A trip to the sea...

  

Icebergs and sea otters and whales... how can one not love the Alaskan sea? The Vial family had quite the adventure while enjoying a quick getaway to the coast.  Miss Riley was introduced to all kinds of new things, from flying in an airplane to listening to a colony of sea lions up close. (Actually, a group of Sea Lions is a called a Raft. No joke.)

Lots of sea life, lots of yummy food, and some great times spent with good friends made this trip extra special for us. And the gloriously hot showers were an added bonus. It was a breath of fresh air for the soul. 

Our bush plane awaits! 

feeding and flying

Hmm... maybe she'll be a DJ someday

just waiting to be explored....

ferry boats rock. 

Lovin' every minute! 

Boisterous little fellas

 

who doesn't love a whale tale? 

                                     

     “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it's always our self we find in the sea.” 
                                                                                – e.e. Cummings

Adventures With Daddy

                            

Love at first sight! 

From the start, it was love at first sight for Matt. I think Riley was 3 weeks old when he first asked me if she could fit into the baby backpack so he could take her skiing. He handled her so tenderly while giving her her 1st bath, and I'll never forget coming home to Matt making Christmas presents in the garage with Riley strapped to his front, covered in sawdust. There's plenty of life to be shared by these two. 

Nothin' beats hearing Daddy's heartbeat

Looking nervous... 

First milkshake! 

Playing the fiddle! 

sweetness

Working with Dad.... in a box. 

You'll love this... it's tri-tip

                                  

                                          Forget baby food, I want Pizza! 

Life is fun with Mom, but it’s a true adventure with Daddy. 

Appreciating the little things...

Living in McCarthy provides a sharp reminder of how easy it is to take things for granted. Life operates at a different pace here, which always takes a bit of adjustment. For instance, washing dishes suddenly becomes a monumental task when precious water has to be hauled from a creek, heated for optimal washing power, and then discarded with care so that those crazy wild animals (and town dogs) don’t get accustomed to the dirty dishwater smells. And since there are no garbage trucks picking up curbside deposits, all those pieces of trash mindlessly thrown away back at home suddenly require a lot more attention. Trash either gets burned or is hauled out to Anchorage 8 hours away.

Showers have become something to savor once we return home. For now, we bathe in a large plastic container, strategically placed in our living room, and we heat up collected rainwater to rinse with. Yes, I’m channeling my inner Laura Ingalls on this one.

Here’s a great story about my laundry adventure I had the other day. Since we are lucky enough to have access to a washing machine powered by a generator, we are able to get our clothes pretty decently washed. This involves me packing up our dirty laundry (there’s plenty with a 6 month old) and taking it down to the Powerhouse where Matt and I work. Because I have Riley and also a big ol’ bag of dirty laundry, I usually carry her and pack the laundry in the stroller. McCarthy has dirt roads so the stroller takes a beating going back and forth through town – so much so that the front wheel sometimes pops off. Ah yes, you can see where this is going…

Yes, please. 

So I’m walking through town with my dirty laundry in the front of the stroller and a bag of trash on the bottom while also holding Riley. And then, wouldn’t you know it, that dang wheel just rolled right off. My dirty laundry heaved forward and spilled out onto the road and suddenly I was the picturesque bag lady right in the middle of town. After gathering my garments and my dignity, I continued my trek to the washing machine, where I powered up the generator and loaded in my clothes. After a quick wash cycle, I hung my clothes out to dry with the elusive sun shining. All went well until Murphy’s Law showed up in the form of a rainstorm. If you don’t like the weather in Alaska, just give it 10 minutes.

There are plenty of times when I wonder what the heck I’m doing here. How simple life is back at home with the little luxuries so easily taken for granted! So simple, even, that it takes living here to appreciate them. But then I take a look around and relish in the beauty of this place. I look out my kitchen window and see snow-capped mountains and an abundance of wild nature. The community beckons me and its people inspire me. There is rawness here; a true pioneer feeling that is both humbling and motivating. It soothes the soul in ways that are only truly appreciated once you leave.

And just when I get the hang of things here, I am pulled back to a life filled with hot, running water and electricity; of highways and traffic and Starbucks; of fast-paced living and distraction. I so look forward to that glorious shower that awaits me when I return home, but until then, I’ll just enjoy the slow buzz of nature and watching that stroller wheel make its way through town. 

Another summer in McCarthy begins!

