THE KIDS ARE HOME...IT'S CHRISTMAS IN DRY CREEK ALASKA!

My humble attempt at a small Alaska style Christmas corner. The nutcracker is an antique that Ani sent us.

This week has been fun - earlier in the week Jessy and Olivia came home for a few weeks.  Jessy has been spending time at the Blueberry farm and is home for a couple of weeks.  I’m not sure of her plans yet; guess I should ask.  Olivia brought Jessy home from the airport; Olivia has had a successful semester at the U of F and will be home for a couple of weeks too.
John Venebles dropped in on his way home (Haines) from the U of F.  He dropped Lizzie Jepsen off.  He and two other college kids spent the night here before taking off early morning to head to Haines.  They were going to meet two other car loads of kids from the U in Tok and caravan to Haines together.

 Bradie Cox flies in today from Homer.  She’ll be home for a couple of weeks too.

Here's a link to some of the fun stuff we planned!

https://www.facebook.com/griselda.h.buongiorne/media_set?set=a.10204846371190830.1585591801&type=3

Annie Buongiorne came home from TX on Tuesday. She hasn't seen her Dad and Gramy Flo for over a year now...

It is super fun to hear all the kids running their mouths like magpies catching up on news and foolish life’s details.


Yesterday afternoon, Rich and Liz ran to Delta to bring Ella out for overnight.  She’s at a fun age, but I won’t bore you with stories.  Well, maybe one story.  Lizzie brought home this little chocolate covered acai candy things.  Ella is perpetually on high alert for all things sugary.  Ella smells the candy and gets down on her hands and knees to try to covertly peer between Lizzie’s ams and face (Lizzie was on the floor) to see what was there.  When asked, Lizzie told Ella they were little poops.  Ella sweetly kept asking about the “poops”, the "yummy poops”.  We laughed until we cried.  Lizzie finally gave Ella a “poop”. 

Before I last wrote, Marilyn had her gallbladder taken out.  She’s had a rough couple of weeks here recovering.  Yesterday Jon took her back to Fairbanks for more tests.

Today it is windy and 11 degrees.  A couple of times this week, it has dipped down to -15 and -20 degrees but then it quickly rises to above zero when the wind arrives.

We had an nice sharing meeting this past week - Sarah Jane shared for the first time since she came home; Hannah shared too; Tommy, well……., he told his nightmare, I mean dream, about procrastination in order to make his point.

Cody Williams took a real nice photoshoot of Rob...

Rob and Michael Squries continue to have a good time in their archery classes with May. Michael has been taking Rob out to his trap lines in the woods...they go off together on M snowmachine...now Rob is saving up to get his own snowmachine...so far he has about $15 in quarters...haha

Have a great weekend.  I plan on it!  

DECEMBER...'TIS THE MONTH....REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

An early greeting, don't want to forget to do it with the upcoming whirl of events.

 FROM OUR CABIN TO YOURS. WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST PAT, GRI, ROB, MAY & GRAMY FLO

NOVEMBER NEWS

Hi all,

Above zero temperatures have continued until just last night.  Every time the temperatures have hovered around zero, a warm wind has blown in and warmed us back up to the 20’s.  Not so today.  We have slowly been dropping from 0 degrees steadily since noon time.  It is presently -9 degrees.  I overheard some of the guys talking about our lack of snow - it’s a record for the least amount of snow since the ’60’s.  

Hannah and Craig and family moved into their new house last week.  They’ve been bustling around all week getting settled and making their guest room suitable for Andy and Sarah Jane.  Many people have been supportive and helpful with packing, unpacking, carrying things, etc.  This afternoon, Masons left for Fairbanks to pick up Andy and Sarah Jane who fly in after midnight tonight.  

 Hannah announced yesterday that Andy has been cleared to come home!  I think that one way tickets were bought for the Monday before Thanksgiving.  We are alllllllll so excited.  Because of this…Hannah and Craig and family are on a big push to get to get Hannah and Craig’s house done in time for all to live comfortably there.

Mark Coy is still in Canada taking care of things concerning his father’s death.  I’m not sure when he’ll be home. 

Ben will be at a show next weekend to show off and sell his iron work.

