Going back in time

 Hi everyone, the other day when we got the first snow, I sat at the table with a hot cup of tea and staring out the window, I started to think about my old caretaker days. I think they were the best times of my life. I was younger of course and it seems that I had real purpose in my life. As strange as it sounds, I enjoyed taking care of other peoples properties more than my own. I enjoyed the recognition I received from the owners of these lodges who at the time have $100,000s to a $million dollars invested in their properties.

  I remember my first lodge which was Painter Creek Lodge located 40 miles North of Pilot Point on the Alaska Peninsula in the mountains. I would be there for 8 months  mostly alone except when the rare visitor came to visit or check on me. I stayed in a one room cabin 14'x16' that wasn't very insulated and lots of cracks. In the Winter time that area was and still is noted for it's Winter winds which would effect 60 to 70 mile an hour winds which in turn effected wind chills to about -80 degrees. I had an old barrel stove to keep warm and cotton wood for heat. Cottonwood is the worst wood to use, it usually stays wet and I had to make stacks on each side of the stove to dry them out.  When they were somewhat dry they burned very hot.

  The woodstove would turn bright red and inside stack would turn white. That time in my life, it didn't really bother me because, it gave me bragging rights among other caretakers, LOL. In those days, I was only making $200 a month and I had to pay my own taxes out of that. I didn't care. I remember filling my day pack and taking off with snowshoes and walking all over the area taking photos of all kinds of wildlife. I have those photos today and will try to figure out how to get them transferred to my computer. I use to walk for miles and it wasn't very easy at the time.

  I remember how now and then the owner of Penn Air out of King Salmon would bring his son out for a weekend and we would go Moose hunting and when they came, they brought sweaters his wife knitted for me and a big tub of chocolate ice cream. What a treat.

  Five miles away there is a lake named Mother Goose Lake and on it's Northern shore is a volcano which had pockets of heated water and I used to hike over and sit in the heated water and it sure felt good. The only problem, I would get sweaty on my hike back. For water I had to shovel snow into a metal garbage and sit it beside the woodstove to melt. Painter creek was the only water source and it was 3 miles away and we had no snowmachine at the time.

  I spent five years there and the final year was when the original owner was killed in an airplane with 3 clients in it. I remember one day, I was starting my morning walk on the airstrip and there were 4 streams of light shining down on the runway and in that light was a Caribou with a beautiful massive set of antlers, it was my belief, that was Joe coming home. It still is today. Had Joe not been killed, I would still be there as the Winter caretaker.

  I thought it would be nice to share this with all of you. Joe is to the left of me in the picture with the airplane wearing a bandana around his neck.

                      R.I.P. Joe

Finally, it's snowing

Hi everyone, we got our first snow a couple of days ago and it was sure nice to look at. It put me in a more comfortable feeling.





Found this picture at the Salvation Army for $3.00 and figured the outhouse is the best place for it. I got a kick out of it. LOL

Took a couple photos of the moon the other night.



Found this brand new Gel Candle at Value Village for $3.50. It smells pretty good and I haven't used it yet.

That's pretty much it for photos. Not a whole lot going on at the moment. I will start cutting firewood this weekend. I'm starting a bit late because, I have pretty much been very lazy.  Not sure why I have been lazy, just have. I realize now, I can't afford to be lazy with the impending snow coming. If we get a big snow soon, I'm in trouble and will have to buy firewood. Although, I sometimes think it's not a bad idea because, I don't use a lot at the town cabin. My remote cabin requires way more.

 I was planning on going out before the lake freezes up, oops! Too late, lol. It hasn't completely froze up but, enough that nobody wants to land on it. It will be awhile before I get out there and that's ok. I figured it out, I don't need to rush around or worry about everything. I'm retired and can take my time. I am hoping by next Spring or Summer to get my town cabin sold. That is why I have been doing a lot of improvements inside and outside to make it more attractive and easier to sell. More money also.

I can then concentrate on my remote cabin and it will be a whole lot more fun to work on.

I am presently working on the living room area of my town cabin and have an idea for a significant change that will make it a whole lot more comfortable. I think all of you will like the change as well.

Hope everyone is doing fine and in good health. Take care

Lots of changes 2

Lots of changes

 Hi everyone, well, Fall has finally arrived and it's a crazy one. Temperatures in the mornings have been 13 degrees to 50 degrees. For the most part the weather has been great, sunny and no mosquitoes. That has changed and now for the past 2 days it is raining and hard. To start off, I will show some photos that may interest you. I salvaged my last tomatoes, not to bad.
 
My strawberries were the last to be harvested. I will replant them soon and see if they survive the Winter.

Caught some nice Moon and Sun shots



This is an early morning Moon







Now, the Sun



I finished the roof and it looks much better. I will apply roofing cement when the rain stops and it is a Sunny day. I also installed new stovepipe and China cap.



This little guy stopped by to see what I was doing

I'm sure you remember my pole barn and the ground around it.

The pole barn is gone and the land cleaned up.

Now for the new look



No, that's not me, lol







OK, I must have had a senior moment and forgot to take a picture of it finished. Sorry, will post later.

I bought a new 32" television and it is great. Whole lot better to watch movies than my 19". I built a new table to sit it on.

Now for my new kitchen look



I got the cutting board for free and paid $3 for the microwave.



I bought this propane stove for $25, it looks new and works perfectly.



The completed kitchen. The little red table to the left of the stove is where the refrigerator will go. It sits on the porch for now. It stays cold so nothing spoils. I will move it inside when it starts to freeze.

Dinner last night, Ribeye and peas.

Well, that is pretty much it. Now I will work on the living room area and then I will show you how it turns out. I hope this post is entertaining and I and doing great and starting to get back to my old self. Take care and enjoy. I changed my blog heading to " MY ALASKA WAY OF LIFE" sounded better to me.

Finally, Fall is here

Hi everyone, I am so glad to see this weather. No mosquitos, cool temperatures, lots of projects. I haven't posted in a long time because of the projects I am doing.

I wanted to wait to post when the projects are done or at least most of them. The Sun has been out for the most part and the temperatures in the mornings have been +20 to +40s. Makes it very enjoyable to be out doing things.

Soon, I will be back to doing some serious cooking and baking. Life is very good these days. I hope to lost this weekend. Thanks for checking in.