Firewood

 We had our wood stove installed in September.  To be able to use it this winter, we needed wood...lots of it. 

I had to separate out the orders since it is so expensive to get dry wood.  Next year we hope to get a permit and cut our own wood in the spring to save some money.

For now, we had 2 cords delivered in September and we stacked that.  These pictures are for the 4 additional cords.  3 cords are dry and the other 1 is green, so we mixed it in with the dry in a section we won't touch until spring.  

(2 cords are stacked in the background.  Isaac is standing on 3 of the cords and the last one still hadn't arrived when this was taken)

 

I grew up stacking tons of wood and doing a lot of work, but my kids' life is a lot cushier. That said, they really enjoyed working on this project and it didn't take more than 10 hours with all of us working at different times to get it all stacked and ready for winter.

This wood was cured in logs for 3 years and then split.  The nice thing about that method is that it left TONS of kindling for starting the fires.  I love this stuff.
  We gathered it all up and keep it in plastic tubs next to the firewood.

 Our setup is looking a little redneck.  Maybe we'll get our woodshed built next year, but for now, this is working well.

Up on the deck, we keep a bucket with kindling and a box with the stack of backup wood.  Between this and the inside box, it's enough for one full day.  When it's -40 outside, you don't want to spend a lot of time gathering wood. 

Inside, I have 2 lovely brass toned metal bins to hold wood and the necessary tools to keep the fire going.

This bin holds about 3/4 of the days wood.  Not only is it functional, it is really sturdy and beautiful to look at.  I love the rope handles.

Beyond the wood at the wood pile, we also did a small stack right next to the house in case the weather gets really extreme and being outside for any extended period of time is unthinkable (in cases of a storm or temperatures of -50 to -80, which does happen).

 It's snowy now and the shovels are getting well used, but we are loving the security of wood heat.  It's cozy and warm and doesn't rely on any electricity.

I can sit in my warm house and enjoy the beauty of the snow and small snippets of sunshine that we receive.

 

I can't believe Thanksgiving is nearly here!  If I don't get back here for a Thanksgiving day post...Happy Thanksgiving!

Regrouping

Where is the year going?  I swear time is flying so fast I can't catch up.  This is only the 2nd blog post I've written in over a month! 

I've thrown myself in more heartily with just "being" with my family.  We've shut the tv off more frequently and hung out together.  I'm enjoying watching my kids' personalities develop and change.  I've spent more time alone with my husband in our bedroom after he gets home from work, just chatting and re-connecting before the rest of the night begins.

I haven't felt the need to be on the computer a whole lot.  While it puts a cramp in my blogging time, it sure makes our family life flow better.  

(this photo is from 4 days ago)

So now I regroup, moving away from the busyness of summer and buckling down for the long cold winter.  The summer is over.  We got our first dusting of snow this week.  While our autumn temps are cool and it's still beautiful outside; winter is coming.  It's time to focus harder on academics and get back into the habit of daily book learning.

 (2 days ago)

The kids and I switched out all their clothing this week, putting away the shorts and tees and bringing in the long johns and fleece.  I still need to go through the winter gear and make sure everyone has a setup that fits them.

(yesterday)

On Monday our new wood stove gets installed.  I'm so looking forward to having a heat source that doesn't depend on the power grid.  I've been so concerned about the idea of our power going out long term when it's -40 and having no way to keep from freezing to death (literally).  Plus, there is something really wonderful about a crackling wood fire.

I hope to be online just a little more, but maybe with a better balance so I don't "check out".  

I really want to show you all the new projects I've done this summer.  I have a redecorated living room, a redesigned master bedroom closet, a stenciled wall and a refreshed laundry room, as well as a really cool industrial style piece I re-did. 

I hope you're all ready for winter, especially my Alaska friends.   

 

Leaving tonight

The kids and I are flying out tonight on a red eye to Portland, OR.  We're going to spend 3 weeks with the extended family.  Dave gets to join us later this week.  

I've grown very attached to interior Alaska, so while I'm looking forward to visiting the family, I'm going to miss our dear home and friends here.  We'll also miss the Summer Solstice where the sun lasts nearly 24 hours.

However, we are going to get away from the mosquitoes and have some dark nights again.  And see our friends and family.  And I get to shop!  You all know how I adore Target, Ikea and the vintage stores in the Northwest.  I can't wait!!

See you on the other side!

Burlap and Chalkboard Wall

My entry has been bare for a long time.  I just haven't found anything I wanted to put on the wall there.

Until now.

This coffee sack was a gift from my Mom and I've been planning to mount it and frame it with old wood.  It just wasn't happening anytime soon, so I went the quick and easy route, grabbing some thumb tacks to pin it right to the wall.  Easy Peasy.  