Sis Millie is doing very well with therapy.  Lately, the girls have found a walker for her, and she’s attempting to push herself along with that.  She’s doing well.  I’m impressed.  She’s also been trying to do her own transfers from her wheel chair to her comfy chair.  She does ok! May works with her for an hour a day 2-3 times a week, the rest of the time she has other ladies doing some therapy with her.

Sis Marilyn has been sicker than usual lately and a little more housebound.  When it gets snowy and blowy, it is pretty difficult to get around.

Bro Bill Casey has sold two of his hot tub situations.  This weekend is a big push to get another one completely done for his client.  They are beautiful tubs. 



Not sure if somebody has a photos of them. Gotta see.

Cody Williams came back from his convention-southern jaunt and said he had a great time. He got to visit with Ani during convention in BM GA and then spent time with Katie Crossin and with Andy and Sarah Jane...before coming home. S

Our local IGA has been having sales of produce. many of us gals have gone in and purchased boxes of HoneyCrisps, Fuji, Purple onions, Yellow Peppers, etc. So much that we've had to process a lot of it. I've made lo sugar apple butter, quarts of low sugar apple cinnamon compote and frozen bags of sliced apples to use in pies, crumbles, etc. Of course apples are good to eat as is....

NEWS FLASH OF THE MOMENT...

Our Thanksgiving dinner will be  at four pm.  Kathryn and the kids will be cooking it for us.  Now that Andy Trotter is back I'm wondering if he'll roll his sleeves up and come into the kitchen to oversee proceedings as he's done for so many years....would be neat to see him in there again!

Sarah's calendars are out and circulating, put in your order FAST, cost $12.50 each plus postage.  

Nearly all the Casey children are here visiting their parents.  I guess Jewel and Andrew, the Fairbanks children, were here on the weekend but they had to go back to work.  Caseys are in heaven!  It is fun to have their kids here.  

Penny Clark got married this weekend.  Parson Tom Geyer ;) did the honors of marrying Penny and her honey.  :) Carolyn did the cake and probably a million other things.  

Evan and Luce Gorman with their daughter came to eat lunch with us.  Pam and Tom and Drew Gorman brought them.  Always fun to have them. I got to talk some spanish with Luz S (can't remember he last name, but she had met both my sister Karenza and my daughter Ani..

Judy and Steve have checked in from Atlanta.  They are having a busy and great time with their daughters and their families.  

Garth and Kim spent the weekend in Anchorage with Wayne and Ann and others. At the Robin house.

Tommy and some of the guys slaughtered some cows recently.  I’m sure Tommy will be calling meat nights to put up the beef.  

Mark Coy has returned from his trip to Canada to attend the events surrounding his father’s death.  He had a good report on how everyone is doing.  

Some of our grown kids who've kinda flown the coop are coming back for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everybody is agog waiting for them to arrive. It will be like old times with all the young'uns together again...

Jesse Geyer is coming form BC (Blueberry Farm - being a walkie with MSowers

Bradie Cox is coming from Homer (Bible College)

Ani Buongiorne is coming from Jefferson TX

Lizzie Jepsen is coming from UAF

I don't think I'm forgetting anybody.

PatLou surprised us with a short weekend visit from his chopper hoist man job at Fort Greely base in Delta. Although this means that he will not be bringing Beth and the girls for Thanksgiving as they have been doing for the past few years. He has to work and 6 hours of icy roads with a car load of little úns is no fun on your own.

Rob is enjoying is very full academic school year. He is actually trying his hand out in painting landscapes which we copy from photos or pictures. Most of his work is online for Math, Reading, Geography and Work History. Big Pat is taking a science course with him on Electricity, they seem to be enjoying themselves.

He is aldo doing a woodworking class with his buddy Michael Squires and Archery with his sister May.

As with most days but especially with thanksgiving approaching, I am grateful for friends and family (friends that sometimes sharpen the countenance) and for the continuing freedom to worship God. 

Aurora and skies have been amazing!.

LATE SEPT./OCT NEWS...sorry long!

Ok,

I know I have been remiss with my blogger new. Crazy busy as usual. Our family has been facing some medicals as far away as the big city of Anchorage, but all seems fixed for now. PTL.

Looks like last time I touched based was to talk about the craziness of HUNTING! Wow...

So here's some updates on what has happened since then...

