A Mirror of the Sea

Quinn has been very busy at his new job as a guide for tourists on the Mendenhall Glacier - but don't feel too sorry for him. After all, he gets to ride a helicopter to work every day! But because of his busy schedule we haven't been able to go on any hikes while the weather has been nice. So of course it was pouring down rain on his first day off in a while.

As we are somewhat used to being disappointed with the Juneau rainforest weather, we decided to go on a hike anyway (and invited our friend Aaron along too)!

There is a saying here in Juneau, "It's always nicer out the road." I can remember my mother telling me this fervently as I climbed into a bus to take me out to Echo Ranch Bible Camp (which is all the way out the road) while the raindrops fell around us. As far as I can tell, this saying is usually correct! It certainly was in our case that day. The whole drive out it was pouring, and as we got farther and farther away from town the rain lessened, till we arrived at the Point Bridget trailhead and found it hardly sprinkling at all - we even took off our coats part way through the hike!

Now I may have said "hike", but it's really more of a walk (by Alaskan standards anyway). The Point Bridget trail is about three miles long and flat the whole way, with lovely mountain views and ending at the ocean. We had hoped to see some of the horses from Echo Ranch - which sits just across the river - but there was a kid's camp going on so I'm sure the horses were busy (we even heard the lunch bell go off - a very loud siren that echoes off the mountains and brings back fond memories for all of us). Often times the horses roam free around the large meadows, or they're busy giving rides to campers through the woods.

I was just a tad bit nervous we would run into a bear on our hike. One time we stayed out at a cabin in the meadow with our friends. Our friends Jacob and Leah weren't going to stay the night with us, but on their hike back they ran into a bear and stayed the night anyway, rather than risk hiking back in the dark when a bear was close by. Thankfully we didn't meet a bear, though there was something no larger than Greta scuttling around in the bushes at one point...

The flowers were so pretty on our way out to the beach - I had to stop myself from picking any, knowing they would wilt. I promised myself I would pick a bouquet on our hike back to the trail head.

The woods gave way to meadow, then the beach!

The three of us sat on an old log and ate some lunch. Quinn went down to the water's edge and threw some very large sticks for Lupin and Greta - which they enjoyed profusely - their barks echoing off the mountains (no bears would stick around after hearing that!). Aaron even spotted a whale way out past the rocky shore. 

We had a marvelous time exploring the beach at low tide. There were tide pools even deep enough for Greta to swim in, and all manner of tiny sea creatures to discover within their depths. 

Here is Quinn trying to take a selfie with me on the large rock that was pictured above. He laughed after he saw it and said "ALL nose!" Unfortunately Aaron did not make it into the photo, but I don't think he's too disappointed about that, ha!

Farther up the beach we found a large tree that had washed up on the shore. Greta enjoyed the little windows the roots made, and I couldn't pick which photo to show you so here's a whole lot!

She seldom smiles for the camera (I don't think she wants to be famous, ha!), so I was so excited to get these silly photos of her! 

I was thrilled to see the wild sweet peas blooming along the sea shore - their purple and blue flowers are one of my most favorites! I had told myself I would pick a bouquet on the way back...so I started one right then and there! Perhaps I could simply add on to it as we made our way back along the trail.

Here's my bouquet of sweet peas and wild geraniums! After I made it I decided it would be best to leave it as is, since the stems of the sweet pea are so short and they wouldn't get any water in a vase of tall lupin. But don't you dare think that I stopped there!

We started hiking back and Quinn and Aaron were so kind as I stopped every five feet to pick another flower. Quinn even offered to hold my first bouquet as my hands were starting to get full. What's more, he even posed for a photo!

 In case you haven't noticed Dear Reader, I had my hair cut very short recently! I have never in my life had it this short, but I really love it. Quinn takes great delight in it too, as now his hair is longer than mine! 

A Poem from my Poetry Notebook:

       -A Mirror of the Sea-

A mirror of the sea shone bright

With colors livelier by far

For pinks and purples meet the sight

And yellows shining like a star.

Ripples too can there be found

But not of water, foam, or spray.

The wind he travels fast, unbound,

To blow the petals far away.

To wander through this ocean wide

Would be an afternoon well spent,

For with the bees and butterflies

One will truly be content. 

I gathered lupin, shooting stars, buttercups, irises, and wild geraniums for this bouquet. The chocolate lilies pictured above were so pretty, but they stink horribly, and so I decided against it. Again, Quinn and Aaron were so kind in waiting for me as I ran around in the wet grass picking flower after flower. I could have stayed there all day!

The bouquet got so large I could barely fit my hand around it! But what a glorious array of colors! I was a bit nervous it wouldn't survive the hike back and the long drive home - but it did! And it now sits proudly on my kitchen counter, ready to be admired every day!

I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at that picture - and I know for sure it will be even more loved and cherished when winter is in full swing!

Picking wild flowers must be my favorite thing, and I don't think I mind that one bit.

