MARCH/APRIL....ITS BREAKUP TIME IN DRY CREEK!!

This is the first time EVER that our snow has been gone by April 1st.  It has been amazing.  We’ve had a few gray days but mostly sunshine and relative warmth (never rising above 52 degrees but never reaching below 20 degrees).  Sunday we had a small hail storm and a small amount of rain which we probably need.

All of Tommy’s beef cows have done their thing and have had their babies.  Rich’s cows have had their babies too providing us with wonderful creamy milk for our various cheeses.  Tony’s horses are due to foal soon.  They are penned by my home so I like to look first thing in the morning to see if they delivered in the night.

The old elementary school and all the debris has been demolished and is completely taken away.  Except for the cement pad where the stove sat and a small indent in the ground without grass, one would never know it was even ever there.  Now the demotion team has moved on to old Harris/Grado/Jepsen cabin.  

——

We had a fun open house last Friday - Rob was proud to show off all his work from the past 2 years. We worked with Power Points to enhance some of the Social Study lessons...amazing all the good stuff one can find on sites on the web.

May had a great time in Mexico with the people in the community where Amaris grew up (and where Sarah and Paco Carbajal lived for many years).  She showed us pictures and talked on Sunday after our brunch.  

Miss Rose has gone to Anchorage for two weeks to be of assistance to the Gentrys.  Ann V will bring Miss Rose home since Ann will be coming home for her oldest son’s graduation.  The graduation of Maddie, Nic, Kerri, and Amanda will be on May 14th, the same day as Whitestone’s graduation.  Excellent bonding opportunity between Micah and Merlin this week since Merlin had to take Micah to his therapy sessions in Fairbanks.  

Ben attended the home show in Fairbanks at the end of March.  I forgot to ask him how he did, but I’m sure he did great.  A few years back, Ben purchased a plasma cutter which has been very helpful to him for some of his simpler things that don’t necessarily need a personal touch. 

Last week, Bob Hilliker, with his wife, Betty came to visit.  :)  He wrote a book on his experiences in Alaska.  I must say, I have enjoyed reading the book as has Rich.  Here are some pictures of Mr. Hilliker signing books for friends in my very own dining room.  The book can be ordered by calling ….. I forgot to write down the numbers.  Or maybe by finding the facebook page about it:  My Life in the Wilderness, An Alaskan's Story  or by writing eastfork73@gmail.com

I better get.  You all have a great week end

JAN/FEB/PART 2

When I first woke up this am, the temperature was an unbelievable 35 degrees, but it has begun to drop already.  It is now 23 degrees.  Last week, we had a few days of twenty below temps.  Of course, it’ll always warm up during the day so no temp is too scary at this time of year.  Plus, with some sunshine…. we can handle just about anything.

All is well here.  We had some wind in the past week that made life a little miserable but we have survived.  We are enjoying the Maine peoples.  Jairo Cruz is a professional photographer and marketer person.  In Rich’s words, “maybe he’ll teach me something”.  I’m actually excited about his being here.  He has a different take on things, and he can be helpful to my students and ex students where I don’t seem to have the time.

Carolyn is going to Fbks tonight for a couple of weeks to help watch Sam and Marki’s children.  Marki is going to Seattle with her mom who is having surgery.  I’m going in later this week to babysit Jake and Phanta’s children as they have a wedding to attend in Anchorage.  If I remember correctly, Jake is the preacher man!  Jake and the kids were out this weekend while Phanta was in Anchorage helping with pre wedding things.  Jarred took the kids out sledding for awhile on Wednesday afternoon. Then Seth and Ammy had Ethan and Zayden over on Sat night because they had Nikoli Chavez out from Whitestone.  

Wenda is improving every day.  Getting stronger and stronger as the days pass. We are thankful for all the prayers on her behalf.

Garth is home from his chauffeur job.  He left the ministry after the Whitehorse convention.  The tour continues on, but I’m not sure where they go next.  

