slideshow of hiking pics

Album available here.

Hope Point

We're going on a hike today and I'm both excited and terrified that we'll encounter a bear. I brushed up on my bear safety.

Really, I wasn't scared until I realized that neither Luke nor I own a gun. Perhaps we can pick up some bear spray on our way...

I woke up about 3:30 this morning to the sound of police sirens. I decided to take a walk to the gym to visit Luke. Not my best idea considering my neighborhood, the time of night, and the possible criminal activities taking place not a block from my apartment but I went anyway. The gym isn't too far away. Besides, if I had gotten into trouble, I was in sight and earshot of no less than 5 police cars.

Funny that I woke up to see this on Toothpaste For Dinner:

sunset on Westchester Lagoon

Coming soon...

The weekend here was beautiful! It seems like I did everything and nothing all at once. I remember checking out the Rabbit Lake trail, driving to Girdwood and back, and going to the gym on Sunday. Monday I went to the doctor, took a walk to this beautiful secluded little neighborhood near my apartment, drove to Eagle River, and went jogging on the Coastal Trail. These events were interspersed with trips to the coffee shop, to the bookstore, and discovery of the wonders of my neighborhood. For example, I've lived in the same area for a year and yet I didn't know that there was an ice arena within walking distance of my apartment. Also, though there is a post office even closer than the ice arena, when I have packages delivered, I have to pick them up at a station 2 miles away. I'm sure there's a justifiable reason. It's just one of those quirks.

So I've decided, though probably just because the weather has been superb, to take a trip around my neighborhood highlighting some of my favorite places. I might even wander in and discover that Chilkoot Charlie's is actually not that bad. I just want to show that Spenard ain't as bad as it's cracked up to be.

I'm starting off with "Metro Retro". It's just a vintage clothing store just a couple blocks from my apartment. It hasn't even been open a year yet. They're hours are funny and I think the only time I can make it in is this Saturday. We have the day off for a Memorial Day. I just hope they're not closed as well...

Beautiful day for a rondy...

Today was Reading Rendezvous--the kick-off of the Summer Reading Program--in the lawn of the Loussac Library. I didn't get to go but these pictures were taken and shared before the festivities were even over!

finished product

Sam finished the white-board yesterday and it looks wonderful! A veritable wonderland of insects and foliage. The kids are going to be captivated.

Here's the big picture:


...and here are my favorite little details:

Dewey and the Classifiers or; Getting Ready for Summer Reading

We've been hustling and bustling getting ready for SRP.

We took Liberace down:


and Sam started a new "Catch the Reading Bug" themed whiteboard. It's looking GRATE! but is still a work in progress:


I just made a small book display near the whiteboard:


and finally got my act together and made my Dewey bug. I'd like to introduce you:





...to Dewey and the Classifiers.

Homer trip

We took a surprise trip to Homer on Monday. It was a four (4) hour drive each way. It was a long day. Needless to say, I'm still tired.

I didn't take any pictures actually in Homer. But the weather wasn't ideal. Cooper Landing was the most beautiful place. Mom, I sent you a couple postcards.

In terms of wildlife, we saw one moose and I'd say a billion eagles. It was crazy how many there were lining the shores of the Cook Inlet. Crazy.