Living In Alaska

Alaskans are Independent

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:32:00 +0000

I am your typical Alaskan. Alaskan's are independent thinkers. We are opinionated but friendly. We seek adventure. We love the sun (of which there has been to little of this year). We get the job done. We are great drivers We have to be to drive on snow and ice 6 months of the year. Most people only get to visit but we are the luckiest people in the world to be able live in a beautiful place. Sometimes I feel like I get caught up in my daily grind and take my surroundings for granted and need to shake myself awake to appreciate where I am.

The last couple of days I haven't been blogging. The sun finally came out and like starving people everyone was outside biking, running, throwing frisbees, flying kites, walking dogs, rolling in the grass with babies, rollerblading, gardening. We were trying to fit an entire summers activity into one day. Today is a bonus day. I don't think we've had two days of sunshine in a row yet this summer. These are the kind of days that we look forward to when we are suffering through the long winter.

It's like working at Disneyland. Everyone around you is having fun but you have to work. Sometimes we just need to set work aside, and pretend we are on vacation, so we can enjoy what this state has to offer. Summer's short, it goes by in a blink, it's time to take a road trip and find more ways to appreciate this beautiful place.

Denali - The Great One

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:41:00 +0000

Most people that come up for their Alaskan experience feel that it's not complete until they've seen Mt McKinley.

There are a couple places along the road where, if it's a nice day, you can see the top of the mountain. If it's an especially nice day, and we have the time, we like to stop for lunch at the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. They are located at milepost 133 off the George Parks Highway. From their deck you can order lunch and get a fantastic view of not only Mt McKinley but quite a bit of the mountain range. The lodge is located in Denali State Park on the banks of the Chulitna River. I recommend the crab cakes.

You can sometimes spot wildlife along the road in this area. I've seen fox, moose, caribou and even Ptarmigan (Alaska's state bird)

Along this stretch of road we did see a caribou swimming across the river. Unfortunately, on this trip, we did not get a good Denali picture.

The Road to Nenana, Alaska

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:33:00 +0000

After leaving Fairbanks, just before we got to Nenana, we saw a moose standing chest deep in a pond near the road. She was happily plunging her head into the water doing some underwater eating. There must have been something very tasty growing under the water.

About an hour south of Fairbanks you cross a bridge and come to the town of Nenana, Alaska. It’s a small community of about 500 people and sits by both the Tanana River and the Nenana River.

The Tanana River is where the annual Nenana Ice Classic is held. Participants purchase tickets and make a guess as to when the ice will go out on the river. The residents of Nenana place a large tripod on the river. When the ice goes out it trips a clock. Winners must guess the exact month, date, hour, minute, am/pm. Tickets are sold throughout Alaska from February 1st through April 5th. In past years the ice has gone out as early as April 20^th and as late as May 20^th.

Some years there have been several winners, and like this year, just one winner. This year’s lucky winner walked away with $303,895.

There is one main road through town with shops and a few places to eat. There is RV parking in Nenana and also a few bed & breakfast establishments. There is a sign near the main road advertising one of them. It’s called Bed and Maybe Breakfast which is a true reflection of the easy going attitude of the average Alaskan.

Fairbanks to Nenana

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:40:00 +0000

Leaving Fairbanks it doesn't take very long before your smack in the middle of nowhere again. There is one thing about the road between Fairbanks and Anchorage...you become aware that Alaska has a lot of trees.

We once took an Alaska Railroad trip from Anchorage to Denali. One of the tourists on the trip kept saying "man there's a lot of trees" "Alaska sure has trees". We couldn't help but agree, and probably take them for granted. We were laughing about it the entire trip.

About 30 miles outside of Nenana there is a little place to stop. It's sits half way between Nenana and Fairbanks and it's owned by a skinny little guy named Dick. Google for their website if your looking for interesting gag gifts. I'd link to it but I'm trying to keep the blog at minimum at a PG rating. I don't know how long Dick's Inn has been there but the website says it's been there almost forever.

Golden Days Fairbanks Alaska 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:23:00 +0000

Celebrating in the Golden Heart’’ July 14- 20, 2008

The Golden Days Celebration in Fairbanks lasts all week long. We were just there for Saturday’s festivities.

The Golden Days Street Fair is in the downtown area. There was lots of food, things to buy and a fairly large crowd. There were games for the kidlets and you could buy your last minute ticket for the Duck Races here.

The Grand Parade. Fairbanks claims that it is the largest parade in Alaska. I imagine Anchorage could possibly be the only challenger and I can attest personally that Anchorage has never put on a parade that latest as long as this one. I was frankly surprised that anyone was watching it because in my opinion it seemed like everyone that lived in Fairbanks was in the parade! The claim they have over 100 entries which I certainly believe as we watched for over an hour with no end in sight.

The highlight of the weekend is the Rubber Duckie Race. It’s actually quite ridiculous. They number 6,000 rubber duckies, sell numbered tickets, and on race day, set those large yellow duckies loose on the Chena River. They float downstream, round a curve, and finally make the finish line at the Golden Heart Plaza just at the Cushman Street Bridge. People gathered along side the river and on the bridges just to catch a the first glimpse of the duckies as they made their way down river. There was cheering, and yelling. I have to admit that it doesn’t sound all that exciting but you do get caught up in it. I had purchased a couple of tickets and although the bridge was to crowded to get a good view we actually found a place along the river bank where we could see them coming around the bend.

