Dock progress

Looks like in all the family visits I forgot to include a few pictures of the dock Seth and I built a few weekends ago out at Bear Island. The area is aptly named as we saw at least one bear if not two every day. The dock is up and very steady, we are headed back down to add stairs to the dock and to the island itself and to prepare for next summer's big adventure of cabin building. Building the dock was actually really fun, learning all the terms for the beams and creating something from just wood is so cool, I have to admit I was totally hooked and really excited to see what Seth had planned every day. We floated all the wood for the following day over from Dad's beach to our rock outcropping at high tide and Seth had a great itinerary so we would stay on schedule. Now, hopefully it is all there and as we left it when we go back in two weekends.

Is it fall already?

Word is there is termination dust on the mountains here in town, we wouldn't know as the rain hasn't let up in ages, can't see them yonder peaks anyhow. The bumper crop of raspberries had to be picked and frozen so that the rain wouldn't rot them. I can safely say that the ducks are in heaven though, boy do they love water in any form.

Lately Seth and I have been having some fun. Last weekend was the big family lamb roast for Grandma's 87th birthday. Lots of the family was up at the farm, kids, dogs, chickens, geese and meat was everywhere. Seth and showed up a bit late in the morning so the geese cleaning was already in the works but we did each get to clean one so I spose we were lucky, goose fat makes your hands softer than you could ever imagine, just in case you ever have a bad chest cold Gram saved the lanolin to wrap in flannel for your lungs. Than to the kitchen table where giant pieces of lamb were drying, processed that and parceled it out for the family and the cousins roasted lots to perfection for dinner. Than off to heard up the cows, cousins new sheep dog was incredible and really did his job, Dr. Seth turned two little bulls into steers while four grown men cousins held the little fellows down, thanks to the new video camera M & G gave us for birthday we have some awesome footage. Next up roast lamb dinner that was incredible out on the lawn than an easter egg hunt with 1,000$ in them!! Seth had an egg with a $100 dollar bill in it, lucky. Some eggs had slips of paper entitling the bearer to a fruit bar, fancy bar soap or 8 seconds of money grab. In case you haven't experienced money grab it is incredible. Money grab is a gallon bucket with a t-shirt duct taped around it, you get 8 seconds to stick your hand in the sleeve and pull out as much cash/ coins as you can, such a good time, it can only be given justice in a video, which you know I captured with the new device.

A few days later Seth headed off to Denali for a backpacking and pack-rafting trip with another cousin and some friends, the pictures look amazing, no sign of humans for years it looks. I hung around town and prepared the old art room for kids and spent time with more cousins and the grandparents out at the farm. Overall a great time.


NOW!!!! Now, it is 10:18 pm and Seth is using a shovel to pull up the carpet in the baby's bedroom. I bought some paint tonight and tomorrow is painting and new wood flooring. While the whole house shakes from Seth's hard work I will update you on the happenings and try not to feel lazy, I will also simultaneously cook up this little baby who is now 2 lbs and can open and close his eyes!!! I can also poke him and he will poke back, he knows upside down and right side up as well as light and dark!! Yes, only the fattening up to do until we meet the little pecker in November, can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! I hope he is calmer at night than his father, if not I spose a lot will get done around this little farm when he is older.

Hope all is well with you and wherever you are there is summer sunshine as I hear August is the hottest part of the summer somewhere besides the upper one.