Sunset Build, Season Two, Episode 1

We arrived back in Alaska May 11. Note to self: no need to come this early in the future. While Anchorage was beginning to green, Ninilchik showed little to no signs of spring. In the couple of weeks we’ve been here, the frost heaves are melting, the strongest of the strong wildflowers are breaking through the cold ground and my elderberries now have (teeny) tiny leaves. On a most positive note, unlike last year when it rained all. the. time, we’ve been enjoying some beautiful vistas on clear, cool days. This week we are forecasted to have highs in the low 50s—I’m celebrating! I can count on one hand the days that it’s hit 50 so far.

Sunset was awaiting our continued attention. We got busy with yearly routine maintenance and checking off little projects. The big successes have been: Greg trimmed out the front door and side window. You may recall that the other picture window developed a stress crack at the end of the season last year. We are waiting its replacement. Fingers crossed that it comes in as scheduled later this week. He has also hung drywall, mudded & taped the storage room. I will be priming (but not painting) that as he finishes and moves on to doing the same for the garage. Successful installation of the split air unit was fraught with frustration. After a rather extensive troubleshooting call with the manufacturer, a new motherboard is now on its way. Hope that is all we need. Most of my time has been spent sanding, staining, measuring, cutting, installing wainscoting, plus the cap on top, plus baseboards throughout. Proud to say that is done (except for the window we’re waiting on) and we both love it!

All that AND we made a ‘quick’ trip to Anchorage and the valley. Had to pick up the special-order split air and buy a small dresser I found on MarketPlace that we are going to turn into our bathroom vanity. Got to take the grands out to dinner and a movie. It was 11:00 pm when we got home…so dusky, not dark this time of year. Greg & I have this game we play—first one to spot a moose, says so. We ‘may’ be a bit competitive. I was reading and not paying attention. I kid you not, Greg saw more moose in one trip than we have ever—maybe 25? It was pretty incredible. Yesterday I went back to a neighborhood where we looked at a lot before we bought Sunset. Sandhill cranes stop through mid-Alaska on their way further north(!) for the summer. I saw a pair in that neighborhood last year. It was a Sunday-don’t-work-day so I went in search of some cranes. Boy, am I lucky. Thirteen! I watched thirteen sandhill cranes stork strut across a field from less than 50 yards away. 

Rory likes being a free range dog at the mountain more than she likes being kept on a lead/leash here...but she still has a pretty great life! OK. Gotta go help my partner. Here are a couple of more pics.