FLORIDA

Mom, Janice and I took a vacation to Florida. I had a conference near in Clearwater (near Tampa) and flew in a few days early. We drove down to Naples and hung out at the beach and toured the Everglades. We saw scores of gators just floating in the canals alongside the road as we drove down to the Everglades. We took the must do airboat tour and were able to spot a manatee and hundreds of birds. Check out the pelican that landed on our airboat! We traveled out amongst the islands and had a dolphin surfing off of the wake of the boat. It was so much fun to just explore Naples and hang out with Mom and Bin.

How can I state how much that I enjoyed the 87 degree water? This was exceptional; I understand why people love the beach. The beach was only seconded by the beautiful flora and loads of wildlife.

I think that Bin’s favorite sight was the Banyan tree at the Edison plantation as the roots dropped from the branches and found the ground they have grown to around 400 ft circumference. We all thought that this would make an incredible playground. I wanted to play in amongst the tree—but it was roped off.

Later we drove back up to Clearwater so that I could attend the conference while Bin and Mom played and played on the beach. They wouldn’t get out of the water—until they became very sunburned. Luckily, my skin was preserved as I was inside under florescent lighting. :-) Mom found all kinds of fun seashells and spent hours digging the in sand for shells. One morning we got up early to go swimming and were splashing in the water when Bin got stung by a stingray. Then mom and I started looking around and counted over 7 stingrays in the water. Luckily the sting was not too bad and Janice is really tough as confirmed by the resort staff. ;-0

We traveled into Tampa for an afternoon and toured Busch Gardens. Bin and I braved two rollercoaster’s and took the safari tour with Mom and fed a giraffe a whole lot of lettuce—isn’t she cute!

I am ready to head back!

Summer Food

Last night we had BDT's for dinner. We used dandelion greens instead of the lettuce. They were so good. BDT's formerly known as BLT's always make me think of summer, they were always a summer food growing up. Gathering the greens was fun--we often picked greens and I remember lots of stories of the Stockland family food foraging expeditions.

Our foraging for greens just led us about five feet out our front door :)

Isn't it interesting how food make you think of things. I like that. Paul and I joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) organization. We get a box of fruits and veggies almost every week. I really am enjoying it. I have learned lots of new recipes and tried lots of new veggies. Last week we had roasted sunchokes and I really like kale. We only eat meat about 1-2 times a week but the increase in consumption of dark green veggies keeps the needed iron levels and eggs, nuts and beans/tofu are filling in for the protein.

One of the CSA coordinators has a blog. This week she had a bit about reading Laura Ingalls Wilder "Farmer Boy". I remember reading all of the books but love her descriptions. I did not recall how detailed the descriptions of the farm meals where in the novels.

Almanzo ate the sweet, mellow baked beans. He ate the bit of salt pork that melted like cream in his mouth. He ate mealy boiled potatoes, with brown ham-gravy. He ate the ham. He bit deep into velvety bread spread with sleek butter, and he ate the crisp golden crust. He demolished a tall heap of pale mashed turnips, and a hill of stewed yellow pumpkin. Then he sighed, and tucked his napkin deeper into the neckband of his red waist. And he ate plum preserves and strawberry jam, and grape jelly, and spiced watermelon-rind pickles. He felt very comfortable inside. Slowly he ate a large piece of pumpkin pie. [from “Winter Evening”]

Wow! I am ready for a farm meal. Check out the rest of Allison's Post.

Here is a salad that we have been enjoying lately--because I usually have all of the ingredients. It won rave reviews at a recent luncheon with Health Educators and Exercise Specialists--healthy and yummy! I got the recipe from a newsletter that comes with each box of produce.

celery-apple salad with currants & walnuts

This recipe is based on one in Deborah Madison’s The Savory Way. It makes great leftovers! Make sure to use roasted walnut oil if possible because regular refined walnut oil just doesn’t have much flavor.

