Wow!! This week pretty much will not be forgotten for a long time!
All in one short week I was notified I was on my way to Anchorage to compete in the Fish Alaska reader recipe contest at the end of September and already won a ton of great prizes, AND our awesome Governor Sarah Palin is scheduled to be a judge! Later in the week, I meet her! She is just so lovely. Mark gets kudos for this recipe, as he suggested it to be submitted and I wanted to poo-poo him for it. It is called "valley of ten thousand smokes shrimp and crab appetizer".
Hope it is a winner with the judges!
Then..... Marky flies the little Super Cub out to Bucky's lodge and lands on this little tiny lake called Skeeter Lake, (it is called that for a good reason he said!). He has always wanted to land his OWN plane on this lake. It takes a bit of skill and the right plane and conditions. He is really an excellent pilot. I love flying with him. Next time he goes to Buck's I will be in the back seat. Hopefully the skeeters will be gone for the season by then! Hate those little buggers!Buck's place is incredibly Alaskanishly beautiful. I have not been there for over 20 years and it still has a special place in my memory and heart.
Then...... Thursday I went to Soldotna at the request of my boss, the Senator, Gary Stevens, and we have a nice lunch together and then attend the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act meeting. He is an incredibly dear man, and I am so fortunate to work for him. Very smart and personable and so devoted to Alaska. I really enjoyed my time with him. While there, our Governor pops her head in and I go introduce myself to her. She is lovely, personable, more beautiful in person, tiny and petite and sharp as they come. She is darn smart!Wow, what an incredible woman. I did not have the nerve to get a photo and now wish I would have. We had a very nice conversation and I even told her I was in the Fish Alaska contest. She was so sweet and asked me what I was making. I told her the story of how I didn't want to submit the recipe I did, as I knew she was going to be a judge and didn't want her to dribble the sauce on her blouse! She laughed.
Okay, then Friday, Suzanne and I make a dinner date, get all cute and go to Wasabi's for drinks and dinner! We had a GREAT time and yummy meal. It is nice to get dressed up and be a girl sometimes! I did not bring the camera and should have. She has a new "DO" and it is so nice. All curly and blonde. She looks so good too in her little tiny and fit body. She is SO FIT! Looks like a million bucks and I am so proud of her accomplishments. She works hard to be this way. I am not as slim and fit as of yet, but on my way. Somehow I doubt God intended for me to be as FIT and TRIM as Sooz! I will love how I end up, as already i am a new Teri!
Friday night Sky King comes home and is so tired, he forgets the short conversation we have on Friday night after my date with Suzette. He loves flying that plane and find a new great spot to park it, much safer and more secure for it. He is happy. I am happy.
Saturday is Homer Spit Race day! Lynne and I and Suzanne all enter together. It was a beautiful hot and sunny day with NO WIND! I could not believe it! Surprised no one had heat stroke! Seriously, I was dying of HOTNESS! Eewww... sweat and everything. Yuck. So, Suz RUNS ahead and Lynne and I goof off and walk and jog and talk to people and take pictures and have a blast!
We made it all 6 miles in an hour and a half! Darn good! I would have NEVER thought I would be able to do this a year ago. I could hardly walk down our road without stroking out 6 months ago.
Wow! We had so much fun and what a great day it was. Got some fun photos of us 3 girls and some of our WW sisters! We rock pretty much!
After our race we went shopping at the Homer Farmer's Market and bought all this super fresh and organic and wonderful produce! It tastes so much better than the crap at the store! I love it there and the vendors are all so nice. We are so lucky to have this. It is a favorite place for summer in Homer and so appreciated!
Colin and Pam, half of the Caribou Hills Social Club, came over for a drink Saturday night. Mark and I ate .......PIZZA from Fritz Creek!!! Oh wow, oh wow, it was good!My first piece in 5 months. I could have ate the whole pie, but stopped at 2 slices. No wonder my stomach is in revolt today! It has not had pizza in way too long!
Sunday I finally tackled about 2 weeks worth of laundry! I even cleaned the bathroom!
I was going to mop the floor and then I started feeling kinda lousy and still do, so that was the end of the cleaning spree. Good grief, that floor will be dirty until fall at this rate. Willie and Sib always have their own little sand beach in front of their beds in the house, they track so much in. So funny!
Well, somehow I doubt this week will be half as eventful as last week, but in my life, you never know!
Pal Lynne and I are always finding and scheming fun stuff to do and see and shop for and eat!
Good night.
Oh, Alana, I hope you found the egg money under the rock on your porch! Thanks! I will hold you to the 3 eggs you owe me! I had a little talk with THE GIRLS and they said they want more greens or they will not put out. I will bring some down for them tomorrow!
sweet dreams Alaska!
