Skagway

Our stop in Skagway was the longest of all the ports of call. We spent most of our day out of town on an 8 hour bus/train tour into the Yukon and back. Our bus driver was from Ogden, Utah but had been going up there for about 5 years driving bus tours. She knew the area and lots of the history of the area. Our bus ride took us over the Continental Divide into Canada through Bristish Columbia and into the Yukon. Had lots of stops to view some of the most beautiful scenery ever. Photos just don't do it justice.

Our farthest stop was Caribou Crossing and Carcross. There we were able to ATV (yes, we just had to ATV in the Yukon!) in the worlds smallest desert, Carcross Desert. Yup, Guiness Book of World Records certified it. It reminded me of Coral Pink Sand Dunes...but not pink. Trees grow out of the sand in both. They also offered dog sled rides there. Cute little Husky puppies loved to get treats and attention there too, who could resist their cute little faces. The folks that own the place are taxidermists. They have pieced together the best specimen of a wooly mammoth in the world. The museum in London has been trying to purchase it for years with no success. Included in the tour was a yummy BBQ lunch with homemade donuts for dessert. Just a few miles back down the road is Carcross. This is the point where goldrush prospectors had to build boats to get accross Lake Bennett to reach the Yukon Goldrush.

We boarded the train in Frasier, British Columbia to head back to Skagway. The train had been beautifully refurbished. We passed through some awesome scenery and part of the railway is actually built over the Chilcoot Trail that lead to the Goldrush. Lots of history in the area. As we arrived back in town the railway was next to the creek, and the salmon were running. Holy moly, are the huge! These are the pink salmon, there are 5 types of salmon. There were seals in the harbor feeding on the salmon since they gather up to use the fish ladder, makes for wasy pickin's.

We had time to shop in Skagway. I found the local quilt shop and got my craft fix for the day...running my fingers through bolts of fabric....ahhhhh. Made it quick though, I didn't want to over indulge and cause a problem.

I also had to take a few pictures in town, among them is the statue honoring the prospectors of then 1898 goldrush. This building is covered in driftwood, over 5000 pieces. I thought it was interesting.

Fall Crafts

The Fall craft show season is bearing down on us. I wish it felt like Fall, that would be nice! But that's for another blog post. Here are a few of the things I've gotten done lately for my shows. I really like the bucket, I've had it wuite a while but finally painted it. Haven't gotten lots of my bigger pieces done since the cooler isn't working in the shop at my Dad's house. So items with simple cuts, metal and sewing have been on the agenda. I really need to get a shop built here at my house this winter...and but an A/C unit on it.

If you're in the Las Vegas area, come see me at the Harvest Festival at Cashman Field. I'm in booth K-21. I'm excited and nervous about being at this show. It's my first time there and it's the first one of the season around here so it draws a big crowd. Wish me luck...and come buy some stuff! LOL

Labor Day is for Work

We've been hard at work on the house renovations. Timm's brother and one of Timm's employees came over on Saturday to hand sheetrock on the ceiling. They had the 'hat track', sheetrock, and taped the ceiling in about 4 hours. They were quick, of course when you get a bunch of carpenters in there it's a breeze. They feasted of chicken wings when they were done. Then it was my turn. My job was to texture the walls and the ceiling. Completed 2 walls and 1/4 of the ceiling on Sunday, and finished the rest of the ceiling on Monday. Now I did the living room and dinning room in our current house but I have to save working over your head is hard work. I have new muscles in my shoulders barking at me that's for sure.

On another note, we made several trips to several Lowes over the weekend. More taping mud, paint, some electrical and kitchen lights. Please tell me someone else makes more trips to Lowes than we do. I think we are there everyday at least once at this point. Normally, we are much more organized than this.

Oh, and here are the new countertops with the stove and sink back in place. Did I tell you I just love my new counters?

