MONDAY UPDATE

Wow, nothing like putting out disinformation!!!!  I got a lot of write ins yesterday with updates. 

Concerning the two fires mentioned I received this news:

The one near Cummings Road which is called Volkmar:

• BURNING wildly in every direction - was burning just NE toward the South Good Pasture - not so anymore
• overtook one hellipad
• a dangerous fire because it is so DRY and the vegetation is highly combustible
• up to 7,000 acres

Rainfall has not increased moisture level at all...mostly isolated in the Clearwater/Remington area.  Little rainfall in Big D.

The fire between us and Dot Lake has been contained and is in monitor status.  And, someone sent me this link where not only can a person check on fire stats, but they can check on other crisis across the nation.  http://www.inciweb.org

Thomas is the one who every year goes out and makes the hills for us planting the garden.  He uses the tractor. 

Joey has been using the new, huge tractor to disk all the fields ATR so the other guys can plant them.

Miss Jannis’ brother and wife showed up yesterday for supper.  Today they whisked Miss Jannis away for a two week tour of parts of Alaska.  They will go to Delta, Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna, and Whittier.  There they will board a Princess cruise ship to view the Inside passage.  That will be seven days.  They will end in Vancouver where they will part ways to fly home to their respective homes. 

Yesterday, Dixie, one of our work mares foaled.  When we came home from supper, the mare had died.  The vet suspects that she had received internal injuries during the birth which she had done unaided.  Everything had looked fine.  Tim Koehler brought over one of his recently foaled mares and her baby.  Our baby, name Ze for the zebra stripes on her knees, would nurse from the mare but the mare wasn’t fond of this extra child.  And, her baby was very jealous.  Someone had to hold the mom to keep her calm.  Someone held onto the babies to keep them calm.  After awhile they could let go of them all, but they still had to take turns all night to watch and help out.  Whenever our foal wanted to nurse, they had to “help” so it didn’t get hurt.  The momma mare would kick and bite our foal.  Her baby would chase and bite our foal.  Things are fairly smooth now but someone has to be out there all the time.  Someone is bringing us horse formula home from Fairbanks.  Then the vigil can end, I think.

Poor baby...

Today I worked in the garden with Rob and my daughter May. May was giving the orders since she is learning the ropes on how to manage the garden and its various responsibilities. Which I am sure, is nice for those who have been doing it for years and who are not getting any younger...ha!

Our job today was to rake all the old growth and roots from under the raspberry plants and pile them in the center of the aisle to be burned later on, when the ban on burning is lifted - if ever -...it is tedious, hot and prickly work. Rob stuck with me for over an hour and we got 2 rows done. Then we took a break and he jumped into his pool to cool off!

Finally got the last of my petunias, marigolds and pansies in. My flower beds are officially all in!

I gotta run!!!!! 

WEEK END UPDATE

Good morning folks,

 The sun was shining when I first woke up but it has since disappeared.  I went outside to investigate and discovered (which I suspected from their eerie orange glow on everything) that we have some smoke haze and a few very thin clouds that are making it hard on the sun to do its job.  I haven’t heard of any reports on the fires that are around us (Cummings Rd & mile 1368), but maybe the wind of yesterday blew the smoke in.  Yesterday, about three times, we got a few dots of rain.  We were hoping for a lot more.

 After disking the garden, Chris Toby made rows for planting.  The guys went out yesterday and made sure the rows were straight and that they went all the way to the ends since it is difficult for the horses to turn around and go all the way to the ends of the rows because of the garden’s fence.  Then yesterday afternoon Bill and May went out and planted some of the seeds with the planter thingy.  And, Bill started laying out the irrigation hoses.  Looks as if we’ll need those!

 Yesterday, the Williams and Kevin and Seth went to Delta to give horse rides at the Pioneer Park.  Every year, there is a park day or something for the Delta residents.  They always ask Tony to come in with the horses and hay wagon to give free rides.  Usually the kids get good tips for giving the rides or for talking kindly to the people.  They always have fun, and they always go over to Toby and Marie’s for dinner afterward.

