awesome Alaska

we went to Alaska. it is not a place i would ever have imagined i would be able to visit. well life is unpredictable that way: lovely baby daughter dates really nice commercial fisherman; she decides to live in Alaska for a summer to be somewhat nearer to him; mom & dad miss daughter & realize it is the perfect opportunity to visit Alaska!

Laura has been living in this adorable cottage in Sitka all summer long; working, having visitors & a bit less time than she had hoped for with Stefan (the handsome fisherman). the cottage is about 2 minutes from her work and was about 1 minute from our hotel. it is super cute and a great location; directly across from the police station which makes this mom feel at ease... a little.

Sitka is a pretty small town... a wee bit bigger than Sisters but other than tourism, that is an obvious industry because of summer cruises they also have a real industry. yep; fish!

just the charm of a true fishing village makes Sitka a quaint lovely town all on it's own. then you add the backdrop that you are in Alaska; seriously it is phenomenal! so beautiful that it is impossible to describe with words (but i will try) so my over 20 pictures will help with that. (hint: if you click the pictures they get bigger and much better (o:)


we spent our first afternoon\evening simply exploring Laura's world\town. i admit i made a checklist for all of the shops i wanted to revisit to pick up a trinket or two.

the next morning we set out on a wildlife cruise, delighted to wake up to no rain and a pretty nice day. we were also delighted to find the boat had inside seats realizing quickly the weather in Alaska is not quite like to weather in Hawaii. Laura choose this cruise saying it was the one thing she really wanted to do before she came back home to Oregon.


well we were not disappointed in the least bit! if i had to pick a favorite thing i suppose this would be it; we saw so much wildlife. it was pretty exciting to feel so close to creation\nature. very cool!

if you look very close at the wall of this island we visited you will see some pretty amazing sea life. look closely at the purple.


the captain quickly caught on that we all saw these guys in the distance and jetted over to them. we were all excited, i admit though... it was very hard to get a picture of them! rocking boat.... then when they did surface it was so hard to predict when they would show some skin! it was exciting to see them so close, we think there were four in the pod and they were beyond magnificent!





we saw thousands of wild birds and learned a lot about each of the different species and why they choose Sitka waters as their home. again they were hard to capture with the camera (next time i am bringing Michael!) i was happy to see i had a pretty decent shot of a Puffin. kinda cute i think.


again hundreds of Sea Otters. wow now these are one adorable animal! they would just poke their heads up and check us out. we learned that they actually tie their self up into the kelp to keep from drifting away. also they are something the Russian's quickly realized they could profit from in Alaska. that fur!


our captain noticed a float plane circling overhead and figured they had spotted a brown bear (grizzly to us) so here Laura & Bill are scanning the shore in hopes of getting a glimpse (Bill's main goal for the weekend). it didn't happen here though.


this guy is keeping watch over his or her nest that is on the island across (they can see amazingly well... like can read a newspaper from across a football field if they could actually read)... so yeah super good eyesight...


watching out for this little guy. a baby eagle still living in his nest. you have to admit you do not run into this every day!


our view driving back, it was just so pretty!



after our cruise, my goal for the weekend... for Laura & I to share a bucket of crab! yummy


next we decided a QUICK and i mean QUICK venture through the woods. they have been having some bear problems all week and this made Laura more than nervous. living there she understands the severity of the warning... on the other hand all her dad wanted was to SEE a real bear... we walked pretty briskly on a trail to go to the Raptor Center to see the birds up close.


on our way we past a stream filled with salmon trying to get back to their place of birth (the creeks\streams are so low) they were so determined but with so little water they were basically stuck )o:


the woods were so beautiful. almost like magic. you could imagine a fairy jumping out at any moment; really!


salmon berries, i ate a lot then drug my family everywhere till i could find jam to purchase. sheesh...


we did find out a the Raptor Center that Laura is basically the same size as an eagle; well maybe a little taller.


this is a great place where injured birds of prey come to be healed and hopefully rehabilitated to go back into the wild. some of the injuries are too severe but they do provide a wonderful home for them here. the habitats are open at the top and separated by the netting to keep them safe from one another.


why oh why do owls look wise; Bill's question of the day....


and yes; here he is! Bill's wish fulfilled! he was down the steam below the Raptor Center (so the netting you see is for the birds not him, he is in the wild) he was having a heyday down there with all that salmon. one happy grizzly (o: grrrr


on our way back we stopped at the local hatchery. these poor guys were trying so hard to return to their place of birth... kind of perplexing because apparently they had found it. the next step was egg harvesting... we all 3 wondered did this mean they were farmed... not sure really because they were right there on the ocean. regardless it was amazing to see.


