Part 13. Day to day!

The summer is now over and the jobs for the season are at an end.
It is time now to get back to the 'day to day' chores which make living here interesting!

The most important job of all is keeping the fire wood pile full and dry. Our only source of heat, cooking and hot water is from the wood stove so an endless supply of wood is needed. We mostly cut alder with a little red cedar and fir mixed in. Alder is readily available floating around. You have to remember it is illegal to cut trees down so we have to rely on what we call 'beach comb' wood.

My garden was late this year, as it seems many others were. The spring was wet, the summer cold and the fall has started with wind storms!  Amazingly some of the plants did much better especially the tiger lillies which thrived and took over where ever they could. All my garden is in large containers and buckets. Soil is hard to find so I have to make some as well as bring in bags. The apple tree also did well and is just about to relinquish its fruit...if the dog doesn't get there first!   Our dog 'Rosie' is rather partial to apples and has pulled off all the ones on the lower branches she can reach.

A sign of the coming winter are the flocks of geese and earlier the cranes flying south. They always seem to be fighting a strong wind when they get over here...you would think they would know better by now!  We have also had a few visits from a family of bears. They first appeared in the summer and were hanging around between our house and a nearby lodge. By now they should be gorging on salmon but instead were ambling along behind the house just two days ago!   There are no fish bearing creeks near here so not sure what they think they can eat.   Lets hope they find a nice place to den for the winter and not near us!!

Our winter job has taken over from the summer contracts so we are now the caretakers for a number of lodges. The bay is full with various buildings, floats and boats.
Our fall trip for groceries is coming up. The grocery list has been printed and an inventory of the food shed carried out. The list is about 8 pages long and covers everything from cans to jars, baking goods to laundry soap and anything else you might need for the next 6 months. My own list includes toiletries, clothes and presents for up coming birthdays and Christmas.
Just everyday activities which keep us fit, healthy and above water!

Till next time...