PLEASE LORD! MAKE IT STOP RAINING ALREADY.. random notes...

HI ALL,

Big Pat and self celebrated our 24th. he took me out to dinner in Tok...and then we browsed around the tourist trap gift shop...ha! Got me a very nice necklace with a red stone (ruby for July)...

And for those who asked about my birthday gifts I am itemizing them so that everybody knows...haha...

Tea tumbler (very nice), gourmet organic trail mix (VERY nice) and gourmet coffee (EXTREMELY nice) ALL from Ali Squires and Jonnie; artwork from Annie, Italian bracelet from May, necklace and some nice Merlot from Big Pat (mmmmmmm...),

devotional book from Pat &Beth (very sweet of them to remember me!), matching necklace and bracelet and summer hat from my MIL Flo....THANKS TO ALL...I really don't expect anything...as you well know...but very thoughtful and sweet of you to remember...

Twice now, brave me has taken a load of young people out to this messy farm in Delta where the owners had agreed to let the kids keep any bunnies they caught.  The old man is married to an Asian woman who hardly speaks a lick of English, she is overly protective of the bunnies which are really in a feral state running around the woods and all over the place. So she followed us about making sure we were not hurting them...very ANNOYING...Armed with fish nets with long handles, cages and lots of fresh lettuce..the kids managed to catch seven bunnies; they are now through letting us have any bunnies.  I don't think they thot we wld catch any...and by the end of it they both got mad and wanted us out of there! GO FIGURE...OH WELL...

But, all that to say, we have a bunny craze on the farm!!!! Lizzie’s first bunny was much too small, dying within 24 hours.  She has a different one now; hopefully, he will live longer. Annie got a lovely little Rex...with a pelt like the Velveteen Rabbit...I call it Roxie -  she calls it something more exotic out of the Middle Earth book she is writing...can't remember what it is...

I think everybody has a bunny who wanted one...kids are great, such a fun time with them, so much energy and Rob in the mix...

Rob and self got some cute Down Syndrome shirts from this online outfit. Here they are if you missed my last post.

And, for those who want to see some information on Andrew Casey and Kylin Warbelow, you should go to:   

http://akcasey.com/

And, for those of us who were invited to the wedding, we should RSVP using the above site. 

This weekend is Olivia Fouse and David Brooks wedding.  Bill Grier and John Jeffreys will be officiating together.  David is from the Haines farm while Olivia is from Whitestone.  My girls and a ton of kids and adults are going...not me...not a wedding person myself...but they shld hv fun...so Pat, self and Rob will have the cabin to ourselves plus almost the whole farm to ourselves...peace and quiet...yaaaiiii...

The Mitchells have returned home – well, sort of.  I think they were going to the Grand Canyon and other places before returning home to Georgia. 

Ben Mehaffey (my BIL) is going to Anchorage for a blacksmithing symposium this weekend.  SJ worked days of last week putting together an updated photo book of his work.  I think this link should work:  http://www.mypublisher.com/?e=OHm3Q8zJl3SnrE-f8JPk9mTWFvzZ6hKD&s=fb

Kelsey Mehaffey, Joe Casey, Ali and Jon Squires are doing online Paramedic stuff...I think...Kel is to start Paramedic school this fall...

SJ's posted her fourth of July pictures on Facebook last week.  Here is a link for those:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=179590&id=674561568&l=dc21992fb5

John Basalyga was here to preach on Sunday.  He went to Sapa on Monday and Tuesday with Rus and Millie.  Now, he has gone home.  He brought Cynthia’s two boys with him.  They came out with John to visit on the weekend.  They are such cute boys!    While John was on this Northern trip, two of his daughters had babies – Trish had a girl and Sharalyn had a boy.  I suppose that Grandpa better get home to greet his new grandchildren!!!

Livy shared last night on her ministry tour with the Arsenaults. A car trip through Alaska, Canada and finally ending up in Florida and attending the Bowen's Mill Youth Camp and Convention.  She put a nice slideshow together and talked, seems like she had a great and uplifting time...not my cup of tea though, listening to the same word ad eternum....but she was in good company.

I think John Jeffries is coming to preach this Sun.

Over the weekend, we had some gorgeous days.  This morning, at 5 am, I woke up to torrents of rain.  It was such an amazing rain that I came outside to look around to see if any damage was being inflicted on anything.  Everything seemed fine. 

