ALASKA 2012 - DAY 3

As we were pulling out of Butte, Montana this morning, we noticed the temperature was lower than we've experienced in many months.  37 degrees.  It actually felt good to me, but then I am a cool weather gal.

The first rays of the sun were pale pink and soft white.

But it didn't take long until the pink turned to orange and the white to gold.  It was a beautiful sunrise over the hills in the east.

The closer we got to Idaho, the more green we saw.  Green trees, green lawns, and green pastures for the sheep, many of them being watered in the early morning fresh air.

And soon we were in Idaho. another very beautiful state. 

The mountains are so lush looking.

And the flowers on every light pole lining the main street of Coeur d' Alene, and decorating almost every shop front and building, were absolutely beautiful.

This area down by the lake near the sightseeing boats, was ablaze with red geraniums.  I don't know if I've ever seen so many geraniums used in a mass decorating project.  This spot above is maybe a fifth of the flowers in this public touristy area.  Brilliant color!

And we had our regular lunch of a sandwich along the lake, next to a very popular bike/walking/running trail.  The traffic was constant along the trail.  Must be some in shape people in this city.

We are now at our evening resting place on Fairchild AFB, west of Spokane.  This was the first base that Ernie was sent to after his technical schools.  He arrived here in 1962, 50 years ago.  We took a drive around the base, and he recognized only a couple of roads and a few of the buildings.  Everything looks very new and modern compared to what he was familiar with in the old days.

Speaking of new and modern compared to the old days:  The Prius did herself proud today.  We drove 350 miles and she gave us 56 miles per gallon.  Really!  And we were in the mountains, so there was a lot of up and down.  However, it was cool, so we did not run the air conditioning.  That makes a big difference.  So far expenses are running well below expected.  Yay for us!  Or just call us cheap.

See you tomorrow as we journey west to Tacoma.  We have never visited that area before, so we are looking forward to seeing new and exciting things.  Oh, and visiting a couple of family graves in the Yakima area. 

ALASKA 2012 - DAY 2

Our day began in Rapid City and breakfast with Joe, Kevin and Molly's oldest son, who is attending the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.  He is already back on campus for classes that begin next Tuesday, and he was available for breakfast with his grandparents.  We had a nice visit. 

Then it was off again.  In just a short time we came to Wyoming.  Love Wyoming.  I could live there.

In fact I found a nice ranch but Ernie wouldn't buy it for me.

There must be a lot of crazy women in Wyoming.  This one is a creek, we've stayed at a campground with that name, I saw a road with that name.....

And then we safely made it through Sheridan.  A year ago my dear sister-in-law had a heart attack in Sheridan as they were traveling through this area.  We were safe today.  Hope you're feeling okay, Karen!

Lunch today was by a gate on a gravel road that said: "State land.  Do not enter."  So we didn't.

See the little white spot right below and right of center?  That is the monument at the Little Big Horn Battlefield, site of Custer's last stand.  We've been there on an earlier trip, and just happened to notice it up on the hill as we drove by today.

The Yellowstone River.  A pretty river.  There were a lot of folks fishing on it today.

Montana.  Love Montana.  I could live there, too!

The sky was very hazy all day, and especially as we approached the Butte area, which is where we are spending the night.  After a 611 mile day.  I'm tired.  Ernie is already sleeping.

See you tomorrow.

ALASKA 2012 - DAY 1

We left home this morning a bit before 7.   The sun was just peaking over the homes along the highway leading out of town.

We were excited to get on the road, but sad to leave this little one, our great granddaughter Abby who just entered out lives two days ago.  But she is in good hands.  Her mommy and daddy are doing an awesome job already, and the grandma, our daughter Kari, will just have to do the spoiling until we return.  Abby was baptized this morning at the hospital.  She is a new child of God!  Praise the Lord!  Happy second birth, Abby!

We drove past many fields of Minnesota corn.  A lot of it looks like it's ready to pick....quite early!  It's been a weird year.

And of course, we have lots of bean fields.   The air was a bit hazy this morning, and actually it remained so most of the way to Rapid City.

