It was mid April before winter released us from its icy grip as the temperatures of below zero to 20 degrees slipped away. Releasing a slow breath of  warmth giving the promise of spring in its breeze. Again I was thrilled to see the pussy willows announcing that we were on the cusp of spring. 

Randy and I, as well as the general population, were all getting restless and tired of the cold. However the number of clear sunny days were a godsend during the cold winter time as well as unusual for this part of the country.  The clear, cold sunny days caused the alpine light on the mountains to glow, it  was amazing !

Alpine light on the mountains across the Bay

 

It is hard to believe we have been here 2 years this May.

It has been a wonderful experience for Randy and I. We enjoy being together exploring and working side by side on the house. However, when the holidays roll around we feel the pangs of pain, missing our family and friends. We suddenly realize how far we are from our children and loved ones.

My dear mother is coming back up to see us again this August – she is amazing! Nothing can stop that little lady!  As well as 2 of my brothers, 2 of our daughters, and friends as well. So the Blad Bed and Breakfast better be open for business in August.

Our house sat as a still sleeping giant that had risen from the earth, all winter.  Giving no signs of life,or change happening on the outside, however the occasional sounds of  power tools coming from within the house betrayed the silence it portrayed.

Randy has been a one man marvel. He plumbed the house, first for waste water. Black pipes winding their way through studded walls from the vent in the roof to sharp u turns creating the traps under the sinks all making their way under the house to the septic tank.

 

Then for potable water. Again the pipes winding their way from the pressure tank, this time they were red and blue, for hot and cold. At times I would find him in a pile of tubes. I would say, “Aren’t you confused”? His response was, “Oh no, I have it figured out”.

 

 

He wired the house, a very tedious job, and then he began the insulation.

 

Covering all the insulation with plastic sheets to keep condensation off of the near future sheet rock.

 

Somehow Randy was able to move the wood burning stove him self and put it into place.  Hauling wood and keeping the fire going was a full time job, we found we really missed the wonderful hedge wood in Kansas, that burns long and hot.

The birch and spruce wood here burns rapidly and is not nearly as hot.

Randy purchased a black plastic sled he used for hauling and transporting heavy things. It became indispensable when hauling wood.

We kept the wood stove burning and blocked off the upstairs with plastic,  to try to keep it warm enough to work .

 

At this time we did not have windows in the front of the house , We had covered the window frames with thick plastic to try to keep the elements of winter out. i.e. the snow , wind, and rain, and ice.

He installed the in floor heat in the upstairs. At times he looked like he was wrestling a pit of snakes. The tubing (Pex Tubing) was coiled up and cold. It required warming up by the wood stove to soften it and then putting it on a reel so it would be less unruly and he could then  slowly coaxed through and then in between the joists, securing it with metal phages to help spread the heat through the upper floor. After he nailed it up to the ceiling he would then fill the “zones” with air pressure to make sure there was no leaks. If they held 50 lbs. of pressure for 24 hrs., he felt sure there were no leaks.

 

 

Finally in December, we were able to get a glass company from Homer, to come out and help use install the large windows to the front of the house. It was an exciting day.

 

They used strong suction cups, as well as ropes, pulleys, and ladders. We were so thankful when it was done. Because now our hard work would be protected.

The only problem is instead of working, I would find Randy looking across the bay with his spotting scope. LOL  The view is amazing!

 

The next step was to cover the great room with tongue and groove. Randy accomplished this by nailing up a plank on one end of the ceiling to hold one end of the wood and he would hold the other end and nail it into place.

All of the wood needed to be sealed before hanging, this was a time consuming, smelly job.

 

When the great room was finished, Randy started on the in floor heat on the main level. This required putting in 2×4’s called sleepers, and looping the Pex tubing in between them. Then covering it all with concrete.

 

We mixed the concrete ourselves using a small cement mixer we purchased from home depot.

Work continued slowly but steady on the inside of the house. We had the sheet rock installed by a contractor in the area, he did a great job. It is amazing how sheet rock up the walls brings each room of the house into formation.

Entry way

kitchen

My Kitchen cabinets are up! Yea!

I have a washer and dryer that work. After going to the laundromat for 2 years, I will never complain about laundry again.

This is Randy’s invention to keep the warm air in the house from the dryer. there is water in the bottom of the bucket it catches the lint, and the warm are comes out through the holes in the bucket.

 

We did not get as much snow this year as last. I think the total was around 40+ inches.

There is very little wind here on most days so where the snow falls it stays. This creates beautiful and other worldly scenery.

Where it is just a bare dead tree it turns into mother natures work of art.

We could judge the depth of the snow by how covered our picnic table and grill was. This is when it was about at 40″.

At times it was a bit challenging just getting out of our yard. Here is a picture of our 3/4 ton pickup and my jeep patriot on a heavy snow day.

 

Our neighbor, Sue, is very helpful. She will many times clear our road for us of snow,  as well as clear our driveway using her bobcat, or her bulldozer.

I think she really enjoyed using her snow blower on her bobcat. It was a great excuse to get out and use it after one of the last snows.  Thank you Sue!

This is how an Alaskan blows snow!

As spring is around the corner the cow moose are kicking out last years calves in preparation for the birth of this years calves. Here are two of  the newly orphaned moose grazing on the new grass by the employee parking lot. On this morning when I was getting ready to leave work they seemed oblivious to all of  the coming and going of people as well as traffic, and continued to graze fearlessly for some time.

Dandelions and sweet pea flowers are in bloom everywhere. The days remain cool in the 50’s to 60’s It is a beautiful time of year, when all that was asleep through the long winter, comes to life again with renewed vitality.

Until this fall when I write again I pray life is good to you and you all have a great Summer. Blessings

 

Finn, Janette