okay so the one hokie thing we did. the Russian Dancers, i mean it was good and all... just a bit cheesy. you see the Russians took the land from the Natives (Tlinkit's to be exact, Stefan's heritage) so there is a very strong Russian history in Sitka along with the Native. it's actually interesting... well it's history can't really change can it.... Bill really disliked that women danced the men parts. it is what it is...


i never got tired of this view. seriously if you have an opportunity to visit Alaska do it. there is just so much beauty! there was a ship in port every day we were there. i liked it, i would've enjoyed it as a port if i were on a cruise. there was so much to do and see.
we did so much more than i show here... i could only post so many pictures you know!
but really were else can you have....


a 'Reindeer Dog' for lunch (no lie here)


and fly home on a fish!


it was by far one of my favorite trips ever! spending time with my daughter who i adore and miss already and seeing some of God's creation that is by far his finest work!

as always, i am so blessed.

i don't bake

i used to, when the kids were young, when i didn't live in the mountains where anything you BAKE acts the elevation here effects it somehow! seriously what is it with that. i gave up long ago.... i do think i am a decent cook. i really enjoying layering simple flavors and think i am pretty good at it.

i made up this yummy dish last night. Bill enjoys pork a lot and Charlotte needed a bone. it was quite tasty for our first almost real summer night.


i admittedly spend too much time stumbling here. if you are not familiar with stumble upon, it's simply a website that you push stumble and it takes you to random web sites. some bad, some interesting, some really funny and a few good foodie sites. i came across 'the best chocolate cookie recipe ever! so i decided to save it and maybe try it someday soon.

i leave work around 2:00 and other than laundry, hmmmm how to spend my time this afternoon. i quickly check the recipe to see if i even have the ingredients (shopping in Sisters OR way to $$$$ and i am not driving to Bend again already, 3 times over the weekend!) well i almost have them... i can fudge here and there, right! probably why i suck at baking.... it takes exacts, cooking does not. insight here but i thought i'd try anyway. seriously, the best ever.... i can compromise a wee bit.

so it begins. i admit my brown sugar was super dried out. very hard to measure accurately and this recipe was into precise measurements! 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons 'cake flour'. luckily i did have that (because i always dream of making a perfect batch of cupcakes...) i confess for the 'bread flour' i substituted 'flour'. okay and on the butter... mine was salted and i was 1|4 cup short, dang! added 1\4 cup of the stuff in the fridge.... soft butter, spreadable.... what's a little canola oil mixed in, it is hardly any!


for the 60% or more cacoa i used NESTLE, oh you dark chocolate people, wake up and smell America! sheesh! seriously there is nothing better than a box of See's Candy Mixed Milk Chocolates, how you have all forgotten! i also had to use my Mexican Vanilla rather than the 'Natural' called for, i am sure though, my stuff from Mexico is 'natural', whatever.....


okay all mixed, ready to go!
refrigerate 24 to 36 hours, this gives the cookie the perfect level of moisture before you bake the cookies. (according to the New York Times). gosh, there are a lot of instructions for this cookie. so my great idea just to try, stick 8 in the freezer for an hour. i see very little difference here......


freezing away... i mean quick chilling.


i am thinking, these are actually looking kinda good.


as they bake (i should insert here, please tell me why recipes never say when they say the temp if they are talking about a convection oven or a standard oven. i always wonder.... i have know idea and i have both. i know a convection bakes more evenly so i always think i should use it but i never know if i am supposed to adjust the temp!)

as they bake.... i sit out back dreaming and reading about a place i will most likely never live but always wish i did. well other than those hurricanes they have. it's a perfect day here anyway, so there; oh white and blue decorated beach house! who needs you (o:



oh my gosh they are not flat; i am surprised and delighted!
this is the first of two cooling stations (told you... lots of instructions).


so cooling station two. i could tell when i moved them... i overcooked them a little, they look nice though.


well for taste... they are good but not great in my mind. i think they needed salt (i put less in then called for because of the 'salted butter' i used. but then i admit it could be this last little step i forgot: Sprinkle lightly with sea salt (your best)! sheesh....details.... i think they have a kind of a funny taste, most likely either MEXICAN VANILLA or REGULAR FLOUR. don't get me wrong they are not bad; but the best ever.... still Otis Spunkmier i think. i don't know.... Depot Deli here in Sisters used to have an amazing cookie also...