Last weekend, Toby Stoeber, Flori, and his fiance, Carolyn Hall, came to church and spent the day at the farm.  It was a truly pleasant time.  We haven’t seen them in so long esp Toby.  

Ann had a nice short visit at home.  Now she’s back in Anchorage continuing her studies.  Al, Ann’s dad, is keeping track of things in the house when Merlin is not around.  Al hurt his shoulder awhile back so we haven’t been seeing much of him, but I see he’s coming out again now.  

Erica went to Tacoma, WA, this past weekend to collect some of her things since she is staying in this area for awhile.  Ben with Kathryn’s help kept Caleb while she was gone.  

Betty Venebles passed away at I’sot on February 12 (I think).  There will be a memorial at Whitestone on Thursday the 25th and at I’sot on Sunday the 28th.  

Millie was taken to the ER last week because she passed out during therapy.  After a very thorough check, nothing was found.  She was declared healthy and has come home again.  

May, Gri, Tony, Wendy, Lindz, Cody and Chris Toby Williams, all attended the Delta Farmers Forum. S&K was elected as farmers of the year so May, Wendy and Tony put a slideshow together about the greenhouse (Wendy), garden (May) and ATR stuff on the other side (Tony). They talked for about 28 minutes dividing the time between them. Gri took a video of the event and perhaps they will do it again for the family so that we can all be informed on what goes on in that department. It was quite an honor to be awarded this and May especially wants to continue to take courses and hook up with experts and horticulturists and growers here in Alaska. People were asking her questions and she was fielding the answers quite expertly.  This is the second year in a row that they’ve been presented with the Cooperator of the Year award from the Salcha-Delta Soil & Water Conservation District.  

More on the home front and rather belated news: Ani came from TX on college break. It was nice seeing her and having her at the house. We went out on a couple of snowshoe ventures but mostly she just wanted to relax. Quite a few of the ex grads came back for Christmas break. Also, Pat, Beth and the girls came for New Years and I had a good time taking the twins out on snow adventures and Pat took Beth's cousin, Rob and twins on a snow machine ride pulling a sled behind. Family reunions are memorable aren't they? Kids grow up so fast and move away and its nice when they can all come back at some point.

This year I tried the ice candle thing again. I remember making them when the kids were little and they came out quite nice. May made me some as well with home made candles.

MARCH ALREADY?

Last weekend we had some amazing 40 above weather but soon reality hit and we went back to having -11 and -14 degrees each morning but warming up that same name number but above zero weather in the day. This morning is the first time all week that it’s been above zero in the morning.  We’ve had no new snow in weeks.  The winter accumulation was at eleven inches but with the wind and some slight melt-age the level reads at nine inches. 

So, as usual, last week I gave out some misinformation - I wrote, "This is the second year in a row that they’ve been presented with the Cooperator of the Year award from the Salcha-Delta Soil & Water Conservation District.”  My bad.  It should’ve said it was the second time every that Tony and S & K have received that award.  We are especially proud of our own May Buongiorne - our garden manager who was also a part of the award ceremony. The Williams and May put together a short PowerPoint explaining what the farm is all about, Tony talked about what goes on in the large crop and horse farming arena, Wendy talked about her greenhouse projects and May talked about her gardening and what she has learned in the last few years managing our 3 acre community garden. projects. 

There is a short video if anyone would like to see it. It is rather grainy since the lighting was poor. The PowerPoint is also available. Here is a photo of the group presenting. Taken by the local news rag so not super clear.

