Rain, rain, go away!!!!

Ok normally I love the rain. But not when it should be snowing and I should be skiing! So this rain today, which could be snow if it was only 15 degrees colder, is really making me crazy! Working everyday around beautiful skis doesn't help. boo. Plus I got some wonderful new ski boots last week for classic skiing, and I want to use them! Also, this 40 degree business makes it hard to dress properly. I'm always chilly, but not enough to need my warmest jacket. :( Just snow already! But it is Alaska, so what should I expect. Ah....back to research.

birthday fun

Saturday was my 24th birthday.  It was a great weekend of birthday fun.  Friday I went to Mamma Mia with my sister and my mom.  It was hilarious!  I wish I could have gone again with Steve...he would have died.  We got great seats - five rows from the front, thanks to house manager Bob.  I hung out with my nephews earlier that day when my sis went to get their babysitter.

Corbin - my "peanut butter jelly" 

 Me and Noah, my little snuggle worm

My gift from Kelsey, adorable! 

Watching Bugs Life with the boys... 

Saturday we got up early since we had lots to get done.  I did research all morning, until about 11am.  Then we headed out into the yard to do fall clean up.

 Me and Annabelle, enjoying the last bit of sun before winter hits

 She's a climber!

 We love raking!  not.

"Whitney" birthday party.  Me and my friend Whitney, who turned 24 Sunday (hers was golden)

What a great weekend.  Now Steve's off to work and I'm back to school, work, and research...

October 11, 2010

Outside my window.... rain is drizzling from the low, gray clouds, soaking the heaps of leaves that litter the ground. There are about three leaves left per tree, and there is snow falling on the mountains.

I am thinking... about all of the homework I have to do. And about whether or not I should get a 29er (bike) or a fat bike...decisions, decisions...

I am thankful for... cozy clothes, new wool yarn to knit into something special and warm, plenty of food to eat, and the wonderful fall weather.

From the learning rooms... way too much homework. It's midterms this week, and I have a two-part test to study for, a 30 page senior thesis paper to get some serious writing done for, ect, ect, ect the list goes on way too long.

I am wearing... black yoga pants, black t-shirt, black Patagonia zip neck thermal and woolly REI socks.

I am remembering... how good it felt to just have work, without any school stuff.

I am going... to UAA later this evening. For now, I'm staying here and cleaning house, doing laundry and working on homework.

I am creating... lots and lots of historical research. The words on this blog. My dreams for the future.

I am reading... knitting patterns, Gold Rush Women, Co. Aytch, Son of the Revolution, and Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens.

I am hoping... to get through this semester gracefully, for next semester to go by quick, and to have a wonderful holiday season.

I am hearing... Beau growling quietly at something outside and Billie Holiday Radio on Pandora.

On my mind... way too much.

From the Kitchen... not enough.

One of my favorite things... winter. snow. Christmas. holidays. everything!

A few plans for the weekend... house sitting for my parents, relaxing, homework, knitting, baking.

Hello, October!

Hello there.  I'm supposed to be working on my take-home exam for History 478 The Era of the Civil War, 1850-1870.  But I haven't blogged in a week! So of course blogging is my priority, even though the test is due tomorrow by midnight and I have work from 6am - 1:30pm, then two classes from 2:30-5:15pm tomorrow.  I'll get that done eventually...

I love October.  It is really the start of winter in Alaska, at least in my opinion.  Also, it is my birthday month.  And I just love it.  This October I'm pretty slammed, what with work and school, but I'm going to try and spend as much time out in the crisp, cool air as I can.  I biked to work Monday, but haven't had the time since then.  Plus it's dark now at 6:00am, so I need to get my lighting rigged up on my bike and helmet.  Once that's done, I'm ready to roll.

It's been weird without Pepper around (Pepper was our 80 lbs labradoodle that we had to put down three weeks ago).  She really loved this time of year.  It's been really hard for Steve and I to adjust to life without her.  I got her the summer before my freshman year in high school, and from then on we were inseparable.  And with her and Steve, it was love at first sight.  The morning we put her down was probably the worst in both our lives yet, and we really miss her.  I thought I'd post some of my favorite pictures of her, to try and convey what a great personality and spirit she had...

This is us in Girdwood in October, 2006.  Like I said, she loved this time of year...

Her and Beau loved each other, it's been hard for him too since she's been gone.  We came home from work one day to find them snuggling like this, so cute!

This was just a few months ago, already a year into her illness. She LOVED bones and thought she was clever stealing the entire bag in addition to the other three she had already swiped...

Skiing with her this past winter.  She loved it!

