Nesting

We haven't been doing much outdoors.  Unless of course you count washing windows, cleaning up dog toys, and removing dead flowers of yester summer.


Our focus has been on the indoors.  Painting, cleaning, purging and selling things.  Making room for a bouncing bundle of baby boy. :) 


We're ecstatic and we're looking forward to a fantastic summer!!

Happy Spring!

Welcome to Spring 2012!


I'm hoping that March 21st isn't like Ground Hogs' Day.  I'd like to think that only better things can come your way when you start your "spring" with -1 and snow.  Eventually we did get a spot of sunshine and I think we managed to make it to 6 above.  Beggars can't be choosers, so I'm going to be happy with that.


This weekend we decided to take advantage of our sick free household.  We packed up and hit the snowy trail to one of our favorite stomping grounds.  Since it was mostly the same old scenery, and wildlife was hiding somewhere away from our prying eyes, the camera didn't get much of a work out.  But drive we did.  Brent took the furbabes on a bit of walk.  But since Ches has a penchant for buffalo chips, and they were oh-so-fresh, he had to cut that short.  


The wildlife was sparse, we spotted far away moose and few jumpy grouse.  But that's about it.  Luckily the snow is still a pristine white, but I know the muddy, mucky, icky days of break up are coming.  Can't we just fast forward to summer?!?!


In order to break up the long winter days a friend of mine started a facebook page and a blog about her healthy lifestyle.  It's great to see her so passionate about life and all things healthy.  To get us all motivated and inspired she started a Vegetarian Vednesday.  Our entire day is to be made up of vegetarian meals and snacks.  Each week she mixes it up with a "twist".  Tomorrow's twist is one meal or snack must be raw.  Entirely raw.  I'm going with a snack.  Ha!


So, if you're interested in healthier eating, and all things vegetarian-leaning-towards-vegan go here: http://ahealthierfitterme.blogspot.com/   You won't be disappointed.


I'm hoping that your first day of Spring brought you warmer weather and much more hopeful outlook for the following days!  


Welcome Spring!! Hurry up Summer!!!

Winter Blahs

Much of the country has had an above average winter.  Little snow, warm temps, but here in Interior Alaska.  Not-so-much.  We've had above average snowfalls in most of Alaska, and an average winter, from what the long-timers tell me.  I usually grow antsy this time of year, but with the lack of summer last year, I'm extra itchy.

We  have snow, and it keeps coming.  I can only imagine that I'll be wearing hip waders until June.  The moisture is good, but with the rainy, gray summer behind us, and now an above average snowfall all.winter.long.  I think we got it.  Of course more moisture means greener grass, greener trees and hopefully healthier, more bountiful food sources for all our hungry wildlife.  I just wish it would get here already!

This morning when I woke it was dark again, thankyouverymuchdaylightsavingstime.  But the added bonus is that the temp was actually ABOVE zero.  10 degrees above as a matter of fact.  This time of year the temps yo-yo, drifting up and down from -21 (yesterday) to 18 above (today).  After 4 Marches, I'm kinda just wishing we could skip to mid-May.  Ha!

My wish is that spring would giddy up already, and I'd like to fast forward past all the slush and mud and nastiness that's coming my way.  With 12 feet in our household, I think I'll just drape everything in plastic!  At least mud is sweepable, vacuumable and washable.  Phew.  And luckily, someone was thinking when they built that house, only a couple little pieces of carpet.  Extra Phew!

So for now I dream of warm temps, dry roads and summer days.  I want to walk in the field with the grass blowing around me instead of the snow pelting my face.  I want to ride ATV instead of freezing my eyeballs riding snowmobile (snowmachine for the Alaskans).   Summer, can you hear me calling?  Hurry please!!!

Winter, Winter, Winter

Greetings from the north land.  The photos below found us on colder days.  We are currently experiencing break up like weather which is good for the soul.  Today we reached a balmy temperature of 41 degrees.  The snow on the smaller portion of the roof slipped to the ground today.  

It's been a cold winter.  Particularly because I think the newness is wearing off for us.  We spent a large portion of January in the -40's and -50's.  Unpleasant outdoor weather.  February, so far, has been tropical, but I hear we're supposed to dip again soon.

This winter finds us with an unusually heavy layer of snow.  I have to admit, I quite like it.  Unlike our family and friends in the south, we've had plenty of powder for snowmobiling (you'll see our new addition in the yard), skiing- if it wasn't so dang cold! and whatever other winter sports crazy people enjoy.  Ha!  

This beauty is Mama.  She and her little one (tucked in the trees here) have been hanging out all winter long.  We must have plenty for them to eat.  Cash has become a big boy and no longer attempts to rumble with our friendly moose.  He's content to hang back and watch inquisitively.  Much to my relief.  The moose seem equally at ease with his comfort.  Little One and Mama have become frequent eaters at the Buffet of King and are no longer threatened by his presence.  

