quilt

Not a very good picture but this is the quilt I made for my granddaughter for Christmas. It is a twin size quilt and made of flannel so nice and soft. She had picked out a princess patch while we were shopping at JoAnns and I sewed that on the back. The longarm really is nice, once I get going on the quilt but the starting part isn't going very well yet. I guess one good thing about a bad picture is you can't see all the mistakes.

Merry Christmas

I spent the last 4 days in ANC, visiting, hanging out, shopping, making stuff, wrapping presents, sewing, eating, staying up late and sleeping in. My daughter had to work until 8p on Christmas eve, so I stayed in town we had dinner at her house and opened presents, then I hit the road about 930pm for my 3 hour drive home. Stopped at the top of Turnagain pass to give the dogs a break, the moon was bright and gave the mountains shadows, the stars were out it was very beautiful. As I drove through town just before I got home the time/temp at the bank said it was 1230p -17. Got the jeep unloaded, dogs taken care of and hit the hay, not sure if it was from listening to so much Christmas music or being very tired but I heard Sleigh bells as I was falling asleep.

ole hound

The dog house has made me chuckle last few days. It has been cold out so the ole hound dog doesn't leave her house except for a morning snack and evening dinner. She is kind of like the car "20 or below plug it in" 20 or above is OK with her, below she is staying inside. Just so nobody thinks we are mean for letting the dogs sleep out side, the dog house is insulated and filled with straw, so it's really warm in there. The night I felt really bad was when she had to sleep in the straw in front of the dog house because she had kicked all the straw outside. She still did OK, she had a high calorie dinner and straw wrapped around her, she wasn't even shaking when I woke her up in the morning.

my weekend

Went to ANC on my weekend, daughter has bought a new house, I was going to help move but they have already got most of there thing moved. I helped pick out some curtains and going to size them for the windows next days off. Did a little Christmas shopping got the mechanics mom a NOOK, that thing is so cool, and she will now be able to read books again. I have the NOOK to set it up and download books on it. I'll give it to her next week. She usually wants nothing for Christmas but this year found something she can use.

This picture is on the drive home it was so beautiful out, the pictures just don't look as good as the real thing. I pulled over on the road to get this shot, it's right after the pass and just before some lakes. I was a little tired after my drive no more than usual, but a little nap seemed in order because there was a hockey game to play at 9p. So I layed down for a nap, woke up at 915p went back to sleep called in sick for work the next morning and got out of bed at 3p. I can't think of a time when I have done that there must have been a little flu bug also. Working on a quilt for my granddaughter for Christmas, but that longarm machine is kicking my butt, I spend more time riping out stitches than sewing them in.

word of wisdom

there was a e-mail going around that had much advice

so I thought of some of my own that are important in my life.

1. Pray before going to sleep
2. Family is important
3. Walk every day, take the dog
4. Look at the sky
5. Read books, magazines are the best but sometimes it maybe anything with words
6. Stitch, art or craft some type of creativity
7. Get out on the water
8. Sports, playing is more fun than watching but both are worth the time

pictures/ thanksgiving

Here is Capt Bligh changing the boat number from CA to AK, first night out little town called Port Browning.

This is the harbor in Point Roberts WA view from the customs dock.

A little spot called Stewart Island in WA, beautiful little place, has a short hiking trail.

Next morning there was a boat race, called Round the County sailing race.

Then the boat went on the hard for a small repair.


There were 8 people for Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Lots of food, racing around, games and enjoyable time with family and friends.

back home

Wed morning took a 6a flight out of Victoria got into ANC at 1145a, not feeling well, so took a nap, then my daughter and I went got some lunch and shopping done. Was going to drive home early the next morning but still not feeling well so got a late start. got back to the peninsula about 4p. The snow was deep, my jeep plowed it's way into the drive way. I was going to start the snow blower, but the mechanic didn't have it ready, it was in the shed, not the garage gassed and ready. So I had to drag it through the snow and never did get it started so put it in the garage. It did start the next day, but needed oil which I couldn't find in the neat organized garage (ha). So now 2 days later the snow blower will be ready to go when I get home from work today and lots of snow to start in on.
the mechanic is still on the boat in the boat yard waiting for them to finish up the project, hopefully the boat will be back in the water on Monday or Tuesday.
Was a nice time off and hard to be back to work. So much to get ready for the holidays, so am glad to be back home. I forgot my camera, so hopefully will remember next day and get some pics posted.

canada

I am in the laundry room Canoe Cove Sidney BC. Was going to fly home today, but the couple I met several years ago that live here invited us to dinner tonight at their house so I am staying extra day, so hopefully fly out tomorrow, I have to be back to work on Fri so that gives me 2 days to travel.



