sad

this dog was the best i ever had, she was faithful, loyal, always mild mannered. She knew where home was the minute she was picked up from the pound. Never gave us any trouble. Its a difficult decission to know when the quality of life is over, when eating and walking are difficult, it seems like the joy is gone. so we made a painfull decision to not prolong the difficult time. my heart is broken, that dog has been with me the whole time Ive lived on the penisula, been by my side for every adventure taken, going to miss her so much.

gifted

In my mind quilts are for sharing, giving to someone who needs to be wrapped in warmth and caring. I make quilts because I enjoy the process, gives me joy to create. With limited space I cant keep them all, so I give them away. Many have been donated for fun raisers, some I know in my heart are for a person that needs the comfort of a quilt, this is one of those, it was made for a event but didnt get it done on time, (they got a different one) so off in the mail it went, hopefully the person getting it will feel that.

first time

When I first moved to Alaska, I roomed with two other gals, one from Homer and the other from Renton Washington. The gal from Homer had a green volkswagon bug with no reverse. I dont remember all the details but one wintery day the WA gal and I drove from Homer to Anchorage. I was driving the other was taking a nap, which was a good thing because she didnt get scared like I did. Driving in the dark across this bridge, on the icy road, the bug started to fishtail, my only thought was we are going to go over the rail and die, of course that didnt happen we made it safely to Anchorage, but I have always been scared of that bridge and every time driving over it I would slow way down. Well now there is a different bridge to drive over, but I still slow way down. So last weekend I stopped and took the dog for a walk across that bridge for the first time ever, didnt look as bad as in did that cold dark winter night many years ago. The other first time was to see a bore tide in the inlet, I had never seen one all these years driving back and forth, so I made a point to drive up just to see, well it was a bit of a dissapointment, the conditions werent really right for a good show, still worth the drive.

national quilt day

Montana visit

went to montana to visit family, had not been for 7 years, took the time to do new activities, paddle board, Wild Horse Island, 9 mile hike up Six Mile, drive around the lake, and went to a museum.

Retirement

I am so excited, retirement is a reality. For so long I assumed I would work until I no longer would be able to work ie: really old, but life has change so retirement here I am. Future plans include, traveling, no more rushing a weekend to get back to work. Another grandkid on the way, more time to spend with them. Gardening, beekeeping, baking, but my most favorite sewing and quilting, there are many unfinished quilts in various stages, last winter while I was teaching someone how to make a quilt I started digging up projects to show, and was very suprised by how many were uncompleted. Be on the look out for lots of quilt pictures.

Vacation

The number one activity while on Maui is to watch the sun rise from on top of the mountain.  The process not so easy, get up at 3am, grab a cup of coffee and drive for 2 plus hours, be dressed for winter, it is cold, and I say that as an Alaskan.  Watch the sun rise over the ocean or clouds as this day was, but oh it's awe inspiring. 

After the sun rise the view is pretty special it is a volcano after all.

Even better when you have some company to share it with.

Then drive down the mountain a ways, stop at the Lodge and get breakfast.  Go back to the room get a nap, because it is on to #2 best activity on Maui.

Go to a luau, there is pit pig to eat, watch a show.

Then the sun sets on the other side of the island.  The rest of the time, enjoy the beach no camera needed. 

yearly girls Alaskan Adventure

 

 Granddaughter #1 picked this year adventure, she said we have to go to Juneau because it is the capital of Alaska.  Part of the tradition is to go somewhere in Alaska that we haven't been to before, I have been to Juneau a few times before, but it was nice to go again, and we did go to many places that I had not been to.  It was rainy the first day we got there but, then the sun came out and the rest of our trip was sunny and beautiful.  The local folks were very nice also.  I would think living in that busy place with all the cruise ships they wouldn't be friendly, but they were, one example when we were leaving, it was a short ways from the hotel to the airport so we decided to just walk, but up comes a lady in a ford explorer and say "you guys are going to the airport let me give you a ride."  So we all piled in.  That was so nice of her.

 

 Picture out the plane window as we were leaving Juneau.  The mountains, island and water are amazing.

 This is the fish hatchery, they have a window to see the spawning fish returning.  There was quite a lot of fish returning,  There was King salmon and Silver salmon.

 The touch tank is always popular, this one you were just suppose to put you finger on the sea creatures in the white floating tubs and not take them out of the tank, these brave Alaskan girls touched everything and took them out of the tank, broke every posted rule.

 This picture is from Douglas Island looking at the town of Juneau. And 2 cruise ships, one of those is the Disney ship.

                                               Saw a Montana flag, not sure why it was there.

 This is from up top the mountain, there is a tram that goes up there, there is a place to eat, a movie about the area, an injured eagle in a cage, gift shop, totem pole carving, and some trails to hike.  A great area to explore.

 

                                             Welcome to Juneau sign down town area.

                                                               The capital building.

                                                               Governors mansion.

                                               Glacier looking from Douglas Island.

                                         Tundra version of a Venus fly trap.

