11-2-09 (posted later)

Hi, Just a quick note to let you know that we are okay. We are staying home this winter and will not travel back to NH. It was a good choice as winter has just arrived as of a few days ago. Oct. was a beautiful month with warm 20’s mornings and high’s mostly in the 30’s with a few days of 40’s. No complaint, as we finished a lot more outside projects, that normally are let go until spring.

Now to get started on finishing the upstairs bedroom. I have most of the stuff cleaned out. Boy, do I have a lot of "JUNK" Okay, no comments, I can hear them already. This is my throw away year. If I can sneak it past Dad. If and when it gets done, the house will be completely finished! Maybe?

Some of you already heard that we have put in an oil stove! YES! The first one ever, for Bob in almost 75 years. Me, we had oil when I was a kid. But, this is the first oil stove in our 53 years of marriage. It’s a small Toyostove, like a Moniter Stove. Its in the cellar with a register to the upstairs and it will keep the cellar warmer. We’re really coming up in this world, but more expenses. Oil was$2.74 gal. #1. Propane delivered here is $3.94 gal. That is our cook stove and hot water.

Our friends, Larry and Monica have moved to Jefferson, Montana as of Oct. 23rd.
We already miss them. We met them on our way, moving to Alaska in 1984 and have been close friends since then. (25 years). When they moved to Alaska, they were coming up for the money. When we moved to Alaska we were coming up for the adventures. So they have left. Sold their home and are having one built in Montana. Life goes on.

Got an email from Betsey. Ted is seriously ill. He had a gall bladder operation and it ended up poisoning his system. He has lost over 50lbs. The last message is that they found where the infection is and he has to go to the hospital every day to have an infusion of the antibiotics. Their 26th ann. is Nov. 21st.

The garden did well this year, despite our dry weather. Freezers and root cellar are full, so we won’t starve. No moose but hope to go caribou hunting during the winter hunt. If we don’t get any, we still have lots of fish and chicken, lots of frozen vegetables, potatoes in the root cellar, frozen berries, jams, pickles, sauerkraut, homemade beer and wine. Lots of flour, yeast, sugar on hand for breads and desserts. It’s a good feeling knowing we will always have something to eat. Also 6 chickens that are laying eggs. Dressed some of the chickens and they are in the freezer. The rooster weighed 20lbs and dressed was 15 ½ lbs. He will be our Christmas dinner. Thanksgiving we are going to Jim and Pam Verney’s in Delta. They have attended our dinners and said it was time for them to have the holiday dinner.


Love, Florine