Alaskan Cruise, Juneau

Our first port was Juneau. Like most of our trip, it was overcast and rainy. Juneau averages over 50 inches of rain a year, while other parts of the panhandle (the only part of Alaska we visited) get over 275 inches a year!

As our ship pulled into port, along the thickly wooded hills, there were several bald eagles. They were easy to spot with their bright white heads.

Being on a cruise, you don't have a lot of time to discover the cities you stop at. We pretty much only got to choose one shore excursion or else wander around a bit. In Juneau we took a bus out to Mendenhall Glacier National Park. We walked out to the glacier and did not get to see it in action (nothing broke off, as I was really hoping).


Then we took a hike through the Tongass National Forest. It was beautiful.
We took the bus back and were back in time for a fabulous dinner. The nice benefits of a cruise!

Harvesting carrots

I planted my own carrots this year. They are looking quite lovely. We ate our first one last week. Just so you know, it is hard to know when to harvest carrots. You look at the top of the orange peeking out of the dirt to see if they are big enough. Besides that, you just have to pull one to see.

The good side is that they don't go bad if you leave them in the ground after they are ready. So, clear until frost threatens, you can just go pick one whenever you are in the mood.

Happy beta-carotene-ing.

P.S. Do you think carrot cake with home grown carrots would be especially good?

What is a cruise like?

The Golden Princess (we have also dubbed Charity the Golden Princess in honor of our cruise and Charity's new found pluckiness) from a cold, windy port of Victoria, Canada.

Never been on a cruise? Neither had I until last week. Matt and I and our 1-year-old Charity took a cruise with Matt's parents to Alaska. It was so fun and the scenery so beautiful. I'll post pictures soon, but first about cruising.

Cruising without a baby would undoubtedly be easier (and a tiny bit more enjoyable, don't tell Charity). Although it really wasn't that bad with her. In fact, she did garner us some pretty sweet favors from the ship's crew.

For instance, on the second night we were on the ship we were eating dinner when a maître d' stopped by to coo at Charity.

That wasn't unusual, it happened regularly. But he stopped to make sure she had food she liked and was happy. He took her (and only her) order personally and brought it to her. He'd cut it up himself and serve the little princess. Then he brought her ice cream. A lot of ice cream. The volcano.




And he did this every night. How did he find us? He asked us if we wanted to eat about the same time each night. And then he made us a standing reservation each night at 5:45 at a lovely table for 6 right by the window! He told us he had a grandchild back home in Portugal about Charity's age and couldn't wait to see her in 2 months and take her out for ice cream by the beach after their dinners together. Pretty nice perk, huh!

Besides that, Matt's parents were so sweet to give us a little time to take advantage of the many activities on board. We went to a few ballroom dance classes, we went dancing at night and listened to our favorite musician on board, Chris May who played and sang some swinging jazz.
There were trivia games, nature lectures (about Alaska), art auctions, tours of the ship, cooking classes, jugglers, string quartets, rolla bolla acts, and a very busy casino.


We took Charity to the live shows at night (Broadway type singing, a magician, a comedian) and kept her up way too late most nights. But she was a gem.





We decided to opt out of the pools (one indoor and one out) because Charity wasn't allowed in, plus it was chilly Alaskan cold. But there was also a gym and a spa, jewelry, fragrance/makeup, clothing shops.

And then there was the food, plentiful and delicious. That will have to be its own post.

And that was all without the ports we stopped at. Lots and lots of fun. I think I'll definitely plan another cruise, after I save all my pennies for a while.

Candy Buffets

My little sister is getting married in August. She is thinking of having a candy buffet. They are all the rage right now, and why not? They are so pretty and fun!

Decor 8 recently featured an Event planner who specializes in high end dessert tables, Amy Atlas. I just had to share. Aren't they beautiful?




You can check out her blog and website for more stunning photos. (I especially like the Halloween spread!)

MaLM - Souvenirs from Alaska

Make a List Monday - Souvenirs from Alaska

Matt and I (and Charity) just returned from a wonderful, seven-day cruise to Alaska with Matt's parents. I'll post a bunch of pretty pictures later. Here's a list of what we brought back.

1. A desperate desire for a personal chef
2. Claims at conquering escargot, caviar, and Esrom cheese (a Danish monstrosity)
3. 5 extra pounds
4. 2 sweet luggage tags from coming in second in a twist dance competition (much to Matt's mortification)
5. A profound respect for the beauty of glaciers, icebergs, temperate rain forests, foraging bears, surfacing whales, gliding otters, soaring bald eagles and misty rain (a lot of that)
6. 5 stuffed animals for the kiddos
7. 615 pictures
8. many treasured memories of laughing, dancing, talking, watching, composing and loving

Celebrating on Memorial Day

In which we eat and talk
throw frisbees

I accidentally line drive Dawn during kick ball, she recovers and gets me out

hike
enjoy the beauty of the mountains
and rest

With family.
Amen.

Swimming Lessons

Blow bubbles
Dive

Backstroke

Sweet side breathe

Dry off
The End (for this year).