We have had a great time on the boat. Got to CA early last Wed morn, rented a car got a nap, then to WalMart for supplies and got groceries. Early Thurs we got out of the harbor and headed North West. Spent the night in Port Browning was a great spot they had a cafe/bar open showers and a short walk to town. There was a book store and the lady behind the counter talked me into buying "Folly" by Laurie King. I haven't read allot but it's a great book.

Next morning it was off to Point Roberts nice place had time for dinner and a shower. Got up really early left before daylight, it was suppose to blow about 25 to 30 on the Straits of Georgia but was a really nice sail not to much wind. Then on to Steward Island in San Juan's, no facilities there but a dock that had 2 other boats tied up. One couple in a big sail boat that were really friendly we went over to their boat for coffee and lots of good stories. Next morning it was back to home base for the boat for the winter.



Then decided that a few things needed to be fixed before the boat stays for the winter so we brought it over to Canoe Cove had the boat hauled out onto land and the work is getting done. Every one that sees the boat says "wow", what a neat boat. It gets lots of smiles when people look at it.



I have been taking pictures and will get some on the post, but the lap top in the laundry room isn't going to work to well for now.

lab and rabbitt

The dog from next door likes to go for walks with us in the evening and she is quite the rabbit chaser. She has chased the same rabbit in the same spot several days in a row. The first time I almost stepped on the rabbit it was so close. Next time the rabbit ran behind me, now I stop where the rabbit usually comes running from and wait, well the rabbit knows I am there and that there is a dog chasing it. So it stops looks for me then looks for the dog and tried to slink away with out getting caught. It is quite comical.

hockey

The hockey team that called for me to play, is going to let me play with them even though I'm not a very good hockey player, but I do enjoy playing. I did get a goal last Sunday night's game. Totally freaked me out, but was exciting to get one in the net. The first game I played there was 3 lines, the next game there was 4 on the bench and last game was 2 lines. Not sure what happened to all them players, but it's nice for more ice time. I am really sore and have a huge bruise on one thigh, but so worth it.

Another dog fell in the creek about a mile up from where the ole hound fell in. It was the neighbors lab that fell in. So we went on a longer walk were she had never been with us before and I don't think she knew the creek was there and she runs so fast she fell right in. Fortunately she started whimpering right away and I heard her, the grass is over my head by the creek so I fought my was to where I could hear her and had to get down on hands and knees to reach way down and pull her by the neck out of the creek. She stayed a little closer after that.

quilting

Finished up the machine quilting class, the class was on a regular sewing machine, not a long arm, but most of the principals I learned will apply to the long arm. The best thing I learned was to relax, enjoy and slow down until I get more comfortable with the long arm. The long arm quilting hasn't been going well, so I've not been spending any time on the machine, but I am ready to tackle quilting on the long arm again. I have a cute kids print panel on the long arm now and am doing some thread painting on the picture and it's actually fun. I have tried to quilt 2 different quilts and had to take them off and rip out all the stitches, not fun.

Gotten much colder out. The moose trails that are usually full of water were the dogs and I walk are frozen now, so the ole hound and I are having a easier walk on the ice instead of in water, the lab prefers the water but there is still plenty of that for her.

We took a evening walk 2 nights ago and a large quiet shadow flew over head, swooped down over the dogs, they got quite excited and started barking at it. Took me a few seconds to realize it was an owl. Last night I could hear the wolves howling. There must have been more activity out side because the dogs woke me up at 5a, so I stayed up and watched on DVD part of "Emily of New Moon" and worked on a cross stitch project. Sure am tired at work, because I stayed up late last night listening to the ACES first home hockey game on the radio.

hockey

after 2 years of asking to play, I finally got on a Hockey team, the local group is called "Rusty Blades". One team needed a girl so I got the call, very excited, got to play my first game last Monday night, a bit different then playing with the KS guys, but fun, and we won. Had a quilting class on Tue night and then Wed I went to ANC for the day. My daughter picked me up at the a/p I used her car for the day because she had recurrent training. Got to see some of the KS people at the training center that was nice to see familiar faces. Then my mechanic left today, so with him being gone down to Canada first 9 days of the month, OH he did buy that boat. I only got to see him for about 4 days. But next month I get a week off from work and get to go back down to Canada with him and we are going sailing. So tired at work today, another quilting class tonight, but then it all slows down again.