June 29, 2008
Beautiful Summer Evening in Alaska
A drop dead view of Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains and sky from our deck.
The sunlight back lit one of the nasturtiums on the front entry porch. It was really windy and rather chilly today. Tonight it is a balmy 49.
The sunlight back lit one of the nasturtiums on the front entry porch. It was really windy and rather chilly today. Tonight it is a balmy 49.
BIG WEEK!!!
I just found out I was selected as a finalist in the Fish Alaska Reader Recipe Contest! Cook off is Sept. 28 in Anchorage and GOVERNOR Sarah Palin is a judge! I also met her on Thursday and let her know I was in the contest. She is a lovely lady for sure!
Momma and baby finally pay a visit one morning and I catch them on the camera!
My boss, Senator Gary Stevens. He is one of the kindest, nicest men I have ever met! We are at the AGIA hearing in Soldotna. I also met Governor Sarah Palin just prior to this photo and enjoyed meeting her so much. I did not have the nerve to ask for her photo, but should have! This would have really made my blog site pretty fun for the week! She is a very beautiful and personable lady, not to mention darn smart and way cool!
My red geraniums with the Kenai Mountains and Kachemak Bay in the back ground. This is at 9:30 on a Sunday night!
Momma and baby finally pay a visit one morning and I catch them on the camera!
My boss, Senator Gary Stevens. He is one of the kindest, nicest men I have ever met! We are at the AGIA hearing in Soldotna. I also met Governor Sarah Palin just prior to this photo and enjoyed meeting her so much. I did not have the nerve to ask for her photo, but should have! This would have really made my blog site pretty fun for the week! She is a very beautiful and personable lady, not to mention darn smart and way cool!
My red geraniums with the Kenai Mountains and Kachemak Bay in the back ground. This is at 9:30 on a Sunday night!
June 24, 2008
A weekend in the Easthood
Wow! What a busy, fun weekend! I enjoyed a great dinner with Mark at the Homestead restaurant, (still a favorite and wonderful dining experience!) We BOTH ate steak.
Saturday was the beautiful wedding of Princess Katie and Prince Doug. I wore my pretty party dress and the day was perfect. Magical, beautiful, and just so special. The wedding was just so wonderful. I had so much fun and talked to so many neat people there.
Mark and I took a little Sunday night flight out to Caribou Lake. It was my first time up in the Super Cub he purchased last year. It was incredible! It just POPS up off the water and the new floats are quite incredible. We had a great little flight out and back. It was really windy and cold out there though, so we stayed long enough to enjoy a soda on the deck and some snacks.
I was missing my neighbors over the weekend, the Greears, wondering what in the world happened to them. From the looks of their blog spot they jetted up to some airport and came home with an extra family member! WOW. When I go to airports I get magazines and expensive water. They got a kid! I think as much as I love kids, I will stay away from that area of the airport in the future though and concentrate on the cooking magazines!
Their chickens were missing them and were pretty upset about being alone and in their coop until they were sprung free for the day by some nice neighbor, probably Valda. I was seriously thinking of stealing eggs!!! Yup, I was. I then decided that the turkey was the guard and it looks pretty big and mean, plus I couldn't bring myself to do it. Now if there was WINE or chocolate in that hen house, it might be another story!
I walked and walked and biked and partied and entertained a house guest who came from Kodiak for the wedding and it was great. Not good for house cleaning here, but fun for me! I drank wine and ate pizza too and still had a 3 pound weight loss for the week! That makes my loss a whopping 53 pounds since I joined WW Jan. 21. The program works. I look like a new person. I want to lose 31 more pounds. This whole thing has been quite a journey!
Saturday was the beautiful wedding of Princess Katie and Prince Doug. I wore my pretty party dress and the day was perfect. Magical, beautiful, and just so special. The wedding was just so wonderful. I had so much fun and talked to so many neat people there.
Mark and I took a little Sunday night flight out to Caribou Lake. It was my first time up in the Super Cub he purchased last year. It was incredible! It just POPS up off the water and the new floats are quite incredible. We had a great little flight out and back. It was really windy and cold out there though, so we stayed long enough to enjoy a soda on the deck and some snacks.
I was missing my neighbors over the weekend, the Greears, wondering what in the world happened to them. From the looks of their blog spot they jetted up to some airport and came home with an extra family member! WOW. When I go to airports I get magazines and expensive water. They got a kid! I think as much as I love kids, I will stay away from that area of the airport in the future though and concentrate on the cooking magazines!