Our cheese lady Sarah, recently found a guy who paints canvases of cheese, doughnuts, meat cuts, etc.  He painted her spicy Gouda which we named Winter Fury and Amaris’ Toscano Pepato.  Here are the links to his canvases.  http://mikegeno.com/catalog/art_viewer.php?artworkID=345&sortBy=0&category=0&startNum=1 and http://mikegeno.com/catalog/art_viewer.php?artworkID=347&sortBy=0&category=0&startNum=1

Miss Elle from Maine has gone home.  We enjoyed her visit, and I’m pretty sure that she enjoyed her visit with us.  Jairo Cruz is still here.  He is jolly fellow who has fit right in with us.  He is a photography pro and brings  his enthusiasm and know how that the HS photography class and to all those who do photography.  He’s been teaching the students how to take environmental portraits with flash and lights.

I was asked to put out these new contact phone numbers for the Gentrys:  new Robin House Tel. is 907-332-2017 and Cell is 907-885-8140

Some of the loggers are doing a logging job near Fairbanks.  They will be gone for three weeks or so.  They may be home some weekends.  I heard they are staying with Jason Tate.  Only a couple of loggers are there actually.  They rest are still home.  

Carolyn came home after a  week of babysitting her grands in Fairbanks.  She will have to do more babysitting later as the surgery for Sam’s mother in law was not able to happen yet.  The surgery was rescheduled.  Bonnie has taken off for a trip to Maine.  

Rob and Gri continue to travel back and forth to the Dot Lake school for what is called e-therapy. This is a new online tool that makes otherwise unavailable therapy - to school that live in outlying areas and not connected to a large town/city - our school falls into that category. We make use of the faster internet service and are able to offer our high school students online courses and in Rob's case some speech therapy done in the style of "skyping". It's actually quite cool.

The backyard creek is starting to show its existence and the ice is slushy...some of our snowshoeing and skiing trails are unusable but we continue to go out as much as we can.

Have a great day!

Here’s a pic of Bro Rus and Sis Millie deciding when they will go home after supper.

JAN/FEBRUARY...

Hi  all.  It is February which means hardly any snow (at least this year) with lows of -15 and highs of +15.  Each day when it’s not too cloudy we receive a few more rays of sunshine.  The guys would like a little more snow fall for their skidoos or snow machines. Today it is 17 degrees above zero)

We had an excellent convention.  I’m sorry that I didn’t give a report sooner and now I’m a little rusty on what it was about.  I’ll check out my notes.  Bro Bill Grier preached on prayer and intercession; a quote from him is, “Intercession does more for history than culture”.  Steve Arsenault’s text was from Ezra; Bro Andrew closed with a plea to seek God, cry more, and to ask God to search us.  David DiGloria preached on fusion and related it to our daily lives.  Bro Joe closed that meeting with an exhortation for intercessory prayer.  Bro Andrew Giles preached from 1 Thess “faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” and he used the story of Legion as one of his text. Bro Joe’s text was the Mt of Transfiguration story with his point being warfare is necessary to take the visible from the mountain top experience as we walk in Christ.  John B compared the fear of God with the Love of God.  A quote from John Basalyga is “Terror does not constrain you; it may stop you, but it doesn’t constrain you. Only love or fear will”.  John Jeffreys talked about gold going through the refining process.  My interpretation of his theme was just as Jesus has been tempted and tried, so will we, and wouldn’t we rather that trying be done now rather than later.  It was nice to have some of the Delta people here for some of the services.  Many of them were able to attend since we had a weekend day along with our week days.

Cody came back from his Peru trip right before convention.  He presented us with a slide show and talked to us about the trip.  Very uplifting presentation.

We have an influx of Maine people here and there are more to come.  Joe Brandes went home for the holidays and brought his sister, Olivia, back to live here. Jairo Cruz and eighty year old Elle came with them to visit for awhile.  In June, Joe’s parents and younger sister, Emma, will be driving up the Alaska Hwy to live here.  

Wenda is being released from the hospital today!!!  In case you hadn't hear she had a bad case of pneumonia. She’s a miracle - really and truly.  One minute there was no hope, and the next, she was off the ventilator and slowly but surely making improving progress.  Stacey and Kenny will pick her up today and take her to Stacey’s at their home in Hernon, Kansas, while she continues to heal.  The altitude in Colorado is difficult for Wenda who is having problems getting over the pneumonia, etc.  

