Tuesday, September 29, 2015

My Friend Flora!

Sometimes ... the stars are just in alignment ... and things happen that have nothing much to do with anything we've done ... they are just meant to be.
Nissa's arrival day!
For example ... when this little girl adopted us ... it wasn't expected ... there were no plans!  I've learned in my life to accept things outside my control ... the hardships and the blessings!  This furball ... Nissa ... definitely falls in the "blessing" category!  Something else ... another blessing ... also new to DillyDallydom arrived a few days after ...  and recently I discovered I have neglected to introduce it here on the blog!  Yikes!  I guess having a puppy in the house has absorbed what braincells energy I have available!  ;-)

 Here's how the stars fell into alignment ... it was the last evening of the DillyDally Trail ... as we were traveling to the Columbia River Gorge for our dinner cruise, a Southeast MN QBee shared details with us about her family cabin on the Mississippi River.  Like our cabin here in Alaska, her's  doesn't have electricity either.  She shared how she uses an antique hand crank sewing machine to piece while there!  Brilliant!  That is exactly what I need here on the Eyak River!  I shared my thoughts and the Metro QBee said, "I have a friend who has one for sale!"  She immediately called to make sure it was still available ... and I bought myself an antique hand crank while driving down the freeway!  Yep ... it was meant to be ... another blessing!
The machine arrived a few days after Nissa ... we were crazy busy ... but I was so excited when it was delivered!
My biggest concern was damage during transit, but they had packed it well ...
... and it arrived safe and sound!  I immediately named her Flora.  As a child and young adult, one of my closest friends was a woman on a neighboring farm.  Flora and her husband were empty nesters ... she was 20 years older than my mother and 10 years younger than my grandmother.  Like them, she was a farm wife ... made of steel and generous with time and affection.
I would often ride my horse through the fields and visit Flora.  She was always busy ... making things with her hands ... and would willingly welcome and involve me in what she was doing.
She was the only person in our rural area that still pieced quilts.  We would trace around cardboard templates on fabric ... and when I was able to prove my accuracy, I was allowed to help cut them out with fabric shears.
Eventually I got to sew some of the pieces together.  I spent many hours at Flora's kitchen table ... learning life's lessons ... she was a patient teacher ... and helped me pursue my love of handcrafts and textiles.
Flora was just the friend I needed at that time in my life ... while sewing and crafting together, I could talk to her about things I would have never discussed with my mother or grandmother!  We could talk about everything ... family issues ... boys ... even sex!  Flora was a great listener ... open minded ...  intelligent ... and patient.  She quietly helped me successfully navigate the trials of adolescence.
This is a casual snapshot taken right before our wedding reception in 1981... Flora is the woman on the right, my great aunt Marty is on the left.  They served coffee during the reception ... these two were the only women in my childhood who were active quilters.  I have such fond memories of my time with Flora ... and I am so grateful for the many ways she influenced my life ... she was such a blessing!
It is in her honor that I refer to the "new to me" machine as Flora.  I have never used a hand crank ... so I immediately set the machine up and explored how it functioned ... it performs beautifully!  I brought out my current "leaders and enders" to work on while Nissa napped ... it was such fun!
Short seams like this patchwork unit requires is perfect for this machine!  Today, I finally got around to checking on where and when this machine was made.  My heart skipped a beat when I found out that this machine was built the same year my dear friend Flora was born ... 1910.
9.29.15
Yep ... the stars are in alignment ... this machine was meant to be in my life ... I am grateful ... I feel blessed.  I look forward to the many adventures this Flora and I will have!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!
Mrs. DillyDally

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Time Marches On!

The laptop is functional again!  We're out of our forced "time out'!
Even though I wasn't blogging ... time stops for no one!  Fall comes early here in my remote corner of the planet.
Autumn's visit is also brief ... so the DillyDallys have been soaking it in as much as possible!
We've been dillydallying at the cabin on the weekends ...
... taking hikes and long walks when Mother Nature cooperates ...
... playing with friends ...
... knitting ...
... we've spent time sewing ...
... tis the season for soup and pumpkin everything ...
... celebrating sunrises ...
and appreciating sunsets!