Western Minnesota also has fields that look like this.

But South Dakota has fields that look like this!  Love those sunflowers!

Stopped to use the bathrooms.  We actually picked a good door to go in, and walked straight down a little hall, did our thing, and walked back out.  Junk city!

We had a few rain drops as we neared Rapid City, but the clouds were beautiful.  The temperature was 102, which is a bit warm for me.

Tomorrow we head across Wyoming and into Montana.  We had a good day.....all 524 miles and 47 mpg!

THIS DAY - AUGUST 22, 2012

This day began the same as most other days, with a pink sky off to the east.  The birds were singing, the grass was covered with dew.  I ran into cobwebs as I walked out into the yard.  A pretty regular dayl

And then this happened!

Abigail Lynne was born.  All 8 pounds 6 ounces and 22 inches of her.  She is beautiful!  She is my first great grandchild, my daughter's first grandchild, and my granddaughter's first child.  Princess Abby is here!

Look at that hair in back.  Her hair on top and in front is short, but this hair in back is thick and long!

Mommy and baby are doing well.  Kjirsten looks great for only a couple of hours out of surgery!

And here we are.  4 generations!  The white haired fat great grandma, my daughter Kari, the grandma, Kjirsten, the new mommy, and the Princess Abby.

Mommy and daddy are going to do a wonderful job of raising her.

And here is great grandpa.  He didn't get to hold our babies when they were only a couple of hours old.  That wasn't allowed back in the olden days.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

TECHNOLOGY BAG

I wanted a new bag for my gadgets.  I like everything together, in one bag, all in one place.  Organized.  So I dug in my closet stash of fabric, and low and behold, I found a piece of double sided quilted fabric that I had purchased about 10 years ago on a clearance sale at JoAnn's.  I knew I'd have a use for it one day.  So I started out by making a huge bag.

The fabric is bright purple, red and orange, with the orange flower design on the inside.  I made it extra big with strong long over the shoulders straps.

I filled the inside with pockets, book sized and magazine/ notebook sized pockets.

Then I made five zippered bags for my stuff.

The biggest multi-print bag in back is for my 17 inch laptop.  The orange on on the left is for the Nook and charger, the orange one on the right for the old camera and battery charger, and the smallest orange one for the phone chargers.  The long narrow multi-print bag in front is to carry my Wusthof chef and paring knives.  I know, they aren't technology, but I need them along because we are cooking all of our meals along the way, and I can't do much without them!

Everything fits inside with plenty of room left over for books and magazines and whatever else I need to keep corralled. 

I know.  It's really cute, isn't it.

PERFECT SUMMER AFTERNOON

Daughter Kari invited us to their home for a cook-out this noon.  She said their adult kids were going to be there, including their oldest, our granddaughter who will make us great on Wednesday.  She is miserable,

but I don't think she looks like she is ready to deliver a baby!

Kjirsten and her sister Katie are our two oldest granddaughters.  Love them dearly!

Their brother, Aaron, and his sweetie Callie, were also there.  Such nice kids!

Miss Anna has on her high heeled boots....she is 10.

Brother Adam hung out with us for most of the afternoon, too.  The other brother, Ben, successfully avoided grandma's camera for this day, but watch out buddy.....I'll get you yet!

Cousin Jacob came by after work, and his brother,

Caleb was also there.  They will both be back at college classes soon.

Son-in-law, Mike, grilled the most awesome kabobs.  They were perfect today.....thank you, Mike!

It must have been hard work because he fell asleep while we were visiting on the patio!

I snapped this on the way back home.  I thought it was a perfect Minnesota summer picture.  And with temperatures in the 70's, it was a perfect Minnesota summer afternoon with 8 of our 15 grandkids.  Now I miss the rest of them even more.  Love you all!

READY FOR ALASKA

Well, the tomatoes are ready for their almost 5,000 drive to Alaska.  Just hope they don't take them away from us at the border!

Ready for the boiling water to loosen their skins.

Naked tomatoes!

In the jars and processed.

And then I sat out here for awhile.