Sixteenth Stop: Sourdough Bread

     One of the traditions that are very popular here is sourdough bread.  Everyone has the best recipe with amazing stories attached to them.  I have been fortunate enough that someone shared their story with me and gave me some starter dough.  I am officially starting the worse addiction... homemade bread!

     When you go into any of the book stores in Homer, there is an entire section dedicated to sourdough.  "Sourdough for Dummies", "Simply Sourdough", and  the list goes on.  I am not that great of a baker and am a person that has to follow the recipe until I figure out what to expect.  When trying to follow the recipes and ask for suggestions from the locals... the response is to give it attention, no measurements, and a lot of tender loving care.     

     Wish me luck as I embark on this new challenge. Cannot wait for some delicious homemade bread.   I can smell it already!

     Just thinking about the endless possibilities of this new challenge my seat belt is getting tighter. Hope you all are still doing well. 

Fifteen: Thank You

     Moving up here I knew that life as I knew it was going to change.  How I have lived and operated the last several years was not going to be sufficient enough.  I have always been more than willing to help others if they needed it and it was never a big deal or a problem.  When it comes to me though... I struggle with asking others for help because I always feel like an annoyance or a bother.  Moving here though I knew I was going to be an annoyance and or pain.

     Since I have moved here I have had to learn how to ask for help.  I have had to depend on people to help me, teach me, and show me how to live in this beautiful state of Alaska.     I am sure that I do not say it enough, but there are so many people who have lent a hand since I decided to take on this adventure.  There really are no words to describe how thankful I am.  I would not be here without every single one of you.     

     Huge thank you to those who helped me this weekend.  They provided me an awesome place to stay, tour of the city, and some great places to eat.  I have even been offered the same accommodations when I head back in a few weekends.

     Seat belt check. Hope everyone is still enjoying this ride as much as I am.

Fourteenth Stop: Bears, Bears, and more Bears!

     While I was waiting for my flight back to the village,  I got offered the opportunity to jump on a plane to join the bear tour.  I did not hesitate and was so excited that I was going to have this wonderful opportunity.

    I was excited to see the wild animals... watching them survive in their habitat as they start to get ready for hibernation.  It was truly amazing to watch them sit so patiently and wait till they find a fish and run it down till they get it.  There were a couple times when the bears would lose the fish and you would want try to mentally encourage them to keep going and don't give up.

     The more I thought about how amazing these creatures are with their patience and skill,  I started to think how it is so applicable in our everyday life.  How many times do we get so close to something, but lose sight in the hustle of everything? How many times do we rush the process and not sit back patiently and wait for the opportunities to present themselves?

     We as humans have so much to learn from mother nature.  Not saying that we need to take on all of their characteristics, but some of the qualities like patience, determination, hard work, survival, and the ability to take in the beautiful outdoors
are all characteristics that should be looked upon very highly.

     One of the conversations that took place within the group while we were out on the sand bar was based on the question: How many years do cubs stay with their mama?
 The answer being they stay till they are about 3 or 4.  Then the Mama kicks them out.  One of the moms in the group was very concerned about this until it was applied to our lives.  Most of us kiddos stay with our parents until it is time for us to go off to college or take that next step in life.  The same thing applies for these adorable fur balls.  The siblings will stick together for a short time after mama kicks them out, but they too will eventually separate and start their own paths.

     The more I see of this beautiful state, the more and more I fall in love.  I truly suggest that everyone find the time to take a trip up here and see all of God's beauty.  It will really help one reconnect to what is important in life and not to take it for granted.  If you can't fid the time or resources to come up here to this beautiful state, everyone has hidden gems in their own areas.  I challenge you all to find them.  Make time and be in the moment of God's beautiful work.

Selfie with a bear. 

Who needs a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow..
 when you can have a bear? 

Bear heard the fish in shallow water and
is getting ready to run. This is right before
the video starts. 

                                

So beautiful!

                              

Glaciers and volcanos.. oh my!

Here is a link to a video I got of a bear catching a fish. 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10100414347755881&l=9220556715433188718

Hope your seat belts are on because this ride is getting good. 

Thirteenth Stop: Homer, Alaska

      I was elated to be able to come to Homer this weekend and explore.  It has been absolutely breath taking. 

     I got to meet up with a few friends who have been able to show me around.  We have had some amazing food and drinks through out this weekend.  It all started Friday night out on the Spit with a beverage at Salty Dog and then headed over to Little Mermaid.  If you are ever are in Homer and Little Maid is open,  you have to go.  The food is out of this world and it is an adorable family-owned-and-operated restaurant.  Saturday morning, we started the day off at the Sourdough Express.  This restaurant is organic and the food was delicious.  You know you are in a great place when you see the chef from Little Mermaid and his family there.  I recommend this great little joint as well. 

