Happy Labor Day Everyone!
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted but I finally have something to share! Over the weekend, I went for a bike ride and after 15 miles of riding, met a friend for lunch….who knew someone…who was thinking of flying to McCarthy. It was such a beautiful day this last weekend of summer (literally), so why not??? Instead of riding back the 15 miles, I got a ride to the car and feeling guilty, headed home to take a flight over the Chugach Mountains to McCarthy…home of Kennecott Mine, http://www.nps.gov/archive/wrst/kennecott.htm . We left Anchorage in a 4-seater Cherokee, heading over the Chugach Mountains to McCarthy. We flew over lots of mountains, glaciers and Kennecott Mine. I hope you enjoy ‘some’ of the pictures I took. It’s nice to have friends in high places. Enjoy the flight: http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/McCarthyFlight .
Also, some of you have been hearing about my yard ‘make-over’ and small garden. I ordered 10-yards of dirt to be delivered Memorial Day weekend but I think they brought me 20! Thankfully, I had some unplanned help arrive to get it all moved. After filling my yard with all it could take, the rest was wheeled around the neighborhood to anyone who would take it! It has been a pretty cold summer…cloudy, about 10 degrees below average…not the summer we like, or our plants for that matter. But, the plants are in and growing a bit….setting their roots for the winter (hopefully). I can’t imagine what they’ll be like next year! Maybe I planted too much??? Is that possible??? Ask any gardener…plants are my addiction! Enjoy a stroll through my garden: http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Yard2008 .
Well, I am off for a bike ride. Last chance to be ready for the MS 150…it’s this weekend. As fall is officially here with wind and rain, I’m hoping for just clouds for this ride. Cross your fingers! Also, I am still trying to reach my goal in donations for the MS Society. I’m close but still need some help. If you can help me out, I would be forever grateful! Here’s a link to donate: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/AKABikeEvents?JServSessionIdr012=o4d06zkbt1.app329a&px=4485404&pg=personal&fr_id=8772 . I’d like to thank those who have contributed already.
Next update…probably in a week or so, after the MS 150…if I’m still alive and can move! Till next time…
Monday, September 1, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
MS Bike Ride
The first weekend of Sept, I will be riding in the MS Bike Ride from Hope to Seward, and back. Roughly 150 miles round trip. Your support and pledge would be greatly appreciated. Click here to show your support and help me achieve my goal!
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/juliesaddoris
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/juliesaddoris
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Summer Solstice 2008
Summer solstice is a big deal in Alaska....not only is it the longest day of the year but it reminds us that autumn and winter are coming. Don't get me wrong, it won't be a while until we actually see darkness again, real dark anyway. Anchorage gets around 20 hours of daylight on the longest day of the year. This is from sunrise to sunset...and it doesn't mean that it gets dark...maybe more like dusk. Just ask Kelly and Randy...they were up for a week and the first night they were in town, they were up until about 3 a.m. playing 'bean bag toss'!
Kelly & Randy came up to join Mitch on a road trip to Deadhorse and the Arctic Ocean. I hear they actually went in....photos to follow? :) I spent the day with Kelly, Randy, Mitch & Jan on a much smaller road trip to Seward, one of my favorite places in Alaska. This link has a few pictures of the trip: http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Solstice2008.
As for summer here in Anchorage, it has been colder, cloudier and windier than normal. We have yet to reach 70 degrees....I just wish we could see more sun and have a little less wind! I have been working on my yard (pictures to follow in the near future, before & after). I am planning on dipnet fishing in a couple of weeks. I may have to invest in a freezer for this salmon I am going to catch. This weekend was an air show at the air force base nearby. I didn't attend but lots of planes flying over the house. Glad it isn't like this all of the time! They are quite loud.
Here is a link to some of the photos from the late snow storm we had back in April. I did a posting but not with pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/WinterSnowstorm2008
I hope everyone is doing well.....and I am still waiting for visitors! :)
Kelly & Randy came up to join Mitch on a road trip to Deadhorse and the Arctic Ocean. I hear they actually went in....photos to follow? :) I spent the day with Kelly, Randy, Mitch & Jan on a much smaller road trip to Seward, one of my favorite places in Alaska. This link has a few pictures of the trip: http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Solstice2008.
As for summer here in Anchorage, it has been colder, cloudier and windier than normal. We have yet to reach 70 degrees....I just wish we could see more sun and have a little less wind! I have been working on my yard (pictures to follow in the near future, before & after). I am planning on dipnet fishing in a couple of weeks. I may have to invest in a freezer for this salmon I am going to catch. This weekend was an air show at the air force base nearby. I didn't attend but lots of planes flying over the house. Glad it isn't like this all of the time! They are quite loud.
