It has been a while since I have done a blog on here. I have just not been in the mood to do one. I have also been fighting some loneliness and depression the last few weeks. In the past 4 months I have seen only the people here on our little "island" up until 2 nights ago when I went over to the other lodge on our island for dinner. There was a couple there from across the river so that made for a total of 8 people that I have seen since just after Labor Day. I have been told repeatedly that the freeze up this year was very unusual and the normally it does not take 4 months for the river to freeze and be safe to travel. I have told a few people that if this is the way it is going to be then I am going to go visit my kids, grandkids and mother during freeze up next year! Of course then I will be missing Roger and the critters. Guess you just can't have it all. At least not all at once. I am currently at Northwoods Lodge while the owners are on vacation. I have been here for 2 weeks now and am ready to go home. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice place. It just isn't home. I also miss Roger and Gracie and Isabelle, my kitties. Hans and Jeff have been here with me for the past few days as Roger went to town on Monday to pick up the new used snowmachine, do some shopping for items that were needed and came back on Wednesday. He left again this morning to go back in to return a borrowed freight sled, then on his way back pick up the one we bought from Dan and Jean at Yentna Station. While he was at Yentna Station, another friend of ours, Craig (he is the fella that we went on the tour with last Feb) got a hold of him and asked him if he could take a couple of people back in to the landing. He did that and then made it back to Craig's cabin where he is spending the night.



Ironing Board





Before I came over here to take care of the lodge I did manage to finish a couple of projects at home, some of which included some good ol' "bushineering". If you need or want something, or something breaks, it is not like you can run to Wally World. The closest WalMart is 102 miles away! That being said, Roger mentioned making me an ironing board in a previous post so thought I would show you a picture of that. I have not made a cover for it yet but just used a towel on it. I would set the ironing board either on our water barrel or else on the little washer after we took that upstairs. It was usually safer to put it on the washer as Gracie laid claims to the top of the barrel a long time ago. I did manage to finish the kitchen curtains which were the last ones I needed to do. I decided to use some of my rubber stamps and make a couple of stamped panels for the centers. They turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.



Kitchen Curtains



Kitchen Curtains 2

Since we moved we have been sleeping on an air mattress. Now that is OK so long as it doesn't lose too much air. It has been my experience that all air mattresses lose air over time. Which is fine so long as you have a way to pump them back up. Well we have a rechargeable air pump that we have had for quite a few years and it decided it had had enough. Crap...... the "bed" needs air and the pump won't work. Ggggggrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!Well Roger to the rescue with some good ol' "bushineering"! With enough D cell batteries connected together and then wired to the pump TA DA! I was able to pump up the bed and climb in.



"Bushineering"

Roger had also put together an emergency back pack etc and decided he wanted to take a walk with it and also use the snow shoes that Willie had given him. Hans as you can see was very "nosy". Since the incident with Russ and Dave going through the ice and not being found for a couple days it just makes you realize again that you have to be prepared for anything and everything. If everything is on your snow machine (as theirs was) and you go through, your machine sinks along with everything on it. So we have our emergency items in fanny packs and a back pack which we wear.





"Be Prepared"



This next picture of Roger is what he looks like after several hours out on the snow machine breaking and packing trails. Talk about a "cold Kisser"!

The last pictures I am going to add to this post are of a sunset. All of them were taken on the same night. Again another awesome God moment. I already have an incredible number of pictures of sunsets just in the short time we have been here in Alaska and I have yet to stop being amazed at how awesome God's handiwork is. I pray that I never take these blessings for granted. It seems like whenever I am struggling with loneliness out here God gives me an amazing show like this to remind me that I am not alone unless I choose to be. I always have Him with me. Who could ask for anything more?

The pictures speak for themselves as usual. I know how very blessed we are to be able to have this experience and adventure. I just forget sometimes and need reminders like these. I have time today to get to truly know myself, my husband and my God. How incredible that is!

Thank you for sharing our experience with us. I hope to see many of you soon! Blessings, Myra