There is no way to know for certain what experiences are currently cementing themselves as childhood memories for our children, but if I had to make a guess I’d say the daily cruise past Potter Marsh is something they will miss when they grow up and move away. Especially Maggie. Whatever the season, she presses her little nose to the car window and scopes the … Continue reading Swan Song
“Our plan for this gorgeous day was the removal of some of our animals from the world of the living into the realm of food.” ~Barbara Kingsolver, from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle Sometimes it bothers me that I’m married to such an avid hunter. How can he look into the eyes of a beautiful piece of nature, only to pull the trigger and watch it die? … Continue reading The Realm of Food
We have lived in our new home for about 18 months now. I’ll never forget the day we found this place: it was a crisp, clear January afternoon. Clark had found the listing online that morning, and we decided to do a drive by. Imagine our surprise when we discovered there was an open house, and we could tour the home that very day! We … Continue reading Blown Away
It’s rare to find an Anchorage resident who hasn’t climbed Flattop, a 3,500 foot peak in the Chugach Mountains. Today we decided it was high time the kids ascended it too. It had been years since Clark or I had scaled the peak. So many years, in fact, that we couldn’t even remember how to get to the trail head. As we pulled up the … Continue reading Flattop Flashback
“Climbing through a hemlock and spruce forest, the trail emerges above treeline on tundra and flowered meadows accented by stands of weathered, gnarled hemlocks. The area was at one time heavily glaciated; now brilliant blue lakes fill every depression, reflecting the snow covered summits of surrounding mountains.” ~ from 55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska, describing Lost Lake Trail The annual Lost Lake … Continue reading To Finish is to Win
I’m not sure what is up with me. Usually I covet the time I carve out to write in this blog, but since we’ve been back I’ve felt a bit uninspired. A transitional period, perhaps? Nothing profound? Post-vacation funk? Back-to-school blues? Or maybe we have just been going strong, reuniting and reconnecting with our Alaskan family. In hindsight, we’ve only been home for a little … Continue reading Inspired vs. Tired
As much as it pains me to watch my children grow so quickly, I must admit that traveling with them has become infinitely easier. See those suitcases packed with ridiculous crap? Who cares! I’m not the one hauling them through the airport anymore! As if that doesn’t make me giddy enough, Humpy’s now has a branch in the airport. (Humpy’s = Very Cool Anchorage Bar … Continue reading Leaving on a Jet Plane…
Few words today – I will let our newborn visitors speak for themselves. This new family slept next door last night, and wandered around our yard this morning. What a gift it was to watch them frolic and nurse. They were close enough that we could hear them too… chomping leaves, cracking branches, and whimpering at each other. The twins are adorable, but I was … Continue reading Duece Moose (+ Mama)
If I recall correctly, I typed my last post with dirty fingernails and weary muscles. Well, tonight I type with nearly severed tendons. I think that is worse? It all started this morning when I decided to make the kids blueberry muffins (just from a box, so don’t go all Supermom on me). I reached into the fridge for the eggs, and somehow flipped a … Continue reading One Fine Day
I type tonight with dirty fingernails, weary muscles, and sunburned skin. It is Memorial Day weekend, and for that I am grateful. Especially grateful to the men – my grandfathers included – and women who fought to make this a country where we can all make our own choices about most anything one can choose to make a choice about. Thank you. This weekend we … Continue reading At Least We Smell Like We Went Camping
Profoundly Ordinary 