my life condensed version

6a rise, walk dogs 20 minutes, shower, eat, dress
715a leave for work
5p arrive back home, change clothes, grab snack, walk dogs about 1 hour
630p read newspaper
7p watch movie with stitching or go down stairs and sew
10p bed

weekend still get up at 6a to walk dogs, because the neighbors dogs are out later and to much commotion. Lazy breakfast, go quilting or store for groceries a real treat is a cup of coffee at the internet cafe.

walk

Here's a picture of the mechanic on his tractor, we got that spot that use to be gravel planted in grass seed now and it is turning green, been having lots of rain and still warm temps.

Carring a camera on my evening walk with the dogs would be a good thing, but then they also say I should be carring a gun and I don't do that either. Really though a camera would be nice, but it is so seldom I see somthing cool, and when I do see something cool there really isn't enough time to take a picture. Last evening would have been a good time to have a camera, I saw a baby owl perched on top of a skinny pine tree swaying in the wind. A magpie and camp robber where sqacking quite a bit at the owl, but it just sat there and watched all the comotion around it, like the dogs running every where, me laying on the tundra watching it. It was so cool to be that close to an owl and get to watch it up close it's head moving all around. It never did fly away. I have only heard the owls go "who" when it is dark out so it was cool to actually see one in the day time.

vacation

We took a little vacation went to Tacoma, looked at sailboat for sale, saw some seals. Went to Olympia to look at a sailboat for sale, saw a blue heron.
Then on to Poulsbo Washington. Beautiful place.

Next day was to Port Townsend for the Wooden Boat Show.

A ferry ride to Victoria BC. Coast Guard escort, September 11, the ferry stopped for a minute of silence and everyone tossed a flower into the water.

Went to Sydney BC, looked at another sailboat for sale. The water front area was an interesting area.

And the last day was a trip to Butchart Gardens. It was raining out but with a umbrella the 2 hour walk was well worth the visit.

bees

Hard to tell in the picture but this is the bee hives when we first got them, up on the shed roof, well no more bees, with all the rain this summer they didn't do well at all. All the bees are out of the hive, I had thought they all died, but come to find out, yesterday I was putting the hives away for the winter and left 2 boxes out side so that they could dry out in the sun with the nice day that we were having. I did other out side chores and later went over by were the boxes were drying out and hear the sound of lots of bees, well I guess my bees swarmed instead of died, because there were lots of my bee's checking out the hives to make sure there wasn't anything good to eat in there. Evening time the bee's had all left I tried to see where they went but couldn't follow their flight pattern. Put the boxes away after all the bee's left. So tonight when I get home from work I am going to poke around the woods and see if I can find the bees. They are just going to die out there because the season is over and they have no food and now no home.

On the brighter side the rain did go away for my 2 days off and had nice beautiful weather the porch temp was 80. I feel like some of the mold and moss dried out on my body it was so nice to see sun. The days are starting to get so much shorter, it is still light when I walk the dogs at 6am, but the moon is also out.

3 day weekend

Leaving Cordova on the Ferry Prince William Sound doesn't get any more beautiful than this.
Taken in the evening, there were 3 sea otters playing in the harbor.
A glacier calving, what a awesome sight.

The million $ bridge.

Cordova

Leaving Whittier for a 3 day trip to Cordova on the Ferry. I drove to Anchorage picked up daughter and granddaughter, we drove to Whittier, got on the ferry for a 3 1/2 hour ride to Cordova, got a hotel room, something to eat and walked around the harbor. The next day we drove around and looked at the sights, saw sea otters, sea lions, fish, lots of birds. Visited some gift shops, took a walking tour of the town, ate some good food. Then drove the 50 mile road to the Millon $ bridge that was build in 1910, part of the bridge fell down in the 1964 earth quake, there is a glacier on each side of the bridge, we watched the glacier calve, the loud noise is like thunder. It was a great trip.

