hiking

On Saturday I did something I never thought I would do.  Buster and I went on a hike ALONE!!  I was nervous but knew Buster needed a walk.  It started as a family hike but Gabe, Grayson and Buddy had to go back to the Subaru.  Actually that's not right.  Buddy never started the hike.  He decided it was too cold right away and lasted long enough to go to the bathroom and then get back in the Subaru.  He is a Weenie!!  Haha! 

Grayson and his face mask!!

MOOSE!

Don't know what kind of tracks these are.

I'm obsessed with taking pictures of Buster.

Even in the middle of the wilderness there is TRASH!

After 10 or so minutes, Gabe and Grayson went back because we figured Grayson was too cold and Buster and I kept going.  I got scared every time Buster would run off and when I saw moose tracks.  I think I am more scared of running into a moose than a bear.  There's not supposed to be bears where we are so I feel safe.  Here are some pictures of Grayson and how he has to go outside! 

More later.  Hope y'all are having a good week!

Angel Rock

These pictures were taken in the middle of September.  We took a hike at Angel Rock towards a place called Chena Hot Springs.  It was warm, i.e. 50 degrees!!  Gabe's Mom was in town and we all went.  It was hard for me because I was, still am, out of shape.  We hiked for HOURS!!  I really enjoyed it and decided I need to get in better shape.  Although it is hard to go outside and run right now because it is so slick.  I have to wear things on my shoes to keep me from falling.  Plus Grayson can't really go outside for hours when it is in the 20s or below. 

Hope you all enjoy these pictures and are having a good week.

It's 3 pm.  SNOWING!!  20 degrees!!  The sun is starting to SET!!  I already miss the warm weather.  BUT, which surprised me, I am glad to be back.  It is so pretty here when it snows.  I can wear sweaters and my fabulous snow boots!!  Drink hot tea and hot chocolate!!  I really want to decorate for Christmas.  I think I might seeing as how I live in North Pole.  I think this weekend will be the perfect time to start decorating.  I have out a Jimmy Buffett Christmas CD and am really thinking about playing it.  Two months til Christmas.  I can't wait to go to tall the craft shows and bazaars here.

I will go for a walk today or tomorrow and post pictures of this little Winter Wonderland.  Hope it's a good week for all!!

Warm Weather!!

Still in Mississippi and it is going to be 83 degrees here today.  Yes, I said 83 degrees!!!  I am loving it but I also miss Alaska.  When Grayson and I get back we are going to go sledding and skiing for the first time!!  I am super excited! 

I am going swimming, yes SWIMMING next week when we go to Texas!  We have decided to see all our family and it is warm enough in Texas to go swimming.  After a year of no sun I am going to get a tan! Jealous???

We will be back soon!!  Enjoy your weekend.  We will be flying!!

Back in MS

I am missing the first snow of the year and I am kind of sad about it.  There will be snow on the ground when I get back to North Pole.  Don't really know if I am ready for winter to be here yet.  I know now that there will be no more warm weather in Alaska.  Soon below 0 degree temperatures are on their way!!!  I will say that it is beautiful there when everything is white.  I want to go ahead and start decorating for Christmas!!  I can't wait to go to Santa Clause's House and get Grayson's picture taken with him.

Anyway, I am back in Mississippi for a few weeks and am really loving this HOT weather!!  It's only in the upper 80s but in feels like its in the 100s to me.  I can tell it's been awhile since I have experienced this kind of weather and I LOVE IT!!!  Bring on the humidity!!  No more dry skin!  It's so cold in Alaska that Gabe had to go ahead and put plastic around the windows.  Apparently this is a common practice in places where it gets cold.  I had never heard of this until we moved to Alaska.  I've never lived anywhere that cold.  This means we are getting COLD and that means we are losing DAYLIGHT!!  When I left the sun didn't come up until almost 8 am and set around 7 pm.  This makes me very, very SAD :(  Oh well.  At least we will be in Mississippi during the days that only have 3-4 hours of daylight!!  That is a good thing. 

Grayson and I flew to Mississippi for a funeral and are enjoying the time with family.  Sad about why we are here but so excited my family got to meet Grayson while he is little.  We are going to TN this weekend to see Gabe's family and maybe Texas the week after that.  YEA!!!

I have things I have to do so I will write more later.  By the way, my green tomato salsa works even better when fresh jalapenos and cilantro are added to it.  It's also good on fish.  Hope you try it and like it.

Have a good week!!

Snow?? Tomorrow??

Chance of SNOW tomorrow!!   I am not ready for this at all.  This means Grayson and I can't go outside all that often. I don't want him to get that cold.

Since we can't go outside as often I will have to start being crafty.  My first indide thing to do was to use all my green tomatoes and make a salsa.  It turned out ok.  Gabe and I would like it better if it was spicier!!  We love SPICE!  I didn't use enough jalapenos. I will give you the recipe.

Green Tomato Salsa

3 Large Poblanos
4 Meduim Onions
4 Yellow chilies
51/2 cups green tomatoes
2 cups heaping tomatilloes
3 jalapenos
7 garlic cloves
3 TBSP tomato paste
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup line juice
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp dride oregano
1 tsp cracked pepper
1 TBSP sugar
1 cup chopped cilantro

I chopped the first 7 ingredients into small pieces using my food processor.  I combined all the ingredients except the cilantro in a medium stockpot.  Using medium heat, bring to a boil.  Cook for 20 minutes.  Stir in chopped cilantro.  Ladle into sterile jars and process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes.  You should here the lids pop.  This means they are sealed and ready to go into the pantry.  This recipe gave me 8 pints.  The leftover I put in a jar in the fridge. 

 Gabe built me a raised bed.  He is very anal about it being level!

I wish you could see how small this corn really was.

Our biggest zucchinis!!!

My poor corn never got much bigger!!

The last day we got pick any veggies because the FROST came a few days later!

Back when it was warm!

I'm still playing catch-up for the month+ I never posted so here we go.  For our anniversary we took a champagne brunch cruise on a small paddle boat called the Tanana Chief.  We had a blast.  Grayson stayed with our good friend so Gabe and I could have an adult date.  I was excited for this date for months!!  The cruise was two hours and traveled down the Chena River here in Fairbanks.  The food was great.  It was about 85+ degrees and the company was wonderful :)

But now fall is gone and I am having a hard time remembering how warm summer really was.  Snow should be here Thursday and I feel like crying :(.  At least when we come to MS and TN for Christmas it will feel like a heat wave.  We had to book our flights early because last year the flights out of Alaska were sold out by October.   Looks like a lot of people do not want to be in Alaska for Christmas.  We had an ok time last year and spent with some good friends but nothing beats family!!

Enjoy this Monday.  It's a great one up here in North Pole!