After two weeks of tiny snowfalls and then meltage, this morning we have a couple of inches that just might stick.  The current temperature is 33° with gray skies.  The mountains are unseeable.  Despite all that, there is an eerie lighting that makes everything look fresh and beautiful because of the new snow.

The hunter’s breakfast is this morning.  I was asking for news on who won the antler derby but that news hasn’t been released yet.  By the way, we “bagged” ten moose this year.  The shooters were Tony, Chris Toby, Tommy, Jarred, Kerri (on the runway), Benjamin VanderHart, Jonnie S, Michael S, and Kevin.  All the meat was excellent this year – no bear spoilage or heat spoilage and excellent butchering by the guys!  It sure helps the flavor of the meat when it all goes well.

School has been in session since the start of October after we finished the tater harvest.  Without the Fouse children gone, our elementary count is three – Angelina in fifth grade taught by Jeni; Ethan M and Julie S in third grade taught primarily by Jo Co.  Robin spends a little time both schools and at home doing his online courses.  The highschool has plenty of children!  Ann, Sis Margaret, and Kathryn are the main teachers.  Sis Margaret is still our faithful principal.  I’m teaching two jr high classes and a photoshop class.  We did school pictures last Sunday.  I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to editing my photos so don’t hold your breath on any pictures.  

Here's one of the BLOOD MOON by Sarah Jepsen

A good one of that eerie early winter light...

This morning, much to my shock and dismay, the temperature plummeted to -2°.  Before going out to run errands this morning, I had looked at my thermometer, and it read 3° which I thought was plenty cold.  This afternoon, when I took the official high and low from my important equipment at the highschool, it told me that at some point the temperature had reached -2°.  Shocking!

Over the weekend, it snowed plenty. My calculations for that period equaled 8 inches.  Now we have a slight breeze that is blowing it all over the place and possibly melting some of the snow. Pat is hoping for plenty more so we can hit the trails with skis and snowshoes.

 Also, Jarred won the antler derby.  I think his moose’s antlers were in the 65 inch range. The young girls made an inreadible spread for the hunters and we all went to it. Rob had a good time and even spoke about going hunting with his dad, with some embelishments!!

Recently, we had a nice, short visit from Keith VanderHart.  It was pleasant to catch up with him again.  Erica and Caleb have been home for a couple of weeks.  Also, Wenda just spent a week with us.  It hardly seemed like she was here a week and poof, she was gone.  When Wenda left this spring she was very sick with something akin to pneumonia.  It was great to see and to see that she was feeling better as well.  We sure do miss her, I guess I did not realize that she had been with us for about 20 years! Wow...

Bradie took off for a Bible college in Homer a few weeks ago.  They must be keeping her busy since we have hardly heard from her if at all.  I guess she does call her parents now and then. 

Miss Irene Grahm passed away at the beginning of September.  Bonnie and Jim and Pam and Tom (from Delta) flew to Maine to meet her ashes to take care of them.  Just this past week, Cody and Bonnie (with separate flight plans) have gone to the Bowen’s Mill convention.  Cody is hoping to see Andy and Sarah Jane before coming home. UPDATE: Cody and Ani met at the BMC and they had a good time together, then on the way home Ani, Karenza and Mark Steiner stopped by to see Andy and Sarah Jane. That was such a blessing all around. :)

I haven’t mentioned that when Miss Val was here in August, we had a small ceremony at the gravesite to inter a little bit of Bro George’s ashes. 

We’ve been having a cold bug and other infectious bugs running around.  Hopefully all that dies out soon enough. 

LATEST NEWS:

Hi folks,

Our temps have been dipping to 10 and 12 degrees each night, but during the day, the temperature rises to 30 degrees or so.  Last week, we received three inches of snow after it rained and sleeted and melted all our previous snow. 

School seems to be going well.  This year, I’m taking Excel from Sis Margaret.  It’s a very intriguing class. 

Bro Andy had a scan of his liver last week and everything looked well.  He is scheduled for a pet scan on November 5^th.  We await good news from that scan as well.  

Craig and Hannah are pretty busy getting their house into a livable state – floor tile, painting, plumbing, garage, etc.  Bonnie and Wendy and Jim have been helping them out too.  Soon, I need to investigate for myself. 

