My Alaskin adventure has begun.....

 My trek from Tampa to the Orlando a/p had me standing at the concourse windows looking at my plane while they were getting it ready for the flight to Seattle.  After 6 1/2 hrs I then boarded another 2 1/2 hr flight to Juneau.

I logged in about 9 1/2 hrs flying time.   Happy to say it was a very uneventful event and smooth sailing thanks to the many fine folks of Alaska Airlines.

Once I settled in for the flights my hopes were to get some great shots from the cabin window but no such luck.. there were just too many clouds out there and seeing below at such an altitude was not to be.

 

I arrived in Juneau around noon (their time) and once at my kids home I stepped out on their front deck to see the view... but there was no mountain. "It's there", they said. Give it a few hours and you'll see.

Yep, they were right.  Over the course of the day the many faces of this mountain changed.  The cloud cover gave it a different look with each passing hour.  

The sun, well that is something not seen too often here.  Rain, cloudy and damp is the norm.

Throughout the day I stepped out the front door and took a photo about every two hours.  

Quite a view to have each day, don't you think?   

I'm so happy to be here with my Son and his family.  Seeing my grand daughter again is very special.  The distance keeps us apart and she is now 15 and such a young lady... I'm saddened by missing so much of her life  but we hope to do a few quality things together in the next few weeks... She is such a beautiful young woman and makes me smile.
This is Eve and her mom, my DIL Michelle... they both made fun of me showing up with my flowing, flat ironed hair... it's a Florida thing mind you.  They told me no need for a hair dryer or such things.  They live in benies, hats, jackets and boots because of the damp weather.  Ok, I give up on hair. Talk about making life easier!

I hope to post some more photos... hopefully a few bears will come my way...haha

When I left Florida it was hot and sticky and today I'm wearing sweaters, socks and trying to stay warm.. such a difference in temps and "I'm so happy right now".

The perfect sewing kit for a special grand daughter...

These past weeks have flown by for me.. busy doing all sorts of things and I realized I've not posted in this blog for quite some time... Where has the time gone?

I also need to get into a few friends blogs and let them know I'm still alive.

Next week I'm flying to visit with my kids up in the wilderness of Alaska and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my 15yr old grand daughter, Eve.   She asked if I would teach her how to sew, with her new sewing machine.  I'd love to and thought of making her first sewing kit. 

 I had some nice quilting fabric in the stash with some French wording and a bit of glitter. Perfect for a young lady who is so into languages and places far away.

 The kit will hold all the supplies needed for some light weight sewing.  Threads, needles, pins and a few bobbins for her new machine.

 Just open it up to find all you will need then when finished,, re roll it and tie with the silk ribbon.

 And of course,  "Grandma Made it"

I've started collecting a few gifts to bring along.  

Knitted some new hats and scarves for their severe winters.

Made this beauty for myself.  I must remember to not toss it into the washing machine.. The yarn is "Irish Wool" and you know what will happen to that!

 

It's been hot in my area of Florida, so hot and humid from the rainy seasons daily storms you can feel the air dripping. So I've been indoors mostly.  Best time of the year to knit and sew inside with the a/c on....  

Ok.. time to get my mind on what to pack for cold country. Will be a treat to get out of this heat.  From what I understand I need to get some hiking boots but no one sells Timberlands here, this time of year so I guess I'll wait till I get to Juneau for that.  

I'll be sure to post loads of photos and when I see my first bear,, I'll have to lay and play dead so I'll get a photo of that for sure....My DIL said they carry 'Bear Spray' when they walk into town. 

Oh Boy!

"Say a prayer for me"

"God Bless America" Land that I love......

Along with our 5 Military Units I would like to remember all those in our 

"Police and Fire Departments"

that give their time, energy and lives to keep us in America safe and secure.

 Wishing everyone a safe and happy 

"Fourth of July"

Rainy Days, Lilly's and a Snail?

South Florida rainy season is here and it's been here for the past 5 days... non stop rain and it's really funny how it rains.  I lived up north and in the midwest and when it rains there the sky is dreary and cloudy every where you look... but here when it rains and storms we might see clouds to the left and sunny blue skies to the right. It literally will rain across the street and not on my yard....  Sun showers they call it.  So all day long we go through spurts of heavy down pour or sunny drizzle.
I for one just love it.
I wanted to get a photo of my Lilly's that bloomed this past week so I ran out between drops with my camera.  
My niece sent me some really nice bulbs for my birthday and I put 12 in the front of the house and 12 out back.  You might be able to see them in the photo below, to the right of the Cannas.

