Summertime

Many Alaskans can't wait for summer, but I don't.  Summer brings forth 22 hour days that are accompanied by 22 hours of additional work.  There's the yard.  An acre of lawn with surrounding flower beds and a large vegetable garden; including all the plants that must be grown in a greenhouse.  I like to add to the forest.  If I remove any trees, I replant 2-3 in it's place.  All trees that aren't spruce must be caged.  That means fencing material is placed around the crown to keep moose from destroying them.  Then there's a smaller cage at the base to keep out rabbits from girdling then killing the tree.

There is also the inevitable smoking and/or canning of fish, canning of vegetables, picking berries and the making of jams, jellies and syrups.  This is in addition to running a business and keeping up household chores.

Because of the extended days, plants can grow to exhorbitant sizes.  Tomatoes can grow to ten feet in height and carry pounds and pounds of tomatoes.  The same for cucumbers.  They can take over a greenhouse. These begonias and pansies are just a small example.

I finished 24 pints of "Red Hot" pickles which are a sweet, spicy, red pickle.  Many people think they are beets because of the color, but believe me, they aren't.  Well, I need to get started on my next batch of pickles.  This time dill.