I think this blog is upside down, but I not sure how to make things the other way, but at least I got more than one picture on it. Ha

don't put stuff on the top of car

I had a busy day planned on Tuesday, so loaded up the jeep for the many things to do, put my tennis shoes on top of the car, and loaded all the other stuff. Well as I left the house got off the dirt road and started driving on the highway picking up speed, and saw something out the rear view mirror, what was that on the road OH my tennis shoes, so I had to pull over, put on the 4way flashers and run back down the highway for my shoes, one shoe was in the ditch the other was in the middle of the lane so all the cars and motor homes were driving around my shoe, waited for the road to be clear and then dashed out into the highway for my shoe and ran back to the jeep.

We did get a little sun yesterday, actually got a fire going and grilled the mechanic a steak and burger for dinner. We went fishing for a couple hours, all we got was a wet line. The dog thought the fish eggs were for her to eat, and put my hook with eggs in her mouth, we yelled at her and she let the hook go. That would have been a expensive vet bill if she would have downed that treble hook.

The mechanic gets his new toy today. A John Deer tractor, I just hope by the time I get home he hasn't leveled off all the trees.

rain rain go away, come again another day

One good thing about all the rain, it's very green and pretty, but oh for a little sun. One of my bee hives is no more, I think the queen must not have been laying eggs, bacause the hive died out and now the wild bee's are stealing from the hive.

A sad day in Alaska another death in a plane crash.

Got the kayak in the garage and working on the varnish, apparently every couple of years the finish needs to be sanded down and revarnished. I am doing it myself and had no idea it was so much work. I have sanded the first coat for about 6 hours and still not done, and that needs to be done 3 times, and this is just the bottom, when that's done, turn it over and start on the top.

Not really alot of news, doing a little sewing, walking the dogs, trying to get a run in every now and then.

busy

I haven't blogged for awhile between bad weather, company, jobs super busy I just haven't taken the time to blog, and my new machine was having fits, the dealer came and looked at the machine, found the problem, ordered new parts and then returned to install the new parts. So it's working great now. Mostly just operator problems now. I sure am enjoying having the machine, just not quilting much since its summer time.

trip to the vet

Denali got a trip to the vet, Saturday morning her face was all swollen, I had flash back of the ole hound's many trips to the vet last year because of her swollen face, so figured I better get Denali to the vet to get checked. We sat in the vets office for 2 hours, I think the other dogs that came in after us had bigger emergency's. Bottom line is they couldn't find anything wrong with her, so gave her some Benadril and took money and on our merry way. Her swelling did go away the next day. The sun has come back out and so the bee's are busy flying again, there was lots of movement yesterday when I walked by the hives. I was thinking if they couldn't fly for a few more days I might have to feed them again. Hopefully we'll have some sun for awhile.

ode to a Dad

One dad was there for the first step, word, day of school, graduation and wedding, but for some reason figured that was enough. Then another Dad was there for help, support, advice, escort granddaughter down the isle, smiles, hugs, big "I love you's", and being a real Dad. So thanks Dad you know who you are.

ole hound

You would think after getting stuck in the creek and getting left behind the ole hound would try to stay closer, and I think she is, but I'm convinced she can't see or hear very well, she starts to lag behind and I call, clap, whistle, and wave my arms and she is looking every where but where I am. Her nose seems to still work good because I can see her when she gets behind in the trees with her nose down trying to find me. Yesterday she decided to turn around and walk back home the way we had come from instead of doing a loop she turned back. I looked all over for her, finally gave up and headed for home, she is waiting for me at home wondering what happened, I was wondering why she turned around.

I finally got up the nerve to go join some ladies at the community center for their quilting group. I took a kit that I had bought in NM and worked on that, the other ladies were working on a quilt for someone who had broke their leg. They meet at 10a and stop for lunch and then go til about 4p. I enjoyed getting out and got the quilt top finished, I think I will go again.

eagle vs hawk

An amazing sight this weekend while out walking the dogs, a hawk going after a eagle, the hawk would fly down from above the eagle and the eagle would put out it talons and flip in the air to try and catch the hawk. They tried several times to take out each other, but neither won and they just kept on flying.