Their chickens were missing them and were pretty upset about being alone and in their coop until they were sprung free for the day by some nice neighbor, probably Valda. I was seriously thinking of stealing eggs!!! Yup, I was. I then decided that the turkey was the guard and it looks pretty big and mean, plus I couldn't bring myself to do it. Now if there was WINE or chocolate in that hen house, it might be another story!
I walked and walked and biked and partied and entertained a house guest who came from Kodiak for the wedding and it was great. Not good for house cleaning here, but fun for me! I drank wine and ate pizza too and still had a 3 pound weight loss for the week! That makes my loss a whopping 53 pounds since I joined WW Jan. 21. The program works. I look like a new person. I want to lose 31 more pounds. This whole thing has been quite a journey!
N3485Z Super Cub Flight
This is my pilot, Marky, doing the pre-flight stuff, like stashing my extra jacket.Here are those beautiful and perfect new E D O floats!
THE cockpit! Looks pretty basic, huh?More Caribou Lake Pics
Mama and Papa Swan keep their distance from the 6 kids! With 6 kids, I understand.
This is looking out my window down at the Fox River and the head of Kachemak Bay.
Here we are getting closer to Homer! The glacier is Grewingk.
Caribou Lake Alaska
The destination - Caribou Lake. This view is from the cabin porch looking toward Homer.
Here is the Super Cub parked at the lake! I love seeing this, as it means summer is here and I am free to enjoy life, only confined by the weather. We can go anywhere we want.
This is the cabin! Notice the new addition off the back - our bedroom! It is bigger than the whole cabin. This year we will paint it. It needs a little t.l.c. So many happy and fun times this little cabin has seen. It makes my heart happy to be there with my family.
Here is a family of trumpeter swans on the lake. There are 6 of them and we believethey are the children of the two mama and papa swan in another photo.
Butter Pecan Ice Cream for Father's Day
Look at these gorgeous "cackle berries"!! The colors are beautiful. Brown, cream, tan, aqua, white, blue, so perfect.
Only the best for our Easthood Neighbors! Of course they are from the famous Greear chickens! I love those girls! They say hello to me each time I pass by. We "get" one another. The chickens and I!
Custard is made for butter pecan ice cream. Definitely a controlled substance for a waist watcher! Wow, was this stuff decandent! :)June 18, 2008
I DID IT!
Well, I did it! I finally tricked the scale at WW to tell my weigher inner that I really and truly finally hit the 50 pound mark of weight loss! FINALLY! Just by a quarter of a pound, but, as L. says, that is two cubes of butter. YEAH! Good visual.
This WW group of folks and their great point system is to thank for the new and improved version of Teri.
I have to say that when I first joined in January, I had my doubts, really and truly. I am NOT A JOINER of groups, I thought I enjoyed being fat and happy and couldn't imagine giving up eating and wine.
Well, fast forward 5 months and here I am, all healthy and fit and pretty much on my way in the last leg of the journey of loss. Darn shocking, I know! I sure feel good and those size 12's fit!
Big news announcement! Went down to the local grocery and bought me new skivvies in a size 7!! Holy smokes! That is big news gang! You should see the size 10's I was wearing compared to these little buggers! They look like sails. I still can't believe my butt goes into those little panties. Hah! Very cool indeed. Now I need to go buy some cute ones that cost an unbelievable amount to prance about in rather than the institutionalized Hanes!
I just want to say that my Other Fisherman is inching ahead of me (even though this is not a contest) and has lost 53 pounds to date. He looks HOT! I mean, the kind of hot you look at and think, well, you know.... let me follow him around! What a handsome guy and I want to say how proud I am of him. His commitment and energy are endless.(BTW, he would just DIE if he read what I just wrote! ) Mr. Humble P.C. I know just has to be healthier and happier to be alive. This has been so great for both of us.
My energy has waned a bit over the last week or two for some reason, but I think it has something to do with the crappy weather we had. Now it's nice again! Yeah for sunshine amd my noon hour walk sans my walking partner who is too busy being a salmon egg technician to join me anymore. I am bummed, as the IPOD is not nearly as entertaining as she! Okay L., does the fisher guide ever use metal to catch those stinky fish of his?
This WW group of folks and their great point system is to thank for the new and improved version of Teri.
I have to say that when I first joined in January, I had my doubts, really and truly. I am NOT A JOINER of groups, I thought I enjoyed being fat and happy and couldn't imagine giving up eating and wine.
Well, fast forward 5 months and here I am, all healthy and fit and pretty much on my way in the last leg of the journey of loss. Darn shocking, I know! I sure feel good and those size 12's fit!
