crows

Scary crows!! Just now I heard what I thought was a woman screaming/yelling behind our house. Then I heard the second crow that sounded more 'normal' and more 'bird-like'. So I got Buckwheat all nervous by running to the screen door to see what they were 'cawing' at. Nothing. Just a scary, stupid crow!

This is not something you just don't blog about, of course; Mark's at the base, so I blog. So go on and share in my crow-hating. (:

films

While watching TCM movies when Mark was gone, I spent an enjoyable evening watching this romantic comedy. It really had me laughing! I knew these two were good together, but oh goodness. If you are into classics and want to laugh easily at how 'gentle persuasion' can turn into a romance, put this movie on your queue. It was filmed in 1961, the version I saw was in color, and the characters are so personable. Enjoy!

spouse's flight

Last Thursday was the annual Spouse's flight where all the wives get to take a C-17 flight just for fun. I was pretty nervous I was going to get air sick, but my stomach pleasantly surprised me and I had such a fun time. I knew it was a powerful air plane, but I was NOT expecting just how powerful it actually was. When the pilots hit the throttle (I'm not a pilot, so excuse my vernacular) for take off, we all jolted about 8 inches sideways. I was laughing so hard. Our legs were in the air and the look of sheer shock was on the girls' faces, not mine! I was enjoying it too much. Above is the view when I went in to the cock-pit during the flight. Below and above where I was holding my camera are two bunk beds for sleeping on long flights for the pilots.
The two pilots were "hilarious" during their flight. When you put on the headset they would say, "it would help if I knew how to read charts," etc. Oh gosh. Not what you want to hear when you're DIVING into a canyon with water. I watch Lost though; I know how to survive a plane wreck. So don't worry.
At times I would get up and walk to the little port-hole windows to glance out and sometimes I would have to reassure myself that these guys DID know what they were doing because we would be SO close to the mountains. So close you could see the branches and animals and everything in detail. With a plane this big, you wouldn't think it could get SO close to the ground during low-levels. These planes do low-levels at 200 feet! Can you believe it? And this is while flying through canyons and dodging mountains like this one: 
Alright, maybe not like this one, because there are only 2 of these monster-mountains in the world. This is Mt. McKinley up close and personal. Here is a partial-view of the HUD (Heads Up Display) that the pilots get to use. A lot of the equipment on the C-17 is from the F-15s, like the HUD and also the stick they use to direct the plane. It is the only Heavy plane that uses a stick like the fighter planes. The pilots love it, and I wasn't expecting such a huge plane has such power and maneuverability. 
When I got done with the flight, I called Mark and told him he has the coolest job in the world. I know it hasn't always been fun for him, with all the endless hours of studying he's had to do, all the scary dollar-rides and intimidating stand-ups, etc., and I'm not even mentioning the heck he experienced at the Air Force Academy. He really has pushed himself. I'm really proud of him, and wish I could be a pilot too! Without having to study. That's why they have spouse's flights! So we can bypass the studying and still have the fun. 

Oregon

Mark called me from the top of this 'summit' (?) at Crater Lake, Oregon today to tell me how beautiful it was. He and the other pilots decided to hike around Crater Lake today and explore a bit while the Thunderbirds were practicing for their air show in a couple of days. Mark is flying around the Thunderbird crew members and extra engines, etc. this week and loves having "Thunderbird One Four" be his call sign. He knows I love Crater Lake, so he was sure to send me this pretty picture while I wrote a lousy paper for my commerce class! Lucky duck.

gone fishing

While I was hiking, Mark was FISHING, or at least fish wheeling. Which I might argue isn't really fishing. But we can't really fish yet (since we aren't residents) without paying an arm and a leg. A guy in our ward has a fish-wheel and invited him up with him. It's a spot about 4 hours inland, and the limit for the fish wheel is 500 salmon. 500. Can you imagine? Mark said by the time he left (he had a flight briefing at 2:30 the next afternoon) they had 30, so they're not going to reach their limit this time around. He said they had about 4 King Salmon and all the rest were red (or Sock-eye Salmon):
Mark saw another moose cow and calf. We saw a pair the other day near our house and the river, and the mother was VERY injured (was limping with a broken front hoof and huge cut on her flank). And this one looks like she's had a run in with a big bear. Notice the three claw marks on her side? It must happen quite a bit, I suppose. However, look how cute this baby is: 
Wolf or dog? Mark said it had tags on, so our guess is its half dog half wolf. Either way, it's still huge and really scary.
Here is what the Matanuska Glacier looks like during the early summer. Looks much different now than it did in February: 
Mark had some salmon the night they camped out there with only some honey (nobody brought anything else) and he said it was some really good fish even plain. I'm really excited to try some. Anyone else want any? Come up and get some!

