Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I have come to the conclusion that, decisions are the hardest part of my life. I have served 5 tours in combat, lived in a Wilderness setting, lived off the land and retired to a cabin on the road system. That was an easy decision to make but, it has been the worst decision, I have ever made. buying this property and building a cabin, made sense at the time. But now, I know it wasn't the right decision and it's taking its toll on me.

I have a beautiful piece of remote property on a nice lake and have neglected it pretty much for the last six years. I have been trying to rectify this by going out this Summer and working on it to have it ready by Winter. I have to put a hold on it for the present as, my friend Randy has leased his plane to some people and has a job flying for a fishing lodge and has been picking up some clients for this coming Fall bear and moose hunts.

He and I talked and we will try to figure out how to get some flights in between his work. I can't blame him, as he has to make money to keep two planes in operation. in the meantime I am planning on finishing a couple of projects on the town cabin and then selling it. I am thinking about trading it also for, another remote cabin or a cabin on the road system accessed by walking or atv.

I feel, this is the right decision to make. I have noticed that since I bought this property, my zest for life and in some case my health has diminished somewhat. Many of you know that I have been diagnosed with PTSD resulting from my time in Vietnam. For awhile, I felt I was getting better but now, it's not.  A few more people have moved on my road and the noise from cars and trucks going by more frequently, kids yelling and screaming, unruly dogs barking constantly and now constant gunfire is affecting me in a not so positive way.

I think for those of you who have followed me on my blog from day one or prior to leaving the lodge I was at, must see the change in me. I have made some choices that weren't very good for me and has left me unhappy at times.

Something has to change and it will. Starting next weekend if all works out, I plan to take a 1 or 2 day trip on the Denali Highway and clear my head and see if I can make sense of it all. I don't know, maybe I am crazy. But, something will change when I get back.

So, in ending, I hope everyone can make sense of this and maybe some suggestions and/or words of encouragement. By the way, I have a rouge squirrel that has been jumping on my bird feeders and breaking them. I may have to break out my 22.

Take care and enjoy.

Rainy Monday blues

Well, it's Monday and raining lots, I am kinda bored and sitting here looking out the window at the rain, eating Pork Rinds, lol

Anyway, a lady friend stop by a couple of days ago and told me, I should make my cabin more woman friendly. She picked this up for me at a local thrift store.

Before you ask, it's Plexiglas with a log round frame, $6.99

Anyway, I went thrifting yesterday, as it was raining as well. I bought these:

Miniature rocking chair $3.99

Salt and Pepper set $1.99

Birdhouse made out of 2x4's twigs and wood shavings $2.99

Vinegar and oil set $4.99

I needed some 5gal. water containers, like these. Went to Walmart, $18.00 YIKES!

The heck with that so, I decided to go to our local outdoor store, Sportsman Warehouse, $8.99

I've weened myself off diet pepsi and started drinking water. I've found myself wanting something with flavor so, I found these drinks at Walmart and they taste great. They are carbonated, 17 oz. drinks. They are called Clear American Ice and they only contain 3% juice.

They taste very good and come in quite a few flavors. This one is Cherry Lemonade

Well, that's about it for awhile, I will have an interesting blog coming up in the near future. Hope all you dads had a great Fathers Day

TAKE CARE

Here's what's going on

I felt it was time to check in again, have a few things to share with you. One thing I'm happy about is, more wild flowers blooming.

                                Dandilions, lots of them

I hear a lot of people who hate them in their yard, I enjoy them all over. 

Got a visit from a local, I was very surprised but, glad. There hasn't been any wild bunnies around in quite awhile.

I built a work table in the arctic entry

Started working on my outdoor shower. I'm painting pallets that I will use for the floor.

Last week, I went thrift shopping for new chairs. This one I got from a private sale, $15

This one from Value Village, a local thrift store chain. $13.99

they are both rockers and comfortable.

Last Friday, bought a Delta 10 in. table saw for $30. I gotta tell you, it's heavy. Me and the seller lifted it on top of my car. It rode home nicely. I forgot to take a picture on the car.

I got home and had no help getting it off so, had to use ingenuity, used these posts to slide it off the car.

It left a dent in the roof, took a hammer and pounded from inside and popped right back.

SATURDAY

I made a trip to town for groceries and stopped at Value Village and found this antique Royal Rochester coffee peculator,  from 1912. $3.99. You see right three dollars and ninety nine cents. what a find.....On the way home, I stopped at my local gas station in Willow to fill my water containers. As I was filling my containers, this attractive gal pulled up behind me to get water as well. She asks me "are you John"? Of course I said yes. She then told me that she follows my blog. I was really surprised. We had a nice conversation and then went our separate ways.

Found this neat wood carving at Value Village also and mounted it on the cabin door. I paid more than I should have but, I really liked it, $12.99

A couple of cloud photos

Well, that's pretty much it for now. I am working on some pretty cool projects for my next post. Stay tuned.