Big news announcement! Went down to the local grocery and bought me new skivvies in a size 7!! Holy smokes! That is big news gang! You should see the size 10's I was wearing compared to these little buggers! They look like sails. I still can't believe my butt goes into those little panties. Hah! Very cool indeed. Now I need to go buy some cute ones that cost an unbelievable amount to prance about in rather than the institutionalized Hanes!
I just want to say that my Other Fisherman is inching ahead of me (even though this is not a contest) and has lost 53 pounds to date. He looks HOT! I mean, the kind of hot you look at and think, well, you know.... let me follow him around! What a handsome guy and I want to say how proud I am of him. His commitment and energy are endless.(BTW, he would just DIE if he read what I just wrote! ) Mr. Humble P.C. I know just has to be healthier and happier to be alive. This has been so great for both of us.
My energy has waned a bit over the last week or two for some reason, but I think it has something to do with the crappy weather we had. Now it's nice again! Yeah for sunshine amd my noon hour walk sans my walking partner who is too busy being a salmon egg technician to join me anymore. I am bummed, as the IPOD is not nearly as entertaining as she! Okay L., does the fisher guide ever use metal to catch those stinky fish of his?
50 pounds of Teri went bye-bye, left on the road side, around town and in the basement work out area!
The big weigh-in session with the lovely WW hostess and employee, Lynne. High five for FIVE-OH!
Whew, I did it! 50 pounds lost forever and ever!!!! thank you God! Evidently my friends A, M, and S felt compelled to preserve this moment in my mind forever by composing my very own cheer! WOW! They were so fun! Thanks for your support and exciting celebratory cheer ladies. I couldn't have done it without all of you and your wonderful support and laughs.
Celebratory hug from fearless WW leader, N., who really, really is proud of me and her flock of WW's.
50 pounds celebratory Mumm champagne toast provided courtesy of the svelte and slender S., my WW sis and champagne drinking pal.June 16, 2008
GREEAR FAMILY BLOG
We have these really COOL neighbors who have an awesome family of very fun kids, a whole herd of chickens and a turkey, (who are pets) and I think some bunnies. The Mom, is extra entertaining and so full of it, SHE IS A PISTOL! I love her even though she is worried that having me down for coffee could be a scary event for her. Nah, I really am an okay neighbor lady A., I raised two kids myself, have a house full of dog hair and mud and love to laugh. Come on, give it try! If coffee is too civilized, I do wine really well!
They have no garage yet and so need to keep all the required Alaskan stuff to recreate by outside their bee-you-tea-ful home. You can drive by and see all this stuff and by what is missing from the line-up, you can kinda guess what the little family is doing!
Fishing poles gone? AHA! They could be at the lagoon fishing for salmon! Boat gone? Out on the ocean. Snowshoes gone? Yup, playing in the snow. I sort of like knowing what other people do for fun, makes my life seem more normal than I think it really isn't. And from reading her blog, my life is way boring compared to theirs.
My neighbor has a great blogspot as well. She posts all these great comments, stories and photos and makes me laugh my buns off! I wish I were as creative as her! The other really cool thing about this little family is they are SO BUSY having FUN ALL THE TIME! When I die I want to come back as one of their kids! They do all this neat stuff all day long, and are always happy and having a ball. From the looks of the photos on her blog, they eat really well too! : )
Get this, they were at 1 big event yesterday AND 3 parties!!! THREE PARTIES!!! I don't think I have been to 3 gatherings in the last 6 months. I think I need to get my priorities lined out~ instead of being the exercise queen of the easthood, I need to start following this family around and crash all the fun stuff they attend! She posted a beatutiful photo of the moon shining on the bay last night taken at 12:30 a.m., as they were just on their way HOME from the last shindig. I also happened to catch that same gorgeous view of the moon, but from my bathroom window, when I got up to go potty, as I had been sleeping for a bit by then..... boring! See, told ya!
They are a really fun addition to our otherwise really quiet and boring street. The only time anything exciting happens on our end of the road is when our dogs decide to chomp on the neighbor's coonhound. That just irks me, and doesn't really provide much entertainment. Maybe for the dawgs, but not me.
They have no garage yet and so need to keep all the required Alaskan stuff to recreate by outside their bee-you-tea-ful home. You can drive by and see all this stuff and by what is missing from the line-up, you can kinda guess what the little family is doing!
Fishing poles gone? AHA! They could be at the lagoon fishing for salmon! Boat gone? Out on the ocean. Snowshoes gone? Yup, playing in the snow. I sort of like knowing what other people do for fun, makes my life seem more normal than I think it really isn't. And from reading her blog, my life is way boring compared to theirs.
