The View from My Chair

A nice cozy fire in the heater on a cool, damp night, curled up in my chair with a book and Grey's Anatomy. What more could a girl want?

Seasons of the Little Susitna River

This is the Little Susitna River when I was in Alaska in September and the same river this past weekend, about six weeks later. Glad I was there for the babbling brook time instead of the about frozen time!

Thanks

Thanks Shelley, K.T., Lou and everyone else who left comments either here or in person. It was the trip of a lifetime for me and I have really enjoyed posting pics and writing about it. I hope to go back again and take time to really enjoy some of the places instead of trying to see them all in one trip. Most of my life I have been a real homebody but this gave me the travel bug. Just need the purse to go with it. LOL Hope everyone enjoyed the pictures.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

The dreaded day came that I had to say goodbye and come back home. It was no easier this time than when they left in June. My heart felt like lead in my chest as I packed my bags for the return flight. But I had to put on a happy face for the girls and I missed my friends and family back home. Oh to be retired and wealthy enough to fly back and forth at will.

I wanted some pictures of the girls before I left but Lilly had already had enough picture taking to do her for quite a while. Abby was cooperating to the fullest and trying her best to get Lilly posed. We got three or four quick shots and then off we went for one last adventure.

Yes, go cart riding!!! Abby had waited for this since the first day I landed in Alaska. One of the first things she told me was "Mamma, you and me are going to ride go carts." It was utterly wonderful to speed around the track as fast as that little whoopie would go.....until the time came to get my overweight short self with bad knees out of that contraption. Thank goodness we have no pictures of that! Oh, the fun of grandchildren!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

By John Denver
All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go.

I'm standing here outside your door,

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.

But the dawn is breaking, it's early morn.

The taxi's waiting, he's blowing his horn,

Already I'm so lonesome I could cry.

So kiss me and smile for me,

Tell me that you'll wait for me,

Hold me like you'll never let me go.

Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again -

Oh Babe, I hate to go.

Mike's Work Places

This is the view Mike has on his way to work at the clinic in Palmer. Almost as good as Old Dermott Highway on my way to work wouldn't you say?

The physical therapy clinic is nestled in a cozy corner of an L-shaped center. We all met Mike for lunch at the Palmer Taco Bell. Not everything is caribou or halibut.

On Wednesday Mike was hard at work at the radio station in Houston. That is Houston, Alaska not Texas. Believe me there is a big difference.

This is the radio station in the Houston/Big Lake area. The equipment looked as complicated as a jets instrument panel to me. It would take me forever to learn what all those buttons and slides do. We got to hear a little of Mike's broadcasting over the airwaves. He's pretty good at it already. I'm proud of my son-in-law and his abilities. He's a keeper!

Talkeetna

"Talkeetna, a quaint little drinking town with a climbing, fishing, and tourist problem." "The core downtown area is classified as a National Historic site, with many buildings dating from the early 1900's. Several, including Nagleys General Store, Fairview Inn and The Roadhouse still operating as they did over 80 years ago."

The Roadhouse

Fairview Inn

Nagley's Store

An Early Trader's Home

Historic Trapper's Cabin

Interior of Trapper's Cabin

Talkeetna Airport

West Rib Pub and Cafe (Supper was delicious)

Some of us got kissed by a moose.

A Good Quote

I love the quote for today:

Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.
Charles Bukowski

Maybe I love it because I go a bit crazy every now and then.

Mt. McKinley

One of our daytrips included a sighting of Mt. McKinley or Denali as it is known by the residents of Alaska. Denali means "the high one" which it certainly is. I found an interesting link here with some pictures and lots of information about Alaska and the peak. The first picture below was our first sighting of Denali which literally made me suck in my breath. (This picture is not zoomed but some of them are).

We were about 130 t0 140 miles away in these pictures.

Magnificent!

Literally breathtaking.

Kristy and Mike had no idea how much the mountains affected me. I have always had a love for mountains which this visit stirred within me in an unexplainable way. I want to visit again and spend more time just sitting around on some of the mountain areas and basking in the glory of God's creation. I just know that my heavenly home will be the most beautiful log cabin perched on a wooded mountain with a trickling stream like the Little Susitna River flowing by.

Mike had to stop the car for me so many times on this trip for me to get out and make pictures. They were all so patient as I took time to gaze at every view. But as much as I fell in love with the mountains and streams the two pictures below are my real loves.

Seward Harbor

Once again we are loaded up and on the road again.

(I know you are singing it.)

Everyone gets to try on Mammaw's sunglasses even though there was not much sun shining.

We travel the Seward Highway Scenic Byway which is aptly named.

Seward Harbor - cruise ships can be seen in the background. The ships dock here and the tourist passengers travel on buses to Anchorage, Denali and other places of interest.

Flying underneath the low cloud cover was an eagle. (Not close enough for a good picture even though my camera was trying very hard.)

Lilly had the best mode of transportation.

Lots of quaint gift shops to catch the eye.

The Alaska Sealife Center was very interesting. We learned a lot about the Bering Sea and its inhabitants.

A Puffin

A bird (sorry, I forgot what kind).

A Sea Lion