As you can tell, Ches has decided that she's staying inside.  Permanently.  She's not a fan of the cold temps.  She's becoming a hoarder which has me worried.  I don't have space for much hoarding here. Goofy girl.  She's been doing well on her meds, only one itty bitty seizure that we know of.  The warmer weather brings out the spunk in her, which makes me want to get her to a little more temperate climate.  

We're all antsy for spring, but not delusional.  We know that springs a ways off.  So we're trying to enjoy all aspects of winter.  I'm trying to get some pre-Spring cleaning done, in hopes that once the weather's nice we can run with it.  Zoom!  

Off to ride some snowmobile (snowmachine for you Alaskans) now. :)  

Happy Winter!

Uff da.  It seems that I've been slacking on the blogging business.  Truth is with a cold, dreary summer and an uneventful hunting season, there just wasn't much to blog about.  We've been managing to keep busy with work, some playing and preparing for all the changes that will eventually come our way.

 Bolio Lake (above) is now covered in a thin layer of ice.  Soon we'll be able to walk out, drive out and fish on it's frozen surface.  The entire countryside has a fresh layer of white, and we managed to score some large, fluffy flakes, which are a rare here.

With the changing of the seasons comes the loss of light.  In true Alaska form, this October 1st sunset left us loving fall, loving the return of the moon and stars, and the auroras, of course.  They've been active so far this year, and if it kills me I'm going to figure out how to capture them on my camera.  I will, I will, I will.

 The rush of autumn is gone.  The air has grown cold, in the last few days dipping as low as -20 degrees over night.  The cords are being carried, our winter packs are thrown in, and the early nights and late mornings are upon us.

Sunrise: 9:36am

Sunset: 5:17pm

Our new wood stove has been such a welcome addition that I cannot even explain how much more efficient, cleaner and easy to use it is.  We no longer have to keep piles of wood stacked in side the house, which means less debris and bugs.  Thank goodness.  

I'm sure the animals have loved the slow move into winter and the warmer-than-usual temps.  I'm not complaining either.  The dark, wet summer has left a sour taste in my mouth, and I admit, I've had a bad attitude about the onset of winter.  Now that it's here, it's not as bad as I imagined.

I can't believe it's already.  We've decided to do a little something different for Thanksgiving this year.  Since it's non-traditional and we're away from family, we're heading to Fairbanks to stay in a hotel, all four of us.  Then Brent and I are going to sneak away to a movie, and we'll end the night enjoying a part of our past.  PIZZA DELIVERY!!!!  Ha!  The little things.  We have so much to be thankful for.  Our family, friends, good jobs, warm home, health and happiness.  

November is National Adoption Awareness Month.  Please keep all birth mothers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.  Hopefully soon we'll be welcoming a child into our home and hearts, as well as, his/her birthparents and family. 


Hoping you find much to be thankful for in your world. 


Love, Karla 

Gramma Alice

It's been terribly rainy here the past few weeks.  Yes, weeks.  It's not even the rainy season.  When it rains, and you're stuck inside with no satellite tv, and a broke down internet modem you have plenty of time to reminisce.  And reminisce I did.

Gramma Alice isn't mine by blood, or even by birth.  But she's mine none-the-less.  She passed away 19 years ago, when I was 17 years old.  It was November, and cold, and I remember exactly what I wore.  How cold my toes were in my black patent heels, exposed legs and teal green sweater dress.  And how my heart broke.

She's always been there.  In my life.  I don't have a moment in time when she wasn't present.  She came to be our Gramma Alice because God, and my father's urge to farm, found us for eachother.  Alice Elsie Bruckner Hook.  She loved her husband, Lester, who passed shortly after I was born, she loved God, without fear, and she loved us.  My parents and brothers.  

When I was about 2 or 3 my father approached Gramma about purchasing her farm.  It's where he wanted us to grow.  Along with the crops and the pigs and our cousins and our aunts and uncles.  They settled on a deal that would allow Gramma Alice to own her piece of land, and stay in her home, until she was ready to leave.  What a wonderful gift we were given.

Gramma Alice was an only child, who lost her parents and her husband, and wasn't blessed with the gift of a child herself.  That didn't stop her from loving.  I sincerely think she loved everyone.  Especially children and animals.  

Eventually my parents, with help of family and friends, built us a home, a few feet from Gramma's house.  You could literally look out our windows into her windows.  Yet we all had privacy.  It was nice to be able to check on her, to know she was okay, even without leaving the house on a cold winter night.

Gramma came to dinner often.  Born with one leg shorter than the other, about 5  nights a week either my brothers or I would go over to walk with her to our house for dinner.  She sat opposite Dad at the other end of the table.  Strategically placed as not to miss a moment of Wheel of Fortune.  I do believe that the coming of Christ may have been the only thing to tear her away from Wheel of Fortune.  Ha!  She was a character.

