Tuesday, September 29: Day 110

No, no, it didn't snow today (and yes, that's not really a picture I took) But it was the first morning I came out to find an icy windshield. Our ice scraper was buried away in our storage unit so I had to sit and wait for the defroster to do it's winterly duty. That's its one big duty. (hopefully someone can guess what movie I'm thinking of??) I'm actually not feeling as much dread in my heart for winter this year, which is obviously nice (no one wants to feel dread in their heart)--but very surprising because last year at this time, I was. Maybe it's because we had such a phenomenal summer. What an amazing summer!! (We've listed it as the #2 summer of our lives...last summer being #1 with our Europe adventures) I'm looking forward to feeling cozy on the couch, reading a good book while snow is falling, the holidays, the dog races, the space heater Matthias has promised me from Costco to keep my feet warm, potentially learning how to cross country ski, and whatever else this winter might bring. Now, I will readily admit that I may not be completely excited for loading on the layers and boots every time I want to go outside, or pushing the shopping cart over a thick sheet of bumpy ice, or scraping the window at 5:15 a.m., but I'm surprisingly feeling okay about the whole thing. So I'm not gonna fight that.

Monday, September 28: Day 109

Before this week, the pages in my scriptures between 2 Nephi 12-24 were stuck together. And since I'm catching this up on Wednesday, I can say that in the past two days I've spent

somewhere over 10 hours getting through 2 Nephi 12-19 verse by verse, marking, highlighting, and writing in quotes from smart Isaiah authors. I had 3 other books open that all had things to say about what the verses meant and definitions of words/phrases that I've grown up being frustrated by because nothing made sense. And although I am no expert on Isaiah, I finally get the stories and the themes and messages that are in there...it's crazy. Understanding Isaiah has been in the same category as doing family history--I always assumed I would somehow figure it out and do it when my hair is grey. It's been amazing to see the words come to life and take on meaning. I guess it's a lot like learning a new language that way. So although I hesitated to blog about this because I didn't want it to sound like a Sunday School lesson where I'm trying to convince my audience that they should read Isaiah, too, I really just feel like I need to document this for my own life: this is the first day that Isaiah actually made sense to me and some of these verses and stories will now be among my favorites.

Sunday, September 27: Day 108

Yesterday Matthias helped a family move out of our ward and into Eagle River, the town just NW of Anchorage. He said the drive there was so amazing that he took me along the same route so that I'd be able to see it, too. Here are some shots that I took while in the car on the highway just out of town...
We took a road that began to wind back and forth, higher and higher:
And......scene.You can see the road we took in this picture, and in the distance, downtown Anchorage and of course the inlet.

Last year fall ended abruptly and from what I've heard from people who've lived hear a long time, this fall has been much more typical. I don't think there's a prettier place on Earth to live during the fall time than Alaska. And as you can see, it won't be fall time much longer, since the snow is creeping down the mountain. It provides for some great pictures.

Saturday, September 26: Day 107

I hung out with my friend Amy (http://michellesyearinalaska.blogspot.com/2009/08/wednesday-august-26-day-75.html) and her neighbor, Lisa. We practiced making buttercream roses. I am very rusty in this skill, so it was good to practice.

Today was also the R.S. broadcast and there was a soup buffet dinner afterwards. Whenever I can think of an excuse to make my new favorite recipe of potato soup, I do it. I got it over Christmas break from my mom who had received a recipe box-package of crock pot recipes. It's sooooooooo good. I mean, it's the soup I will make when my future kids get sick and whenever we need a pick-me-up during a cold winter day, or just comfort food any time of year. Since I have such a strong testimony of this soup, I am going to share the recipe with you now.

The broadcast itself was really great, and I got excited for conference this weekend. I carpooled with some nearby ward members, Karen Warner and Juliet Belnap. I think fall conference always has a little bit more excitement for me--maybe because it kind of reminds me that the holidays are coming and I just love fall time so much.

