This was pretty Amoosing....

I work in the heart of midtown Anchorage where busy roads lead to numerous businesses and developments.  My office backs up to Cuddy Park which is a busy place for ice skating in the winter and kite flying in the summer.  Surrounding the park is our city library, Lowes and Home Depot.  One day I looked out my window to the park to see 4 HUGE bull moose making their way through the trees.  Every now and then one would butt another one and they'd lock horns.  They slowly made their way from tree to tree not paying any attention to the people on the ice rink or the busy parking lot in front of them.  Regardless of how many times I see moose, I am still in awe of their enormousness...  beautiful creatures those moose.

p.s. you don't ever see bull moose in packs like this..very unusual

Last trip of 2010!!

When I first got this job and found out that traveling was part of it I was thrilled. What better way to see the state when it's your job that pays for it, right? Then, after almost 10 trips and 10 hotel rooms, my mindset changed a bit.  My new mindset is that there is no place like home-- seriously! 

With that said, I went to Homer this month.  It's a 4 hour drive south and not the prettiest drive you can do in this state and the furthest south you can go. The bluffs overlook the ocean and you almost get the sense you are on Cape Cod. (or so I've seen from pictures)  Wonderful houses and beautiful views made the drive go a bit slower with my camera constantly snapping shots.  (none of which turned out because I screwed up the settings..oops).  From there I made my way to Homer which has a little saying that goes:         "Homer - A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem."   

I didn't partake in either thing (well I may have had a few beers). 

It is absolutely beautiful there.. I mean, really beautiful.  Homer overlooks Kachemak Bay and the spit.. the spit is a strip of land that stretches out into the bay and is their main harbor location.  I did my work and then had the time to spend with my old friend Nova and her family. Good times in a great location. I love this state. Enjoy the pictures!

 A beautiful Sunrise

 Kachemak Bay

The Homer Spit

Home Sweet Home

I posted a couple of pictures of the outside of my house and so I thought it time to post some of the inside so you can see how small and quaint it is!  I ♥ my house.

 Follow this link: My Little Cabin  to view updated pictures of the inside of my house. 

Just like Old Times

Good friends, good times and lots of laughs.  It was great to hang out with my old roommates Stefanie and Genell while in Minneapolis last week.  I'm not sure why, but we always end up giggling and cracking ourselves up when we get together.  It's nice to know that after all these years we are still pretty darn funny!

Back from Prince of Wales

It was a loooong week of traveling and it's good to be home!

The week was filled with float planes, long walks, beautiful forests, great people and to top it off: an underground mine. (been in one, you've been in them all)..

Check out my photos--there are MANY..click on the photo album link below.

Thorne Bay Photo Album

That's Ms.Klein to you!

I had a cool thing happen today. 

I signed on to the University of Alaska website that allows me to view the classes that I am registered for this semester.

There is a whole list of current and previous courses I've taken and at the top I see this:

Courses you are teaching:

201002_ED_A580_403_53333

80046_ED_S593_J27

How cool is that?!!  Oh, how I love my job.

Anyway, this is going to be a crazy couple of months.. Why you ask? Well...

Next week I travel to Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island (see the map at the bottom of the blog.. the island is down on the bottom right).  I will be teaching 24 teachers.  This is how crazy this trip is:

Anchorage to Juneau

Juneau to Sitka

Sitka to Ketchikan

stay one night

Ketchikan to Thorne Bay

stay three nights

Thorne Bay to Ketchikan

stay one night

Ketchikan to Niblack (a copper/zinc project)

stay one night

Repeat the process but in reverse order..  whew!

Following that trip I will be heading on vacation to see my old friends for 10 days.

**(Please God let there be sun)**

Following that trip, I get home and head right back out to go to Soldotna (on the Kenai Peninsula) to teach some more teachers.. will be there for 4 days.

Toss in an 8 hour a week practicum at the Pioneer Home (ol' folks home), 2 classes and work at the office-- I am going to be BUSY!! 

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. ~The Koran

Despite the dreary, rainy summer, my flowers are doing considerably well. They have come a long way and I just love them! Every day I walk outside and smell the fragrance of 20 different types of flowers and you can’t help but smile.

I did have an Oops moment with the flowers. I took the lazy way out after planting the bed on one side of my house. I bought a “roll of wildflower” seeds. Now, they are starting to pop up here and there but they are definitely taking their sweet time.

Either way, the planting, tilling, fertilizing, weed pulling and bees is all worth the joy of seeing one new little flower pop up.

Who would have thought flowers could be so great!!?