Matt and I arrived safely in McCarthy and have been spending the last couple of days getting ourselves organized for the busy summer ahead. As many people know (since we haven’t been able to keep our mouths shut about it), we have our own cabin this year. No more living communally with 25 other guides! YAY!! What a difference it’s made already! The cabin is furnished, and I think there’s more counter space than my home in Tahoe. We even have a propane refrigerator, which is AWESOME. Still no running water or electricity - we wouldn’t want things to be too easy around here.  

All in all, I’d say we’ve moved up in the world, or at least in McCarthy. As you might guess, I’ve been working hard at getting our stuff unpacked – where did all this stuff come from anyway? Slowly but surely, it’s turning into a cozy little home for us. For those of you who have been considering coming up to Alaska, this may be the best year to do it!  We’ve got some loft space for company, a great porch for bbq’ing, and a clean cabin to relax in after our daily adventures. J Just saying.

Riley was quite the little trooper during our drive up here. It was a long drive – 64 hours – but we saw some incredible sights and Riley even got to meet her Great Gramma Audrey who lives in Montana. The Icefields Parkway is a spectacular drive, but you really can’t go wrong anywhere in western Canada. Well, except for the Yukon. Matt was driver extraordinaire and I attempted to master baby feedings and diaper changes in a moving vehicle. Aside from the remnants of sweet potatoes, applesauce, and carrots left on the seats, I’d say I was fairly successful. We saw plenty of wildlife, even a grizzly on the side of the road, and found scenic camping spots along the way. 

There’s plenty to look forward to this summer, but I’m especially looking forward to enjoying a slower pace of life here now that I have Riley. It definitely takes a lot of work to have a kiddo here, but there are lots of laughs and memorable experiences to be had along the way. For instance, last night was Riley’s first sauna and boy did she love it! She kept splashing the water and giggling. She just might be the youngest who’s ever set foot in the company sauna. J 

Well, that’s about it for now. I’ll be sure to keep the stories and pictures coming. And don’t be a stranger! Our cell phones work up here and email is checked fairly often. For those who have asked, here is our mailing address:

Box #10 MXY, McCarthy

Glennallen, AK 99588

Oh, and our Tahoe house is available as a vacation rental this summer, so if anyone would like to enjoy a Tahoe getaway just let me know!

Hope all is well in your world and that there are plenty of adventures awaiting you! J

Finding the balance

Being a parent is one of the most amazing and truly rewarding experiences. From early morning cuddles and coos to infectious laughter and long, sweet gazes, I wake up each day feeling so very thankful for my time spent with Lil’ Peanut. However, other feelings have also snuck up on me; feelings, I’m sure, many other mothers have experienced. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s something along the lines of invisibility. Or rather fading. Yeah, it’s hard to describe.

It’s not as if my days are lacking. I wake up to a list of “to do’s” and spend most of my day perfecting the art of multi-tasking. There’s always something new with Lil’ Peanut to enjoy too, whether it be a new sound or trick, or just a dynamite diaper that found it’s way EVERYWHERE (cause for some deep appreciation for what your little one can do). It’s hard to sum up what my days entail, but they seem to be jam-packed with intention. So why is it that I feel so disconnected from things? Is this the beginning of Mommy-hood where all interesting thought, discussion, and opinions are overrun by baby babble and coupon clippings? 

Being a stay-at-home mom has its challenges, and I’m obviously falling face-first into them. It’s hard to realize working friends can’t relate to the slow-paced life I live now, and I find it hard to keep up with the conversations that buzz around me. My mind is preoccupied with the minor tasks it takes to keep a household running, and the art of being in the moment seems to be evading me these days. I remember not too long ago being a girl on the move, therapy books in hand, a monthly calendar filled to the brim. Sure, I wanted life to slow down… but boy, I miss feeling like an important “someone” at the end of the day.

I guess we'll just call it a work in progress. 

Need a laugh?

As Matt attempts to summit Mt. Blackburn (16, 390 ft of snow, ice, and wind), I've been busy with eating, keeping warm, working, and eating. I'm always hungry for something, and lately it's been Honey Nut Cheerios. Subway seems to always be in the back of mind tho... a constant craving that I've narrowed down to be the combo of peppercinis, mustard, and that yummy Italian Herbs and Cheese bread. My heartburn says thank God Subway is in no way near McCarthy.

