Merry Christmas!

Bossco and the rest of us send our best wishes to all of you and hope you have a Merry Christmas. If your feeling extra nice, he really wants someone to come and goof off with him and of course throw his ball while we're cooking and entertaining company. If you can't make it, he'd be happy if you just mailed him another ball for Christmas, he can never have enough of those you know.

Homer's Volcano Stirs

Ok I almost had this post finished when Marty broke his arm, I finally finished it.

Note: all photo's on this post have been retrieved from various websites and are old, none of them were taken by me, and the mountain isn't currently letting off any steam.

Taken from this website.

Mount Augustine, the volcano that's about 75 miles to the west of Homer has recently been stirring. Augustine is an uninhabited island that can be seen on clear days from Homer and neighboring towns. The view from the spit is really breath taking as you can see for yourself...



I guess they've gone from having just a few very small earthquakes each day to around 8 and the ground out there has swelled about an inch from the pressure. The chances that it will blow are rising. Or so the Homer Tribune says. But even with all that said one never knows when or if it'll go. There's a certain website that's tracking it and even has a 24/7 webcam going of the mountain because of the recent activity, they said, "...the current increase (of earthquakes) began in early May 2005. The current rate of earthquake activity observed at Augustine is well below that seen prior to the last eruption in 1986."

One of the things that has always been a worry is a landslide, part of the mountain collapsing, or a few other possibilities causing a tsunami and wiping out the spit and other parts of Homer. For years Homer sounds an alarm that can be heard for MILES and if you live in town, its deafening. I think its sounds once a month for a test tsunami warning. If the real thing ever happens who knows whether people will take it seriously.


Tsunami zone, (Photo taken from the Pratt Museums website)

I don't remember whether it was Mt. Redout or Augustine, but when I was younger one of them blew. It was one of the oddest things I've been through. We no longer lived in a color world, everything looked black and white from all the ash cover. The snow was grey, the streets were grey, the sky was grey, and the falling ash was grey.


This is sorta what it looked like, all grey.


This is a picture of floating ash clouds not long after one of Augustine's eruptions.
I took these last 2 photos off the Pratt Museums site too.

If the volcano erupts I swear I'm gonna drive my tush down there as fast as it will go so I can take as many photo's as I can. Hopefully Marty will be home so he can put panty-hose over the air cleaner in the car. Ash is terrible for your car.

Homer Boat Yard

During the storm one of the places we went was the boat yard. It hadn't been plowed at all and except the main lane, there weren't even car tracks anywhere. Marty was having way to much fun pushing snow in the car and goofing off. While we were back there we ran into several boats we know.



The "Middy" is named after Marty's Grandmother. At one time it was owned by his grandparents but Marty said his uncle Burt ran it as long as he could remember. He said his Uncle Burt usually fished in the same areas as they did. Good times I guess. I had only heard of the boat a small handful of times and when we turned the back corner in the boat yard Marty said "whoa!" He hasn't seen the boat in 5 or 6 years.


I use to work for Halibut King Charters, we are still very close to the owners. This is the lead boat "Miss Minmar" tucked in for the winter.


This is HKC's secondary boat "Halibut Endeavor"




I took these pictures of the same HKC boats back in summer of 2002

So nice to take a drive down memory lane in the boat yard. Its a cool place to cruise through. Speaking of which, any friends and family reading this will have to give Marty a hard time next time you see him....
He got lost on the main lane in the boat yard during fridays storm, hehe.

Farrar Sea

I got this picture off a fishing website. The Farrar Sea is a boat my brother worked on right out of high school. I think the boat is 100 ft. long. It was a great boat for him to learn the fishing trade. I know they fished for different types of crab and cod, not sure what else.


This is a picture of the Farrar Sea in Friday's storm. It was parked across from my parents boat in the harbor.


brrr


We had to go down and check on the boat and shovel it out, that was even more brr. I made Marty let me shovel it since he did moms driveway. Such a hard worker he is.

Friday

This was Friday morning. The snow flew all night long.


This was taken on the spit. It was a slow drive out.


All the businesses on Cannery Row whitewashed.


While driving off the spit we all of a sudden came out of the storm and the snow stopped for the day.

A bit cold

The cow house I mentioned in a previous post.

Wuff

Bossco loves Thanksgiving. Every year after the Macey's day parade the dog shows come on.

This was leaving Wasilla on Wednesday, we couldn't see very far.



This was just leaving Anchorage. The snow was streaming off the top of the mountains from all the wind.



This was out on Turnagin Arm.



This was taken while driving through the mountains.