½ cup dried currants
1 large head of celery
2 sweet red apples
handful of pale green celery leaves
4 parsley branches or 1-2 tbs dried parsley
20 walnut halves, toasted for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven, and then chopped coarsely
1-2 tablespoons roasted walnut oil (or you can substitute good quality extra-virgin olive oil)
lemon juice or champagne vinegar
sea salt or kosher salt
freshly-ground pepper

1. If the currants are hard, cover them with warm water and set them aside to soften while you cut the celery and apples. When they’re soft, after 10 minutes or so, drain them and squeeze out the water.
2. Separate the stalks of celery and peel the tougher outer stalks. Slice the celery into thin pieces, straight across or at an angle. Cut the apples into quarters (or sixths if they’re large) and thinly slice them crosswise. Finely chop the celery leaves and the parsley.
3. Combine the celery, apples, currants, celery leaves, parsley, and walnuts in a bowl. Toss them with just enough walnut oil to coat everything lightly. Add the lemon juice or vinegar to taste, salt lightly, season with pepper, and toss again.

Welcome Back

My manager took a trip to Europe for three weeks.

She was gone so long that her keyboard (or possibly one that I got from my brother-in-law shhh) was overgrown with moss :)

I really enjoy artistic statements.

P.S. My manager thought that this was about the funniest thing yet.

Alaska Adventure

Wow, the time finally arrived. Chris and Annie, Wendy and Justin arrived to visit and see AK!

We had such a great time. Here is a little rundown of the events....

First evening we went downtown to check out some hairy men who were in town for the World Beard and Moustache Championships that were being hosted in Anchorage. Guess what--"The United States is the world's new facial hair super power, having captured twelve world championship titles out of eighteen categories plus overall at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska on May 23, 2009. Possessing home field advantage, the USA was able to dethrone Germany which had dominated this competition since its inception."


The second day we headed south to the town of Homer, Alaska it is one of the most beautiful drives in the nation. Above is a picture of the beach in Homer. I really like this community.

Then the big adventure began, we took a water taxi out to a yurt and camped Alaska style with no water or electricity for two nights. We washed our dishes in the ocean and stored our food in a bear container. We did not see any bears but some people that were camping just a ways up from us did. We hiked in to see a glacier and took a hand tram across a glacier creek. Unfortunately, it was too muddy to get to that glacier.

The next day we set off in kayaks and explored the coast and paddled over 12 miles. We kayaked into Halibut Cove for lunch. Lunch was $$ but incredible. We were able to meet the couple that settled the community of artist years ago and had drinks at their home. She is a Nobel Laureate and an internationally known artist. Absolutely amazing! We made it back to camp in rough waters--landing on the beach was so exhilarating and seeing every one pull it off was awesome!

Then it was back to Homer and on the way back we stopped at Portage Lake to see a bit of Portage glacier and lots of Portage Ice!

The time went sooo fast we had a fun night at Ken and Sue's and did get in a game of Settlers of Catan--a new version that Chris and Annie had not even played!

This was a vacation that required sleep afterwards--so much to do and not enough time for all of the fun that we had!

Titana

Titana is enjoying the warm weather. Lots of sitting outside intermingled with rolling in the dirt! She loves leaf piles! Here she is in front of our place--looking out over her kingdom.

Lunch

Another BEAUTIFUL day! I am so excited for the sunshine. The trees have just all budded out and the bright spring green color is all around.

Paul picked me up for lunch today. I thought that we were going to walk around the campus park for lunch but he said that he had a surprise planned. I thought maybe the Thai Restaurant that we recently discovered; no it was something even better. A PICNIC! Ken, Autumn, Marah and Jack joined us for a picnic at the new park in Midtown for sandwiches a walk and golf practice.

Springtime Highlights

I spent last week in Fairbanks at a Tobacco Conference.

The highlight of the conference was a side trip for pleasure to Chena Hot Springs. I could have floated in the outdoor springs for hours it was so warm and relaxing. I went with a group of seven women from the conference and had such a great ride (it is over an hour drive) to the springs. I highly recommend outdoor hot springs when there is snow on the ground.

Last weekend, I went shopping at the thrift store and found this really cool serving platter shaped like an artists palette for $5. Then I saw the exact same platter in a modern art magazine for $80. I am having co-workers over for lunch this week so will be able to use it then.

Birthday—I had a great BD with cards and gifts and phone calls. I feel so loved. Paul took me to Hatcher’s Pass for a day at the lodge. I love the view from the rooms there. I also would really like to run a marketing/image campaign for the lodge--so many possibilities. We went skiing and snowshoeing by the old mine and went sledding down the mountain. The mountain was icy and was full of craters from the volcano ash. It was a scary ride down. I went down twice. I am getting wimpier in my old age.

