Day 100 & 101--August 5 and 6, 2013

          Tiffany, Jey, Ty, and Drew arrived without a hitch.  By the time we got them picked up, taken to the bus, fed them meatloaf, mashed potatoes and salad, lemon cake, apple cake and Fudge Striped Cookie Pudding, it was way passed bedtime.  So, I couldn't stay awake long enough to blog, but here are the pictures of them arriving at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport about 7:30 pm.

Ty and Jey

Drew and Tiffany





 

          8-6-2013 
          Today was the first really bad weather day we've had so far.  It has rained most of the day and been in the mid 50's.  While the gang went on the Portage Glacier Cruise, the wind blew so hard it shook the bus.  I figured they were having a really bad ride on the wavy water, but they said it was fine, but just cold when they went on the topside to take pictures of the glacier.
          We went to the wildlife preserve.  It was so cold and windy that all the black and brown bears were hiding out in caves, and we didn't see not one.  Hopefully, the weather will be better next Monday, and we will stop on our way back to Anchorage and see if the wimpy bears come out of their warm, safe harbor.  :-)

Ty, Drew, and a bear looking at a fox in a pen.

          In Moose Pass, we stopped to sharpen knives on the water-powdered grinding wheel.  Next to it is a stream where many salmon get lost on their way upstream to spawn.  Ty insisted he could catch one with his hand, so we sent him down the bank and look what he caught-bare-handed.

Drew watching Ty catch a red salmon with his barehands.

         Here's a picture of the gang.  You can see how hard the wind is blowing by the way their clothes fit and how Tiffany's hair is blowing.  More tomorrow.

Tiffany, Drew, Ty, and Jay at Beluga Point

Until next time,
Dolores

Day 99--August 4, 2013

          Sunday--day of rest.  My baby girl and her babies will be here tomorrow.  And, of course Jey, too.  :-)  Can you tell I'm excited?  Full details of their arrival tomorrow night. 

Until next time,
Dolores

Day 98--August 3, 2013

          Tonight Richard and I went to Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant.  This was our second trip there.  It has really good food and is decorated with stone walls and stuffed animals and artifacts that Alaska is known for.  Here are a few of the pictures I took while waiting for dinner to be served.

Richard in front of Gwennie's

Brown Bear next to our table

One of the old Artifacts

Stuffed beaver gnawing on a log

My dinner--Crab Benedict with a boat load
of grits covered with cheese cause.

          This order of benedict reminded me of one of the funniest things I ever witnessed in a cafe.  In 2008, Tom and Carole Neal flew in and stayed with us for about a week.  We took them back to Fairbanks to fly home.  It was a long ride and we spent the night in a lodge/motel along the way.  In the Rest Home News blog that I did, I wrote the following recount of what happened.  I still double over with laughter when I read this.  I swear it happened just like I said.  I didn't have to embellish at all.

From 2008 blog:

About 100 miles from Fairbanks, we decided to stop at a lodge and spend the night. It was a log cabin structure. Richard and I had a view of the lodge’s saloon and restaurant. Tom and Carole had a view of a junk pile. Richard and I slept peacefully with the windows open (no a/c). Tom and Carole listened to a generator kick on and off in the maintenance room next to theirs. For the first time in weeks, I got to watch a television with more than one channel and a clear picture. All in all, I was a happy camper.

We went to the restaurant for breakfast. We were trying to decide if we wanted a booth or a table when the waitress basically told us to make up our minds. The morning air wasn’t the only thing chilly around there.

Tom wanted eggs benedict, but he’d had experiences with some that didn’t fit his idea of the perfect presentation. So he asked the waitress (Miss Warm and Fuzzy) how they made their eggs benedict. Here is how the conversation went from there:

W&F We make it the normal way.

We are looked at her a little stunned.

W&F We make it with English Muffins and ham.

Tom Oh, I don’t want ham. I wanted Canadian Bacon.

W&F Well that’s what it is Canadian Bacon or ham. It’s the same thing.

Tom Okay can I get the muffin toasted and the Canadian bacon fried crisp?

W&F (She pointed to something else on the menu) Why don’t you just get this if you don’t want eggs benedict?

By this time, I was in hysterics. I couldn’t keep from laughing.

Tom settled for the eggs benedict–how ever they cooked it and we decided he’d better not complain because Warm & Fuzzy could knock him 9 ways to Sunday and he needn’t think he could look at us for help. First sign of trouble and we would be running for the hills.

It was sooooo funny.

Until next time,

Dolores

 

Day 97--August 2, 2013

          Today was a real "down" day.  I don't mean a downer, but just a day of rest and relaxation.  I do think I suffered a little empty nest syndrome, but that will be taken care of Monday evening. 
          Richard gave me a real surprise for dinner tonight.  He made reservations in a great section of downtown Anchorage where they have many fine dining restaurants.  We went to Orso's.  It is advertised as an Alaskan experience.  It was really nice.  I had Bering Sea King Crab legs.  It came with grilled asparagus and a tomato stuffed with smoked salmon and several cheeses.  It was really good.  And yes, I ate them all.

Yummy!!!!

