From Anchorage to Fairbanks

 and capWe left Anchorage at 8.30am with the eight staff members of 'the depot' standing in a straight line outside the station house, waving goodbye to us in true American fashion! There was only one passenger car, with about 20 passengers, a baggage car, and a dining car, plus the diesel engine.  The staff were very friendly except for the conductor in his uniform and cap.

The train was very comfortable with a lovely dining car.

The meals were very nice.  The chef didn't have a great deal to do so spent a lot of time wandeing up and down the carriage chatting to the passengers.

We picked this girl and dog up when she literally flagged the train down, by placing a brightly coloured flag on a long pole.  There are no stations along the way. People get off the train wherever they need to and head off into the bush trudging through the snow.  one man had a snow machine and sled awaiting him and got off with about a months worth of supplies.  The track was a bit wet between the train tracks and his snow machine, so the train offloaded two wooden pallets for him to make a bridge across the little creek to get to his machine.

The train stopped on a trestle bridge at Hurricane Gorge for us all to take photos of this spectacularly deep gorge, so named for the hurricane that blows down the gorge.  The scenery was spectacular, and between the four of us we took about 900 photos.  We ended up with RSI!

The Nenana River which runs through Denali National Park was still mostly frozen and the frozen waterfalls were just incredible. We saw Dall sheep perched precariously above the river on very steep cliffs.  We saw a moose and her young, caribou, eagles and swans. About 8 young people got off at Denali and were met by the ranger.  They were going to be park guides for the summer holidays. 

We stood a lot of the trip to have a panoramic view, we also lounge in the lounge, and visited the dining car about 4 times to fill in the 12 hour trip.  We LOVED our journey.  It was the best way to observe the spectacular scenery in a relaxed way.  The train tavelled at a leisurely pace until we got to flatter country just outside Fairbanks.  At this time of year the sun doesn't set until 10pm so our entire journey was in the light.  We thoroughly recommend this fantastic train trip.

We past a few towns along the way.  Some just a few building, others a little town of shops and services.  Very isolated and rustic.  Everything is quite messy now that the snow is thawing.  Things that were covered by snow and either lost or forgotten are now being exposed.  Some things  collapse under the weight of the snow.  Alaska still is the last fronteir especially up here in the Interior.

Auntie Dot's 100th Birthday Party in Anchorage Alaska 

19th April 2012

Auntie Dot is reading her card from the Queen as she has dual citizenship with the USA.  She also got a card from President Obama.  She read her special cards out loud, with great expression, and not needing any eye glasses.

 She enjoyed her party of  around 51 guests, the biggest entertainment being the 45 mins the professional photographer took to take the family photo ,then the extended family, then the friends as well.   The photographer was so funny and worked so hard that I ended up videoing her antics.  She was a large American lady and ended up in a lather of sweat.

The beautiful cake had a map of Australia for the 37 years of her life she spent there, then the map of Alaska for the 63 years she spent there.

 Here is Auntie Dot with her four sons, daughters-in-law , except for Carla who is awaiting bypass surgery, the grandchildren and 4 of her 10 great-grandchildren.

Julie and I with our special aunt.

Auntie Dot was terrific during the two hours of her party.  I am sure she slept well last night. 

The party continued without her, at the LoneStar restaurant where all the relatives and friends renewed friendships and caught up, some after years of separation.  It was a grand occasion.



Hawaii, holding hands on the sands of Hawaii.  Waikiki Beach  with Diamond Head behind Jeff and Daryl.

Our view from the 19th floor of Waikiki Beachcomber where we are staying, overlooking The Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Waikiki Beach.

 It is lovely to see the catamaran take off from the beach when the Hawaiian blows on the conch shell to warn the swimmers to stay clear.
The outriggers still ride the waves with willing passengers. 

 This is an information officer who is not permitted to say no to any tourists question.  He was so friendly as are all the Hawaiins in the shop, restaurants, transport, hotel.  Super friendly and ALWAYS greeting you and wishing you a lovely day.

Julie minding our drinks at the Moana Surfrider.  Jeff and I had a Lava flow, Moana coconut.

Gorgeous Hanauma Bay where we snorkelled with the fish.

Tonights cocktails at the Hula Grill restaurant, Waikiki Itch, thus the backscratcher inn her drink and mine was a Pina Colada.

Entertainment while we ate.

Daryl and Julie about to snorkel in Hanauma Bay.   I am having trouble with this tiny laptop keyboard, so Hope to master it soon.

