Palmer habitats

                        

Where we used to live:

When we first moved to Palmer, Alaska, August 15, 2011 we rented a house on Hilda Rose Circle just north of Palmer off the Palmer Wasilla Highway. It was a comfortable, big house but lacked ummm, charm. There were 4 bedrooms, 3 up 1 down, each with an en suite bathroom, which, of course, was very nice. The bonus/TV room over the garage was great; to have the TV out of the main living area, plus, the laundry room was right next to it which was perfect for folding clothes and watching a movie. Two other bedrooms were upstairs as well. There was a bridge on the second story connecting the 2 sides of the house; the 2 bedrooms and bonus on the front side and the master suite, with windows facing the mountains, on the back. I loved waking up to the spectacular views every morning and would say, "I will never get tired of that view." And I didn't. Downstairs was a huge family/living room with 2 story vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows framing the beautiful mountain views. Our furniture fit nicely in the big space. The kitchen was nice and big too; tons of cabinets; some that never got filled. It was a great party kitchen.

We lived in the Hilda Rose house from August 2011 through May 2012. 

This is the view of Pioneer Peak in late September 2011 from the family room windows. I was so excited about the first snow fall. Soon the mountain was solid white top to bottom and stayed like that until June. Also, little did I know, in late September, that we would get about 5 feet of it in our yard and long, narrow, odious, driveway that winter; which, by the way, was the record snow fall EVER for all of Alaska. But, still, it was beautiful.

                              Where we live now:

June 8, 2012 we moved to 13985 East River Bend Circle on the opposite side of Palmer. It is a cute 1 story house with nice high vaulted ceilings and gabled roof line.

 

The real estate stats said it had 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3,030 sq feet. Actually, has 3 bedrooms and a small den. The third bath is in the garage; the 2 story, over sized, detached, RV parking, man cave garage. You know you're in Alaska when the garage is bigger than the house..    

                                                                                                                                          

The kitchen is small but efficient, 2 pivot steps to any appliance. It gets the job done. This picture is the real estate photo from when the house was listed. My decor, of course, is much more attractive and without the tacky white towel.

 

David's Eagle Scout Court of Honor

David has been participating in Scouting since he was 8 years old; not always with zeal, some of his leaders may add, but, never with regret. With Daurell's example, patience and hard work David's Eagle Project, which was cleaning up and posting new signage for the Palmer High School XC Running team and XC Ski team trails, was a huge success. It was heart warming to see the turn out of the ward YM as well as people from the community.

February 8, 2013 David's Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held. His scout master from Sammamish is Brother Larsen Caldwell and he is in Anchorage quarterly on business. As soon as David passed his Board of Review in November he immediately called Brother Caldwell to see when he would be in town. David then planned his Court of Honor night around when Brother Caldwell would be able to attend. This wonderful strong leader of boys and men has been a huge influence in David's life so to have him be to the Court of Honor meant everything to David.

Brother Caldwell brought slides to show and Sister Caldwell had made a photo album of scouting pictures plus all the boys in Issaquah II ward signed a card. It was such a wonderful night. A lot of inside jokes were referenced and stories of miracles, growth and friendship were told. What Brother Caldwell has done over the years with boys in Scouting, at great personal sacrifice (just ask his wife how many anniversaries were spent previewing 50 miler trail with her husband), is very impressive. It was such an honor to introduce him to our ward friends here in Palmer.

Brother Craig Evans is the Matanuska Ward Young Men's President. He took David under his wing, actually, more like a head-lock then down into a half-nelson, the first minute they met.  I asked him to take our picture but he flipped the screen and took a cheesy picture of himself. He is such a funny man. And an Alaska State Trooper.

David pins a mentor pin on his dad.

David, pinning Bro. Caldwell with the mentor pin.

Busting our buttons, we are!

After Brother Caldwell showed slides of the hikes and camp-outs done over the years he had David demonstrate the Sizzle Cheer. David laid down on the floor on his back and shook
while Brother Caldwell yelled
SIZZLE SIZZLE SIZZLE. Then David flipped over like sizzling bacon and shook some more. The eight year old scouts really got into it.

Many ward members and David's friends attended with standing room only in the Relief Society room. It felt so good having such support from our ward especially good friends who helped me format and print the program, make refreshments, set up, and clean up. People can be so nice!

David and the proud parents.

                                             

Thoughts of good intentions.

Well. Hello. I have been overcome by thoughts of good intentions and therefore have decided to update and maintain my blog; even if I'm the only one who will see it. Our life in Alaska has been so interesting and full of very unusual and funny things that such things just can't go undocumented. We all know what road is paved with good intentions but even if this is as far as I get, well, it was a good thought. I just can't decide where to start.

Alaska, the last frontier

An idea was born, March 20, 2011.


A job was offered, May, 2011.


A deal was made, June 1, 2011.


Daurell moved to Anchorage, June 14, 2011


We all moved to Palmer, Alaska, August 2011.


David started Palmer High School August 15, 2011

Alaska, the last frontier....literally.

Pictures of my Mother

These pictures pefectly describe my mother--- how none of us know how to put away the tupperware correctly... and well also when she has a knife... she is in control!

Kids Now Days

I disticntly told Amelia she was NOT allowed to write on her blog about my how frustrating blogging is for me......SO SHE WRITES IT ON MINE! What's a mother to do.