12.24.12 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Festivus Greetings

 

 

 

Hello Everyone!

This year it seems that my blogging has been less than consistent. On the upside, this means that I have been busy.

Let me recap the year. It was the year of the: record setting snow for months and months on end, exciting moments at both the Irondog and the Iditarod, flooding, wind and more wind, plummeting temps for this current winter, the summer of little to no fish, and even less in the way of warm summer days.

I was able to get out and see my family a wee bit more than usual this past year. I made it clear to Atlanta just before Christmas last year, California in July for a wedding, to Eastern WA to see Ken and Linda as well Rob and Lisa and Jon. Then over the hill to see Greg and Kim.

I am happy to report that my three (growing like weeds) grandbabies are all well and wonderful. I am certain that Brady would not be happy with me calling him a grandbaby. He is much much to old for that! You know that a young man of the ripe old age of 6 deserves much better than that from Gramma.  Miss Emma who is almost 4 is getting so big and grownup.  Miss Bronwyn who is 19 months is busy perfecting her position of running the household. One handsome young man and two cute as button granddaughters! I am one lucky Gramma.

I am still in residence at “The Home”.  It has been nice and quiet as we have been sans residents since the end of Sept. Lisa (who handles the day shift) has been on maternity leave and we will be back up and running not long after the first of the year. I  have enjoyed the break.

As I look ahead into the coming New Year, I do not know what it will bring. It is looking like it might be time to make some choices and decisions, just not certain as to what or where. That is the fun of having a blank slate ahead of me, I get to write on that slate. Check back next year this time to see what that slate says!!

I wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Festivus greetings. It is my deepest wish for each of you a happy and healthy new year.  Please feel free to post here what you think your new year will bring.

Merry Christmas!

Helen

9.22.12 Off Wasilla-Fishhook, Welch Road and Shorty Street were closed due to flooding.

Sept 22, 2012

It is, can you believe this, 61* here today. There were not but a couple of days all summer that warm. Which leads me to the first news item of interest I found this week:

“Citing frigid temperatures, an early frost “even by Alaska standards” on Sept. 9, and of course, a wind storm that cut out power to thousands during the first week of September, the Weather Channel places Anchorage first on its list of the top-five cities with the worst summer weather. Anchorage is the only location chosen by the Weather Channel for being too chilly this summer.”

If you have been following the weather up here, I am certain you have heard about our incessant rain for the past several weeks followed by torrential wind and rain. Flooding has abounded, which leads me to the following find :

“Anybody want some water? We have several hundred gallons in our yard; free, but  you haul. First come, first served!”

The other night I looked at my facebook page and read that a friend of mine was in need of help. They live right on the river and it was rising fast, so she put out a plea for help in moving their things into a uhaul truck so it could be moved up the hill to friends. So I dropped everything, pulled on my Bogs, raincoat, gloves and headed over, cuz that is what we do. Which leads me to the following posting by my friend yesterday:

“8 people dropped their evening plans, walked away from supper and family time and came to help us load stuff last night & many of their family members took over kid duties to allow that.”

This rainy weather has had me  a bit house bound and I found myself reading the Nome-Announce. It is their version of craigslist on a very local level. Everyone is thinking towards winter if I read the following correctly:

“*Large Crochet Slippers Have Arrived!
Imagine wearing these warm slippers in front of a relaxing fire in the
cold winter months.  Or even better throw a pair in your purse and have them wherever you go.  Perfect for plane trips, work, visits at a friends, and hotels. You will
feel cozy & comfy no matter where you are!”

I am aware that here in Alaska we have a few seasons which might not be recognized if you were to live elsewhere, for example we have a fifth season known as Mud season, which is followed by a six season called Construction Season. What I was not aware was that there is a declared seventh season:

“Remote Start Season (which) starts October 23.”

