Just Good Fun ...

Greetings Everyone!

Can you believe this beautiful weather!  On Solstice, the plan was to board Kirby's barge about 8:PM and circumvent the island.  However, the winds picked-up and we received much needed rain instead -- so the barge cruise was postponed.

Below - our neighbors - Nancy and Vince were prepared for the evening barge cruise.  Complete with matching Pee-coats and caps.

For these past few days - flowers around our cabin have burst into bloom -- adding color everywhere.  Below - Bluebells and Western Columbine share a growing spot. Both grow wild around our cabin.

Below -- the Honeysuckle bush by our deck is in bloom and smells wonderful!  It's one of bushes that Jessy Anderson brought to the island and cultivated.  It is also one of the plants the moose like to munch on.

Below - is another one of Jessy Anderson's bushes that she planted back in the 1930's -- a Lilac - which also grows by our deck.  When the winds blow gently - the fragrance's from the Honeysuckle and Lilac come wafting into the cabin.  Awesome!

The plant below is Bee Balm - some call it Horsemint or Monarda.  This plant grows like crazy all around our cabin and is a moose favorite for munching.  It can be used as an antiseptic and to clot blood flow -- but I've never tried it. It too was brought to our cabin sit - but it grows in other areas of Southcental Alaska and is considered a wildflower.

Ernie was preparing to push the barge out but before he did - he wanted to make sure the boat's motor was in working order -- good thing -- because the motor wouldn't start.  He did some trouble shooting and was convinced the problem was a fuse -- but he wanted to make sure.  Below - Vince had come over to offer another pair of eyes and together, they located the blown fuse.  After looking in our supply box of fuses -- Ernie didn't have the right size -- so today, we are going into town to get a replacement fuse -- and launch the barge tomorrow.

After fixing the fuse problem -- Ernie's next fix-it-project was to figure out why our propane hot water heater was not lighting. We'd changed the propane tank - but couldn't get the pilot light to relight. Then -- out of the blue -- Kirby showed up and offered his expertise.  Below - Kirby is hamming it up before evaluating the problem and using it as a teaching moment.  I learned quite a bit about the hot water heater and how to identify the problem. Ernie wasn't too surprised with the problem because he'd already figured it was the 'coupler' -- anyway, Kirby's lesson of instruction was valuable -- he even dusted off the apparatus before he and Ernie replaced the cover.  So now we add 'couple' to our shopping list.

Below -- is the main reason Kirby dropped by.  He's been running a Vole trap line at his cabin -- setting out mouse traps to catch Voles outside of his cabin.  Kirby mentioned that when he came by a few days ago - he'd noticed a Vole scurrying for cover under our deck.  So - being the good neighbor that he is --  Kirby set-up a Vole trap line for us -- complete with peanut butter bait.  I told Kirby I wouldn't have a problem checking the trap line -- but whatever was caught -- he'd have to skin it.  With all that said - this morning there was one fat Vole caught.

 
Since we had a lot of driftwood brought to our shores from last falls' storm -- I decided to be creative with some of the little pieces -- so -- I made a wind chime -- stringing piece together with fish line -- which I happily display below.  I actually got the idea from a fancy gift store somewhere.  Anyway, my creation will go into the greenhouse.

Also, two days ago we saw the moose.  She's not big and not little.  She took off right away when she heard us changing our propane tanks.  I believe she's not all that interested in being near people or people's things.  When I checked the trees, bushes and plants around the cabin - there was no sign that she was sneaking around.

Well, since we are heading into town today -- I need to hustle. 
Take care everyone -- and thank you for dropping by.