Easter and Reflection

For some reason I have trouble getting into the Easter spirit when there is snow on the ground and it is still snowing. Church was great--Easter Services are my favorite with all of the uplifting music and celebration.

We went for a long walk through our neighborhood and then went to Ken and Sue's for dinner and to hide eggs for the kids. It was a fun day, even with the snow.

I miss Easter's with outdoor egg hunts and kites.

Last week was my Dad's BD. So strange--the 1st time that I have not called to wish him Happy Birthday. I miss him.

Ducking from the Ducks

There have been an inordinate number of ducks circling our neighborhood lately. The quack, quacks ring out daily just after 5 pm. We had been wondering why there were so many circling around and could not figure out where they were landing.

Paul and I set out one recent evening to figure out this mystery. About a block away from our house there is a hidden dead end road. We didn't know that this road existed. As we walked up the road we saw ducks landing all over it. A person who lives at the end of the road had spread probably around 5-10 gallons of crushed corn over the end of the road. Hundred of ducks were there eating while hundreds more circled overhead. It was really loud and neat to see, we slowly made it up to within a few feet of the crushed corn. We stood quietly just watching and listening.

Then Paul got pooped on--I laughed at him. Then I got pooped on. Ewww, my poor hat. Being so close to all of the ducks and below the circling ducks is a dangerous thing.

I wish that I had brought the camera.

Local Bus Tour and the Alaska Elements

Paul and I took off last weekend on a bus tour to visit some of the local wineries, breweries and a meadery on the Kenai Penninsula.

We left Friday morning. There was an avalanche and we were stuck in Girdwood for over four hours waiting for the road to be cleared. That is the thing here--there is only one road. Then finally the road was cleared--we went to leave in the bus. The bus quit in the middle of the road leaving town.

Then we waited for an hour and a half as an alternative vehicle was sent from Anchorage--a stretch Hummer for 16 people. It was not that comfortable of a ride but it was memorable.

We saw the cloud from the volcano exploding and returned to Anchorage on Sunday to find our vehicle dusted in ash.

The picture of the volcano is from the volcano observatory.

Silverware Salmon

I finally finished my Silverware Salmon sculpture. I saw one last year when mom was up visiting and have been wanting to make one since then.

A friend and I spent a morning shopping for silverware at the thrift shops in Anchorage. The spoons, forks and knives cost about $7. The six + different types of glue cost over $50.

FYI--If you want to glue stainless steel the best option is industrial strength hot glue.

Now we will see how long it stays together.

This is our living room. I like how the fish looks on the very white fireplace.

I do not know why anyone would ever paint a fireplace white. I spent hours scrubbing the smoke off of it when we first moved in. Now I don't even like to use it as I don't want it to get dirty again.

Back in Alaska

When I arrived home, Paul had a surprise for me.

Homemade quiche and cinnamon raisin bread! He had been baking all week. It was nice to be home.

Omaha

While Paul enjoyed spring break with Hayden and Ryker here in Anchorage, I tagged a few days onto a work trip and met up with Mom, Sheri, Crystal, Janice, Nolan and our cat in Omaha for a few days of vacation.

We visited the zoo (the indoor rain forest is fun, the creatures of the night exhibit is scary and as always the stars of the day were the monkeys), Jocelyn Castle (not sure why anyone would need such a big place) and walked around downtown Omaha (Nolan was impressed by the green horse celebrating St. Patricks). The weather was perfect and we had a good time visiting the Christophersons (where mom surprised us with her exceptional pool skills).

My favorite part of the trip was being able to just talk with everyone. I love intellectual book talks and we had great conversations about books that we had read one night as we celebrated Crystal's BD at an Arabian restaurant.

One morning we found this incredible sculpture park downtown that honored the settlers who had passed through the region on wagon trains.

Unfortunately, it was over all too soon and I left for Alaska with Titana stowed under the seat on the airplane--she is a really good traveler.

Iditarod

Yet another Iditarod. We went downtown to watch the start with our friends James and Susan. It it fun to watch the dogs and see all of the energy that they have. There were no teams of poodles but we did see a poodle watching the race.

Skiing

Snow and more snow. Spring is not in the air here. It is beautiful though out in the woods. We went skiing just a mile or so from our house. Don't the colors against white just stand out--the ordinary moss on the tree just draws your attention in this environment.