Power line trail

Last Friday and today the walking group hiked Powerline trail. It is named such because a large powerline goes through it. It is useful as a landmark to prevent getting lost. It is a popular hike and relatively flat. At higher elevations, a nice view of the city is seen. Last week the trail was snow covered, but today the snow had melted and it was about 40 degrees.

We went there because moose are very plentiful this time of year. They are still fun to see from a distance, but we are cautious if they are near the trail. About a dozen people were with us. It is fun to walk and talk with various people along the way.

The sun was just rising over the mountain at about ten o'clock. The vegetation had a heavy frost/ice which was pretty. A few spots were slick.

Photos for a week in AK

A typical week in AK

DSC_0041 copy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiracVFVmmlc48-wwW12dvrLeDeMevuLKOxMXq12P5yXAws5P3tJnCoFVj1YTazriCG3ZZJZBRi2s2I4pz9gE0-Jt0n1Yv9Ho2oyyQCCjCfsRG131cHjEufl_1CNipHE9NS2bTDJxmiCweM/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" height="164">

Monday is bridge with the Petroleum Wives who are pictured in the group. It is a lively event with some beginners and some experienced players. Lunch is catered by members and it is always fun.

Other activities I do with the Anchorage Petroleum Wives include monthly meetings, Mahjong, walking, and Cheers. Cheers is a group I started for couples where everyone brings their own wine and a dessert or appetizer to share.

We also square dance about once a week and take round dance lessons. Round dancing is choreographed ballroom dancing.

Alaska Club is our gym. I go about 5 times per week and either do water aerobics or treadmill/elliptical and lift weights.

Our church is St. Elizabeth Anne Seton. We are both teaching religious ed. I have first grade and Don teaches ninth. The pastor is nice and made an effort to meet us and try to learn our names.

Our house is conveniently located in south Anchorage. It has four bedrooms and three baths and a small lot and drive which will be nice when it snows. It also has a three car heated garage.

I have begun to take piano lessons and hope to improve over the long dark winter.

I do most of my grocery shopping at Costco or Walmart since food is so expensive here.

Wacky weekend

Early Saturday am we were woken by our bed shaking with another earthquake. It was about 115 miles from Anchorage and was about a 5.4

Sunday it is snowing in town and the mountain tops are white. Winter is on the way.

You know you are in AK when....part V

you feel the earth move under your feet and you can estimate the rating scale of the earthquake.

you can use your hunting/fishing license for a voter ID.

the entire state is shopping crazy at the same time when the PFD is delivered the first week in October. The Permanent Fund Dividend paid out $1281 for 2009.

the schools give out free reflective tape for backpacks because the kids are either coming and/or going to school in the dark.

you go to a craft fair and see seal skin thimbles.

you have a pair of party slippers in your car because it is the custom to take off your shoes when you enter a friend's house.

you look out your window and see your neighbor has five snowmobiles in his yard.

You know you are in AK when....part IV

It seems like almost every lot has a mom and pop coffee stand.

The little town of Hope,

We keep thinking each weekend will be the last of the nice weather so we try to take advantage of it. We went on a 5K Heart Walk in town this morning and in the late afternoon went on a fall foliage tour. The trees here are mainly Birch and they just turn yellow, not all of the glorious colors of the northeast. Anyway, it was sort of cool weather, but a nice day.
One of Don's co-workers told him about a concert event going on the in the little town of Hope. Hope has one restaurant, one bar, a coffee shop, and a one room school house of sorts and a library. It also has a museum of some historical items. We had dinner at the Seaview Cafe and luckily someone offered us a seat at his table since it only had about four tables and they were all full. He recommended the halibut chowder which was pretty good. We stayed after and heard the band on the deck. I was decked out in warm clothes as it was in the 40s. I guess the band is famous locally and it was the end of the season party. Hope has a small RV/ campground where people stay when fishing. The deck was full of young people dancing and drinking.

The fireweed plant has turned to white plumes at the top indicating winter is near.

It was very foggy on the way home and we were tired.