parents watching over near by. Once we made it to our stop we were allowed some time to explore and hike to the glacier.
The kids found their friends as did we mom’s and we were off. The micro climate at Spencer Glacier is different than ours so we saw several new to us plants and fungi. It was a botanical wonderland.
Wormwood, I think.
One plant turned bright red in the midst of all the others.
A trio of ‘shrooms huddled together.There may or may not have been a person in our party who was collecting samples… And left with a large bag full. No names mentioned, but it wasn’t me, this time.
The bridge was pretty cool. The architecture of timber frame is one of my favorites. I love the enormous timbers and heavy metal joinery.
It was an enjoyable hike up to the glacier with 3/4 of us Solstice Sisters. We were missing Niki.
And of course all of our kiddos had a great time hiking and playing around.
We were reminded at the trail head to yield the right of way. 
The glacier was impressive. 
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.
#lovealaska
Mark & Laquita invited us on a boating jaunt. We packed our sack lunches and donned our life jackets and off we went.
Mark took turns showing the kids how to pilot the boat. What a great experience for all of them.
Priceless memories for certain.
Mo & crew arrived and more fun was added to the adventure!
After our boating adventure, Laquita and I enjoyed reclining in the sun’s rays while Mark took Mo & the younger kids back out.
We so enjoy spending time with Mark & Laquita. So thankful for them!
#alaskalife
#swimmingisforthebrave
#watersocoldittakesyourbreathaway
#weswimanyway
#alaskatough
We celebrated both boys birthdays with mustaches and our Alaska Waterslide.
Keeping our circle small, invited a few friends over and grilled some bovine flesh.
And of course, what’s a hot August day without our epic waterslide?
Thing 2 turned 15 and Lil Mister is 6. Time flies at warp speed up here.
Really appreciate our small circle of friends. They have kept us sane in this topsy-turvy covid world.
#alaskalife
2020 was another epic year, but not because we got a lot of fish. We were on the beach June 10th and left June 25th.
Mr P had the idea to make our kitchen on his trailer. So he and Dean put it together on the beach after much assembly at home. We covered it with tarps and clear plastic and moved in!
Having the elevated, separate kitchen was wonderful! It kept most of the sand out as well as the young ‘uns.
The dinning hall.
Our solar chandelier.
Welcome to “On the Rocks Bar”.
Cheers to another year of fishing, friends & fun!
Once we all arrived we had 300′ of beach sprawl to allow three nets for four families to use. Two potty tents, a kitchen, dinning hall, storage areas, kids canopy (with carpeting), four main campsites with a hodgepodge of tents, campers and canopies. Two four-wheelers and a dozen or so kids running around, give or take a few.
Fishing was restricted again this year, we could only fish one tide a day. (Due to lowered king salmon returns.) This allowed for a slower pace but it significantly reduced our overall catch. None of us limited out. Most of us got enough to get us through the year, we hope. You never know year to year how much you’re going to actually go through. Some years we eat way more salmon than others. It definitely is a staple in our diet.
And then there’s the card and board games. I found “Joe Name It” at the thrift store this year and it was a lot of laughs. 
Hmmm…. 
Arts & crafts time. They made jelly fish.
Then there’s the friends who come to visit and bring their little puppers. 
And not so little puppers. Burt still has that puppy demeanor even tho he’s as big as a horse.
Once in a while there’s even time for laying down on the job. It’s a hard life Mr. Jimmy! 
There’s always time for good food though. We do eat well at fish camp. Mo is the “Kitchen Queen”.
These enchiladas were amazeballs.
Dessert even. Oy I ate too much.
Dean does a damned fine job of grilling. He usually works all day then comes down to the beach at night. He can sure cook up some delicious food even after working a full day.
This year was a bit overcast and drizzling so the camp stove was a must. We enjoyed its warmth under our dry canopy.
This old fire pit of Niki’s sure has been handy. One bent leg gets propped up in a rock. And a salvaged oven rack with two pieces of rebar makes a nice cooking surface. Hey, we’re Alaskans, we make do.
The kids are always up for a wienie roast. Which is good for when camp isn’t set up and we have no kitchen. 
Putting the nets away for the night. We pull them, stretch them out and flag repairs, Jane takes the time to carefully mend each one, then we gather and store the nets up beach. Get up the next day and start over again.
Here’s to having a warm, dry kitchen out of the wind. L’chaim!
And that’s a wrap. Another year in the books. Smoked salmon and plain jarred salmon adorn our pantry shelves. Life is good.A simple number, four. It’s often over looked for it’s neighbor and easy multiplier 5, but what about 4?
There have been a lot of famous fours over the eons. In the Bible there are many fours: 4 seasons, 4 “corners” of the earth, 4 Rivers of Eden, on the fourth day of Creation Week we are introduced to day and night and the demarcation of time. The 4 Authors of the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Skip to the end of the book and we see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
More recent history, Georgia was the fourth state to Ratify the Constitution. James Madison was the fourth president of the USA. Fast forward, we see the Fab Four-the Beetles and The Highwaymen, four of Country Music’s outlaws: Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.
Four can be interesting. 😉
Today is the 4th anniversary of Dad’s death. Later in June it will mark our 4th year here in Alaska. I have 4 children, so does my Mom. Four is a good number.
The kids and I continued our 4 year tradition of going out to the end of the road at Cap’t Cook to have a campfire cookout, go beach combing, just spend some time in nature. This year we were blessed with our friends joining us to honor Dad’s blessed memory. It was really great to have friends along! ❤
We saw quite a few waterfalls on our adventure, a couple over at Seward.
And of course this one outside Anchorage.
Having so much fun with Claire & John here.
Our friend Marion took us out fishing for halibut in Kachemak Bay yesterday. Fishing was slow.but John stuck it out and was rewarded with a 43 inch long halibut.
It was fun to watch him bring in that big ole fish. So proud of him and his catch!
Alaska on my mind... 