The Miner

Last week I went on my third photo shoot with a friend in the downtown area.  This time the weather was warmer and we didn't take any kids.  Instead of ten photographs, I came home with a nice collection.  A few weeks back, I caught a glimpse of a mural on the side of a building on a road I never take in town, so I wanted to start with that.  I liked the end results.

Here is the artwork in its entirety. 

 

Now for the shots I took and really loved.

I have always been fascinated by the artwork on buildings.  Helena has quite a bit to enjoy.  The one thing that saddens me are the old advertisements painting on the side of building that are weathered to the point of almost being gone.  I would love for them to be repainted.  I realized the project would be expensive and impractical, just like restoring old derelict buildings.  My imagination takes off with all the things that could be done to fix them up.  Unfortunately, I don't have the money or skills.  I do dream though.

Alaska

When my husband told me the price of his airline ticket to a conference in Alaska, I couldn't resist tagging along.  I have always wanted to go to the state to see my cousin.  I had never had the desire to go to Alaska as a tourist in my younger years, though recently I thought seeing all the eagles and seeing part of the Iditarod would be amazing.  Well, just two days there, and I really want to go back.  I fell in love and we didn't really have any sun except late Friday afternoon.

I automatically felt at home in Anchorage.  Though three times bigger then my old stomping grounds of Billings, I felt the same homey atmosphere.  The buildings didn't loom over me and make me feel claustrophobic.  The mountains circle the city like a mother wrapping her comforting arms around me.  The bay, Knik Arm, spread out on the fourth side.  I love water, so this clinched my heart.  I adore Anchorage.

My dear cousin and her husband picked me up early the first day and were the best tour guides.   (Really, I am blessed.  All my cousins are the best.)  We started with a delicious breakfast.  Driving around a few areas in the city, in the dark, we stopped at a shop with authentic Alaskan art.  I was enthralled.  They had whale, seal, and a variety of furs, antlers, and leather.  I snapped some pictures and struggled making a decision of what to buy.  I finally settled on a fossilized baby whale vertebrae. I can't really tell you way that is what I bought, but it sits on my writing desk.  Maybe there will be a story that speaks to me.  Many of the art pieces were stunning, but my checkbook would not allow any of those purchases.

This is from a whale's mouth to filter the food and water.

After stopping by my cousin's office and getting a tour, we headed out of town.  We traveled down Highway 1, driving along the Turnagain Arm (another bay like body of water).  The day was grey and misty, but it was still very beautiful.  I really want to see it in the sunlight.  Yep, I want to go back.  We stopped by the Alyeska Resort where I took a few pictures.  They didn't turn out that well.

 Next, we went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  By this time, the weather was horrible.  I chuckled at the thought that the saying is raining cats and dogs.  Well, in Alaska, it was raining moose and caribou!  And yes, it was rain and not snow.  The weather was so warm, warmer then back home in Montana.  The road was a solid sheet of ice.  Between the rain and ice, I didn't get out of the pickup but once and that was to see a moose in a barn.  I still chuckle at that sight.

We continued on up the highway and stopped at the Portage Glacier.  I didn't get to see it, but I saw the lake.  Usually, chunks of the glacier are in the water, but the waves had cleared them out.  You guessed it, I want to go back.  As we pulled out of the area, a small chunk of ice was next to the water that hugged up against the highway.  I couldn't get a picture, but it was stunning.  The turquoise blue was exactly like what you see in the pictures.  I want to photograph that so badly.  The ice was my favorite site of the entire trip.

With the weather being so terrible, we turned around and headed back to the city.  We saw an eagle on the way back.  The entire drive was filled with lessons about the countryside and history.  Thank you, Spook.  We also chatted about family and fun memories of our childhoods.  I loved the entire experience.

We ended the day with lunch at Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria and exploring the Anchorage Museum.  Both were wonderful.  I was very impressed with the museum.  The kids section was the best I remember seeing of all the museums I have been to.

Eustace Ziegler

Sydney Laurance

Probably my favorite by Sydney Laurance

The piece made me unsettled.  I didn't read the plaque, but I feel it is the coming together of Western culture and Native.  It doesn't look healthy to me.

I was returned to the hotel just in time to drop off my purchases and join Jerry.  Thank you, Carol for a perfect first day in Alaska!!!  We went to a social event with the Enlisted Association.  A group of Aleutian Native Dancers sang and danced for us.  Again, I didn't get good photos.  Their native dress was beautiful and the dancers were so fun to watch.  Afterwards, Jerry and I agreed we would like to see the islands.

Sunday was a lovely day of watching football with friends from Oregon, Utah, and Montana.  After the last game, we met Jerry's cousin at the hotel.  He drove us out to his house.  We spent a delightful evening with him and his family.  Jerry told the children stories of adventures on the farm and they enjoyed it.  In fact, one of the girls told her dad that she wanted to come to Montana so Jerry could show her everything.  We would love that immensely.  Thank you, Guy and Anne for the delightful visit.  We sooo love your children.

