Paddock Hay Harvest

For the first time we actually harvested some hay off the old
paddock. Now that the horses are gone, we can let the grass grow and
after 2 seasons harvest a good cutting in the fall after two cuts in
the summer. We will just have to see if there is enough annual
compost production to give us an ample supply of new topsoil to
develop the gardens.

Saskatoons

Saskatoons did well this year.

One day on a helicopter for a glacier tour, we flew over the Williwaws and I managed to take a good shot of our point. One can see the main house, studios, gardens and dock. The lodge and bungalow are still in the trees.

WILLIWAW - THE HORSE

Our trusty Morgan Williwaw in the afternoon sun. Conceived in Juneau
for the Speckings, born in Hope Alaska and given to Kriss in thanks.
He started out with us a full stallion, served as our only transport
on and off the the property for the first 4 years when there was only
a trail to house, covered most of the mares at the Echo Ranch Bible
camp before being gelded in 1988, and pulled many a log from the
woods. He worked in a Washington state riding school while we were in
Saudi Arabia and Russia and returned to Juneau in 1998 in the aluminim
3 horse trailer with all the final goodies from Moscow. He was our
constant companion and friend on the property and founded the riding
school there carrying many a young rider. The perfect horse,
except he hated other horses and savaged them brutally if given the
chance. He was sent away abruptly in 2006, to warmer climes. I cried
and still do.

HOME YARD CAMPING

We decided to bite the bullet and gut the inside of the Timberframe
after 20 years. All the plumbing was to be replaced and all the walls
finally built and plastered. It was a dirty job and we could not live
inside while the work was going on... so where? We looked at a
motorhome, a camp trailer, a boat at the dock, but in the end it was
the $89 Home Depot special wall tent that won out. We bought two and
set them up in the front yard, moved the furniture in and started
living..... carpets, dressers, lamps and everything. It rained and
blew, and the tents swayed and shook, but all stayed dry. Only when I
was sleeping in my bed in the tent did Onyx the black cat sleep with
me at night. He and I had a special summer together, but when we
moved back into the refurbished home that winter, he would have
nothing of me. So it goes.

MOVING DAY

If you want to fix a boat, you need to have it in a boat shed. I
tried numerous times to rig a temporary shelter over the boat with
shrink wrap and framing, only to have it all destroyed in the next big
wind. I decided she needed to be off the beach and in a permanent
shed... only then could I think of working on her. First step, move
her to a protected place. So I hired the only hydraulic trailer in
town large enough to lift her and backed her into a special slot
prepared between the trees to the north of the lodge. It is always
exciting to move something this large, so the neighbors showed up and
there was lots of help. I recall the truck got stuck in the mud and
we had break out the Yanmar tractor and white Ford... but of course
we managed. At the end of the day she sat in woods, waiting, with
Cedar, for what was to come next.

DAN'S REEF

On a 0' tide, Dan's Reef begins to show just off the point. It is a small but nasty piece of rock for navigation. It is a wonderful place for wildlife, since one is guaranteed to see either sea lions or seals working it edges for tidbits. It is also a great place to renew the lure box, since trollers every year snag the rock, break the line, and leave the flashy stuff for me to pick up when the tide is -4' and calm. I just stroll over to the rock and select the ones I like. Its called Dan's reef because I wanted something unnamed I could name what I wanted. On days like this one, I sit in the green chair to most fantastic of views and talk to my reef. Also, who is going to come and take it from me.... so for now, its mine.