 It's so wonderful when it rains here, the air  feels like a Tropical Rainforest and the landscape is so green.

 

 While planting bulbs I put a few in a glass bowl and they also sprouted and are blooming.  I love the look and keep them out on the back deck for the sun.

 

 The roots don't have enough room in the bowl but they are doing just fine.

I like to experiment with my gardening.

 I had to show you this little guy/girl.

There are loads of snails when the rain comes and I've only seen little round brown ones but this beauty was a first.  

Not sure where it came from and it had no friends with it but it stayed for a few days and was gone this morning.  Isn't she pretty and yes she was pretty large for a snail.

 Rainy season is here and should stay for the month or two.  That's ok with me but only one problem, the weeds and bushes are going to be twice as big in a week or so.  Wonder if I can get a goat to take care of that?

"Enjoy your week everyone"

A big decision has been made,, finally!

Over the years I've been limited to where and how I travel due to my health. It's always been to a well established town with a Hospital that had Cardio care,  and this past year my son has asked me several times to come see where he and his family live.  Although I have wanted to go to them the little town they live in does not have proper health care for me and if I was to need medical help I'd have to take a 2 hour life flight to Seattle or Anchorage.... so I've avoided going to Juneau.
This past two weeks I've had several conversations with my Cardio Doctor and after he put me through several tests he finally said "GO"!   In fact he gave me a lecture on how to not worry and how my new High Tec  pacer/defibulator will do it's job if I have any kind of problems.  I will have time to get to the help I need.  
 Juneau does have a Hospital and many Doctors but not one Cardiologist who can read my pacer and act accordingly.  I've always been afraid to put my trust in a Family Practice doctor and for the past 10 years  I've avoided going to this tiny town because all they will do with me is put me on a plane to fly out.

 The red pushpin is where my son lives (literally over his house) and the blue pin is Downtown Juneau... and that is all of it, nothing beyond except a home scattered here and there.  In fact the Federal Building  (Juneau  is the Capitol of Alaska) is the only building of any great size.  Beyond those beautiful mountains is wilderness for hundreds of miles.
 

Well, I'm going, finally!

I've been thinking of my knitting coming with me.  No matter where I go I need my needlework. These hands must stay busy and 6 hrs on one flight then three on another, I may go nuts with nothing to do.  

I found a little canvas bag that would be perfect to carry knitting and not wanting to spend a lot of money on the fancy knitting bags and only $5.00 at Michaels,  but it needed a long shoulder strap and snaps to keep it closed.  

  That was easy enough.  I bought a yard of flat cording and stitched it to the top of the bag then added two snaps on the
inside of the top and now if I manage to drop it, all the contents will not fall out. 

 Then I thought about all the black bags I might see in the airports and I needed to add something to distinguish it as mine, in a flash... I crochet some little flowers and stitched them to the front pocket.  Who else with have these exact flowers?

 Turns out this little bag holds more than I was hoping for.. my knitting book with the instructions has plenty of room.

I'll be sure to do a post in a few months... (might take me that long to finish my sweater)  Hopefully it will look as good as the photo.

 Below is a photo my son took from his front porch.

I'll be there for about 3 weeks and I can see me  sitting on an easy chair with a hot cup of coffee  doing my knitting when were not out hiking or finding something wonderful to do.  It may be July in a few days but that mountain will have snow on the top all summer long.

 I'm a bit excited to finally visit with my son and family.  I know they are going to be happy to have me there..  I don't get to see them too often since the Coast Guard took Tom to Alaska but knowing how happy he is with his job and his life it makes this mom smile.


Spending some quality time with Michelle, his wife and their daughter, Eve will surly be good for me.  
I need to go shopping for gifts, can't arrive without any and I hope none of them say Florida.

(big smile here)

I'll be linking this post to
Fun in the Sun 
Thrifty Knitting Bag 

Meeting up with a great group of friends.....