I love this time of the year ... and do what I can to immerse us in it!  Days are getting shorter ... time marches on!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!
Mrs. DillyDally

Thursday, September 17, 2015

A Forced Time Out!

Yesterday ... was ... one of ... those ... days!  As my followers on facebook know ... we had a another huge coastal storm! No problem ...
... I am a champ at creating my own sunshine!  Yep ... I had a list of things to be accomplished ... and ... seriously ... not one of them happened!  I just could not get my self-made sun to shine.  You see ... my laptop crashed!  I spent hours ... using every trick I knew ... no success!
Yep ... I will lose a lot of content and work that was in progress ... oh the pain!  I finally accepted the facts (at 2:00 pm) and found my resolve to improve the day.
I had a great idea ... baking would make the house smell wonderful and improve the mood here in DillyDallydom!  I made a pumpkin pie ... the house smelled wonderful ... all seemed to be improving!  Last night I cut a piece for the Mr. and I ... one bite and YUCK!  I had forgotten to add the sugar!  Apparently ... I lost the ability to bake yesterday too! ;-)
So today ... these photos are brought to you by Google images ... and I think I will do as this photo suggests ... and drown myself in hot cocoa (hopefully I am still able to boil water) with colorful marshmallows!  So I am in a forced time out ... until my laptop is running again ... you'll only find me on instagram and facebook.   Of course ... in the big picture ... my silly problems are completely insignificant.  So today my plan is to be grateful ... and find that silver lining! ;-) 

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!
Mrs. DillyDally

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Cabin Overnight

Here in our remote corner of the plant, this past week was overshadowed by a huge coastal storm system that resulted in nearly five days (all 24 hours) of high winds and very heavy rain.  On top of that I substituted at the high school all four work days! Both resulted in big challenges for Nissa!  She had to spend the majority of the day alone ... and this was her first coastal storm!  We discovered that she prefers a "stay-at-home" mom and doesn't like to do her "potty business" in the rain!  Facing reality it tough for everyone ... puppies too!  Of course she did just fine ... but puppies are by nature overly dramatic!  Lots of puppy hugs and kisses when I got home!
All week long we were watching the weather forecast very carefully ... we had plans to go to the cabin on Saturday and hoped Mother Nature would cooperate!
It was raining lightly when we left the boat landing and began the 20 minute ride.
Nissa makes us giggle ... a water dog that doesn't like the water ... at least when it is coming from the sky ... silly girl!
At the cabin she can be off leash ... she goes crazy at full speed!  Before long she was soaked to the skin, hungry and tired!  After a big serving of puppy food, we dried her off and wrapped her in her very own cabin blanket!  
We all went to bed at 11:00 pm ... Miss Nissa slept until 8:30!  Her first overnight was very successful!  It was wonderful to be welcomed to the day with this view!  Mother Nature came through on her promise!
This is the view behind our cabin.  Scott Glacier is on the left and Sherman is on the right.
There are a number of cabins along the river where ours is located.  We went for a walk to visit some neighbors!
"Mom!  Stop taking pictures and hurry up!"
Gosh ... we love this place ... things are so simple here.  Nissa loves it too!
It was a beautiful autumn day ... the boat ride home was gorgeous!
Back at the landing ... reality hits again ... puppy is unhappy to be back on leash.
This humble, modest, and rustic one room cabin is filled with wonderful memories!  And this weekend we added the memory of Nissa's first overnight!  Time spent at the cabin is the best possible way to dillydally!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!
Mrs. DillyDally

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Happy Birthday Sister DillyDally!