So while walking the dogs we went just a slightly different way than usual and the ole hounddog decided to take a short cut home, but when I got home she wasn't there, so I ate some cherries and finished reading the paper, still no hound so I decided better go look for her, so went back to were I last saw her, I could hear her barking but couldn't see her, that's when I figured out she must be in the creek, sure enough she had fallen in the creek and couldn't climb the bank to get back out. So I went in to the creek the water was about waist deep and got her out, she was COLD, and walked really close to me all the way back home, good thing it was sunny and warm out and still daylight so I was able to find her. That could be how we lost one dog, but if he did go in the creek in was winter, ice, dark, and cold.

walk

While on my afternoon walk with the dogs yesterday, not to long after leaving the house, one of the neighbors was doing some shooting, well there are houses on 3 sides of the neighbors house, so the only direction to logically be pointing a gun was in the direction I was walking. My poor ole hounddog who doesn't like guns at all, didn't run home but was right under my legs. So I decided to not walk any closer to the shooting, and went the other way instead, it was a really nice walk so I kept on walking farther than I have went in that direction before, lots of birds, eagles, hawks, crows, and a loon. We walked so far that I figured a ride home was in order, so once we got to the highway, the mechanic came and picked us up and took us home.

My granddaughter got to spend the week with me, I had Mon/Tue/Wed off from work so her dad brought her down on Sun, and her auntie came down and took her home Fri. Give that kid a mound of dirt and she has a enjoyable place to play. We went to the rodeo, new playground in town and a trip to Homer to look at boats.

still kickin

Haven't blogged for awhile, was hoping to get on the internet in Hawaii, but couldn't find any free internet cafe spots. Then got back home and of course been busy, the weather has been great, lots of things to do outside, plus I have to play with my new machine, so haven't been to the library for internet either. Our well quit working so had to have a drill truck come out and put in a new pump, got the septic system pumped out and got the industrial sewing machine back from the sewing machine store so an expensive couple of days off. So back to work. Will get some pics on soon.

be careful

Got a big surprise, when I went to pay for me purchase at Lowes and my credit card was rejected. So called the bank in the morning, they had put a stop on all transactions, someone got ahold of my card number and was making purchases Macys in NY for $350 and there was more things they tried to buy, so I don't have a credit card now til a new one comes in the mail. Not sure how much they charged, the bank tried to call me, but had a old phone number, so just stopped all purchases, which was very nice. Not sure where they got the number, lady at bank said maybe internet.

Happier note the quilting machine is all most put together, the mechanic did his part, I just need to put the leaders on the rollers, but it got to late last night and we hadn't had any dinner and the dogs still needed their walk, so we called it quits for the night. When I walked downstairs this morning where the machine is it sort of smelled like new car. Been searching for a good business name, was hoping for something cutey and sweet, but as one co-worker said that isn't me, so guess the name should be short and simple so am going with "Denali Quilting"

quilt machine

The mechanic stopped at the quilt shop where I bought the machine to see if he could go to her house and see how it's all set up. But the shop owner was to busy to take him to the house and look, but there was another lady in the store who has one at her house and she said we could go over and look at hers, so after work we went to their house and talked and looked for over and hour, nice couple. Then we went to Lowes and got the pipe needed for setting up the machine, so the mechanic is busy today setting it all up. I wanted to call in sick to day and stay home, but decided that was wrong (I really wasn't feeling well, but not enough to stay home), to work I went. Not sure how much I will get to play with the machine before vacation. But I am excited to have the machine in the house.

quilting machine

The machine arrived in ANC and my mechanic is on his way down with it. He will also be setting the machine up for me, (how nice). He is going to stop and see the machine that I tried out to see how it's set up. I stopped at one of the quilt shops yesterday and the owner provided a couple phone numbers for a group that makes quilts for foster kids, I will give them a call when we get back from HI and see if they would like my services for free, so I have some quilts to practice on and also can get my name out there, so I can get some quilts for hire, when my work looks good.

I saw one of my bees land on the porch yesterday and it had pollen on it's leg, like a picture in the books, the poor bee looked like it needed a break and hopefully it was headed back to the hive. My bee's look different than the ones we have seen in the past that get caught on the mosquito eater, my bees are small and really pretty yellow.

turkey

Picture this... at the back end of our property, there are lots of trees, mossy ground and about a 10 foot drop off before the creek. Yesterday afternoon while walking the dogs, well only one dog was with me my faithful hound, by the creek I decided to sit down and enjoy the peaceful music of water, relaxing there petting the hound, I could hear the lab barking and another sound that I hadn't heard before, the lab had found something to bark at. Wondered over there to see what she was barking at and it's a turkey. First I thought it must be a wild turkey there are a few here and since they are not native you can shoot them. So I decided to get the dog from chasing the turkey and barking at it but that didn't work so well the dog and turkey were running around trees, the turkey would bite and hiss at the dog, some times it would get it feet up and try to claw the dog. Well I didn't want to get to close to the turkey I thought it might bite me, but the turkey figured out I was trying to get the dog away from it and kept coming closer to me. So it wasn't a wild turkey after all but somebodies pet turkey that got away. The neighbors up the street have turkeys, so finally I got the lab away from the turkey called the neighbors and they said they'd be down to get the turkey. But they went to the wrong house and it wasn't till much later that someone showed up, but by that time it was to late to do anything. What a good bird dog!