     Working off some of the great food, we took to shopping. Started out at the Homer's Farmer Market.  We were able to meet some local owners that had beautiful fruits and vegetables.   Something I was over the moon to see... fresh fruits and vegetables that were so vibrant in color.  There was also some beautiful hand made jewelry, quilts, bags, etc...  The creators of all these wonderful things were all so nice and had such great stories making every find that much more important.  We then headed over to the other shopping strip and went through the art galleries!,and then on to the Homer Book Store where I found a book on how to make sourdough bread.  This is a very popular thing in this area and people take it very seriously.  I cannot wait to partake in this cultural tradition. 

 We then took a trip several miles up the road to a little gas station that also serves as a general store with the best little deli.  So many people will drive to get the brisket sandwich that they serve there.  Again, I recommend taking the beautiful drive to get an amazing sandwich.   After the pit stop, we kept driving up the road to the dead end of the road that overlooked the entire area.   We could see the Homer Spit, the Glaciers, and Nanwalek.  The view was absolutely breathtaking and left me speechless. Hard to believe, I know.  It is reminder that there is so much out in the world to be explored.  It is a reminder that the world is more than just a small beach town or small farm town in California.  This is simple beauty that cannot be described and pictures can do no justice. 

Homer, Alaska Spit

Inside the Salty Dog. Dollar bills pinned all over!!

                        
Amazing food from Little Mermaid in Homer on the Spit.

Homer Farmer's Market and Zucchini Festival.

The little spot that is a general store, gas station, and deli with the best brisket. 

Looking at the Grewingk Glacier. 

Major thanks to my tour guides, driver, hotel, and information support for the weekend. I had an absolute blast and cannot thank you both enough. We will meet again. 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day. I am enjoying the beautiful sunshine and down time before I head back to reality. Hope everyone stays tuned. Seat belts fastened. 

    

Twelfth Stop: Patricia Zeuli.. Grandma

     A year ago today, this great world lost a woman who will forever hold a very special place in my heart. My beautiful, intelligent, loving, and stubborn Grandma. Some of my most amazing memories took place in Garden Grove. So many great weeks and weekends took place in the pool swimming, singing "When the Moon Hits Your Eye", or doing our exercises in the jacuzzi. Or spending the afternoons down at the bowling alley watching Grandma watch Grandpa with so much love in her eyes... ( at least most of time...unless he was having a bad game). Then it was just disappointment. There is just something about love from a Grandma and Grandpa.  

     These two both have passed and I miss them everyday, but I cannot believe it has already been a year since my Grandma left her body to join my Grandpa and our heavenly Father. Never take the time you have with loved ones for granted because you never know how much time you have with them. Hug them, listen to them, be with them, and value every minute you have with them.

                                              

                   

                                   

Eleventh Stop:Fresno Far Sighted Guide Dogs and Solstice

     For those of you who may not know, I had the honor of working with the Far Sighted Fresno Guide Dog Puppy group.  I was blessed to work with so many wonderful people who helped me raise an amazing puppy named Solstice.  I had her for about 15 months and she was more than I could of ever asked for.  Within those 15 months she became part of me.  She was like my daughter.  We would go to work every morning together and nearly every single job I had, she was there with me.

     Some of the amazing trips we went on included flying to San Diego a few times to visit the family.   I even got to take her on the puppy beach... So much fun.   I got to see the world through a new perspective that was of this very curious, loving, compassionate black lab puppy.     She was so much more than just a puppy in training.  She provided clients with a relief when she would walk in.  She provided an opportunity for many people to over come their fear of dogs because she would sit there with the best manners.  To children, she was "someone" who would sit next to them and help them get through some of the grueling tests they had to experience.  All she would have to do is look at you with her big ol' brown puppy eyes and you would melt.  She had a way of making everything ok.     Her going back to the school in May was one of the hardest days I have yet experienced.  I had to give my baby girl back- my partner and crime.  I can tell you that I had never cried so much in my life and I am not a huge crier in my adult years.

    Every week, though,  I look forward to Thursday because I get a report on how she is doing based on whether or not she is in the same phase or moved up to the next one.  Today I got the wonderful news that she is now in Phase 6 of 8.  Instantly I have tears of joy.  I could not be more proud and I just hope that when she makes it all the way through (which I have no doubt that she will!)  that I can be there to see her walk across the stage with her new person that she will get to work with.  I hope and pray that I can make it - because I am so proud!     

     So here is to the wonderful Far Sighted group who welcomed me as family and to Mary.  Mary was our fearless leader who has taught us all so much and has raised so many wonderful puppies and puppy raisers.  She is about to start her own new adventure and wish her nothing, but the best.   God bless you all!!

Hope you all are still buckled in and with me on this wonderful ride of life!

Tenth Stop: Homer

Today is the day I officially booked my first trip to explore.

     This weekend,  I will be celebrating the 3-day weekend over in Homer.  From what I have seen, it is an extremely cute, artistic town.  This little town somewhat reminds me of Carlsbad.  There are so many adorable and interesting little shops and restaurants.  I cannot wait to update everyone with all of my pictures.  And...You better believe a glass of adult beverage(s) will be consumed!     

Has anyone been to Homer?  Any suggestions?

Stay buckled and get ready for a pretty amazing weekend... just a feeling though.