A Birthday Smile

For my big brother, Bill. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Windy City

Zoey and Tom flew to Chicago to meet my mom for the big European adventure. They spent a day there seeing the sights and getting somewhat adjusted to the time difference. I really wanted Zoey to ease into the ten hour time difference instead of losing a day or two in the UK. Tom and Zoey spent some time at the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. They really enjoyed the city, I see a family trip there in the near future.




Vivi and I stayed in Anchorage. I had to work on Saturday and Sunday, so Vivi spent two days at Hogwarts. Our friends, the Burkes, have a son who took over the care of Vivi for Saturday and Sunday. My goodness, he did a fine job. Jesse took Vivi's infatuation with Harry Potter and ran with it. He helped her make Jell-O in potions class and a magic wand. She was totally engaged and asking for more. Good job, Jesse.



After getting a bit stuck in non-revenue travel purgatory, Tom made it back to Anchorage last night. Zoey should be wrapping up an evening of London theatre. Me, I am off to work.

Up For Air

Whoa, I am just now coming up for air. This past week has been a whirlwind of activity. On top of work, we had Mighty Bikes. Tuesday's session was a true, timed, all ages mountain bike race. Zoey took second overall in the kids division and first in girls. She was pumped. It was her first ever mountain bike race and she was totally exhilarated.

Wednesday was a blur of chores, trying to get Zoey prepared for her big trip. She and Grammie are off to London and Paris with Grandtravel. Above is a quick little watercolor Zoey did last week. To think, this winter she was nervous about traveling without her family. Today she was vibrating with excitement. Tom is easing her into it, they are spending a day in Chicago together on Friday, going to the aquarium and some museums.



As Vivi and I saw them off at the airport today, I had such a rush of emotions. I am so excited for Zoey and my mom to have a truly special experience. Oh, the places they are going! Also, I saw my beautiful baby daughter going overseas without me. Ouch! This growing up thing is difficult sometimes.



Vivi had a tough time at the airport. She was not at all happy to have her sister and father going someplace without her. She thinks that nearly two weeks without her sister is an eternity, a length of time she does not understand. Vivi likes her pink house and all her family in it. Thank heavens we had a brunch date with Aunt Sarah and her mom. That saved my bacon.

Paparazzi

Tom and Zoey went dipnetting at the mouth of the Kenai River yesterday. It was a slow day fishing. Zoey caught one silver salmon. It was DELICIOUS! On the walk back to the car, the paparazzi caught up with them. Check it out here.

An Evening at the Lake

Yesterday evening we drove out to Beach Lake in North Birchwood. The sky was always changing, but never threatening. The lake was still.



Tom and Zoey float tubed and cast the evening away. Zoey is trying really hard to get her cast down. She loves to fly fish. She is always plotting new flies to tie. Tom is very patient in teaching her. I tried to catch and image or two of her casting from the dock. She was beautiful, all long lines and grace. There was not enough light and too much movement.



Vivi and I floated in a little inflatable raft. We saw all sorts of great stuff. A family of common loons, a group of red-necked grebes (one of which was this amazingly beautiful pale variant), a beaver that was grooming itself on the bank, and five surf scoters. The best was the wild Pepere who called to Vivi from the shore. Tom's dad came out to the lake and joined us for a while.



Above is a very bad picture of the surf scoters. I did take my binoculars on the boat, but not my camera. Sorry!



Vivi fell sound asleep on the way home. She has her Didida and her snuggle blankie. Her family is in the truck with her. All is well.

Eight Random Things

What everyone is waiting for....a list about ME!!!! Me, me!

~ I am a Banana Slug.

~ I have Hughes Syndrome.

~ I spin and knit, I make less than traditional things with the yarn, like mandolin straps and cell phone covers.

~ I have seen Los Lobos eighteen times.

~ I travel everywhere with a headlamp.

~ My first official date with my husband was to see "Raiders of the Lost Ark", in the theatre, first run.

~ I have a small but growing collection of kitsch and not so kitsch Blessed Virgin Mary stuff.

~ My dream job used to be being in the diplomatic corps, now it is working for the Alaska Department of transportation in avalanche control. You get to shoot Howitzers.

Thank you to Susan and Ruthie for tagging me. I have no one to tag as my on-line life is limited (sigh). If anyone wants to be tagged, let me know!

New Visitor to the Yard

Thanks to Zoey for being so alert, we spotted a new visitor to the yard today.



It is a grey-crowned rosy finch. Sorry the pictures are not too great, but this was a swift moving fellow.