the queen lives

Called the neighbor and he said to check in the hive and see if the queen was alive. He thought maybe the hive wasn't getting enough food, or else one hive was just calmer than the other. We'll they are eating, so I opened the hive last night and looked for the queen, she is there and alive, I was so excited to spot her than I put her right back into the hive, didn't look to see if she is laying eggs, that will have to be next time I open the hive. So it seems that one hive is nicer than the other.

There was ice on the mud puddles this morning, it's suppose to get up to 50 so that will be nice with a little rain. I raked last night, walked the dogs, had a fire in the fire pit to burn the sawdust and bits of wood from cutting wood this winter, usually I can't get a fire going very well, but last night I couldn't get the fire to go out, stayed up past midnight to make sure all was well.

finally did it

This is the white sands area.

Another pic from NM this is the horse that carried my butt on a desert ride.

My bee's seem to be doing OK, one hive is really active and attacks me when I open the top, the other hive I think is not doin so good they don't come out and attack me. The MX that ordered the bees for me was down this way but he didn't have time to come look at them. So now I need to bug my neighbor to come check the hive out.

The other new is I finally did it, I bought a long arm quilting machine. It's not my dream machine that's out of my price range right now. But I did get a brand new machine, that is being shipped to the house in ANC. The lady that sells the machine has a small quilt shop in Copper Landing. I won't get the machine until after our trip to HI, but am excited.

pic from NM

The bees finally arrived Thursday did get them in the hive, not sure how they are doing its been really windy.

I haven't blogged for awhile been missing sleep and stewing lots. But finally going to do it going to buy a long arm quilting machine. So more on that later..ll

bees

been so long since was on this site almost forgot the password. Did that at work changed my password then couldn't remember it the next day. Had to call the IT guys.

The bees were suppose to be hear last Sat, then they said Wed, had my son already to drive the bees down he got to the place and there was a sign on the door said, Thursday, so he stayed in town and hopefully bees will be ready today but I am at work so hope it all works out.

good to be back

Finally got out of ELP at noon, sat in PHX airport til 730pm, got into ANC at 1am, and to SXQ at 4am and back out of bed at 6am to get to work. Good thing its an easy day at work, I am tired, but glad to be back in the clear Alaska air. It was a great visit with my folks, I really enjoyed all the site seeing and eating out, it really is a healthy life style in NM, just to dang hot for me.

what luck?

After the weather yesterday in El Paso, this was the view this morning from the hotel window. That should be a picture of Mexico. Last night on the way to the hotel the van driver had a good idea for how to spend the day in El Paso, I checked out of the hotel, left my bag with them, the van took me to the mall where I wandered around for 3 hours. It was very busy in the mall, school was closed to day, and people were out shopping for Easter. I really thought I was in a foreign country. I was the tallest, whitest person in the mall, and I didn't know what anybody was saying because I didn't hear any English. The little kids were staring at me. It was a good way to spend extra hours before I had to go to the airport. So got to the airport, and was waiting at the gate for the airplane which landed. It was the later activities that had reason for consern. The copilot walked around the plane and looked at one of the engines really long. He then went and got the captain who also looked at the engine. The ramper parked the bag cart by the belt loader, but didn't put any bags on the loader. Then all those people started pointing and talking. The captain and copilot went back inside the plane, the rampers all looked at the engine and then drove the bag cart away. The captain came out with a piece of paper and had the ramper put the belt loader up to the engine, he then climbed into the engine. The ticket agent and some important looking guy all went out and looked. The ticket agent then announced that the engine had ingestested something and that plane wasn't going any where so please go back down to the check in desk and get rebooked. So bottom line is instead of being on my way home, I am once again in a hotel room in El Paso. I have no more clean clothes so going to sink wash some clothes. I am going to try for a earlier flight tomorrow and sit in PHX airport instead of ELP for most of the day.

new mexico trip

If you see some grass like this at the white sands it isn't really grass
Move to another area and there will be a little bit more showing out of the sand
Look to another area and that is what the grass really is, the top of a cactus.

