Retreat at Harbor

This past weekend I was at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp, in Lake Geneva. 8 other women from church and I attended the annual Womens Retreat. The weekend was fantastic. Great. And a superb speaker, even if I am a bit biased. Karen Hinz, one of my good friends, was the speaker, and did a phenomenal job at speaking to the issue of waiting… waiting on God… waiting with God… waiting with others… God waiting with us…. Way to go, Kar.

Sunday morning I walked outside before breakfast, to take a few photos, and I took this one. Of course, I love to be at Harbor, because of having worked there for two summers, but it is a gorgeous location.

our little pilot

Today we had an incredible experience! We went for an airplane ride–in a private airplane. A 2-seater… so Jim went up first, then I went up. And in between, Kajsa tried on the headphones and sat in the passenger seat… looking very cool, of course. Hopefully I’ll post more photos later this week, but suffice it to say, for now, that this was incredible. Fun. Beautiful. Gorgeous. I could have stayed up there for a loooong time. At least I think I could have. Thanks, Nancy and Steve!

this is my knitting…on drugs

During HR (Hysterectomy Recuperation), Jen taught me how to knit. I used to know how to knit slippers-I made several pairs of slippers for Christmas presents when I was younger. Much younger. But that’s all I knew how to knit. And I have long envied Jen’s cool felted knit projects. So Jen taught me how to knit, and I knit a fun bag.. with handles, that I then (with Jen’s help) felted–which means you wash the wool-knit-project in hot water until it has shrunk to the desired size… squeeze the water out, shape it, and let it dry. It’s great.

The bag I did fairly well on. Not perfect, but not bad for the first time making a bag. But the handles? I could barely keep the seven stitches on the needles, I added extra stitches, I dropped the needles several times, I knit the wrong way. It was a riot, only because Jen was there to watch me knit the first handle, and to correct my mistakes. I felt dumb, and told Jen, to which she replied, “Cathy, you are on Vicodin right now.” oh yeah.

The next day I knit the second handle. No problems. Jen wasn’t even around to help, should I mess up–but it was, basically, a breeze. I laughed, remembering that for handle #2, I was NOT on Vicodin.

Can you tell which handle is which?

Camp pies and a rummage sale…

I’ve heard about the camp pies. Sandie has bragged about the camp pies. They sounded like they might be good, but honestly, it’s one of those things that you have to experience, I think.

a pie iron in the fire

So don’t worry, friends of mine who live close by… I will buy one of these cast iron pie irons, and make these for you at some point. (Except I won’t try the spam and velveeta camp pie that some brave souls ate yesterday, here in the Lawrence back yard.)

On Thursday evening, Sandie made camp pies for us.

"oozie goodness"

Cheap bread, buttered on the outside of each slice, and cherry pie filling in the middle, squashed into a pie iron, cooked over a campfire. On Friday, Sandie experimented with cheddar cheese to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Also fantastic. In fact, Sandie’s term for these is now “oozie goodness”. For those of you who don’t like the sound of cherry pie filling, insert any filling you want. Camp pies simply rock.

One of the great things about camping is fun people you meet. We had some fun neighbors: the 2 Danes and San Francisco friend; and the couple from Montana…. one of the not-so-great-things about camping is your proximity to loud people you meet. I’m all for having fun while camping, but honestly people…  GO TO BED! or at least be quieter for those of us who are already struggling to sleep because it’s freezing… Needless to say, Thursday night was a rough night of sporadic sleep.

Friday morning’s breakfast was instant oatmeal, bacon, and camp coffee.

the tent Jim, Kajsa, and I slept in

Yum. Camping with the Lawrences is fun, because they have fun camp gear. It’s also fun, because the Lawrences are fun. But that goes without saying. The camp gear part is wild. It’s not like they have a mini-REI in their house full of camp gear, but I’ve honestly never been camping with such cool gear.

a little wildlife exiting the tent

And Dave says this is nothing, compared to friends of his. I love it. I should also mention that I have not been camping a ton.. some, but not a ton.