Steve and his girl in Homer, 2005

We miss her dearly but know that it was for the best.  Pets influence and enhance our lives in so many ways, and I hope you all appreciate the time you get with yours.  We sure didn't do that enough during the time she was with us :(

well....

Holy cow it has been a long time since I blogged last. I've been pretty busy; busier, in fact, than I think I've ever been before. Ever. So that's why I haven't blogged. But I have the day off tomorrow and can do homework then, so I decided I could squeeze in some blogging tonight.

Lots has happened since I last blogged. My niece was born, which was pretty exciting. She was born at 7:31am, Tuesday, September 7th, 7lbs 6oz - Morgan Serena. She is so beautiful and perfect and I got to fly down as soon as I heard the news and spend some time with the new family, trying to help out as much as I could. She is now three weeks old today, can't believe how fast time flies.

Steve with week-old Morgan

The happy family the day after Morgan was born

Things have been super crazy at work, since we are in the process of switching over from our summer stuff to winter, which has been fun despite the craziness. The "official" day of the switch it snowed on the mountains and little baby flurries even floated around in Anchorage. I was and am so excited! I love winter, it's by far my favorite season. It's cold so I get to wear lots of cozy clothes and drink hot cocoa. Plus all the best holidays are in the winter, and it just feels like the best time of year. I love playing in the snow, skiing, biking, snow angels, whatever. And there is nothing, seriously nothing, like walking in the winter, feet crunching loudly in the snow, breath clearly visible, but other than the crunchy feet there is almost complete silence, like the world is a wonderful, peaceful place and you just smile and smile. (Can you tell I love winter?)

In other news, I've started knitting! I am very excited about it and have a page on Ravelry where you can check out my projects and other cool stuff. I've knit two hats so far and am in the process of knitting up some baby legs with stirrups which I know will be very cute.

Infant hat I just finished. It's even my own pattern!!

Me at the Zoo this past weekend with my nephew, Noah. He's wearing the hat I made him for his birthday and the sweater him mom (my sister) knit for his bday.

Schools been CRAZY and I just can't wait to be done, so that's all I'm going to say about that. I don't even want to think about it until I have to tomorrow when I work on the multitude of reading and writing I have to do.

What do you all love about winter?? This is a positive post, I don't want to hear any complaining!!!! So if you comment you have to mention something you love about winter :)

Anniversary Animal Sightings

We went to Homer for the weekend to visit family and celebrate our two year wedding anniversary.  On the way home we saw a sight that I've never seen in the 24 years I've lived in Alaska.  We wondered what all the people were pulled over looking at along side the narrow highway through Cooper Landing.

 Then Steve saw what they were looking at.  It was a brown bear, catching salmon in the Kenai River.  

 I was pretty psyched to see the big guy since I've never seen one except at the zoo.  I've only ever seen black bears.

 Didn't have the best camera, just a 12.1 megapixel point and shoot.

scary statistics

I read this on another blog and felt it worth sharing here. What do you think?

What Is The Culture In Your Home Today?

Who Is Raising Your Children?

(shared from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families"

Stephen R. Covey)

Parent's time with kids:

-5 minutes with Dad

-20 minutes with Mom

(eating or TV)

Computer games

Internet

TV larger than life

Family Rituals

Each week a school-age child spends

-1.8 hours reading

5.6 hours doing homework

-21 hours watching TV

Adults watch 15 hours/week

Children's chance of growing up with both parents: less than 50%

Parents at Work

45-50-hour work week

More than 60% of children need day care because of parental work demands

Divorce rate 1 in 2

Single parent families increase 350%

School

Teachers' moral voice is silenced

Assaults on teachers up 700% since 1978

Juvenile Violent Crime

Up 500% from 1950's

Up 22% from 1990

75.8 incidents per 100,00

Neighbors

Most Americans know well only 3 in 5 neighbors

Extended Family

Live farther apart

Less frequent contact and involvement

Religion

60% of people feel religion is losing its influence on American life

90% feel the U.S. is slipping deeper into moral decline

Daybook

September 3, 2010

Outside my window.... a chilly fall breeze is rustling the yellowing leaves of the trees under a crisp, clear blue sky.

I am thinking... about being stuck in time, not wanting to wish it away but ready to move on to a new stage in life. I seem to be stuck daydreaming about the future, and can't concentrate on today. In the back of my mind I'm also thinking about the school work I need to do to stay ahead, and all that I need to pack and get ready for heading to Homer.

