Reflections on 2025
Mouse trap line: 13 (They’ve been active!)
Snowfall: 14” (Still too low for this time of year, but maybe a little next week…)
Hello again!
As we close in on another year, I always start to reflect on things that have happened throughout the year and what I might want to do differently going into a new year with a fresh start. I’m sure I’m not the only person that reflects this way. After all, that’s why they invented New Year’s resolutions, right??
We were very blessed to have family come up from the lower 48 to visit this past summer. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece came up late June/early July…
Getting ready for a full-day adventure!
They stayed in Alaska several days and got to experience lots of touristy-things: Time at the North Pole, a full-day train ride, a glacier landing flight out of Talkeetna, then living in the wilderness with no way to get back and forth to town except for a 12 mile trail!
My brother’s family road the train to our homestead!
It was amazing having them here and I hope they can come back soon! (hugs!)
Then, just two weeks later, my son and his soon-to-be fiance come up!
This train ride was a first for both of them!
Fortunately, although Kevin had been working out of town for the summer, he was able to come home for a couple of weeks while they were here so it was double the fun!
Hot off the train!
Staying in the spare cabin
We had some fun adventures, they helped us put up some wood, and good times were had by all. This was the first time meeting her and I told him if he didn’t keep her I would! Just kidding, she’ll be part of the family soon enough and we are so excited!
Let’s shift gears…
We try to make a major improvement to our place each year. The first year we upgraded the shower in the main cabin a bit. Last year we ran a new water line from the house to the natural spring below and covered it with heat trace tape. So far, the line hasn’t frozen and we don’t have to go down the hill to collect water in jugs all winter. That was a game changer!
This year, Kevin decided we needed a front porch light because it gets so dark here in the winter. Right now, we are barely getting five hours of daylight! So we bought these cute little lanterns and he rigged one up on the front porch.
New front porch light
We even have one on the outhouse! Now aren’t we uptown??
It’s not your average outhouse, I promise!
Our main cabin
We love our home. As you can see, we are desperate for snow this year, but it will come. I encourage everyone to remember the good things that happened this year, learn from the other things, and find ways to stay humble and grateful. Wishing you all a wonderful new year. Oh, and by the way, we’ll have some big news in a day or so…. In the meantime, stay wild!