Spring is springing ...

We've had a few sunny days this week and even in the high 50s.  I have been working on cleaning up the perennial beds and waiting impatiently to see what the gardens will look like.  I've been happy to see lilacs & peonies grow here, 

along with these...

This last beast is the Sitka rose...they are everywhere and I've been told they will be covered with fragrant roses all summer and people make jam from the rose hips.   Right now they are pretty impressive, showing off their thorns 

No photos, but I did see my first bear this week... He was ambling along the highway, looking for food I guess.   I was driving,  so not too scary...still awaiting my first "on foot" sighting ! 

Gardening Fever

So one of the things I was really excited to see here at the cabin was something I've always wanted.... The "Lifetime 6000 DUAL Barrel Awesome Composter" !

 I have tried to make compost back in IL, with varying degrees of success, but it always got too heavy to manage & turn.  Eventually there was compost but in the meantime, a big messy pile that supported some pretty impressive weeds, which I'm sure the neighbors did not appreciate.  However now, with the LD6KAC ( for short : ) , composting will /should be easy !  Actually, both bins are already in use, one had finished compost in it and the other is about 3/4 ready.   So  today I emptied the finished side and collected my materials for a new batch.   Well, in full disclosure... I also gave the 3/4 finished batch a couple turns... before I double checked that it was locked... So after shoveling it back into the bin and locking it, then I started on my new batch.   I think it got stirred up pretty well !  

I had a good size container of kitchen scraps that I've been saving.  Also went out along the beach and gathered a bunch of seaweed-- full of nutrients & trace minerals!  Raked up some leaves & pulled up some grass which is growing pretty well under the deck, along with dandelions which are coming on strong already!   I've never been much for following directions or exact proportions but I think it is a pretty good mix, we shall see...

Here's the finished mix I took out 

We are going to try some container gardening, apparently the slugs & other critters & varmints up here make it a challenge but we will give it a try!  But, for now... Fresh rhubarb coffee cake is about to happen : )

Gray Day

Sunday morning... looking pretty gray today, have had a lot of rainy days this week and mostly in the 40s.

Haven't had much to report this week, I've had a cold & not felt like doing too much but resting and napping by the woodstove.   The stove is not the only heat for the cabin, but it does take the chill off.  Seems to take a lot of wood and we don't keep it going 24 hours.   That brings us to Alaska lesson #3....chopping wood.  There is a big woodshed out back and a pile of rounds to be split under a tarp.  We've been told there are some people who like to come out and help chop wood & fill the shed ....But Jeff has been giving it a try himself.  It is hard work but all fingers & toes still intact...just a lot of muttering.  Since I have been laying by the fire burning a lot of wood, I went out to help load the wagon to refill the wood holder on the porch.  I decided to see about chopping myself.  Let's just say the first few tries were unproductive.   So I went in and googled "chopping wood for dummies" (haha) and found a YouTube of a homestead family with 3 teenage girls demonstrating chopping wood like Abe Lincoln.   I studied their technique and went back out to give it a try.  After a few swings I chopped one slice off the round and called it a day.  I don't think I've found my right tool yet, but will continue to give it a try.  And pray that those kind souls who like to chop will take pity on us & help fill the woodshed.   Here is Jeff being grumpy cat that we are actually "using" some of the wood that he painstakingly chopped & stacked.   As you can see there is a lot of empty space in the shed. 

All the cabins are filled this weekend & checking out today so Sundays are busy but most everyone is good about doing their cleanup so it's not hard.   Haven't been a lot of day visitors yet but the cruise ships will be starting up in the next couple weeks so that will bring a lot more activity out here.   Have to admit we've already gotten used to it being relatively quiet so I'm sure it will be different to have tons of people in "our front yard"  : ) 

Martha Stewart goes Alaskan...

