dipping deeper tonight Happy New Year

Had a great Christmas with family. now we are headed for the new year. and about all I can say is "ITS COLD' and supposed to dip deeper tonight. UH! Enjoy your warm weather...

I don't know where my post went I had it all written out and all that showed was the picture! wow! Molly thinks every time she hears the snow-machine start she thinks she should go. That is why she is look out the gate. Grandpa is getting ready to go groom trails.

Why can't I go?

Book Signing

I went to my first book signing last evening. It was at the museum in the big city. We book people were set up upstairs all along the walkway. It was great. I had a wonderful time. Grandpa even got into the spirit of things. It was hard on him standing so long he walked and looked at the gifts all around.
but also talked to a lot of guys about fishing and hunting boating and snow-machining. So it was a good evening in spite of the bad snow weather and treacherous roads. We saw 20 or more cars that had ditch-dived and personally saw three do it. Grandpa is a wonderful driver so I felt safe. but never know about the guy beside you or in front of you or passing you. Today it is clear but another snow front coming in Wednesday.. Oh Boy!!!

snow -snow

I went outside with my camera thinking this will be quick as the birds were flying all over one getting a seed and by the time it leaves another in its place. So in my house slippers I went out no coat, snapped the snow trees went over to the feeders and stood still. That always works. I stood and I stood kinda turning my head as I could hear the birds all in the willows chirping. Had my camera zoomed in and no darn birds! I waited my feet getting colder snowing on my head. after a few minutes I said forget it. I tried to take a picture through the window as by the time I got in the house it looked like bees swarming. only birds. inside did not work. I deleted all the pictures and put on my boots and hat and coat and went outside and waited .Finally I got one. They are quick little boogies. My camera is about worn out. I am hoping to get one with a long+ extension lens soon. Photography is another passion of mine. I hope I can remember all I learns in the photograph correspondence courses I took in the 70't! now thats a senior moment thinking. Hope you enjoy the little chickadee. They do sing pretty music when they are gathered in the Willows.
A marten has killed 3 of my chickens so I am down to three. I guess he was a hungry little thing and vicious also. I have a six foot high wire fence , around that, a three high foot chicken wire for the outside chicken coop. would be interesting to see how the marten did it. We know by the tracks around and around the chicken house that is is a marten. still snowing and I have a sink of dishes to get done. and a Moose neck in the pressure cooker cooking better go get things done.

Bear

This is one of Charlie's bears. Picture was taken in the summer time. The bear is now hibernating. Kinda what I am doing.

winter

How would you like this teddy bear to snuggle up to? winter is here. snow cold and snow and cold. I have been busy cleaning out boxes and closets and trying to get "Stuff" I don't need out of here. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.. I have been blessed with a great family and friends.

Winter Friends

Todays is my oldest son's Birthday its "Happy Birthday" to a great man that I love very much.
Winter is here and our winter friends pass through often. Coffee time for the other friends who drop by.

God bless America

Vote Tomorrow

Frozen boat launch

Winter has a cold grip on us. It is freezing the rivers tight and when we get some snow the rivers can be traveled on. Will be time to take the snow machines out and go for some riding. Oh thats Grandpa's line. We have been watching a Ruffed grouse all day in the Willows patch. She has been hanging around eating the twigs of the aspen and willow. It is always nice to watch an animal in the wild. We also had a black bear passing through several nights. smashing our neighbors trash cans. dug in my compost the tracks were around the chicken house but no sign of trying to have chicken for a snack. Our neighbor next door saw a grizzly two nights ago crossing the road in front of them on their way home about a half mile from here. I'm hoping the bears are going to their winter dens. Maybe they are waiting for the river to freeze so they can cross without getting wet!!perhaps we don't have enough snow to den in yet.!! who knows, with the world changing the animal world is slowly changing also. Our grandkids will certainly live in a different world than ours. Hopefully for the better.