I love the rustic simplicity.

To finish off the wall, I added a set of vintage style chalk boards I bought from Decor Steals.

I'm pretty happy with this little update.

This was one of those times that being spontaneous with my decorating projects turned out well.  

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Our weather has been so beautiful this week.  With temperatures in the 80's, we are just soaking up the hot sun.  It's funny around here because now that it's nice, it seems that all of us have our eyes on the coming winter and what needs to be done in the next 4 months.  Crazy.  

Some friends and I are having a 1 day garage sale tomorrow, so the rest of today will be spent getting ready for that.

I have my Krav test on Saturday, so it's going to be a busy weekend.  Do you have any plans for this one?  I can't believe it's almost June!!

Linking to:

Sundae Scoop Party @ I Heart Nap Time

Making The World Cuter Monday @ Making The World Cuter

Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple

Meet Me Monday @ You Are Talking Too Much The DIY Showoff

Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill

Creative me @ The Southern Institute Martha Mondays @ Watch Out Martha 

I Gotta Try That!
Show me what you got @ Our Delightful HomePretty Things @ Twelve-O-Eight 
 

Busy Self-focused Weekend

We finally have some gorgeous weather around here.  It was over 70 degrees today and we're loving it.  The mosquitoes are out nearly full force, but I almost don't mind them...I'm just so thankful for warm and sunny weather.

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This weekend is a busy one for me and I'm trying not to feel too selfish.  I rarely take this much time for myself in one fell swoop, so it's quite a treat.

I am attending a fabulous 2 day class to qualify for a concealed carry permit.  Alaska is a "Constitutional Carry" State, so you can legally carry concealed without a permit of any kind if you're over 21 (unless you're a felon or criminal of some sort).  I just really wanted the extra training.  I may or may not actually pay to get the permit itself, but the class is too good to pass up.  Two of my girl-friends are doing it with me and it's so much fun.  We spent 7 hours focused on classroom instruction today and tomorrow will be 7 hours with some good range time.  The class is taught by our Fairbanks local legend Joe Nava. 

Joe is an 83 year old gun veteran with a huge wealth of knowledge that is awesome to behold.  The classes are held at his home, which does not have a bathroom.  I got to experience my first true outhouse today.  Not sure that it's something I love, but the blue foam seat is rather comfy - LOL.  Gotta love Alaska.

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Next Saturday, I have a 3 hour qualification test to pass the Level 1 Krav Maga test.  This week I'm focusing on increasing my athletic endurance so that I can keep up with the pace the instructors set...I hear it's pretty painful, but I will succeed.

I've already ordered the mouth guard and groin guard that I will need for Level 2 Krav.  I will need to get some head gear, gloves and shin guards as the classes get a lot more physical than Level 1 has been.  I can't wait!

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I hope you're all having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  Dave has been Mr. Mom for the first part of our weekend, but on Monday, we'll all spend the day together relaxing or maybe going and doing something fun.  I still haven't planned the Monday menu, but I'm thinking broccoli salad and steaks...or maybe mushroom burgers.   

Winter is still hanging on, but I'm pretending it's not

It's mid-May and our night temps are sometimes in the low 20's.  Our daytime highs frequently only get up to the mid 30's and they've even forecast a mix of rain and snow for the next couple of days.  (I just looked out the window and it is indeed snowing...on May 17).

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I have a box where we throw any mail that needs shredded or burned, and it was growing large (like 4 boxes of material).  My shredder can't handle that type of volume and after our scary incident attempting to burn a pile of paper and wood last year in too-dry Alaska, we were not eager to repeat that experience.  

I found a local guy that sells "incinerator" barrels for burning debris.  They have nice vents for air flow and a hatch to pull out the ashes.  And they limit the fire danger that is so scary here in Alaska.  

He paints them this bright orange color, which is a marketing decision, but it melts off after burning, which is not pretty.  I'm looking forward to my barrel getting the rusty burned color.

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I have been telling the kids that when the snow was finally melted off the deck, I would exchange their winter clothing for summer clothes (a huge project that lasted through watching the entire movie of BBC's "Pride and Predjudice").  

Isaac took matters into his own hands and pried the ice and snow off of the deck.  I see his point.  I'm so done with winter.

I was able to bleach and scrub down the deck yesterday, as well as do a little more raking on the yard.  

How's this for juxtaposition?  It is so weird to see snow and piles of leaves in the same space.  

So strange.  Thank goodness we live where the sun directly shines on our property, because many of my neighbors and friends still have tons of snow in their yards.  

Planting anything in the ground is pretty much out of question right now, so I'm just focusing on pecking away at my yard when I get the chance.  

On a good note, we're still mosquito free, at least until it warms up.