Visiting Valdez

Instead of doing any brewing over the weekend, we went to visit Sara in Valdez.  I normally make it there a couple times each summer.  It's a nice change of pace, a beautiful drive, and a distraction from the daily grind.

(Note: I've come to the realization that I *suck* at documenting through photography.  This trip was filled with lots of people and beautiful scenery, and I captured a minute amount of it.  No pics of the three sisters, none of the cousins, none - or rather, ONE - of the friends that also made the trip. Sigh.)

Leaving after work on Friday means that arrival time in Valdez is the wee hours of the morning.  Fortunately for us, Sara is always willing to let us wake her up so she can show us to the rooms we get to use while we're there.  It's lucky that we can stay at the cannery.  If not for that, I wouldn't be able to come visit.

Valdez isn't large.  And it hasn't changed much over the years - at least not enough for a casual, two-times-a-year, weekend visitor to notice.  Since I've seen Horse Tail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls multiple times - every time I go, I stop to look - I suppose I didn't think about taking a new picture.  And I've been down the mine road several times, so I didn't take a new picture with my car in the creek as we crossed over (the bridge washed out a few years ago, but the creek is shallow enough that the brave-of-heart - and vehicles with enough ground clearance - can make it across).  But I saw two waterfalls that I haven't noticed before, and we watched seals in the water.  No bear viewings this time.

On Sunday morning, we woke to fog thicker than pea soup, and received a tour of the fish processing plant.  The season's over, so it's all shut down and almost eerily quiet.  It was really interesting, and pretty cool since I hadn't ever been any farther inside than the main office.

When we came out of the plant, the fog was starting to lift.  For all the times I've been to Valdez, it's rarely sunny.  But those few times are precious, because the scenery is absolutely stunning.  I'm glad that we were able to enjoy some sun before the long journey back home.

Jeannea and I took a little side trip on the way home - a little off-roading with the car.  Because it was sunny the view was awesome; however, the wind was blowing so hard that I was afraid it'd rip my phone right out of my hands (and it was a chilly wind).  My pictures aren't the greatest because I was shivery and fighting the wind for balance.

 

As we got closer to home, clouds moved in and the sunshine evaporated, but the end of our trip was blessed with a rainbow.  An excellent finish to a wonderful weekend!

Messengers of Spring

This winter has been particularly rough for me.  I don't think it's wise for me to go Outside in the winter.  Oh, it's nice to get a break from the cold and dark, but it doesn't do my psyche any good.  I've spent the last couple of months swinging like a pendulum from depression to anger and back again.  Depressed that it's been SO DAMN COLD, and then angry that by the time summer gets here it'll be over in a flash and then I'll be back in the cold (which triggers the resentful depression).  It's no different than other years - well maybe just a bit, since this year we had a record number of days below zero in January, and we're working on record snowfall - but it's worse because just a short while ago I was walking around in shorts and t-shirts, and wearing my jacket was often too warm.  Now I can't seem to get warm, can't go outside without several layers (and I *still* get cold),  can't seem to beat the winter gloom.  But the end is in sight.

Visits from my sisters, headed to fish camps, are one of the signs of spring.  It's a treat - I almost feel like it's a reward for having endured another winter.  Plus, I *love* to see my sisters!  I didn't have a whole lot of time with either of them, but a few days is much better than no time at all and years between visits.  I'll take what I can get!!

Sara wanted to make goulash, go to Bear Tooth for dinner and a movie, and go to Turnagain Arm Pit.  We made two of the three things happen - and will try to work in a trip for barbecue when she comes back in September.  It's going to be an exciting, alarming, growing summer for her and I'll be sending support and love vibes - and working in a trip or two, if I can.

Not even a week later, Jeannea was here to visit.  Yay for more Sister Time!!  We had some friends over to visit and "help" Jeannea practice what she's learned in massage therapy school.  She did mention that she needs to build up strength in her hands - and there are more than plenty volunteers that we can drum up for her!  It's also going to be a crazy-busy summer for Jeannea, so I'll be sending support and love vibes to her too, I just can't go visit.  =(  But she'll be back to see me in August, so I'll be content with that.

Now if only the snow would melt so we can get through the dirty part of spring and on to the green, growing, warmth of spr... I guess by then it's pretty much summer.

My Sister Jeannea

Jeannea's visit has come and gone.  It's hard to believe it's already over.  Where does all the time go?  I mean, when I'm slogging through work and buried up to my eyebrows with muck and mire, the minutes c r e e p  s l o w l y  o n w a r d,  w i t h  t o r t u r o u s  s l u g g i s h n e s s  . . . But when I'm savoring my time with friends or family, trying to enjoy every last minute because I know the time is short, I can blink and it's already gone.  How is that fair??  Anyway.  I'm already ahead of myself.