Happy Halloween

Its that time again!!!So hope its a great one for everyone.
Its been cold here - degrees and the river is freezing up getting ready for the snow-machines to rumble. Pa took the snow-machine down the back trail (on land) today to check the river a little farther down to see how the river was freezing up. He can see a long way from top of the hill and by that can see where the river is freezing first. One of those guy things.
Me,!,Well have been walking and just doing things in the house. Sent 3 boxes to Iraq for service men and women. things they can use to help make their day better. I hope.
My grandson leaves for boot camp in 14 days. . He has grown into a fine young man . Makes a Grandma so very proud.
Time to hit the hot tub and soak away the old aches and pains of winter.Tonight -10 degree outside and 102 degree in the tub makes a nice mix..

Snow-snow

This wonderful man tries to lift my winter blues. The flowers are beautiful looking out to the snow falling. It has snowed all day today. I did some beading. I peeled on a piece of diamond willow. and that has about took the whole day I guess I could say daylight to dark. which is getting shorter every day. I need to go for a walk so its bundle up time and go for it.

Monday

Was a beautiful sunny cold 12 degree day. Have snow but not enough to snow-machine yet. No backing out of winter now its here. Our electricity was off for about 4 hours last night since we are at the end of the line that seems to happen quite often. No hot tub last night. but its ready tonight

Snow

Well it did it-snowed 3 inches last night. guess we are headed into winter.

Home

Arrived home after 20 days of running around visiting. Seems I was in the car more than I was resting. I visited my daughter and grandchildren, then on to see my sisters, than on to see my son and grand-daughter and than back down and around to stay with my daughter for a few more days. -trying to get some rest. The weather was HOT altho I was not out in it as I was in the A/C car and A/C house or A/C Casino, The Casino (boat) was a Birthday gift from my Son to me a wonderful dinner and Casino evening. It was fun. and very enjoyable to eat, talk, cry and laugh. My daughter and I spent evenings talking and laughing and usually cooking and picking up after the two little ones and seeing the teen once in a while when she emerged out of her room.
It was a nice 20 days. My little sis was my driver so we spent a lot of time laughing and talking. (with a bit of good wine) We did stop at another Casino and left four dollars with them. I'm a big gambler.
I got home in time for the second frost and finished up my garden and putting outside stuff away for winter. Don't know if I am ready for another winter here. Mexico sounds so nice.. BUT>>>>>>the snow-machine engines are ready to hit the trails.
Just talked to a friend--Charlie the Bear Man said it snowed at his Lake today..thats just a few miles away.. Am I ready for this?

My grandson enlisted in the Army - August 4- 2008 - America offers so many opportunities in so many forms. He has always from the time he was a little boy wanted to be a solider. I am so very proud. He will be able to go to College while making the Army his chosen career. What a great country we live in and our service men and women keep it safe. They are a very brave."Lets all keep them in our prayers"

Alaska is very excited about our Governor possible being the V.P. of the wonderful USA. I know she will make a great V.P.
She has set an example to million of children " You can do anything you want to, with dedication and honesty and lots of hard work.
When she made her speech at the convention and it showed her proud Momma and Daddy tears stream down my face. I could see the pride they felt for their Sara. I knew Mr. Heath when he was teaching my son Billy in the 6th grade. Mr. Heath was the best teacher I ever knew (beside my Mom). He was strict and the kids listened to him and learned what he taught. He was respected by all his class. When I voted for Sara as Governor. I told folks If Mr. Heath raised his children as he taught the children in the class room I know she will be great as a governor. Family is important in life and I have been lucky to also have a great family.
I bought the book "Sara" when it first came out, its a great book. Really all the media would have to do is read it and know all there is to know about her life.-- I guess thats too easy.

We are such a scattered extended family. I wouldn't have it any other way. It certainly gives us places to fly and visit. A great reason to really go. What better way to know you have a love one at the end of the trip. I love family. I love travel. Sometimes you just gotta say I am going. The veggies are all caned and frozen, stuff put away for winter and even had a sunny break to mow the yard. Then there are times when no one is there to meet you but you know its a great planed vacation and thats OK too. I hope to have that one again before its the final- final approach for me. Mexico again!! I recommend the sunny beaches. and the wonderful people you meet along the way. Senior moments creeping in. !!!! ...

