HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY

His and Her Anniversary Gifts......not as much of the surprise as I originally planned but I think you will enjoy Elsa once it is delivered. In the meantime, I hope your Anniversary Weekend is Wonderful and as Special as the Two of You Are.

August 28th

Yep! Today is Steve's Birthday so I am sending him the Biggest Birthday Wishes possible. I hope his terrific day includes the dinner of his choice (like we picked our favorite meal as kids at home) a delicious birthday cake with ice cream and candles with your family and friends singing...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRHDAY TO YOU.
Love and Miss You Lots,
From Your Big Sister, Debbie Raye

Ignored Cilantro

Started out as a very healthy plant that grew and grew and grew.
I admit that I have totally ignored it and was surprised when I saw how much it has grown. SO NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS

My mini cilantro bush has totally taken over the whole flower pot.

Alaskan Tomatoes

It is a good thing our neighbor likes fried green tomatoes. After all his "sweet talking" in the green house this summer ~ this is the crop..... Cantaloupe

and a few pale red tomatoes

Actually, I wanted to post this as a comparison to ALL the tomatoes they processed in Gleed recently. See what you miss by NOT living here anymore.

How Many Candles?

Let's all join together and have one BIG "Shout Out" to the Birthday Boy. Mr. Spudville this CELEBRATATION is just for YOU
Happy Birthday

Alyeska Blueberry Festival

Oh yeah, big time blueberry pickers we are....saw these few...picked three and ate them on the spot. Guess I'll be at Carr's buying any I need for pancakes this weekend

Becky and I met in Girdwood to go to the festival. We parked in the RV in the day lodge area and used her truck to drive around town. There were a dozen or so white canopies set up along the pond with music and vendors selling crafts and food. We ate a reindeer sausage and watched these crazies swim across the pond...in the yucky cold water full of water lilies. KINDA SPOILED OUR APPETITES....I had John's camera to learn how to use it and like my own much better. I like the small size of his as far as being portable but will use mine from now on. I took a few pictures of flowers but the macro setting shows them blurry...but I will post the clear ones later this week . Oh, and our appetites came back after TWO hours on the wait list at Double Musky. VERY GOOD HALIBUT STUFFED CRAB and the peanut butter pie is almost as good as Valerie makes!!

Ramming and a Shopping

This is the new Glenn shopping center near the Northway Mall. I went into Bed Bath and Beyond and Michaels. This is going to be a "good" one IF all the stores fill up. Need some different in stores to come up here soon........been saying that for years already.

You know this one "Target" store is still clean and stocked well. I am impressed. This metal sculpture is of "fish" and very colorful.

Few other stops on my "personal shopper's list " and back home waiting to go here Jewel. Her concert is at 8pm at the PAC. We are meeting early at SUSHI SUSHI...I am craving Patrick and Penelope....yep! moved on from the California Rolls.

Local Lingo

Another rainy weekend in Juneau. What's new? We worked all day and then headed downtown for a quick dinner at the Hangar on the Wharf. I had Halibut and Fries with Malt Vinegar! And I ordered Rhubarb Crisp ala mode. Very yummy meal. We are back in the room "vegging" trying to catch up on television shows and the blog. I didn't bring a camera which I miss~ but it is okay~ as it has not stopped raining since we landed. Instead I will try to bore you with some of the local lingo and information I found in the travel guide.


The Channel: Gastineau Channel is body of water between Juneau and Douglas.
The Bridge: Only bridge crossing The Channel to Douglas.
The Road: The long road running north and south runs. Total distance about 40 miles along mountainous coastline.
Down South: Also known as the Lower 48- anywhere in the contiguous United States.
Alaska Standard Time: One hour behind Pacific Standard Time.
Alaska Time: Things will get done, unless the SUN is out or the fishing is good.
Amber: A type of Alaskan Ale. Be sure to have one at the Red Dog Saloon or at the Wharf.
Harrisburg: That was Juneau's name before it became Juneau.


I found lots of tidbits in this nightstand book. In fact, I am taking it with me and mailing it to my cousin, Vonnie. She better pack good rain gear - not an umbrella as it will make you stand out as a TOURIST. Hopefully this will be the rainy season and the SUN will shine the whole time their cruise ship is in. Sorry I can't make it down here to see them.

Anniversay Wishes to Tedd and Natalie

I am pretty sure she is saying Oh Tedd instead of Oh Fred.....
Since I can't figure out how to have the u-tube video on here so you'll have to click to watch it.
Need my nephews and nieces to help me!
Hope you two are having a wonderful Anniversary Dinner some place very romantic.
You'll have to let me know where~ Miss and Love You~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knp9-GY6fHE
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Here's to Valerie

I know you girls are celebrating in style...sun, sand and storms! Hope you are having the best time this week. Wish I was there with you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISTER.

Birthday Party

The Ladies of the Backyard Bunch celebrated two August birthdays last night.

Our menu: Wine, Cheese and Crackers.

Then Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread and more Wine.