IT IS RAINING IN SHEETS AND HAS BEEN FOR DAYS...EVEN ROB WOKE UP LAST NIGHT...THE CREEK IS A RAGING TORRENT AND THE BRIDGE ALMOST COVERED..

good thing Tony's hay is almost all in and a record crop...

Y'all have a great week!

gri et all

4TH. OF JULY EVENTS, ETC....

Hi all – We’ve had such gorgeous 

weather – hot & still; last night we had a small wind that blew the rain clouds right away.  

Tony and the boys started baling hay on Wednesday, which is early for us.  Tony never cuts till after the 4^th of July this year he started earlier due to a good crop of hay.  Everything was going well till a hydraulic hose on the tractor broke last night.  Tony took the hose into NAPA for a custom cut hose.  Hopefully repairs will go easily enough.  




It’s another beautiful day.

It rained all the day and night last weekend before the fourth of July; can you believe that?  It was grey for most of the day on the 4^th, but it didn’t rain.  It was just super soggy!!!!  Around 5 pm, the sun came out.  

We still had our parade, and we had a sumptuous picnic.  We had had lots for visitors; fellowshipping was plentiful.  We had about 5 families from Whitestone, Geyer relatives, Basalyga relatives, Casey relatives, Chris’s girlfriend and family, Wilson’s from Fbks, Chavezes, Marina (who helped Jo with the picnic), and of course, we had all the Squires and Milliron relatives who were mentioned in a previous email.  

Chavezes brought a cotton candy machine which was a BIG hit.  Mitchells brought watermelon.  Jo and her girls, Griselda (me) , May, and Kelsey made all our picnic foods.  Several men (Brad, Seth F, Rich, and others) volunteered to grill the meats.  

I think we made nearly 300 shish-kebobs with beef and all sorts of goodies on them......they were so good! Somebody bought a bunch of corn on the cob which was also put on the grill...Dessert was the famously known Northern Delights ice-cream in three flavors. One of them was coffee flavor and it went fast!  Everything was great.  

Carolyn had games aplenty planned for the children.  Volley ball was a much played game and later on when the ground dried, the men played soft ball. 

May and Annie got to ride horses. May was dressed up in her Middle Earth outfit..or something...and had her Toledan sword strapped to her side. Looked quite the part. Rob had a good time on the wagon riding with all the kids and adults. Pat took pictures and manned the video since I was cooking and was otherwise employed. 


PatLou's presence was sorely missed...he is still fighting fires up in the Yukon area. Not sure when he will be able to come home.

This weekend, we are to have Frank Lopez here to preach and visit. 

Laundry calls, more later, hope you all had a great time too!

MAY'S TRAVELS IN EUROPE 2009/2010

HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO THE PHOTO ALBUMS OF MY OLDEST DAUGHTER MAY'S EUROPEAN TOUR. 


SHE AND A FRIEND, RACHEL TROTTER LEFT IN NOV. '09. FOR DUBLIN. MAY SPENT 3 MONTHS IN BLESSINGTON IRELAND, THEN MET UP WITH MY COUSINS IN THE UK, DORSET AND SOMERSET. STAYED THERE FOR A MONTH.


IN MARCH SHE LEFT FOR SPAIN TO ATTEND THE FAMILY REUNION MY SISTER KARENZA HANSON PUT TOGETHER IN HONOR OF MY STEPMON CHI'S 80TH. BIRTHDAY. MY  SISTER ALEJANDRA BURGESS FR0M MISSOURI AND HER FAMILY ALSO ATTENDED. THEY ALL MET IN SEVILLE, TOURED AROUND CADIZ, MADRID AND TOLEDO. 


KARENZA AND HER FRIEND GRACIA WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SHOWING MAY AROUND AND MAKING SURE SHE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. AS DID MY COUSINS THE DOLANS AND BAKERS IN THE UK.


KARENZA HAS BEEN LIVING IN SPAIN AND GIBRALTAR FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. I IN 2005 I MADE A SIMILAR TRIP, THOUGH NOT QUITE AS EXTENSIVE, WITH MY OLDEST SON PAT LOU BEFORE HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A CONTACT LIKE KAREN FOR JUST THE RIGHT OCCASION. THANKS A TON KAREN...I OWE YOU ONE SIS!