After breakfast, we were all pretty excited to walk up to the Methodist church in Seward, and go to the rummage sale.

the rummage sale gang

The campground bathroom house had a flyer on the wall, advertising the sale. Since most of us froze Thursday night as well as stayed awake thanks to loud neighbors, we decided to rummage for more clothing and blankets. Fun. Who’d of thunk… we go to Alaksa, and to a great rummage sale. Loads of fun. The photo I’m trying to insert in this paragraph should show the funny photo of the gang, loaded up with rummage gear. Jim found a mattress pad, a foam pad (both for putting under our sleeping bags), and a sheet, I think. Sandie got more blankets, I got some awesome pants that are warmer than anything else I have here. Etc.

By the time we returned to the campground, Jim and I had to get ready for our 5-hour “cruise” to see wildlife out on the sea. So we packed up our backpack, bundled up in our rummage-sale gear, Dave packed us a lunch (because we’re too cheap to pay for the salmon/prime rib buffet on the boat), and we all took the long walk along the sidewalk down to the small boat harbor. Entropy was the center of attention, of course… loads of tourists taking loads of photos of him. He tolerated it.

Camping in Seward

on Thursday afternoon, we loaded up two carloads of camping gear, kids, Little E., and adults, some snacks, etc. and drove to Seward, down south. I will admit to some apprehension about camping. It had been ages, since I’d camped. But I’m all for adventure, and thougth this might be fun. As it turns out, it was. Not only fun, but beautiful!! We drove to Seward, along a coastal highway for a bit, then on a highway surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. Really, it’s gorgeous. It helps, of course, that we saw another moose and 5 bald eagles on the way to Seward. But the photos of the distant moose and distant bald eagles are hardly worth posting. Still, we saw them.

What did not help the trip much was the camera lens catastrophe. Kajsa was on my shoulders, and I was about to hand off my camera to get her down, when she fell. Fortunately I held onto her leg, and she slid most of the way down my back, fell a short distance, then after crying a bit, did her normal routine of blaming whatever “made” her fall, or what “broke” her fall.. in this case, the ground. Pointing to it, crying, shaking her head and her finger at the ground. Unfortunately, in the process of Kajsa slipping down my back, and my fear of her falling harder, I dropped the camera. With the zoom lens on it. The zoom still works–but only at that outermost zoom length. Which is good, I guess. If you’re going to break your zoom lens, I suppose it’s best that it breaks at the greatest length possible. The bad part is, it’s stuck there.. and can’t move. So, it involves a lot of switching of lenses, when I’m wanting to capture a distant shot, then a closer shot.. oh well. As I have said numerous times, “I dropped my daughter, and I dropped my camera. I saved my daughter, not the camera.”

Here are some pictures…

dead trees, dead since the 1964 earthquake.. the trees are dead because the ground sank and saltwater entered these parts.

somebody Hooligan fishing in 20 Mile River, on the way to Seward

a stone's throw (a good throw) from our tents... in Seward, on Resurrection Bay

Kjell, Sunny and Broder, in Seward

the campsite, enjoying the campfire

2 Seagulls and a Sea Otter. The otter hung out in the water by our campsite for ages, it seemed.

besides the moose…

there’s not much else to say. No, just kidding. The moose pretty much trumps anything else. But given that, it’s incredibly fun to be with the

Broder, Kajsa and Sunny at Earthquake Park

Lawrence clan, to see Entropy, and to be in Anchorage.

We arrived Monday night. Tuesday morning, before Dave arrived home from Prudhoe Bay (work) and Sandie came home from work, the kids and Jim and I walked (with Entropy, of course)

Sunny, spinning and spinning and spinning

to a park nearby, where the kids enjoyed spinning on some funky playground equipment.

On our way to the airport to pick up

Jim, spinning and spinning and spinning...

Dave, we stopped at Earthquake Park, where all sorts of displays tell the story of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake. Lots of mosquitoes. Lots of fun for Kajsa, holding hands with Sunny and Broder.

After picking Dave up at the airport, we all went to Moose’s Tooth for dinner. INcredible pizza. Moose’s Tooth is my third favorite pizza in the world. That’s right, the world. of course my other two are also in the US. (1: Giordanno’s, Chicago… 2: a place in New York City). But still.. out of all the pizza I have eaten, Moose’s Tooth pizza is my third favorite.

Little E, while Jim is driving

Can’t hurt that the restaurant has “Moose” in its name. But also, the pizza rocks.

