Passing Time

 Pat has been working very diligently to finish up projects while we still have his shop.  The trailer is almost ready to go, so we have "Christened" it!  

 Pat has been working hard, and I...well, I'm trying.  I have to admit, with so much time before we actually have to move, it is difficult for me to use my time efficiently.  I pack a little bit, walk around my gardens, read every online news outlet, try to remember what it was I was supposed to be doing...  I have realized that when my environment is in disarray, my mind follows.  It is so much more work to focus on any one task.  It reminds me of when I used to have to go "clean my room" as a child.  Inevitably, I would become distracted by the stuff I was supposed to be cleaning and hours would pass with no progress.

 I note the passage of time with the progress of my flowers.  It is finally becoming a flowering paradise in my gardens.  The iris and columbine are in their full glory, covered in blooms.

 I have a trollius (globe flower) that is just about to burst with blooms!  There are many more scattered about that will give a nice repetition throughout.  My hanging lobelia are spilling over the basket edges with their splashes of blue and white.

 I also have my first squash that has been pollinated (by yours truly), and is growing by the hour!  Rowdy has discovered the flavor of the squash flowers are to his liking, and so he is my disposal method after I have used the pollen inside!

 I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to watch my beds fill in and fill up with color.  This home has been such a blessing.

 Bleeding hearts have spread their arms out, dripping with their blossoms.  Did I mention that the columbine is showing off?  I have a half dozen different colors and shades that grow like they are on steroids.  Love them!

 Even my potted flowers are all about the fashion show.  My daisies (chrysanthemums, really) make me happy every time I walk past, even though they drink up every bit of water I can give them and ask for more.  My violas are perfect whiskered babies that consistently pop their little faces out.  I love the water-colored effects they show.

 My ultimate test of patience has been waiting for my salad bowl to grow up enough for me to partake of its richness!  I have red-leaf lettuce, kale, curly parsley, onions, spinach, nasturtium, and for color, a purple viola!  Everything in it is edible, healthy, and delicious!  I've had a couple salad's with my salad bowl produce, but now I have to wait for more to grow.  I have a pot full of spinach plants, but every time I walk past it, I pick a few of those delicious baby leaves off!  Not sure it will  stay with the house...I may have to keep it for munchies!

We've been busy...

I haven't been as quick to post lately, as our plates have been getting a bit jumbled!

 Pat has continued to work on the trailer, getting it enclosed and sealed up!

 Yep, Pat is way tougher when getting shot up than I am.  He got 5 shots and I got 4.  I had to lie down after getting the first two due to the rapid drop in blood pressure!  Pat said that I turned gray.  Then he said it was all in my head.  I reminded him that it had all left my head.  This is just round 1 of 3 to complete our shot regime before we go to Africa.  Yipee.

 The house is becoming more disheveled.  It doesn't help my focus, but I am trying to organize the piles as I go.  We had our garage/moving sale this last week, so that helped to remove a bunch of stuff with which we were willing to part.  Unfortunately, this leaves us with less fun stuff to live on until we leave, like our card table and folding chairs instead of our teak table and stools, but we are thankful that we have something!

 I'm also accumulating piles of trash.  It's interesting the things that I keep, just to throw away later.  I just can't bring myself to discard some of the precious gifts of drawings that I have received.  I have a notebook where I keep some of these treasures!  

 I have still been trying to embrace all things Alaskan, specifically rhubarb!  My rhubarb plant got heavily munched on this spring, but has recovered enough to produce a strawberry rhubarb pie!  I actually prefer straight rhubarb, but there wasn't quite enough.

 We have a new purpose for our Alaska to Africa iron!  We are thinking of placing it on the ever-evolving moving trailer.  You can see the trim is now finished, and a vent installed.

We are now in the process of selling our cars (one sold during the garage sale - Yay!) and replacing them with another pickup to drive Pat's small trailer down as well.  This is change in the original plan, but hey, we are all about change!

It's Real!

It's real!

We've even bought storage totes to begin our packing process.  I must say, I am excited!  Moving is always bitter-sweet for me as I go through all my collected items that bring up all the associated memories.  It will honestly be difficult to leave such a beautiful place where we have met such great friends.  I have a sneaky suspicion we will be back again someday!

 Rowdy doesn't seem to notice, much less care, about all the new flutter of activity!  I think we'll have to pry him away from his favorite chair, though.

