Catching Up

As of late, we've been full-on into the various projects and activities of summer. Helping Bill with a barn extension for more hay for the horses has been on our recent to-do list. I am learning a lot from Greg and Bill about building, and it's nice to see it coming together. Currently, we've got all the rafters up on the frame, attached with hurricane brackets, and blocked. Next, we will put up 1 x 4's and get ready to get the tin on the roof. Apart from the pesky sweat bees that INSIST on repeatedly biting me on the tender skin right behind my knees every time, I am thoroughly enjoying myself.



Sonny, ever curious as to the goings-on in his pasture.

Still smiling (and hugging) after Day One. I must be doing okay:)

The Boys

Some FREAKY growths we found on a leaf outside the house...a brief google image search yielded no answers..any guesses???

I LOVE my job! (Caring for a house currently not lived-in, and I either have to cut all these after they've died and wilted, or BEFORE so at least we get to enjoy them, and in the process encourage more flowering; win-win!) Daisies, phlox, echinacea, all kinds of lillies, hostas, and other flowers I haven't yet learned.

Rafters up!

Greg and I enjoyed our 4th of July weekend with some friends at a campground called Loafer's Glory. This is an annual trip for them, and it was fun to go along, and see what it was all about. We got a beautiful campsite right next to the Toe River and were absolutely SPOILED with a banquet at every meal thanks mostly to Anne and Leslie; a caterer, and cook extraordinare. Smoked sausages, burgers, roasted pork loin stuffed with goat cheese, peach cobbler, omelets, roasted vegetables galore...'wow' is all I can say.

Greg and I had a lovely Saturday afternoon on the cataraft with some other friends, while the rest stayed behind to tube all day. The most relaxing and fun weekend I've had in a while!

People say this is where the indians used to tan their deer hides.

New friend, Dean, and Jesse, Greg's old Nolichuckie guiding buddy who we just happened to run into at the campground!!! I just love chance meetings!

Let me tell you, I felt like a QUEEN up there just enjoying the view!

Dean running the first big rapid

I love this picture; Greg and I craning our necks to see what we're about to get ourselves into. It's nerve-racking not being able to steer! I just had to hold on and hope my seat didn't pop off!

Hmm..we look a little sideways, but Greg actually ran it perfectly! No swimming for me:) Not yet, anyway..

Little Sweetie, Eli; this little guy tubed the river--TWICE!!

Our beautiful view of the Toe River from our campsite. At least 2 hours on Sunday morning were spent just sitting quietly in the river, and on rocks soaking up the last of our sunny, fun weekend together..

Is that Greg, LOAFING????

"This is the rarest form of the species Gregarious Parrishosious. You can catch him doing this only on some holidays, when forced, or maybe after a big meal, but it is short-lived and you will have to act fast to capture it." This was just before he got antsy and had to get up and go fish:)

THANK YOU, LOAFER'S GLORY. :D (Sorry it's sideways :( )

Back Home for a Visit

I was a very lucky girl, indeed to get to return home after (what felt like) a very long absence. I hadn't been back since the wedding, and that was just too darn long!! Thanks to a very understanding husband, I took off without him and got to catch up with the family and hometown for almost two weeks.

{ Momma moose with two calves on the way to Copper Center; I am home!}

{Mom and I went to the girls' Track & Field Day my first morning home; NOTHING'S changed at that school! Even the old dusty taxidermy is still on top of the lockers :) }

{Seth was enjoying the runner's snacks, especially the golfish, immensely}

{Did I run out????}

{ Coach Mom :) }

{Seth saw a boy climbing the goalpost and was struggling to get a leg up on his own; he was delighted when we helped him!}

{ Moriah jettin' past}

{ Grace in the relay}

{Gloria trying to outrun those boys!}

{A nice evening drive with Anny and the boys in the Ranger; stopping to look at the river's progress in breaking up}

{Yep. Still frozen.}

{Grandma Fran with Buddha and Simon}

{Papa's reluctant, new aquaintance; not so reluctant with a nice piece of moose}

The trip home was wonderful and good for the soul. I loved catching up with my siblings, and especially my nieces and nephews. We were able to take a few little adventures together, and got to bury time capsules one day in the woods. Visiting other family, cousins and my aunt and uncle , was also some much-needed catching up.

Moose jerky was made and brought home. It's always good to have an edible souvenier from home:) It was exciting to think about all the work that was about to get underway (and some was already underway at Heidi's!) after I left, but I kept wishing I could stay and help so as not to miss out. Many changes have already happened since I left, so thank goodness for pictures! (And not just with building, but babies being born!!! :D Ever finally got to meet her little brother...)

Waiting for the river to go out was somewhat maddening, with it's later-than-usual exit, and water having to be pumped out of basements on a daily basis. The water table sunk to below basement level right before I left, and finally, the river went out a few days later.

Thank God for a safe trip, loving family to visit, and a wonderful husband to come home to. I can't wait to see everyone, and Gakona again.~

Garden Tour

The growing season is long and varied here. Summer will soon be upon us, but spring has a few phases left to show off, still. The daffodils and violets out front have been replaced by spunky, new white blooms, and I can see more new perrenials poking their little heads out. Can't wait to find out what they are! Presenting a short tour of the "garden"; I use that term loosely, as only a few photos are really of the spring garden.

A load of newly hatched little spiders suddenly swarmed the sweet peas.

Pretty, new mystery blooms

Hello, Chickens!




Healthy eggs come from Happy Chickens:)

Spring garden left to right;

Spinach, Garlic, Kale, Arugula and leaf lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower

*I tried "lasagna gardening," (layering compost and cardboard to minimize weeds) but didn't let it sit long enough before planting. It does still help, though.

Kale, Wonder Food
*a farmer friend juices it and takes a shot every morning; loaded with vitamins!

Baby Berries!!! :D

Iris from Greg...sooooo close to blooming-can't wait!

~Sharing the view~

Greg breaking ground on the summer garden while chickens help.

Beautiful Soil!

Finally got the potatoes in here after these pictures! A row of Yukon Gold, and one of Adirondack (beauuutiful royal purple potaotes with white streaks. They look tie-dyed!)

~

Greg's 32nd

Greg turned 32 on Monday! We celebrated on Sunday with the family at Lake James with Greg's mom, dad and younger sister, Jesse Ruth.

We had a nice picnic in the shade, and spent the rest of the day paddling on the lake and visiting on the dock in the sunshine.

Happy Birthday to my Husband!!

A very curious duck

~Back Home~

He is happy, but that might be a fake smile:)

Spring Trees in the Yard

Color Show.. ~ Beautiful Spring Trees ~

~Our friend J.J. enticing the Ladies to the coop~