I do realize that from time to time it is hard to get yourself removed from a mailing list once you have subscribed. I know that I have posted some strongly worded emails, but I think I need to take lessons from the following:

“PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR MAILING LIST TOO!!! THIS IS MY THIRD REQUEST FOR THE SAME THING!!!? THE NEXT TIME I OPEN UP MY EMAIL I DON’T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH YOU!!!”

We all like to get out and go for a drive or simply want to get to work on time. I know that from time to time I have to wait out the moose in my yard so I fully understand the issues which the following driver was faced with recently:

“Please use caution when driving on the Dexter Bypass and south end of Icy View, this morning.? There has been reports of a a herd of muskox ?in the area, please be careful passing through.? Thanks!”  (Alright readers, a show of hands from those of you that has happened to!)

When you live fairly remote you don’t always have access to either a physician or a vet if need be. What do you do? Like anywhere, you ask your friends and neighbors:

“Trying to find someone who’s experienced with dogs. My daughters dog got into the trash today and swallowed a chicken bone. Dr leedy is out of town. If you know of anyone please contact me at: xxx-1047″
Thanks, melissa   (I will add after reading a later posting all is well with the dog the friends and neighbors came through)

The local ladies in my area, have been planning a yardsale to raise school funds for sometime now, wouldn’t you know, the weather blew in, hence the following:

“Anyone who was planning on participating in the Birchtree Community Tailgate Sale! IT IS CANCELED DUE TO LOUSY WEATHER!”

Who doesn’t like having a nice fresh bagel with a large cuppa steaming coffee? What is even better when the local bagel/espresso shop has made some changes:

“Today is Bagel Day!
We have fresh out of the oven perfectly golden brown *bagels* available for
you and our drink of the day is a *White Chocolate Almond Mocha*!
Also, we added another table and re-arranged the ‘reading room’ If you
haven’t gotten a chance to see them stop by and let us know what you think
about the new layout.  (you bet, get down there and check out that reading room! As there are various definitions to this term, you choose which it is!)

Last but not least, we all help our friends and neighbors out as best we can, I have no problem running to the store for someone, making an emergency coffee run, even take the neighbor kids to school when moms are in need of some assistance. But the following leaves me wondering, I just don’t think I would step up for this one:

“Looking for someone to take a small package down to me in Anchorage, probably about 1 foot cube.? ?I will meet you at Anc airport. Please call xxx-6495 or xxx-8257 so we can get package to you in Nome.  Contact number in Anchorage is xxx-6660.? Thanks in advance if you can help.? (hmm 1 foot cube? That is one box I want to see opened before I would even touch the package!)

I hope you have had fun with this as I have. This week in particular has been difficult here in the Valley. Houses have gone missing in the river, roads are being undercut by the water, train service north of Wasilla has been suspended due to washouts. I called a client up above Palmer to see how they were surviving and I was told, “We have about 8 feet of bank left before we have to get out of here. But that is not the concern, we just saw our neighbors being swept down stream (on the Matanuska River) in their skiff and they looked as tho they are in trouble.  My guy is running hard down the Glenn to see if he can get ahead of them so he can call 911 with a locate.”  Well……I guess that tops my concern of that darn puddle in the parking lot at work.

When I woke this morning, the Little Su was sounding a bit further away which is a good sign, I need this afternoon to go and see if my girlfriend needs drinking water as the river messed with their water system.

Everyone, take care and if you think about it, maybe send the Red Cross a donation for the people in Alaska it will be greatly appreciated and carefully used. We do not take anything for granted up here.

As always, life in Alaska is wonderful

Helen                                                                                                                                                        PS just so you know, I live off the Welch Road mentioned in the title today!

9.14.12 Breaking in the yard moose!

9.14.12

Hours of daylight: 12:58           Price of regular gas: $3.91    Temp and conditions: 46* and Rainy  Another weekend of stormy weather. Out here not so bad, down in the Anchorage Bowl another 100 mph weekend.

Moose have been sighted, but all were alive and well.

That should do it for the note worthy updates.

