Clucking Theodore on Mandolin and Guitar

For a larger version of this FUN video, click here.

Eagle River Nature Center

We hiked around the Eagle River Nature Center yesterday...here are some photos.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Summer...and Temperature..It's all Relative

We went back to Goose Lake yesterday...and lo and behold there was a school load of kids there all wearing swimming attire. What did I have on? A tank top....and then TWO sweatshirts over that. The difference here is that these kiddos are from Alaska....and I'm now acclimated to Texas 100 degree heat.

The kids were doing all the same things we would do if we were to visit the beach...creating sand sculptures, swimming with BIKINIS on...and feeding the wildlife (slugs in the water and ducks on the land).

During the mid afternoon an older couple came with a blanket, two lawn chairs, and various and other beach going accouterments. They positioned themselves farther down the lakeside, spread out their blanket, and proceeded to take off their shoes, and roll up their pant legs, all the while keeping every other part of their body covered with sweaters and jackets. So I know it wasn't just me...however, they sat in their lawn chairs, with their lower legs exposed and leisurely read their books. It was kind of cute.

What this all means is that it's SUMMER in Anchorage! Get outside while you can! Wear those summer clothes! Go swimming! Oh how well I remember coming to Anchorage in the spring and wearing sleevless shirts and shorts (and shivering).

So...summer and temperature are all relative. Anchorage is enjoying their summer, albeit a little cold by Texas standards...as I remain dressed for winter ( Texas style).

Who says man cannot live by bread alone?

Today we went back into Anchorage to take Kylee back to Goose Lake Park...that was the guise anyway! The real guise was to go back to the Great Harvest Bread Company. Cindee took us there on Friday, touting it's greatness, and hence we brought home three huge loaves of bread, which we finished consuming today. So...we NEEDED more. I've you've ever been to a Great Harvest Bread Store you'll know what I'm talking about.

Great Harvest, as you may know, has one of the great marketing ploys known to man. They to ask you which bread you'd like to try, and then they cut off a great big hunk and shove the butter at you. So, as you're munching you're also buying...pretty effective I'd say.

As we were happily munching...we too here happily buying (7 loaves!). Cindee was protecting her loaf of cinnamon roll bread, as was Kylee. Layni bought Chugach Rustic, a very tasty sourdough, and me? Just your average Honey White.

As we arrived home, I decided to put two loaves into the freezer to put in my suitcase to take back to Texas..YUM! And then thought to myself..."I wonder if Great Harvest has a website?"

Lo and behold not only does Great Harvest have a web presence, they are a CHAIN!

My sister is totally against patronizing any business that's a chain. We haven't been able to eat at any chain restaurant...or shop at any store that is not locally owned. In fact, Kylee was begging to go to Wal-Mart today...and Cindee said NO!

The look on my sister's face when I announced that news!! We had been patronizing a store she thought was a local legend! Poor Cindee.

Oh well. Chain or no chain. Great Harvest Bread Company has my vote. (TEE HEE! We got one over on Cindee!)

Aren't they cute?

We went to the Anchorage Zoo yesterday...the cutest thing there was
the orphaned baby moose. They were so cute!

Hiking....and more hiking!

Today we went hiking...yes, hiking! We spent about 2 hours hiking to Thunderbird Falls near Eklutna. The trail (total 2 miles round trip) led visitors to a lookout where one could wonder at the water, which was pretty far down. In fact we met two individuals who were going to rappel off the cliff onto the riverbank below.

Curt (my brother-in-law) spent an inordinate amount of time with the girls schooling them on all the kinds of flora and fauna; which was edible and which was not. They even ate a few wild roses...or maybe tasted is a better choice of words.

We walked to the lookout point and then decided to walk DOWN to the rushing river below. DOWN means you have to come back UP. That was a concern for me. Texas is flat! So amid the millions of buzzing mosquitos we all hiked to the bottom to watch the rushing river, rest a bit, and then walk all the way back up and the mile back to the car.

Finally, we spent the rest of the lazy afternoon watching a movie, and preparing for dinner with one of my sister and brother-in-laws long time friends.

I'm tired. Walked UP a long way!!