Bro Andy is still waiting for his test results.  In the meantime, he feels and looks fine, he says.  

Kelly and Kevin Jepsen are due to have their first baby in August.  

Ann VanderHart has been in Anchorage since January studying and working on her internship for PT.  She will come home this weekend for a little bit (not sure if it’s just the weekend or if it’s for a few days).  Shhhhhh…. don’t tell Ann but I heard some negotiations with Lindsey to help the menfolk tidy the house before Ann’s imminent return.  

Floan has been chronically sick with various infections this winter. We hardly see her out but when we do it’s usually because Gri chauffered her to and from the tabernacle.  She is getting better though, and will start venturing out on her own, at least walking up to the Tab which is good for her.

The loggers are very busy doing what they do - logging, hauling firewood, cutting lumber, and Rich making pellets.  :)

Here's a photo of Bro. Buddy and Joe from last year. Missed Buddy.

NOVEMBER NOOS FROM THE FAR NORTH....IT'S GETTING COLD..er ;)

Hello from the cold north, and the auroras continue to amaze this month

Weather report:

Last week we received a little over three inches of snow.  I’ve lost track of how and when we received it, but our accumulation is five inches.  This week, our weather started getting colder as in below zero temps.  Last night we had a low of-33 degrees.  Upon waking up this morning, I am happy to report that the temperature is rising.  At present, we are sitting at-19 degrees.  I hear that we are supposed to get a strong warming chinook in today and tomorrow.  We’ll see.

We are all looking forward to Thanksgiving next week.  As is tradition but hasn’t occurred for the past couple of years, Bro Andy will join the cook crew this year; Kathryn and May will still be his right and left hand bosses.

Did I ever mention that Ryan Buerge (from Canada) and Jordan Wheeler (from Delta) are attending our high school this year?  Both students are staying with Hannah and Craig Mason.

Craig Mason with the help of Jeremy Austin and Kathryn Nerbonne Clark (secretarial duties) is working hard to find funding and to set up a better internet setup for the community and esp. for the school.  We will then be able to bypass Hughes net and best of all…… measured bandwidth usage!!!! 

Travelers:Joe Brandes has gone to Maine to visit his family for two months.

Kim Milliron flew home last night; Chris Toby flies home today or tomorrow.  Bill and Kathy arrived home on the weekend.  They had a GREAT visit but are happy to be home too.  

ROBIN REPORT:

Robin is done with his job at IGA.  Now he is spending time at the sawmill each morning doing jobs for the logger guys, mainly in the large metal enclosed building.  His mom has to oversee his work for paperwork reasons.  Gri diligently traipses out to the Mill each time he shows up for work.  I have to say, I’m impressed with Gri’s pushing Robbie to become a dependable lad....thanks for the kudos Sarah! ;) Rob enjoys the interaction with the guys. Thanks for finding jobs for him to keep busy!

Last Sunday I had the rare chance of interpreting our church message given by a speaker from the Dominican Republic, I believe he is originally from Colombia. Always good to practice one's simultaneous recall, good for the ole' noggin...

as Poirot says:...something that will agitate the little grey cells most adequately.

snowshoes trails are calling!

Community activities are keeping us busy as usual, so I will not bore you with daily routine details that are essential to keeping the beehive buzzing.

Have a great weekend!

October gone already...!!

A short note by my friendly neighbor Sarah Jepsen who has no time for her own blog, so is happy for me to include it in Moosings since we are all in the same boat…sorta….kinda…haha

From Sarah:

In the last eighteen months, I’ve gotten up to my elbows in cheese making, and I love it.  The problem is, I have too many things I love to do (and some I don’t love, bookkeeping) such as my photography and teaching and more.  The ones who have suffered from my new love are you all, my faithful readers.  I will try to improve, but, knowing me, I probably won’t improve much.  

