Christmas in Alaska!

     As most of you know by now, my decision to move to Alaska didn't come without losses... I lost fall in New England, I lost living on a lake, I lost having dinner with my mom at least once a week, I lost fishing with my dad, I lost Italian sandwiches and I lost my Maine license.  To some these losses may seem like a lot, to others trivial, but to me they are reality and even with all these losses I wouldn't change my decision to live in Alaska.  

     The holiday season has once again shown me why this is where I'm meant to be... I have never felt so blessed with such a strong support group!  I never once feared I would spend Christmas "alone" in fact I had so many invites I had to politely decline!  I won't deny that my first Christmas away from my family was hard, but thanks to the Fougere's I was able to wakeup in a house full of excited kids and watch Christmas magic like I used to experience!  I cannot thank them enough for all they do for me, and how they have accepted me into their family, ( I always joke I'm more of a big sister than a babysitter) and spending Christmas with them meant more to me than words!  I have also been blessed with a wonderful roommate who has become my ski buddy, and future roommate in our own place in February!  Thankful for us her boyfriend is a good cook and had us over for tequila-lime halibut tacos for Christmas lunch!  

     This holiday season also brought my best friend plane tickets to come see me!  I am beyond excited for Taylor to come visit me in march! As always visitors are always welcomed and encouraged to come to Alaska, all who are willing and able should visit this great state! 

     I also attended Christmas service at church and was reminded of the meaning behind Christmas and the reason we live each day.  This year has been full of changes, growth and learning experiences, but it's all part of "the plan" and I'm looking forward to what the future holds for me!

Thank you to everyone near and far who has supported me this past year, and know that even if we don't talk as often as we used to, I still cherish the lessons and blessings you brought into my life!  May you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Xc skiing!

My roommate and I 

Denali!

Fall in Ak!

    Well one thing is for certain, the warm weather has left the great north until 2014!  It rarely gets out of the 40's now, and dips below freezing at night!  It's no New England fall, but Alaska still has a beauty only appreciated and understood through experience!  I still try to get out and about each weekend, even if its just a scenic drive or to a new area that I haven't been.  Here are a few pictures of fall in Alaska! We had our first snowfall, around 3 in, but of course it was gone the next day, the peaks are now snow covered and will probably remain that way until next spring.  I cannot wait for snow that sticks around and to experience my first winter here!

Crochet!

So I've always experimented with crocheting and knitting, but admittedly never finished a project...until this weekend! I was bored, and this cool fall weather has me spending more time inside so I figured I would pick up my crochet hook, peruse the Internet and see where it took me!  I found a cute headband with a small accent bow!

Viola! Headband is off white, and bow is a pale green!

Changing of the seasons

     The weather is surely changing here in south central Alaska... It barely makes it into the 60's and falls well into the 40's at night!  We are also losing around 7 minutes a day in sunlight.  All of these changes have me excited for what's to come... winter!  A good hearty winter is one of the many reasons I moved out here, I just miss getting dumped on with snow, skiing powder days and below zero temps; three things that have sadly become a rarity in New England.

     More things that excite me about the changing of the seasons are: cute winter clothes, jackets, because a girl can never have too many jackets, pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas, termination dust, and the NORTHERN LIGHTS!

     Today I decided to get out of the house and take a little drive, I ended up at beluga point along turnagain arm, just south of anchorage.  It's a scenic pullout that offers views of turnagain arm and if your lucky breaching of beluga whales... I didn't spy any today.  There has been a high wind warning here today so the inlet was all white caps making a whale hard to spot!  It was still a peaceful drive and a beautiful sight!

     On my ride back home I decided to swing by REI and check out their Labor Day sales... I struck it rich, or well I'm no longer rich.  I found the perfect pair of Dalbello ski boots that match my skis perfectly.  They were the only ones in my size and were 40% off!  

I am definitely ready for winter! 

Alaska State Fair

     Yesterday I went to the Alaska state fair... Lets just say I'll check that off the list but won't file it under "favorites".  It was a rainy gloomy day, but in Alaska that doesn't stop us from venturing out! I met up with my roommate from princess and one of her friends and we headed to the fair, it was $5 to park and $14 to get in!  Somewhere in the 5 steps it takes to get from the ticket booth to the gate I lost my ticket!  It took me a good five minutes of searching high and low and I finally found the dang thing, because there was no way in hell I was paying again!  Once inside we walked around all of the 3 loops and inside a few of the exhibit halls.  I was really looking forward to the record breaking giant vegetables, but was disappointed when I saw they were all wilted and dying!  There also was not nearly as many as I expected or maybe I was looking in the wrong spot, who knows!  But a fair isn't a fair without fair food, so I tried the corn fritters with honey butter, because everyone knows I can't turn down anything made with honey!  They were yummy, the fritters were a little cold, but the honey butter was amazing!  And of course I got a bag of cotton candy, blue raspberry, yum!

     All the Alaska state fair made me do was miss the Fryeburg fair, a lot!  If I don't go this year it will be the first year in my entire life that I haven't gone.  So yes I am taking donations to make it back home for that haha!  

Wilted giant cabbages 

I spy a giant zucchini (middle of picture)

Geese! 

Native wildli... Wait what, is that a peacock?! 

Corn fritters with honey butter! 

South fork hiking!

