Native craft fair

On Saturday, after we viewed the start of the Iditarod, we headed to the mall to pick up a new power cord for my laptop, yay!!

They were holding a native arts craft fair to coincide with the Iditarod. Here are some of the wares they had for sale. All vendors are local native artists.

a

aaPurses made from Seal & Ivory

a

a

aaDecorative masks

a

a

aaChildren's Mukluks

a

a

Many Alaskan natives still live in remote villages where there main means of survival revolve around subsistence hunts for whales, seals, and salmon. Although I am against most uses of animal skins, fur, bones, etc. this is one method that I 100% support. When the animals are harvested they use all parts of the animal from the meat as food, & skin and fur for warmth.

We have lived in Alaska for nearly 6 yrs and I have always had an eye for the ivory and whale baleen bracelets but due to the costs of them I haven't been able to afford one. I was lamenting that fact to Kyle as we left the craft fair and how I would love to someday own one. We got home from the fair and went about our normal routine of running the dogs out and getting ready for some supper. I ended up in our room to get a sweater and sitting inconspicuously on my dresser was...

a

a

How did he know that this was exactly the one I wanted? I didn't tell him about the bracelet until we were leaving the fair. Turns out he was browsing the booths, without me, and spotted the bracelet and thought I would like it. Needless to say he got a lot of kisses and I have been wearing it non-stop, even when doing the laundry and cooking breakfast this morning!

Words can't even begin to describe what a amazing man he is and how lucky I am to have found him...

a

37th Iditarod

**Following post has quite a few pics, I hope you enjoy!**
a
Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL DAY! We headed to Campbell Creek Science Center for a great viewing of the ceremonial Iditarod start.
a
aaWatch out!
a

a

aaMile marker

a

a

aaWorking dogs

a

a

aaOut for a stroll

a

a
aaDan Seavey's Centennial Team

a

a

aaRacing legend Dan Seavey
a

a

aaSinging for the crowd

a

a

aaRolling in the snow

a

a

aaYep thats me, I really love dogs!

a

a

aaKyle loving the racers

a

This was our first year watching the ceremonial start of the Iditarod. We had fun and may do this next year, weather pending of course! Thanks for joining me on my photo trip of the 37th Iditarod.

aa

Fingers crossed

a

I am hoping, actually praying, for nice weather tomorrow as it is the start of the Iditarod sled dog race. If everything goes as planned I will be able to watch the sled dog teams during the ceremonial start, so for now I keep my fingers crossed and hope that tomorrow will be clear and dry...

Family Friday

This week's post is a collection of black and white photos. They were my grandpa's that he took in the 1940's when he was stationed in China. ENJOY!!
a

a

aa

Pug Break

a
a
Here are my sweet Pugs all ready for some hot breakfast. There favorite dish would be anything that involves eggs!! Today's breakfast was an omelet with shredded cabbage and a little bacon grease added in for extra flavor. Frank was so happy that he spun circles and barked at me until I obliged with a plate of warm eggs :-)
a

The Simple Woman's Daybook - March 3rd

FOR TODAY, TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2009

a
Outside my window... The air is cool and crisp, and it feels like snow!
I am thinking... That I should be in bed by now, 4 hours of sleep isn't enough for anyone.
I am thankful for... My job as it allows me to buy little crafty things that I could really go without, also the paycheck is a definite bonus!
From the kitchen... All is clean and ready for a new day, our breakfast for tomorrow is all ready and my mug and tea packets are ready to go in the morning.
I am wearing... Hot pink jammies
I am creating... I am redoing my coupon book, now that it has been 6 months since I started, I have a better idea of what tabs and sections I need and those that I can get rid of.
I am going... To take a quick shower before I crash for the night.
I am reading... A is for Apron, it has a ton of really cute apron patterns and it really inspires me!
I am hoping... That I am not coming down with something as I have been feeling crummy the last couple of days :-(
I am hearing... Snoring doggies, they are all tucked in for the night.
Around the house... Kyle is waiting for me to come and join him, the house is quiet and dark, and my house plants are draining after a nice sprinkle of cool water.
One of my favorite things... Homemade Granola, something I recently discovered but tons better than the pre-made store bought stuff. I happened to buy some pre-made a week ago and it tastes stale and bland compared to the homemade stuff.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Make a quick trip to the pet store to pick up some stuff for Frank's upcoming 5th Birthday, if I could only find him a stuffed moose...
Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

a

aa

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

aaa

aa

Chocolate Lillies blooming in my garden, they are really beautiful but unfortunately they emit a smelly fragrance, so they are great in the garden but not for cut flowers. These started coming up on there own as I have never planted them in my garden, I love summer and can't wait for all my flowers to start popping up!

