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Summer Days

10/5/2014

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This summer was busy in the best possible way. Here is a look back at the glorious simplicity of an Alaskan summer. It's difficult to put words to and the pictures hardly suffice. As they say, you simply had to be there. 

As it sometimes does, it all began in Homer

Heather and Joe hosted a family/friends get together in Homer the weekend before they tied the knot. At some point I found myself at Captain Patty's restaurant on the spit, which has been my go-to stop for lunch for years. It's perfect to stop in for a table for one, to get a bowl of chowder, 6 oysters, and a glass of white wine. I brought my journal to take in the moment, writing a few words so that I can savor the scene months later. 
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Amber Lake

Amber Lake, the place my mom and dad call home, now, in Alaska. This place is vast, wild, and green in a way that I know no other place to be. The memories we talk about when we find ourselves at the cabin are of mosquitos, tarp tents, mud, grass, and wilderness. Today we can be on this minuscule 6 acre plot of land and stay dry, warm, and clean. However, a canoe trip around the lake is a quick reminder of the reaching, grasping, swallowing tendrils of the wild. 

Then there was Golf

Adam and I got some time to play golf this summer. Last year we managed to get three games in a day. Why you ask. I don't know. This year, Adam envisioned 4 games in a day. Why you ask. Because it can only be done in Alaska. We did it. We started at 7am and got off the course around 10:30pm. Three rounds on the Creek Course and one round on the Hill Course made for an epic day. Only in Alaska, never again. 

Also, we played with Laura and Shane when they came to town for Matt's and Kathy's retirement party. Their engagement golf round, if you will. 

Sweet, Sweet Summer Days

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From Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"
A child said, What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands;
How could I answer the child? . . . . . . I do not know what it is any more than he.
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Peterson and Kasitsna Bay 

8/25/2013

 
I just got back from my fall intensive trip to Homer. While I was at the CACS Field Station, I found out that Adam won a blue ribbon for his IPA, and I won a blue ribbon for our fireweed jelly at the state fair. 

So, the scene is set. I thought I would upload a few pictures as I sit on my front porch enjoying our award winning brew. Aaaahhhh, life is good. 

Dip Netting

7/29/2013

 

Kenai River
June 16th

Dip Netting on the Kenai this year was an experience of abundance. From the bounty of fish, to the exaggerated sunshine, to the thousands of people and hundreds of boats.

It's days like this when I cannot imagine living anywhere else in the world. 

The fishing was hot. We caught our limit in a little over three hours, and most fishing poles bowed towards the water, tense in imminent reception. For us, supplication was answered and we left the Kenai with gratitude, sun burn, subsistence, and fish. 
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Rainbow Peak

7/12/2013

 
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Rainbow Peak was a hike of surprises. The trail starts out in a canopy-covered river walk. It was easy to imagine myself somewhere other than Alaska. The jungle of a forest was constructed of tenacious branches reaching for the sun from every direction. 
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Then came the peak...

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How do we get back to the trail from here?
For the final push, Jason and I took a game trail (by mistake) around the rocky peaks. 

Once we realized our path was better suited for sheep than for humans and dogs, we decided to climb up the vertical rocks, where we were reunited with the trail. 

Though, at this point, our hike had officially morphed into a rock climbing adventure. 

Back on the "trail"

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A hike of surprises

I was surprised by the variety of terrain and the adventure that it led to. Watching the tide come in as we climbed and the clouds billow over the peaks, we were witness to Alaska's summer in full motion.  Starting at 6pm the ocean began its metamorphosis from river rapid currents--brown with sediment--into a sapphire sea at 9:30. For the whole evening, turnagian arm brewed a slurry of eddies evoking satellite storm images as ominous clouds ballooned over Rainbow peak. As a final note, in the car ride home, we saw a rainbow as we looked at the back side of Turnagain Arm from North Anchorage. Awesome.



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Yoga in the Rain

7/1/2013

 
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Golf-Who Knew?

6/10/2013

 
Golf is a surprisingly fun sport. OK, under these circumstances...
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I may, or may not, have done some yoga on the 18th...
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Glorious Summer Days

5/28/2013

 
There sure has been a lot of joy in these last few days. The weather has been an epic ushering in of summer, and we have been soaking up every second of it. 



Hello Summer!

Laura, Shane, Jason, and Tiffany helped us with Adam's first batch of sous vide baby back ribs last weekend. We had to test the ribs before summer solstice. We will be making two kinds; one with regular barbecue sauce and one with our tequilla glaze. 

Saturday Night

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Adam and I went to the Vogel's for the evening. It was so hot and beautiful. The first fire of the summer was fantastic, and Laura sautéed fiddle head fern for all of us to try. It tasted a little like broccoli and asparagus combined. 
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Green Thumbs

Today was the first day of summer that I spent with Mom and Dad. We replanted pots and enjoyed the amazing greenhouse in all its glory. 

Memorial Day Dinner

We were super lucky to share our Memorial Day with Joe, Heather, and Ben. Together, we cooked an eclectic variety of amazing food. Joe cooked a 5-spice venison tenderloin; the best venison I have ever had. Heather made a spaghetti squash curry that was to die for. Adam grilled up some halibut cheeks that had spent the day soaking in a lemon pepper marinade. Ben rolled up some smoked salmon and grilled asparagus sushi. I whipped up broccoli ginger wontons from a book my mom got me in Monterey Bay last year. We ate everything as it was ready, finger food style. I won't forget this for a long time. Thanks Ben, Heather, and Joe!
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