Lazy or just busy?

Has it really been since April?  I know I got busy but got grief.  At the end of April We flew to Anchorage and I got  a new "used" truck"  it has never been owned but in the state of Alaska if some one that does not work for the dealer takes a vehicle off the lot over night the vehicle becomes a "used" vehicle good for me  got a great deal on a really nice F150 with all the bells and whistles on it.  Had to drive to Homer which takes around 5 hours to get on the ferry.  But we took our time and stopped along the way ended up staying the night in Soldotna and then drove into Homer we spent the night there since the ferry left early the in the morning.  Nice view, nice meal, lots of shopping the truck was packed only room we had was our seats. 

Once we got home I went right into prep mood for the cruise ships and haven't stopped until now.  I lost a hard drive with nearly all of my work.  All of my photo edits are gone all paperwork gone.  My DH tried to recover it but can't get all of it so I am going to have to send it the geek squad and pay them to try and recover it.  I nearly had a melt down.  Months of work gone in a split second!  I have two new hard drives on the way I am taking all new precautions for backing up this time.  Hard lesson to learn!!!!  Oh well.  The house is getting a good cleaning. LOL

I saw a new baby duckling in our pond yesterday, was so happy to see it all of the other babies disappeared.  Well this morning I hear a duck making a racket, so I  go out on the deck from my bedroom and look out and see an eagle having breakfast....you got it baby duckling, mom watching.  So sad...

Well maybe I well have something happier to talk about in a few days...

Mother's Day Give Away

Homefront Team is having this great Mothers Day giveaway.  Stop by the Homefront Teams blog and check out all of the wonderful items that are in the giveaway.  Just click on the title Mother's Day Give Away and it will take you to the blog.

Check out this blog

What a great idea and how wonderful of her to do this for other artist!

Moved in

Well it is official, we are in the house with all of our stuff.  It is still in boxes and scattered to the 3 winds but it is here!  I would do the happy dance, but I am to darn tired!!!  Found out yesterday the football league helps people move as a fund raiser.  Hello, I couldn't have heard this before I finished moving??  I would have been glad to donate to their organization for some help.  Maybe I will suggest they advertise this little nugget of info. 

My camera is sitting all alone and I am jonesing to get out and snap some pics.  DH and I saw orcas as we were driving to the flats.  You have to love living in a place where you can see killer whales breaching and swimming as you are driving.  Sea lions are a little skittish right now, they do make a tasty meal for orcas. 

Well time to get back to put things were they belong.

Moving

I hate moving!  You would think I would be use to it by now.  I moved so many times in my life, but it doesn't get any easier or faster.  I am looking forward to getting into our new place.  The house is a small cabin but has great views of woods and a wonderful deck.  It also has big windows and sky lights, so it has lots of natural light (when the sun is shining) and feels very spacious.  But I have come to the conclusion that men are dirty pigs.  The single guy living there seemed to think the place was clean and my husband seemed to think it was clean, but I don't!  Now my DH is in the lower 48 and I am here with the help of a friend scrubbing this place.  I can't even start talking about how much dirt Karen got out of the carpets when she steam cleaned them.  You should have seen the stuff we got off the build in bookshelves that are spruce wood.  I haven't touch the stove yet.  Oh well, guess that is just part of our DNA and makes us different. 

Week 10

Eagle in snow storm, I took this from my bedroom window.  I know lazy, huh!



Polar bear rug at a wonderful B&B we like to stay at.  She has the most amazing
collection in her house. It like wandering through a museum.



Suncatcher

The beautiful suncatcher I got from Natasha  at GreenhouseGlassworks on Etsy.  When a really good ray of sun hits it, it is just like having the sun inside with you.  It was snowing when I took this with my phone and it was rather gray. 

Week Nine

Cannery and harbor with eagles flying and lining the building.



Waiting for the snow princess.



Week Eight



Seagulls fighting 70mph wind gust and no seagulls were hurt taking this picture.  Just caught him in a twist.




Tiny little gator, ignoring the boat.



Week Seven

Wind rainbow

Snow mermaid

The wind was howling last week gust close to 80 and the sea spray was something to see.  As it caught the light it was making these great rainbows, so I braved the wind and took this picture. 

I don't know who made the snow mermaid but I thought she was pretty darn cute with her sea glass necklace, starfish nose and sea grass skirt.

Week five and six

Stellar Sea Lion diving, notice the cute little nubby tail.



Anchorage street waiting to turn on to the next street, just love the "moose" lights.




My "boys" sitting in the truck waiting for me take a picture and get back in the truck.




Returning the rental car in Anchorage, we went up the one way ramp and here comes the sand truck down the ramp at us.