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Alaska Adventures Day Three

Below are some photos from day two and three in Alaska....we went to the Farmer's Market..which really isn't a farmer's market. I've been there quite a few times when I've come to Alaska..and this time was no different. What was different was the size (much bigger) and the wares the vendors were selling. If you've ever been to a Trader's Villiage, it's somwhat like that..just smaller. We wandered around there for several hours. The kids petted sled dogs and had their face painted. The girls were able to "sneak" some french fries, and Coke...and all was right with the world.

We then stopped at Goose Lake Park, where we watched the very bored lifeguard gather a gaggle of tame ducklings to her and feed them pretzels. Cindee and Layni waded in the water, and I watched Kylee play tag.

Layni then insisted on a bookstore stop, (she's on her third book so far), and then we finally made it home, just to pack up again and head out to Mirror Lake for a hot dog and bean supper over the fire.

The girls had fun.

PS The neighbor saw a brown bear in her driveway...but we haven't seen any bears yet! Thank goodness.

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Walking the beach at Earthquake Park

We marveled at the beach at Earthquake Park... Black sand, lots of
flat rocks, and beachgoers complete with beach towels. So compare what
I had on (sweater under the sweatshirt) with the Anchoragites wading
in the water!!! BRRR!!!

One (of many, I'm sure) job I couldn't stomach

Job one for today.... Empty the pee bucket, and use it to kill the
unwanted grass. Ok... The only problem there is the horrific smell. I
lasted maybe 2 minutes... The smell is worse than the dirtiest
outhouse you ever used times 10. I wonder how long that smell will
linger....that kind of gives new meaning to the saying "fresh outdoors".

As you can see, the picture below was taken from the solarium
window.....

Trip to the Grocery Store- Our Side of the Story (The Normal Side)

With breakfast consisting of wheat toast with butter that did not melt, we felt certain it was time for a trip to the grocery store.

As we entered Carrs, my kids had already made a list of things they needed for sheer survival at Aunt Cindee’s B & B. I’m sure you can imagine what the list consisted of….1. Cookies 2. Corn Pops Cereal 3. Hot Chocolate….and the list ensued.

However, Aunt Cindee was NOT about to let that happen. She announced that there would be NO sugar at her house nor anything that could get you “addicted” or clog your arteries…oh the look on their faces. It was that look of the utter sureness of withdrawal. The DTs were about to ensue.

It began in the bread aisle. Only bread baked in Alaska please….

On to the cereal aisle, where Layni was bound and determined to get Corn Pops, her favorite. Snatched out of the basket, Cindee pronounced that it had too much sugar and had that bad stuff that clogs your arteries and keeps you addicted in it (the true name escapes me now).

Offering a compromise, Aunt Cindee said Layni could get any cereal on the top shelf. Well, you know what kind of cereal resides there, don’t you? Cereal that the old and infirm eat for regularity. The pine bark and bark chips people claim is good for you. Nope….Layni wasn’t having any of it. She passed on the cereal.

As we went down each successive aisle, it became clear that we should not even attempt to put in the foods that were tasty…no cookies, no chips and certainly no candy!!

So we resorted to collusion. We schemed and worked together to at least make it out of the store with our coveted yogurt covered pretzels. Lanyi handed it to me, and I passed it off to Kylee, telling her to cover them with her body parts…as to not be detected by the human junk food detector.

We learned two things from that trip. Food that’s good for you must taste bad, and shopping with children and a health nut isn’t a possibility.

Maybe we’ll be more successful next go around.

For Aunt Cindee's version of this same story, read it here. http://bioshelter.blogspot.com

Alaska day 1

Ok... So I've been here not even 12 hours and have already seen 4
moose. Two on the driveway feeding this morning, one we almost ran
over as he trotted across the road, and one just munching in moose
pond....

How I Spent my Summer Vacation

This year, in working in the Educational Technology office, I had the opportunity to work during the summer, to ready the department for the upcoming year. That means that the only vacation I had this summer was the week of July 4th, when the district offices were closed.

A week at the BEACH!! YIPPEE.....

Take a look at what my week was like.



Flood waters came complete with fish, tadpoles, snakes and TONS of fire ants and spiders swimming for safety. All things that I don't do well.

Don't feel sorry for me...wouldn't you have liked to be in a 1200 sq. foot beach house with 5 children under 12, when it rained everday for 7 straight days?