Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

I just wanted to pop in here and leave a brief entry before we take off on our camping trip. I joked with a friend that we were looking forward to leaving some of this heat behind and enjoying some cooler weather. It’s been warm here in the Interior; today we reached nearly 75F. (All of you dealing with 100+, humor me, OK?)

Seriously though… 75F is almost uncomfortable. We don’t have AC in our homes here, and if I don’t lower the blinds and pull the lined drapes, it can warm up in the house pretty quickly. Don’t forget the sun is shining all day long, which means even more heat. Fortunately, sleeping weather is just perfect - 40s and 50s overnight.

I didn’t sleep well last night, although I did drift off a little past 8pm with Steve. I also woke with him at 3:30am and stayed up with him as he got ready for work. I felt OK, with 7.5 hours sleep in my system. I drank a huge mug of coffee and tuned into HGTV and the design shows. I lay down on the loveseat with Airborne on my chest and a soft afghan draped over me. Soon, I felt my eyes getting heavy. I gave into my fatigue and closed my eyes. I didn’t open them again until almost 11:30am.

I was definitely getting a late start with everything I had to get done today in preparation for traveling, but managed to check quite a few things off my list - to include vacuuming out my car of the fur tumbleweeds that Sedona has left in it.

We took a short walk in the woods behind my house and I found some new wildflowers, as well as some really pretty roses against birch trees. I just love the way the pink petals look against the white birch bark. I did take a few photos, but don’t have time to resize them for posting.

I then came in and put the finishing touches on the guest room so it will be ready for Michele and Maddie at the end of the month. It’s the smallest room in the house, but it’s cozy. And the bed is comfy too, with its memory foam mattress topper. I call it the “Northern Lights Room” because it’s decorated with some of my aurora prints.

It’s amazing how quickly things grow here. About two weeks ago, I sowed some rye grass for my kitty. You can get the little container of potting soil and seeds at local stores in town. After planting the seeds, and wetting the soil, you put it in a closet until they sprout. Once they sprout, you can put them on a windowsill.

When I put the container on the sunny windowsill about 5 days ago, the sprouts were less than a half inch tall. Now they are almost five inches tall! You can almost watch things grow right before your eyes here. Once Airborne saw the ’salad bar’, she couldn’t wait to get at it. I took a few photos as she grazed. She’s so cute, but I’m biased. I should pack up the grass and take it with us.

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Before I end this entry, I’d like to ask you if you could please keep my sister-in-law, Lisa in your thoughts and prayers. Lisa is married to my eldest brother, Mike. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about 8 years ago (not sure of when it was exactly) and underwent surgery and treatment for it. Then, a few years later, the cancer had spread to her bones. Again, more surgery and treatment. Yesterday, my brother had to take her to the hospital after she had seizures. She’s been put on steroids and is doing better today than she was yesterday. I heard today that she will be released from the hospital on Monday, which is good - but she and her family are still in need of prayer and healing thoughts. This is all the information I’m comfortable sharing until I talk directly to my brother, and I will update when I find out more.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we have periodic internet access while traveling, so i don’t go through cyber withdrawal. If we don’t, there’s going to be a whole lot to write about when we get home.

Thank you, Gip and Carmen for looking after our house. We appreciate you both!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all the dads, granddads, and men who love and care for a child.

(I’m thinking of you, Daddy and miss you very much. xoxxoxo - Your Moogie)