Well it happened, a bit early, but it happened. My first moose between me and the car moment. Actually it was a momma and her calf. We will have to work at getting this momma settled in for the winter. She was rather skittish and the little one was taking her cues from mom. Once they settle down and realize they are not going to get shot in the neighborhood and that they can bask in our sunlight and chew on the fall foliage to their heart’s content we will all get along just fine. It is getting them accustomed to my going out and lecturing them that if they are going to be here, they had better wander over and moose lick my car once in a while or find a new yard to call home. We will see how this works out, so far not so good.

It has been an interesting week for me, last weekend, my right foot began to bother me and it got worse and worse. So Wednesday morning that little voice that keeps me out of trouble was screaming at me to go visit with my healthcare provider. Long story short those little voices need to be listened to. I managed to get a case of cellulitius. So there I was with my foot swollen to twice its size. Good news, is that through the miracle of modern science and a good old-fashioned ace bandage the swelling is mostly gone and I can move about almost normally once again.

Today, I went over to Vagabond Blues one of my favorite coffee spots over in Palmer. I had much studying to do and wanted coffee and a window seat. There was a gal sitting by the window who seemed to be about done so I went over and asked if she would let me have first dibs at her table when done. She promptly asked me to sit, which I did. We got to chatting and discovered, that her husband’s grandparents at one time owned the only dairy farm on Kodiak Island. They were making bank until the Navy started to bring in milk. I had to share that my parents had been dairy farmers down in Sitka about the same time, what  fun. She had to return to work and this allowed me a chance to get busy.  So I sipped my coffee and studied and talked with what seemed like a fairly regular line of people who I know, or know who they are or we have stood in line at the bank often enough that we recognize each other.

As I sat there by the window which over looked the main street in Palmer I was privileged to watch the world go by. There was a group of younger old people all carrying bags of some sort and bundled up to their eyes…ah they would be tourists. Then there was the gal who was getting her hair frosted over at B. Bella’s and had all the foil in her hair and apparently needed a coffee and cigarette break, standing out on the sidewalk smoking – sipping and chatting with a friend…ah a local. In came the lunch with Mommie group and the Moms and little ones took over the center table. All the little ones thought they were pretty important to be able to get a cup of hot chocolate. Little voices sounding ever so important.  One table over from me a son was out to lunch with his Dad. The son was reading a job description to his father who was hard of hearing. DAD, IT SAYS THAT THE JOB IS DOWN IN JUNEAU. PAY IS PRETTY GOOD.  Well why do you want to go down there for, don’t you have a girl up here? DAD, IT PAYS GOOD. I don’t know why you want to leave.  Truth be known we started to root for the son. Then at the table to my right, was Denise from Non-Essentials and a couple of her friends who are heading up a food drive for the month of October. Not a lot of “work” was getting done, but there was a lot of talking and getting caught up on former classmates and laughter. Oh my, Denise has this  laugh that makes you want to laugh along with her. She grew up out in one of the villages and has this amazing heart. She gives so much to the community.

I finally reached the saturation point with my studies and hit the road home. Well I almost made it home, but when I reached Turner’s corner I had trouble with my car, as I could not get the steering wheel to turn left nor would the brakes slow it down, that is how I then found myself up at Hatcher Pass with my camera. Oh my goodness it was a breath-taking time. I parked the car and opened my window to listen to the Little Su as it hurried past in its desire to get out to the ocean. Hurry it must, as the snow level is starting to drop and the melt is slowing. Today we were contending with rain from the week. The air had that smell about it, you know, the leaves are starting to rot, the bark is saturated and giving off a dankness about them. There was a spot of color here and there as some of the berries are still on the bushes.

As always, life is great in Alaska,

Helen

9.8.12 Oh the signs of pending winter

9.9.12

So far the moose are doing just fine, the price of regular gas is creeping back up and is at last count $3.89/gal. But hey it is still under that dreaded $4.00 mark!