Driving straight into the clouds.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well we made it to Homer. We're safe. We're sleepy after sitting over 5 hours in the car. Have all sorts of pictures I could post but they'll all have to wait till we get home. In the meantime I will post one we took while driving through the mountains. We got lucky with a beautiful drive part of the way down.



Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Don't eat to much.

Rehab

I'm sure most of you have no need or interest in this post. I only posted it because I'll lose the info if I save it anywhere else. I have a friend who has lived a hard life for a long time. Its too long of a story to go any further, but... On the off chance anyone else knows a person who needs long term drug or alcohol treatment here in Alaska, here's the lowdown.

There are several places between the Valley and Anchorage that can help those who want it...

Anchorage locations:
Clithroe (in house) ~ 276-2898
Akeela (in house) ~ 565-1200
Provedence Break Thru (Out Patient) ~ 562-7325

Valley locations:
Nuggens Ranch (in house) ~ 376-4534
Matsu Recovery Center (out patient) ~ 376-4000

***********************

Information on the top two....

Akeela House

• Waiting list depending on when you apply
• 18-24 month in house facility.
• Transition housing for phasing into living sober on your own. This is where members get out and get a job too.
• After care program.
• Billing can be delt with later, minimum fee of $15.00 a day from the first day.
• Visitation time and family support are encouraged but any visitors must go through a screening process.
  

Nuggens Ranch

• 6-24 months
• 12 step program
• Will work on the ranch from the start.
• Waiting list sometimes up to a year.
• Minimum $5.00 a day to say there. Billing can be delt with later.
• $15.00 for doctors visit (if needed)
• 1st 30 days can't leave, afterwords only with a pass. Visitors may come anytime.
  

************************

All of these programs require an assessment. Some of these places do the assessments, some don't. Assessment fees are from $50.00 (Clithroe house) to $300 (Nuggens Ranch) I didn't find out if it matters where you get the assessment when I talked to each place.

There is no excuses, if a person is broke, disabled, whatever it be - it is still possible to enroll. They accept anyone who WANTS to be there. Pretty sure they even accept those who are forced by law.

I've found that these places can help an addict more than I can. These places are use to the games, lies, tricks, and in some cases theft. So the best way I can help a person who wants it is to encourage them to one of these places and then be a support during and after.

All of this may seem odd for me to post. Most people do great with AA but there are some who are so extremely addicted places like these are nessesary for them to get away from the old life and back on their feet.

Tree Houses

I just came across some pictures today and it dawned on me I haven't blogged some things from this summer as I intended. Hopefully I'll have some time to get to the rest of this stuff soon.

A few years back when I was training for manager at Halibut King I did a favor for the old manager and took her little boy to a friends house to spend the night. The neighborhood I took him too was around 7 miles out East End Road in Homer. Despite living in homer over 20 years, I'd never been beyond the first house on this street. There are some nice houses and some cute houses in this particular neighborhood but those haven't been the ones to stick in my mind.

The first house I remember on the drive is in the middle of one of the Willard's cow fields. No one has lived there in decades, I guess you could say the house has gone to the cows. Driving by it makes me want to sneak up there and go inside. It looks a bit like a little old Indiana farm house that has been neglected enough to fit right in with the horror flick of choice.

After going by the cow field we took a left onto another dirt road and first thing to rip my attention to yet another left is a house that is covered in blue tarps. The roof, every wall of the house and even better, their fence. I call it the blue tarp fortress. It's been that way ever since I first discovered it a few years ago. I really need to get a picture of atleast the cow house but the reason I haven't is because of an even stranger set of homes in that neighborhood....


This is the main house. It's hard to tell because of the tall grass but let me assure you that the home is held up by nothing more than the pole going thru the home and sticking out of the top (it maybe an old tree trunk still in the ground, not sure). I've only taken pictures from the driveway but I am dying to go knock on the door and ask for a tour. But somehow I have this feeling he prefers his privacy. I've heard from people who have met him that this one has 2 floors, electricity, a monitor for heat, a bed, TV, and small kitchen, but no running water or plumbing. He lives in this tree house year round I guess. But all that is hear-say. I've also heard that there's been articles in I think the Anchorage paper about his houses. I say houses because he has a few of these on the property.


The tree house to the right I have no idea what is use for (as you can see its built around an actual living tree), and the other tree house in the center seems to be a finished green house/solarium. The "house" I showed in the first picture is located just out of this shot to the left about 20 yards. The 3 domes that sit on the ground in front of the solarium have looked the same for several years, unfinished. I have no idea what they're for but I know they're not livable like the other "tree houses". I left both pictures full size so you can click on them and zoom in.

I took these pictures just last summer when my nephew came up to visit. We stop by to show him and got these shots. I also saw that just beyond the tree house in the first picture, he's building yet another tree house that will be even bigger than the first two, more hidden behind some tree's, and closer to the outhouse.