                         

                                                                     By a church

                             
 Looking at the airport.  It was a garden tour took a golf cart up this hill behind the airport area.

                                            Picture taken by the tour guide.

                                                       Porcupine in the tree.

                                    The brown spot right above the flowers is a baby deer.

                                Grand kids had to get their picture taken with ever bear we saw.

                                                             Flying into Juneau.

been a while

 Its been awhile since I blogged, I do enjoy the time spent, but I think since I lost my mom whom most of my posts were directed at I feel like no one read, so why bother.  Since they are a diary of sorts I guess I will keep it up.

On one of my drives to the big city, I stopped to take pictures of the inlet, the ice was moving so fast, it is such a pretty place and usually we just zoom on by, so a stop now and then is worth the time.

 A long weekend was spent down in Las Vegas, attended a wedding which had Elvis in the ceremony.  He was a pretty good Elvis.  Vegas has changed, not so much for kids, that and it was St Pattys day, who knew it is a 3 day party.  Live band on the streets were nice.  One down side, we stayed at New York New York with the roller coaster right out the window, so every 15 minutes screaming could be heard as they rolled past. 

I didn't make this quilt, one of the quilting ladies trusted me enough to quilt it for her, its going to be for her granddaughters graduation.  The quilt was huge a oversized queen.  There are many different elements to the quilt, and I was very nervous to quilt it, she is a amazing quilter and I am a beginner longarmer.  She did like the job I did and wants me to do another one, so I must have done OK.  The information I have read about longarm is that one develops their own style,  I see so many beautiful quilts, and wonder can I ever do that, an amazing longarm lady told me to just keep practising, so I will.

Merry Christmas

This year for Christmas I decided to make gifts for every one, spent a few months sewing away.  The guys got camo boxes, that go in the car, tote bags and knitted scarfs and quilts for the rest of the group.  So I made every one pose for a picture, my camera didn't take that great of pictures. 

                                     Love the look on the babies face while opening her presents. 

Time with family is the best, it is hard to get every one together at one time, but enjoyed it when all my kids were together.

more Nome pictures

vacation

Had a week off from work, so off I go sailing with Capt Blythe, aka my mechanic, the weather was great, we had big plans of going around the point, some where I haven't been yet, but the closer we got to the big water, the bigger the waves got, now the boat can take it just fine, but when Capt asked did I want to do that for 6 more hours, my response was no, I wanted to enjoy the vacation, so we turned around and found calmer water.  I did get some fishing in we had 3 different kinds of poles on board, halibut, trolling, and casting.  I did catch 2 cod trolling, but didn't keep them.  Some folks gave us some bait since we didn't really plan on fishing, I used it all up, but just feed the fish, no barn door halibut for me.  Spent one night at the dock across the bay, I did get out and got some salmon berries.  Going to make a batch of jam with them.  Another night on the hook, found a really neat spot quiet, with the eagle flying around, the mornings were calm beautiful and not much beats being on a boat.  I told my mechanic, I never dreamed growing up in Montana that I would be sailing in Alaska. 

I always enjoy seeing the otters this one looked really big.

The boat got some new improvements, so it's easier to sail, was much more enjoyable sailing than the past things are working better, part is Capt is getting use to the boat, and the weather was great.

                                 

After the sailing trip, I drove to Anchorage, it was time for the yearly girls go out and see Alaska trip.  Nome Alaska was picked this year.  Plane tickets were purchased, hotel and rental car lined up.  Got up at 4am to catch the flight, got there so early had time for breakfast, sight seeing, grocery store for snacks, dinner out, granddaughter #1 said when it was time for bed, they had really long days there.  I laughed, told her it was because we got up so early the day was long.  The weather was nice while we were there, one of the travel tips I got was the best part about visiting Nome was getting out of Nome, and we saw why, the country side there is very pretty, there are vast valleys, and lots of hills, Nome has 300 miles of road so there are lots of things to see, we didn't see allot of wildlife, but I know that the wild animals do not stand by the road waiting for the tourist.  There are lots of berries, birds, and the ocean view is spectacular.

The last night there we drove out of town looking for the musk oxen and found them not to far from town, they are awesome to see.  We spent quite a while sharing the spy glasses and looking at them.  I so enjoy my time with family on these special trips.  I tell every nice person that we have a chit chat with in these towns visiting, how we feel that since we live in the most beautiful state, that people travel from around the world to visit we should get out and see it, so a different town is picked to spend a few day at.  A few year ago I asked the grand kid what town she wanted to visit next and she told me Chuck E Cheese, so she hasn't got to pick, but this year she said Juneau would be next years trip, being the Capital.  Well I have been to Juneau, so we will have to also go somewhere out side of Juneau that I haven't been to yet, maybe Glacier Bay would be a good side trip.  I'll have to start researching next years trip.