Read More

All The Meadows Wide

This last Autumn I planted some mixed daffodil bulbs in my garden bed, as well as some crocuses. When Spring finally dawned bright and beautiful here at Blueberry Barn there were no little green shoots to be seen - though at Quinn's grandmother's home all her bulbs were in full swing. I despaired that perhaps I had planted them too deep, or maybe the bulbs were no good? Imagine my delight at seeing their sunny faces emerge from the cold ground. Perhaps a little late, but a welcome sign of warmer weather to be sure. 

My garden is all planted now with seedlings and a few treasures I got at the big annual plant sale here in Juneau. Now all that's left to do is wait for things to start growing (and do all the weeding and watering of course). Since this is only the second year of my flower garden it is still quite bare, however my mother-in-law Melissa's garden beds are already alive with color (her's being quite well established). I've always enjoyed this time of year when the flowers start blooming in earnest - especially the apple trees! They're pink and white blossoms always bring a smile to my face, and I find myself spending as much time around them as I possibly can.

This hasn't been hard this year, as two of the apple trees were moved just recently by my father-in-law Paul (who is making space for a green house). We had a wonderfully long stretch of sunny weather, and I was watering my garden bed seven or eight times a day (it sits in the highest and sunniest part of the yard). I would also water the apple trees in their new places. I had feared we wouldn't get a good crop of apples because of the move, but the trees were covered with blossoms and they seem to be doing really well so far!

This last Spring I did quite a bit of research on pruning apple trees, for ours needed a lot of attention (I don't believe they had ever been pruned before). Quinn and I set to work shortly after the family left on a long trip, which was good because I don't think they would have liked to see how many branches came off... Several trees were also quite bent over from heavy snowfall, and Paul has since propped them up with boards and ropes in hopes of straightening them out (which seems to be working quite well!).

Greta doesn't think too much of the apple trees - unless I'm sitting under one of course. Lupin on the other hand has a fondness for chewing on the lower hanging branches, the naughty girl! And not just of the apple trees but of the beautiful lilac bushes as well. Melissa and I have tried to curb her love of this, but I'm not sure we have yet succeed. 

A Poem from my Poetry Notebook:                                The apple blossoms hold no sorrow

Knowing they will fade the morrow.
No tear is shed, no sigh forlorn,
There is no room today to mourn.
For sun shines high, the bees they dance
Upon the wind in dreamlike trance.
Pink and creamy white the flower
Held aloft in fairy's bower.
They nod their heads and seem to say,
"Spring, my dear, is here to stay!"
They'll vanish then, within some squall,
But there'll be apples in the fall.

Perhaps I should have added a line in there about Lupin being the nemesis of apple trees. Oh well, haha!

As Quinn very kindly took the photos of myself and the apple trees, the sky quickly drew on towards sunset and we knew it was going to be lovely. Without thinking too much about it we ran down the road down onto the tidal flats to watch the sunset - and perhaps to pick a few flowers as well.

This photo here reminds me so much of the Disney cartoon version of Beauty & The Beast (Belle was my favorite princess as a child!), specifically the part where Belle is singing about how much she wants to leave her little town and go explore the world (here's a link to the video of her song! One of my favorites for sure!). I must honestly say I had no idea what the word "provincial" meant as a child, I probably thought it meant boring, ha!

The lupin has only just started blooming, painting the flats a lovely shade of purple. Last year I managed to plant some lupin seedlings I had grown in my garden, and I'm hoping for different colors than the blue that's all over Juneau. We will see!

I tried so hard to get a photo of a bee while we were down there, but they were all to busy buzzing away to stop for my expectant camera. Greta and Lupin enjoyed running around the flats - their favorite playground - but Quinn managed to get a shot with Lupin and her namesake, pictured here on the right. Later she enjoyed running around me in circles as Quinn tried to get a photo of me spinning (this vintage Gunne Sax dress has such a wonderfully full skirt!). Greta was off in a gully getting wet and muddy, as she so often enjoys doing.

As the sun sank lower and lower we made our way back up to the house, the dogs especially were sad to leave the expanse of light behind. After making our way back through the lengthening shadows and darker corners of the woods it was glorious to see the last of the setting sun in all it's majesty at the farthest point of the yard. We've since had several rainy and gray days, which makes the memory of this particular sunset so special.

It's all I have to bring today - 

This, and my heart beside - 

This, and my heart, and all the fields - 

And all the meadows wide - 

Be sure you count - should I forget

Some one the sum could tell - 

This, and my heart, and all the Bees - 

Which in the Clover dwell.

---------------------------------

It's All I Have To Bring Today

By Emily Dickinson

Read More

A Busy Bee

 What a busy July it was for us here at Blueberry Barn! Our Russia trip, a big family reunion, two of my siblings staying with us for two whole weeks, and shows performed on cruise ships! I have been a busy little bee finding plenty of work to put my hands to - and lots of fun as well!

Not only had July been a busy month, but it was also the nicest on record in Juneau history. What an amazing blessing it was to be out in the sun so often, and the heat! - it certainly didn't feel like I was living in Alaska. I went swimming so many times I can't even remember them all - and I'm sure you can guess how cold the water is.