Jeannea came to visit for a few days on her way to Dillingham for the summer.  I was happy to have a little more time with her than I got with Sara, but that's just me being greedy.  To be honest, I'd be happy with enough time to go to dinner and visit for a bit before they pass through.  Anything more than that is already icing on the cake.  So extra days on top of that is awesome - yay!!

Jeannea got some chill-axin' done during the weekdays - opting to hang at the house while we were working so she could sleep in and unwind a bit before hitting it hard again.  Until recently she was working two full-time jobs; she dumped one of those, but then had to gear up to come to Alaska for the summer.  And it won't get any better in Silly Dilly - she'll be working seven days a week and likely 16 to 20 hour days.  So apparently she really enjoyed the time just hangin'.

Besides, we made up for it in the evenings with visiting and catching up.  We confirmed that she has not been to Double Musky, but that's a trip that will have to wait on her return visit in August.    However, we made a fantastic meal (courtesy of the cookbook she picked up for us): "World's Best" Mac and Cheese, Rustic Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes, and steak with Balsamic-Mushroom Ragout.  It was a meal high in cheese content (especially if you count the five different types of cheese we cut up for appetizers - YUM!), and uber-delicioso...  Leftovers for days, and still tasty the second (and third) time around...  plus it was a lot of fun to spend the day (there was a lot of prep) working together to make such a fantastic meal.

"World's Best" Mac and Cheese before baking

 "World's Best" Mac and Cheese ready to eat

Steak coated in the House Herb recipe

Of course it's important to share the fruits of such labor, so we had friends over to help demolish the fare.  An evening of visiting and sharing with family and friends.  Who could ask for a lovelier way to pass the time?

It'll only be a couple months before I get to see Jeannea - she'll be back for a quick visit in August before heading to Seattle for the winter.  So I'll enjoy the summer, and look forward to fall when I get family visits again.  Yay!!

Flatlands - Finis

It's time to go home again.  I still have one more thing to look forward to: in Seattle I get to see three of my sisters.  Yay!  We got to the airport in plenty of time, but forgot that the homemade barbecue sauce was still in a carry-on instead of packed safely in one of the checked bags.  Almost had to throw it away, but instead paid to check the bag - which I enjoyed, since then I didn't have to lug it around at the next two stops.  Our flight was delayed due to weather in Denver - snow and wind, causing ice buildup on the runways and planes.  Doesn't Mother Nature know it's APRIL, and we're much farther south than normal??  It should be warmer by now!!

I was worried that we'd miss our connecting flight, or that there would be enough delay that we wouldn't be able to see my sisters, but it ended up working out just fine.  The Denver plane had already boarded and we were the last to embark, but we made it and it left close to on time.  The girls met us just outside of security and we visited for as long as we could before heading back through the check points to make the last leg of the flight.

We've been home a day, I've still got my sunburn (from Saturday's lovely day), and now it's snowing.  I know, I know.  In Alaska, we can expect snow through April, and sometimes in May or June.  But it's such a let down.  After seeing the almost-blooms and watching the Flatlands green up, I want to be much closer to the growing season than we are right now.  Patience is not my strong suit.  At least I have all the delightful memories from our trip to distract me...

Sister Visit Part I

It's that time of year again... when I get to see family as they're finishing up the summer and heading back home to Seattle.  While I'm never very excited for fall (since it's a reminder that the cold, dark winter is quickly upon us), I always look forward to visits from my family.  Jeannea is the first to arrive - her season gets done in August - and I get a follow-up visit from Sara (in September).

The timing for Jeannea's visit couldn't have been more perfect, since it coincided with the state fair and it's been a few years since she's been able to go with me.  We hooked up with Stacy and headed out early.  At least, early for me on a weekend... since we got there just after 10am when they open, and I'm normally still in bed at that early weekend hour...  But the start of our eating adventure (that's what fairs are, right?) went a long way to make up for it.  How can you pass up fresh doughnuts?

We spent the next 8 hours or so, wandering from food to food: fresh made pretzel, fresh dipped corndog, deep fried pickles, kettle corn, roasted corn on the cob, fried cheese curds...  And in between that, we got our faces painted, saw the pigs and cows and goats, examined the enormous pumpkin (902 lbs - I wonder how many pies that'd make?) and stopped in the beer tent to give our barkin' dawgs a brief respite.

 

We even tried the chocolate covered bacon.  How was it, you might ask?  I give it 1-1/2 thumbs up.  I think I'd like to try it again, but I'd like the bacon a little thicker and crispier (lack of crisp might be because they made it and then froze it) with just a tad less chocolate.  I think if I were to open a chocolate covered bacon stand, I'd find a way to deep fry the bacon (so I can consistently get it to the perfectly crispy but not overdone state), then have some of that magic shell chocolate on hand.  That way as I get orders, I can dip my perfectly cooked bacon in the chocolate just prior to handing it off to my customer...  Anyhow.  It was good enough that the idea of bacon cookies doesn't seem that ludicrous any more.  Hmmmm.