AFTER SOME OF THE PARTY LEFT TO GO BACK TO THE US AND ARGENTINA, MAY JOINED KARENZA AND HER FRIEND GRACIA IN A SHORT TOUR OF FLORENCE WHICH THEY ALL THOROUGHLY ENJOYED.


THEN MAY RETURNED TO BLESSINGTON IRELAND TO PREPARE FOR HER TRIP BACK HOME TO ALASKA. SHE STAYED IN IRELAND FOR ANOTHER 3 WEEKS UNTIL APRIL OF 2010.


IN ALL, MAY WAS GONE FOR 5 MONTHS. A LOVELY TRIP WHICH SHE WILL NEVER FORGET, SOMETHING ELSE TO PUT INTO HER BOOK OF REMEMBRANCES.


PRAISE THE LORD!


MAY VISITED IRELAND, SWITZERLAND, THE UK, SPAIN AND ITALY.


HERE ARE THE LINKS. JUST CLICK ON THEM AND THEY WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PHOTO ALBUMS. ENJOY! AND THANKS FOR LOOKING...


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8766&id=100000467082047&l=993091fb79

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16766&id=100000467082047&l=0986a95d81

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16761&id=100000467082047&l=99bbd89042

RAIN, RAIN....

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain….  We’ve had so much rain!  But, it is so beautiful right now at 11 pm.  It was nice last week when we needed to mow the lawns; I’d like it to be beautiful again soon so we can mow again.  

And… I’m so behind in writing to you all that I don’t know where to begin.  Every night, about the time that I get all my work done, my kids come home and want on my computers.  I’m usually tired by then anyway and I say (in my head), “Oh well, maybe tomorrow I’ll have time”.  But, as you can see, I never have time tomorrow. 

Pat has taken me out to the lake to fish twice now. Rob came too of course. The first time they both got nice rainbow trout! Rob's was the largest and we had it for breakfast.

Last night Annie came too and we stayed until 9pm. It was lovely, the lake was quiet and glassy. A soft drizzle threatened to soak us but soon passed and the sun was warm and sparkling on the water. Nothing happened for about 4 hours but I so enjoy just floating on water...we ate some snacks which Robin insisted we take along...I think he felt we might starve! 

Then at about 9pm. the fish started to bite. I lost most of my salmon eggs due to a slight mishap involving an open jar with no lid...oh well...but Pat set me up with a spinner and we started to reel those fishies in. Many got away and spat the hook out but 7 stayed and were part of a scrumptious dinner.

Annie wanted to stay longer now that she was catching something! A lovely family time with the kids, rather unusual for us, one gets so busy...nice to stop and "smell the flowers"...good for the soul. Wish May had come but she had other things she had to do...next time...

John Basalyga is here for I don’t know how long, but I do know that he is preaching tomorrow night. 

On the weekend, Jacob and Christa brought out 4 cousins to visit and to go up to Fish Lake for the weekend.  I never saw them come out, but I suppose that they had fun.  I think the hike was a little overwhelming for them.  J 

Oh yes, Bro George Harris was here last week.  He stayed for a few days and preached on Sunday.  We REALLY enjoyed his visit.  It wasn’t nearly long enough. 

A group of young girls, Rob and some ladies, including myself...went out to New Hope to harvest their copious rhubarb patch. We make all sorts of good things to eat with the stuff. A good time was had by all in the group. Rob, surprised me by sticking with his job pretty well. Here are some pictures.

So, maybe tomorrow, I’ll have time for more news.  I might send a picture of tonight’s sky, taken by Sarah Jep.  The photo was taken at 11:30 pm.  It doesn’t seem too impressive, but it is beautiful because it has stopped raining and because it is nearly midnight and the sun is still shining.   

Have been clicking away at some of our flowers. Everything is looking lovely right now...

This Sunday we are celebrating the 4th. of July. We are expecting about 200 folks. Many have whole families visiting for a couple of weeks to a whole month.  My cook crew is cooking that day and so will be pretty busy.

May has made herself a special costume...she has been busily working away at it. I have not seen it yet. Funny girl! She has bought a number of leatherworking materials and tools...making all sorts of interesting things for herself and others.

Have  a good week everybody!

gri b