maybe it is simply that i am more of a cupcake girl these days. i just wish i knew how to bake them!

all the while Charlotte was just as cute as could be while i was attempting to bake away.


she just reminds me of a cute little lamb all curled up and cozy.


she is cute and i really don't bake too well..

sky

i took this this afternoon. just laying on my patio with my phone. i think it's kinda cool. it's actually in color, if you look real close there is a tiny spot of blue peeking though. it was a kinda dark afternoon.

nugget allen

we are having a little grandson in about 3 weeks. it is pretty wonderful, he is a little miracle baby and as a family we are excited and thankful for his soon to be arrival. it's been nice for Bill & I because we both like toys a lot and he gives us a good excuse to check out cool toy stores!

we picked these little softies up for him when we went to the beach a few weeks back.


i have tried to explain to a few friends how cute we thought they were and that we just 'had to' buy them.


i admit i have had more than a few raised eyebrows.


being married to a branding man, i just loved the tagline for this product. i think it's quite clever!


this is will what happens i suppose when the 'baby boy nugget allen' is a bit bigger... they will be devouring one another.


because after all... they are the 'food chain friends'. "it's a complicated relationship".


heh heh, do you get it... i think it's funny, cute, clever and all. i think nuggets mommy will appreciate it. i hope...

please if you think these guys are morbid, say, "you are off the deep end here".....
i do feel a little sorry for the littlest guy.... he seems outta luck.

Yee Haw!

there are a couple of phenomenon that happen in this funny little town in the summer. they both bring a spirit of anticipation and a plethora of shoppers to our chinky little gift shops. regardless of which event it is, this always happens to our traffic. i admit i kinda like it, just for that spirit it brings...


this weekend is Rodeo Weekend here in Sisters. even people Laura's age get excited about it. it is SOMETHING to do (rare for here).


the rodeo crowd is pretty distinctive. our streets fill with horse trailers, campers, cowboy hats, belt buckles and wranglers. you can hear them even out at our house partying well into the night. it's quite the rowdy crowd (especially if you compare it to the quilters who follow in just a few weeks)!

the camp ground up the street from our house fills to the brim with spectators. sometimes there are even contestants staying there, you can tell by the horses tied to the back of trailers (o: neighhhh..



the rodeo grounds were right here in town in days gone past, when my momma and my auntie lived here as girls. they, along with their brothers would scour underneath the stand. looking for lost change and other trinkets that dirt poor children like themselves appreciate and treasure.

now the grounds are 4 miles out of town. it's kinda this revered spot, saved for this one weekend every year. by tonight it will be filled with thousands of people, hundreds of cars, the pepsi girls, elephant ears and lots of beer drinkin' good times.


she looked like she was getting some time of peace in before the excitement begins. you just gotta love a real cowgirl. i like them, they know who they are.


69 years now this has been going on, now that is nostalgia!

news of late....

Bill & Leila are still around and enjoying the few days of summer weather that has struggled to break out. if you have not heard yet... we have a new puppy. she is Charlotte Louise and she is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. apparently the friendliest breed of dog in the world. she IS pretty sweet and is very friendly.

i think i haven't blogged much because i have found it a challenge to get a decent picture of her. this is what i dealt with yesterday... yes, that is the camera cord in her jaws.


Bill's nickname for her when she gets like this is 'Wolverine'. people tend to think she is so sweet and innocent looking... there is a whole other side to her personality!


she finally just moved on to my shoelace. Charlotte, like all puppies, likes shoes a bit too much.


this is her favorite spot, it's her perch. she will just sit here and watch the neighborhood. she loves being outside. but because of that she is always pretty much a wreck with tree pitch and all. not quite the royal cavalier she is expected to be! the perch helps with that though... 'tis a bit like a throne.


well other than Charlotte, work that is always overwhelming for Bill (but something to be very thankful for). not so much going on except....

had a great dinner with sweet friends on Saturday. the purpose being, we share anniversaries (well by four days) and we have decided to celebrate them together this year.


in Italy! yes we are going back. we are going with Randy & Darlene. Randy, like Bill, is half Italian and they have always wanted to see this amazing country.


so we are heading back to Tuscany this Fall. we have booked our flights, our Villa and our little Euro Auto. this time we will also be spending a couple of days in Cinque Terra.

so that's about it, a pup and a trip. there is a lot going on with our kids (o: so maybe someday i'll have some cool stuff to post about that.

thanks for taking the time to read.

x
~ Leila