the deck

How awesome is this?!!! AWESOME!!
John has finished the deck. Isn't is the most gorgeous thing you have ever seen? Can you tell I love it?
We had a little party to celebrate? But, it poured... oh well summer in Juneau? The hot tub is tucked in it's own little space, surrounded by great smelling ceder. If your in the hood, come check it out!

Celebration

Juneau was the site of Celebration 2008. A gathering of Native Alaskans/Indians from the Northwest region. Lots of great color in blankets/hats and traditional outfits....amazing drumming & traditional dance. Jack and I went to watch the opening parade... it was awsome! Jack has a buddy in one of the dance groups, unfortunately we missed him, but saw his folks.

New Garage Apartment

Garrard Garage Plans - Upload a doc

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Planting/Plans

It has been a huge month.... since my last pondering... we scrapped the big house and traveled 360 degrees back to the original plan of building the garage apt.
Done, the plans are drawn up... hope to get it ready for engineer in May, city in June, build in Sept. We shall seee....
I have turned to planting.... we had a week of pure sunshine! Felt like summer, it is at least spring in AK. My friend has a big greenhouse, I have basically taken it over and plan to be the green thumb. Last try @ tomatoes, in a big greenhouse... we shall seeeeee?

Trash & Travel

Working on taxes for 48hrs and putting together a picture book for the house. Leads my mind to wander.
I continue to ponder trash.... read No Impact Man. I have begun looking @ all the trash I produce and am astounded by the amt and I recycle most things. You can not buy anything that is not covered in plastic, surrounding by plastic or is contained in plastic. EGADS!
I actually ordered some bamboo silverware today... to go mobile with me... take out food, plastic silverware/plates etc. I have gotten into the habit of bringing my bags to the store... one small step....... trying to adapt a new habit every month. Leave one more thing out or try another idea.
The pending house project has me going "holy crap" Should we? Shouldn't we? Talk about waste.. yikes! We live in 1000 sq feet now.. comfortably... then we will find junk to fill up 2400 sq feet of space.. that needs to be cleaned, heated, etc. HMMMMM?
In financially getting ready for this project, I have been selling off stock, trying to sell Bisbee house and getting Spring rented... Now... I have a bunch of $$ sitting around screaming @ me... I mentioned to John the other day ... perhaps we should take off a year and cruise around... an early bucket list knock off.. We are all healthy, happy and wise. Jack is still a very likeable kid and might enjoy a journey (or not) Mentally pondering the idea?
Anyway, I am off to go talk to the tax man... this ideas may all go out the door after he tells me how much to write to Uncle Sam. Ick! Not my favorite uncle!

Nearing April

April is right around the corner.... the skis are clean and clear. Five days of sunshine... makes a Juneauite a little stir crazy.
Feeling abit manic. That is a good thing... work has gotten difficult in the last week. We went to electronic medical records.... I love computers!!
Jack and I did alot of travel back and forth to AZ in March, spent some time with the folks... worked here and there.
Last trip to Tucson was quite productive. Got the bisbee house cleaned out... still slowly getting rid a junk! It seems never ending.....
JACK and I had a bit of a bump in our week... leading to a few manical mommy moments, but I think we worked through it.
I have now become quite focused on finishing up my winter project.. as it looks like spring is aournd the corner. Don't like to spend much time inside the house during the summer.... my brain is already planting. I haven't decided how much energy I am going to put in my yard this summer. My brain says stop... but my mind says ... GO!
Stay tuned .....

Men Pen

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looking at something new

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Home away from home

Sitting here in my ever improving ...dang near cute guesthouse on Spring Street.
The kitchen turned out great! Paint.. huge improvedment from the previously orange walls. New sink... love it! It needs a few more homey touches like rugs and paintings and viola! Done! Phil.. did a great job on power... this place has plugs everywhere .... freakin exciting!

Work was okay... everyone in Tucson has the flu too..... even though it is in the paper and on the radio... people seem stunned to hear such news...I knew there was an outbreak and I don't even live here?
Had dinner with Maria tonight @ Kingfisher, yummy fish, fabulous company...we got to hang out, talk without the usual distractions! Missed Murph though... dang:(

Now... for the dirty work. Time to paw through all the remaining junk next door. Like do you want your old lacrosee stick? This is just one of the million questions I may pose over the next several days. Time to bring home the old cookie jar? I am pondering the idea.
Totally fried from last nights... late night... got in @ 2am... long day of sitting ..... then up and off to work. Jack is haning with Kyler on the mtn... I think he is happy!

Mardi gras

Fat Tuesday

Despite my grumbling and disgust because "no one was coming" We had a great Mardi Gras celebration. Nice mix of people, great food, plenty of hurricaines.
Not a stunning array of outfits, but I am beginning to realize... there are few people in the world that "like" to dress up.... okay maybe just me?

Last week we braved the financial markets, I basically got out of the stock market and we refinanced the Fritz Cove cabin. I am prepping all $$ toward MEN/Penn. Planning on selling the Bisbee shack.... Presently getting info about contructions loans. I can't say I get it yet... but I will soon.

Prepping for the mansion... this week I am going to call our contractor and see where we are at? We were able to get the survey done before all the weather. Excavator man, Brent was never able to do any dirt work, too cold, too frozen... winter in AK, we shall wait til Spring. This summer, I think the only utility left??? is electricity? I imagine the road will have to be beefed up for all the trucks/vehicles going up and down. Other than that... the lot.. is ready? Not sure we are ready?

Had a COLD week... wow...! then a nice dumping of a foot or snow or so... now it is raining? Ugh! We got the 2 feet of snow off the porch roof, never being quite sure how much weight on japanese joinery is okay? Taking advantage of the snow..I CC skied around the lake last week, cold but beautiful, then skate skied. Went 100 yards and gave up. Such perseverance! Oh well, they say it is hard when it is cold? I just think it is hard. I have another lesson this week!

Enough of the local update, someday pictures will accompany this exciting blog....stay tuned