August in Anchorage

This has been the best weather in August in the 5 years that we lived here - I usually tell people not to come in August - it's cool and drizzly - but this month has been glorious for the most part. And we had good friends visit from upstate New York - Barb & Fred - as they prepared to go out on a cruise. Always good to see old friends, and I've known Barb & Fred for more than twenty years -- it made me miss them and all of my old friends!

We loved coming back to the hiking in Alaska - Baldy Mountain soon after our return and picking blueberries - Near Point and more blueberries.  Raspberries first at Lance and Mary's for eating off the bush, and then picking at Diane and Carl's - getting enough to put some in the freezer there too!

We tried for an overnight on Kakwick to go out on Prince William Sound, but a very bad accident blocked the Seward Highway, and we went hiking in Girdwood instead - a very hot one, as it turned out, up the "road" to the top of Alyeska.  

We did go out for a day on the boat the next day and got our last shrimp - and pulled the pots for the year.  I think we have enough in the freezer to last til next April, but boy, oh boy, those shrimp are good!

I bought reds for the freezer as Brian didn't go dip-netting again this year - and no silvers in the freezer yet either.  We were waiting for a confirmation on a halibut charter for this weekend that didn't come, so we hiked from Whittier up to Portage Pass and then down to the lake - lots of glacier ice chunks in the water and close to shore.

Portage Glacier & Portage Lake 

Brian with Glacier Ice 

Today was live music on the lawn of the museum and a couple of exhibits that I wanted to see inside - Arctic Ice especially before it leaves.  President Obama is coming to Anchorage tomorrow, and the whole city is gearing up!  Back to work tomorrow - it's been an intense few weeks as the semester gears up!

Sailing, Family & Friends in New York

A late post about our 4 weeks in New York -- we had a wonderful time and fit everything in - 9 days on our sailboat, Petrel, sailing to Kingston and Gannonaque, then to Cape Vincent and back to Henderson Harbor - and a couple of "anchor outs" in between.  It was fun to be in the marinas - live music and a wonderful farmer's market in Kingston and a great summer stock theatre in G.

What I loved the most about our vacation this year is that we got to spend individual time with each of our children - first Colleen and Ivana in Shapleigh, Maine, then Colin and April in Utica, Scott and Tarah in Geneva, and dinner with Alex and Sarah at Oneida Lake/Sylvan Beach.  It was the first time that I remember that we had time to catch up with each of them and their partners, and on the way back to Anchorage we went to Los Angeles and spent time with Jessica.

We hadn't seen our friends John and Donna O'Hara and Jack Reale with Judy for quite some time, so it was fun to meet them somewhere in the middle of the 3 places we were traveling from . . . in Oswego for dinner!

Dinner and home-brew with Scott and Tarah! 

In Utica, we stayed with my mom for several days when we first got there, and then she had her house booked up!  I got to see all of my brothers and sisters, and I researched senior housing when we first got there.  My mother thinks she may be ready to sell her home, and the six of us kids went to dinner with her at the place that she's thinking of moving to - an elegant, really wonderful setting that I hope she decides on!  We spent time with friends and stayed several nights with Colin and April, which we thoroughly enjoyed - and one weekend at our friends Cindy and Peter who had just been to Anchorage.

Santa Monica was a very comfortable temperature and lovely days on the beach, farmers market, and an overnight trip to Ojai -- very fun.  And a highlight was the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl - complete with fireworks at the end!

And then back to Anchorage with a few days off before the start of work again.  Picking blueberries, hiking, and trekking around the city to our favorite spots.  We are always glad to go off and see everyone and then also very happy to return!