Friday, August 19, 2011

Geocaching-Alaska style


With the boat in the shop last month John and I decided to catch up on some geocaching out at Eklutna Lake. So we packed up the boys and headed North.


Fashion forward BrodieLooking for ways to cross the stream. It must have seemed like a raging river to the boys.

If you can't go over it, go through it.


Time for a break. Otherwise known as waiting for Mom and Dad to catch up. We are old and slow. They are young and spry.
After about 30 minutes of searching, we found the cache. This was a good thing because it was starting to sprinkle and none of the men folk had jackets. I was smart enough to wear a big cotton sweatshirt.
Note to the Farthings, the geocache is not under the tree!

And then the clouds opened up and it didn't just rain it poured buckets. Every lake sized mud puddle had to be run through. Brodie said he was a puddle monster, Jack was a 4-wheeler.

We made it back to the car in about half the time it took to find the geocache location. It was a good thing I wore my tie dyed sweatshirt. I looked like a waterlogged hippie just leaving Woodstock. Note to self, fleece may be a better rainy day choice.



Saturday, August 13, 2011

A Sad Day is on the Horizon

August in Alaska.
Everyone is trying to cram all the amazing things they were going to do this summer into 31 days. Good luck people. If you didn't go kayaking down the Yukon or climbed Denali, you are too late. But don't worry. You will have the next eight, cold, dark months to dream up more fabulous plans for next summer.

The days are shorter, the bugs are big and the spiders are fat with nasty baby spiders.
Autumn is near when the spiders make the big gushy splat when swatted with your husband's shoe.

Most kids will be in school this Monday. Jack and Brodie are younger so their school starts in one week. There are new sneakers in the closet and creased clothes hanging, with strict orders attached "Mister,don't even think of wearing that new surfer shirt until school starts". Not sure why I bother. It's only going to take one ketchup laden hot dog and it's a wipe out. Why break tradition now? My Mom said the same thing to me. I never really cared for school. But the anticipation of wearing all the new clothes, the forbidden fruits of a summer gone. How could I not love the first day of school!

The worst part of summer's passing, is the boat. Our first summer on Stor Fisk is winding down.
One more three dayer on the boat with the kids and that's it for overnights until next April. Maybe a few weekend days in September? I already told the guy that married me I am not interested in seeing Prince William Sound in November. Freezing my arse off in gales is not my idea of fun. Been there, done that, got paid. Won't do it again.

Never have I enjoyed a summer more than this one. The storing of the Stor Fisk, will be a very sad day. But the anticipation of April 2012, will be like the first day of school so many years ago.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Let it f'n rain!



Screw you old Sorels buried in the closet for years. Kiss arse ugly Xtra Tuffs, you now live on the boat and only the boat. So long Columbias, I have had you so long your once cute pale blue hue has turned to an odd washed out grey.

Move over old and ugly. There is a new pair of boots in Stephanie's closet world.
I would like to thank Mr. Weitzman for making fabulous rain boots. I love his shoes, but his boots are like fine driving gloves for the feet. Even the rain boots, no leather, just rubber and sparkles.

Opening a heavy, dark blue, Stuart Weitzman box is like opening a Tiffany's box for the feet. You know before lifting the weighty lid and pulling away the layers of tissue that something wonderful lies just below. A surprise, like biting into a Godiva truffle.
Slowing lifting the treasures out of their tissued tomb, will they fit? First the right, then the left. Perfect, they fit perfect!
Bring on the rain and a Burberry umbrella.