Hello!!! I’m so behind that I don’t even know where to start. I’ll start with today and see where it leads me.
We had a mostly warm and sunny day. The last couple of days we’ve had beautiful weather with the temps not reaching over 70 degrees. With a slight breeze, we were finally able to finish putting up the square bales from our first cutting of hay. Now to finish the hay by putting the last of it into round bales. Rich says we put up approximately 3,000 square bales.
My parents started back down the highway a week ago tomorrow (Saturday). Mom just checked in with me; she and dad have a room Skookumchuck, BC. They spent two nights in Whitehorse with the Persingers, two nights in Watson Lake with Rotundis, and two nights in the Shepherds Inn/Ft St John area with Troyers. I’ve been in a little bit of shock with the sudden leaving of my parents; I kinda got used to them being here after two and half months. Among other things, dad worked tirelessly on my mowers, the vehicles, and all sorts of other things containing engines. Mom did mending and altering jobs in between working on other projects and helping me keep my flowers alive.
One Sunday before my folks left, Jeni and her girls and I made a special dinner and cake in an acknowledgement of my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary (which actually occurred in March). We had a very few guests as it was a sit down dinner affair so, please, no one feel offended (from this area) that you weren’t invited. My favorite thing was the rice krispie cake that Kathryn made. It had rice krispie bars for the cake covered by frosting and flowers made with gum paste. Quite impressive.
Most of the Millirons have fled the farm for New York to help prepare for Craig Milliron and Sarah Horender Roger’s wedding which will be on August 16. Next week, Jarred, Garth, and Kevin will fly down. The Milliron guys have had alot of jobs to complete this summer so they are super busy, working long hours.
Last Saturday night, I attended David Underhill’s 80th birthday party. All of David’s children were there. It was quite the good time. David’s sister was there as was Jeff Blevins for those of you who remember him. There were many other guests but I won’t name them all.
This week, Miss Rose returned to the Sapa farm with Sis Ann and Bro Wayne where they met up with Miss Sue Hesser. They stayed with one of their neighbors while going to the farm during the day to organize and prepare for a large yard sale. The sale days were today and tomorrow. Miss Rose texted tonight to say that things are going well so far. I think this weekend some ex-Sapaites will be showing up to help out.
This afternoon Ben and some of the young boys left to hike and camp overnight. It’s nice weather for such a hike.
This summer, Tommy made two or three trips to Chitina for salmon fishing. He had successful trips each time but I don’t know the details of how successful. Jeni has been spending alot of time smoking some of the fish. It is sooooooo good!
Jack Fredrick, from Whitestone, Vicki Greenleaf’s father, had a stroke earlier this week. He is in the hospital in Fairbanks. He’ll probably have to have PT. It seems that his speech and right side are affected.
We will not be having church this upcoming Sunday. A work day has been declared, mostly for the men. The guys have been working on a project to gather the heat from our generator’s exhaust in order to use it for heating the auto shop and the tabernacle. Some plan on working on the graveyard too.
Last Wednesday church was cancelled due to our plethora of work nights. Because of that a few of us took off for Delta to hear the African Children’s Choir. It was quite good. I had an especially good time since Ella and her folks came and Ella sat with me most of the time. Quite a few from Whitestone were there as well (including Seth and Ami).
Today is another gorgeous day - the sun is not quite out in full force but we have a sweet breeze happening that will continue to dry the hay. The present temp at noon time is 70 degrees.
Argh, I just noticed it is noon time. I have to get to lunch. I’ll be back. ........
I did some investigation. I did find out that we did meet our subsistence quota with the salmon, and that we did the best we’ve probably done in our salmon catching. And, again, Jeni is doing a gorgeous job of smoking some salmon. I say gorgeous because it is truly pretty.
Ann is gone to the states to attend one of her nieces weddings which is today. Her visit is going well and she will be back tomorrow.
Allyson has started back to school so we only see her on weekends now. Olivia is getting ready to begin her third year at the U, and Lizzie is preparing for her second. Ann plans on taking online classes this winter in preparation for pursuing a degree in physical therapy.
Hannah and Lauren had a great visit here in July. We sure enjoyed seeing Hannah’s children (and Lauren’s girls but we see them more often).
Sis Margaret has taken a trip to see to see Andrea; she’ll be home next week.
Sis Millie is doing really well. Ann and Wendy are her therapists and general caretakers when Bro Rus is busy. Ann has taught us some new PT ideas. It seems that they have been most helpful to Sis Millie.
A couple of weeks ago, Sis Cathy P came down with a severe case of vertigo. It was so bad that Ally and Jon were called and they with Carolyn took Cathy to the ER in the ambulance. After some tests and some fluids and medication, Cathy was stable enough to come home. It has been a slow recovery for Cathy, but she’s getting there.
The very next weekend, Sis Marilyn had to be taken to the ER. She had a very bad infection and was dehydrated. She was given medication and fluids and sent home. I’m not sure if Marilyn is completely better yet or not. I know the antibiotics made her feel funny so maybe once that’s gone, she’ll be better. I sure hope so.
For those who are following some of the medical needs of folks who live/used to live at The Land:
Andy Trotter:
In July, Bro Andy was scheduled for a liver resection which was postponed. When Bro Andy was cleared for surgery, upon looking into him, they found that the liver has fibrosis, which causes a reduced function. So… the drs did some immediate intensive radiation on the suspect areas of the liver that they had planned to cut out, and they took a biopsy of something in his colon area. The biopsy has since come back clean. In the meantime, Hannah had an excellent visit with her folks and has now returned home. Bro Andy and Sis Sarah Jane are doing as well as can be in their situation, but they are badly missing us as we are missing them.
The Williamsons, Rachel Baltrum and Grant:
Rachael said that Shane is doing as well as can be expected in his circumstance. He has a tracheotomy but has learned to eat and drink with that. When he has energy, he runs around like any normal three year old. Every other weekend, Shane has chemo, and starting this coming Tuesday, he will begin radiation. The tumor growth has slowed down, but it is not getting smaller. Grant left today to work in California. I will send pics on a separate email.
May is doing a stellar job with the garden even though our harvest is way behind due to I’m not sure what. Our cauliflower is seriously the size of quarters (my favorite veggie) We just started getting broccoli and maybe soon we might get to eat a fresh squash soon. We do seem to have alot of cabbage somehow; and lettuce. There seem to be plenty of raspberries but we need the sun to stay out for them to ripen.
Jessy took off sometime in the middle of July to relocate in Canada. I can’t remember if she’s at Shepherd’s Inn or Headwaters or Hilltop, but she might be down there to see where an interest in Mike Sowers leads her (Mike is Sis Janet’s grandson).
Gri and Robby took a trip to the states to attend a camp and to see Annie. They had an excellent time. When they arrived home, we were in the garden having a work night. Robby rides up on his bike and shouts to us, “Howdy, guys!” He was so happy to be home.
Photos of the camp forthcoming.
Later...
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