Mom's Birthday

September 1-
1906-2006


"Like branches on a tree we grew in different directions yet our roots remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a special part of the other"

Memories

Memories are captures in an image that will be forever in my heart.

Peas and Taters

Its that time of the years, leaves are beginning to turn and vegetables are to be harvested. I have gathered and frozen a lot peas and still have blooms on the vines ,peas you take out of the hull and snow peas. I just took my neighbor who sells most of my books a basket of snow peas.My next door neighbor came over the other day and picked a basket of snow peas to cook and freeze. I dug these potatoes because I was walking on the vine gathering peas. so I eliminated three hills of taters. I won't dig any more until the frost gets the vines. I haven't harvested any cabbage yet. The heads are as large as basketballs now and still growing. I'll have cabbage, kraut and more cabbage. I always plant too much Cabbage, I suppose my neighbors will like too. My neighbor is going to the pick-your-own farm with me when the zucchini is ready (the last frost got mine the end of May) I hope I can get her to stop by the state fair for a couple of hours.
The Carhartt Brothers are playing music tomorrow night at the fair I would love to go (I know the band) besides everyone needs to wear carhartt's and that just fine with me. (Alaskan -Men's tuxedo /woman evening attire.) I will be in black.

VOTE TOMORROW...Will a change of guard make any difference?

Cauliflower

Freezing Cauliflower this afternoon, been out in the garden pulling weeds and picking some peas and this Cauliflower is the one I picked today got one more in the garden and that will be finished , peas are next. The Cabbage is growing and the Brussels sprouts and Potatoes will stay in the garden until first frost.
I hauled dirt for another Poppy bed and ordered some more poppy seeds. Hope to get them to grow next summer....summer..
The two baby chicks are getting their feathers and are feisty. Soon I will introduce them to the other chickens. So they can all winter together. Sounds as if my water is boiling. gotta go freeze up the rest of the cauliflower.

Molly

Molly peeking around the corner of the door, asking if she can come in. Molly in..She is such a sweet dog. and has mellowed out so much since I got her. she now walks beside me without a lease and heels and sits when walking. altho I have not met another dog with her off the lease so I don't know what she would do. Today started out rain but is sunny now so thats a cue to go fro my walk with Molly..
We ate the green cauliflower last night really good has a sweet taste. I had to bring all of them in as they were ready to use. I hope one will keep good enough to the 20th to take to the State fair. Have my krazy-quilt (wall hanging) finished. Pa wants me to enter it in the fair as it is pretty unusual but haven't decided yet.
Truck has arrived with building supplies for Saturdays river run so gotta go take care of that.

The cauliflower (it is a pale green down in the wrapped around leaves in the picture it looks white but is not) is the one of 6 that is growing in my garden, Have been trying to figure out what type it is. I think it is a Romanesco type. It is very interesting to me and all my neighbors. So we are all watching it. Perhaps I will have a tasting garden party.
The flower with the bumble-bees is a wild Arnica. I dug some up at Moose Creek many years ago and they do spread like a daisy. Very beautiful.
Have been busy canning salmon. I caned up 48 pints Tuesday and Wednesday was little town day for supplies and Thursday was big city day for VA appointments for Gramps. Today I am freezing white cauliflower. Have already frozen up all my broccoli.
Peas are coming on and Cabbage and Potatoes growing. First of August. where has our no summer gone?

WHAT IS THIS?

I have searched the internet and came up with a natalino romanesco Cauliflower . altho their picture is greenish yellow. mine is purplish green. Is it the same.? and different color because of growing conditions or weather? My green house lady friend had never seen one. I bought the starters at Lowe's and the tag had nothing like this suppose to be white cauliflower. All my neighbors are watching this thing grow and wondering if its editable? I am thinking of entering it in the fair. just cause I can!!!
The web page says its French. They grow in France and sold in the markets in France. DOES ANYONE KNOW??????The first picture is off the net the next two is my mystery cauliflower.

