It's hard to know where to start when blogging for the first time. I would like to use my blog as a journal exercise, plus keep tabs with family and friends. So, here goes! For the past week my friend Jane Babcock has been in Alaska with me. She took a chance on spending a week with me knowing me well enough (we served in our Stake Relief Society for 7 years together) to know that she would be sacrificing her solitude for my constant babbling. Of course I had a perfect excuse, when hiking on the trails in Alaska a person must remember 2 things, look big and be loud. I'm both, so no worries! In all our travels around the state the only place we have come across any bears has been in our own backyard here in Girdwood. Last Sunday evening Jane & I went out to pick blueberries on the bike path under the ski resort. As we were checking out the bushes a couple of bikers called out, bear on the left! We stepped to the right side of the trail to let them pass on the left. They did not pass but stopped and became much more forceful, yelling, BEAR on the left in the meadow! We decided to let the bear have those berries.
We had a wonderful week together. We drove to Talkeetna to see Danali by plane, the majesty!
Gathered river rock to take home in the Susitna River. Ate the most wonderful Salmon Bisque at the Wildflower Cafe in Talkeetna.Spent the night in a little Hostel with an attitude. Napped on the dock at Nancy Lake in the sun.
Hiked along the Turnagain Arm in Hope. Ate the best piece of pie I have ever tasted in my life, Apple/gooseberry.
Cruised the Prince William Sound and witnessed glaciers calving. 
Hiked the Winner Creek trail and rode the hand tram! Alaska is heaven!
As many of you know, I came to Alaska in the summer of 2007 for two weeks, and stayed for two months! I fell in love with the spectacular scenery of the Chugach mountains and was totally captivated by the Prince William Sound. Even more lasting are the bonds made with my sister, Wendy Tueller, who was only 6 years old when I married, and moved, hence this was the first opportunity we have had to really connect as adults. But, I have to admit that after 30 years of mothering, for the first time I was put on time-out, and Wendy took over the mothering for the summer. She took complete care of me. So this summer I've taken the course of payback and have come to Girdwood, Alaska for three months to help Wendy with the birth of her third child, Jedadiah Pacific Tueller.
At a certain spot in the Sound the Porpoises come to surf the wake of the Moonlight Maid. Lyle and I love to play with them by banging on the side of the boat. This one has turned to the side to check us out! We have also seen whales spouting and dancing in the ocean. One almost rammed the boat when Wendy was driving. It dove barely in time off the port side.
