Alaska on my mind...

Favorite Things 2019

September 21, 2020 – 11:23 am
Posted in Alaska, Family, Journey, Outdoors, Photos
Tagged alaska, birthdays, daily life, Family, friends, holy days, locks
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Since I took a posting sabbatical for most of 2018-2019, I thought I’d dedicate a couple posts to catch y’all up.
Some highlights from 2019.

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.

Thing 1’s art entry for the Nenana Ice Classic.

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!

First Fire

September 20, 2020 – 10:26 pm
Posted in Alaska, Family, Outdoors, Photos
Tagged adventure, Alaska life, autumn, photos
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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.

Little Green Apples

September 19, 2020 – 9:31 am
Posted in Faith, Family, Homeschool, Photos, Recipes
Tagged art, autumn, DIY, Faith, Family, holy days, outhouse, siblings
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Yesterday we were preparing for our Rosh Hashanah service, and having all these fresh local apples, we decided to make some apple prints!

It was chaotic, messy fun. In other words, normal arts and crafts time around here.

Each kiddo, and me too of course, printed two cards. We had fun being creative. And it’s always fun to see how each of the kids has a different interpretation on the assignment.

For my student taking botany (Lil Bit) this is her instruction on how to do specimen prints (with ink instead). I’m sure she’ll have an entire notebook filled with leaf prints by the end of the school year.

We went on to create some delicious salads to share at our service. I made this one because I love quinoa salads and this salad with kale instead of spinach (because that’s what I had!). Both were delicious and will be added to our regular menu.

Our service was lovely, adorned with beautiful sunflower bouquets! And delicious food of course. And we begin another year! L’Shana Tova!

Pickin’ Apples

September 17, 2020 – 4:52 pm
Posted in Alaska, Family, Homeschool, Outdoors
Tagged alaska, Alaska life, autumn, daily life, Family, friends, homeschool, photos
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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.
The Parks have these cool raised beds made from old tracks.
#alaskalife
#littleapples

Little Miss Panda Bear

We have a new family member, Panda Bear. She’s 8 1/2 weeks old. She’s so adorable!

#alaskalife

#gottahaveadog

Cabin Fever

September 15, 2020 – 5:13 pm
Posted in Alaska, dad, Family, Homeschool, Journey, Log Cabins, Outdoors, Photos
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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

All Aboard!!

August 31, 2020 – 9:00 pm
Posted in Alaska, Family, Homeschool, Journey, Outdoors, Uncategorized
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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.

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

The North Road Extension

The summer of 2020 will go down in my mental history as the summer the road went in. Of course they’ve been working on it for two years physically and 30+ politically… But I digress.

It’s been bittersweet watching them progress down the trail. Seeing them passing the places where the “trail happened” to us, you know, like when Thing Two dunked himself, his sisters and the fourwheeler in the mud hole in the middle of Big Muddy. Or where my fourwheeler flooded in the creek with no name.

Then I think to myself, how would Dad feel about this road? Mixed feelings I’m sure. The ease of getting in and out is a relief for sure but what’s easier for us is also easier for everyone else, riffraff included.

The road ends just past Otter creek with a big parking/turnaround. Then it’s off the road and onto the trail, about a quarter of a mile to the cabin. Still have one mud hole to navigate for old times sake!

Word is that they’re trying to secure funding for another mile, which would put the road past us. Time will tell.