Our relaxing week.

So Matthew and I decided (or maybe I decided for us both, lol) that we would spend the this week just relaxing and soaking in the (rather cloudy and snowy) days of the week so We've just been laying low, knitting, watching tv and just general lazing about. This past thursday we were invited to have dinner our new friends', Hal and Susie Smalley, house for a wonderful spaghetti dinner. We met the Smalleys at the local methodist church we've been attending. Soldotna United Methodist Church is a small church but the people are very nice and they incorperate a new-age style service which is a lot of fun. The preacher this past Sunday, Richard, was VERY good and we really enjoyed the message. It's comforting to have a familiar base snce we cannot attend East Bend UMC right now (we miss you Cathy and Ted, and, of course, My family too!). So now I'm here at work and enjoying a quiet moment because the you-know-what could hit the fan at any moment. Yesterday we had a Code Blue (CPR in progress) hit the ER at 6:30 and I didn't leave the hoaspital to 9:30pm. It was so crazy and I couldn't get to bed fast enough. So I"m praying the night is calm, if even steady, so that I can get through my first night alone relitively unscathed. We were invited out to lunch by Peggy and John Dodd, some more new friends we met at church. They moved up here a year ago from Arkansas so it was fun to talk with some poepl from "our neck of the woods." They took us to this little sandwich shop within a book store and, let me tell you, those sandwiches were delicious! Plus we tried some of the best chocolate turtle cake I've ever had. It was so relaxing to sit and talk about touring to reenacting (they've been to Gettysburg and some western theatre events as spectator---Matthew, correct me if I'm wrong---and John's son even worked as a powder monkey at one event! so cool to find some kindred pirits up here!). Tonight I decided to cook a down-home favorite and made Piccadio for dinner. It wasn't as good as my dad's version but it did the trick. I think I forgot an ingrediant or two but I had the Adobo and thats what counts. If anyone has ever made piccadio, try the adobo with the cumin with it. SOOOO good...gave it a real kick without being over-bearing. My schedule for the wee is as follows: Monday- off Tuesday- 12 hr day Wednesday- off Thursday- 12 hr day Friday- off Saturday-off Sunday- 12 hr nights I'm hoping Matthew and I can go up to Seward to check things out up there. I understand we may be able to see the Kenai Fjords up there so hopefully I will have some really cool pics to share. Plus I am hoping to scope up some possible charter boats so Matthew and I can go Halibut fishing. I'm not 100% I don't want to go with Homer because I think they have charters that offer fishing/ whale watching tours. The Humpback whales and orcas SHOULD be returning up here as the waters get warmer. I would LOVE to see some whales while I'm up here. No word on whether my contract will get extended up here. I probably won'ty know till last april early may but I'll keep everyone updated. Love ya'll!

Our first visit to Homer

To celebrate the end of my first full week at CPH, Matthew and I decided to visit the small city of Homer. This is a cute little town known for being at the southern most point on the Kenai Peninsula. This coastal city is nestled between the waters of the Cook Inlet and the mountains of the Alaskan mountain chain. It’s well-known here for its marina which offers water-taxis to the Kenai Fjord National Park and surrounding areas as well as charters to the local fishing attractions (which Matthew and I are planning on enjoying!). The views entering into Homer are indescribable and took my breath away. Below are some of the best pics of the trip. Enjoy!

(Check out these chunks of ice!)

(The beach on the Cooke Inlet half way between Soldotna and Homer. Yes we're entering into the "mushy" season!)

(Of course a picture of me near the water!)

(I was loving the racky beaches but these beaches weren't nearly as rocky as the beaches the the Homer Spit)

(Yes, I have to stand on the big beach rocks!)

(Can you see me?)

(the first view of the Kenai Mountains and the Kachemak Bay near Homer...they were unbelievably breathtaking)

(The sun came out right before we reached the mountain views)

(There were bald eagles flying all around the bay.)

(Matthew in some native spruce pines trees)

(Another Kenai Mountains view)

(Welcome to Homer!)

(We're now entering the Homer Spit...literally a spit of land projecting from the mainland and where we can go see the harbour, walk the beaches, and eat some really good food!)

(We splurged and ate a little up-scale at the Chart Room at the Lands End Resort. SOOO YUMMY!!!)

(On the balcony overlook at the restaurant...It wasSURROUNDED by seagulls)

(The splendid rocky beaches of the Spit (black rocks and natural coal with black sand underneath)

(Barnicles grew naturally on the larger rocks. So neat!)

(there was a wonderful monument the the men lost at sea. It was beautiful)

(Another view of the mtns)

(There are several water creeks like pools along the beach banks)

Work Update

Hello from Alaska!

It's been a few days since my last post so I thought I would update everyone on what's been going on up here.

I'm in the midst of four days in a row. I just started at Central Peninsula Hospital. It's a quaint hospital and a fun place to work. Granted they do a lot of things different from Baptist hospital but it it's a breath of fresh air. It's a very generous hospital that seem to take very good care of its employees. I was very excited to perform EKGs and work in a labor and delivery unit. Kevin, my preceptor, is very smart and fun to work with. He reminds me a lot of two guys I worked with a lot which makes me more comfortable. Paul, my supervisor is quiet but very nice and VERY efficient. The nurses are a lot of fun to talk with and to listen to their experiences I think I'm going to really enjoy myself here. I REALLY hope they want to extend my contract!