Friday, September 25: Day 106

Tomorrow is Gabe's baptism and I'm so sad I can't be there. The #1 "con" of living in Alaska is not having the flexibility to go to big family events like these. Even more than the cold, dark winters, it's the being far away from family that gets me the most. I honestly think I could bear the Alaskan winters for years and years to come if we were closer to home, because there are so many cool things about living here. I'll be thinking about you, tomorrow, Gabe! I love you!

Thursday, September 24: Day 105

I'm starting a secret project for a gift I'm giving Matthias maybe for Christmas or Valentine's Day, depending on when I finish it. I'm really excited!

I also went digging for rocks today for an object lesson in seminary (have you ever heard of the one about fitting big and small rocks into a jar and likening it to scripture study? I'm hoping it's not too overused...like maybe they've heard it before.) They're hard to come by around these parts...atleast on our street. We have a trail that is just about 50 yards from our apartment so I thought I'd find lots and lots there of all shapes and sizes. All I found were some little ones and it wasn't like I could just scoop them up by the handful. It was quite a process. I'm sure to anyone who saw, I was probably looking pretty strange. Anyway, I'm still on the lookout for bigger ones. I hope I can find some before the snow gets here.

Wednesday, September 23: Day 104

So.....we see our fair share of police officers in the neighborhood we're currently living in. Maybe once a week I'll be driving home or look out the window and see a cop car or two. Well, I'm not sure what was going on next door today, but it involved 5 officers, 3 cars, and a taser. Whoever they were looking for wasn't home, but it certainly provided some entertainment during our dinner. Don't be nervous, mom. I'm sure we're safe and sound inside our cozy lil' nook.

Tuesday, September 22: Day 103

Good things have happened in Anchorage since we moved here as far as shopping selection is concerned. For example, they didn't have a Target in Anchorage when we got here, but there's one open and now there's another one being built 3 minutes from our house (October 11--can't wait!). And the Wal-mart wasn't a "super" one, meaning you couldn't get food there. Not anymore! They have extended the store and put in a food section that is nearly complete. The dry food and freezer sections are done which has made our food shopping so much happier. Now I can buy items that actually cost about the same (for the most part) as in Utah. Although I don't especially like going to Wal-mart, when I consider the price difference, I suck it up and go. I have to say, Target and Wal-mart really accommodated us well when they timed their expansion in Anchorage. What did people do here before this happened?

Monday, September 21: Day 102

I know this might be a creepy picture, but it's kind of how my back has been feeling lately. I went into an urgent care about a week ago with an overwhelming pain all up and down my spine. I found out I have an "erector spinal spasm". I was relieved to hear that it was a muscle problem, and not a bone one. Today was my third time going to physical therapy. I'm really hoping I can be restored to my normal back self and wonder if it will ever feel the same again. Look how dramatic I'm being...it's only been a week. "Patience is a virtue," as mom would say.

Sunday, September 20: Day 101

Day 100! I can't believe it's already been 100 days. That went by really, really fast. Now, only 265 more. There have been several times when I wanted to give up on this project...just yesterday being one of them. But it's so cool that I can go back on any day (for the past 100 at least) and see what I was doing or thinking at the time.

We had the missionaries over tonight for dinner. I tried a new recipe out: Creamy Herbed Pork Chops. They don't look as good as they tasted...yum. I wish I could take credit but the recipe did all the work. I love pork chops and this "took it to the next level", as they say. Lots of good flavors packed into that thick, creamy sauce. Put it over some brown rice and--BAM--you have yourself some good eating ahead.

Here's the recipe for anyone interested:

4-6 pork chops
2 Tbsp. butter
2/3 c finely chopped carrots
1 Tbsp. dry parsley
4 tsp flour
½ tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried thyme
1 tsp instant beef bouillon granules
1 1/3 c milk or light cream
4 Tbsp. water

Cook chops and carrots in butter in large skillet, browning meat well. Remove chops (cover with foil), reserving the drippings and carrots. To drippings, add dry ingredients. Add milk/cream all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in water. Return chops to pan; spoon sauce over top and heat through. You can simmer on low for an hour or so to get it more tender and let the flavors marinate.