          After we ate, we rode through the huge houses nestled in the mountain above the place we are staying.  They were really something, and the view was unbelievable.  Tomorrow will be spent stocking up on groceries, replenishing meds and paper goods.  All that really means is I get to go to Sam's AND Wal-Mart.  You don't really appreciate those two places until you are many, many miles away from them.

Here are a few extra pictures I didn't get a chance to post.  I hope you enjoy.

I know this is hard to see, but it is an eagle's next.
There are a couple of babies and you can see
Mama's head sticking out.

I love this picture of Samantha and Smokey

More flowers.  Because of the long sunshine hours
the flowers grow into big, beautiful displays

Yes, these are real and look just like this.

The small Russian Orthodox Chapel located
in the City of Kenai

Until next time,
Dolores

Day 96-August 1, 2013

           Well, the gang has all been dropped at the airport and should be in the air by now.  It was a great time and I can't wait for Tiffany, Jey, and the boys to get here on Monday.
           For the next four days, I plan to catch up on my writing.  I'm working on a cozy mystery proposal I hope to submit soon.  As for what's coming up next for me, my new novel is a sweet, Southern romance, Dixie Cowboy, and will be released in October, 2013.  My new publisher, Bell Bridge Books, does wonderful covers for their books.  I can't wait to see mine.  I'll post it as soon as I get it.       
           If Dixie Cowboy is a success, I already have two more stories to hopefully turn them into a series.  I've found the Georgia guest ranch a fun location to bring my Dixie characters to life.  I hope you'll get a chance to read my new release, and be sure to let me know what you think.
          

Until next time,
dolores         

Day 95--July 31, 2013

          Today we drove about 40 miles to the City of Kenai.  (Pronounced key-nigh)

          When Russian fur traders first arrived in 1741, about 1,000 Dena'ina lived in the village. The traders called the people "Kenaitze", which is a Russian term for "people of the flats". This name was later adopted when they were incorporated as the Kenaitze Indian Tribe in the early 1970s.

Timeline of important events for the City of Kenai:

          1791--a Russian trading post, Ft. St. Nicholas, was constructed in the middle of the village for the purposes of fur and fish trading. It was the second permanent Russian settlement in Alaska.

          1797--the Dena'ina attacked Fort St. Nicholas, later dubbed the battle of Kenai. Over one hundred deaths occurred from all involved parties.

1838--the introduction of smallpox killed one half of the Dena'ina population.

1869--United States Army established a post called Fort Kenay. It was soon abandoned.  Parts of it are still standing today.

1888--a prospector named Alexander King discovered gold on the Kenai Peninsula..

1894--the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church was built in the village. Here’s a picture of it as it stands today.  It is still in use.


Russian Orthodox Church, Kenai, Alaska

1990’s--shipping companies were established, which broadened Kenai into a port city. Canning companies were established and helped fuel the commercial fishing boom that was the primary activity through the 1920s.

1937--construction of the Kenai Airport began.

1940--homesteads were opened in the area.

1953--A military base, Wildwood Army Station (later Wildwood Air Force Station), was established, and served as a major communications post.  Presently it serves as the Wildwood Correction Complex. 

1957--oil was discovered at Swanson River, 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Kenai. This was the first major oil discovery in Alaska.

1992 and again in 201--Kenai was named All-American City of the Year.
 

 

 After we got back to Cooper Landing, Brian and Samantha rafted down the Kenai River.  We have never done that, but we might.  They really enjoyed it.  I'm sure it is special to float in that aqua water and watch for wildlife along the way.

Brian and Samantha geared up for the raft ride

Ready for the adventure

 

Bon Voyage

Chase and Travis waiting on the bank for Mom and Brian to
float by--Cute story.  Samantha had just announced to the people
on the raft that those were her boys.  As they got closer, Travis hollered
"Mama, Chase stepped in dog poop!"  Samantha said, "I'm mistaken, those
aren't by boys."  LOL

This picture was taken from the front of our bus
as Brian and Samantha floated by.  They saw a lot
of eagles, adult and juvenile ones.  The water is
beautiful here.

 

  When they got home, we celebrated Travis' 9th birthday.  The real date is the 5th of August, but we wanted to be part of the celebration here in Alaska.  He was really surprised.

   Tomorrow we move back to our friend's place in Anchorage.  The members of the third installment of the best vacation ever leaves tomorrow night.  The time goes so quickly.  I've enjoyed spending time with Brian, Samantha and the boys.

  BTW, several people have asked why we didn't bring the whole family up here all at one time instead of doing it per family.  There are two reasons for that.  #1--Our adult children run our business.  Brian manages the body shop.  Ryan manages the towing business.  Tiffany manages the office and tries her best to manage the body shop manager and the towing business manager.  :-)  They can't all be gone at the same time.  #2-the best way to sum this up is to tell you to watch the episode of Duck Dynasty where they all go to Hawaii for vacation.  It says it all.  LOL

 

Until next time,

Dolores

 

Day 95--July 31, 2013

          Just a note to say that I've written the blog for yesterday, but there is a problem with getting the pictures to the blog.  I'm sure I will straighten it out in the morning and should have it posted by early afternoon.  Check back this afternoon.

Dolores