Here is a link to some of the photos from the late snow storm we had back in April. I did a posting but not with pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/WinterSnowstorm2008
I hope everyone is doing well.....and I am still waiting for visitors! :)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Is it Spring Yet???
Wow...22" of snow....we thought spring was here....winter brought more snow and set many records. Most snow in April (almost 3 feet), latest snow fall and most snow fall in a 24-hour period at 22", and the third snowiest winter on record. Fortunately, all the snow has melted, again, and instead of April Showers bringing May flowers I believe that April snow will bring the May show!The days are getting longer and longer, over 16 hours of daylight. I'm ready to start gardinging but not until after Memorial Day. Let's just hope there isn't any more snow!So, will I be getting any visitors from outside??? Hope everyone is doing well.
Aloha!
Here it is, April, and Anchorage thought spring had arrived early! When I returned from Hawaii, most all the snow had melted and things were pretty much dry. Anchorage was a giant dustbowl. I may have jinxed myself by removing the snow tires on Thursday as we received about 5" of snow over the weekend. Certainly looks like winter again, but probably not for long. The days are getting longer, we are getting about 15 hours of daylight, and highs in the 40's. Spring will certainly be back on its way very soon.Hawaii was a nice quick trip away from winter.
Bill & Rico were gracious enough to let me crash in their room and deal with me being sick the entire time, and sometimes grumpy. It was warm and sunny, and now I don't look so ghostly! We did a submarine ride, snorkeling, relaxing around the pool, a trip to Pearl Harbor, driving the island, some walking & shopping, and a really neat helicopter ride. That was the highlight of the trip in my opinion. And by the way, I prefer Alaska to Hawaii.Here is a link to some of the photos I took. I hope you enjoy! http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Hawaii2008
What's next you're probably asking....well, it'll be my first spring in Alaska. I hope to see some moose calves, tranforming my yard into a mini garden paradise and then in September, the MS Bike ride from Hope to Seward. Of course, some halibut fishing is being planned as we speak. I'm still looking for visitors from 'outside' (i.e. the lower 48). So come on up!Aloha!
Bill & Rico were gracious enough to let me crash in their room and deal with me being sick the entire time, and sometimes grumpy. It was warm and sunny, and now I don't look so ghostly! We did a submarine ride, snorkeling, relaxing around the pool, a trip to Pearl Harbor, driving the island, some walking & shopping, and a really neat helicopter ride. That was the highlight of the trip in my opinion. And by the way, I prefer Alaska to Hawaii.Here is a link to some of the photos I took. I hope you enjoy! http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Hawaii2008
What's next you're probably asking....well, it'll be my first spring in Alaska. I hope to see some moose calves, tranforming my yard into a mini garden paradise and then in September, the MS Bike ride from Hope to Seward. Of course, some halibut fishing is being planned as we speak. I'm still looking for visitors from 'outside' (i.e. the lower 48). So come on up!Aloha!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
First Winter
Hey Everyone,
Made it through my first winter living in Anchorage. Granted, it was a pretty mild winter compared to what it is normally but I enjoyed it. I created a photo album so you can see some of what I get to see on a daily basis. http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Winter08
Winter arrived late...not the usual snow for trick-or-treaters. We received snow the week before Thanksgiving...but then Thanksgiving brought temps in the 40's and lots of rain. Bye, bye snow. We wondered if we would have a white Christmas. Fortunatly, we did. Now, we are going through 'break-up'. New terminology there. Are we breaking up with the snow? A boyfriend? What??? Spring is arriving early...break-up is spring! Instead of the usual early April break-up, we have been breaking up since early March. So, now that you understand break-up, we are now up to 12 hours of daylight. Halfway to the longest day of the year, which is June 21st. Not sure why Alaska participates in 'day light saving time'. We set the clock back an hour to have it dark, but one week later, it was light again.
The Iditarod started the first Saturday of March. While I didn't go downtown to see the ceremonial start, I did find a place closer to home and watched about 36 teams come by. After two hours and numb toes, I came home and watched the rest on t.v. It was about 20 degrees but a north wind made the windchill zero. The mushers and teams leave at 2 minute intervals and there were about 98 teams. Lance Mackey won, again, this year. Last year he won the Yukon Quest and Iditarod back-to-back, a feat that no one thought could be done. Well, he did it two years in a row as he repeated again this year. Both races are over 1,000 miles. It was interesting to follow the updates as the end of the race grew near. Lots of mind games being played between Lance and Jeff King. Had Lance not snuck out of the check-point as Jeff slept, the outcome may have been different.