I knew I had to do it

Today turned out to be a nice day and I put on my big girl panties and was outside about all day. Well maybe it was my car-hart pants. I smiled at the Sun-God and I blessed our cool weather and rain too. Said I was sorry I know we needed it. It was good for my broccoli and cauliflower. So I picked some spinach -froze up 3 meals. and Broccoli I have lost count and 3 meals of cauliflower. I still have lots in the garden I will freeze up tomorrow and Sunday. Monday I have to get ready for fish. We have our subsistence permit for 30 reds, that will be enough to smoke and can. The fish are running heavy so hopefully it will be a good day for Larry and the fish-wheel.
I shoveled 5 wheel-barrells of dirt to my new flower bed also. This morning I had to go out early to the chicken house and get the rooms separated as the baby chicks hatched yesterday and I had to separate the other chickens from the momma and chicks. Two eggs out of three hatched. They are so cute. The two are doing really well running around eating and drinking water but Momma hen stays really close to them. She is a good Momma Hen..

I am tired and ready for evening .

RAIN__RAIN

!!!YEEKS!!!!!! NOT YET ------ TERMINATION DUST!!!!!on the Mountain tops!!! Yep! its true.. I think I will just crawl in a hole until next spring.

Rain Rain Rain----I guess we needed it. I think we have enough now. We need some sunshine.
I have been working on my crazy quilt. you know a crazy woman working on a crazy quilt, makes it crazy and this rain is making me about half crazy so me and this crazy quilt is working good together.

Leaf and raindrops --It has rained all night and all day and may just keep it up for a few more days unless the wind changes..not likely. I am busy doing -just doing. Went down to the river when grandpa took some friends fishing. Yes! in the rain. The river is still running really low. Should be coming up by tomorrow.
Not much going on here in the North at this moment so will say "Adios"

WEll! $250.00 tow and a $1,800.00 repair job this Math does not add up. Bad Day.

some days boating are worse than others. This was not a good day. I believe rocks and sandbar got in the way while towing a boat.

The swallows are getting ready for their flight south. This picture is the baby sitting looking out for days. I watched Momma come and try and coach the baby to fly. She would feed it to get it healthy. for about 3 days the baby looked out to the big world. One morning I was out under the bird house weeding and I look up to see the baby take its first flight., hoping it would keep flying, it did not. It landed in the driveway. I went over picked it up put it in the yard in the daisies Some bird babies land out of the nest on the ground its called fledging. Its when they are not ready to fly but think they are. (kinda like teen agers) They also have to grow the right amount of plumage to fly. I looked every morning to see if it was still alive and one morning there were two babies. They had gotten up on the branch of a flower so I knew they were getting stronger. I watched as the parents feed them every day, myself glad there were no cats in the neighborhood watching hope they would be safe. wishing I could help. They became stronger every day and one morning I checked and they were gone. So the babies and parents are ready to go..Sometimes I see 20 or 30 flying in the sky above the yard I would guess they gather the flock from all over the neighborhood before taking off to go South. What is your opinion?
Sunny today with white fluffy clouds. Grandpa is headed to Heweitt Lake with about 5 stops along the way to deliver a few barrels of fuel and lumber, a couch and some wire. Myself--gotta find something to do I guess watch my garden grow and try and get some weeds pulled out of the flowers. I have the weeds under control in the food garden. I also will pull and put up second growth of Rhubarb to freeze up. So guess I will have a busy day after-all.

My garden is growing- I have been moving dirt for a strawberry bed-transplanting- for next year. It is rainy the past two days we needed it. Life is good.

As I was coming home yesterday from shopping in town I saw the Mountain out. I hurried to a place where I could stop and take a picture. Sometimes I can see the top and by the time I get to where I can see the whole mountain the clouds have covered it, that has happens so many times. so quick. Yesterday I was lucky, but not lucky enough to have a better camera to take far away scenery. I would love to have a long lens. I am thankful for what I do have. The mountain is so awesome even after seeing it thousands of times over the years it still amazes me. Is it because I wonder what is on the other side???
Have a safe 4th of July. We have been blessed with such a great country to live in and our freedom to celebrate our holidays.