I had a wonderful visit with my folks in New Mexico the adventure is not over yet. The weather was not good at the El Paso airport when it was time for the plane to land the wind was blowing about 50 mph there was lots of dust in the air, so the airlines cancelled the flight. There were lots of unhappy people as the flight was over sold. Working for an airlines for all those years it was understandable for me. Rather be safe. So my trip was extened by a day. I am spending the night in El Paso TX, looking out the hotel window at the many lights of Mexico.

On my trip I got to go to the white sand, the area is very interesting. Went on a very long horse ride, there is a local place that takes people on rides, it was just me and a cowboy, the ride was suppose to be for 2 hours but we decided to go off road with the horse and checked out some amazing desert country. I was so surprised at the things we saw, there was a waterfall, some old tailing where some one had been mining. The horse I rode was very carefully with his steps and liked to pick his own way, he did try to knock me off a couple times and I got scratched on the face and arm, but I managed to hang on and not fall off. Had a great ride for 3 1/2 hours. We also took a drive up to the mountains to a Indian Reservation casino, they have a great view of Sierra Blanca a snow capped mountain and a good buffet. Drove to another town in the mountains that got 130 inches of snow this winter and the average is about 8 or 12 inches a year. The ski resort stayed open all winter long and just closed last weekend. We went out to eat at many neat places, there is great art work to be seen.

visiting NM

This is beautiful New Mexico full moon over the (Mountains)

baby goats

Last night I went to the Coop place, they had a little presentation of Goats, it was very interesting, but the neat part was the baby goats, someone brought 3 baby goats that were born the day before, they were triplets all different colors, one brown, one black, one black and white. They were so cute, soft and sweet. Made a quick trip to Anchorage last weekend, had to get my teeth cleaned. Did some shopping, visiting, and had dinner with my kids. Next week off to New Mexico.

I was brave

My last Friday after work, really a Monday I was very brave. Really needed to get some fresh air, dogs needed a good run, so got the old skidoo out of the garage and went riding by myself, no mechanic at home to bail me out if something happened. (the bravery, I have never went out before without the mechanic close by. It was great, I had a big smile on my face the whole time, went exploring down trails I have never been on before, when the dogs got tired they would jump on the sno machine, could even get both of them on and still go. We were out riding for 2 hours nothing happened and made it home ok. Next morning daughter and granddaughter left ANC early and got to my place we had the sno machines out and ready to ride by 11a so off exploring we went again. Found many places where the eagles had left wing and tail feather marks in the snow. The old skidoo did break down about 8 miles from home but called the mechanic and he gave me some pointers on getting it home, I was following instructions very well I thought, until a old guy came along and had a different train of thought, he had a long piece of tow rope that turned out to be very helpful and we got the machine running again. So did make it home ok again. It was such a beautiful day out, blue sky, warm temp and just great to be out there. The next day we went to town to watch the St Patricks day parade, think small and they don't close the street for the event, did have lots of candy for the kids though.

bee have a home

The 2 packages of bees I ordered now have a home. After work yesterday we drove to a local beekeepers place and he sold us 2 boxes of hives which consist of a bottom board, 2 deeps, 2 mediums, top and feeder. He traded some of the new combs for used drawn comb, also some with honey in the comb, which was great, that should result in more honey, the bees wont have to work as hard to get comb ready for brood and storing honey. Not sure I am using all the right bee words. We are going to put the bee hives on top of a shed roof, hopefully that will keep the bears out of the hives the shed is on our 2nd lot and is in a sunny spot with trees all around which should be a good place for the bees to live. The beekeeper was really helpfull with ideas and said he would come by anytime to look at the bees to see how there are doing. I am sure I will be asking him lots of questions this summer.

iditarod spirit lives on

After work yesterday the dogs and I hauled 2 more loads of wood, so the old hound went 12 miles again, got to keep closer tabs on her, I didn't know she was following me the first trip and she showed up just as we were leaving with a load of wood. A few days ago one of the neighbors was talking with us while we were cutting wood and said to watch the dogs, there are wolves close by. One lady was killed by wolves a few days ago in one of the villages. So the second trip I made sure that the old hound stayed close. Then we put her in the garage and the lab and I made a run to the eagles watering hole. That old skidoo sure is a cold ride with out a cowling, but it's fun to ride, goes really good on the trails. Got home just as it was getting dark, got rid of the headache from work with all that fresh air.

