Hi Everyone

Sorry I haven't been posting lately but, I have been very busy. I am sitting in the library parking lot writing this post. I just want to wish every one a very


Merry Christmas
               AND

Happy New Year

I forgot

I forgot to publish the photo of the meal I mentioned in my last post.

It would seem, this cold weather isn't going to let up anytime soon. This morning, I have -24 degrees. I gotta tell ya, the little 95 Subaru started right up with no problem at all. It is a great little car. I forgot to take pictures of the temp. I will take it when I go back to the cabin. It sure makes splitting wood easier. I am still making changes in the cabin and I have a new addition that was a great buy. I will post pictures on Friday. I have been to lazy the last few days. My woodstove is way to hot normally but, it has come in handy these very cold days. I have also decided to start working on my new cabin at my remote property right after the holidays and after I finish helping Jenny get situated for the winter. I think my cabin will be a fun Winter project. So, there will be great photos when I start. I know it will be tough and a lot of shoveling. But, it keeps me feeling young and healthy. See ya on Friday.

Hi ya all

OK, OK,I know I said I would post more often and have been slacking off. I have been pretty busy though. To start out with, this is my new camera.

It is a really nice camera, it is smaller than my last one and it has all the capabilities as the last one and more.

It is 16 megapixals with a 26x optical zoom. It is lightweight and easier to handle, not so bulky like my last one. The telephoto is above the handle and the wide zoom is on the side of the lens. I am really enjoying it. The cost is not bad either, $229. This is my Christmas present to myself this year.
  I took a couple of shots of the moon the other night.



Here was dinner last night. Pork chop, instant mash potatoes, dried mushrooms, reconstituted. Don't get any better than that. Or does it? LOL. I also changed my woodstove around, not sure if I had mentioned it before.

Woodstove close up with new camera.

I am doing some major renovations inside but, I wanted to wait a bit before I post more pictures. I think you will like what I am doing inside. I also plan to run Christmas lights around the roof of the cabin to make it more cheerful.
  The one thing I have done of which I am glad is, I got rid of my MTA cell service. It was way to expensive and I was always getting drop calls. I found a new service which is far better. Straighttalk, they have 2 plans and no contract. The $30 plan, you get 1000 nationwide minutes, Internet and 1000 texts. The $45 dollar plan, unlimited nationwide minutes, Internet and texts. They operate through AT&T. It is a great deal. Anyway, I am still around and will be back Monday. Take care. Wish for snow.

OK, Good news this time

Howdy everyone, the good news is, I broke down and bought a brand new Nikon camera. I really like it a lot. It is smaller than my last one but,it is actually better. Just haven't figured out how to get a picture of it yet. Maybe take a picture of the box that it came in. Things are going good although, my chainsaw went to you know where so, I can't cut the wood that I have right now. I am looking at a used STHIL chainsaw a friend has. There isn't much snow on the ground yet but, the temps have been about -10. I am keeping warm and pretty much been lazy. I have a lot of inside work to do on the cabin. I plan on going up to my remote property and working on building my new cabin as soon as there is more snow and can find someone to give me a hand. I have a good feeling about the rest of this year and 2013. Anyway, just wanted all of you to know what is going on. Take care and


"HAPPY THANKSGIVING"

Bad luck has struck

Last Wednesday as I was packing up after blogging, I dropped my camera and it doesn't work anymore. Money is tight right now and I won't be able to post any pictures until I get a new one. Hopefully, I can find a cheap one until I get a new camera.

  I have been in contact with my friend Chucks wife and she and the two 8 year olds plan to return to the Homestead and resume their remote lifestyle. A fund has been set up at Wells Fargo under the name              

"hiline"Chuck Lamb Donation Account"

Right now, helocopter is the only way out, when everything freezes up, myself and some others will travel out to help her get set for Winter. Today it is snowing here and have about 4". Nice to see the new snow, makes everything look clean. I have decided to change my Internet time to Mondays and Fridays for now. I have way to much work to do at this time. So, stay tuned and enjoy Winter.

Back in the saddle

Hi everyone, as the title states, I am back in the saddle again. First, I want to thank those of you with your words of support concerning the passing away of my two friends. Just to let you know, my friends wife and her 2 young children are returning to their remote homestead to live. It will be hard for them but, a few of us will be going out to her along and get her settled at least for the winter. I am getting back into my routine also.To start off, I decided to change things again. Here are the new changes in my cabin.
Old kitchen

New kitchen

Old living room


New living room



I haven't quite figured out the bed situation yet. I use my cot at night and put it away during the day. While at the library a few days ago, someone dropped off a couple of plants with "FREE" written on them. So, I gave them a new home and they look good in my cabin.





