Spring came to us rapidly this past year. It seemed we awoke one morning too see, winter slipping away, as the snow and ice, faded.  Giving way to the longer, and warmer, sun lite days. . .

With this brought a flurry of activity, to accomplish projects that could only be done in the short season of Summer. The days of slower, long nights of Winter,  give way to bright sunshine and warmth of the longer days of Summer. (The days at the peak of summer i.e. the summer solstice, last about 20 hours.)

The 1st plants and trees that you see awakening is the Pussy Willow. These range from small bushes to large trees.  It is a wonderful promise of things to come.

 

The next flower to bloom is the Dandelion. They are on steroids up here – huge. They were always something that we fought in our yards in Kansas. I have learned that they are very beneficial , adding nitrogen to  poor, damaged soil.  This is why many times you see them prolific in places of poor soil, as they try to bring healing to the land.

 

Then after the dandelions, all the leaves, and flowers seemed to breakout, and burst into color.

New growth on the boughs of the Spruce Tree

 

Meadow filled with spring flowers.

Summer up here is measured by the fireweed. It is a beautiful weed, that changes, as the summer progresses.

It’s magenta blossoms, bloom from the bottom to the top. After the entire flowering part of the flower has bloomed, it is said that winter is 6 weeks away.

As the blossoms fall off it leaves thin pods, that open giving flight to fine fluffy down, with a seed attached to it.  Much like the down of the cotton wood tree.

The final stage is the death of the weed, as the foliage turns bright red in color.

 

Randy had spent the winter drawing up our house plans. We had to decide whether to build a basement or to build it on piers, we decided after much thought to build it on Techno piers.

We spent our time plotting out where we wanted the house to go. Randy bought a selfie stick so we could stand on the highest rung of a ladder and hold it up in the air, snapping pictures so we could see the view up and down the bay.

After much thought we decided not to build a basement, as it would end up to be very expensive, and not needed.  Because of the permafrost, which causes the ground to heave and retract, as well as the increased water produced by the spring breakup. They are many times just a source of problems.

We opted instead to use Techno Piers.

Each Techno Pier carries several thousand pounds of weight. The ones in the center of the house, there are 12, are drilled into the ground about 15 ft.

The ones on the corners are braced with a 2nd pier, and are drilled down about 30 feet.  All of them are covered with a green plastic sleeve that allows for the heave of the permafrost.

 

 

Randy devised an tried and true old fashion way of leveling the building site, by using a home made water level.

With a longer length of plastic tubing,  small amount of water , with red food coloring we were ready to begin.

 

 

He also  dug a large hole to place our 1600 gallon water tank in. It had to be the right  measurement. With insulation in the bottom of the hole. The earth along the sides of the tank act as insulation, along with electrical tape.

He also needed to dig out the area that would become our mechanical room, as you can see him doing here.

The hole for the water tank.

The next step was to place the supporting timbers on the top of the piers, Randy and I did this with the help of a boom truck and an expert crane operator.

Boom truck with crane moving one of the huge timbers..

Timbers after they were set. with floor joists in the fore ground.

Randy placed the water tank in its new home before starting to put the upper joists in place. He then plumed it so we could have running water in our 5th wheel.

Joists in place with one piece of plywood down. It was like walking a plank to sit up there and enjoy our slice of heaven.

Joists in place with one piece of plywood down. It was like walking a plank to set up there and enjoy our slice of heaven.

 

 

Randy, taking a break and enjoying his little slice of heaven.

 

We took a break to go and help a sweet couple I had met in the community put up there Artic Dome green house.

It was like an old-fashioned barn raising.  There were many friends and neighbors there helping out. We all enjoyed their eclectic assortment of farm animals, a great cookout, and much laughter.

KuneKune Pig – They are small pigs from New Zealand and are easy to keep.

Stephanie with some of her prize bunnies.

Randy even became attached to this little guy ( but not enough to let me bring him home!) LOL

This Rooster thought it was his job to make sure the barn yard was safe. He spent the whole day patrolling it, and making his presence known with frequent crowing.

The artic dome was quite detailed with many pieces and parts.

pieces and parts

trying to figure out just how this all goes together.

Randy and another friend got to work building the bottom frame work.

We did not get this far, however these are pictures Stephanie took as it was being completed.

Getting closer.

The completed dome! Congratulations, Stephanie and Dawn. It looks Amazing!

Back to our building… Framework around the bottom of our house.

framework covered with plywood. The bottom floor covered with a large tarp. The rain is our constant enemy.

Back of the house, large opening will be covered with garage door, and small door goes into mechanical room. Notice how much dirt Randy moved out by hand.

My 1st walls going up. So excited.

Randy setting the upper floor joists, by himself, using electric winch and slanted boards. (What could possibly go wrong?!)

1st time we had the water tank filled when it was under the house, we all held our breath to make sure the overflow pipe would work. It did like a charm! Gustav took advantage of the fresh water flowing from the overflow pipe.

The water truck with long hose to the tank valve. It is actually a milk truck. It is very common for people to have water brought in.  In this area the water can be high in Arsenic.

Later we may try to tap a spring we have in a ravine close to our house as we think it is an artesian spring.

Our water tank holds 1600 gallons and lasts us about 3 mo., at 6.5 cents per gallon it makes more sense to us then putting money into a well at  this time.

Twin moose calves in our yard this summer, surveying our work. At one point they walked up to our front door on the trailer. We were inside, getting a birds eye view of them.

Momma moose stayed near by at the opposite side of the driveway. Keeping a close eye on her little ones, while she munched on new shoots of flowering fireweed.