I managed not to gain the usual 'winter-weight' this year. In fact, after gaining five pounds in October, I decided it was a long *&*^ winter here and I wasn't going to go down that road. I lost 10 pounds through the holidays and have lost a total of 15 so far. Another five would be good for me. Also, I was up to 11 miles per day on my eliptical machine. This will be good preparation for the MS Bike ride I am doing in September. This is approximately 170 miles round trip from Hope to Seward and back. It takes place the 2nd weekend of September. Let's just hope the weather is a little nicer than last year.
On another note, I am headed to Hawaii (another reason to lose some weight). Amazingly, I am able to wear those cute shorts comfortably that were too tight to be seen in last summer. Back to Hawaii....I'm meeting Bill & Rico, friends from Atlanta. They have graciously allowed me to crash in their room! This will be a short trip but nice to get away and see good friends.
Enjoy the winter pics! I'll post warmer looking ones when I get back from Hawaii!
Aloha for now!
Made it through my first winter living in Anchorage. Granted, it was a pretty mild winter compared to what it is normally but I enjoyed it. I created a photo album so you can see some of what I get to see on a daily basis. http://picasaweb.google.com/julie.saddoris/Winter08
Winter arrived late...not the usual snow for trick-or-treaters. We received snow the week before Thanksgiving...but then Thanksgiving brought temps in the 40's and lots of rain. Bye, bye snow. We wondered if we would have a white Christmas. Fortunatly, we did. Now, we are going through 'break-up'. New terminology there. Are we breaking up with the snow? A boyfriend? What??? Spring is arriving early...break-up is spring! Instead of the usual early April break-up, we have been breaking up since early March. So, now that you understand break-up, we are now up to 12 hours of daylight. Halfway to the longest day of the year, which is June 21st. Not sure why Alaska participates in 'day light saving time'. We set the clock back an hour to have it dark, but one week later, it was light again.
The Iditarod started the first Saturday of March. While I didn't go downtown to see the ceremonial start, I did find a place closer to home and watched about 36 teams come by. After two hours and numb toes, I came home and watched the rest on t.v. It was about 20 degrees but a north wind made the windchill zero. The mushers and teams leave at 2 minute intervals and there were about 98 teams. Lance Mackey won, again, this year. Last year he won the Yukon Quest and Iditarod back-to-back, a feat that no one thought could be done. Well, he did it two years in a row as he repeated again this year. Both races are over 1,000 miles. It was interesting to follow the updates as the end of the race grew near. Lots of mind games being played between Lance and Jeff King. Had Lance not snuck out of the check-point as Jeff slept, the outcome may have been different.
I managed not to gain the usual 'winter-weight' this year. In fact, after gaining five pounds in October, I decided it was a long *&*^ winter here and I wasn't going to go down that road. I lost 10 pounds through the holidays and have lost a total of 15 so far. Another five would be good for me. Also, I was up to 11 miles per day on my eliptical machine. This will be good preparation for the MS Bike ride I am doing in September. This is approximately 170 miles round trip from Hope to Seward and back. It takes place the 2nd weekend of September. Let's just hope the weather is a little nicer than last year.
On another note, I am headed to Hawaii (another reason to lose some weight). Amazingly, I am able to wear those cute shorts comfortably that were too tight to be seen in last summer. Back to Hawaii....I'm meeting Bill & Rico, friends from Atlanta. They have graciously allowed me to crash in their room! This will be a short trip but nice to get away and see good friends.
Enjoy the winter pics! I'll post warmer looking ones when I get back from Hawaii!
Aloha for now!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Finally....
Well, I am finally living my dream. So many of you have listened to me talk about this beautiful place since my first trip in 2002...it was only a matter of time, right? I took the plunge in 2007...put the house up for sale and drove the 5,151 miles from Atlanta to Anchorage in July. What a trip! It all happened so fast and went so well. The 9-day drive was relaxing and awesome. It was the part I looked forward to the most in the entire process.
Now, it is six months later....I'm settled in...missing friends, mom and only the things that can be enjoyed in the south. But now I am enjoying new scenery and experiences. Love the snow but miss my herb garden, love the mountains but miss the humming birds and magnolias. I've learned to cross country ski, remembered how to drive in snow with rear-wheel drive, bought a snow shovel, snow boots, and winter gear...and avoid hitting moose.
Life is good!
Now, it is six months later....I'm settled in...missing friends, mom and only the things that can be enjoyed in the south. But now I am enjoying new scenery and experiences. Love the snow but miss my herb garden, love the mountains but miss the humming birds and magnolias. I've learned to cross country ski, remembered how to drive in snow with rear-wheel drive, bought a snow shovel, snow boots, and winter gear...and avoid hitting moose.
Life is good!
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