We didn't get to see the roller derby, since it was typical fair weather: rain.  Thank goodness I was with people who have their heads on their shoulders.  Stacy brought rain ponchos for all of us, and both Stacy and Jeannea brought dry socks and shoes.  Turns out that was a good thing, otherwise I would've been driving home barefoot.

I had a *lovely* time visiting with Jeannea.  Too bad her company isn't based in Anchorage - then I'd have both of them (Jeannea AND Sara) close by all year 'round.  Ah, well.  At least this gives me something to look forward to in the spring - my next visit...

By the way, Jeannea: Thanks for the RockStar treasure hunt!!  It took me more than a week to find them all, and that was with some helpful hints from your cohorts in crime.  We all know I'm not the most observant person in the world - especially in the morning - but I opened the medicine cabinet three times before I finally saw that one... =)

Homestretch

The work done Friday evening, Saturday (between the MS Walk and Roller Derby), and all day Sunday was installing flooring.  There's not much more to say.  I mean, there's a little bit.  Like: Thanks for the help, James!  He was here all day on Sunday helping with various bits and pieces.  But mostly, this post will be pictures showing the progress over the last couple of days.  It's amazing.  It's exciting!  It's phenomenal!!

There's still a bit to be done, but it seems like it's coming together quickly now.  I know that's because we're to the part that "shows".  Like in painting - the trim and edging take forever, and when you finally get to rolling it gets done lickety-split.  As of Sunday night, here's what we have left:  finish installing the flooring; seal the slate; hook up the water in the kitchen for the sink and the fridge; install the transitions; paint and install the trim; paint and install the doors.  Greg has been working really hard and done a marvelous job!!

-------------------------------------------------

On another note, I took Jeannea to the airport this morning.  She's on her way to Silly Dilly for the summer.  It was *so* nice to have both Sara and Jeannea here to visit me...  and they're good sports too - not only to put up with the Construction Zone, but they were cheerfully willing to help out.  I always feel good when they come to visit, and a little sad and lonely when they leave.  But it's only a few short months and they'll be stopping in again - this time to luxuriate in the finished-for-the-summer look and feel of the house.  More comfortable, and MORE PLAY!!  =)  Be safe, Girls - see you soon!!

MS Walk and the Derby

Jeannea's Spring visit usually corresponds with the fundraising walk for Multiple Sclerosis.  This is the first of many charity walks that I sign up for - mostly so I have an excuse to get some extra (or any) exercise.  Being that it's April, the weather is unpredictable.  It's best to dress for chilly weather (and be prepared for cold rain), so if it's sunny you can peel layers and enjoy (but if not, you're not miserable).

Even with my multiple layers (or perhaps because of my multiple layers), the walk was brisk but pleasant.  I was told it's a little over 4 miles.  A little chilly to start, but once we got moving I warmed right up!  This walk takes us around Lake Hood, the float plane lake that's next to Anchorage International Airport.  I always find it fascinating to see the big jumbo jets taking off in the sky and the little two-seaters on the lake.  An interesting contrast.

As a special treat, Jeannea happened to be in town for the last roller derby bout of the season.  Anchorage's Rage City Rollergirls vs. Edmonton's Oil City Derby Girls.  The first bout that we took Jeannea (and Sara and Sheri) to was when Rage City went to Seattle to play.  We had a blast, but it's always better on the home court, so I was excited to have her be able to go.

As usual, we went early to get good seats.  Good thing - doors open at 6pm and the derby doesn't start until 7pm, but by 6:10pm the best seats in the house are taken.  Once again, it was a sellout crowd - great news!

This was the most exciting bout of the season!  There was never more than a 20 point spread in scores, and in the very last two minutes we went from tied to down one to win by four!!!  Super plays, loud crowds, and rowdy girls!  The Edmonton team was fantastic (I'm hoping we try to recruit a few of them - interested, Tie Dye?) and our girls played their hearts out...  I was hoarse by the end of the evening.  =)

To round out the day, Stacy met us for dinner (James was already with us at derby) and we got to enjoy more good company and good food.  We went for sushi.  I'm finding that I rather enjoy the sushi rolls - as long as the fish is cooked.  It's not that I don't enjoy the raw fish, I just can't bring myself to try it. *shudder*

In between all the drama and the fun, Greg was busy too (is he ever anything but busy??).  He ran the course for the MS Walk and got a bit done on the flooring before heading to derby to photograph, then met us for dinner.  Next post will be an update on the remodel progress...