Today is our little Sunshine Girl's birthday!
Every birthday had a theme ... yep, some things never change ... I love that about her!  The 4th Birthday was all about being a ballerina!  Of course there weren't any ready made decorations available in town ... so we made our own!
Two weeks old!
She came into the world riding a bicycle ... and hasn't slowed down!
First Birthday!
She found fun in everything ... even at a very young age ... that too, hasn't changed!
Age 3
She is an Alaska Girl ... and began proving it when she won the local children's fishing derby at three years of age.  She always was fearless ... and still is!
All ballerina's wear knee socks ... right?  See ... fearless with fashion too! ;-) Still is!
  Socks still on ... and using some ballerins tactics while planning a thematic party ... yep, again things never change!
Am so grateful for all this girl has brought into our lives ...
... and treasure the fact that so many things haven't changed!
Happy Birthday Sister DillyDally!

Do what you love!  Celebrate family!  Do dillydally!
Mrs. DillyDally

Monday, September 7, 2015

Happy Labor Day!

It is a beautiful day here in DillyDallydom!  Mr. DD, Nissa and myself are dillydallying by taking a hike!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!
Mrs. DillyDally

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Look Who's 12 Weeks Old!

" Hi-Yip-Yip!  It's me ... Nissa again!  
I turned three months old this week!  Mom says I am now a quarter of a year old ... I don't know what that means, but it must be a big accomplishment!
I don't take as many naps as I used to ... but I still need them because I am growing so fast!  I went to the vet this week and I am double the size I was four weeks ago!
My favorite thing to do is go on hikes!
I really like being in the woods ... there are lots of things to smell there!

I explore everything I find!  I am much more brave now that I'm older!
I hope you visit the woods ... it is a wonderful place to play ... I promise you'll love it!
Momma and I take some sort of long walk every day!  She says the goal every day is to wear me out!  

And ... eventually I get tired enough that I have to lay down when Mom stops to take a picture!  That is how she knows that our walk is nearly finished!
When salmon spawn, they die!  Don't be sad ... when they rot, they smell and taste delicious!
I ran off during a walk and found one ... Momma caught me eating and rolling in it.  She was very unhappy!  Momma had to wrestle me out of there ... we were both muddy!  I like being muddy, but Mom doesn't!  I smelled heavenly ... but Momma was gagging and said I reeked and made her stinky too!  I had my first bath ... Mom scrubbed off all of my fluffy baby fur!  Afterward Momma had to clean the car, bathroom and herself!  It was a rough day ... Momma says that some days are like that, but it doesn't change how much we care for one another!  I still cannot understand why she doesn't like that smell!
Since then, Mom puts a leash on me if we are any where near salmon.  I don't like the leash ... I can't run ahead and explore.  
Momma worried about pulling on my neck too much ...
... so now I have a harness ... we are both happier!  
 We often seek out hikes that won't require me to be on a leash, they are farther out of town and we don't always have that much time available!
I like to shred paper ... Mom and Pop say I'm a professional!
I'm still a little hesitant when it comes to playing in the water!  I do like to go wading!
I am often tempted to jump in ... Momma says to go ahead ... but I'm not quite ready and she doesn't force me!
One day I did take the plunge ... it was cold ...
... and the water was up to my chest!  It was fun!
Ari and I are best buddies!
We like to get into mischief ...
... and look adorable!  Aren't we just the cutest?!
The boat ride to the cabin still makes me a bit nervous ... but it is so much fun there!
My parents keep saying that autumn has arrived ... I don't know what that means ... I hope it means that more cookies are in my future!  This is my "Cookie please" look ... it works better on Pop than Momma ... he is the softie!  Mom is the one who enforces the rules ... I only get cookies from her when I've done something well.  Pop sneaks me cookies all the time!
Yip-Yip!  I am getting bigger ... growing up fast!  I keep everyone busy ... occasionally I allow Mom and Pop to put their feet up ... but only when I can join in!"

Play, eat, nap, and potty!
Nissa DillyDally