Salcha River Cabin

This is the Alaskan cabin in the family.  It is surrounded by state land, is only accessible by boat or snow machine, and was purchased a couple years ago by my in-laws who were looking for some space out of town and a pre-retirement project.  Splitting wood (see my husband back left) and getting clean, warm water are two of the biggest projects now that the cabin has been remodeled and an outhouse has been built.

After they purchased the cabin, they had to purchase a new boat.  We inherited the old one, which needs a lot of electrical work, but we get rides on this one and borrow it sometimes on our river, the Chena.

Speaking of work, there was a lot to be done in the yard last weekend when we visited.  Here the boys and grandma are waving at passing boats while they throw brush onto the fire.

It was a long day for the boys.  One fell asleep on the boat seat on the ride back to the car and the other slept in the car.  

Sweet Baby Three

Goodness!  Have I not blogged about sweet baby three?  So much will change!  We will finally have to get a bigger rig (been choosing it since about Jan 1 this year but putting it off because I love my Corolla), build bunk beds for the boys, use our spare room for second kid room, and worry about small toys on the floor again.  I will have to push a stroller with an infant seat and make baby food out of our food.  It will be great!

Things have been different this third time around.  I don't have a job or school that gets me up early or keeps me on my feet all day and I have two boys who know how to sleep in, one of whom still takes a solid afternoon nap.  In addition to getting great sleep, I have had an excellent diet.  My new favorite books by the way are Wild Fermentation (Katz), Deep Nutrition (Shanahan), Super Nutrition for Babies (Erlich), and Coconut Oil Miracle (Fife). 

Week 16, Easter

Week 28, Independence Day Weekend

 

Some things have not changed.  I am still a tiny person with a larger than average sized baby who goes head down before Week 30.  Strangers comment that I look ready to have the baby, that the baby looks very low, and that I look good.  If this baby is within a couple ounces of big brothers, I and the medical professionals expect him/her to come around 36 weeks, so August 26 instead of the official due date of September 23.  In the end, it will be interesting to see if the probiotic foods, the collagen-building bone broths, and the otherwise nutrient-dense diet will prevent my water from breaking early.  My guess is no, but I always love a good experiment, and if nothing else the good food and sleep are making me feel strong, happy, and energetic.

Our Yard

The yard itself is really green and has been push mowed more times this June than it has all of the other summers combined.  This is due to a good summer with pretty consistent rain and probably deeper roots and more native grasses too now that it's been planted for five summers.

I love simple, practical gifts.  

The Easter bunny left these birdhouses,

and we each had a great time decorating one.

It was a rainy day yesterday so I thought a good time to take photos of our first substantial garden.  I love that it is right next to the playground.  Our 4 year old knows what every single plant is and helps me to care for them.  After a little over a month of growth, some things are doing great and some are coming along slowly (kale, chard, carrots in way back bed).  Due to temperature differences between beds and between areas within beds, I think I will do a little rearranging of seeds next year.

Above, we have onions, cabbage, peas, edible sunflower. 

Strawberries, herbs, cauliflower, broccoli                     Lettuce, beans, tomatoes                

Potatoes, Beans, Carrots

My husband started our well casing.   

Perhaps there will be room to plant something edible there also.

And finally here is the woodshed that my husband designed and built last summer.

Each of the five sections stores just over 3 cord birch, white spruce, or aspen and it is almost full.