Muffins & Maps

It is pleasant to sit around the table with family eating blueberry muffins and talking about our trip.  Dave has his map open here showing Mom & Dad the route we will be taking through Canada.  It's been raining almost nonstop since the folks arrived and our camping plans have been spoiled but there is no lack of things to do.  Dave and his dad spent about 10 hours yesterday working on the truck.  (I'm glad I wasn't the one playing mechanic's assistant.)  Mom has been sewing curtains and cushion covers and blankets that we will be using in the truck and camper.  After Dave & Dad returned home around 10 PM, we had rhubarb pie. So delicious!

Anticipation

Dave's folks touch down in Alaska about 16 hours from now.  We have been so looking forward to their visit.  They will be making the adventurous journey out of Alaska with us.  Their arrival makes our leaving seem more real, in spite of all the boxes piled all over the place.
More good news: the weather site is no longer predicting snow for Friday. :)

BRRRRRRR!!!

We awoke to 30 degrees at our house (26 degrees at Denali Visitor Center) and frost on the lawn.  Dave had to scrape ice off the windshield of his car.  In our 16 years here, I have never seen frost in August.   But my flowers are okay.  I was concerned about the water in the camper, but everything seems to be working okay in there.  After record breaking high temperatures this Summer, I didn't expect record breaking low temperatures for Fall.  (Here in Alaska, our Fall comes early) 

COLUMBINE

TRAIN RIDE

Blessing

 

        Last month, we took a train ride on the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali.   We
        received two free passes from Dave's participation in rescue training with the railroad.
        We left about  8AM and returned about 8 PM.  The most scenic was between Ferry and
        Denali Park.  We had a four hour layover so we had lunch and hiked the trails near the
                      railroad station.    It was an enjoyable day.

See the yellow train engines on the right.  This is Nenana River Canyon near the Park.

Windy bridge of Parks Hwy over Nenana River.

Healy Power Plant where Dave works.

TVFD

Blessing

             Tri-Valley Fire Department has been a blessing for my family.  Not only David, but
             Katherine, Daniel, and Colleen have enjoyed being a part of it.  Last night, TVFD
             honored Dave for his 13 years of service in the department.  Everyone spoke highly
             of his commitment, contributions, and unique talents he gave to the department.  
                           But I think he takes away even more because of the camaraderie, unique experiences,
                           and satisfaction that comes from being a member of TVFD.    I am very proud of him. 

Autumn is here!

Autumn is definitely here!  The trees have been changing to yellow for the last two weeks and this morning we had 38 degrees at our house--30 at Jack & Peggy's with ice on their bird bath.  We are hoping the temperatures will go up again; we aren't quite ready for freezing weather.  Dave's folks arrive in 6 days.  We are very excited about their visit and driving out with us.

Yellow leaves on trees.  Notice our big spruce is missing.

Looking southwest from our living room.  This is what we awoke to this morning.

Birth of a Blog

After many hours of composing, testing, deleting, trying, beseeching, gritting my teeth,etc., I have created my first (and probably last) blog.  And I will, most likely, change things around again.  But for now, it is time to get this blog going.   I have designed a collage that I want to use as my header/blog title, but I have to figure out how to do it.  For now, I will attach it with this post.

Dave has been working very hard the last couple of months with car, truck, and trailer repairs and alterations to prepare for our long journey out of Alaska.  I have been cleaning out closets, throwing away unwanted items, painting the fiberglass section of our camper, wandering around in a "there's so much to do" haze.

It has been a very busy summer.  Katherine's visit in May, which started with a snow machine adventure for her and Dave, a cruise in the Gulf of Alaska, camping up on the back road to the mine where we saw a Lynx and a Great Horned Owl.  And then my sister Alice's visit in June, with a bus trip into the park,  ATV ride into Ferry,  a trip down the Denali Hwy.

Our latest adventure was our traditional Blueberry Camping Trip, (a little different the last 2 years without our grandson, Colin).  The blueberries were so abundant and large.  Even with all the rain we had, we picked 4 gallon ice cream containers.  So far, I have canned 10 pint jars of jam (which, I discovered recently, aren't really pint sized) and have lots in freezer waiting to be made into pies and more jam.