Iditarod spirit

I think my dogs have the Iditarod Spirit, yesterday we cut wood and hauled several loads to the house, a load being about 100 lbs of wood because we use a small sled behind a well used 1980 skidoo elan which is missing several parts but runs, mechanics are so useful. So the good wood cutting spot is about 3 miles behind the house, the dogs like to run with the sno machine the lab can run about 20 mph and keep up for the 3 miles, the old hound dog followed along, and on her third leg she was so proud of herself for making the 9 miles, but after 12 miles she was giving me dirty looks and saying let me in the garage where its warm I have had enough. The lab did 4 round trips during the day plus all the other exploring she does. With a little help the hound will get on the machine for a ride, and the lab has figured out that a free ride is kind of nice on the parts of the trail that are long straight and fast. I was out riding by myself the day before while the mechanic was hauling some wood, and was looking for the lake that is about 8 miles from the house, but with the blowing snow I had lost the trail and was starting to get lost, so decided to head back home, another sno machiner showed up and showed me where the trail was. As I was leaving the lake I hit something and the handle bars jerked and I went off the back of the machine and it drove into the trees, but I was able to get it back on the trail myself and the guy that showed me the lake didn't see me crash (thanks goodness).

fun was had by all

My favorite side kick will go out about one time when he is here, usually out for dinner. Last night there was a fund raiser for the local playground that will be build this summer. For a ticket there was a dinner and lots of opportunities to spend extra money. Buy a balloon, silent and live actions, a heads or tails game which was buy a necklace then the people with the necklace had to stand and place their hands on ones head or rear, the mc flipped a coin, if ones had their hands on the wrong body part you sat down, so by process of elimination only one was left standing, the person that won gave the money back to the fund raiser. After all the auctions, there was a live band but by that time it was very late so we didn't get to enjoy much music and the band was good. We won 3 silent actions items, took home a quilt, tool and pink basket full of goodies. I have to say for one of the first times in my life I feel like I stayed out to late and spent too much money. I am tired at work.

where eagles fly

There is just something about getting out after a day of work, walking with the dogs in the snow and sunshine, looking up in the sky and seeing the eagles flying. The soul is calmed, outlook on life is refreshed, and makes me wish I could soar up there with them. The weather took a turn, it has been seasonally warm, but cooled off, so on that nice sunny day, thinking that it was still warm, I dressed light no hat, no fleece layer, well it wasn't that warm should have looked at the temp before I left the house, the temp was cooler and there was a breeze so I got chilled, it took hot cocoa, blanket and heating pad in bed to warm me up.

long walk

my daughter and granddaughter came for a visit, they wanted to go for a walk behind the house but didn't want to get lost, I had to be at work, so I said follow the dogs and stay on the snomachine trail. so off they go, well there are many trails and paths, the lab was looking for a long walk and the hound was looking for a shorter walk. So when they got to a fork in the trail each dog wanted to go a different way (long walk, short walk), so they followed the lab, ok so that walk takes me about 1 hour, it took them 2 1/2 hours in the rain, the grand kid fell asleep on the sled, they were so cold and tired from that walk, when I got home from work they were drinking cocoa and bundled up in dry clothes, we got a fire going the the wood stove and things warmed up soon. They both slept really well that night.

denali and moose

Yesterday took the dogs for a walk, since the lab Denali has a need to bark at moose I try to stay away from them, but that isn't easy there are moose every which way. One moose was off in the flats so I decided to redirect our path so as not to get close to that moose, well it is needful to also look ahead which I didn't and right in front of us was another moose Denali started barking at it and this moose decided to give chase well when I looked up there is a big moose ears back headed right for me, I am not sure how close it was but it looked big and close, I turned around and smacked my face with a bush and got the heck out of there. It was a nice day for a walk didn't need hat gloves we walked to a spot about 2 miles behind the house where there is some open water and the birds mostly ravens and crows like to sit, It was a bit unnerving to have all the ravens flying around especially if you have seen the movie "the birds". The eagles are so impressive. We sat down for a while hoping some eagle would come back but they didn't, about every 2 minutes a raven would fly over us and tell the other birds we were still there. I did put the shock collar on Denali for this morning walk, of course she found a moose she was off in the woods, I shocked her a couple times and nothing happened so I turned it up full blast gave a shock heard her yelp and she came when called. So it really does work, I just need to make sure I keep it on her for all walks.

the first

decided to try to blog so here goes. first try Hi all