Went to the big city today for V.A. appointment --early had to leave here at 6;30 so that was getting up at 5;30 AM. Made it today because with CRS we both got up yesterday AM and was getting ready to walk out the door and realized it was not ;July 1-...duh!! We were back home by noon. So I am behind in my sleep and grouchy!!!., It was 38 degree this morning but turned out to be a beautiful day and I have been out talking to my plants they are enjoying the sunshine.
Must be time to cook Grandpa just came in so I will say good-night

"THE LAST FRONTIER' Happy Birthday Alaska .Its been 50 years of Statehood.
Alaskans celebrated last night watching the Judd's perform at Elemndorf Air Force Base in Anchorage and it also was shown all over the world. Alaskans lived up to their rowdy image. Hope you caught it on your T.V. thats how I watched it. They put on a great show. Today the Thunderbirds will be flying over Anchorage putting on a great show I am sure. I live too far to attend but will also watch part of it on T.V. A lot of stuff is going on in Anchorage for the birthday celebration. Statehood was 15 years old when I first arrived. I have seen lots of changes in the last 35 years.
Today is the yearly homeowners meeting. Grandpa is on the river as last year and gets out of going so I must go to see what is going on or changes being made. Cloudy again today and rain yesterday evening. I don't have to water the yard or garden so thats good.

I don't own any horses this was such a beautiful unique picture I had to put it on my blog. The horse belongs to a friend of a friend. My friend owns the colt from this horse. I guess thats the correct way to put it. I really wanted my Texas Dancer friend to see this picture she living in Texas has been around horses a lot. This one (the horse) lives in Utah. Anyway no matter how I put it all Its is so beautiful.
Today is a beautiful warm day. I got up at 5:30 AM (went back to bed) I looked out it was 38 degree. When I got up at 8:30 it was setting on 70 degree. I cut some high weeds today and went to the P.O. came home ate a $2.75 avocado for lunch -half of it Grandpa ate the other half. Yesterday I gave Molly a bath (my dog) She had ran with a neighbor dog and played in the silty river so it was bath time when she came home. She needed a bath anyway and brushed as she is shedding.
My garden is looking good. Potatoes are up and growing. Looks as if I will have a lot of cabbage again this year.
The hosta plants are looking good after transplanting. If they make it through the winter it should be good.
gotta go--Hasta-la-vista

A little rain, a little sun, makes my garden say "This is fun"
of course long days helps too. I got 6 Hosta plants yesterday, so today I need to find a space for them. Ok, so I went a little crazy walking among the plants yesterday. I don't go to town very often - Gas $4.46 gallon- usually my sister is up here and we go green-houing really often and get our fix. but not this year she is in the mid-west remodeling her house. Grandpa is going to Hewitte Lake again today -long run. Today is going to be a so-so day clouds and sun more clouds than sun but will take what I can get--as it is getting closer to seeing the white stuff. UG! Can I drag Grandpa to Mexico in October? oops that was a silly senior moment.- gotta go plant before I forget what I need to do.

Alaska Summer Solstice--At least 19 hours of daylight..It was 42 degree this morning it warmed up and we have had sunshine most of the day, with a shower of rain for just a little while. That was really nice. I hope summer is really here. Flowers are blooming and garden is growing, we had our first dinner of fresh broccoli out of the garden tonight.
My friend brought me this pink flower already blooming (she works in a green house) wish I could remember the name of this beautiful flower. I had blue and purple flowers blooming in my cottage garden so this pink really livened it up. The iris are also beginning to bloom.
I have harvested my rhubarb and froze it up in two cup baggies. We have had two fresh rhubarb crunch desserts. from Mom's cook book. It is so good. also one rhubarb and strawberry pie.
Gotta close this off and get out in the beautiful sunshine.