Overcast, some sprinkles, temperatures in the 50s. Some have been complaining about the supposed bad winter this spring – not me. Those in the Midwest have been dealing with smoke from Canada. Very thick smoke. I’ll take the colder temperatures and rainy weather over smoke. I would fear most for Tinni if he was around. He’s not, but the smoke wouldn’t do any of the other animals any good either.

Some have been calling this a bad gardening year because plants have been growing slowly, if at all. Not a good thing. Our carrot crop is non-existent. I can’t help but think that I planted them. The problem is most likely that the seeds were old.

I am making headway with the nonfiction section. I now estimate that I’ll be done with this portion of the move by July 30th, this including vacation time. Then, yes, this portion of the job will be easier.

Today there was plenty of volunteer assistance. Alicia appeared and got books for a friend at Butte Elementary school. Rebekah appeared and finished categorizing the children’s nonfiction. And Pam appeared and cleaned books.

Pam stayed until 5 p.m. We quit working when we heard the Palmer whistle. I thought, there she goes again, attempting to say that Palmer is a small town. Problem is, Palmer is being encroached upon by Anchorage and Wasilla. I have noticed that there is a lot of traffic on the Glenn Highway; more than previously. Some is tourist-related, but most of it is local.

The place we formerly called Mike’s Place is getting a make-over. The gravel trucks are barreling down the road. These people have a lot of money and seven kids. We do not know if they’re also going to bring in power.

Growth in our area is inevitable, given that the Mat-Su Valley is the fastest growing area in the state.

Are we going to stay? If this continues and power comes in, I will be out of here. Problem is, Pete’s put in an apple orchard and has a hoop house with two peach trees growing in it. Maybe we will become snowbirds and spend our winters where there are horse trails and warm temperatures and come back in the summer. This way, Pete can continue to grow and harvest strawberries and I can continue to eat them.

Tonight we had home-made pizza for dinner and his strawberry rhubarb pie for desert.

Winter comes and goes too slowly. Summer comes and goes too quickly. Maybe it would be a good idea to go elsewhere and reverse this trend.

Next: 180. 7/1/23: The Day we have been Waiting for