My neighbor has a great blogspot as well. She posts all these great comments, stories and photos and makes me laugh my buns off! I wish I were as creative as her! The other really cool thing about this little family is they are SO BUSY having FUN ALL THE TIME! When I die I want to come back as one of their kids! They do all this neat stuff all day long, and are always happy and having a ball. From the looks of the photos on her blog, they eat really well too! : )
Get this, they were at 1 big event yesterday AND 3 parties!!! THREE PARTIES!!! I don't think I have been to 3 gatherings in the last 6 months. I think I need to get my priorities lined out~ instead of being the exercise queen of the easthood, I need to start following this family around and crash all the fun stuff they attend! She posted a beatutiful photo of the moon shining on the bay last night taken at 12:30 a.m., as they were just on their way HOME from the last shindig. I also happened to catch that same gorgeous view of the moon, but from my bathroom window, when I got up to go potty, as I had been sleeping for a bit by then..... boring! See, told ya!
They are a really fun addition to our otherwise really quiet and boring street. The only time anything exciting happens on our end of the road is when our dogs decide to chomp on the neighbor's coonhound. That just irks me, and doesn't really provide much entertainment. Maybe for the dawgs, but not me.
June 15, 2008
The Bumper Sticker Alaskans Live By
WORK IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO FISH! 
Fishing - the favorite summer time recreation and for some, income producer, of Alaska!
Fishing - the favorite summer time recreation and for some, income producer, of Alaska!
Pie Makings!
SISSY OF THE WESTHOOD, a.k.a. Sprout and Spawn Queen, picks some rhubarb for me so I can make the Other Fisherman a pie!
NICE HAT!
NICE HAT!
FLOATS UPDATE!
OKAY, the Other Fisherman, known this week as Float Master, has been working on putting these little hummers together for the last 3 days with the ocassional help of our good friend and neighbor, Don Kann. This morning bright and early, (well, it is really sunny here right now-) has taken them to the hangar to attach to the plane today! Happy Father's Day Dad Mark Robl! We love you!THE SCALE~
Shut out all of your past except that which will help you weather your tomorrows.
- William Osler, Canadian physician
TOMORROW IS WW SISTER GROUP WEIGH-IN. I WAS .2 (THAT IS POINT 2) POUNDS FROM BEING ABLE TO SAY I LOST 50 POUNDS LAST MONDAY! This week has been sort of OFF. The weather has been crappy, not even close to what June in Alaska is usually, and my bike workouts have been reduced. I had been getting 2 hours of exercise a day most days of the week, but the lack of sunshine and bike issues curtailed that this week. I even think I might be up a couple pounds!!! HOW on earth does a 48 year old gal manage to get all this exercise in when the weather is less than desirable? I can't believe how cold and cloudy it has been. Lynne says it is a down coat summer. I think she is right, as I have worn socks to bed more than once this week!
A very sober reflection on all this and makes my issue sound absolutely selfish - my dear brother in law, Alton, has throat cancer and started treatments this week. He was told IF he makes it through this horrific stuff that will bring him to the edge of death, that he will lose lots of weight, as he won't be able to eat. Sort of puts my little issue in perspective. Gosh life can really suck sometimes. He is just a sweetie. Send him some good thoughts, K? He lives in Wisconsin with Mark's sister, Mary Beth.
- William Osler, Canadian physician
TOMORROW IS WW SISTER GROUP WEIGH-IN. I WAS .2 (THAT IS POINT 2) POUNDS FROM BEING ABLE TO SAY I LOST 50 POUNDS LAST MONDAY! This week has been sort of OFF. The weather has been crappy, not even close to what June in Alaska is usually, and my bike workouts have been reduced. I had been getting 2 hours of exercise a day most days of the week, but the lack of sunshine and bike issues curtailed that this week. I even think I might be up a couple pounds!!! HOW on earth does a 48 year old gal manage to get all this exercise in when the weather is less than desirable? I can't believe how cold and cloudy it has been. Lynne says it is a down coat summer. I think she is right, as I have worn socks to bed more than once this week!
A very sober reflection on all this and makes my issue sound absolutely selfish - my dear brother in law, Alton, has throat cancer and started treatments this week. He was told IF he makes it through this horrific stuff that will bring him to the edge of death, that he will lose lots of weight, as he won't be able to eat. Sort of puts my little issue in perspective. Gosh life can really suck sometimes. He is just a sweetie. Send him some good thoughts, K? He lives in Wisconsin with Mark's sister, Mary Beth.
June 12, 2008
the boy dog and his chair
Just couldn't stay awake tofinish reading his foodie magazine.
Big night partying with the big
dawgs last night Willie?
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