a

You can visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook for more daybook posts.

a

Pug Break

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

Lucy & Frank in the bath. I give them baths several times a year and have to do it individually or no more than two in the tub at once, as there is no room for three dogs in the tub. Frank is not particularly fond of baths but will tolerate them. Lucy is the complete opposite and she will jump in the tub when we are taking a bath, and she loves to lay down and close her eyes. Winston, not pictured here, he sort of likes baths but prefers being held in the shower, I think he likes being in the tub even less than Frank! Lucy is HILARIOUS in the tub! She will dig in the tub to get something that is on the bottom and will even hold her breath under water to retrieve it, what a smart little girl :-)

a

Its a nice sunny day outside and I got spring fever, are you ready for some warmer weather??

a

Sunday drive

We took a nice drive on Sunday and headed south towards Exit Glacier near Whittier. The temp. hovered around 10 Degrees but with a clear beautiful day we couldn't resist getting out of town for a short drive.
a











Our favorite place to stop for some hot cocoa and snacks

















Kyle enjoying the beautiful sunshine












Tunnel leading to Whittier












Heading home












Doggies have had enough of the cold snow!












Refers to the glacial ice, it looks blue due to the color spectrum and the light rays affecting the ice. In the summer, when winter's snow has melted off the glaciers, you can see the blue tinged glaciers.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Feb. 23rd

FOR TODAY, MONDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2009

Outside my window... It is cool and crisp, the stars are shining brightly and I am hoping for a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis.

I am thinking... That my start to a new week is going well and hopefully will continue to be so.

I am thankful for... My little fuzzy dogs, they are so amazingly devoted even when being punished they will gladly give kisses at a moments notice.

From the kitchen... I am reheating some tasty leftovers and getting our breakfasts ready for tomorrow.

I am wearing... Pj's and my fuzzy slipper socks

I am creating... Dabbling in some sewing projects. I dont have space to set up my craft table and will have to sew at my dining room table which is overrun with fabric at the moment.

I am going... To join Kyle on our cushy couch, watch an episode of Stargate, and have some dinner and a cup of hot tea.

I am reading... Haven't yet made it to the bookstore so no new reading yet, unless you count the headline stories at MSN :-)

I am hoping... That it warms up this week, I dislike going outside with wet hair and having it freeze like dry spaghetti noodles.

I am hearing... The dogs' pitter patter feet on the hardwood floor, time for a nail trimming!

Around the house... The humidifier is going in our bedroom and our awesome new furnace is keeping the house toasty warm.

One of my favorite things... Our Monday night ritual of watching Heroes followed by weekend leftovers and maybe an episode of Stargate, definitely home movie night.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Get our Taxes taken care of and finish at least one sewing project.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

a

a

Bohemian Waxwings invade Anchorage every winter during their migration, here they are feeding off of berries on Mountain Ash Trees. It amazes me that they can manage to swallow the berries whole and will occasionally toss them into the air before gulping them down.

a
You can visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook for more daybook posts.

a

Semi Homemade Chili

By the time the weekend rolls around I feel pretty worn out with all the cooking that I do that it is always nice to have an easy meal on Friday. In case your wondering what I am talking about "all the cooking that I do", I am a full time Chef with some work days stretching to 12 hrs. long that by the time I get home the last thing on my mind is standing in the kitchen to cook more food!
a
Here's what I did to stretch a single can of chili into 5-6 cups of chili.
a
Semi-Homemade Chili
1/2 Lb. Hamburger
2 Tbsp. Onion, dried
1 Can Pinto Beans
1 Can Chili (I used thick style chili)
1/2 C Water
1/4 C Ketchup
1 Tbsp. Mustard, prepared
1/4 C Cheddar Cheese, and more for topping
Salt
Garlic Salt
Hamburger Buns
a
I started off by browning the hamburger in a medium sauce pot with the dried onion and a dash of salt. Cook until the meat is brown and add in drained pinto beans, and chili and heat until bubbly. Then added in water, ketchup, mustard, cheddar cheese, and a dash of garlic salt. Bring back to a low boil and stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Then I take 3 hamburger buns or hoagie/hotdog buns and lay them on a sheet pan, split sides facing up. Top with some chili mixture and sprinkle on a bit more cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, this allows the cheese to melt and crusts up the bread edges.

a

a

Chili is cooked and ready to go.

aa

a

Hamburger buns topped with chili and cheese ready to put in the oven.

a

a

Oh yummy!
a

a

All ooey gooey melty goodness thats ready to eat.