Renovation

Well folks, in the midst of our vacation and prepping for craft shows we have purchased the family home, removed all the furniture, ripped out carpet, pulled off counters, stripped the living room ceiling and are painting the whole house. Timm has been working his butt off up there. Yeah, I know poor timing. But nothing about this year has been normal so what the heck. New oak flooring will be going down in about 2 weeks, it's back ordered but that's okay 'cuz there is texturing on walls to be done, painting in all the rooms, and more. Monday we had the counters installed. They are the most awesome thing you've ever seen....petrified riverbed. It has all sizes of rocks and you can even see how the sand runs around the stones, etc. Here is some photos of the kitchen with the new counters the day they were installed. The stove and sink are installed in these photos yet.

Water, Water, Everywhere

No wonder the Yukon and Alaska is so green...water is everywhere! Waterfalls are everywhere, of course...there are mountains everywhere. Some of the lakes in the Yukon we went by are over 500 feet deep up to 1500 deep (I know, hard to imagine) and some are right at 50 miles long. They have filled valleys carved by glaciers, are filled with glacial rivers and of course...rainfall. We were very fortunate in the fact that we encountered no rain. All the guides said we had the best weather all summer. Didn't get a chance to really use our new rain gear but it went with us everywhere.

Juneau

Finally, (I know) we are making our way into Juneau, Alaska's state capital. The only way into Juneau is by plane or boat (okay, the Captain said it's a ship...not a boat). No roads lead into Juneau. It is literally right against the mountain. In fact, do you see the flat ground in the photos? That is all man made with tailings (waste) from the Alaska Juneau mine.
These views of Juneau are taken from the top of the mountain. There is a tram that takes you to the top of Mt. Roberts...that's 1800 feet. Totally awesome views from there. At the top there is a hiking trail, small museum, restaurant, and a movie theater featuring a 20 minute informative movie of the area. Native American art is everywhere and it is intriguing and beautiful. This tree is on the trail up there and is was a marker for the natives serving several purposes including identity, territory, and a place to meet others for trading of goods.
The flowers are amazing colorful and abundant. Really, they are everywhere. The streets are lined with them in planters, hanging baskets, etc. The buildings fronts have been refurbished back to the mining days, the sidewalks in front of them are wood, all are bright and colorful. Shopping is everywhere, I had no idea that shopping (for diamonds, gems, and jewelry) was such a big deal on cruises. The ship has a shopping ambassador who gives a lecture on where and how to shop for jewelry. There are jewelry stores at every turn, seriously, they are everywhere. Makes me wish I was more of a jewelry girl because the deals are incredible.
We went gold panning outside of town. Yup, I even found about a dozen flakes (I'm rich!) then off to the Salmon Bake. It was a fun little place tucked up in the woods. It's an outside restaurant with salmon grilled over an open fire, along with chicken and ribs (for those of us who don't do fish) and the rest of the fixins. Picnic tables under covered areas, a folk band singing tunes to dine to, and a creek running behind our tables. Oh, and yummy blueberry cake. And flower baskets and planters, don't forget them. We had a squirrel visit us for crumbs...so dang cute! After we stuffed ourselves (well, Timm anyway) on salmon we hopped on one of their buses and back to the ship. I haven't been on an old school bus in years, just as bumpy as I remember.

A whirl wind day in Juneau, walked quite a bit, visited the state museum, took the tram to the top of Mt. Roberts, hiked around on the top of the mountain, saw a black bear on the way down the mountain from the tram, panned for gold, and gorged like bears on salmon at the Salmon Bake, and collapsed on the bed back on the ship. What a day!

All aboard!

Yesterday I gave you a tour of Vancouver, well here I am playing tourist. Yes, I did have to have my picture taken with the carved bear. Made Timm do it too. It was one of the last things I did before I left the airport hotel (which is really nice by the way).

Before we left the dock we had a mandatory drill. They even took roll call to make sure everyone was there. That's Timm way in the back with the red hat. Women and children first you know. It was humid and being snuggled up with your neighbor in this very attractive life preservers was a little warm.

WooHoo!!!! We're off! These ships are so huge,silent and smooth, not jarring when it takes off or anything. We passed Stanley Park on the way out of the harbor. There is lots of industrial stuff going on there too, apparently, it is supposed to be the 2nd busiest port in the world. I just believe what they tell me.
I think this is what postcards are made of...the perfect sunset. What a great way to start a cruise.