Summer: Boating, Anchorage, and Gardening

The past few weekends have been busy prepping for and enjoying the summer weather!  There was snow on the ground and ice covering the river, and just like that it seemed like it was all gone and we were experiencing sunny, warm, and greener days.  Our long awaited boating days are finally here!  We wasted no time getting out.

Kiah is especially keen on the water and our little outings where she gets thoroughly drenched, dirty, and smelly in all the things she seems to find.

We also took a mini vacation in Anchorage over Memorial Day weekend, which involved shopping, mostly.  This is traditionally the case for anyone from "the bush" that ever gets onto the road system.  I've never appreciated the idea of Costco or Sam's Club so much.  Starbucks, eating out, and movie going were also on the agenda, as well as a long overdue haircut.  The Anchorage area is pricey this time of year with the tourist season beginning, but thankfully we know some generous people who were willing to let us use their car and someone else who let us stay in her condo to save a few extra bucks.  Coupled with a "Club 49" sale from Alaska Airlines for Alaska residents, it turned out to be an affordable but fun little getaway!  It wasn't all about shopping and spending money the whole time, though.  We found a day to drive down to Seward and enjoyed the beautiful views all the way there.

We also stopped at the Sea Life center in Seward and saw these friendly seals and other marine life.

We also drove through a wildlife conservation park where animals are rehabilitated and encountered these grizzlies!  They were rather friendly, but looking at the size of them up close reminded us that we DO NOT want to meet up with them in the wild!

Back in Bethel we planted a garden last weekend.  We got half a row at the local community garden and planted all potatoes for easy maintenance.  We hear that they grow really easily here without a lot of up-keep.  At our house we also started a little garden.  One of the gardening enthusiasts who goes to our church was nice enough to bring by loads of dirt and sand for our gardening box.  We planted onion bulbs, carrots, beets, rutabagas, zucchini, spinach, radishes, and some flowers.  We are not professional gardeners, but we're hoping some things take off here!  

Today it is rainy and cold outside, so we are cuddling up inside, watching movies, making soup, baking cookies, reading, napping, and whatever else we can think of to do!  We haven't had a day like this in awhile, so sometimes the less than ideal weather is a blessing in disguise.  Hope all your weekends are great!