 We had a lot of fun at the school picnic.  The kids just don’t seem to tire of running around on the Johnson River’s river bed – streams, water, sand, mud, rocks, ice, wide open spaces, food – what more could they ask for?  It was a hot, hot day; some of us got a little sun burnt.  I’ll send some pictures along in a little bit.  Also, I posted a few at:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150197512221569.300482.674561568&l=6da4002128

 And, school is out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 After service today, Bro Rus and the greenhouse crew (Kathy C and Wendy W) willl be handing out flower six packs to everyone.  There is a great system that is much too complicated for my little brain; Lizzie usually helps me out, but, all that to say, that we usually come home with hundreds of dollar’s worth of flowers. 

 Yes, and Prins will be here to preach this morning. 

 Bro John J will be driving by our mailbox tomorrow morning on his way home to Haines. 

 Sam and Meg and some of their friends were out this weekend.  They spent most of their time out at Lisa Lake.

 I heard that Jannis’s brother will be visiting this week. He is taking Jannis on one of those awesome Alaska Rail/Marine Highway deals in S Alaska. Something I have in the back burner to do one of these days before I get too old!

And, on Wednesday, Kevin, Seth, and Chris Toby fly to Montana for a couple of weeks.  They will attend Andrea’s graduation, visit our relatives, and do some sight seeing. 

 I better make breakfast for my kids.  Have a good weekend (since it is memorial day weekend, right?). 

 Enjoy your week end,

SUNNY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!...

Hello all,

This will be short in the hopes that I will write a sequel today/tonight.

We’ve had simply gorgeous sunny weather for days and days.  The green leaves started budding last week.  While we’ve watched this week, the leaves have expanded to almost their full size.  The grasses are turning green.  Everything is simply beautiful!!!!  Except it’s real dusty.  We had a smattering of rain yesterday, but all it did was matt down the dust for a little while.

Today is our last day of school work in school.  EVERYONE is very excited!  Tomorrow we’re going to the Johnson River for our school picnic.  Fun is in the air!

Bro John Jeffreys is in the area so he stopped in and spent the afternoon with us and preached last night.  He preached on turning our ears to hear the voice of God.  He used the example of Monty someone who “broke” horses.  The example centered on the one horse, Shy Boy. 

Ok, more later,

The promised sequel…

Today was a hot day.  It sure felt like a June day at nearly 77* at some point during the day.  While the sun was shining, which it did till 10:30 pm or so, the temp remained in the high 70’s.  Tomorrow promises to be just as nice.  I’m hoping to get some sun tomorrow while on the school picnic with the school kids.  We’ll see. 

Many things have occurred since I last wrote.  Kenny and Stacey took Bethany home (they drove) after taking Beth to the airport.  There were emotional and tearful goodbyes between Bethany and all her friends.  I collage a picture of her going away party for you all.  Peter flew to Connecticut to start his internship (like Jon).  Stacey drove to Eagle River where she will stay with siblings while Peter is gone.  I heard that she was staying with Paul.  Judy and Steve have come home.  All the Millirons have taken off to attend Joel’s wedding in Phoenix, AZ.   They will be gone for most of the summer. Chris Toby, Seth and Kev are leaving sometime in June to visit family/friends in Montana.

Tony and the boys,  have been busy planting the ATR fields.  They come home every night looking very dirty – the only obviously visible parts of them are the whites of their eyes and their teeth, if they happen to grin through all their tiredness. 

The green house ladies with Bro Rus have been being very diligent with our vegetables and our flower plants.  Yesterday the greenhouse crew gave out beautiful baskets, like seven each, of flowers plus a bunch of little four inch pots of other flowers.  They really nice.  On Sunday they will give us each piles of little six packs of flowers. Its nice to have a gardener in the family, May who is now taking up many of the large garden responsibilities and learning the ropes, takes care of my plants and doctors them when needs be. She just brought in a transplanted Lilac bush and it is flourishing...so glad! Finally my own lilac in the backyard!! THANKS MAY! 

Last Friday night, Liz Baltrum Werhonig and her little boy, Paul Garrett, came out to visit us for a couple of nights.  On Saturday night, Rebekah came bringing her dog and the dog’s four puppies.  We had quite the menagerie at our house that night. 

