Alaska -- Part 2

The first port-of-call on the Alaskan cruise was at Juneau. The scenery as we neared the capital city was spectacular:

Below is Juneau. We saw several float planes landing as we were coming into port. We heard a statistic that said that one in 50 Alaskans have a pilot's license.

What's that boat? Oh, just another cruise ship. There were 3-4 other cruise ships in each port. That's a lot, a lot of people.

After we docked, we headed for our tour bus. We were happy to get a very good driver/guide. Here's Wendall, the driver. (Well, at least his shoulder.)

Our first stop was Mendenhall Glacier. Only about a 20 drive from Juneau. Such a beautiful area.

I picked up a piece of glacier:

That photographer got in my way! :)

Our next stop was a salmon hatchery. There was a lot of salmon! We learned about how salmon return to the place they were born by smelling even just a drop of the water from the creek they came from.

This is a fish ladder built at the hatchery.

We finished the day off with some yummy fresh crab.

Music Monday

The Wonderful Cross

Megan and Zach chose this song for their wedding. We sang it while they took communion and prayed together as husband and wife. Powerful words.

Alaska -- Part 1

 I really should be going to the grocery store since our son and daughter-in-law are coming tomorrow and they probably would like to eat something while they are here. But I think I'll delay that a bit and post some pictures from our recent cruise to Alaska.

(Just as long as I make it to the store before 9. Yes, the grocery store in this small town actually closes. So, my goal is to make it here before it closes and before the rain comes. Wish me luck. :) )

I set out to document our trip. (500+ pictures) Complete with pictures of what I like to call In Flight Entertainment:

And In Flight Refreshments:

It was a pleasant non-eventful flight to Seattle.

Sunday morning we enjoyed a very yummy breakfast delivered to our room:

We had quite a bit of time to kill since I woke up at 6:30. Go figure. (It was 8:30 Minnesota time.) I think my hubby was in heaven....having me wake up early like him. :) (That only lasted a couple of days, until I adjusted to the time difference.)

About noon we headed to the pier and the cruise ship:

Can you see our balcony? (I can.) It's two decks up from the life boat. We sure enjoyed the views from that balcony.

See what a beautiful day it was? We left Seattle on, what I'm told, is a rare warm and sunny day. It was 75+  degrees and quite clear. We could see a long ways. Even 50 miles away to Mt. Rainier. It was so beautiful.

 
The Seattle skyline as we are heading out of Puget Sound.

Our room. Is it called a room? A cabin? A stateroom? I have no idea. It was cozy, but sufficient.

I took a few more pictures of other boats as we were headed out to sea:

Yes, that's a container ship. They fascinate me because when we moved to Singapore 12 years ago, they packed all our belongings in a container and it traveled across the Pacific on a ship like this. Yikes! No wonder it took 7-8 weeks to get there.

I'll end with this.

It was exciting to be getting ready for the cruise. It took us from Sunday late afternoon until Tuesday afternoon to get to Juneau.

I'll have couple more posts about our trip and even devote one solely to the food! Oh it was good. And pretty.

WooHoo! Random Time!

Back at the Random Dozen...! Click on the button to go to Linda@2nd Cup of Coffee and find more people who participated on the Random Dozen.

1. When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
I really don't remember...(not a lot to laugh at lately) I do remember the last time the hubby and I laughed in an inappropriate moment.It was when we were visiting a church and the music was so bad, it was comical. We kinda grabbed each other to keep from laughing out loud.


2. If you found $10 today, what would you do with it?
I think I would add the $10 to my stash from when I babysat last spring. I still haven't spent that money on anything "special" for myself. It seems kind of hard to buy something when I'm busy sorting through things and throwing things away after our move. (On a side note... I've noticed that the up-to-date-term for "babysitting" seems to be "nanny-ing". Somehow that must sound more sheik. Anyone else noticed that?) (I know that has nothing to do with finding $10, but thought I'd throw in something bonus...) (You're welcome.)

