The Miracle of Life

Right around Memorial Day weekend, after we had gotten all the pumpkin plants in the ground, we had a hard frost. 

I was worried that we had lost every plant. 

We did lose all the pie pumpkin plants and that was devastating to me. 

Matt called it a total crop failure. 

I just wanted to cry. 

I had babied those plants for months. 

In a last ditch effort, I put more seeds in the ground. 

The area is a place where no garden plants have grown before. 

I would go out and check to see if they had sprouted but it seemed like nothing was going to happen. 

Then yesterday I went out and low and behold I have baby pumpkin plants growing again. 

I am just crossing my fingers that there is still enough time to get fruit. 

But regardless, I am always amazed at the miracle of planting a seed in the dirt, watering and then it grows. 

I am grateful for those blessings. 

Everything else is growing nicely as well and I am most excited about having strawberries in just a little while. 

 

Birthday Weekend Celebration Day 2

When we went to dinner at the Double Musky our waiter told us about this quick hike to a magical place.
The original plan was to hike to the top of Alyeska and have lunch but we were dealing with a hurt back, hurt knee and a hurt ankle.
So...
Plan B.
The trail was gorgeous and fast.
The falls were incredibly beautiful.
I'm sad my camera can't possibly convey what my eyes see.
But that did not keep me from taking tons of pictures. 

 After the falls we ate at this adorable, quaint sandwich place called The Girdwood Sandwich Club.
The food was great, the atmosphere fun and the service amazing.
Because we had to wait for a little while they gave us a free piece of maple walnut cheesecake and drinks for free.

 Then we made it home in enough time to play at the lake for awhile on the new dock and pick lots of cauliflower from the greenhouse.

 

Birthday Weekend Celebration

This weekend we went to Girdwood to celebrate my birthday, which is tomorrow. 
We got into town about 430 and checked into our little bed and breakfast.
Then we went and hiked to the hand tram at Winner Creek. 
Get ready for lots of pictures...right...now...

After our hike we ate at Double Musky Inn.
We've been trying to go there for years and it finally happened.
It was totally worth it. 

So many things!

After three summers here we finally have a dock! 

I can't tell you how excited I am for this. 

We are planning to take our porch wing and set it up down there. 

It still needs a few boards but that will happen on Monday.

Now we just need more sunshine so we can fully enjoy it. 

Also, Wednesday night we bought a ton of flowers for the planter boxes that were built all along the greenhouse. 

And I also got all my 12 rhubarb plants planted as well. 

I can just imagine strawberry rhubarb crumble in a few weeks. 

AND we bought lilac bushes!!!

I'm so excited. 

I love the smell of lilacs! 

 Last but not least, on Wednesday Reahna brought the kids to the shop where I was working for a few hours and we played in the rain puddles. 

I love those two! 

And I am glad they are doing so well! 

 

Two Exciting Things!

Sunday was a monumental day. Corban passed the sacrament for the first time. I think I cried a little from how happy I was. He did so good! I took the picture before the meeting even started.

And yesterday Austin, my nephew, received his mission call to Queretero, Mexico!He leaves in October.

End of Trek and Lake Weather

Last night we picked up our kiddos at the end of their trek. 

They were covered in dirt and sun kissed. 

Corban was so dirty that the q-tips that cleaned his ears were black and we had to wash his hair twice. 

They had such a good time. 

It was non-stop talking on the way home proved that. 

They talked about how much they loved their families and their ma's and pa's.

Corban's ma and pa, the Hokason's, were heaven sent. 

She loved Corban like I would have.

She watched over and protected him

I love her for that and she loves him.

Tonight we took advantage of the beautiful weather and blew up the lake toys.

It was fun to be in the lake again. 

I am hoping for more sunny days next week so we can spend more time out there.