One sign of pending winter is that the State Fair is over and the vendors are packing up the rides, the booths are being emptied and soon they will all be moved to their winter home out on the backside of the fairgrounds. Then in a few weeks the main barn will reopen for the winter storage of RVs, tractors, trucks etc.

A second sign of pending winter is the annual women’s health fair which the Mat-Su Regional Hospital hosts every fall and it was this weekend, err, I thought it was this weekend. Saturday morning, I was up and out of the house early as I wanted to be able to get in and out before the rush closer to noon. They offer blood tests etc for either free or at greatly reduced prices. So out the driveway I go, with my latest Dana Stabanow novel in the CD player and I am enjoying the mist on Lake Reed as I drive past, out onto the Fishhook and heading towards Trunk Rd. The trees are turning a wonderful shade of orange, the ridge of the Talkeetna’s have their official Termination Dust and the air coming in through the open roof is a wonderful 31*.  I turn on to Trunk Rd and there running towards me in the ditch is a fox. It is just trotting along heading towards something very important apparently as it did not give me a second glance.  Now I am over on the new part of Trunk Rd and getting closer to the hospital. In front of me looms the Chugach Mtns with Pioneer Peak just off to the left. To the left of that is Knik Glacier. Yup there is fresh snow all along the ridge of that range as well. I drop down to the hospital an am well pleased with my early to the health fair plan, lots of parking spots up close to the front doors. Hmm maybe just a few too many good parking spots close to the front doors. I get out and there seems to be lacking any activity. But that is just because I am early. So I  walk smartly up to and then in through the doors to a scene which resembles the inside of a mausoleum. NOTHING IS MOVING! There is no one in the lobby, no smartly printed sign pointing the way to go, nothing, nada, nyet. So I amble over to ER admitting and stand at the window waiting to be helped. Apparently one of the requirements for the person working this window is to not notice a customer at the window. Finally I say hello and the poor woman just about has a heart attack. Well at least she was close to medical attention if she would of needed it.   Long story short…..the health fair is NEXT MONTH.

Another sign of pending winter is taking advantage of Hatcher Pass road still being open so you can drive up to Summit Lake.  If I had thought the trees yesterday were beautiful today they were simply improving on yesterday. It seems as tho you can watch the colors grow strong by the hour. People were out along the roadside with their buckets, cameras, small children and dogs, picking berries, recording the day and letting the children and dogs get the kinks worked out of their legs before snow sets in down low. I drove up to the Lake today as I could. The road is still open and if we get much more snow up there on the top it will be closing for the season. I stopped along the road on the way back down to simply listen to the water in the Little Su. Oh my goodness, it is an icy blue/green and the sound of the river made my soul sing. The crisp air-filled my lungs with a fresh bite. Oh yes, life in Alaska is as always wonderful

Love to all

Helen

9.1.12 The Alaska State Fair Report

How busy was it at the Alaska State Fair on (last) Saturday?
So busy, Shamrock Pumping was called to help empty bathrooms and porta potties. But unfortunately, the truck got stuck in traffic and Palmer Police were called in to do a flashing-light escort to the fairgrounds. Palmer Police said it was their first-ever septic truck escort.

9.1.12 Saturday

Well the moose count is holding at zero but the river is winning as far as taking houses off their foundations Yup that was once a nice happy home sitting well back from the river, guess the river just wanted it worse!

I ran back over to the fair with my camera for a few hours this afternoon. What fun to just sit and let the fair come to me.

See what I mean? I was sitting on a bench just minding my own business when a nice couple sits down beside me and proceeds to strike up a conversation.  They became useful in pointing out potential photo victims. Hence the above photo.

After a while I realized that I was seeing some of the same people more than once, so time

to move on. I headed over to the Alaska Transplant tent to talk with my friend Wendy. She makes these amazing t-shirts and now hoodies for all of us who truly wish we had been born up here. In fact I was one of her very first customers way back last summer over at the Wasilla City Farmer’s Market.