Jo got her new set of bees and has set up two hives down near the sawmill.  Today I saw her getting more frames so apparently the bees are very happy and busy making the honeycomb.   I heard she got two different kinds this year – Russians and ?

Last Sunday the Lupos invited us and who ever wanted to go to their place for a BBQ.  I was on Sunday cook so Liz convinced her dad to take her and some of her friends.  Rich ended up taking a 15 passenger van full of kids – all girls except for him, Seth, and Kevin.  Ann took her two older boys and Michael Squires. Anyway, the kids had a great time at the bbq, but what they esp enjoyed was visiting with all the Lupo’s dogs and cats and puppies. The girls were awed at the bigness of the place I guess....all built by themselves, a very do it yourself kind of family.

I heard that we have forest fires pretty close to us on either side of us, but so far we have not encountered any adverse effects.  One somewhere out on Cummings Rd and one at mile 1368.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Pat's back from one of them for a few days, sounded tired on the phone but happy to be back in civilization again. I guess he keeps in touch with Beth via phonecall to the UK, whenever he can. Poor kids! Seems a hard separation. I was separated from Big Pat during my courtship, and it seemed for ever during 2 summers...

Beth and the babes are down well but tired of waiting (she is anywayz!), not sure of the dates yet, sometimes early June. Not certain when they will all be coming. August or later. So its the waiting game.

I’m enjoying the warm, nights and hot days.  I hope I can maintain my high spirit even if the weather wasn’t so great. 

We celebrated Annies 18th. with about 30 folks coming over to the cabin...mostly young people. Fun time! Amazing how much these kids can pack in, I thot I had made too much...but it was mostly gone...here is a pic of the cakes...which was not the only thing to eat...ha! Thanks Carolyn for helping with the deco...

  

Prins will be here on Sunday to preach and talk about 

his latest trip to India. 

Attaching that picture of Bethany’s going away party.  

Have a great weekend

Rob was there too but I think he left when this pic was taken...probably had had enough to eat and went looking for more adventure!

TRY I WILL first Erasmus student with Down Syndrom, Luigi Fantinelli

GRADUATION DAY !! GO CLASS OF 2011...YAIII

OMW, We actually have sunshine this morning.  Twice this week, we’ve gotten up to a fine layer of snow on the ground.  I almost cried both mornings and kept it up all day.  It has been so cold.  Even on Thursday when the sun was shining for most of the day, we had this cold breeze blowing.  It felt like the air was blowing over a glacier before it reached us. 

On Monday Stephen and Melissa Casey arrived.  Melissa has been sick with a cold flu bug ever since arriving.  I think she is finally getting better.  What a bummer to come to Alaska only to spend the first three days sleeping away and miserable.!

Jon Squires flew out on Tuesday to begin his internship – I keep forgetting to ask where that will be.  Judy and Steve flew home. 

Stacey and Kenny drove up from Kansas for the graduation.  On Monday morning, since they were in Canada, they began driving and didn’t stop till they arrived here on Tuesday morning around 9 am.  It has been so fun to have them here. 

Kenny took some of the kids, Peter and Stacey, and Bethany to Fairbanks so they could do some graduation shopping before they picked up Kenny’s mom, Beth Chartier.  I think I overheard them saying that the last time that Beth was here was in ’81. 

Yesterday more family started arriving for the graduation-Sam & Marki, Marki’s mom and step dad, Meg, Andrew & Kylin (Kylin is pregnant!), Jewel & Lee, Gracia O’Connell, Paul & Peter Lawrence, and there’s probably more.  Very festive air!

All the kids got together yesterday to decorate the tab and much cooking was going on.  Someone had this great idea for cupcakes for dessert.  Making 250 cupcakes was quite the task; then to decorate them all.  They are really pretty though!  Jo, her girls, and Allyson did all of those.  Rachel and the highschool kids are putting on the reception after the graduation today.

Jarred and Jennifer and kids leave tomorrow to drive to the states.  Sounds like fun.  Kimberli and Seth and family fly down later this week toArizona.  Then a week later, Garth, Kim, and Kelly fly down.  They are all attending Joel’s wedding in Arizona and doing some other visiting around either before or after the wedding. 