Saturday, September 19: Day 100

This morning reminded me of a children's book I used to read to my class called "We're Going on a Leaf Hunt", because that's basically what we did. And I don't think I've ever seen more beautiful scenery. See for yourself:

It was all too pretty to be real. And then we saw this little fella:
And the mom:

At first when we saw them we were a little ways away and couldn't get closer because of a steep spot right in front of us. It was really hard to tell which road led to the yard they were in, but Matthias was determined and we finally made it. Lest you become afraid that the mom moose was mad, let me teach you the ways of moose: If their ears are up, they're just curious. If they are straight back, then you should turn the other way and run. So we were fine.

These flowers were just growing on the side of the road. Isn't that amazing?

We just had to take a shot of this house. See if you can find anything strange...

Yes, of course, there are gold lions guarding their property. Why wouldn't there be?

It really makes you wonder. Later in the afternoon I played some tennis with Ryan and his friend, Brian. Ryan was in my Sunday school class and plays for the Dimond high school tennis team. It was so incredibly nice outside...high 60's but it felt like mid-70's. For a little bit towards the end, I sat against the fence as the other two played and let the sun hit my arms while listening to lawn mowers. I actually felt like I could've been at home. I loved every second of it.

Friday, September 18: Day 99

We had our friends, Brandon and Amanda Wilson over tonight for dinner and a game night. I seem to always forget to take a picture at times like these because it doesn't seem natural to stop in the middle of a game or dinner and say, "Everybody say, 'Cheese!'". I guess that's one of the drawbacks of doing a "picture a day". You have to take pictures even when it's inconvenient or feels a little strange. Well, anyway, here are the games we played:Blokus was a birthday gift from Matthias a year ago, and it's one of my favorites. Yahtzee Texas Hold 'Em I won at a family party...I think a Christmas party at my Aunt Karen's. I have lots and lots of memories of playing board and card games with my family and my extended family on my mom's side. I love a good game, and plan on having a lot more of these kinds of nights this winter.

Thursday, September 17: Day 98

I went to my first seminary faculty meeting of all time tonight at the Anchorage Institute building (the picture above is not the specific one I went to....I forgot my camera). We listened to a training broadcast from Sister Julie Beck for all CES employees and volunteers. She told us they had asked many of the youth all over the world why the 1st Presidency invested so much money in educating them through seminary and institute. I have to say, I don't think I could have come up with exactly the right answer, although maybe I would have come close. It was enlightening to here that it is to help them be able to be sealed in the temple and be better husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. She said that if a seminary teacher got everything else right but didn't help their students understand the doctrine of the family, it was all a waste. So, understandably, I've resolved to make that my goal for this year.

Wednesday, September 16: Day 97

Tonight Matthias and I went to see Jonah Goldberg, who had come for "Constitution Week" at UAA. I didn't know who this was until Matthias told me. He's a bit like Glenn Beck, although I like Glenn Beck a bit more, but maybe that's because I'm more familiar with him. Two school year's ago, I used to put his radio show on after my students left and listened while I got stuff done. Anyway, tonight was definitely interesting. I have to say that my absolute favorite part, though, was the guy sitting to my left, and let me tell you why. He, too, had a camera. But I'm not exaggerating when I say he took about 100 pictures of Mr. Goldberg. Not only that, but it was the same angle, same everything. He'd get it centered, hold for a second, click, center, pause, click, over and over and over. The first 5-10 times, I thought, well maybe it was blurry or something. But it became quite clear to me that something much more serious was going on. I can't even venture to guess what but it was so amusing to me.

Another interesting thing that made me wonder a lot was something we saw on campus:
Can anyone figure out what this is supposed to be? There was no description or title or any sort of marking on it that could lead one to conclude what it is. Very strange...