Testing posting a blog through Flock...let's try a picture shall we?
Photo taken a couple weeks ago. Love my girl!
Great Alaska Vacation - Day One - Glacier Cruise
Dad R. called us around the end of July to tell us that he was making a trip to ALASKA! We were thrilled! Even more so, when he said he would be traveling with his fiancé Bettina! He asked us to make some plans, book some tours, hotel rooms etc. He would be in Anchorage the near the end of August! I was more than happy to make the plans. There were quite a few things David and I had talked about doing since we moved here. What better time than now!
Here is Day One.
We went on a glacier cruise through the calm, protected waters of Prince William Sound. It was an amazing cruise and a little sobering knowing that this was an area affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill . I remember watching the news when the spill occurred and understanding even at age 9 how devastating it was. It is now restored to it's original beauty! What a spectacular area!
Here is Day One.
We went on a glacier cruise through the calm, protected waters of Prince William Sound. It was an amazing cruise and a little sobering knowing that this was an area affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill . I remember watching the news when the spill occurred and understanding even at age 9 how devastating it was. It is now restored to it's original beauty! What a spectacular area!
Dad. R's fiance Bettina took this picture of us. It was great to be included in many photos! Thank you Bettina!
It was quite windy up on deck!
Dad and the lovely, Bettina.
The sea otters were the cutest things!
Glacier calving. The crew stated that this particular calving was one of the top 5 for the season.
Glacier silt makes beautiful patterns in the water.
Glacier waterfall. (With lots of seagulls around it!)
All tuckered out...
A scrumptious meal at The Glacier Brewhouse. Amazing food (...and micro beers, and cosmos!)
Bettina's son Jim took this photo of us.
I'm not certain this link will work as it's the first time I have attempted to share like this, but here is a link to an album I created on my Facebook account. It has a few more pictures than I posted here: Facebook Album
Ten Years
"Yours is the smile I always look for at the end of a long, hard day. Yours is the shoulder I lean on during those time when life's daily challenges seem to be almost overwhelming. Yours is the hand I reach for when I need the gentle reassurance that only you can give. Yours is the laughter I love to hear, the gentle laughter that reminds me not to take life too seriously...You're everything to me."Photo taken by our uber-talented child prodigy Gwyneth.
Link to last year's post HERE.
And because I love these pictures my sister took of me in my gown before the wedding:
I still love these despite the poor quality from being scanned.
Link to last year's post HERE.
And because I love these pictures my sister took of me in my gown before the wedding:
I still love these despite the poor quality from being scanned.
Tomato Tart
The other day while shopping for our weekly produce I could not resist these beautiful organic heirloom tomatoes. I didn't even flinch when the cashier rang up these beauties and $14 was displayed! I knew they would be worth every penny!
And I was right...I dug up a recipe I have had in my "recipes to try" folder for years! I tore it out of a Martha Stewart Living magazine years ago, but you can find it HERE.
The recipe above has a link to a Pâte Brisée recipe I generally use for sweet tarts.
The recipe I tore out of the magazine has a different variation for a savory tart:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (I used thyme)
2 sticks (8 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (I only had salted on hand)
1/2 cup ice water
Process following the recipe for a sweet tart.
I used smoked gouda cheese instead of fontina. YUM!
I even had enough dough leftover for a quiche tonight!
Wild Alaskan Blueberry Picking
We were so excited to be included in our friend's annual blueberry picking outing this year! Gwyneth and I were taken to a super secret location *wink*
We went a bit off the beaten path...through many blueberry bushes...over many a fallen tree...around moose droppings (we saw a lot of that!)
We picked close to a pound of these tiny gems...
and made blueberry pancakes for breakfast this morning....YUM!
Here are some more favorites from our outing...
Nature's trampoline - Fallen trees.
My friend's 12 year old daughter snapped this one for me.
We went a bit off the beaten path...through many blueberry bushes...over many a fallen tree...around moose droppings (we saw a lot of that!)
We picked close to a pound of these tiny gems...
and made blueberry pancakes for breakfast this morning....YUM!
Here are some more favorites from our outing...Nature's trampoline - Fallen trees.
My friend's 12 year old daughter snapped this one for me.
If you are on Facebook, check out the album I created.
The link to my Facebook page is in the sidebar on the left.
The link to my Facebook page is in the sidebar on the left.
We're back...
(Picture taken the last night in Anchorage.)We're tired, but refreshed, working through the laundry pile.
We enjoyed spending the week with Dad R. and his new love, Bettina!
I'll share plenty more pictures soon!