And then Amaretto Cake and Vanilla Ice Cream.

*****Delicious**Absolutely**Delicious******

We always have so much fun together - and the laughing only gets louder!

Happy Birthday to Vicki and RoseAnn.

Sunday leaving Cooper Landing

Last four pictures are taken at the pull out leaving the Kenai Princess Lodge and RV Park. I stood in one place and snapped away. It is peaceful and serene at its best. Another plus is the pretty shade of green water.

Back on the Seward Highway North heading home.

WHOA

If this means nothing to you----DON'T ask----better not explaining "blast from the past".....

gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg'g to my amigo's though.

Museum Tour

Since we are being tourist this weekend I toured the Cooper Landing Museum on Saturday with Donna and Becky. We chatted with the volunteer and commented on several of the antiques. This log is in front of the one room school house.

Pocketbooks or Schnauzers?

Taken for my favorite mailman....

and so was this one. Among all the antiques on display inside~I take this one picture....

Next stop was the Quilt Store but I didnt take any pictures here.

Kenai Princesses

Saturday afternoon we had lunch on the deck - delicious food- great views - good company. We couldn't of been better tourist. FORGET US NOTS

We treated ourselves like "Princess for the Day" and should do it more often.

Several and I mean Several pictures taken of beautiful flowers----will sort through and post the best soon.

Day One Kenai Princess RV Park

I pulled into the RV Park and had everything set up quickly so I could walk around the grounds of the lodge. It is an absolutely gorgeous place with immaculate grooming and spectacular scenery. The entryway to the Lodge pictured first.
A carved Eagle welcomes everyone to the circular driveway.

Old Man's Beard was in a lot of the trees along the paths. Doesn't show up very good but it was kinda eerie.

Standing as close to the edge as I would go for this view. You can see and hear the Kenai River below.

That's my "Winnie" on the right. Summer employee "cabins" on the left and 39 other RV er's parked along the strip! It was a perfect site for FULL sunshine and quiet neighbors. The turn- around circle was my neighbor on one side and on the other side of the turn-around I took above picture...

Turnagain Arm

I'm home and able to post the pictures I took on Friday. I was able to use a couple of the pull-offs - usually too many cars and rv's already stopped for me to feel comfortable navigating in to/out of. Think you will recognize these views. Remember this?

I am heading right into those grey clouds.

train was too fast for me----so it is around the curve and headed to Anchorage in this picture.

HEADED SOUTH

I drove the "most scenic highway in the country" according to the MilePost...the Seward Highway for 100 miles south to Cooper Landing today. Stopped to take a couple pictures and I saw something I've NEVER seen before~A BOAT in Turnagain Arm~and it looked so totally out of place! I will try again later to put the pictures on here-doesn't want to work now- and the SUN is out and it is HOT so I need to be outside.

WildFires

Just talked to Chris and he is on way up to Fairbanks with three other guys to work the wildfires. They are expecting to be there seven to fourteen days. We have sprinkling of rain here today---hopefully it will rain really hard up north soon.
Anchorage Daily News had this report today http://www.adn.com/news/environment/fire/story/886793.html

Sleeping Lady

Sorry it is the wrong view of Sleeping Lady but only one I saw. It was too cloudy across the inlet. Thought this would have to do. Nasturtium and Dahlias are gorgeous along the entryway.

This one was huge and such a delicate shade of yellow.

I will eventually post Sleeping Lady picture for you Brenda....maybe you oughta come up and have a Hefe with me at this this pub instead.

Downtown Market

We spend three hours this afternoon at Saturday Market. There are several smaller markets around town but this is the BIG one. The white canopies were needed for shade today. The booths are filled with fresh produce, (Peas are ready) Alaskan souvenirs, beaded jewelry, handmade soaps, clothing etc. A good size crowd wandered through the six rows of "goodies". Recognize the Hilton? and then there are the food aisles ....smells are so dang good it is hard to decide what to have for lunch. Dessert was a much easier choice-Ice Cream on a Stick or Pink Cotton Candy...what do I choose?
We had gyros and shared a picnic table with lady that talked about her trip to Africa. Very interesting....but I'd rather go back to Mexico...and she would "never" go there....

Left market and stopped at Ozarks Porch Sale..Nancy says hello.

Cilantro Anyone?

Doesn't look like we will make it to market today before noon. Girlfriend going with me had something come up she had to take care of first. Not a big deal as the produce is only thing I might buy. I am feeling guilty (why?) for leaving the "deck project" I must be crazy. In the meantime thought my "herb garden" will have to do for todays posting.

Can't use this fast enough- but the little white flowers are pretty addition. 2nd batch of lettuce peaking out of the lower left corner.

This was suppose to be last picture. Isn't that smile "catching"? That is how I feel when I wake up and the sun is out so brightly.

Cilantro anyone? Sure I have enough for everyone's salsa. Come and get it, please.

So no it is not "to market to market" but I'm out back on the deck and I'm NOT sunbathing!