  

Well, I’d better get the breakfast cranked out for my gang.  I’m sure we all have work/play waiting for us since it is such a big day!  Have a great day everyone!

For those invited… Graduation is at ONE PM. 

CLASS OF 2011

BETHANY CHARTIER, JOSEPH CASEY

ANNIE BUONGIORNE

OLIVIA GEYER

GEYERS

BUONGIORNES

CHARTIERS

CASEYS

Jonny Mizzone - 2010 Fireback Banjo and Fiddle Contest

8 year old plays banjo like a pro...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKKDtG0JjZQ&NR=1

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MUMS OUT THERE.

I had a wonderful day. The community at the farm all went out in groups and we cleaned and picked up trash accumulated from the winter. Filled a few wagon loads (the big wagons pulled by horses not the Radioflyer ones...ha!). Amazing how much candy gets thrown around and gum and paper. Folks drug their trash to where the wagon could get it. Rob caught a few trips to the dump.

Then Pat surprised me with a bunch of roses and a lovely perfume when he returned home from his trip to SE Alaska. and Cordova.

Annie gave me a lovely vase which she painted herself and a bunch of fall flowers and a card...it was sunny and warm...PTL...no hail today...

Plus PatLou called and wished me happy M Day...so what more could I ask for? PTL!

ANNIE ON HER GRADUATION WEEK...

HALEY AND LEENA ENJOYED THEIR TRASH N' TREASURING!

GUYS TOOK A FEW OF THESE DOWN TO THE DUMP

MAY SNOW!!

Goodmorning folks!  Shockingly enough, we received a layer of snow in the night.  Before I went to bed, it was blowing and snowing these huge flakes.  I thought they’d go away, but they didn’t.  It’s still quite gray this morning. Now it is hailing...I sent Rob out with the water wagon and Cody W anyway...

Bonnie arrived home from her hair cutting class.  Everyone is in need of a trim so we’ll put her right to work!

The Whitestone Graduation is today.  Many of the young people are going.  Rich is taking some of the kids since I’m going to North Pole for a shower for Rebekah. May and Annie also went.

Olivia is taking her SAT’s today. 

Bethany’s parents are driving to her graduation.  Wenda and Bethany expect them on Tuesday. 

Stephen and Melissa are flying in on Monday for the graduation.  Since Peter is out of school, Stacey and Peter are home for a couple of weeks.  Jon is home from school in Fairbanks also.  He still has to go off to work sometimes, but he is home more than he was.  Both Peter and Jon are going to the states for a stunt in busier hospitals to complete their studies. This will complete their Paramedic certification. WAY TO GO GUYS!

On Wednesday night we butchered and put away a cow and a pig or two.  The cow was an unexpected treat as she had a prolapsed uterus, and she wouldn’t get better.  There is no use keeping her around. 

Patrick has been tuning pianos in Cordova and Valdez all week.  He’ll return late Sunday night.

We won’t be having church tomorrow morning as we planned to have a clean up day for the farm grounds.  Hope we can see the farm grounds!!!!!

I heard that Bob Hilliker turned 83 years old yesterday.  Happy Birthday, Bro Bob!!!!  If anyone would like to greet him, here’s the place to send it to:  Eastfork73@starband.net

Happy Mother’s Day to all you great mom’s out there!!!!  You all have shaped and formed us, prodded and pushed us, loved and accepted us to make us who we are today!  Thank you. 

Again have a great day today (whether in snow or out of snow) and have a wonderful Mother’s Day tomorrow.  Hope you all feel loved.

Here's one of my Welsh mother Stella Leeson, enjoying her garden and a friend, in her home on the Rio Uruguay in Argentina.

ANNIE AND HER GRAMS...

80'S NIGHT AT THE TAB...

IT WAS FUN! HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF US. CLICK ON THE LINK FOR MORE.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150163940691569.280562.674561568

 EVERYBODY MADE THEIR OWN COSTUMES...

 

THE SENIOR CLASS HAVING SOME FUN!