Hockey Love!

It's been almost a year since this amazing team won the Alaska small school State Championship in overtime! It's one of those memories that will stay with me forever. Not only because it was my son's senior year and what better way to end his high school hockey career, but the storyteller in me loved the fact that this team was the underdog. We weren't expected to win. We weren't the favorite. We weren't the team to bet on. Anyone who knew this team, knew it had the heart to win, but this state championship game would have to be the perfect game, every single player would have to play their absolute best. And it happened! It was amazing. We won!

Happy Holidays

As if life isn’t stressful enough—we get the holidays! Yay!

I remember as a kid listening to my Mom and Grandma discussing the pros and cons of having the annual family Christmas party at my Grandma’s house or not, and they couldn’t understand why one of the other aunt’s wouldn’t offer up their house for the party since my Grandma had out-of-town guests at hers. I didn’t understand what the big deal was. Just have it at Grandma’s house. It’s more fun.

Well, sure it’s fun--for the kids. I didn’t appreciate all the work my Grandma did to host the annual Christmas Eve “get-together” of approximately 40-50 relatives. This was a full meal with all the trimmings, all the dishes, and all the clean up afterwards. My Grandma didn’t even have a dishwasher and how about all the cleaning of the house before the party? Many of us stress about the cleanliness of our house on a regular day, let alone for a party.

In honor of my Grandma, I decided to have friends and family over to make cookies this week. No, it isn’t a full-fledged Christmas party, but at least it is a “get-together” to do something fun, eat cookies, drink egg nog, and share some laughs.  And if my house isn’t that clean? *shrugs* So what.

My kind of Christmas Tree!

Beautiful Alaska

This is a typical scene in the fall. Lots of pilots flying to hunting camps. This is my husband's plane and I'm in the back seat. I only wish fall lasted longer. It's such a short season here.

Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I just love this photo of Zenyatta. I'll never forget her race in the Breeder's Cup in 2010 and losing by a nose. Sometimes giving your very best still isn't enough to win the race. If you don't know the story of this incredible filly, just google her and be amazed.

Quirky gifts

I received these slippers/flip flops from my cousin. She just decided to get them for me. Not sure why. Don't you love receiving gifts for no purpose other than to give you a gift? And quirky gifts like slippers/flip flops are even better! I remember visiting my great-grandfather in a nursing home when I was very young. He would buy quirky things from the gift shop there. I noticed a little sculpture of a hand. I thought it was so unique. He said I could have it. I wish I still had that quirky hand. As I came to find out later, it was an ash tray. No one in my family smoked, but it was the coolest hand ash tray ever. What is the most interesting gift you've ever received?

Fall Colors

Autumn in interior Alaska happens very quickly. In the blink of an eye you have yellow leaves, then they are gone. I enjoy the fall colors as long as they last!