When its nice in Juneau, everyone goes a bit crazy and lets certain household chores slip by the way side...so instead of cleaning or tidying up the house one fine day, Quinn and I decided to go flower picking.

But this wasn't just for the beauty of the tall fireweed stalks, oh no! We were going to try our hands at making fireweed honey. You may remember two years ago when we made fireweed syrup - this turned out quite well (for you know I love floral tastes!) and I was excited to try something a little different.


The fireweed is the state flower of Alaska and is so named because it is the first plant to grow after a forest fire. It is also a telltale sign of the end of summer, as once it starts fluffing up with cotton you know autumn is coming along the bend. As I write this the warm sunny days seem to be behind us and have been replaced with colder, wet weather. I sure do hope there are a few sunny days left for us before autumn really sets in! But back to the flower picking...

The recipe we were following called for 50 fireweed flowers, 40 white clover, and 40 purple clover (along with five pounds of sugar - oh my!). With basket in hand we started picking, the wind blowing the tall stalks this way and that in the warm summer wind.

In most places the fireweed flowers are at the top of the stalk, signifying that summer is coming to an end, but there were still quite a few stalks with most of their flowers still blooming. I think they are the prettiest when the stalks are full of blooming pink flowers!

Even though its been sunny, I've tried to keep my skin from getting burnt and rosy (my sun hats have come in handy for this!). My poor fair skin can't take too much sun before I start looking almost as neon as the flowers! Haha!

Reaching towards the bluest sky
Watching ravens fly on by
Up we reach pink, purple, green
A sea of flowers to be seen.

Soon we'll be beat by winter snow
The rain that comes, the winds that blow
Or maybe fire burning bright
To burn the trees and split the night
Fear for us not, for after spring
We'll be here once more, our song to sing.

- Fireweed - 

{From my poetry journal}

Locals of Juneau seeing these photos will know exactly where Quinn and I went to pick our fireweed flowers (it's a favorite spot to photographers for obvious reasons). However, looking at these photos you may never know the truth about this spot - for Quinn is a good photographer. Would you ever guess that this lovely, tranquil spot is in fact not so tranquil? Because in fact, it is not in the middle of nowhere, it is in fact by a busy highway and the Juneau airport.

Even though this lovely field of flowers is sandwiched between the airport and the highway, it's still by far the prettiest fireweed field around so it was fun none the less (even if the honking cars and the loud sounds of planes taking off did take away from the overall mood...haha!). 

It was back to the Barn for us to find some clover and to start cooking!

It seems picking flowers on the side of the road is the theme for today, for we are lucky to have a big purple clover-patch right down the street from the Barn. I've asked Quinn several times if he feels at all embarrassed walking beside me when I'm wearing dresses or dirndls or anything considered peculiar. Thankfully, he's not! I certainly lucked out on marrying a man who likes to wear kilts and pink bunny costumes and therefore doesn't mind me dressing up like a Russian babushka! 

I was recently enchanted by a book of Melissa's called "Drawn From New England" which is about the life of Tasha Tudor (written by her daughter, Bethany Tudor). It had several pages detailing Tasha's early life along with pictures of her in her teens and twenties. I was quite struck by the fact that we had so much in common. In the photos Tasha wore dresses and outfits from centuries past - much as I enjoy doing! I think we would have been good friends. My favorite photo of Tasha showed her posing under a very large rhubarb leaf as a young girl. Our rhubarb has been moved to a new location, so it hasn't gotten quite this big yet, instead I chose a large skunk cabbage leaf so I could emulate the old photograph. What do you think? I think we make quite the pair.

With plenty of purple and white clover I think we were near to cooking up some honey! (I may have added in some rose petals as well, just for the fun of it...)

Cooking with flowers is such a joy - I really should do it more often! Do you, Dear Reader, have any favorite recipes that use edible flowers? Please share them with me below in the comment section - I would love to try them.

The fireweed looked so pretty mixed in with the clover and rose petals that I had Quinn take another picture. It reminds me of little kids making mud pies decorated with wild flowers and having tea parties under big spruce trees (did you ever do this? I know I did!).

My siblings Wesley and Valerie were visiting us and Wesley offered to help with the canning and the honey making. He sure looks fine in front of the stove, I'm sure he will make some lucky girl very happy someday.

And speaking of the honey making: five pounds of sugar doesn't look as scary when mixed with lots of flowers. Of course, you wouldn't want to eat all this honey at once, but a little drizzle on some toast? Why that sounds like heaven to me.

We added water and soon we had a bubbling pot of golden honey. After straining it we started the canning process - which is always a little stressful with so much boiling water in such a tiny kitchen.

Wesley got to take home the biggest jar of honey for all his help, and both he and Quinn got to lick the bowl after all the jars were filled. We'll keep a few jars for ourselves of course, but I think most will be given away as gifts this winter. Fireweed honey will certainly be a welcome memory of summer once the snow starts falling!


Thank you so much Dear Friend for reading along on our adventure. I hope you're having a wonderful week and I look forward to chatting with you again soon!

P.S. - Below you'll see just how big the fireweed stalks can get compared to my height!

Read More