My Annual Itch for Alaska

Although we moved down to the 'lower 48' the fall of 2004; it's at this time of year I get the itch to move back up to Alaska ~ but just for the beautiful summers. I don't miss the 50 some below zero weather at all. But I do miss the summers. I miss our halibut fishing trips out of Valdez harbor. We would whale watch and enjoy the sea otters drifing along. And I miss our fishing trips at Chitna where I would take breaks reading on the banks as my husband spent hours on end 'dipping' for salmon.

 And I miss when we would take our lunch breaks from the office; go grab some sandwiches and go to Creamer's Field on the edge of Fairbanks to watch the sandhill cranes migrate through in the spring and fall.

 And come winter we did do a few things to pass time like going to the Yukon Quest dog races even at -35 to -50 degrees. And the end of the winter bought the World Ice Art Championships. It blew my mind what they can do with ice, chainsaws and chisels. 

 And nothing beats having moose set up housekeeping in your own back yard.  This cow and calf settled down in ours for a couple of months. We had to watch close as we opened the doors. 

 And of course traveling always had some snapshot moments. Caribou, moose, black and grizzly bear, etc. 

But most of all we miss our good friends who shared in some of these adventures.

As William and Kate begin wedded bliss with the 'seal' of a kiss; I couldn't help but to notice the expression on their little flower girl's face in the bottom left of the picture ~ I think she's heard enough of this wedding stuff!

We are Blessed

While home for Easter our grand-loves entertained us with some guitar playing, fiddling, dancing, singing and of course lots of laughs. From their infancy on,  I've been amazed as I watch each and every one of them develop their individual personalities’. Although their interests may differ they are each evolving with their own talents. While some love music, others may excel in the artistic fields or sports.  Each is a treasure ~ they sparkle as individuals but they glow as a group.  We are truly blessed!

Simynda fiddling 

 Summer joining in

with a song they wrote

dedicated to their Mom

Simynda just started playing

guitar 2 weeks ago

Style

I've never in my life followed the latest fashions! I'm a plain old country girl who wore hand me downs from my older sisters, and occaisionally was the reciepient of some 'new' piece of clothing. We'd get a new set of clothes at the beginning of the school year, or maybe a home-sewn dress that Mom made for Easter.  And new flannel pajamas that she'd sewn for Christmas and I never thought twice about it, that's just the way it was.  It was not an issue ~ I was loved, fed and clothed. My needs were met. Fashion meant nothing to me.
Well now after more years than I care to share with you ~  I'm in 'style!'  My absolute favorite pair of jeans tore out across my knee, not in only one spot but in two!  I will never wear them in public again because they've now crossed the line and have joined the ranks of my 'working clothes'  along with my older jeans and stained tops.  They've become my gardening gear. 
BUT ... now days they sell the same style of jeans - holes and all - for big bucks!  I just don't get it - and I never will!!!
This reminds me of something my Grandpa O. once said when someone asked him what he thought about cooking outside when bar-b-que grills became the new rage of his day.  He said "I know the world is going straight to hell because now they are cooking outside the house and shi**ing inside  it!"

Easter

Happy Easter to You!  

We're heading home

to spend Easter

with the family.

See you next week! 

Gardening

I do not envy the owners

of very large gardens.

~

The garden should fit its

owner or his or her tastes,

~

just as one's clothes do;

it should be neither

~

too large nor too small,

but just comfortable.

~ ~ ~

Gertrude Jekyll

 Flowers and Vegetables

 from our gardens last year

 Oh how I long for fresh produce

 and the beautiful scents

 to return once again

 look at the size of that blossom

all pictures are from my gardens 2010

My Day

Baking away a snowy day! 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Swedish Limpa Bread

 during the rising

Honey Wheat Bread

ready for the tasting

Yes, I said the 's' word

SNOW!

Check it out ~ I linked up with

 Under the Table and Dreaming

Artificial Easter

CherShots photo

Tis the season of the 'artificial Easter.'  Bunnies and colored eggs, candy and decorated baskets are just a few of the things about Easter that has absolutely nothing to do with Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our salvation. 

CherShots photo

Please don't go running off thinking I don't enjoy the beautiful colors and the tasty sweets, because I do.  I just get a bit saddened that there are so many people out there that either don't know or don't acknowledge what the true meaning of Easter is all about. 

'We did it!'

'We' did it!  With lots of tinkering around and the help of my dear sister Mel who hunted down this  background  which is the one I liked, loaded and lost ~ it's been found and reloaded.  She's like a bloodhound on the computer. Gotta love a girl like that! And who doesn't love a bloodhound.
So this is my new blog look for now ~  or at least until I change my mind again. ( I know Jack, it's a woman thing!! ) Thanks again Mel for being my blog background snoop! Love ya!

Messed Up!

Okay fellow bloggers, I screwed up!  As I was saying - I'm looking to revamp my blog.  In the process I accidently deleted the springy background I had found because my old background was still showing through, along with falling leaves from yet another background.  So in my attempt to clean things up walla ... I lost the one I liked. To make a long story short --- I can't find the one I had and I don't even remember what site I found it on.  Dang my luck!!

In the meantime - check back, one never knows what will show up next!

Changes Ahead

It's spring

and

as the weather

changes

so will my blog

So bear with me

as my

background

takes on its

new look  

when I find that

special

 one that suits my

fancy!

~ ~ ~

Cher Shots

WoW

... oh to have such talent

it's hard to believe 

these are EGGS!

Who would have thought
that seeing a bird

would inspire someone

to take an egg

~ ~ ~

and create this

and this

or this

See more

Elegant Eggs

Easter Eggs

Martha Stewart has some great

Easter Egg

ideas to share

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Check out her slide show for more ideas with instructions:

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/easter-eggs

Nasty Reminder

Here's a nasty reminder

of what spring can bring

in my corner of the world.

I just want winter to end  

Enough already!

Snow is once again

in our forcast!

Not happy!