 

We had a nice visit from Randy’s sister Marcia and her son Taylor in May. We met Randy’s cousin’s in Soldotna for a meal and fellowship.

Left to Right above are: Harvey and Linda Lundquist Cousins) , Marcia (sister), Randy, Taylor (Nephew).

While they were here, we went on a boat ride across the bay to Seldovia, a small Russian village.

The ride over was beautiful, it was a clear day and two of  the volcanos made an appearance.

Redoubt Volcano

Iliamna volcano

Beautiful glacier topped mountains south east of Seldovia.

Narrow passage of rocks and mountains as you are going into Seldovia’s  Harbor.

Small general store in Seldovia. The little town only has about 255 people in it and is on an island. The only way for people to get to Homer or any other place in Alaska, is by boat or by plane. There is a small road system on the island.

This is a large Crab pot, used to catch crab. Here they have turned it into a pretend jail, as a spoof on the show, “The Deadliest Catch.”

We also went on an tour of the Kilcher Homestead.  They are the stars of the show “Alaska the Last Frontier.” As those of you who watch the show know, there father came up her from Europe to escape the Nazi’s during world war 2 from Switzerland.

It was a beautiful day, and we got pictures with Otto Kilcher, a star of the show.

Left to Right, Marcia, Taylor, Otto Kilcher, Randy, and 2 of Otto’s sisters. They live on a working farm, very down to earth. We enjoyed our time with them.

Original Log cabin built in the 1940’s, still standing solid.

Beautiful flower garden along the original cabin, covering the cellar.

In this little, 2 bedroom Cabin the Kilcher’s raised (I think 11 children.)  This is a picture of how her kitchen might of looked.

We had a great time with Marcia and Taylor, but now it was back to the matter at hand. Building the house.

1st walls  going up, very exciting !

We again took a break from building and enjoyed 10 days of company from my mother and brother Lynn.

We met them at the Anchorage Airport and spent the night in Anchorage. The next morning we went of a Glacier Cruise around the Fjords in Prince William Sound, around Whittier Alaska.

Surprise Glacier

Melt off of the Glaciers, causing a beautiful water fall. Notice all the glacier ice in the water.

 two water falls meet at the base of the mountain  becoming one.

Left to Right, my brother Lynn Dejmal,  Randy, and my mother Ines Dejmal. We were out in the side by side 4 wheeler , looking over our property.

Mom (Ines Dejmal) and I went down on the spit and shopped as well as enjoyed all the art galleries in and around Homer. Mom looks adorable by this big pot of lovely flowers on the Homer Spit walkway.

Lynn and Randy had their own adventures. They went on a Charter Halibut fishing trip and came back with 4 good sized Halibut.

They also went salmon fishing on the Kenai River.

Lynn and Randy with 2 of the 4 Halibut they caught.

We had a wonderful time, and all to soon it ended. It was a tearful goodbye form me as well as them. I now feel how far away from every one I am.  I hope they can come out again soon.

It was time to get back to the building project. So far Randy has been building the house himself, but now he needed some help to set the large Scissor Trusses above what will become our living room and dining room.

We found a construction crew that would help, along with the boom truck from the lumber yard. With extra braces put up we were ready to begin.

Trusses being delivered.

Attempting to level the boom truck.

1st truss going on the house. It takes a very skilled crane operator to get the truss centered and over the correct part of the house.

Note the braces in place to hold the truss in place. Until it can be nailed into place.

Trusses in place over the living room and dining room, the 1st walls of the up stairs going up.

We then took another break as our kids were coming. We were so excited. It had been almost 1 1/2 years since we had seen them.

We met them in Anchorage, and went on the Glacier Tour in Whittier the next day. Unfortunately it was cloudy and rainy, but we still enjoyed being together.

We then made the 5 hr. trip to Homer, where the kids had rented a house close to our property.

We went down to the spit and walked around the shops, and the beach.

Watched fisherman with their fresh catch of halibut.

Went for walks on the beach.

1st guests in our living room.

I am loving the time with my family close by.

 

Gustav loving the special attention from Cari.

Our son Erik with his lovely girlfriend Cari, at our house.

Our two daughters L. Evie Blad   R. Erin Blad

We went across the Kachemak Bay and hiked on a trail to a glacier lake.  The scenery was amazing. As well as all the plants and wild flowers.  Even the noxious weeds have their beauty.

Alders with their new cones setting on.

  Lichens, with their lacy like texture.

Beautiful mushrooms on the forest floor.

The beautiful devils club. A very stickery, thorny bush, that lures you into thinking it is harmless by its beautiful red berries, and then snags you with its thorns. Very appropriately named.

Fresh wild raspberries, very small but very tasty.

We came up to a river with a Tram that you could ride across, on cables.  Evie and Randy crossing the river.

Erin and Evie crossing for a second time.

Beautiful mountain stream, with willows around the rocks.

Rainbow arching across the glacier, appears to be directing us up to the top.

Then all too soon they had to say goodbye. It was a very sweet time with them and being able to share with them, the life we were carving out.

One of the saddest things that happened this summer, is we had to say goodbye to our sweet female Bouvier named Elsa.  She became sick with severe pancreatitis. The vet said there was nothing more she could do for her.  We said goodbye to her on Sept 7th.

The other two dogs Gustav, and Abednego seem to be doing well. It is as if they knew how sick she was.

This is where we are on our house building project. As of 09/28/16.  Next week we should have the roof on, the front windows in, and have it boxed in by winter. That was our goal. I think we are going to make it.

It has been in the mid thirties with frost on the windows in the mornings. Winter is right around the corner.

Finn , Janette