Alaska 2011

i went.

i'm back.

i tried in every way to stay.

here's the pics of my awesome week.
the weather was perfect - it felt like fall.
70s, sunny, and zero humidity. ahhhh
and, the company wasn't so bad either ;-D

warning - this is picture heavy!

saturday.

brunch and mimosas at sun city cafe.
we went there last year and i knew that was one place that i wanted to visit again.

they have reindeer omelets - just sayin'.

so happy to see that face.

after SCC, we hit up the anchorage saturday market.

for all you people who think TX is the only place on earth ;-)

we, of course, had to hit up the reindeer sausage vendor.

the welcome center in anchorage has a grass roof!

the landscaping was to die for; i wish they'd come to work on the wood hood!

 after we traipsed around the market, jwood said - let's go to talkeenta!

talkeetna is a small village that, on a clear day, has stunning views of Denali.

funny story...

as we were getting ready to go, this conversation happened:

jwood: *folding blankets and pillows* i think we should take stuff to camp in the van in case we want to stay the night in talkeenta

mwood: i mean, i'm all about the hippie adventure, but i'd rather tent camp

jwood: we don't have our tent, mwood. the van will be fine - it'll be fun.

mwood:*sighs* let's not mess with all of that; if we decide to stay, we'll just grab a cheap hotel

jwood: *blank stare* ok, dear..... *puts up blankets*

we take off on the 3 hour journey to talkeetna in this beauty.

once we arrive in talkeetna, our first stop was the Talkeenta Alaskan Lodge.

Denali is hiding behind those close and haze. :(

either way, the lodge and grounds were beautiful.

for fun, i asked the rate to stay the night at this lovely lodge.

a cool $410 for the "view" side of the building.

ummmm, thanks anyway. maybe one day....

i did get a jade ring from the lodge shop.

jade is the alaskan state gem and the jade that was used for my ring was mined just south of the lodge.

we made our way into "downtown" talkeetna, and i quickly realized why jwood had such a blank stare when i said, "we'll just get a cheap hotel...."

this little guy was already booked up for the night - pickin's were slim. ha!

whoops. way to go, mwood.

i quickly fell in love with this little town. both of these photos were taken from the only 4 way stop in the town. both sides of main street were lined with adorable shops and fantastic local restaurants. 



man vs. food actually did a show in talkeetna at the burger joint - the West Rib.

the road literally ends at this beautiful river.

we stumbled upon the Denali Brewing Company. the brews were deeeelish!

one of the things i have learned - and love - about Alaskans is they dress for function, not for fashion, and they enjoy well made brewed beers. i think i need to move. ha!

the tasting room. it was like a little greenhouse.



talkeetna, i love you.

isn't she cute? one of the many moose friends i made on this trip.

sunday:

sunday was the annual EMC Engineering July 4th (on the 3rd) BBQ hosted by jwood's boss at his home.

they always throw a great party and the spread is out of this world.

i had a blast last year and i was excited to catch up with those that i met last year and enjoy a moose burger!

nom nom nom

the weather was perfect! i even took off my sweater :)

i got to meet some new friends and also hang out with Aggie, whom i met last year!

she and i have kept in touch via facebook over the past year and i am so happy to have a friend in AK!

jwood and i enjoyed the sunshine and his day off among his great co-workers and friends.

i also made another new friend while at the party. jake is jwood's co-worker and good friend and his precious little wife and i hit it off instantly. she's from texas, so she knows a few things about ya'll and yonder.

it was a great day!

we topped the day off by going to tom & aggie's house on the hillside to spend the evening catching up with them. they are going to hawaii for christmas (jealous!). aggie got a new suitcase for her birthday and i wanted to make sure that i could go with them to hawaii in a few months....

the bag was a monster!

monday:

we spent the morning of july 4th on aggie and tom's porch enjoying these

breathtaking views and sipping on coffee. i could get used to that!

this was taken from their kitchen window....swoon.



after taking full advantage of their coffee and views, jwood and i hit the road to Eagle River for a hike in the mountains. you know i couldn't let him get away with relaxing on his last day off :)

we took a little hike in the Chugach National Park.

it was breathtaking.

happy 4th of july from the wood hood!

while on our hike, we stumbled upon this cabin. you can rent it for the night! as soon as we got in the car, i looked to see if it was available any night that week - no go. i will stay there next year! it is just nestled in the woods and has a wood burning fireplace - ahhhhh!

the hike was worth the view, as always.

i wish these pictures did it justice.

after a busy saturday, sunday, & monday off - jwood had to return to work.

boo. 

while jwood made the bacon, i kept myself busy during the day taking it easy, and getting some quality work outs in at my leisure. i called jwood on wednesday afternoon and said, "i could get waaaaaay to comfy doing this everyday!" i would sleep in, go to the gym, meet him for a lunch date, rent a bike or go for a run on the coastal trail in the afternoon. it was perfect!

one afternoon, i literally almost ran into a moose with my bike. had other bikers and runners not already been stopped, i would have hit this mama and her little babe.

i met mama and baby on my way up the trail and ran into this gorgeous hunk of a man on the way back.

full velvet rack. stunning.

that day was a breathtaking day on the trail.

i should have probably paid someone for the views i got to enjoy.

thank you, God. i'll pay you those props.

our evenings were spend dining with friends!

we spent one night on the porch at The Bradley House with aggie and tom.

another evening was spent on the back porch grilling steaks with jake and rachel.

i feel so blessed to have met some awesome people in anchorage that helps to make my time there feel more normal and involved, rather than an outsider peering in. i was actually sad to say good bye to these new friends and to know that it will be an entire year before i see them again.

i'm truly blessed.

our last night was spent at the Glacier Brewhouse where jwood and i devoured fresh Alaskan seafood.

the calamari was like none i had ever had.

jwood got the crab legs and i got alaskan red salmon.

my mouth is watering as i type....

leaving jwood at the ANC airport this time was one of the hardest things i've ever had to do.

i had such a great week there and i felt so comfortable.

though i am not sure why God has put us on this path that is not so easy,

i'm thankful for the experiences that we get to share along the way.

i look forward to what the future holds for us. i'm nervous, anxious, hopeful and - i don't know how -

but somewhat at peace after this trip.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.

"Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

i got a little crafty before i left, because i wanted to take something to j to keep.

i got this idea from another blog and just knew i had to do it!

with our hearts and homes in so many places, i thought these little guys were perfect!

i took the tennessee to j and i kept the alaska.

we'll couple them with the arkansas when we all are back together.

home is where the heart is.

<3