The other day I found myself over in the animal barn. The sad thing is that as far as actual farm animals there is a real lack in dairy cattle.

But there were Reindeer and Yeti’s

Kind of looks like a devil Yeti by the looks of those eyes…

It was rather rainy at times during the fair and today was no different and I was fascinated by what people were wearing to the fair.

Well, I could continue to bore you with all these photos, but I won’t. Over the days that I have been to the fair, I have seen a little boy with lost parents, an older couple happily holding hands as their wheelchairs were pushed along by their caregivers, more variations of Fair hair than can be imagined. There was the Body exhibit this year (you know the exhibit where all these body parts are on display etc), which I found rather interesting, as I was strolling through the exhibit, I caught part of a conversation which a father was having with his two sons. He was  having to have the “sex” talk with his boys right there in the midst of everyone. I was proud of this father as he was doing a good job of it and more than a few people were blatantly eavesdropping, me included.

I have had my requisite fair coffee,  kibbi,  elephant ear,  cream puff, potato fingerling fries with ranch dressing. I have talked with just about every vendor there is and refrained from buying any raffles for rifles this year. Tho I did enter a drawing for a B& B weekend. The big news is that I talked with DeeDee Jenrow (you know the musher who has run the Iditarod umpteen times). She is such a sweet gal. Oh Linda, she sends you her love and support as you fight your cancer. She is a breast cancer survivor. As always, I will be pulling for her in March. Oh just so you remember, it is only 181 days 13 hours until the start of the next Iditarod.

What else has been happening. Oh my goodness,  the Nuns are up here for a fund-raising visit from down in the Goldendale area of Eastern WA. So we did a brunch for them over in the new Parish Hall. (Question, how old does a building have to be before you stop calling it the “new” whatever?) Anyway, I volunteered to make Steph’s world renound Cheesey Grits. Heck, how hard can it be to make them…I had her recipe, all the same ingredients. No Problem. Ya right grits girl. I warm up the vege broth to a boil, pour in the polenta and begin to stir. Was it supposed to stiffen up within the first 5 minutes? I don’t think so. So I added some water then some more and then some more. Then I realized that if I kept adding water I would lose the flavor of the broth. So I grab another box of broth and just as it starts to flow I realize that it is beef broth and the Nuns to not eat meat. Whoa Nellie I managed to save myself on that one. Find my last box of vege broth and begin to pour, a bit at a time. I then see that the recipe from Steph only calls for 6 cups of liquid but the polenta is sucking it up fast. I then add the cream cheese and the grated cheese, throw it into the crockpot to keep warm. By the time it was put out on the table for the Nuns to have, it could have been used to fill pot holes. Huge clumps of  foul nasty tasting cheesey yellow wallpaper paste. Just as I was headed to the table to remove it, I see the first of the Nuns putting it on her plate. There are not enough prayers in Heaven to protect me if this Nun actually eats any of this stuff. I grabbed the crockpot and  my friend  intervened with the Nun. This is why I am generally asked to bring my camera. Yes, I am much happier that way.

So my friends, as usual life in Alaska is awesome.

Helen

8.26.12 WE GIVE OUT CARROTS AT OUR FAIR PARADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah yes, it is the Alaska State Fair in South Central Alaska once again. This is one anticipated event up here….and why not.

Before I go any further, the fair has been open since Thursday the 23rd so it has been open 4 days and it has rained three of those days. What that means, is that we are right on track as far as the weather goes.  The day of the parade was wonderful it started out a wee bit rainy, but by the time the parade was ready to start, it was just cloudy.

I got to the parade early and was all set up in front of Vagabond Blues, one of the best little coffee shops in the area. I had my camera all zeroed in and I was ready to go when a nice gentlemen came up to me and said, “you know the parade is coming from the other direction” well thank you very much…..so I had to relocate over to in front of Just Sew. This little shop has seen more of my money left there than any other shop in Palmer.