As mentioned in the title of this email, this morning is the hunters’ breakfast.  The high school kids are cooking.  There was a mad flurry of activity in the kitchen this morning.  Soon enough there will be tall, raucous tales of shooting or almost shooting various wild game. 

School is going well although off to a rocky start.  An EMT class was held during the second week of school; most of the high school attended that.  In part of the third and fourth weeks, the high school students left at ten am till noon to help Tony and his boys with the grain and hay harvest.  Rob rode around with Chris on the tractor or with Kerri and Madge on the hay bailers…then he said it was too cold and he came home…lol

So many things have occurred since I last wrote that I don’t even know where to start. 

Seth and Kevin killed four of our six pigs recently.  We are all excited about pork meat!  We are so spoiled as opposed to the days when we had very little meat per meal.  We have ample amounts of moose and enough beef and now pork!  The young boys helped Seth clean up the barns area this summer and build a new pig barn and fence.  After we harvested all our garden vegetables, May allowed Seth to set up an electric fence in the garden where the pigs enjoyed themselves immensely.  It gave me great please to see them cavorting about the garden and running up to greet me and anyone who passed by like we were their best friend!

Kelly went to visit her Arizona relatives recently; Kevin went too for a part of her visit.  She’s home.  Cody attended the Bowen’s Mill convention and saw some friends.  When he arrived home, Chris Toby left shortly thereafter to visit his fiancé in Maine (Hope).  Jim and Bonnie are somewhere outside of Alaska visiting friends for a couple of weeks.  Kathy and Bill Casey went to WA, and later they will travel to NY to visit relatives.  Judy and Steve are flying south on Monday to visit their GA daughters.  

Robbie B has been working two days a week at IGA.  Gri takes him in and hangs around Delta while he works.  Be sure to say hello, all you Delta folks, if you see him.  

Bradie and Jessy have moved to Homer.  Jessy is working on the slope every couple of weeks, then back to Homer the other couple of weeks.  Bradie’s very tall boyfriend, Joseph, is attending Bible college in Homer.  Joe visited the farm for several weeks in the fall.  

Olivia Geyer has moved to Whitestone to attend college to get a degree in music.  I have a report about Olivia’s time in Hoonah this fall which I will post sometime.  :(

Pat has been gone to Valdez for the past week and is due back today from his piano tuning.  Have a great Saturday and cross your fingers that I can tidy my house in good time!

Oh here’s some pigs of the friendly pigs and of a recent cheese tasting we had.

HAPPY FRIDAY AND COMING WEEK END!

Showing off our lovely state! This is in Homer and somewhere in Wasilla, the mountain is Rainier I believe.

We’ve been having cool mornings of 18 and 20 degrees, but now a warm wind has blown in.  Morning temps are 34 and 37 degrees with the days reaching into the high 40’s.  Thankfully, this weather has melted most of the snow and ice; it has enabled Tony to work on getting in the hay and grain.  We are so thankful that out of all the farms in Delta, our farm’s grain is still standing tall and not knocked over by the wet snow.

People have asked me who shot the moose since I only gave a number - Thomas, Mark Coy, Tony, Chris, Cody, Nic V, Benj V, Jonnie, Brad, Seth, John Clark, Kevin, Ben, & Jarred.  The caribou were shot by the Williams men; the grizzly was shot by Thomas.

This week an instructor from Tok has come down to teach an EMT class.  We’ve had students from Dot Lake come, also the youngest Koehlers, and, of course, our students.  Today is the last day, and it seems that it has gone well. Rob and I both got our CPR/First aid...hopefully we won't need to use our skills anytime soon...lol

Did I ever mention that Mark Coy started his year with Esther Venables a couple of months ago.  It is one of those fun situations of Esther living at Whitestone while Mark is living here.  What the end result will be remains to be known by them and us.  At present Mark Is spending time in Headwaters helping them with the packing up and selling of that community.  Esther is pretty involved with her mom’s care.  Betty V has been sick for a few years now while continuing to live at I’sot.

