June 27 Pat’s Birthday #35x2+1, low key, went to Dean’s last game. We have had a couple dinners at Lakefront patio. Still very fine views of lake and float planes taking off. But food it expensive not over the top.
June 28 Went
to 49th Street Restaurant and sat on the upper open deck. Cool, partly sunny with faint view of Denali
in the distance.
Flowers outside 49th Street Restaurant
June 30. To Palmer for the Alaska Scottish Highlands Games at the Alaska State Fair grounds. We entered the shortbread competition. Chuck made Steel Oats and Whisky shortbread and Pat made Mexican Chocolate Shortbread. We did not win but enjoyed eating our extras. We watched all three big shows and a few hours of the women’s champions, men’s and youth games. We finished the day with the pipe bands marching out.
We stayed all night
downtown Palmer at the old Colony Inn. We had a room on the second floor. Very old school place. Our room was large and very clean with full
bathroom, desk, large TV and queen bed.
We had to use a fan with only one window available to open to bring in
breezes. Dinner at Matanuska Brewery
just a quick walk away. The Valley Inn a
few blocks away serve as the admin for our Inn and had 24 hour food service if
wanted. Next day drove to Talkeetna and
visited the Birch Syrup Farm. Nice
set-up but expensive products. It’s
getting harder to find all natural Birch Syrup, cheaper more available syrups
are mixtures of birch and cane sugar syrup.
We have been burying ours at the Canadian border in the Yukon. Talkeetna was very busy with tours. Good lunch at Denali Brewing and visited a
few shops. The Susitna River was running very high. There was a small independent market stalls
with a variety of products. We stopped
at the national park lodge where Denali climbers make the start. The fires at Denali Park entrance have
evacuated all entrance area businesses and park entrance and campground
closed. We move on to our reservation at
McKinley Princess Lodge and once there we find out our reservation for the next
two nights was cancelled due to having to move Princess tourists from Denali Lodge
to McKinley Lodge. We decided to go back
to Anchorage and cancelled one night at Gakona Lodge. We decided to stay in the Anchorage area due
to fires around the state.
Colony Inn - Palmer
July 3 We
take a day trip down Seward Highway and take the Hope junction road. All weather had been dry, sunny and warm
except for a shower while at the games.
Hope is hot. The local café is
yet to open under a new owner. The
businesses are all closed. Campers are
coming in. A new owner has purchased
the land between the main street campground and the Arm. She will be putting yurts for camping on the
land. The pink salmon have yet to come in. A favorite spot for some very large
grizzlies. We drive through the
campground at the end of the highway out of town. It’s a very beautiful site along the
Arm. We walk around the old town and see
the door open at the UMC hostel building.
We have seen this building for years.
We were invited in by the grand-daughter of Rev Howard DeVore who we
knew of when we lived in Anchorage. She
allowed us to walk through. A large room
for the former sanctuary, a kitchen, small living room, open second floor with
cots and a large open deck. The hostel
can be rented through the conference. We
stopped at one of the expensive lodges along the road and ate at the Dirty
Skillet. Very good food and lovely
setting, very expensive to stay..
Sand hill cranes in Hope
July 4 Chuck played golf at O’Malley’s on the Green.
July 8-12 We
had Quinn during the day with Zoo and parks, Friday we had both Quinn and
Dean. Took Dean to golf course with his
clubs and he practiced driving the ball with Papa and did very well.
Quinn at Diamond HS Track
Quinn at the Zoo
July 16. Taking care of Quinn all T-F this week while sitter is on vacation. Took her to Anchorage Museum Imaginarium. The gardens around the front of the museum is a series of cement paths through ‘wild’ Alaska undergrowth and lined with birch and other trees. The rain has brought out the scent of the undergrowth and very pleasant. There is a large open green area for concerts/outdoor activities and food trucks. A real oasis in downtown. Also took Quinn to Westchester Lagoon and Valley of the Moon Park as well.
Quinn at Westchester Lagoon
Called
Jeanette Earnhart yesterday on recommendation of Anchorage Museum gift shop
procurer. Looks like she will restring
my baleen and ivory bracelet, owned for 40 years. Will meet up with her before end of
month. She says it will take under an
hour to do.
Chuck Practicing for Gold tournament at Settler's Bay
Views from Glacier River Lodge
July 21 Drove to Girdwood for church, new pastor has been assigned. Stopped at the new restaurant along the highway, Turnagain Fish house. Deck has beautiful view on sunny day, food not impressive and expensive. Oysters were very fresh and expensive. Went to O’Malley’s Course for Chuck practice, had a lite supper. Food is okay, less priced.
Turnagain Fish House
Chuck Practicing at O'Malley's
July 22, nail appt at Brilliance Aveda Salon. Expensive and okay. Car to oil change.
July 23, car to tire rotation and alignment. Went to see Jeanette Earnshaw at native craft shop on W. 4th. She is recommended by Anchorage Museum. Having baleen and ivory bracelet restrung. She polished and restrung it for $140.00. Can’t make out the scrimshawed writing on the back, but Jeanette saying bracelet is very valuable upwards of $1000.00 or more depending on if artist is living or deceased. Done in 2 hours. Interesting no frills shop with sales out front and workshop with multiple benches in the back which we were allowed to tour. While waiting went over to the Museum lawn where live music was playing. Discovered roof top, 6th level, parking garage, with benches and open area for activities.
July 24th Quinn to
zoo, polar bears are awesome.
Quinn having breakfast before Zoo Day
Chuck
golfing all week to prep for Scottish Tourney on Saturday. Friday with Dean.
July
restaurants: 49th Street,
Simon and Seafort’s Happy Hour, Midnight Sun, Lakefront patio, F Street. Bear
Tooth, Turnagain Fish House, O’Malley’s, Settle’s Bay Golf Club, Glacier River
Lodge, IHOP with Dean.
July 27,
Chuck golfing at Alaska Scottish Club Scramble at Setters Bay Golf Course. Must take a winding detour through
neighborhoods to get to course.
Beautiful day, mostly sunny, light breeze mid 60’s with hot sun. Chuck playing with a foursome of Ak Scot Club
members. Pat volunteering at the 18th
hole activity, spin for prizes, selling raffle tickets and drams of
Scotch. Serving with a Club member,
Maggie Wallace a young woman who is also a Club athlete who serves in the
games. Enjoyed talking with the players,
over 100 passed through and talking with Maggie about Club and insider view of
Games. Chuck and Pat met for dinner
included with the event, served outside under a large pergola, a buffet of
salmon, beef, salad, braised cabbage, rutabaga potatoes. Cabbage and potatoes not great. Shortbread and trifle served for dessert. Only served Scotch, had to buy wine from
inside bar. A fun day, with exceptional
weather. Not sure if we would
participate again, but nice to have the pleasant experience. Chuck saying the O’Malley course better.
Scottish Gold Tournament
July 31,
Quinn for the day, met Brenna, Quinn and Dean at O’Malley for the driving range
and snacks on the patio. Beautiful day
for end of month
Quinn Finger Painting