The Royal Easter Show

On Thursday we went to the Show with Felicity, Cooper and Sienna, and Charlotte, Will and Jaimeson.  We met Auntie Jan and Uncle John at the CWA (Country Women's Association) tea rooms for their famous scones with jam and cream.  We began our wander around the exhibits after morning tea.

 I loved this floral arrangement in the Flower Hall displaying vegetables along with the flowers.
Cooper and Sienna were taken with the scarecrow flying in the breeze holding onto his pole. Although his 'angry' face bothered them and they would not be convinced that his face showed surprise.

 Felicity's Bible Study group new of this lady who had entered the decorated cake of the whole story of Jesus death and resurrection.  All the figures were cut from icing and it was amazing.  So detailed.

Here is Charlotte taste testing some new passionfruit Lindt chocolate.  It was yum.  Very passionfruity with that smooth Lindt chocolate taste.  I must look for it in the shops.

 Jeff and Cooper at the Police stand.  The bike was HUGE.

 I love the Food Hall with the district exhibits.  This north coast exhibit was a ship wreck with all its produce washing ashore.  It was amazing.

 Charlotte and Will introducing Jaimeson to the animals in the petting nursery.
I just love to see the adults getting up close and personal with the animals too, but it never ceases to amaze me at the adults who cover their noses against the smell of manure and hay.  I LOVE it.

 Cooper and Sienna just loved the ducklings as did my girls.  They were also intrigued with the incubator and watched the chicks breaking through the shells for ages.

 Sienna found this gorgeous baby kid trying to hide from the milling crowd.  She crouched down till she was face to face with him. It was so cute.  He kept shutting his eyes saying "I'm not here!"

 A SHOW MUST.
The Dagwood dog, Pluto Pup, or Hot Dog on a Stick as they call it now. 
I LOVE them.
Totally unhealthy, oooh but yummy.

 Cooper soooo wanted to ride this little train, so Sienna and Papa were very happy to accompany him.

 These ladies were so dressed up showing their horse.  Have a look at the gorgeous outfit on the middle lady leading her horse towards me.  I loved it.  So stylish.

 A Show MUST,  the iconic WOODCHOP.   This guy was from Queensland and was the Champion and was on a handicap of 35 and still won.
After this event they had a father and son woodchop where either one would fell a standing pole and the other would chop a block they were standing on.  He and his son won that too.

A beautiful traditional European carousel.  Sienna and Cooper loved it and so did Granny and Papa.  I love it when an adult rides free to support a timid child.

Surprise Surprise

I was thrilled to be surprised by my Strelitzia this morning.  I have been waiting years for it to flower and often check to see if it is sending up a flower spike.  This morning I found my gorgeous Bird of Paradise as a total surprise and there is another flower spike coming.

The Grands last week

 Here is Jaimeson on the move.  He gets about quite quickly on his tummy like a commando.  He can no longer be contained on his mat.

 Sienna is growing her beautiful hair.  She talks more and more now and is quite easy to understand.  She loves books and loves having them read to her.

 Cooper just loves his Thomas the Tank Engine empire and loves it when Papa gets on the floor to play with him.

 Xander was watching me blow dry my hair and ran away and got his battery operated toy drill to blow dry his hair too.  So cute.

 Xander watched his little Turkish neighbour slide down the poles of the swing and indicated to me that he wanted to do it too.  We had to do all four poles!

Mummy built Cooper and Sienna a great Mystery Island track with a flying fox for the train.  Sienna is operating the log lift.
We are really tired when we come home from spending three days visiting the grandchildren.

I'm back again!

Where have I been and what have I been doing in the last couple of weeks?

Sewing of course, except for the 3 days we were in Sydney visiting the grandchildren.
I have been busy sewing for my Craft Sale which I was planning on having in June, but the date I chose is no longer available so my next sale has been put off until July!.  Where is this year flying to.

Here is a pic of some the things I have created lately.  The pink bunnies/ blue spot are drink bottle holders (a new design for me) and matching snackpack.  Also in there is a nappy satchel too for holding wipes and disposable nappies in your handbag.  The green with hedgehogs are more nappy satchels with matching bib.

The crochet head wraps to keep ears warm in the cold weather are a new thing too.  I have made heaps and already given some away.  I am still crocheting baby beanies with the flower on the side and have made a couple of boy ones without the flower.  Must do more boy ones with ears and bear snout.

The bag and matching purse are for my cousins wife, Karen in Alaska.  Julie bought the fabric and handles and asked me to make the bag as a thankyou gift for when we stay with her and Ray in Fairbanks.

And here are some recent photos of the grandchildren taken last week.