     One of my new favorite places to hike happens to be right here in my new town!  The south fork of the Eagle River trailhead, which is a Chugach state park trail head has afforded me many adventures this summer!  I have done several different hikes: one back into the valley off trail following and old game trail where I saw wolf prints, moose prints and bear sign while over looking Anchorage.  Another was blueberry picking right alongside the trail, and the most recent was a 10mi hike that goes to Eagle and Symphony lakes!  I did the ten miles in just over three hours, it was a gorgeous sunny day resulting in a little skin scorching being as I am now a pale Alaskan and not my usual tan self!  South fork is also one of those places I just like to drive to and look at the view while enjoying a meal! 

I have more pictures on my camera that I will add soon! 

1 month!

     So it has been one month since I started my new job and moved into my apartment!  I am in a much better state of mind and am getting closer to the old happy go lucky Lulu!  

     The kids at work keep me busy and tire me out day after day, but it is fun and it makes the time pass very quickly!  Since I haven't met that many new people yet, I have taken a liking to cooking.  Some of the new recipes I have made are: roasted cauliflower, baked zucchini, many different dishes involving quinoa, and turkey and quinoa stuffed peppers! I try to do one thing everyday after work to avoid the come home and sit in front of the tv slump, so I either go for a run, drive to a scenic spot, cook, or do something crafty!  I think things are coming together just in time for winter, which will be my next challenge.  It is already starting to get colder in the mornings, down into the 40's.  We lose around 5-7min of daylight each day.  I was shocked and caught off guard when I was out at 9:30 the other night and the highway street lights and everyone's headlights were on... But that only means one thing, I'm that much closer to seeing the northern lights! 

Well all is well here! 

Horned bedstraw catapillar, the kids found on the playground 

Polar bear at the Alaska zoo! 

I also like to bargain shop, which isn't news to many people, but I got all of this for around $60!  The blanket alone was originally $75! 

A leap of faith

     I signed my first lease last night after my first day of work!  It was the biggest weight I've ever had lifted off my shoulders! My first day of work was great, the kids are sweet with a feisty side at the flip of a switch.  I got many "I love you, Ms. Lauren" and a few "you're mean" but it was a great day followed by a great evening.  My new apartment is .4mi from work, and is very convenient, safe and most of all very nice! 

     The landlords are so nice they let me move in today!  So here I lay on a mattress on the floor in my new place, it is comforting knowing I have a safe and clean place to lay my head for the next six months!  And with that being said, I am ready to face my first winter in Alaska!  

     Today was my second day of work, it was even better than the first.  I really like all of the ladies in work with and the day flies by!  May have had my first test to see if I can handle early childhood today... A little girl in my classroom wasn't feeling well so I was holding her and she proceeded to throw up all down my back and in my hair... And to my surprise, I wasn't mad a bit! 

     I am looking forward to these next few months and to where this new adventure in life will bring me!

My own personal deck attached to my room!!

Decent closet

May be little, but it's perfect for me! 

Like a tree in the wind; bend but don't break...

Hi all, I have had very many learning experiences this summer some good some bad, but assuredly all have taught me how life throws you curves...  I apologize for the lack of blog updates, and with the new changes I have made I expect to be updating a lot more!

NEWS FLASH:  I have accepted a job that will keep me here through the winter!!! I will be working at a pre-school in Eagle River which is a very nice suburb of Anchorage.  This will give me the education experience and affirm or dispute my idea that I want to have a career in Environmental Education.  I have always liked the area, and was very excited when I was offered the job!  The downside of this is that I had to give up my housing at Princess and need to find a place to live.  Thank goodness I bought my Outback and can sleep in there ;)
I have checked out one apartment and it is perfect, so everyone keep their fingers crossed and say a prayer for me, because housing in Eagle River is not easy to come by!  I begin my job tomorrow and I am sure there will be endless stories to tell!

I have not been to many places that I haven't posted pictures of before, but I know how much you all love to see where I've been and the beauty of Alaska, so here are some pictures!

Moose with two calves across Eklutna Lake

Cloudy evening on Eklutna

Alpenglow over the Susitna

Huge Moon!

Again... around 11 pm

Little Susitna

Hatcher Pass State Rec. Area

again

More

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Hatcher Pass on a sunny day

Summit Lake

I'm Alive!

     So my mom has been hounding me lately about how I don't update my blog any more... this ought to do the trick for a few week ;)

The good news is I am still alive!  I haven't been updating my blog, because well frankly nothing all that exciting has been happening... My job is eh, haven't really made many new friends, don't have enough money to go cool places.  I know that all sounds depressing, but don't let it fool you, I am still in love with Alaska, even if this summer is less than what I dreamed of.  I am working on finding employment for the winter months, both seasonal, but looking hard for full time!  Even on a bad day, week or well month, I just take a moment and remind myself of where I am... ALASKA!

Here are a few pictures I have taken on my days off!

view from hiking Flattop Peak in Anchorage

Stairs at Flattop

Flattop

Talkeetna River

Talkeetna River

Fireweed is already blooming!

Momma and baby at Eklutna

my second home... back of the outback!

Eklutna Lake

Hiking at South Fork of the Eagle River

Me!

More views at South Fork

Awesome hike!

Definitely going back!

Eklutna Lake again...love it here!

again

Independence Mine Sate Park

Hatcher Pass

Again, it was rainy, but the sun was trying its darnedest to come out!

Still enjoying my peaceful ride through Hatcher Pass

little waterfall... they always make me smile!

valley

a few lakes made from pieces of glaciers when they receded.

Sun/Rain

here comes the sun...

I promise to update when exciting events occur, sorry that they are few and far between this summer :(