Matthew and I went out to St. Eliase's Brewing Company to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I splurged and got myself a green beer to celebrate. It was good but I couldn't finish it (I guess I was paranoid about feeling bed at work on Friday) so Matthew got a beer and a half, lol. We ate pizza and drank our beers all while being serenaded by a local gentleman singing irish and country songs. It was AWESOME! Unfortunately I missed the local parade Thursday after noon because I had to work but Matthew went and took pictures (pics to come when I have more time to upload them).

(I got to have a green beer in honor of St. Patricks Day!)

After work tonight Matthew and I went to the Caribou Family Restaurant where we each had our first taste of Caribou cheeseburgers. WOW, it was good, like a very refined version of beef which tasted SO much better! Plus the restaurant was so cute with a very woodsy motif, similar to a local high class restaurant. It was so nice to sit and relax after a busy day!

And finally, we had our forth moose siting! He was lumbering along the front lawn of the public library...and he was HUGE! Probably the closest we've gotten to a moose yet. I wish I had had my camera. Plus the full moon and clear sky tonight is beautiful after such a dreary snowy last couple of days!

More form the Refuge and the Cooke Inlet Beach Access

I started my first day of orientation at my new job at Central Peninsula Hospital. 6-bed ICU, 36 bed floor, 8-bed ED and a small maternity ward. I think I’m going to like this place. I’ll get to do some EKGs, stress tests, assist with births, and some pulmonary function testing, along with all my other duties. I finished my orientation and Paul, my supervisor, and Gary, one of my new co-workers showed me around the hospital. I’m very excited about starting my first full day on Thursday.

This afternoon we went back over to the Kenai Wildlife Refuge. We got a much better idea of the animals you see up here in the “last frontier.”

(I hope we can be here long enough to catch one of these fish!)

(Thankfully they are all hibernating now!)

(Check out the size of that bear paw!)

(The local swans are beautiful...I hope I get to see a live one!)

(Matthew kneeling in front of two sets of moose anters)

We then traversed over to the Cooke Inlet beach access (about 15 min away from the city of Kenai). It was beautiful- the beach was completely covered in ice up within 10 feet of the water’s edge. I think the sand was actually a good mix (if not almost all) volcanic ash. It was so smooth and dark. One of my co-workers explained that the Redoubt volcano exploded 2 years ago so that would definitely explain the sand. I’m willing to bet that we could see the whale migrations in from this view.

(The Redoubt volcano overlooks the Cooke Inlet and it is breathtaking at this time of year since it was so clear! If you look closely you can see the volcano steaming in the cold weather)

(Snow and ice!)

(Matthew wondering around on the beach)

(This just gives you an idea how icy the beach)



(Our 3rd moose siting!)

Cooke Inlet and Kenai Wildlife Refuge

Today we had planned on doing some city-exploration by driving on the Kenai Spur Highway to the City of Kenai. It’s a quaint town but not much bigger than Soldotna. However, they have a Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, and Home Depot. Besides that there was nothing we couldn’t already get here. Matthew decided to take us to the Cooke Inlet since we’ve heard so much about it while we flew up here. The first view of this inlet took my breath away. I’ve been to many beaches but nothing that looks anything like this frozen beauty. As you will see by the pictures, the entire “beach” area was covered in snow and sheets of ice. The Sun glistening off the water and the ice made the entire view incredible. In some pictures you can see the Redoubt and Iliamna Volcanos amongst the mountain chain.

(Gotta have a local street sign!)

(I loved the mountain veiws! The REALLY tall mountain is the Redoubt Volcano!)


(Yes, the entire "beach" was a giant ice-slick!)

(Matthew was enthralled with the dunes covered in snow)

(The sun glistening off the ice-covered rocks)

(We had so mcuh fun "climbing on the ice...you can see the Iliamna Volcano behind Matthew)

(We're here in ALASKA!!!)

(Another Cooke Inlet picture)

(Greetings from the Cooke Inlet!)

After a visit to Wal-mart and lunch at Subway, we trekked over to the Kenai Wildlife Refuge located in between Soldotna and Kenai. Sadly, the Visitor Center was closed but we walked around some of the shorter trails. Unfortunately we didn’t see a lot of animals but we saw a LOT of animal sign and the forest was gorgeous. The locals told us that the wetlands are generally very pretty but, as you will see in the pictures below, the wetlands AND the Keen Eye Lake were completely frozen over.

(Unfortunately the Visitor Center was closed but we still walked around the trails to the lake)

(LOTS of snow right now)

(Look close, I'm holding onto some moose antlers...the cabon belonged to a famous Big-game Guide, Andrew Berg)

(Matthew loved the woods...My happy mountain man!)


(Us having a great time in the Kenai Wildlife Preserve)

(There were signs-a-plenty to tall us about the local plant and wildlife)

(How often can you stand in a swamp and not get wet?)

(Matthew got the biggest kick out of this fact)

(How about standing on a lake?)

(How about standing on a lake with that kind of background view?)

(Matthew using his mad-tracking skills, lol)

(Look closely and you can see the Black-Capped Chickadee who seemed very interested in us)

(These mushroom were growing all over the trees and they fascinated Matthew!)

(I am lovin this forest!)

(Just judging by this moose-print, I don't know how well Matthew would hold-up against one!)

And those were the big adventures for today. I start my first day at work tomorrow so wish me luck. I’m VERY excited…More to come soon!