 Though I can mark Alaska off of my state bucket list, I have added seeing glaciers and the Aleutians to another part of my list.  Yep, instead of getting smaller, the list is getting longer.  I so love to travel.  Oh, I almost forgot.  I did feel disloyal as I looked out of the window on the airplane flying into Anchorage.  The sunlight danced along the white craggy mountaintops.  I realized that Alaska rivals my beautiful Montana in regal beauty.

Here is my fossilized baby whale vertebrae.

Skijoring

   

          
          Years ago my father mentioned hearing about a new sport, skijoring.  I wish I could remember our conversation.  I believe we both thought it would be a hoot to watch.  This year Helena had their first skijoring race.  I went to check it out.  Afterwards, I wished I could tell my dad all about it.  He would have enjoyed the sport.  Back in junior high, he and I would have tried to participate in the event.  Alas, now with arthritis, I will continue to be a spectator and shoot photos.

The event started with the national anthem.  I have always loved watching the flag fly above a horse and rider.  I can't think of anything more patriotic.  Well, unless the flag is flying with a bunch of soldiers.

The first part of the entertainment was our newly elected major of Helena taking a try at skiing behind a horse.  Though painfully slow to watch after the first five minutes, I thought it was awesome that he gave participated.  I respect a political leader that will join in the fun.  Later we said our hellos.

The teams began their runs.  I snapped pictures left and right. 

Notice the coloring of this beauty!

When I go to events with horses, I recall all the found memories of my dad and I.  We omokseed in my grade school years.  I remember dear friends: both people and horses.  Of course, I think of riding on the mountain with my cousins and the kickass trip up to the 10 Lake Scenic Area.  I become a little melancholy.  As I snapped pictures of the horses, my husband commented.  "You miss it.  Don't you?"  How could I not?

The warm sun beat down on us.  After some cold weather, being out in the crisp air was invigorating.  The sun bounced off the clouds and mountains.  The day was glorious. 

Looking Forward to 2018

                Wow, already the first week of 2018 has flown away.  The goals I have for the next year have me scrambling to get things done.  This could be a bumpy ride!!!

Writing

                Last year, I had planned to be done with my series, Living the Tenets.  Well, book 4 grew and grew.  Sometime in the middle of an insane writing challenge, I realized I had to cut the book into two.  I had to then scramble with my plan for 2018.  Really, I had hoped to sit back on my laurels and just do work in the areas of marketing, distribution, and networking.  Now that I have another book to write, I thought I might put off these three essential items.  However, my book sales are hideous.  So, I went back to the drawing board.  I have quite a few projects for the year.

                1. Write Pursuing Peace - Already I have the first chapter written and have started the second.

                2.  Write Hypnotize the Moon - I wrote 50,000 during NaNo 2010.  I have grown since than and will need to tinker with this quite a lot.

                3.  Marketing - I need to learn how to do this.  I am starting off with making business cards, a website, and a banner.  After that is accomplished, I will do some studying.  I will add my blog in here as well.  I want to write at least one post a week; plus, keep up with twitter, facebook, and instagram.

                4.  Distribution - My goal is to attend five events where I sell my book.  I will be attending Missoula Comic Convention in Missoula, MT and Nordicfest Heritage Festival in Libby, MT.  I will be looking for more events later.

                5.  Networking - I am hoping I will come out of my shell at the above mentioned events and actually talk to other writers.  This year I will be at a conference with Brandon Sanderson.  I so need to learn to talk to these people who are so amazing!!1

                6.  Blender 3D Modeling - I want to make pictures extracted from my favorite scenes in my novels.  I haven't a clue if I can do it, but learning this program will also double as artist dates.

Personal

                Yes, I am going to attempt some personal goals even with that huge list I have made for writing.  What can I say?  I don't like being bored.

                1.  Photography - Last year, I worked with the theme of lanterns, lighting the way.  I had fun with that through the spring and dropped the ball.  I did have enough pictures to make a calendar.  I love looking up on the wall and seeing my work.  This year I am going to play with doors, welcoming people inside.  I started a little in December when I went on a short shoot with a friend.  I am looking forward to this little project.

                2.  Social Outings - With my daughter's mental illness, I have been staying home a lot.  I miss being out and about.  Sure, I am an introvert and like being home, writing, but I like to attend functions.  Now that she is older and doing better, I am going to play more.  This last week I went to a local college girls' basketball game and loved it.  I also went to the first annual skijoring races on Saturday. 

                3.  Exploring History - I have been dying to go to quite a few places around Montana, specially ghost towns.  I also want to see the Copper King Mansion.  Watch out on the highways, I am going to be driving!!!

                4.  Wilderness Adventure - Okay, adventure might be the wrong word, but I already used exploring.  I want to spend more time out and about in the mountains and countryside.  Leo, the beagle, and I need to be doing some playing in the pinecones and streams.  I might even throw in a line to pretend I like fishing.

                5.  Reading - The last couple of years I have been slacking.  I have only read about 28 books per year.  I would like a bit of a higher number then that.  Of course, my son gave me a book with over 1,000 words in it.  Hum, I wonder if I can count that as at least two books?

                6. Gardening and Painting - Of course, I will continue to work on all my summer projects.  Hopefully we won't have a fire season that takes away two of our three months of summer!!!

                Well, that is my list.  I will not get into any trouble because I will be too busy.  I think I will go take a nap.  I am already tired.