6.24.2008

Garage begun

After removing a light pole, the excavation on the garage foundation began! They had to remove the asphalt before leveling the ground and adding more gravel.


They then dug in a "french drain" concept for the drainage of the interior of the garage. It was here that the phone line was first cut. Later it was cut again and was only repaired yesterday. As this is my internet connection as well, this explains my lack of entries!


This was the late night midnight sky a few days ago. The moon is over the trees. It's a bit obnoxious! I have taken an opportunity to plant some of my free flowers and landscape around my fabulous greenhouse! Note the sweet puppies in the background in their almost completed new kennel.
On a final note, we went to the summer solstice music festival the other night. I was annoyed by being solicited by 6-year-old, doe-eyed girls to buy popcorn for their swim team (I think). Pat took the opportunity to bargain and the 3rd time a girl came by, he talked her into selling him 2 bags for $1, instead of 1 bag for $1. At first I was a bit shocked and almost embarrassed, but then proud of my husband for turning the tables on the parents or adults who have sent out these sweet, unknowing children to manipulate an emotional response to buy popcorn. He was anticipating one of those adults to come and confront him and was rather excited about it, but was disappointed in the lack of response from the booth from which the popcorn came! We had a nice laugh about it, though!

6.11.2008

First Fire!


Yes, it's June and we are starting fires in our NEW woodstove! Pat got it installed yesterday, so we've begun to cure it. It's still a bit chilly in the mornings, so it is nice to cut that chill. Plus, we're just excited! I don't think Bella will like it too much, though. Too toasty for her!

6.07.2008

Rowdy Adventures!


Once we got Rowdy off the plane and let him be relieved, he has made himself quite at home!

Rowdy has remembered all his old commands and has been surprisingly easy. We love him! Bella has now reconciled his presence and they are playing well!

5.26.2008

Memorial Weekend/Anniversary Canoe Trip

We took our annual trip in this year and went on a trek to Camp Island Lake. We shared our trip this year with Bella. She did very well considering it was her first trip. She only needed a couple firm corrections and behaved like an angel afterwards!

It began to rain in the above picture, and by the time we made it to Camp Island, it was coming in waves. Pat made us a shelter and a fire which we enjoyed with a nap! After a rest, we braved the wind and rain to head back. Fortunately, it got better instead of worse, so we were thankful. We ended up going the entire way out on Saturday, in part so we wouldn't have to sleep with a wet dog in the tent!

5.21.2008

Built!


Pat finished my greenhouse today, so I promptly began the transport of all the plants in our "dining room" to the greenhouse! I have been working them outside little by little so tonight is their first night out all night!


Not only do I have places to put my plants, I also have a bench to work on, a spare shelf, and a guard dog to protect it all!

5.13.2008

Can We Build It?!!!

YES WE CAN!
(homage to my nephew Toby!)




Up goes my new greenhouse made from the remnants of our lower deck! This project was done on a whim and should be finished by tonight or tomorrow night! (Notice the decreasing ice in the lake, which on Sunday completely disappeared!)

5.08.2008

Woodchuck



How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Bella doesn't know!

5.03.2008

Working Hard! (Or Hardly Working?)

Apparently, he actually does work when he goes away! Thanks to his safety man, we have proof! I guess it was 10*F with 20+ mph winds that made it feel like -14*F. I won't complain about our weather again! Thanks, Mr. Schults!

Love

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,...For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?"

Who are you actively loving today? Are you loving people who are confused by it? Can you get past their "sinful nature" to love the people God created? If not, are you better with your own sinful nature? Is your love conditional? These are questions that I've been asking myself lately. Do they know we are Christians by our love? From what I've heard, "they" don't. Yet! It all starts with love. I seem to not be able to find when we can stop loving or when we are excused from loving someone. Hmmmm. Tough sometimes!

Just a glimpse into my heart lately.

4.30.2008

Guerrilla Gardening!

guerrillagardening.org I love this! I think we should all participate! What a lovely thing to do. Perhaps it could be done in a forgotten place at a nursing home, church yard, day-care center, etc. Serious Flower Power!

4.25.2008

Spring is Coming!

The first dandelion leaf is visible! That is one weed that will truly grow anywhere!
Here you can see the ground beginning to show! I'm so excited!

I thought we weren't in Kansas anymore. The wind began to take our "garage" away last night. Lest I start to believe Spring is really here, it also began to snow a bit this morning. Fortunately, the temps are above freezing so it shouldn't stick. This is when y'all can brag about your weather. We are also having serious haze that keeps the mountains from being very visible. The haze is from China & Russia from wind storms in the Gobi Desert, industrial smog, & wild fires. Crazy! Apparently, every spring we collect a vast amount of the world's pollution (yes, even your smog & fire debris make it up here Californians!).

4.17.2008

Fabulous Fuel?


The way I figure it, we must have some of the most pristine, high-end, amazing fuel to have it cost this much. This station is one we use that is less than 2 miles from our house and about 2 miles, or less, from the Tesoro refinery from which it receives its fuel. How fortunate we are to have such perfect fuel!

4.11.2008

April Showers?





I didn't think it was the snow showers that brought the May flowers...
Still, it was beautiful! I just hope it melts fast. We were just beginning to see the ground in places. Ah, well. This IS Alaska!

4.08.2008

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!


Pat can now have his wife back since her Jayhawks have won the National Championship!

4.06.2008

Sawin' on

Pat continues to find wood to cut. Saw 0n, my love, saw on.

4.02.2008

Wood for...



We've been blessed with an abundance of wood to cut and a free Stihl chainsaw from a friend! Pat has been having lots of fun sawing down the trees and then splitting it with his new heavy wood-splitter! Bella just likes to be in sight of one of us!

3.28.2008

CROSSFIRE


Pat has transformed the upstairs "barbie" room into his Crossfire office. He is currently reloading as I type! I think it's his new favorite place to be.

3.22.2008

Heckipotter!


For those non-Penner's, that's what Marc used to call Helicopters! Ahhh, cute!
This is how Pat came home last week.


These are the bright survival suits are called "float coats" since they are used primarily to find bodies if there happens to be a crash. Unfortunately for Pat, the chopper rides are rather anticlimactic compared to the small Cessna planes used to cross the inlet.

Ridin' along in my automobile....

This was a before/after shot of the tile work I did for a couple weeks! Tile-scraping is not fun.