As I was waiting for the parade to begin I was eavesdropping on a conversation going on behind me and the local gal was trying to tell a couple of out of towners that they should go eat up there at the V Ho or as most of us say, the Ho. This is a great Hotel/bar/restaurant. It has a wonderful past to include that the Police and Fire Departments used to be dispatched from there as the Hotel had the only phone in town. But at one point it was used by the “ladies of the evening” hence the local name.

Did you realize that Palmer has an underground tunnel in which there was a sordid past of drug and alcohol dens under there. Now there are reports of ghosts wandering around through it.

Okay, back to the parade, this year it was the State Fair/Candidate campaign parade. The campaign groups were interesting as one of them actually had a synchronized routine to go with the music. Tho I could not understand why they were singing about Shelley Shoes. Well, her name is Shelley Hughes…oops my bad. Also, why was there a man from FEMA standing beside me in the crowd? What is FEMA doing up here? Then the Borough mayor came by in his van and his group of supporters were handing out carrots from his farm. They were so sweet and tasty. Thank you Mayor DeVilbliss. Even if you feed me I am still undecided on my vote for next Tuesday.

It was such fun to see some of my Search and Rescue friends in the parade.

On the left is Lisa and she is the daughter of my friend Linda, my get into trouble friend!! (Easy Linda I love you too) On the right is Kalei who is Lisa’s daughter. Isn’t she cute? They grow these girls cute and awesomely wonderful up here. Hmm I wonder if it’s the carrots they give out during the parade.

My neighbor Kai was in the parade as well, she is this amazing woman who is a music teacher over at the local elementary school. She writes music, writes plays for the local theater, and finds time to run the church Choir, and Vacation Bible School at church.

We had two wonderful military bands in the parade the Marine Corps and the Army. Guess who led the parade? Well it certainly wasn’t the Army…..

Well we had a bear and chickens and even a couple of horses. There was even an Edsel in the parade. But best of all were the State Fair Cabbage Fairies. It is their job to go about supporting and endorsing the Fair.

I do not at this point in my life have the guts to wear one of those outfits. Maybe later when senility has set in I would consider it, but not yet. They do a wonderful job in the parade, I saw them approach a very happy little one and dissolve her into tears. Job well done there Cabbage Fairies.

Last weekend at the Lake was so wonderful and this weekend was wet. But one cannot get down in the dumps when the fair is on. Rain or shine it is all good. The best part is that with a season fair pass, I can run over to the fairgrounds for lunch and get back to work. Yup, they have that chocolate covered bacon again this year.

Well the parade came to a peaceful close and all were starting to head home or to the fair when the massive traffic jam broke out. But all was good, what would normally have taken at most 10 minutes turned into a 1 hour drive. I finished my book on CD and started another. So today I had to drop off my Netflix movie, so I drove right over to the Library and deposited my Netflix into the library drop box. Now I have to call in the morning and confess that I did that. I know they will put it into the mail for me. Love my Librarians, they have bailed me out more than once. Like the time I lost a book in my car and they renewed it 5 times so I would not have to pay the $20 for it. Don’t ask how I lost it in the car, I just did and that is all I am going to say about it.

Well, I am heading back over to the fair with my camera this week so will post photos next week.  It is such fun to be chatting with all of you again. Well the fireweed is almost completely bloomed out and blueberry season is in fully swing up on Hatcher Pass so winter will be here before I know it.

Take care everyone, and know that

Live in Alaska is an exciting Adventure!!

Helen

8.16.12 197 days 12 hours

Well it has been a while since I last chatted with everyone. Now would be a good time for you to take a moment and get comfortable and grab something to drink as this could take a while.

I have to admit that I have slacked rather bad on this update, but I have been busy.  I have been Outside twice this year, once in May and then again in July. I truly believe that the airline is making those seats smaller. Hush, I am going with that theory alright…..