I apologize for the quality of the video but it was taken with my HP iPaq cell phone.

Pikes Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks, Alaska

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:27:00 +0000

We just got back from spending the weekend up in Fairbanks. It's been so rainy and cold in Anchorage this entire summer that it was nice to get away to someplace warm and dry. Wait a minute...did you say warmer?? Yes. I know, you would normally consider Fairbanks to be colder then Anchorage, after all it's further north. However, in the summer the days are longer up there and it is warmer and dryer then it is in Anchorage.

We stayed at the Pikes Waterfront Lodge. It's very close to the airport and is right on the Chena River. Our room was on the third floor and overlooked the river. There were patio doors in the room that opened to a small deck we could walk out and enjoy the view.

The first thing you notice when you enter the lobby is the place just exudes comfort and warmth. The staff was friendly and welcomed us with a smile. The rooms were well appointed. We even had a big flat screen television. The room and hallways were quite at all times of the day. The blackout drapes were great. With the long summer days it's not dark for very long so the blackout drapes are an absolute must most places in Alaska but especially in Fairbanks.

There is so much sun in fact that Pikes Waterfront Lodge takes advantage of it by harnessing the solar power with solar panels on their roof.

The wifi in our room was functional but weak. We got a much stronger signal down in the lobby/study lounge/ gathering place. We did our computer work downstairs, at one of the tables in the gathering place, and shared an pecan ice cream.

The breakfast buffet had all the essentials. The hot was hot and the cold was cold. There was a good variety to choose from and it was quite tasty.

I would recommend Pikes Waterfront Lodge to anyone wanting a nice hotel with a warm welcoming staff and a nice Alaskan decor.

Six Week Bran Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Store Batter in the refrigerator for up to six weeks. You can bake a fresh supply every day, if you like. Origin of recipe is unknown.

Ingredients

4 Cups Bran Flakes

2 Cups All-Bran Cereal

3 Cups Boiling Water

1 Cup Butter or Margarine

1 1/2C Granulated Sugar

1 ½ C packed brown sugar

4 eggs

4 Cups buttermilk

¼ C Molasses (optional)

5 Cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbl baking soda

1 Tb baking powder

1 teas salt

2 C raisins

36 – 48 Muffins

40 Minutes/15 Min Prep

In a large bowl combine cereals and boiling water.
Let stand.
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars together.
Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix in buttermilk.
Add molasses (optional ingredient).
Stir in a separate bowl, combine flour, soda, baking powder, salt and raisins.
Mix thoroughly.
Add to batter and stir well to combine ingredients.
Store in refrigerator.
No need to bake all at one time; it will keep for six weeks.
As required, fill greased muffin tin ¾ full. You may prefer paper liners.
Oven temperature 400 degrees F
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.
Remove from pan after 5 minutes cooling.
Variation: Brans may be switched to use 2 Cups Bran Flakes and 4 Cups All-bran.
Or you may use natural bran to replace one of either cereal.

Rose Petal Jelly Short Cook Method

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:55:00 +0000

1 3/4 C Rose Petal Juice
2 T Lemon Juice
3 1/2 C Sugar
3 oz Liquid pectin

To extract juice: Pack rose petals tightly into measuring cup to measure 1 1/2 C . Place in a large saucepan and crush with a masher or glass. Add 2 1/4 C water and bring quickly to a boil. Simmer the petals until they have a washed-out color. Strain the liquid. Measure 1 3/4 C of the rose petal juice. Add lemon juice and see it turn a beautiful pink.

Place juice, with lemon juice in a large saucepan. Add sugar. Mix well. Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Pour in liquid pectin. Bring to a full roiling boil and boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, skim off the foam with metal spoon and quickly pour into hot sterilized containers. Cover with 1/8 inch paraffin. Use within 6 months, or color will fade.

The New 2008 Alaska Milepost

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 20:04:00 +0000

"Legendary Alaska trip planner and Alaska travel guide to the highways, roads, ferries, lodgings, recreation, sightseeing attractions and services along the Alaska Highway to and within Alaska, including Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and the Yukon."

This book is a wonderful reference guide for any trip you may be making up to Alaska this year.

It's great for those folks venturing up in an RV or for those coming up via the ferry system or cruise ships. Even if you plan to fly in and rent an automobile or RV this book is a valuable source of information about Alaska.

Alyeska Ski Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:14:00 +0000

Alyeska was a busy place yesterday. We took a Sunday drive to Girdwood. It was a beautiful sunny day.

All the waterfalls along the road are iced over and the local ice climbers are delighted. It seems a bit dangerous but they always seem to make it to the top without injury.

The tides for Turnaginan Arm are active year round, regardless of the temperature. When the tide goes out it leaves behind large chunks of jagged ice and it looks a bit like the surface of the moon.

