It's been almost a week since I've written in my blog

but that does not mean I've been idle. When friends leave Alaska they are faced with the problem what to do with all thier trash, ship it, sell it at yard sales and Craigs list or give it all away. This month I was the benefactor of a windfall of painting supplies, Dawn one of my closest friends in Wasilla, left her husband, home and Alaska vowing never to return. The story is a sad tale but all to common couples dig in and refuse to compromise and start to take each other for granted. I've been the divorce route before so I can see the problems from my perspective (men are basically idiots) except mine of course.

She gave me a huge storage cart, folding table, 2 huge 78 x 48 inch canvases, canvas on a huge roll, stretchers, 2 big easels, one smaller french easel, paints, camera, lighting, about $3,000 worth of art books coffee table size, and small what-nots too numerous to mention. I have been sorting this booty for weeks. In the process I have been attempting to organize and get rid of some of my trash. When I moved up here from SaltLakeCity, Utah in 1994 (yes, is the answer to your obvious question) I condensed my and my sons belongings to one palette and what we could loaded into my Mercury Tempo and left it all behind. Upon buying my little cabin in Big Lake, Alaska my neighbors made sure I had everything that I needed. It was tough the first winter but I quickly learned how to survive and forage for my provisions. Now I am blessed with an abundance that we can pass on some to someone else just getting started.

I washed my walls Monday used my new power steamer super cleaner to blast the dirt from every nook and cranny and today had all my carpets steam cleaned. Whew that feels so good to begin to get my life clean and organized. The Flylady http://www.flylady.net/index.asp is of great help, If I could just do everything the fly Lady suggests (but I think she is too bossy) then look out I would be one of those highly effective people that we all admire and envy. Next it's the windows and hubby has a long honey-do-list that he is diligently working on. The snow is on the mountain tops, termination dust we call it, we still need a couple of cords of wood, the gazebo put away, leaves raked, windows winterized etc. Then maby we can cuddle up for a long winters night, but not yet!