So after living in the cabin a few days & figuring out how we wanted to use the space, today was an action day!  We have a desktop computer now to do some work but it takes up most of the desk surface. So we turned the banquette table to make another office work surface & moved the bench out to the front porch for shoe & boot removal.  The small living room had a loveseat & couch in it so we moved the loveseat & one end table to the front room to make a seating area close to the woodstove.   I found an old lamp & fixed up a rickety table to put behind the seat.

 We turned the dining table so that we can both see the view & brought in some chairs from storage that will need to be recovered but are really comfortable.

 Found a gallon of paint in the attic so Jeff is putting a fresh coat of paint in the living room for me...will reveal in a few days : )   So anyway, for no money we got a lot done today !  Leo & Oreo are not very happy with the new look nor the "no cats on the  furniture anymore " policy that went into effect today -- don't worry, they each have 2 comfy beds to choose from!    

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Some other bloggers I follow do a Wordless Wednesday post... just posting photos with no commentary.   I may try that but thought this first one might need some explanation...

  Windy & misty today, forecast for heavy rain & maybe snow on Friday.  But even in the gray, lots of color if you look for it

Someone is building rock cairns on the beach- balanced stones that serve sometimes as trail markers, memorials or 
 just because they are interesting.  Last week there was only one but over the past few days a few more have appeared and have gotten taller ...

When the tide is out you can see these huge rocks covered with beautiful blue mussels (?)  some sort of shell anyway, still learning my sea life terminology, lol. But they look like big planters bursting with flowers

The wind has the surf up today so I tromped down the slippery,rocky shore to get a picture for you all : )

And found this.... 

       A heart shaped rock...perfect 

               Happy Wednesday!

            

 

Quiet Day

It has been a gray rainy day here... No guests in the cabins today so not much to do.  Last night the diocese hosted a farewell reception for the former caretakers, Jeanne & Jack Jordan.  They are wonderful people who have been here for the last 8 years.   They have been excellent stewards of the Shrine and have been trying to fill our heads with their knowledge this past week.  We have big shoes to fill... 

Here is the "official" handing over of the giant key ring 

Jeanne can spot a fingerprint or a speck of lint at 30 paces... Everything has been kept immaculately under her care !  Jack is a calm, quiet servant & very patient in his teaching.  They will be missed !  They will be leaving on Thursday morning to visit family to the north & then to the south and plan to be back in the Juneau area later this summer.  

The director of the Shrine is a fun, energetic & faith filled woman, Deirdre Darr.   Just so happens that she grew up in the Joilet Diocese... We are working on a secret handshake .  We look forward to working with her & the board menbers of the Shrine as we move forward in this new position 

We took a drive out to "the end of the road" today.... Juneau is only accessible by air or water, you can't drive to here.  One highway goes a bit south of Juneau to the end, about 30 miles north.  The Shrine is about 23 miles north.   There are some nice scenic views, if it was a sunny day...

But was expecting a big expansive view at the end... Not so much  

The End...

Monday, Monday...

Can't believe we have been here a week already !  We had a nice quiet Easter, 8am Mass at St Paul's in Juneau.  It was a lovely spring day so lots of visitors on the grounds all day.  I made homemade cinnamon rolls for our breakfast, but forgot to pickup powdered sugar for some frosting.... Since the store is 25 miles away we did without, but still tasted good.  #makingalist #checkingittwice

Jeff made some BBQ ribs on the grill for dinner...keeping one eye on the forest to make sure the smell didn't attract a bear to come check things out...so far, so good, LOL 

My afternoon fun was to dye some yarn for my spring "jelly bean" socks.  Knitting socks is my latest obsession and the easier patterns are fast & relaxing to pickup when I have a few minutes.  So far Leo & Oreo have stayed out of my yarn bowl so we are still friends.   

Well, time to get to work!  Yes, we do have to work a bit around here, but it's worth it 😄

Good Friday at the Shrine

Just some snapshots of our Alaskan Good Friday... Flowers are peeking up and outdoor Stations of the Cross with Bishop Burns

Happy Spring !