This past weekend I headed to the coast with some friends to watch the Valdez airshow. It was great to get out of McCarthy for a bit and enjoy some new scenery. On Saturday night, we went to dinner at Mike's Palace, which serves anything from pasta and seafood to steaks and Mexican. It was quite the menu; however, the bathrooms were the highlight of my dining experience.

Upon looking at the toilet, I realized that it was not just an ordinary toilet ~ It had some type of Asian writing along the sides as well as buttons that looked incredibly tempting to push. As I sat down, I noticed that the buttons had little pictures to help decipher the function. Being a woman of action, I quickly skimmed the buttons and picked the one that seemed most intriguing: the button that had a girl's face on it. I pushed the button. The toilet made a noise. In an instant, I was being hosed down, or rather, hosed up, and the sensation surprised me enough that I shot up off the toilet. At this point, water was still squirting up at me, so I pressed myself against the bathroom stall in an effort to escape the shower. My pants were down; the toilet seat cover was stuck to my thigh; water sprayed the entire stall; and I was soaked. Good thing I had on my raincoat. I almost died laughing.
Needless to say, I came out of that bathroom with a huge grin on my face.  People must have thought I fell in. Of course, I made sure to have my girlfriend try it, but I made it clear that she had to stay on the toilet, no matter what.

The second, and most amazing highlight of our trip was when we found.... SUBWAY! Yes, Valdez does have Subway and you can bet that I ate there, not once, but twice. Every bite was worth the heartburn for sure. J

Home Sweet Home, McCarthy style!

Bags are unpacked. Water has been pumped. Walls have been scrubbed. Just many of the chores Matt and I have had since we've arrived here in McCarthy. Though there is still snow on the ground, the sun continues to come out and play, and doesn't seem to set now until 10:00 or so. We are getting settled in for sure, but the food cravings seemed to have multiplied since there's an absence of a quick fix ~ mainly, Taco Bell and Subway!  Oh, what I'd do for a Double-Decker Taco Supreme or a Veggie and cheese sam'ich on italian herbs and cheese bread! Yesterday, pepperoni pizza would not leave my mind, and due to the lack of Domino's delivery, or even Digiorno for that matter, I was on a mission for home-made pizza. 

Now, I must admit that baking has never been a talent of mine. Bread making, in particular, has always been intimidating, so I have a special fondness for my bread maker. McCarthy, however, doesn't allow for such pidly appliances as a bread machine. So, for the summer of 2011, I will face my fear of bread making and will take on such challenges as whole wheat, focaccia, and bagels. Oh dear. 

Back to the pizza dilemma. Home-made pizza dough. How hard can it be? Actually, and to my delight,  it was quite easy. And delicious (to Matt's delight!)! It required about 15 minutes of prep work and an hour or so for rising, and then a beautiful and exquisite creation of pepperoni, onions, canned 'shrooms, and red peppers came together. It was a beautiful thing. 

For those of you who are also intimidated by such things as pizza dough, I have included the recipe I used. So face your 'dough' fears and create your own concoctions of carbohydrate goodness. 

Happy Baking!

Pizza Dough (taken from Bread Winners, by Mel London)

For the leavening:

1 package of dry yeast

1/2 c warm water

1/2 tsp honey

For the dough:

4-5 c whole wheat flour

1 Tbl oil

1 c water

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water, add 1/2 teaspoon honey and stir. Let stand for about 10 minutes to become active. 

Put 4 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl, stir in oil, 1 cup water, and yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly. Coat your hands with flour and turn out the dough onto a floured surface or board. Knead thoroughly for 8 to 10 minutes. Divide the dough in half- you should have 2 pieces that weigh about 1 1/2 pounds each (or 4 pieces of 3/4 lb. each). Form the dough into balls and place on a floured surface, cover with a towel and let them rise to double (about 1 hour). (Dough makes roughly enough for 2 large or 4 small pizzas and can be frozen for another time). 

Punch them down and form 2 circles. On the floured surface, roll out each circle with a rolling pin to fit a  16-inch or 8-inch circular tray. When the circle is approx. the right size, place it on the circular tray and shape it exactly to the size of the tray. Using your fingers and pressing into the edges of the dough, make a small raised ridge all around the circle to hold the sauce. Preheat oven to 500*. Decorate your pizza with chosen toppings, place pizza on lowest oven shelf, and bake for 10 minutes or until desired crispness is achieved.