We recently had a stretch of about 5 weeks of amazing weather.
Really amazing.
The hottest summer I've had in the last 20 years.
Mum and dad timed their trip perfectly, and their visit felt more like a Mediterranean get-away than an Alaskan summer. We spent a very full 2.5 weeks together. Here are some highlights:
Long story.. but, we lost our smoke house last Fall.
Dustin and dad built a new, collapsable one together.
We ate every meal outside, followed by a fire each evening.
We spent a full couple of days processing fish. Wonderful to have the extra hands!
The day it hit 90 degrees, we decided to find the secret meadow we've been dreaming of accessing. Armed with clippers, we made a trail through the forest, and found ourselves in a magical fairy-land of meadows and lily pools. I'm excited to have more places to walk Maggie without getting in a car.
Perfect temperature water for swimming
Leif is now smiling and laughing. He's a content little guy.
Calvin, Finn and Peter after a game of croquet at Michelle's house.
Finn is spending a large chunk of the summer in the lagoon, and it's great to have a 4yr old next door. The boys are in and out of the two houses, it's perfect.
We ran an extension cord up to the Shed, and mum and dad made tea and had breakfast up the hill each morning before joining family chaos at home.
Solstice bonfire on our beach.
Granny with her hands full!
Mum and I had a couple of wonderful kayaks together.
Incredible conditions.
Dad tackled lots of home projects. We chopped and stored enough wood for next winter, and dad painted the back steps.
Mum and dad looked after the boys for 7 hrs while Dustin and I did a long paddle down the Eyak.
We got out onto the Delta. Wonderful old cabin, swallow nests and hundreds of iris in flower. A different world.
Catching hermit crabs on the beach
Dad baptized Leif. Auntie Liz is godmother and Tom Fondell is godfather.
We joined Vera, Calvin and Connie for a hike into Pipeline Lakes.
And, had the most amazing swim I've ever had in Alaska.
Perfect temperatures, deep clear water. The boy's energy was wonderful, there were no bugs, but there was a nice breeze, and it was sunny. When does that ever all happen at the same time!
Mum and I tackled making noose carpets for catching auklets this summer.
I was able to get some more work done to prepare for the summer seabird camps, and got most of the field gear ready and mailed off.
The pools above the house dried up!
Sundew is still thriving
The boardwalk in is looking lush and beautiful
Summer in Cordova!
Biking over the meadow to go swimming and kayaking
The lagoon gang.
Far from being off the beaten path, the lagoon is a magnet for kids in the summer. Days have been full with trampolining, swimming, and exploring. I love how everyone looks after each other, and there is such an age range of kids.
Thank you mum and dad for making the long trip, sharing life, and helping with soo many projects. We miss you.
1 comment:
Beautiful, all of it!!
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