Monday was Labor Day . . . and a holiday for me. It was Lessa’s Saturday so she had the day off. School was out for the holiday so Peppermist had the day free as well. We left the Pup home with hubbymoose (they made chicken soup together) and headed for Anchorage.

The store where we wanted to shop was closed . . . for the holiday (ack!) but we made the rounds of Jacque Penne’ and Nordy’s as well as wally-world and a big box book store. Those stops were productive – as in taking quite a bit of our hard-earned moolah.

But it was the getting there and the coming home that was the most fun – as per usual. My daughter is so like me – and her daughter is so like her . . . it was like being in a car full of triplets.

Can’t tell WE’re related, can you? Above pictures were taken at a pullout in Cooper Landing by Kenai Lake.

We spent a lot of time stopping and taking pictures. Lessa plans to do the girls’ school pics at wally’s this year. Says she can get the same packages for a lot less. Way to go!

We had a great time – laughed ourselves silly. Sang and watched for “YELLOW CAR – YELLOW TRUCK – YELLOW BUS – YELLOW TRACTOR” along the roads. In Peppermist’s words, “6 year old games are best!” Zaiah taught hubbymoose and me the game Saturday.
🙂

My favorite, I think, of Peppermist:

Lessa and I are headed back to Anchorage Friday. I scored a 4 day weekend and plan to enjoy it. We will meet up with a fellow knitter while in a-town – a woman visiting from Ireland. Looking forward to it.

(yes, there will likely be more pictures)

Saturday hubbymoose and I took the youngest grandson to breakfast and then we went on a little trip to Homer. This summer we have tried to have some special time with each of the grandkiddos and it was Zaiah’s turn.

First stop – the overlook at the top of the hill. Zaiah loved checking out the scopes and finding boats way, way, out there. Had trouble looking through the first one, but the second was more his size.

We stopped at Two Sisters Bakery and bought some munchies – then went to Bishop’s Beach to chow down.

Visited the Pratt Museum – which was having a No Admission day. We were stopped at the door by a lovely docent who told us – No Admission. Special activity. I apologized and we started to leave. She said, no come in – it’s FREE today. Then she looked again at her sign and said “I see why you were confused.”
🙂 Maybe it should have said No Admission Fee? 🙂

We walked up and down stairs and checked out the displays (and saw the gulls through a live feed camera posted on Gull Island out in the middle of Kachemak Bay.

Out in the parking lot there was a potluck going on – but Zaiah was only interested in the yellow train. He climbed into and onto it from all sides and loved every minute of it.

It was a long and wonderful day capped off with going down to the beach and trying to fish with a string and rubber band he had found. No luck, but way too much fun. Gramma even trekked up and down the beach with him – without losing breath!

I was also brought treasures

Leaving town, of course we had to stop to pick up some chicks – all of the men children in the family get their picture taken with this sign at some point.
🙂

Tomorrow . . . the girls’ trippin’ to Anchor-town.

The last week of August . . . first week of September . . . and our year quickly passes away.

It’s been a busy week – work and play. August was a busy work month. September and October both promise to be equally busy. Lovin’ my job.

Here are a few pictures from the past week. First – a mystery:

Walked out to my car on a crisp morning and noticed white patches all over the lawn . . . what in the world? So, I bent down to get a closer look.


hmmm – yup, spider webs. That was one busy mama. Time to cut the grass, ya think?

Leaving Soldotna after hubbymoose’s doctor’s appointment and spotted a BUNCH of ravens on the light standards – and on the grass on either side of the highway. Early morning feeding frenzy?
(more…)

After church services yesterday I invited hubbymoose to take a ride with me. Might be one of the last nice days of summer and I didn’t want to waste it. Grocery shopping was put off until the return trip.

We drove up into Cooper Landing – stopping along the way (of course) to take some pics.

I try to shoot Kenai Lake from this pullout spot each time I drive through. It is a never changing/ever changing view. Second picture is of hubbymoose checking out the sign placed by the landowner – it tells us all to leave the place as we found it – to pick up after ourselves. Good advice.

A bit further up the road we pulled into the Tern Lake parking area. It’s been years since I’ve gone back there – used to have to stop for the girls when they were little – if you know what I mean.

We drove across a one lane bridge and parked in the lot – got out and stretched.

Leaves are changing quickly. I will be heading back up the road to Anchorage in a couple of weeks with oldest daughter – I imagine the leaves will be falling by then.


We were joined by a black colored bird (I have no clue what it is) with something in its mouth. It paused (posed?) for a minute and I grabbed a shot. Sorta looks like some sort of fry – maybe trout? Hubby (seen in third picture here) says it is too small for a salmon fry at this late date.

We were getting a bit hungry so I asked hubby his preference – right turn to Seward? Left turn to Summit Lake? Or head back toward home and eat somewhere along the road?

We chose left – it’s been awhile since we’ve stopped at Summit Lake Lodge to chow. Met a nice couple from Florida and chatted for a few minutes after lunch. Hubby was, of course, being the natural story-telling guide, handing out his phone number (just in case you get lost) and the like. We usually never hear from such folks again. But it would be fun if they did call.

Summit Lake – boat with fishermen. Second pic? Is it? Could it be? Nah – not a bear. Someone apparently was having fun playing in the mud. I wasn’t fooled – doubt many Alaskans would be.

On the way home . . .

I always say I am going to stop to get pictures of Tom Cooper’s moose and caribou racks (antlers/horns) and always miss it. This time we stopped. Tom just waved and went about his work while I snapped away.

Love this last one.

Have a great Monday, everyone.

Last week was a crazy one . . . annual run was held Saturday and the final week of last minute prep is always crazy. This year was no different. We’ll be tying up loose ends – thank you notes and the like – over the next couple of weeks and then . . . begin planning next year’s run.

The day of the race was rainy with sun spots – perfect runners’ temp – not too hot and not too cold. I didn’t hear any complaints from the participants about the rain (we were, at that point, in a record breaking 28th day of rain!) Some of us who had to stand out in the rain, however, may have admitted to our distaste once or twice.
🙂
I left the race and ran home to get ready for a wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and fun reception.



Today, after church, another wedding. Must be something in the air. Both weddings had black and white as main colors. The first had red as a contrast. Today’s had just a hint of purple to contrast.



Now the big excitement is all over – at least for the guests – and it promises to be a quieter week – at least, more mundane week.

An update on hubbymoose – we are still seeing the wound care clinic, but it has been bumped down to once a week – so that is improvement. The boot seems to be holding everything in place and the orthopaedic doc seems pleased with that. We will see him once a month until he is happy.

I lost a crown Saturday before last – had it reaffixed Thursday of this last week. Friday it came off again. Big sigh. Not painful, but the additional glue the dentist used to “hold” it this time is very abrasive and is rubbing a sore on my tongue (ouch).

He will see me again Tuesday – will have to reshape what is left of the tooth and get a new crown made. Hear that squealing? Yeah, that’s my wallet.

Did I say it was going to be a quieter week . . . hahahaha. See you soon, folks.
🙂