I am thankful for... so much. My God who gave me life and such a beautiful world to live in. My husband who works so hard day in day out to provide for me and for our future. My family who is always there for me. Costco, for having molasses cookies just when I needed them.

From the learning rooms... I am only taking 15 credits this semester, but the work loads of each class make it feel like much more. All are upper-level history classes which require an immense amount of reading, thinking, analyzing and writing.

History 477 Senior Seminar: Two small papers based on Orwells, "Politics and the English" Language and Carr's What is History? A thirty page research paper based on the topic of my choice (but limited to Early American History)

History 321 Modern China: Three papers based on contemporary Chinese literature and two exams.

History 479 History of Native Peoples of United States and Canada: 5 papers and a research project. Six required books.

History 478 The Era of the Civil War: three exams and a research paper. Seven required texts, in addition to timetables and battlefield maps.

History 341 History of Alaska: Lots of weekly projects and short papers, multiple exams including a midterm and final. 5 required texts and also multiple scholarly articles and interactive websites.

I am wearing... the dress I wear to do housework in, plus a cardigan and my favorite Birkenstock sandals.

I am remembering... how much I have loved this summer of rain, despite how strange that may sound. I have loved it. And will always love to remember how mysterious, and wonderful and romantic and cozy each and every rainy day was and how happy I felt.

I am going... to work at 1pm. But could also being up and heading to Homer, depending on the impending birth of my new niece or nephew.

I am creating... lots and lots of historical research. The words on this blog. My dreams for the future.

I am reading... right now I am reading Many Tender Ties (Van Kirk), Battle Cry of Freedom (McPherson), What is History? (Carr), and should be reading a few other school texts.

I am hoping... my sister-in-law goes into labor today. Also that this school year flies by and we are able to follow through on all of the plans we've been scheming and whispering about as we lay side-by-side in our dark room at night.

I am hearing... the song "Grandpa" by the Judds.

Grandpa, tell me bout the good old days, sometimes it feels like this worlds gone crazy. Grandpa, take me back to yesterday when the line between right and wrong didn't seem so hazy.

Did lovers really fall in love to stay, stand beside each other come what may. What a promise really something people kept, not just something they would say and then forget. Did families really bow their heads to pray, did daddy's really never go away. Grandpa, tell me bout the good old days.

Grandpa, everything is changing fast, we call it progress, but I just don't know. And Grandpa, lets wander back into the past, and paint me the picture of long ago.

Did lovers really fall in love to stay, stand beside each other come what may. What a promise really something people kept, not just something they would say and then forget. Did families really bow their heads to pray, did daddy's really never go away. Grandpa, tell me bout the good old days.

On my mind... being a Proverbs 31 woman.

From the Kitchen... lots of bread, chocolate cake, and fishwich (red salmon cooked and turned into fish salad for sandwiches).

One of my favorite things... fall. rain. sun. snow. music. singing. I can't decide!

A few plans for the weekend... heading to Homer to work on our property, hunt for moose (Steve), watch my niece/nephew be born (at least I'm hoping), make lots of memories with family.

Photo of the day - my pretty kitty enjoying the crisp fall sunshine.

Baking bread...

I have recently decided that baking bread is extremely therapeutic.  I am recovering from either the worst cold on earth or the flu and haven't really done much because of that.  But Steve has to have his sandwiches, so Wednesday I realized that I had to make some more bread.  I began the process feeling like every limb weighed 200 lbs, not a good start.  But as I waited for the yeast to proof, then mixed the ingredients and began kneading, I began to feel more relaxed than I had in while.  The tension seemed to melt right out of my shoulders, and after covering the dough to rise, I felt a smile on my face and came to the realization that making bread is therapeutic.  Then again I've always noticed that baking anything from scratch will almost always brighten my day and leave me feeling better about life.  God finds ways to give us pleasure even in the most basic chores.

Here are a few pictures of some recent loaves...

 ready to go in the oven

my little workspace

The finished product!  Honey whole wheat bread...yum.

farmers market!

I know it's been a long time...I've been busy and haven't really gone on any picture or post worthy bike rides.  Here in Anchorage we have had 31 consecutive days of rain.  That is just crazy for us.  Really.

Riding home from work two nights ago, a little patch a blue sky

I haven't actually minded because I love rain, but most people here have been complaining for the last 30 days.   Today it was sunny, so I went to the farmers market to get some ingredients for the spaghetti sauce I had planned for dinner.

 yummy veggies...

at the bus stop

thats the sun!

Felt the warm sunshine on my head

Getting some sun while waiting for the bus to take me downtown.  It got cloudy during my walk home, but I still felt a bit energized from that bit of Vitamin D.