The other night we were headed out to see some Falls, but it looked like rain that direction, so Sandie said we could go on our moose hunt instead. (See the “I saw a MOOSE” post.)

Kajsa, spinning...

We drove around. Or, I should say, Sandie drove around, while Jim, Sunny and I peeled our eyes open, searching the highways, byways and woods for moose.

Sandie and Entropy, at Chugach State Park

Kajsa was basically in her I’m-so-tired-I-can’t-fall-asleep funk.

Sunny and Kjell, at Moose's Tooth

But eventually settled down. We ended up at Chugach State Park, where we hiked part of FlatTop Mountain. Only part, because there were too many dogs off-leash, and Entropy was with us–ON leash, let me add.

Sandie's, Entropy's, Sunny's, and Cathy's feet in the snow... at Chugach

So it was a bit frustrating that other dogs kept running up to Little E. That, and the girls were freezing cold. Sunny only had a sleeveless shirt on. And Kajsa was in the backpack, but we didn’t realize how cold she was getting.

a cold Kajsa, and Jim

Of course, there was snow. But not a ton of snow. So we wrapped up Kajsa in Jim’s long-sleeved shirt. Anyhow, gorgeous walk. Besides the cold.

I’m liking Alaska.

i saw a MOOSE!!!!!!

two, actually! a mother and her calf. Sooooo cute. not such great pictures. but still, we saw two moose!!!!

First of all, Jim, Kajsa and I are in Alaska! Anchorage, to be exact, visiting the Lawrence’s. Second, I’ve been on this “moose hunt” for several years. It’s become a family joke, that Cathy is constantly on the lookout for moose. And, just to be clear, my definition of “moose-hunt” involves driving around rural areas (someone else usually driving), camera in hand, windows down, shoes on–usually… ready to jump out of the car and photograph. the moose.

moose poop

the elusive moose that seems to know when I’m in town, and hides.

So I told Sandie L., that if I did not see a moose here in Alaska, I would be bummed. Really bummed. Especially considering that they seem to have moose wandering all over the area.

after mama moose noticed me

And I figured the moose would hide, once they knew I was here. Last night, Sandie was a good friend, and drove us around, for a moose hunt. I said I was giving up on the moose. 24 hours in Alaska, and no moose-sighting yet. Sandie even called some friends in various areas of Anchorage, to put the alert out. Moose-sightings? call Sandie, so her crazy visitors can go see it….

so this morning,

the moose walking away... check out the cute calf

Sandie heard about a moose and her calf bedded in someone’s backyard. Sandie made the call. We received the call. We got in the car (Jim, Cathy, Sunny and Kajsa), drove up to the moose-sighting home… but missed her by a few minutes. We hung out, walked back into the woods a bit.. but no luck. Nice people, and I’m grateful they allowed these strangers to wander their backyard. But no luck. Lots of moose poop. As pictured. So we got back in the car, and drove around a bit more… and then, we saw them! the moose and her calf…

so cute!

I put my zoom lens on the camera, jumped out of the car–barefoot–quietly snuck down someone’s driveway, and took some photos. I was so incredibly happy. Elated. Thrilled. Ecstatic. I can’t believe we finally saw a moose. I have heard that in real life, the are actually ugly. I disagree. I think they are beautfiul.

the four dogs

so I’ve had a few questions about the four dogs on one  of the Easter day photos… going counter-clockwise, starting with the dog at the top of the picture, the dogs are: Sky, Gaiden, Kaya and Abby. Abby is, of course, our dog. Kaya… Jen and Roy’s dog. and Gaiden and Sky are two of Kaya’s 11 puppies that she had in December. (Gaiden is the puppy Roy and Jen kept.)

so cute. For more puppy pix, check out Jen’s website, “Sugar River Chinooks”.

it’s been awhile.

Dairy Queen joy with “Uncle Roy”…. “Girl Cousin” power with Hannah… Kajsa’s sunglasses that make her look and feel way cool…. hugging “Ahb-wah” …. and trying to fit into Daddy’s shoes.

Easter Weekend, part 3

4 Exhausted Dogs.

1 Sleeping Toddler.

5 Tired-but-still-awake  adults.

(1 adult is snapping the photo).