On both of my trips I was able to see family which was so wonderful. Have I ever mentioned that I have three of the most amazing grandchildren. I had not planned on going Outside in May, but I learned that my sister in law Linda has cancer and in my heart of hearts I had no option but to fly down and see her. What a spunky lady…. Anyway, I had intended to have three quilts made for Christmas and to take them Out with me in Nov for Thanksgiving. So I had to make a decision and I knew that I could not go down with just the one I had almost finished, so in the space of two weeks I finished the one and then planned and created two more. It was such fun and the best part was that Linda helped me  finish them while I was visiting with her and Ken. Thank you Linda could not have done it without you.

Then in July went down to California for my nephew Mike’s wedding, spent time with my cousin Elaine. It was wonderful. We talked and laughed went sight seeing, wine tasting, and she let me sleep and sleep and sleep. What a gift and a blessing.  Thank you Elaine.

Hmm up here what is new, we have now recorded and have on the books, the 7th coldest July recorded. Which followed the record winning most snow on record. It has been like that one record breaking event after another. We have had fresh snow up on the mountains every month all summer. The fireweed is just about bloomed out and I am waiting to see it spider out and give us the official 6 weeks until snow on the ground.

It was an extremely tough year on the moose this past season as over the course of the last twelve months there were 455 killed in the Mat-Su alone. That does not take into account those up the Susitna and down into Anchorage. So the hunting this year will be sketchy. Caribou hunting has been difficult cuz the one week the season was open the temp rose up to the mid 70s or so and the caribou went back up the mountains or as high as they go to escape the heat. Then fishing has been a bust as almost no fish have returned and I believe that all the rivers have been closed now in the Matsu. So if anyone has any fish they don’t want I will take it off your hands. UPS knows how to ship the fish. I will furnish my mailing address etc if you are going to send any.

This weekend I am getting away up to Horseshoe Lake which is about 30 minutes north of Wasilla by the town of Big Lake. Big Lake is where the Iron Dog starts. Just for your information registration has opened and the first team has already signed up. If you noticed the title, there are only 197 days 12 hours until the Iditarod takes off. Hmm that makes for a long winter. But it is coming. I know this year I am taking a stool to sit on or a ladder to stand on. If necessary I can lean that ladder up on the back side of the port a potties and get those good shots.

Woke this morning to the sound of the rain absolutely pouring down. It was lovely and refreshing and sleep inducing until I remembered that I had left the moon roof open on my car. It is amazing just how fast one can move.

I am lacking in moose photos this summer, but I am ever vigil. My camera travels everywhere with me….Due to my responsibilities here at “The Home” I have not gotten out as much as I would like, but I knew that would happen when I accepted this position. But next summer will be different. I have been talked into putting together another calendar for next year. I will be absolutely shameless here and ask if anyone would like one contact me and I will let you know about the pricing on them. Last year after all expenses etc I figured out that I had made 1 cent on each calendar. I would like to make a wee bit more than that.

School has begun up here and today over at the Waldorf inspired charter school all the new little ones to the school were serenaded with the tune Puff the Magic Dragon. I am assuming the teachers were already planning on needing a wee bit of help to make it through the year…..

Well the local elections are coming up and the battle of the missing signs has begun. When the signs start missing you know it is getting serious. On another note the Borough has to figure out how to dump the ferry they ordered years ago and is sitting down in Ketchikan waiting for a ferry terminal to be built. Oh hmm maybe a bridge should be built instead so people can drive right past the new prision which is sitting empty. Arrugh

On an upside, the gun range is re opening after being closed for the summer next month. Oh ya good times with girls and guns.

Hey next week the State Fair opens. I even have a seasons pass this year. Should be fun. Hey Marnie you gonna be here this year?? You can even bring what’s his name.

Well, that is about it for now, I never know what will be happening from day to day. But as usual,

Life in Alaska is wonderful,

Love to all

Helen