Pella Build: Week 1

This has been an interesting week!  We have been introduced to Pella, Iowa and several of it's lovely people, specifically ones who have an interest in what we are doing!  

What are we doing, you ask?  Why, let me tell you!

We are doing a lot of discussing, planning, figuring, thinking, explaining and the like.

We are doing a lot of calling, driving, searching, measuring, searching again...(though this fabulous category mostly falls to Adam).

We are doing a moderate bit of fitting, tacking, welding, grinding, cutting and other metal work.

We are doing some axle breakdown, break replacement, gasket replacement, differential examinations, and more fun auto-learning things.

We are doing some website design, logo research, timelapse photography, web design research, and even some marketing book purchasing.

 And by "we" I do mean "we!"
Notice my dedication to working: I put my work gloves on my head so the hood will fit. 

 Yes, I have had the privilege of getting into a little bit of everything, and I am learning a ton.  I feel a little bit like I'm on overload with it all, but I'll catch up.  We are working long hours, naturally.  You know how Pat is...never a moment without something to do!  I'm trying to keep up with him, but I'm enjoying a blissful moment of internet connection (thank you wb0rn, whose connection I'm using!), to catch you all up on our super exciting and immensely glamorous life right now.

We did get to take a fun trip with our Leader, Don and his family to a pumpkin patch this last Sunday.

 I'm not entirely sure how these are related, so I just leave it to your imagination.

 Hay Jumping has become a new favorite sport among those 4 feet and shorter.  We all took a turn and will probably be coughing the last of the hay dust from our lungs in a few short weeks.

 Taking a hay-less-rack-ride out to the pumpkin patch was a fun activity, with so many sizes and colors to whisk away those boring bills inside one's wallet.  I found a perfect sized one: it fit inside the palm of my hand, but upon further inspection, the squishy-ness of it caused me to decide to save my coins.

 Fortunately for Don and Erin, their 5 kiddo's were all about finding their perfect pumpkin!  I believe they settled for a family representative, and I was impressed by their satisfaction of the singular choice.

 This place seemed to scream Where the Wild Things Are to me, and no more so than when I spotted the fort/teepee made of corn.  We spent the evening exploring the hay train, complete with bell...

 ...and you know Pat was all about the goat education.  Being the frugal folk that we are, Pat showed the kids how to pick up the corn that was left by other obviously financially irresponsible people.  Later we found out the corn was free.  Still, a lesson on waste was learned, maybe.  We finished the evening with a fire and roasted hotdogs and Smores.  A really lovely day off!

 Back to work...things have slowly and methodically progressed.

There have been lots of notes taken and prints consulted.  

 Then this week, Don and I went to an in-town office due to the lack of internet service (except for now!!), and have been working in this super adorable and historic upper level space!  Those stairs are just about the most amazing thing ever.  I love them.  And then look at the view from the windows!

 Seriously the most adorable town I have ever been in.  I think they all mow their yards on the same day and everything.  In this downtown area there is a clock tower that chimes the quarter hours and then on the hour, it plays about 5-6 minutes worth of tunes.  I found myself singing along to "Home on the Range!"

 This place is just too cute.  There are some really fun shops that I may just have to visit one of these days.  Lot's of antiques, a couple coffee shops, gift stores and other quaint shops line the fabulously non-parallel parking streets!  I'm kinda watching for the "Truman Show" staff to accidentally show themselves...

 Yesterday we got to go on a "field trip" to Vermeer production facility, just down the road.  We were able to see a large factory structure and how they operated a $1 billion company.  It was really interesting.  It may be a few years before Vytrak gets to this level, but I could see one thing that we could totally take away from our trip:

Rainbows, Hiking, and Trailers (normal stuff, you know!)

 It seems to be raining a lot lately.  I hadn't noticed as much, but our Pastor who moved here from central California noticed!  With all the rain come spectacular rainbows!  There have been many lately, and most don't last too long.  One morning I went for a walk with Rowdy in the drizzle and saw the most brilliant full rainbow with a half double, similar to the one above.  If it never rains, you never see all this beauty!

 On a much more clear day, Pat and I took a familiar hike up Skyline Trail.  It's a mile trek up to a saddle and another 1/3 up to the top of the peak.  The fall colors weren't in full change like they are now, but Skyline is always a beautiful place to be.  It was such a clear day, we could see Denali off in the distance!  (We are pretty sure)

 Rowdy had a fantastic time on the hike!  He gets a little arthritic, but with a bit of assistance in the pill form, you'd never know it!  It keeps him out and active, and now with Bella gone, it's nice to keep him with us!

Now to the summer project finale: Pat's 16' trailer.  It has been carefully crafted and meticulously made to do whatever we need it to do.  And it's pretty!

 Note the inset eye-bolts for sturdy strapping, yet not in the way of the load.

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!