 As proof of our intentions, we (as in Pat) have begun to build the enclosure for our moving trailer!   It is coming together rather well.  I'm in a continued state of awe that this is real after 2 1/2 years of waiting!  We had no idea of what we would be doing at that time!

It's coming along quickly, so I'll keep the updates coming!  We are so thankful for all the blessings of things coming together.  The sale of the house, and of other things, have felt very much like confirmation of our path. Yeah!

Random Stuff

 Rowdy missed us while we were gone.
Actually, that's probably a lie.  He was taken very good care of in our absence.
I think Pat missed Rowdy though.  They've had some nice cuddle time since we've been home.

 One thing I had forgotten to post, pre-cruise that is, was our fun with the equinox!  We were so amazed at the broom standing up, we had to try it with our kitchen stool, and it worked!!

 Pat had spent the last year, more off than on, coordinating the work for this recognition wall for our local food bank.  We were finally able to get it installed and now are only waiting on the glass that goes in front to protect it.  Pat did a LOT of work on this project and we are glad it's almost completed.

 We also have been back on task to spruce things up to sell the house.  I am hopeful once again.  Surely third time will be the charm?!  We have had fun redoing the bathroom a little.  I had wanted to redo the floor and tub area, but we weren't sure we wanted to invest that much in time or money.

Yes, after I cleaned the house today, I have the feeling of really liking this house.  I just wish it was about 3800 miles south-east from here.  Since it is not, I will have no problem whatsoever in handing the keys to another owner.  Until then, I'll just have to suffer in a beautiful home in a gorgeous setting while my husband works at his well-paying job and we hang out with great friends.

Excessive June Photos!

O.K., here goes:  June in one post! I have a lofty goal!  

 June included a visit from Mom.  One of our "must-do's" is to go to Homer.  On the way down, we just had to stop and check out this Bald Eagle in it's nest.  Pretty cool.  On our way home, we stopped in Ninilchik (nin-IL'-chick) to visit the old Russian Orthodox Church.  I was sad it was closed, but the surrounding cemetery was fascinating.

We took Mom out one evening to go camping.  We drove to a campground, but then began to walk down a trail to another spot.  We walked about a half mile, much to Mom's confusion, and came upon this cabin.  Then we surprised her and told her THIS was our spot!!  Pat went back, loaded up the boat that was at the camp, and loaded all our gear to bring back.  Mom and Pat went out fishing that evening!  I don't think they had any bites, but it was a lovely evening for cast-practice!

 Then we had s'mores!  Yummy!

It was a little breezy outside so used the "inside fire" to roast the marshmallows!

 We did take a nice hike along the lakeside trail.  Rowdy loved it, and it was a lovely hike!

 Mom and I also went out to the beach.  It was a pretty blustery day, and high tide, so we didn't spend all day there but just enough to get some fresh salt air, pick up a few pretty rocks, and get our feet wet!!

(only one of us was wearing water-proof foot-wear!)

 While Mom and I were having fun, Pat was working hard.  The fence section above is the "security fence" that he had to install.  That panel is the entirety of the fence in that area.  Pretty secure, huh?!

 The 2nd weekend of June was the Kenai River Festival in Soldotna.  Teakell Design had a booth and we had an enjoyable time at the festival.  We also did pretty well in sales and orders.  It was well worth our time and investment.

 The River Festival was literally right beside the Kenai River (naturally), so Mom took a quick pic of the world famous waters!

 Just the other day, this robin adolescent perched itself on my deck and seemed to be demanding something from me.  Unfortunately, I do not speak chirp and was unable to assist it at this time.

On June 21st, the Summer Solstice, Pat helped a buddy out by playing drums in his band.  The Free Beer Band played last, and though that's not an ideal time slot (around midnight here), we were able to sit through the bands before us! (insert mass amounts of sarcasm here)  The Funny River Backwoods Group was the band just before Pat's and the name is very applicable.  Sadly, they sounded like a 5th grade band that just learned to play their fiddle, mandolin, guitar and washboard.  Oh, and they were all flying pretty high!  Anywho...Pat's group did pretty well and the few people who were still left enjoyed some nice parting music!

 Joy is fresh cherry tomatoes!

Did we mention, our house is still for sale?  All the fabulous activities could be yours!