Cody is still on his states trip – he went to the Bowen’s Mill convention, saw Katie, sawChris and DeAnne, and should be seeing Andy and Sarah Jane soon if not right now.   He’s been posting some fun pictures on facebook.

Hope went home to Maine on Friday; Chris flew out today.  I heard they will be back sometime next year.  For a week, Lindsey will be an only child.

Kels, Joe, and JJ were out for overnight.  They took Erica and Caleb back to Fairbanks.  Sometime this week, Erica and Caleb fly back to Tacoma. 

Rachael and Grant Williamson wrote to say that Shane’s treatment has been adjusted, and it seems more tolerable now, and his tumor is shrinking some. 

Mark Coy received word this morning that his father went out hunting yesterday and didn’t return.  It appears that his father had an accident with a quad and a creek and passed away out there.  Jay was found this morning by Kenny Gong and Ethan Coy.   Mark is going down to Headwaters tomorrow.  I don’t know anything about a service yet.

Also want to add that Robin has a full fledged curriculum and is officially in grade 9 as he will be graduating by the time he is 22. He has about 5 years to acrue 22 credits so we are working towards that goal. He does his core - Math, Science, Lang. World History - online. Then we do Rosetta Spanish, Life Science experiments, Handwriting, Typing, ART, PD and ARCHERY in the pm.

His sister May is taking his Archery classes and it looks like its going to be a great course for him plus giving him the required credit. We were able to get a very nice archery kit for a youth size and May is busy setting up the archery range down at the hangar. He will also have a class mate - his BB - Michael Squires. I will post photos as I get them.

He is also enjoying is ART classes and we are experimenting with diff. mediums, he does quite well and seems to like painting straight onto the white paper...

For Life Science we are doing the http://www.academyofscienceforkids.com/ and currently working on DISSECTION and making a volcano. The kits are complete and easy to navigate plus they save time since it is all together in a box...pretty cool! He took part in an experiment with the HS class on making a cell.

In order to document Rob's COMMUNITY SERVICE credits we are making an album of photos. So here's Rob with Michael S during our tater harvest, helping out with wood chores with the guys and taking part in the annual DRY CREEK CATTLE RUN in which the cattle are brought over from ATR to our side of the property and kept in smaller pens.

WOODWORKING 101

You all have a great week!!!!!

END AUGUST 2014 MISC. EVENTS/HUNTING CRAZE BEGINS

Sarah's news:

Goodmorning.  About two days ago, I heard geese flying south already.  When I mentioned it to Wendy, she said, “yes, they’ve been in the fields ATR for days”.  :(  Each night, the temperature dips very close to 32*, but it hasn’t quite reached yet.  We’ve had between 34 - 41* for the last week.  During the day, we are lucky for the temperature to reach 65*.  This week, we’ve had alot of cool, cloudy weather.

At present, Val Harris is here visiting. She’s made a foray to Whitestone and hopes to make it over to Eagles’ Ridge tonight.  Other than that, she’s stayed here to visit folks here and those that come here to see her.  It has been super great to see her.

Craig and Sarah Horender were married on August 16th.  Most of the Millirons have returned except Jennifer and the children who are spending a little more time with Jennifer’s family.  Jarred has alot of work this summer so he couldn’t be gone long.

That same weekend as Craig’s wedding was two weddings here in the interior.  August 16th, Steven Augustin married a local girl (cousin to Marki Adams Geyer), Audrey Adams.  All the Augustins and Stossmeisters and others from the area were there. I was actually asked by the bride’s family to photograph but I knew the grooms family much better than them.  :)

August 17th, Steven Miller marrie Alethia Stendall in Fairbanks.  The grooms family retained me this time, and the bride’s family was accepting but startled at my appearance.  Both weddings were outside and great Alaskan weddings.  My pictures are good (in my humble opinion) because I had some beautiful, soft, gray, weather to deal with.

Craig’s new house is steadily having more and more done on it.  Recently, the garage was put on, now the front porch and overhang, the driveway graveled, and the inside mudded and taped.  Exciting.  Because Jake and Jason are doing some work for Whitestone in Delta, they are staying out here each night.  Each night, they’ve been working at Craig’s house.  It has been fun to have those giants around.

College classes are starting - Ally started last week in Fbks; Liz and Olivia start this next week in Fbks; Ann has started her online classes.  School for us won’t start till sometime after hunting season and harvest to insure there are no interruptions once we start.  The girls are always anxious for school to start and the boys are not.