Here are some pictures of the moon during the morning.





Anyway, I am getting back to my somewhat normal routine. I am going to be bucking up trees I cut last year to resupply my firewood. I also plan to finish the ceiling in my cabin and if I get a chance, I will do my roof. I have a tarp covering it now so, hopefully when it comes time, I can remove it and do the roof. So, thanks to those of you who are still checking in.

Back again

Thanks to all for the kind words of support. It seems that when you get older, you start losing more friends because of age and sickness. It seems to be hardest when they are close friends or family. Losing my last two friends has started making me wonder about my old Vietnam buddies. I have lost track of them and now I wonder how many of them are still around. When I was living in or near villages in the BUSH, it seems the average loss was 2 or 3 a year for different reasons and I had almost became immune to their deaths. I really don't want to get to that point of not caring. Anyway, I am working on getting back to my normal routine and getting things done. Thanks again.

My Apology

Hi everyone, I would like to apologize for not posting much lately. I have had a few things going on recently and I'm sure all of you will understand. Within the past week and a half, the wife of the owner of the lodge I was caretaker for the past 10 years just passed away from complications of Cancer and last night, I received word that another friend of mine who lives in the BUSH passed away 2 days ago. So, I just haven't been up to posting anything. I promise to get back into action soon. I would like to say.

                      GOOD BYE LIZA
     I will miss all the great times we had at the lodge, you will be missed dearly.

                       GOOD BYE CHUCK
      We didn't spend a whole lot of time together but, we have the love for living the BUSH life. I promise to carry it on.

                            R. I. P.

Winter is coming

I had my first sign of Winter and it is on it's way. Personnally, I can hardly wait. This Winter I plan to have a lot of fun and less work. I took some pictures that might interest you. These are the first sign of Winter.





In case you haven't noticed, I cleared more trees from my property.

Before


After

I really like the openness a lot. I don't have the smother feeling plus, it lets more sun in and I see the sky much better especially at night.
  Here are some night pics I took a few days ago.









I still have to work more on my night shots. This is a shot I took of Denali near my cabin.

I took these shots 2 days ago during the day. I would not have been able to if I hadn't cleared more trees.



I know I haven't been very prompt on blogging for a long time but, this will change very soon. I also promise to get back to more interesting posts. Hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for Winter, as I am. Take care.

Things are looking better today

Hi everyone, I know it has been a long time since my last post. Since my last post, it has rained very heavy just about every day and I just didn't have the interest to come out in the rain. I am talking very heavy rain. My place didn't flood but, I had some close neighbors who weren't so lucky. I took these pictures at the end of my road where the boat launch is for the Susitna River.

Here it is advancing more

And more

This is looking down my neighbors road

If you look past the kid in the canoe, you will see my neighbors. They are 70 years old and that is the wife with her back to us pulling her husband who is in the raft.





It would be more interesting if it were a beer in his hand but, it is a diet Pepsi.

One day it stopped raining enough to stack more firewood.

Took this picture last night just for the heck of it.

Built some steps for my deck.

I built these steps from my driveway to the cabin.

Starting to fill up my pole barn.

I am building a hand and face sink.



Today, I woke up to 38 degrees and a clear sky and sun. Not sure how long it will stay that way but, I am going to take advantage of it. Stay tuned and hopefully I can make more frequent  posts.

Still around, just been busy

Hi everyone, sorry for not blogging lately but, I have been pretty busy getting ready for Winter. I finally got my pole barn finished and yesterday, I spent the day splitting about a full cord of Birch. Now, I need to start on the Spruce rounds as there are plenty.







Now it's time to start filling the barn, which I did yesterday. I am feeling it today. I think I did pretty good for 64 years old. This  Birch round needed some persuasion.




Taking a break

Finally, this stack is as tall as me.


Having coffee yesterday morning.

A few nights ago, the moon came out early in the morning, about 2am





The weather has been great here for awhile, sunny clear days, yesterday the clouds started moving in.







Just thought they were kind of interesting. This was the sun setting last night.


Basically, this is what has been going on with me. I will now start working on the rest of the wood and as you can see, there is plenty to split. I can hardly wait for the winter.