The town I live in (a short essay)

I do like where I live, most of the time.  Usually it is best to stay home and avoid the crowds.  This time of year is especially busy.  A friend brought his boat down here and left it, we have gone out fishing a few times with him on the busy river.  Combat fishing at it finest, we did catch fish and the weather was great.  Since it has been so warm out I like to take the dogs to the lake so they can swim and cool off.  Today thought I thought we would go to the ocean since we hadn't been for a long time.  Big mistake, the tide was out, there were hordes of people, I stopped to let the dogs out they only got muddy and some lady was hollering at her dog, so we just decided to leave.  Since they got the jeep all muddy I figured I had better stop at a lake and let them swim to get clean, well there is a sign on the side of the road that says lake public access, so we drive there, it is a 4-wheeler trail and when you get there the access is blocked.  So I try a different lake, it was funny when the dogs jumped in there was a trail of mud coming off them.  (My jeep is a mess).  But all that made me cranky and the heat didn't help, it said 92 on the porch.  I did try to get some yard work done, but with all the bugs one has to dress covered, not good in all that heat, so I gave up and went downstairs where it is 60 and quilted.  The dogs though still needed to get another swim so up to the closest lake we went, it has been very busy this summer with the heat, families fishing, picnics, swimming, but there is usually room for me to throw the ball in the water for the dogs.  Tonight there was a dad with his 2 kids there fishing, and those kids were bringing in the trout, I've never seen anyone catch fish there before.  Then here they come, several loud truck with young men and snow machines in the back of 2 trucks and a little boat in another truck.  They weren't loud and crazy, they just wanted to have some fun, I asked them if they were going to ride the snow machines on the water, they said yes, but they didn't want to bother the dad and sons fishing, so they asked the dad if they could ride and he didn't mind.  So off they unload the snow machines and head for the lake.  The first guy only got part way across the lake and he sunk, said the ski got caught in the water.  They spent about 1/2  hour trying to get the machine back out of the water, but the rope came off and they couldn't find the machine again. They were still looking for the machine when I left, the rider was sure he would find it and get it out.  So then the second guy got on his machine and rode across the lake and back again.  We all were cheering for him.  I got his picture it was awesome to watch.  Moral of this story is the people in my day that could have been the worse were actually the best. 

mystery solved

Did you ever wonder why,

There are TV shows that have people with a treasure they found in the dumpster and it was worth lots of money.  How did that treasure end up in the dumpster?  I know the answer, someone has been cleaning and sorting through a house of stuff that they don't want, need, or know what to do with, and after many loads to the dump, donation site, to much stuff brought to the place where they live, somethings that maybe should have been saved or donated end up in the last few boxes or bags, and not another trip anywhere will be made with the stuff, so in the dumpster it goes, valuable or not.

Hawaii

 We got to go on a little vacation.  Drove to the city after work on Sunday.  Caught a morning direct flight out on Monday to Maui.  Got a rental car, some lunch, and went to the condo.  Had to wait for the neighbor to bring the key over.  Unpacked got a shower and some dinner.  Not sure if it was the time difference or just being in Hawaii but I woke up before the sun every morning but one.  Just love the sound of the wind and birds.  It was so nice to walk out every morning and see the beautiful green land scape. 

 Didn't plan a lot of activities time is spent visiting and eating out, going to the beach every day.  One day we got a late start and there was no parking so did miss one day of getting in the water.  There were turtles at every beach we went to.  They liked the mechanic he doesn't look like a predator.  Me on the other hand look like just like a predator, large and white.  So they swam from me really fast.  Our 2 activities were the zip line, which was so-so.  The zip line was a 2 van ride up the hill.  One van ride from parking to the shack where we got our harness on.  Then another van ride higher up the mountain.  So the view was pretty cool, could see 3 other islands and lots of ocean.  There was a period where the clouds made the water dark, but the hole in the clouds made a sunny spot on the ocean, I was watching really close and saw an whale jump out of the water.  It was a sight I will always remember.  I never get tired of seeing the whales.  Our other adventure was to get up at 330am drive up Haleakala to watch the sun rise.  It would have been better if there were no clouds, but at least it wasn't completely clouded over.  It is a cold adventure but totally worth it.  Quite a popular event, the parking lot gets full.  It is the number one thing to do on Maui, according to the 101 things to do on Maui list.

 After the sun rise we drove back down the mountain, to the Haleakala Ranch and took a 2 hour horse ride.  I did enjoy that, the view was great and it didn't rain on us.  This picture below is from the Ranch parking lot, down to the sugar field were they were burning.

 The night were beautiful we don't usually go out at night, did go out one night to an arts festival which was a save the forest thing.  Some of the art was really well done, but it was a freak show of people.  Didn't last to long there, saw the art and got out. 

We flew home on Wednesday, I got one hour of sleep on the plane, landed at 930p, got the car and the mechanic drove home, I tried to sleep in the back, got about 2 hours of sleep, got home at 2am, got up at 6a to get ready for work.  Good thing there is lots of coffee at work. 

It had snowed 2 feet and was -14 below the day we left.  Only a little snow since we got back, but it has been cold.  Nice to get away and get a little sunshine.  We did do the tourist thing and stay on the beach to long and got sun burnt.