3. Do you volunteer anywhere?
I volunteer to empty the dishwasher every day and cook dinner. And get out of bed in the morning and get dressed. Does that count? We just moved to this really small town less than two months ago and I know nothing about it.


4. What is your favorite summertime veggie or fruit, and how do you eat it?
I really like cucumbers. We used to live near some friends who had a terrific garden and she planted just the kind of cucumbers I like. I love to slice them and sprinkle seasoned salt or just plain salt on the slices. Saturday I even sliced them with my crinkle slicer thingy. Sooo fancy! :)



5. Is your social sphere (circle of friends) small, medium or large?
Currently, I would say it was very small. Remember the whole thing with moving to a much smaller town? We haven't found a church to worship in yet and don't really know anyone. My husband knows people at work and we have met the neighbors. But no one we feel like we can call up to go out to dinner with or anything. Moving stinks. Especially moving to the middle of nothing. On the other hand, we know people all over the country/world. But a little hard to keep too close of a relationship with people we don't see very often.


6. When was the last time you attended a family or school reunion? How did that go?
I did not go to my 30th high school reunion last year. I just don't feel a connection with many of them anymore. I don't regret that.
A couple of years ago, my hubby's side of the family had a reunion over Thanksgiving. Some of the family lives and works at a Bible camp, so we were able to all stay right there. I think there was 75 of us. It was great fun. I love that part of the family. They are so fun. Hubby has some wonderful cousins that I just adore. And I got to meet a cousin I never had. (There is one more cousin I've never met. She lives in South America and doesn't come to the US much. So I may just have to wait until heaven to meet her.)


7. When you're feeling blue, what is the best way someone can cheer you up?
To have a friend ask me out to lunch would be amazing. Or even the hubby to take me out to dinner/movie or some kind of an outing would be wonderful. My sweet newly-married daughter asked me to bring her some boxes for moving and to hang out with her a couple of days ago. It was a great day.

8. Have you taken a vacation this summer?

Yes! The hubby and I just got back from celebrating our 26th anniversary on an Alaskan Cruise! It was wonderful and oh! so! pretty!

9. What is the most unnecessary item you carry with you all the time?
A small travel sewing kit. I don't know if I've ever used it.


10. What is the best summer flick you have seen so far?
Toy Story 3. Truth be told, it's the only movie I've seen this summer. Now that is sad. It was a really good movie, though.

11. Describe a perfect summer day.
 June 21. Not too hot, but still warm. :) (Have you seen that Sandra Bullock movie? Miss Congeniality?) June 21 is also the day we got engaged. Many, many years ago.

12. Please a share a favorite photo from the summer so far!
Here are two photos! A bonus!

 Our daughter's wedding....it was a wonderful day. I love how they got creative with pictures even though it was raining.

Music Monday

Everlasting God

 The third song from Caleb and Amanda's wedding. Another fantastic song focusing on God Almighty.

A Taste

Three days ago we returned from our wonderful vacation. The anniversary cruise to Alaska! I want to find some time to post just a few of my 500+ pictures and to do it justice. 

Right now I'll just show a few... just a taste. 

Oh, now that I wrote that I better include a food picture. (I took pictures of almost every meal we ate. My hubby's cousin gave me the idea.)

Our ship and hubby going back to get a warmer jacket. He was cold.

 

 

We indulged in a Salmon Feast one day. Oh, it was yummy! (The corn didn't quite fly with this Midwest girl. though.)

And for dessert, of course we had Baked Alaska!

Well, this is turning out to have more pictures than I thought, but I have to post the pictures of all the Towel Critters that showed up in our room. It was so much fun to see what new one we'd have every night.

Elephant

 

 

Seal

Puppy

Mouse. (Hiding under the covers)

Frog

I even bought a DVD of how to make towel animals. I hope I can master it and surprise our guests!

I'll write more next week. (Aren't you excited?)

Music Monday

Come Thou Fount

A song from Megan and Zach's wedding. I had a hard time finding a version that was the same. I think this is lacking a few verses, but you get the idea. Good hymn. Great words.