Late Summer to Fall

It's been a busy couple of months.  Life has been full. 

All good, but I'm excited about the shorter days and a slower winter pace ahead of us. 

It's that crazy time of year when you can feel winter approaching; the "to-do before it snows" list is long, but you also want to pick berries, fish, hike...  

Oh, and fit in work.. and looking after a 2-yr old...

And, the weather has not been cooperating...

Berries were great this year.  

We picked about 5 gallons of blueberries and a couple of gallons of cranberries.  

Not sure how many (gallons of) berries Isla, Calvin and Peter consumed..

A train-set can double the productive berry picking time! 

 I'm now nearly 5 months pregnant, and we came in for a checkup in Anchorage in September.  Peter, Maggie and I left Dustin in Anchorage to work, and we headed off on a 5-day road trip.  

I wanted to see some big country again, and really needed to get into some high tundra.. but, I had my doubts whether solo-camping with a 2 yr old and 9 month puppy would be a holiday.  Turns out it was.

We had a wonderful time.  Lots of great hiking and exploring.  Some sun, some rain.  Great to be reminded of how big Alaska is, and incredible to be in high country again. 

There is a moose in the greenhouse at Sheep Mountain Lodge!

 Turns out it rains in the interior as well!  

Behind Peter in the above picture is the ridge I had such wonderful memories of hiking with Dustin after Adrian and Dan's wedding.  It's by Fielding Lake, and once you get to the top.. you can walk and see for miles.  It really feels like you are somewhere much much further from the road system. 

Of course my memories of the hike with Dustin were of an easy ascent... and it was much much harder hauling a 2 year old... But, we made it.  And, it made my summer!  I felt soo alive and free up there, and Peter was a trooper.  Unfortunately.. Peter dropped my camera in the river before the hike (we started the hike having to wade through a thigh-high creek in the picture above...).. so, I only have blurred pictures of this special day...

We had the energy rating done on our house this spring.. and so started tackling the list of projects. 

Luckily we had incredible help from Darin.  He replaced (and made larger) the front windows in the house.   It took 4 people to get the windows down the trail and in... but, they make such a difference both in light and warmth. 

Marshmallows!

Mushroom hunting with Vera and Calvin

We finally removed the old incinerator toilet, and plugged up that chimney.  And, we also moved the wood stove chimney... from the roof to out the wall.   

Hopefully that will help avoid damage from snow slides this winter.

The lagoon Fall brush burning party!  We had a magical evening for the bonfire.  Peter really enjoyed helping put wood on the fire.  And, Nikki and Ed made it down from Fairbanks to join us.

 More marshmallows... Stephen, Casey, Ria, and Peter

Our perfect day.  

Weather, kids and mum's energy all came together...and Vera and I made it up to Crater Lake with the two boys.  It took 7 hours, and it was a day we'll never forget.  Glorious weather, clear alpine lake, flowers, a quick swim.  It was perfect. 

Playing chase in the tundra

Snow ball fights and sliding

Admiring the view

We made it!!

Tired boys on the way home...

It's been all about trains recently, and Maggie has to be in the middle of it.

John came to visit.   Poor John, he came during the snowpacolypse, and then came for 10 days of torrential rain.  I've heard 80, and 90 inches of rain in the last month.  Either way.. it's half the annual average of rain Cordova gets.. and way too much.  You could almost feel the house rotting around you, and we started to feel like we were living on an old wooden boat... and I don't like boats!

Peter and Grandpa had lots of great time together... reading, going to the gym, swimming, playing trains.  A very special time. 

We managed to get our two new oil tanks in down the trail.   

Peter spotted the route for Dustin and Grandpa.  

You don't want to fall off the boardwalk now!

 John and Dustin installed a fan in the bathroom

Darin... installing the oil tanks.  I don't know what we would have done without Darin this summer... he made the windows, chimney and oil tank shed happen...dealing with carrying things up and down the trail, and all the cruddy weather.  THANK YOU Darin- you're amazing!

Our first clear day to get firewood (in the mud!)

 We had great tides and weather for a few days..and alot of wonderful help from friends.  And, were able to get firewood and oil into the lagoon.  And, old windows, carpet, trash, and an old satellite dish out of the lagoon.  Yay!

Karen, Chelsea, and Kevin came to do heavy lifting, get firewood in, and trash out.  

 Thanks to all of you!

 Avery is home!  A damp, but beautiful outing at Hartney Bay. 

New oil tanks shed takes form, and buckets of gravel from the beach were brought up

 Karin came for a week...and it still poured.  We got out for a quick kayak, but apart from that.. Karen worked on the oil plumbing with Dustin.  Oil was hooked up the last day of her visit... and the boiler works! Thank you Karin!

Some puddle jumpers made it up to the Reservoir.  

The kids all did so well. They are becoming good hikers.

And, finally sun!  

Incredible how one beautiful day can erase all those negative memories.  Ducks are passing through, the sea-otters are back in good numbers, silver salmon are now in the stream, and we even had Northern Lights last night!