We have officially landed a year ago. We began this journey long ago but finally realized the first step of moving here... how has it been a year already?
Its hard to believe how much has changed! Sally and Ruby are both older, stronger, smarter and more lovely than when we started. We have watched them bloom here. Fostering their love for the outdoors and in the summer, their love for the ocean. They have gotten so big and my heart swells at the beautiful people they are becoming.
Justin has laboured, sweat, swore, bled and worked tirelessly to clear our space so that we have enough room for not only a driveway and a home one day, but a shed, our garden, a lumber yard. One day we hope to have an Alaskan Woodshed to store our burning wood, our wood splitter, and our wood chipper. Also on our minds are more garden beds and a green house as well as a cottage. We have the materials for the most part as Justin has been diligent at collecting and storing materials to oneday use again. Patience, persistence and plain hard work will get it all done. Words can not express how thankful I am with his willingness to sacrifice his days to being sweaty and dirty and sore so we can pursue this idea and dream we have in our minds. Eternally thankful and blessed.
Ive been trying to keep busy with harvesting what I can already! We learned about haskaps this year as a friend of ours has rows of berry bushes. Haskaps are incredibly good for you - high in antioxidants and plyphenols. They are tart but have great flavour and Ive made 2 batches of jam and stored many contsiners of the berry for muffins - Ive tested a recipie or two on my father-in-law and he approves of them so I am happy! Ive also saved up some rhubarb for cakes or muffins later when the winter sets in and we are dreaming of spring.
Ive also learned about garlic scapes. These are the stock that grows out of garlic that flowers. You cut them off before it flowers and you can make delicious garlicy things with them. I made an awesome pesto that was a crowd pleaser so Ive frozen some for fall/winter when we want something fresh. Soon the raspberries and blueberries will be ready to pick, then the apples... the cycle repeats and the work never ends. :)
The garden is doing so well. We have already had lettuce, ground cherries, basil and herbs as well as a cucumber! I cant wait for our squash to start, the peas to bloom and the tomatoes to ripen. It was so nice having tomatoes in jars last year and I am looking forward to doing more canning this year. I hope to build a root cellar as well so we can store pumpkins, squash, carrots, potatoes and apples. So much amazing abundance, its what our dreams are made of.
We are feeling really lucky and blessed these hot summer days - particularly when we get to spend time at the beach and in the beautiful, warm water. Sally put it best when she was swimming the other day... she said "Mom, this is paradise!".
I agree, kid, I agree!
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