hike I: The Dome

Today I hiked my first Alaskan hike: The Dome. It was beautiful. It had been really rainy here the past week, so it really made if feel like I was in a Hawaiian rainforest (except for the glances of Indian Snow and chilly breezes). There are a lot of pictures, so continue at your own expense of free time. The Dome is pictured above. Below is when we started out (after we found the correct trail, which took about walking a mile in the wrong direction): 
While walking in the wrong direction, I spotted this and everyone thought I should take a picture, and I complied: A bear's track!! It's a black bear's paw. Notice the short, sharp claw? That is the signature paw mark of a black bear (it helps them climb trees). Later we actually found fresh bear scat, but I didn't take a picture of that because that's just gross. I am glad I saw some though so I know what it looks like: it looks like an icky tar spill (in case you're ever in bear country).
There were a lot of weird looking trees that have been broken by strong canyon winds, or that fell because they were just old. I don't know what happened to this one, but here's a picture:
This was further back in the canyon while we were on the incline:
Growing up in Vegas, I didn't have a lot of these: 
That had to be crossed by a bridge made from stapled-in pallets: 
This tree had amazing curly-cue bark, I'd never seen anything like it! 
This plant was very tropical looking, I thought. What say ye?
Here's a neat little dried-up seeder:
Huge green leaves, another thing I cherished in the desert:
This is a plant called "FiddleHeads" and they're actually edible! Julie said at girls' camp a couple of weeks ago, she had the girls pick them on their hike and they went back and fried them in butter. She said they were really good! I'm sure the butter helped:
Cute microscopic (almost) seed cones. They were so small, and almost everywhere:
We saw a huge bush with these little flowery things that looked like the had the potential to become berries. So, being the genius I am, suggested someone try one to see if it tasted like any known berry! Bonnie The Brave Blonde tried one, (just nibbled and tasted) and said it didn't taste like anything edible she'd ever had. Later, she also drank river water after she had us girls encourage and cheer for. She said it was the best water she's ever had! I believed it. 
Once we reached the top, our views included: Mark's huge C-17 hangers on base (this is zoomed in to the max, sorry about the noise - I tried messing with it, trying to make it a little better):
Here is the view of Anchorage. You can barely see Mt. McKinley to the left:
This is the valley-view behind us: 
A cute, yellow sea-plane: 
This white antler moss:
and these really small flowers. Mauri, these are for you! :
The Dome Stats: 

5.5 miles roundtrip hike

~2,500 foot gained elevation

One down, 49 more hikes to go! 

Monday night email

I Love the lotion tan..... and you don't have to worry about skin cancer when you spread on a tan.....    Glad to hear that you got more fabric.... you are hooked and I'm happy for your addiction........ Here is some good advice for the future..............be sure and memorize your credit card#  ......in case Mark takes away and says that you can't by any more fabric......... 

you have a great evening. 

-jodi

*direct copy/paste from my email. Thought I'd share some of her humor with you all... but then again, I think she might be serious!! FAA (fabricaholic anonymous)

quilting the middle east

I'm taking the plunge into the depths of making my very first quilt! Yesterday, I went with my seamstress friend from the ward to pick out the fabrics I will be needing for this quilt. Above are the threads I've decided on for this colorful and glorious quilt! I wanted a lot of bright colors, gold and bronzes, so here is the fabric palette: 
There are a few strange ones, but the two main colors (that will be squared on the outermost sides are the two on the far right). One of them is my favorite (below) with gold strands of thread running along the yellow design on the orange. I had to try to remember that the squares of the quilt are mostly 2x2 inches, and so I wanted either a really concentrated design, or a really spread out design simply used for the coloring (like the crazy orange purple one that actually has a scaled dragon on it - but it will be too small to tell - thank goodness!) And then there is the really muted, subtle green to bring out the designs in other prints and tie it all together. Again, my favorite of the bunch: 
My second favorite, almost tied for first: 
One that I did not include a big picture of is the starry night-like turquoise colored fabric with gold specks. I love it. It fades from dark dark blues to light light teals all while having constellation-like yellow and gold specks spackling it all over. Then I have the stripes to tie it all together (except for the blues which I still had to have b/c they were just loved): 
If you've seen pictures from the Del Rio house (in old old posts, you saw our extremely dark green living room). We loved it. I love dramatic homes and flavors from the orient and far-east. Flavors in food yes, but also that can come alive in decor around the home. I'm not sure how this quilt will turn out, but I have some very high hopes. It's my first one... so you should not have high hopes! 

