Good morning. Some belated news from the home front. From the past 2 weeks while I was gone. Thanks Sarah! Below is a joint effort since I (Gri) missed so much of what was has been going on.
Last week, we had two 82 degree days this week before the clouds rolled in and dropped .35” of rain on us. The last two nights we’ve had lows of 36° and 38°. A little brisk, I’d say. We are getting some of our hay in finally, but there is trouble with the balers. Hopefully that is soon fixed.
We still have a grizzly running around at night. It found our compost buckets once, found the grain shed once, unhappily found my burn barrel (but there was nothing fun in it) once, got shot at with buck shot once by some boys, but he keeps prowling around. I guess grizzly season opens on the 10th. If Fish & Game haven’t done anything about him by then, I’m sure someone will shoot him soon thereafter.
We’ve been working in our garden most nights harvesting greens or raspberries and sometimes May has us weed. We have a been blessed with bountiful vegetables. We are blessed – plenty of raspberries, cabbage, greens, broccoli, and more. We just need more hay! Thanks to our Maymay…bless her…and thanks to all the crew of canning/freezing ladies. Now we have so many goodies put up for the winter months. BTW Tomatoes are doing awesome, thanks Wendy, Jo (and her crew), Rus.
After the bear got into the grain the other night, we didn’t see any sign of him for a few days. Many of us thought he’d gotten bloated and trundled off to wait it off or die. But, no. Last night, he returned to overturn barrels by the tab and to get into the grain in a big way. He mauled several bags and hauled one bag into the woods beyond the barns.
Hannah Mason came home last night; Andy and Sarah Jane will be home next week. Andy is feeling better each day. Once home, the Trotters will stay here for a couple of weeks before returning to Seattle for a procedure on his ongoing treatment on his liver.
We had a treat yesterday – Nancy and Paul Baltrum plus two of their grands (Cole Williamson & Jayden Timm) came for supper and a few hours. It was sooooo good to see their faces. Nancy was our in residence midwife for many years, she delivered most of our babies on the farm. When she saw May whom she delivered 25 years ago in our cabin - she looked at Paul and said: “Paul, we must be getting old!”… Anyway it was nice to see them, they have over a dozen grandkids from 4 of their 7 kids.
Last week, Lee and Claire Wilkerson came out to visit for a little bit. Hannah and Lewis and Carson came with them. Hannah helped Amaris and Maddie make a stellar meal of empanadas and salsa and other yummy things. They came out again on Sunday for our service and Lee had a good word. It is always nice for Pat and myself to catch up with them, Pat goes way back with Lee to his times as a single guy up in the dorm above the Tab here at Dry Creek, I go back to my days in Spain with them both of course, so it’s nice to sit and chat about old times…both Pat and myself had Lee&Claire as music instructors when we were at the Shepherd School of Music. They have their own music business, check their site out!
A group from Dry Creek participated at the Delta Fair! The loggers put together a cabin kit as a float on one of their logging semis. The irony is that Rob and I have been going all by our lonesomes for a few years now - and I miss the only time the whole farm goes out! Oh well…I was still recuperating from my trip down to TX and MO (Barnabas Camp)…so I should not complain.
Thanks to Sarah et all good pictures are located here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153035484401569.1073741890.674561568&type=1&l=669227661b
Sunday Jon and Carol Dufendach came out to share bringing brother Albert with them. Albert is a 90 year old gentleman (in every sense of the word) who had us smiling and laughing with his funny quips and sayings. For the past decades God has given him a healing anointing so he has spent his time traveling the world sharing his gift of miracles and signs with everybody. Many here got prayed for. My frozen shoulder that I’ve been dealing with for a number of years - was healed - no pain. Others had their legs lengthened - amazing to actually see this happen before ones eyes. We had an excellent service with them.
I have neglected to mention that Judy Rich from Texas has moved to our farm. Judy is presently living with Jim and Bonnie Mason. Judy is a great addition to our community.
Sarah says: < Gri and Robin were gone for two weeks to attend a camp in the states. It ended up that Gri was rooming with a second cousin of mine – how cool is that? This second cousin’s grandma in law gives each of her grandchildren one of my calendars each Christmas. And, it appears that Robbie had quite the time at camp. He came back with a more mature look (or was that because of his few days’ growth on his face?). Also, his mom has posted a lot of fun pictures on facebook of him. >
Pics of Rob's camp here
We sure enjoyed Ani’s month long visit here at home. She has gone back to Texas where she is living with Karenza, her aunt, next to Mary and Tim Tessi. Starting a new semester at the Panola college end of August. Some pics of our time together, this past New Year and some of our time in June/July before we left for TX here
Our youth camp DCYC 2015 - was a most excellent time. Pictures here
We could not have done so excellently if it had not been for all the participation from the neighboring farms and communities. It was really amazing. Everything seems to go so well and is so flavorful when everyone contributes like that.
My brother Gavin Leeson flew over from Canada (where he was stationed for work) and spent the youth camp and a few days more with the Buongiornes. It was a real treat to see him having a good time with the young folks and participating in our farm activities. It had been at least 2 decades since I’d seen him. His oldest Nicole is 21 so when I saw him - she was 10 days old -, that was back in ’94.
Pictures of our time with Gav here
From Sarah: < Rich and I went to Montana right after camp to attend Christine’s memorial. It was an excellent time with Richard’s family! I posted memorial pics on Jeff’s fb and family pics on my facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152971615816569.1073741888.674561568&type=1&l=eb55ccbd12
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152971658856569.1073741889.674561568&type=1&l=27f3b24039
>
GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME…AND ALL THE TIME….
Have a great weekend.
your friendly bloggers from The Land, Dry Creek Alaska
