Fall!

We learned fall is short in Alaska, but I was able to capture this fall beauty during a gorgeous fall ride back in October.

First Snow.....29 September, 2012!!!!!

Okay, so it's been a while since I've posted...it's been a hectic fall, and well, I've just needed a blogging break.  Now I'm back though :)

As mentioned in our last post, it snowed early this year....really early, 29 September, 2012!!  Luckily for me, aside from a small storm on 13 Oct, it hasn't snowed much since.  Everyone in ANC is complaining, even the news shows are annoyed because they're all itching to get out and ski.  Me, well, you know me, winter is long enough, no need to have more snow than necessary...though I would like to get out an cross country ski...soon enough, as they're predicting snow this coming week, and next.  

In the meantime, a few pics from the snowfall...mostly in the mountains..this was back when we could see the grass.  

We headed south to Seward highway where there is a really pretty marsh and these gorgeous tundra swans were swimming.  

 Fresh snow among the marsh and changing leaves

 Tundra swans

 So beautiful

 There were dozens

 This drive is just miles from our house and it's hard to believe we live around such beauty.  

 Fall foliage...mostly birch trees so only yellow.  

Missing the Hudson Valley fall foliage...haven't seen it in years.  Of course, this has it's perks, too :)

Cool moon shot, right outside our house to the east!!

And at the same time, to the west, the sun setting....breathtaking! 

September Happenings ! !

By the time we'd arrived back in Anchorage from Texas, it had really started to get C.O.L.D., but didn't feel quite as bad as we'd expected.  We were greeted by "termination dust" which is basically a dusting at the top of the mountains that signifies the end of summer...and apparently termination of summer job contracts.  Makes sense.  

By this point, the leaves were really starting to change color as well. Since we have mostly birch trees, the leaves really only turn yellow.  Unfortunately no beautiful fall foliage that we're used to coming from the Hudson Valley with strong reds, oranges, & yellows.  Eric was just happy to see the snow and the leaves change, he missed the seasons the last few years.  

The day after we got back, we took a walk as it was such a clear day, to admire the Alaska range.  

 This beautiful sight is just a 5 minute walk from our house! 

 We also went down to Potter's Marsh

I signed up for a 300K bike race next July so I train a few days a week with my "biker" buddies...views of the Alaska range from Kincaid chalet. 

 At the end of the ride...

And I also went on a hike....gorgeous reds here! 

 Termination dust a the tops of the mountains.  My friend from Norway tells me it's like someone took a powered sugar and just sprinkled it right on the tops of the mountains...good analogy I think.  

 Hilde, Lynn, Perooza & Mary Jane 

 Loving the reds!   We brought containers to fill blueberries with, but it appeared we were a week or so too late, as it had already been too cold.  

And on another bike ride..

Some of the fall foliage from our window, notice mountains are covered in clouds

And then on 29 September, we woke up to this....H O L Y  C O W ! ! ! 

 Stay tuned!!!

Deep in the heart of Texas!

Eric had a conference to attend at the beginning of September that spouses are encouraged to attend.  We went last year to Arizona, and this year it was in San Antonio.  You didn't have to ask me twice to jump on that flight booking!  It fell right around Labor Day weekend so we took an earlier flight and met up with Danny, Megen and Huxley in Austin first!

Of course I was looking forward to going back to TX, plus any time you can get "outside" (that's what they call it when you leave Alaska) you should because as many of the signs say....winter's coming!  

As with many of the flights to the lower 48, our flight was basically in the middle of the night so arrived in San Anton after a night of flying and the first thing I spotted was Dunkin' Donuts.  If any of you know my mom, and her obsession with DD coffee, you'd know that "all of Texas" does not run on Dunkin'!  There are NO Dunkin Donuts in Houston!!!  I know, because we've gone on a wild goose chase looking for them!  LOL!  Anyhow, funny that they've got this mug.
So I headed right up to the counter and ordered my regular...

small decaf with cream and sugar and let me say, sadly it did not taste too good.  When I rarely drink coffee now I drink it black and it's Starbucks.  I'll probably still get this same thing every other time I encounter a DD just because I never get to drink it here.   

So, I drank my dishwater coffee, gathered our bags and headed out in the heat, (oh warm sun @ 100 degrees F, I've missed you!) and headed up to Austin. 

First stop, Buc-ees....of course this was the largest one we've ever been to.  If you've never been, you must experience it.  They're known for their impeccably clean restrooms, and they definitely do no disappoint.  Most of them are small, however, this particular one was gigantic!!  Sure brought us right back to "Texas sized" real quick!  It's funny, because if we hadn't lived in TX, we might have thought this was ridiculous, but for us, it was so endearing.  

We made it to Austin just in time for a little "Friday Night Lights"...basically a HS football game.  Later in the week I told some people we had gone and I was made fun of forever for calling it Friday Night Lights!  Is this not what it's called?  Well, regardless, this was similar to our experience last year.   Really fun time with lots of people (bleachers were packed to the gills once the game was underway) and lots of energy!!  

Dan, Meg, Eric and some of Danny's friends.  I'm taking the pic and basking in the fact that it's 100 degrees F...have I mentioned that before?! :) 

Holy Jumbo Tron!!!

Gorgeous sky!!!  

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!!!  Marching Band pic for you Lauren!! 

The next day we ventured off to float the Guadalupe!  We didn't get to do it while living in TX and figured now was as good a time as any.  Left my phone/camera in the car as it was def no place for electronics but our day consisted of the four of us, plus huxley on these ugly tubes in freezing cold water, eating and drinking with hundreds of others...it was fantastic!!

Then, of to Greune (a sweet victorian town) for some window shopping and eating! 

My brother Jon-Carlo had dressed up his boxer with sunglasses and we decided to do the same with Hux!

Sunday morning we met up with our dear friends from Houston, Amy and Mike.  We used to sweat it out a few mornings a week with these guys at Crossfit!  So happy to have seen them and catch up over some yummy brunch!!

We woke up early Monday morning and it was time to head back to San Antonio to start the work part.  Luckily Danny was able to join and he and Eric got to soak up some R&R and of course some sports mixed in! 

straight loungin'!

Tuesday we just relaxed and that night Eric had some work commitments which I was able to join in on too.  It was nice to just be able to relax by the pool, read, and soak in some sun/vitamin D!  This hotel was no joke; it had a serious lazy river as well as awesome water slides and the adult pool where I spent my days.  

One night we even got to meet David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs!!  He took a pic with us and signed a mini basketball! Awesome dude! 

!!!

This is what I did most of the week....morning workout followed by pool lounging, swimming, reading,  all usually with a pina colada in hand.  For me, this week was good, really good! Gotta soak up the rays while I could!  

Ready to go out one night

My hair

By Friday, Danny was able to come back, wish Megen could have joined too!

We enjoyed a yummy meal in the sports bar that had a 120 foot TV!!!!

The boys couldn't resist.  

The next day was a bit cloudy, I took that as a clue that it was time to go home.....or at least it didn't make me feel so badly that we were leaving the sunshine and heat :)

View of the waterfall from breakfast

Lat parting shot, deep in the heart of Texas!
Until next time....