Alaskan Summers

Amelia said with a frown on our way back from Kenai, "I didn't even have a summer".  What?!?  Remember the 3 1/2 weeks in NY??? How about any of this....

Mangos and sprinklers....

Summer playdates ....

Perhaps birthday parties?

Hmmm...I actually understand.  Summers are short (especially the Alaskan ones), but we want them to last forever. 

Kenai, Alaska

A week before school's start, we tagged along with Rob (again) to Kenai, AK.  

On the 3 and a half hour drive down the scenic Seward Highway, we stopped to eat our packed lunch and admire Turnagain Pass' beauty.

Once arrived, Amelia settled "Zelda" into the hotel room.  This is her "new" American Girl doll.   Will have more on that in later post.

Up bright and early to drop Rob off to work, we headed to the beach for rock collecting, climbing and throwing.  

And to admire the rocks we decided to keep.

We have visited this beach a few times... HERE ... HERE ... and HERE (although this post was from iWeb and abbreviated).  

There is something about rock beaches like here and Homer (really the same coastline if you look on a map).  You could spend a day at them doing not much of anything, but feel you have accomplished a lot.  :)

For us though a few hours was more than we had planned and headed back to the car.

Where someone began to complain about walking back.  I reminded her that unfortunately she was now too heavy to carry and perhaps selecting large rocks early on was not the best idea? 

We headed to the Kenai Visitor Center where we photographed the outdoor and indoor exhibits.

Then walked over to the Burger Bus for lunch, where you get the best burger (or hot dog) in town.

We ate at Louie's Steak and Seafood where something is always staring at you.

We stayed 10 minutes outside of Kenai at the Aspen Hotel in Soldotna for one reason only...the pool. We swam every day and took walks on the boardwalk along the Kenai River that connected the hotel to the fantastic Soldotna playground. 

On an overcast rainy day, we headed over to The Moose is Loose to start our day with a doughnut.

and did a bit of shopping at the Soldotna Wednesday Market where there were a few unusual items.

No trip would be complete without pizza for dinner at the St. Elias Brewing Company.

Before you could blink it was time to head home...complain about summer being too short and the start of school, which is as bittersweet as when school ends.  You miss your friends or family...depending on which way you are going.

Lots more posts including the first day of second grade!

Bird houses and Gardens

Last year, I posted a picture of our very first bird house and few pictures of our neighbors garden wall and bird feeders nestled here and there.  Since we were inspired, we bought a few more and hung them around the house.  I love everything about them. 

I should mention we never put any food in the feeders as that is a big no no in Alaska with bears looking for food.  They are a places for butterflies though and I bought a couple of these for the bees (not the wasps...do not like wasps and neither do bees!)

Not too much different in planters and gardening...

always our Fuchsia planters ... 

...and nasturtiums.  I have four of these containers planted from seeds of the past year.  My motto..stick with what does well.

Like thyme.  Thyme spreads all over and although I have to control it or it would take over... i love it. 

The columbine was past it's peak when I took photos as we were away for the best blooms.

The raspberries are spreading and will have lots of them soon I hope.

Last but not least...Amelia's cottage lost half of its roof this winter when a slab of ice slid off the main roof (no worries we repaired most of it).  Unfortunately, she is almost too big for it now...almost.  Her nasturtiums look great though!

A little bird house finds a home in there too.

Next...Summer's coming to an end in Alaska.