This past weekend a group of Moms and I had a Meet & Greet on the St. Petersburg Coast Guard Station Dock... these Moms all live around the country and most have Cadets or Enlisted that work the  "US Coast Guard Tall Ship Eagle".  I was lucky to live here and had only a short drive but these moms had to fly and drive in for the event.

 We all belong to a "Coast Guard Moms" group that provides support to new Coastie Moms who have kids entering Basic Training for the first time. 

 The "Eagle" came into the St. Petersburg, Fl port after a 5 week tour of the Caribbean  Forty-five cadets have called this ship home for the last five weeks. They run the Eagle, along with six permanent crew members and 55 enlisted personnel maintain the ship year-round.  The Cadets  are  studying at the Academy in New London, Ct.
 This beautiful sailing vessel  is a teaching tool for the Academy Cadets and teaches them the skills they will need to complete their studies and become Officers in the US Coast Guard.  My son graduated the Academy a few years back and this gave me the opportunity to see and visit this great ship!
The Eagle was built in Germany in 1936.  It was taken by the US after World War II as a war prize. Below deck is the original plaque. There are several things that are still the originals, including 85% of the wood in the Flag Cabin, the furniture and a sink with the words "auff" and "zu" in German.
For the cadets, it's a great experience to be training on a ship with so much history.

 It was a glorious beautiful hot Florida day and we had such a good time while we waited for this ship to come into port.
The Florida sun was up in full force this day, that's me with the umbrella while my friend Jane looked out with such pride as  the ship came in with her son  on board.

 Was a fun day for us all.

 As everyone knows the "United States Coast Guard" is a branch of the American Military and provides safety and care to our borders both in America and foregin lands when our other 4 military's are at war or working out of the country.  For more information on the "USCG" you can see how they do their jobs on the Weather Channel programs, 

Coast Guard Alaska and Coast Guard Florida. 

Learn more about the Academy Here

 

The "US Coast Guard" makes us proud.
 

I'm linking up this post to

Alphabet Thursday

Saying Good Bye To An Old Friend....

  I have a new appreciation for those who loose a long time pet.. the house was much too quite this morning.  

Rikki was not at her bowl screaming for food. 

 Will take some time to get over her not being here. 

 In her 18 years she moved where we moved and was always the one thing that made the new place a home.

 I'm feeling "I took her for granted" 

 I also know, when someone says "Oh just get another cat"

 it's not the same. 

"She can't be replaced" 

 (her last photo)

 Busy Sandy, keep busy!

 "Bye Bye Sweet Girl"

Saying good bye to "The Pier" in St. Petersburg

The people gathered on the top level of "The Pier" today to say good bye.  St. Petersburg was celebrating Memorial Day and the town was full of beach goers. I'm sure thousands came and went all day to take part in all the activities going on, there was even a ski show.
After 50 something years this pier in St. Petersburg Florida has been a perfect spot for locals as well as tourists to visit.  Every day through out the year it's busy in there.  Shops, restaurants and an aquarium are (or were) housed inside the large building at the end of The Pier.  This was my 'go to' when visitors came down from the north.

 The Pier jetties out into the Tampa Bay sitting right beside the Coast Guard Station and I for one will miss it.

 At the end of the drive to The Pier is a spot that is so much fun... you can buy fish and feed the Pelicans.   Just hold one and dozens come flying in to be fed.  I wonder where all of these business will go after today?  I did read some will relocate and some simply closed their doors.. such a shame.

 There is another design in the works for a new pier but it's been going back and forth between the citizens here.. some like it and some don't.  So the city council still has not made a decision as to the design.  I know everyone wants this one to stay but it's falling apart and will cost so much more to fix and repair than to build a new one.  
Tonight there will be a big send off, fireworks and parties all evening on and around The Pier... No, I will not be there but I bet it will be fun.

  

 And on another note...

This mom and grandma is breathing a big sigh of relief this past week... in a previous post I told about how my daughter and her family survived the Moore, OK tornado. You can read my post Here
 I've never been so afraid for someone I love as I was that day.  Gina said yesterday "The boys have calmed down and getting back to normal" and that makes my heart sing. 

"Have a wonderful week everyone"

Remember them all, on this "Memorial Day"....

 As of 05/24/13: Number of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom & New Dawn casualties as confirmed by US Central Command: 6679

And to all the Men and Women who lost their lives so we could be free.  

"Bless You"