Joe Brandes is back again for his senior year.  I think he’s staying with Mark Coy this year since Mark’s boys keep getting married and leaving him.  BTW, Kathryn and Jon are engaged, but I haven’t heard any dates yet.

Ben had a pile of nephews here for several days - two of Ellen’s boys from Whitestone and Rebekah’s boy from Vancouver.  It was so cute to see Ben taking care of all those boys.  The boys loved being here and promised to come back next year.  Kels and JJ came out over the weekend.  It was nice to see JJ.

Irene Grahm (Bonnie’s mom) has been pretty sick for ten days now.  Bonnie was on a trip to the states which she cut short to come home.

Sis Margaret is now home after a nice trip to see Andrea.

Gri and Jannis are leaving tomorrow for a weekend in the Big Lake/Palmer area to see relatives.  Robbie recently went to the states with Gri to a retreat for kids his age.  On their way home, they were able to stop in Dallas on the very day that Annie was coming home from South America.  They all spent a day or two with Jimi and Julie Miller.

Kathy Casey has gone to CA to see her newest grandson born to Stephen and Melissa.  I think she stops to see her folks on her way home.

That’s current news.  Another email to follow with old news.  :)

LATER....

The guys are in this palpable panic to get gear together all the while hoping the weather clears up.  Since I last wrote, it has been very grey and socked in but with very little rain - 4/10 and 1/10 of an inch per day.  It has been kind of good that we’ve had cloud coverage, otherwise it would’ve frosted already. We’re still getting lots of things from the garden.  But, that  would be good if we had a frost soon so the grain would get finished and we could get that harvested.  

Pat is hoping to hunt around the area with Rob. May has gone up with the first crew with Tony and the Williams. Hope she gets one.

Some old news that I wanted to mention was that early in August Sam Riche, a friend, and Becky came out for a day.  Then the next weekend Chloe and Peter Droogsma came out for a couple of nights.  Peter and Chloe are driving around Alaska in a small vehicle and sleeping in the back of their vehicle.  They are having a good time.  

In the past month, I’ve neglected to mention that we’ve had several special Sunday speakers - Bro Wayne (Sis Ann was here too), Sis Cathy Owens, and Russell Stendal.  

There were two official caribou hunting outings and a couple of “packing in the moose hunting camps” which were also used to be on the lookout for caribou.  The only successful caribou hunter (thanks to Seth and Kevin) was Richard.  

Looks like the farm is full of visitors.  Chris and family are at my house; Sam Geyer and family are at Geyers; Simon and Lolly are at Jo’s; Dan Baltrum is visiting the neighbors and hopes to come over here; Mike and Mindy Basalyga and family are visiting the grandparents; and Pam Gorman is over at Masons.  And, Val is still here.  

I would like to ask you to keep Andy Trotter, Shane Williamson, and Christine Moore on your hearts.  Shane had a fever earlier this week; I haven’t heard how he is doing since.  

Have a great week end!

BARNABAS CAMP IN MISSOURI AND ANI MEET-UP IN DFW

Rob and I attended a special needs summer camp in Springfield, Missouri. One week of intense activity and challenges (for me anyway...lol)...We both came back with new friends. I was impressed with the level of commitment of the young people who took care of the campers as well as the overall vision and mission of the leadership. There are some amazing Christians in action out there! The caretakers who had campers one-on-one were young committed kids from different church youth groups, all over the nation. Between the ages of 16-21, willing to give this week of their summer for free, to help these special needs individuals have an awesome adventure. WTG Camp Barnabas! WE WILL BE BACK!

Here is a link to the special needs camp, Rob and I attended for a week.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10203810974946571&type=1&l=c90c530e41

After the camp we flew into DFW and met with Ani, who had just returned from her month in Argentina, visiting relatives and friends with her aunt (my sister) Karenza Hanson. We stayed with Jimmy and Julie Miller and had a great time of visiting around DFW, and spending time with their family. Then Ani returned to Jefferson via train to Marshall and Rob and I flew back to Alaska. A blessed time. PTL.

6 Flags in DFW proved to be a bit overwhelming for Rob and I but the rest of the kids enjoyed it!

Rob really liked the DFW Longhorn parade.