My mom would often tell me that I was like Gramma in many ways.  She's right.  I am.  Gramma was a messy, messy cook, and a relaxed housekeeper.  She preferred to spend her time making her crafts, tending to her pets- house mice (shudder), and spending time with us.  For the record mice are banished from my home in any form, and I tend to clean my toilet before a sledge hammer is needed, but we're alike in that I'm a horribly messy cook.  We're both a little stubborn, a little too round, and don't know the joy of having a child of our own.  But we love.  And we're happy.

I know there may have been times that she really just wanted her peace and quiet.  Yet she never turned us away.  Her home was our home, and we were always welcome.  I'd spend hours playing in the upstairs bedroom.  Playing dress up in dresses that had not been worn by Gramma in years.  We played an out of tune piano until I'm sure she thought her ears would bleed.  We'd play I Spy for hours searching for bearded walnut shells, silky spider webs and a long forgotten calendar amongst her walls and shelves of treasures.

Gramma Alice was a hoarder long before there was a television show about it.  We'd create crafts from the boxes and boxes of saved greeting cards, multi-colored remnants of candles, googly eyes, pipecleaners and all kinds of recycled things.  Much to my mom's dismay she'd toss anything and everything in the garden in front of her house.  Egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, left over pieces of sandwiches.  Lots of things for our dogs to bring home.

She loved to make the trips to the barn to talk to the sows, play with the babies and even help feed them.  She loved when Kyle, my younger brother, would bring his horse, Passion, to her steps to see her.  She'd bring out treats for Passion.  And Kyle.

Halloween meant popcorn balls, Christmas brought rosettes by the dozen.  Fried in the freshest of lard, dusted with pristine powdered sugar.  And so, so yummy.  Occasionally I'd happen over at lunch time and end up with a plate of liver and onions.  Still not my favorite meal.  But I thoroughly enjoyed fresh fried parsnips, dredged in flour and fried in butter to golden perfection.  Mmmmmm.

Upon her illness and eventual passing, I just tried to block life without her.  She was always supportive, it didn't matter the course.  Mud pies, frog collections (that she'd mysteriously set free), dress up, dancing to Little Jimmy Dickens Out Behind the Barn on the black, white and gray shag.  I hope we brought as much joy to her life as she did to ours.  Ah...memories...

Summer, Summer, Summer...

Sunrise 3:15 a.m.     Sunset 12:15 a.m.

We're a few days after solstice, which is wonderful and disappointing at the same time.  We're having some of the longest days of the year, but it also means they're on the way out.  Darkness will continue to creep in until we're down to 4 hours of daylight per day.  Anyway...

I've been away.  I had a little mishap with my best friend computer.  I was waiting for Brent to get home from a fishing expedition.  In my sleep-deprived state of mind I shoved it off the bed and broke the hard drive.  I packed it up, headed to Fairbanks and was pleasantly surpised to be able to pick it up a week later.  Since then we've been a tad bit busy.  You know... playing.

Brent managed to wrangle a little time for his first dipnetting, subsistence fishing, experience.  They traveled the long road to Chitna, traveled the treacherous trail, came upon a breathtaking river, fished for 10+ hours, and returned with 10 fish of the 120 possible for the 3 families there.  10.  Friends of ours were there the day before and limited out.  Pfffft.  That's a lot of work, time and energy for 10 fish.  10.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  Oh well...better luck next time.  Right??

We've been riding ATV a lot.  The trails this year are dry and easy to ride.  This is the way I most prefer to ride.  Easy.  Dry.  Though some might say that that's boring.  That's okay.  I'd rather not be waist deep in mud when eaten by a bear.  Okay, just kidding.  Maybe.

We've had a stray puppy, whom I would have loved to keep.  We called her Little Bit.  Black German Shepherd/Lab cross.  So stinkin' cute.  And smart.  When we were walking with Cash she heeled, sat, obeyed.  She was house trained and darn near perfect.  However, 3 big dogs in one tiny house.  Not gonna happen.  So we advertised, posted religiously on facebook, and finally found her people.

The past week has been rainy.  We managed to accumulate about an inch and a half of rain.  No easy feat for us.  Miraculously on Friday the clouds parted, the sun came out, and we've been enjoying a lovely weekend. 

Today temps topped out at 85 degrees and we soaked up every bit of sun we could.  We rode, we took the dogs swimming for just a very few minutes.  Got sprinkled with rain, and then the skies cleared yet again.  We came home to grill hot dogs and eat store bought potato salad, feed the dogs and enjoy more sun. 

The wildflowers are out.  Irises, fireweed, golden rod, arctic poppies, lupines, strawberries, and the smells are fantastic.  As we ride the intoxicating smell is something that I'll be certain to never forget.  It's absolutely fantastic.