Week three and four

Sitka Spruce tree wearing a winter coat.



Buddy playing under the Sitka tree.




C-130 in the sun.




Old barn/shed in Alabama



Week Two Photo



This was taken with my IPhone as we left Anchorage and were heading to Kodiak.




Jellyfish at the floatdock.



Santa to the Villages Program

As some of you know I was lucky enough to participate in the Santa to the Villages Program (STV) this past Christmas.  This program has been going for over 30 years.  In the early part of December a USCG helicopter is loaded with presents and stockings filled with little goodies and a apple and a orange.  Hand knitted hats, scarves, and mittens are loaded on a helio along with a few elves and Santa Clause.  These presents are then taken out to remote villages that you can only get to by flying or by boat.The Spouses Association runs this program, but we would not be able to do it without the help of so many people from all over the United Sates.  Many women knit scarves, gloves, and hats for the children.  Books are collected and donated and the spouses have a auction every year to raise funds to buy presents and fruits to give out.  There is months of prep work for this program.  And it was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.  To fly over a village and see so many children waiting out in the cold and sometimes snow, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa is incredible.  To watch them charge to Santa with these great big smiles, squealing with excitement could melt the Grinch's cold heart. They get the most joy out of getting a present and the fruit and picking out the knit ware and books.  I love this program with or without riding a helio.  I hope to participate in this program for a very long time.

Santa to the Villages



Elfs headiung to the helios.



Cell phone tower.





Crew waiting for the helio to be taken out on flight line.



The pilots were all sitting together when this little fellow walked up and waved his hand for them to
move over and he climbed up and sat between the pilots and made himself at home!





He was the center of attention, and had a long conversation with all of the pilots.
He was adorable.



The kids at Karluk sang Santa and his elves a wonderful rock and roll Christmas song.
When they finished Santa got in on the action to have his picture taken with them.



This is in Larsen Bay, as soon as possible they were running to the helio to greet Santa.



As soon as they got to Santa there were lots of shrieks of laughter and Santa did not lack a hug!



Week One Picture

I loved watching the finches flitting around the feeder an landing in the blueberry tree.

                                                 This is a crew chief on top of a H-65.

A Picture a week

I am going to try and challange myself.  I am going to try and take a picture a week.  I also would like to take a picture and turn it into digital art.  I have a few photos I need to go ahead and  list and one digital art to list.   So with that hopefully tonight I will add the photos.

My journey

I called my blog My crazy journey for a reason. To some people I seem to have some bad luck, but they have it all wrong. I am very lucky.....so many things should have shortened my time here on Tara firma but I am still here. I know God has a plan for me, what it is has not been made clear. But in time I will know, until then I will just let people know that every day above ground is a good day.


I no longer worry about a destination, that ended a long time ago, I just want to enjoy my journey wherever it takes me. I have a husband who loves me and is my best friend. We have been on this journey through some things that most people will never understand. We both have things from the military we never talk about and never will, and we each understand that. I was very lucky to have met him, and that he accepts me with all of my quirks and moods.

I have a son who has grown into a wonderful man, he had the good sense to find a women who made him laugh, who he could talk to, who made him happy and who loves him completely. She is a wonderful woman and I am proud to call her my daughter. I also have two beautiful grandchildren, and I am enjoying watching them on their journey discovering this world and themselves.

I don't know when my journey will take a twist or a turn, but I will just hang on, keep laughing and enjoy the ride.

Vacations

So my darling husband and I along with our furry children took a long vacation to the lower 48 to visit family for the holidays.  Just taking the furry children with us on the plane was a trip in itself.  They were very good I have to admit but to take them out of their kennels and carry them through security and put them back in was a pain.  Of course kids, both small and large wanted to pet them.  They counted as our carry on most people didn't know we had dogs, at least they didn't cry or smell like a dirty diaper, which we had plenty of on one flight.  I don't know what the couple behind us where feeding that kid but they need to stop!!!

We were very lucky that both our families get along and we all got together on Christmas Eve and had dinner together.  After spending Christmas morning watching the grandchildren open their presents we drove to DH grandmothers house and spent time with her.

Of course we did some shopping, and all I can say is I do not miss traffic.  I do not miss taking forever just to go a few miles.  I do not miss crowds.  I do miss family, I miss that certain smell that the south has.  I miss the smells of the farm.  I miss hearing the baying of dogs.  Just the southern girl in me. 

But let me tell you my heart took flight seeing the snow capped mountains, glaciers, and ocean. I do love Alaska. I love see mountains on one side and bay on the other as we drive here. This is one incredible place.






Levi




Lexi



Lexi, Buddy and Levi