An Amazing Week

   Hubbies family came for the Alaskan vacation, fishing, glaciers, wildlife and rain. They came with wool sweaters and long johns that soon became a joke, fortunately they were able to experience a week of sunshine and 80 degree weather. The rain came back the afternoon they left...Ah well, such is life in Southeast Alaska.
   We went to La Conte glacier, not far from Petersburg, the channel was choked with so many icebergs that after an hour we decided not to continue to the glaciers face. The kids were really excited to climb off on an iceberg that was larger than a two story house. It turned out to be a great photo shoot. There were a few seals out sunning on the bergs, beautiful.

For Dad

We have been fishing for the last five days, 7 King salmon so far. That does not sound like much but we are limited to one each per day. With the high tides the bite is not good so we feel fortunate to be bringing home meat. 

We have competition...

Graduation card

This card was made for a favorite boy...oops! Young man! I have been blessed to be a part of his life and watch him grow into an amazing gentleman. He loves to fish and is currently involved in commercial drift netting.

 I used that for my inspiration, setting out to use the net in an abstract way but when I ask hubby for help it became very literal. Hubby even went so far as to hang me mini net! What is a girl to do? Compromise of course, hubby also loves this young man and the card is meant to be from the two of us.

 

Wrapped up in all of this simple imagery is the prayer that he will be successful, content and have a life of joy...along with the pride of his accomplishment of graduating.

Home!

Fish and chips by the Columbia river, a seafood feast with my brother, Easter with my aunt and uncle and cherry blossoms with our sister and brother-inlaw. Then a four day drive through Canada to catch the ferry for a 12 hour ride home. The snow is still falling here...some say we are to blame...winter is staying because we tried hard to avoid her!

Heading home 4

California is a very large and diverse state. We saw desert, forest, farm, ocean beaches and of course the cities. The one thing California holds for us that is near and dear...Grand-babies! We had a fun filled week of clay class, ballet and theater.

Heading home 3

We have enjoyed the Sedona red rocks, Phoenix and the Mohave desert. We were fortunate enough to pass through when the desert was in bloom. Due to the Hobbit foot hubby is now the photographer, if I can get him to stop!!

Heading home II

White Sands national monument in New Mexico is an area of pristine gypsum crystals. The wind rolls them around and they break down as fine as talcum powder. While we were there the wind picked up showing us how high they will rise. By the time we left the air for 20 miles was full of the dust, resembling fog. Not to mention our car, hair and clothing! The sunset is seen through the dust clouds of gypsum.
Yesterday we went through the salt river canyon in Arizona. There is nothing like a road hugging a shear rock wall with a 2000 ft drop on the other side! The sun was setting, the rocks were beautiful. Amazing enough that we are adding a day just to go back and explore the canyon.

Heading home

We left central Texas for Palo Duro Canyon outside of Amarillo, mom and dad were brave enough to caravan with us. The weather forecast was for snow in the area...could we get there, see the canyon and get away before the blizzard hit? There was just a dusting of snow the first morning but the sun came out for a beautiful trip through the canyon.
We said our good byes and headed separate ways. Mom and dad headed back to their home and we set our sights on Carlsbad Caverns, NM. They are a real wonder, 70 stories underground (hike or elevator). The lighting is set to be as dim as possible so you feel "cave like". Many of the fine details go unnoticed because of the lighting. Hubby and I would go back again...with a tripod for the camera!
On our way we encountered red dust storms, herds of tumbleweeds crossing the road ( literally) and the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe mountains with an elevation over 8000 feet.

Texas Discovery gardens

The girl-scout troop let me tag along to the Texas discovery gardens, AKA the butterfly house. I stayed in the conservatory while they went to lectures about butterfly life cycles and insects. I saw pictures of brave girls holding a 3 inch hissing cockroach, now that's earning a badge!

I have been playing with cropping photos, most of these have a great focal point but it is the background that I really like. I borrowed a camera that produces different results than mine...thank you!

http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/

Lighting

We enjoyed our trip to the Texas gulf coast with the sunshine and temps in the upper 70's. sunrise and sunset look much the same to me, can you tell the difference? The photo with the band is from the worship service at a local Assembly of God church...Fun! Dallas had a Japanese lantern festival that was amazing.