We watched the skiers at the Alyeska Ski Resort for awhile and then went to The Bake Shop for their famous sweet roll and bottomless bowl of beef barley soup.

We are starting to get a bit anxious for spring to arrive and for the snow to melt. The days are getting longer which is encouraging.

There is maybe only a few weeks left of good skiing. Now is the prime time. Great snow....long days and it's not bitter cold.

Sometimes the Good Guys Win - Internet Fraud

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:29:00 +0000

The Powerbook Prank...Getting back at the scammers. Great Reading.

Other Uses for Bounce Dryer Sheets

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:24:00 +0000

All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer!

It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them.
It also repels mice.
Spread sheets around foundation areas, or in trailers,or cars that are sitting and it keeps mice from entering your vehicle.
It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.
It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.
Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.
Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.
To freshen the air in your home - Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.
Put Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.
Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew.
Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.
To freshen the air in your car - Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan,fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling
Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
Golfers put a Bounce sheet in their back pocket to keep the bees away.

Oriental Cabbage Salad - Great Potluck Dish

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:31:00 +0000

ORIENTAL CABBAGE SALAD

1 bag of slaw
1 bunch green onions
1 c. thinly sliced celery ( a couple of stalks)
1 c. sunflower seeds
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1 pkg. oriental noodles chicken flavor (Top Ramen, etc.)
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. sugar
Black pepper, as desired

Chop cabbage as for slaw, add chopped onions, celery, sunflower seeds, almonds and noodles. Noodles are to be broken up uncooked in the salad.

Put oil, vinegar, and sugar in blender. Add chicken flavor season packet and black pepper (optional, as much as you like). Blend well. Pour over salad, toss together. Chill. Best when made 2 to 3 hours ahead of serving

Silver Salmon Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 06:06:00 +0000

We went salmon fishing this weekend in Seward Alaska. Seward is renowned for its saltwater silver salmon fishing. Some parts of the season you can even catch them from shore. We are lucky enough to have some friends with a boat. They call her "No Bad Days". We went out about 20 miles into Resurrection Bay. Almost to where the bay stops and the ocean starts. It was overcast and about 50 degrees. The water was calm. I hadn't been out on a boat in about 10 years so I was a little nervous about sea sickness but luckily didn't have any problems at all.
You can see the fierce concentration on my face as I was reeling my fish in.

SUCCESS!!!

The salmon I caught was in the 10lb range so it was pretty respectable.

F Street Bar - Downtown Anchorage

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 07:24:00 +0000

Just off the corner of F street and 4th Avenue is a little bar and grill where the locals hang out. It's a great place to catch up with friends and on the weekends is often standing room only.

We love to go on a weeknight when the crowd is lighter thus the bar less smoky. They have the best and I do mean the Best....salmon caesar I have ever tasted. The salmon is seasoned and grilled to perfection. The caesar dressing is layered in garlic so if your sensitive to garlic this may not be the dish for you.

Halibut Chowder

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 05:51:00 +0000

This is such a wonderful chowder although it is definitely not heart healthy. I got this recipe from a dear friend of mine MJ. She's a fabulous cook. She moved to California from Anchorage several years ago. I don't see her as often as I would like. This recipe is so easy even a lazy cook like I can make it.

Halibut Chowder

3 cans cream of potato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 cups of milk
1 1/2 - 2 Bricks (8oz) of cream cheese
3 potatoes chopped fine - microwave until done
3 large carrots sliced into coins - microwave until done
1 can corn
4-5 Cups of Halibut
8-9 green onions - chopped
3 cloves of garlic pressed
1/2 Cup Margarine or butter
-----------------------------------------
Saute in the halibut, onions and garlic in the margarine.
Warm the milk in a pot to steaming but not boiling (or your soup will curdle)
Add the cheese and mix in completely
Add all the soups and simmer 10 minutes
Add all the vegetables
Add all the sauted items plus a bit of black pepper and dill weed to taste.
Mix and simmer 10 minutes

Makes 5 Quarts

Lake Hood

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 23:41:00 +0000

We live on Lake Hood. It's the busiest float plane base in the world. People ask if the airplanes bother me. They can be noisy at times but I grew up a mile west of O'Hare airport. I like airplane noise. It's not as bothersome as where we used to live. Our last house had a neighbor who let her dog out in the early morning. The dog would proceed to bark, and bark, and bark..... It would wake you up and was very annoying as you never knew when it would end. With the airplanes they may wake you up momentarily but it soon passes and you can go back to sleep.

We have so much daylight in the summers that the planes start taking off about 5-6am on the weekends.

The baby ducks are following their mothers about. It is very relaxing to just sit outside and watch the planes and ducks. We even have a pair of otters that occasionally swim by for a visit.

It's about a 4 mile bike ride/walk around the lake. I will ride my bike unless it's windy then I will walk part way and back.

How to Begin?

noreply@blogger.com (Living in Alaska) — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 06:43:00 +0000

I've been living in Alaska since 1990. It will be 29 years on Labor Day...amazing that so much time has gone by. The kids were 1 1/2, 5 and 6 1/2 when we drove up via the Alaskan Highway. They are grown now. Amazing!