Meet Olla

Since moving up here to the spacious, spread-out state of Alaska, we realized we wouldn't be able to keep up our "one car thing" much longer. It was impossible for me to take Mark to work, drive back, run errands, drive back, pick Mark up, drive back in our fuel guzzler. Hence the little one, Olla. Said like the Spanish hello, "hola!" It's a manual, but I'm having a lot of fun driving a stick again. So far, it's getting 37 mpg average. Go Olla!

Denali Train day II

The morning on Friday, we re-boarded the train above. We got in the same car, letter C, and kicked two old people out of our seats. For which, I felt bad because they got mad at us! It is not fun when people get mad at you, especially when they're old and should be enjoying life. Goodness! After that encounter, my mood was lightened when I got to see the views from the other side of the train: 
I'm not sure where we were when I saw this cute little boat on the rainy lake, but I'm glad I got the shot. When we were about 2 hours into the train ride, and in the yummy dining car, I saw this HUGE Matterhorn-looking mountain. It was just unnatural looking. It was different than any mountain I had ever seen. The first signal that it was just HUGE was the snow billowing off the sheer cliffs being hit by its own weather-system's wind. It was Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, and the tallest mountain from base to top in the world: 
You are probably thinking, "No, Jayci, Mt. Everest is the highest in the world".. and you'd be right. Elevation-wise, Everest is the highest peak in the world. But Mt. McKinley is the biggest mountain you can see in this world from base to peak. Mt. Everest starts at about 13,800 feet and ends at approximately 29,000 feet; giving it only about 15,200 feet of mountain. Mt. McKinley's base is at about 1,000 feet and ends at 20,320; giving it 19,000 feet of sheer mountain. HUGE. Did I explain it well enough? I am still trying to catch my breath after seeing it. These pictures do NO justice, it was the most bizarre looking mountain.  
Below is more of the marsh-land of Alaska... with lilly pads! It was so sweet and simply beautiful after such a monstrously scary-looking mountain. 
Mom and Dad, I miss you so much already, it was SO much fun having you here; I'm glad you came to visit. You two are getting funnier and funnier every time I see you. I love you! 

Denali Train day I

Thursday morning my parents, Mark and I heard the female conductor holler "All aboard!" and then boarded the train above. Two engines, lots of passenger cars, two dining cars and one caboose. Personally, I loved the dining car. But the views were pretty snazzy as well: 
Above is the view from the highest, longest bridge of the train ride. It was 300 feet high and 2oo (?) feet long. Below is a view of one of many lakes. A lot of the tundra landscape is unfriendly to people. It can act like quick sand in many parts! I'm glad we were on sold train tracks.
The train ride was 8 hours long, but on this ride, I decided I love the lurch of the train. It lulled me into quite a few cat naps, I had time to read my mystery, and every now and then we'd all get excited when someone shouted "Caribou! Caribou!" in a sing-song voice. Mark thought he saw two black bears, one hopping out of a tree, and one running back into the bushes, but we were going fairly quick at those times, so he's still unsure. 

six mile lake

Today after picking Mark up from his squadron, he and I drove to the Six Mile Lake that's on base. The road goes right in between these two water ways, and the lake is connected under the road, sort of like a bridge, but not quite like a bridge. There were two different kinds of boats: the one pictured above, and the one pictured below. It was delightful.
This is my personal favorite. On the boats' sides it said "rent me"... so maybe I will.

shish kabobs

oh my! On Friday, I knew I wanted shish kabobs on Sunday, today, so I went to the grocery store, got Italian Salad Dressing, a purple (really called red... but who am I trying to kid?) onion because of their oh-so-sweet oniony flavor, and four bell peppers, 2 green, and 2 red. Then steak and chicken. Last night we marinated it for our small and simple BBQ fast-breaking-feast. Yum!

baby shower

This morning I threw a last minute (planned-within-the-last-few-days, last minute) baby shower for a friend I knew from Del Rio. She got here about 4 weeks ago, settled into her house two weeks ago, and is due with her first little girl within the next couple of weeks. Since next week I have family coming, I wanted to do it before I got too busy, and before she got too uncomfortable.
Here is the table with cute little cookies and napkins after we moved all the gifts from the empty-space to here: 
Cathy, Kristen, Nicole, and Jill before opening gifts, and here I am after the gifts have been opened:
It was fun, but a bit worrisome throwing such a spontaneous shower. She got a bunch of cute little clothes for her soon-to-be daughter. I love purple and yellow together, so for the clothes I gave her, I tried to stick with that theme. I wish I had gotten a picture of the yellow dress and ruffled-underwear I got for little Aurora; it was adorable! Happy Baby Shower, Nicole!!