Settling In

We're starting to get back into our AZ way of life.

It's nice to wake up in the morning with the sun is already shining. All you need to do is grab is a pair of shorts and a tee shirt, you're ready for the day.

My tan is slowing starting to return and the warm weather makes my bones feel good.

It's a nice feeling being back but I'm missing Alaska.

Wintering outside

When we arrived in AZ it was a reverse of everything we had to do in AK when we were getting ready to leave.

We have gotten our things unpacked and the dogs are starting to settle back into their routine of having to be taken on walks and having a walled back yard.

Life is good and we're looking already looking forward to the approaching holidays which we'll spend with family and friends.

One of the best parts about being in AZ so far is being able to go grocery shopping at 6 different stores. Here's what we have to chose from down here: Albertson's, Bashas', Smiths', Safeway, Food City and Super WalMart. What a change from Alaska!

Leaving Alaska

We had one of the best trips ever leaving Alaska. Everything went like clockwork.

We left our cabin at 9am in our little fishing boat. We arrived at shore and were able to store it and the engine in record time. After saying goodbye to a couple of friends, we were on the road to Anchorage by 10.

A hour and a half later we were meeting our son for a lift to the airport. There was no waiting in line at the airport check-in and security a breeze. Our plane took off on time and was only 2/3 full. We made it to Seattle in only 2 1/2 hours. Normally, it takes more than 3.

The flight from Seattle to Las Vegas was a repeat of the Anchorage flight. The plane was 2/3 full and we arrived early. Our flight was less than 2 hours long. Usually, it takes closer to 2 1/2 hours.

As soon as we got off the plane, I headed to Avis to pick up our rented minivan and my husband headed to baggage claim to collect all our stuff and our labs, Diver and Allie. By the time I got back with the van, Greg was waiting for me in passenger pickup.

We loaded up and headed home, arriving at 2am. What a trip but a good one....

Storing, Eating, Packing, Cleaning

Our days are numbered in Alaska. Only 3 left til it's time to fly south.

Yesterday, the big boat went to storage for the winter so we're down to using the little fishing boat til we leave.

We are eating what's left in our refrigerator. No going to the store for anything. We use what we have.

Today, Allie and Diver go to the vet for their flying papers and my car gets stored. I will have to drive the big Z71 4x4 with the 2 foot stick shift til we leave and that's a job in it's self. I can never find reverse without shutting off the engine.

The packing of the stuff has begun. I should be done packing by tomorrow. Then it's on to cleaning.

Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

3 cups of flour
1/2 cup of peanut butter not chunky
2 tbsp olive oil
1 egg
enough water to moisten

Mix all the above ingredients together
Form into a ball
Roll out to 1/4' thickness
Cut into shapes....
Place on cookie sheet
Bake at 325 for approx. 30 minutes or golden brown
Turn off oven and cool cookies completely

You can freeze the cookies if you want but they probably won't last that long.
If you have big dogs, you might want double the recipe.
The cookies will keep for a couple of weeks if you store them in a dry place.

My dogs love these and I'm sure your dogs will too.

Too Much Food

It's getting serious...only 6 days til we leave and we still have a frig full of food. Looks like I'll be cooking big meals all the rest of the week. I'm even making peanut butter dog biscuits for the pups tomorrow to use up the last of the peanut butter.

Ticket Are Bought

It's offical! The tickets are bought so we'll be leaving Alaska for the winter in 10 days. I have so much to do so starting today the sorting and packing begins. I've already made an appointment for the pups next Friday for their health certificates.

Now the real fun begins. Arizonia here we come and I had our first call from our dear friend already inviting us to dinner as soon as we arrive. It's going to be wonderful seeing all of our friends again.

Falling Leaves

I'm waiting for the sun to come up. It's going to be a beautiful day filled with sunshine and I'm anxious to spend my day outdoors.
I think back to when I was a child, playing in the fall leaves with my dog and I'm excited to repeat that experience as a playful adult.
There's something to say about Fall in my beautiful Alaska but I'm still counting the days til we head south because winter arrives quickly.
I'd better enjoy each and every day that I have til it's time to go.

Lazy Day

What a perfect day to curl up with a good book as the fire blazes in the wood stove.

I'll just let the world go by without me and have a "do nothing" day for once.

Tomorrow, I'll think about our trip south and all the things I need to do.

Where's the Fall

Fall just arrived but I think it forgot what it's suppose to do. We are heading right into winter. We had our first frost this morning, there's new snow on the mountains and it's been below freezing the last 3 mornings. It even looks and feels like it could snow.

We have gotten most of the yard cleaned up and ready for spring. Next week, we'll start putting away all the outdoor furniture.

It's time to start gathering our things to head south for the winter.

Yard Work

Fall is slowing arriving in our beautiful 49th state. Saturday, we were able to spend the afternoon in the autumn sun doing yard work. The yard was mowed hopefully for the last time but the leaves are just starting to come down. So, the leaves will have to be dealt with next. Hopefully, we'll be able to get to those before we leave for the winter.

Flying Dogs

Where we go, our dogs go so that includes flying on planes. Our labs, Diver and Allie should have mileage plans but I can't get Alaska Airlines to agree with me.

When it comes to flying with pets, Alaska Air is the only choice. Our pups are the last to board and the first ones off the plane. You are notified when your pets are on board and you are handed a note verifying that they are.

Alaska Air is also the only airline that will fly our pets year round and the price for flying them is less than all the others.

Way to go, Alaska Airlines for being the most Pet Friendly in the sky.

Sortin Out

Today I started my annual job of sortin out and throwin away.
It seems I like to collect things over the summer months.
These things I'm talking about include magazines, newspapers, junk mail and plastic grocery bags.

I'll sort it now, that way, I get to start all over again next spring collecting things. I won't to have worry about sortin and throwin til fall comes around again.

Description of Alaskan Travelers:

It's the couple wearing heavy coats and flipflops checking in at the airport with 2 u-haul boxes secured with duct tape, 2 coolers full of salmon and 2 large dogs in kennels..

Wait, I just described us........

Making Piles

We're several days away from leaving Alaska and heading south for the winter hopefully before the snow flys but I've got to get started somewhere.

I've got to start getting all our stuff together for the trip south so I've developed my system of making piles. My husband will say that needs to go south and I throw it in a pile. That means it goes in the floor in the corner of our bedroom. Before it's all said and done I'll have one huge pile of stuff that I'll have to divide into smaller piles to be packed.

I have the pile that can get packed in suitcases, the pile that's not expensive but is important, the pile that's liquid and my expensive stuff pile that gets carried on.

I''ve got to watch what I pack and where because I got busted at Airport Security for a jar of jelly the last time we flew. Thinking back, why did I even have that with us.

Some of the stuff we take just amazes me when I get south and unpack. I have to wonder what was I thinking!!

So much to do! Oh My!

Just thinking about closing up the house and packing for the trip south makes me tired. I must have a half a dozen lists going at one time so I don't forget something. I try to keep my lists from the year before and add to them. That way I don't have to rewrite the same lists of things to do.

I have the closing down the house list, the packing list, forwarding the mail list, the travel arrangements list, if we're flying, the storing the vehicles for the winter list and the pets to the vet list for travel papers. There's probably a couple more lists that I've forgotten but hopefully my husband will remind me what they are.

Just keeping track of these lists are a job in itself and the real work hasn't even begun.

When the Snow flys

When the leaves start turning in Alaska, the snowbirds start closing up their homes. Their destination is south for the winter. After spending 2 decades of winters here, I don't blame them and I'll be right behind them come October 15.