May's garden is being mowed up by the voracious piggies...they're somewhere out there

September and SCHOOL START!

the Auroras have been stunning this month! Picnic under the stars anyone???

 Hatcher's Pass from our own Sebastian Saarlos...

Homer, Alaska, beautiful in front and behind

Folks,

Ok I know I'm biased but local folks have been taking the most AWESOME PHOTOS OF ALASKA'S BEAUTY in the past weeks! It's hard to know what to post. I know I haven't posted since August. No excuse...just tired like this mama bear...miss those days when my kiddos used to nap on top of me....now they're gone and don't need me...so make the most of it all you young mamas out there...

Monday morning, the first day of school, was a gorgeous sunny day that reached 60 degrees.  It was one of those days that one wants to savor and enjoy every last moment of warm sunshine.  Sometime during the night, clouds rolled in to dump snow on us.  I’ve lost count but we received over 12 cumulative inches of snow which has packed down to less.  Tony said it would all melt and go away.  I’m waiting for that.

Although we did get our veggies put away, we have not nearly finished putting away the hay and grain.  Tony and his helpers were working in the snow for awhile, but they finally had to stop due to the very wet, heavy snow.

May has done an amazing job with our garden and a bountiful produce is safely canned, frozen and eaten fresh. PTL!

Hunting went well and I think last count was 14. So meat cutting was a long ordeal but we are not complaining. 

 

Various men are doing various projects. Much building is going on, our across the road neighbors to be...Jan Ford and Judy Rich are transforming the old 2 story cabin that has had so many tenants I can't keep track...into a lovely place. Still in the beginning stages, with the help of many I think it will eventually look lovely. The building crews are also building around Delta, lovely log homes and doing what they do best. The loggers are also busy. Pat is fixing and winterizing our cabin. The roof is finally in order and now the upstairs inside is getting some needed sprucing up.

This week some of us are attending an ETT course of 40 hours which is keeping us on our toes. Thankful to all those who are filling in so that others can do this.  Always a good skill to have, especially with an aging population.

Not sure if I've mentioned that now Pat and myself and our daughter May are Robin's official guardians. One thing less to worry about. The change brings more paperwork for me especially but more peace of mind about Rob's future care. Amazing to think that Robin is 18! It's been quite the adventure, one which I would not have wanted to miss for the world! THANKS ROBBIE! LOVE YOU TO THE MOON...

Rob is learning some work skills in our local IGA. I drive him into Delta twice a week. He enjoys working with his buddy Steven who is also an individual with DS. They like to be together and Steven is showing him the ropes. Rob and myself are quite busy with school and also driving into town (100 miles round trip) twice a week for his trainee job at our local IGA. He is learning new skills and I hope he might be able to get part time employment later on. Perhaps in the summer when it is nicer to drive in.

Rob took part in the Hunter's Ed and got his card! He actually is a good shot...

Thanks Andy Trotter and Joe Brandes for helping him.

Rob is taking some weightlifting and strength training with Drew G, he is having a good time with this. We do it on the same day he goes into Delta for his job trainee...thanks Drew!

I was able to attend my second Ladies retreat at the Wilderness Log Cabin in Tok. A nice time with sweet ladies, uplifting and surrounded by a breathtaking part of Alaska!

http://www.logcabinwildernesslodge.com/

MAINLY FARM NOOS - PAST 2 WEEKS JULY/AUG.

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 10^th.  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!

http://www.musicali.biz/

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

https://www.facebook.com/christine.moore.3705/media_set?set=a.10151271710150310.508841.545905309&type=3

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 GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME…AND ALL THE TIME…. 

Have a great weekend. 

your friendly bloggers from The Land, Dry Creek Alaska