These are super tasty and are great for a quick lunch or dinner.

a

Pug Break

a

Our little Winston celebrated his 2nd Birthday on Valentine's Day. He was spoiled with a Birthday treat and some new toys.

a

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Feb. 16th

FOR TODAY, MONDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2009

Outside my window... The sun has gone to bed, and the white topped mountains peak out among the dark clouds.
I am thinking... That it would be nice if I never had to work again, having a long weekend at home with my family really feels nice and I'm dreading working tomorrow.
I am thankful for... The blessings the Lord has given me in these rough times; a strong family bond, plentiful meals, and a warm home :-)
From the kitchen... It is dark, you can hear the buzz of the dish washer cleaning the last of our weekends meals.
I am wearing... Pj's and my fuzzy slipper socks
I am creating... Working on my place mats, the directions are a bit confusing so it is taking longer than expected. I am also finding that using fabric with stripes is a bit challenging due to even the slightest error in sewing greatly shows.
I am going... To bed, in my soft warm bed with my husband by my side.
I am reading... I am taking a break from reading til something new catches my eye, I'll have to visit the bookstore this week for some inspiration.
I am hoping... That the week goes swiftly and before I know it, it will be another weekend...yeah, I know, but I can wish!
I am hearing... Keith Urban crooning from my speakers singing about "Once in a lifetime".
Around the house... The dryer is humming with its last load for the week, and the dogs are nestled in their kennels for the night.
One of my favorite things... My "my" time before bed where I get ready for work and take some time to snuggle with my hubby before I doze off to sleep.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Hopefully finish my placemats and try to figure out what is causing my Lucy girl to have allergic reactions as it isn't her food so now I will have to check out the chemicals I use in the house. Can be frustrating, but I hate seeing her all broke out in spots.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
a

a
Time for bed, oh yeah!
a
You can visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook for more daybook posts.
a
a

Happy Valentine's Day!

a
Have a great holiday everyone. I'll be spending the day with my sweetheart and my 3 love pugs!
a

Family Friday

I'd like you to meet my husband Kyle for this weeks family Friday.
aaaKyle at 3 yrs. old with his brother
a

aaaKyle at 4 yrs. old
a

aaaHappy 8th Birthday!
a

aaaHappy 16th Birthday!
a

aaaWith some friends, Kyle is 22 yrs. old
a
aaaKyle at 28 yrs. old
a
Kyle at 30, 40, 50 yrs. and beyond...guess we'll have to wait and see!

I love you sweetheart, Happy Valentines Day :-)
a

Grateful

We have suffered our last night without heat, yippee! This morning it is -12 and I am having a new furnace installed as I speak/type this. The dogs had us up during the night as they were cold, against my better judgement I obliged by turning on a small heater and letting it run near there kennels, I know that it wasn't safe but it was really cold!
a
Our saving grace through all of this was that the State of Alaska has a weatherization/home energy rebate program. The state set aside a good chunk of money for homeowners to make qualified upgrades to there home to increase the efficiency. The current wait list is over six thousand homes in the city of Anchorage. Anchorage has 6-7 energy raters with each of them able to rate up to 300 homes in a year (the rating takes 4 hrs per home). When we lost heat last week I called the AK housing corporation to get on the wait list, not realizing how long it was, and I ended up speaking to a nice man (obviously high up in the program as he authorized me on the phone), who bumped me to the top of the list since I was without heat. An energy rater visited our home on Saturday and was able to have our paperwork to us on the spot via his portable office, this I sent in on Monday and could finally get a furnace installed.
a
The way the program works is through a point system. The standard home rates at a 4 stars with newer construction homes coming in around 5 stars. I am sad to say that our current home rating was a 1 Star plus, how depressing! The program pays you a higher amount for the repairs based on how many stars you increase your rating, so our furnace won't be covered 100% but any assistance is better than having to cover it completely out of pocket. Besides the need for a new furnace we found out that there is NO insulation in the crawl space and we have massive drafting issues around the outer walls of the home, and our current windows offer no insulation value as they are original to the home and it was built in 1983. The good news is that making even half of the improvements will at least double our efficiency.
a
aaaYikes, 1 Star Plus

a
aaaBlower door test

a

aaaOut with the old

a

aaaIn with the new

a

I snuck a quick shot of the new furnace being installed, the installation tech still has a lot of work to do as he has to cut an access into our attic to attach new duct work for city code compliance.

a