The kid in me just loves the whole idea of this place, but I don't know how he lives in such tight quarters.

Indiana Tornado

I was just at my cousin Bill's site and saw my aunt nina's house. The house looks alright but has had some minor stuff blown off of it and the garage door I guess got pulled in a bit. It makes me sad to see there place in such a state. The part that really gets me is the tree in their back yard. Silly I know. Its a pine tree they cut and had in their livingroom for Christmas I think 15-20 years ago maybe longer by the looks of it, anyway after Christmas was over they planted that tree and it's been standing, growing there - till the tornado hit on Sunday. Sadly the tree looks as though it didn't have a chance. Anyway I've dug up some old pictures I took when I was down there to give you some before and after pictures. The after pictures are from Bill's site.



This is a picture of Nina & Kerry's house in 2003 when I was visiting


This is a picture of it last summer.
This is a current view of the same driveway and the fence to the left. It's very odd, they've had that house since before I was born and I've never seen in the neighbors yard, I remember trying to see in the cracks when I was a kid but that didn't work. Seeing this picture of that neighbors yard is just sooooo strange.

This is a picture of the garage damage. Hard to see the way the door was pulled in but you can see some roof damage





I took this picture this last summer. I left a few towels on the deck after we gave the dog a bath, it otherwise wouldn't have those kinds of thing laying around. Anyway, that large pine tree is the tree I was just talking about. This is it's fate now.

Indiana Tornado

I found a few more pictures. These I got from the CourierPress along with the comments.



"The deadly early morning tornado left it's footprint in an empty cornfield after striking Ellis Park on Sunday."




"The wall and roof were ripped off this home on Stonegate in Newburgh Sunday morning during the tornado, exposing a bedroom."




"Power lines were toppled by Sunday's tornado, shown here along Indiana 662"







"This house was blown completely off it's foundation near Elm St. and Outer Lincoln Ave. during Sunday's tornado"

Indiana Tornado

~November 6, 2005 Tornado~
I've spoke with a few of my relatives from Indiana. Everyone is ok, their homes and belongings all ok except my Aunt Nina's house. I guess the tornado came really close and damaged her garage door, pulled down her fence, an old pine tree in the back yard, and won't have power back until maybe Friday. The house is otherwise fine and they are just living by candle light. As I said before the tornado hit at 2 am on Sunday morning, most people had no warning. As of now there are 22 people dead and a lot of property destroyed. I guess my Cousins have been out with their camera's getting different pics. I talked my cousin Bill into starting a blog and posting those photos. If you get the chance stop in and say hello to him and his wife.

I guess the tornado first touched down in Henderson County, Kentucky and made its way up to Newburgh and Evansville Indiana which is where several of my family members live. I'm not sure where else the tornado hit.







These 3 pictures I got from a yahoo site. Its of Eastbrook Mobile Home Park in Evansville. This is where the tornado did most of the damage and also where a majority of the deaths took place.



This picture was taken near Industrial Park. I got it from this website.

So again, if you would keep the people of Indiana and Kentucky in your prayers, I'm sure they could really use them.

Idn't he cute?

Warm and Cozy Again

So after finally getting to bed this morning we slept just an hour when the cat woke us up. haha Apparently he's afraid of the fireplace fan, its not even that loud. So when I wake up from him loudly meowing over and over again I think, what on earth is the matter with the cat and wow its blazing hot in here. But that will happen when you have a good fire going and 2 space heaters going full blast. I think it was around 100 degree's in here at that point, I could have died. So I get up and go looking for the cat. I found him hiding behind the toliet totally freaked out. Ha, He's never done that. I took him and Bossco who was also dying hot outside to cool off and left the door open while I waited for them. I can't tell you how good that cold air felt. I turned both heaters off and Marty checked the fire. That was at about 5:30 this morning.

We wake up at 8 when the phone rang and it is still super hot. Marty called the fix it people and they said they would be out later in the day, Big Score. Marty checked the fire as I checked my email and he discovers the fire has gone out. I cannot express the look of frustration he gave me over that. So we had two options, call Girl Scout leader Heidi to school us up on starting a fire or go back to bed. Guess which option we took.

So the fix it man showed up at 10 this morning, was here till 1 this afternoon and fixed everything. We have heat again. Praise God.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according To his glorious riches in Christ Jesus

So this experience has me thinking. How on earth did people get fire before paper, matches, and or fuel of somekind? I'm sure it was nothing short of a miracle of God. Rubbing two sticks together would take forever! And who stumbled onto that whole concept anyway? Then you have to to have something that will start the burn like moss and sticks, but those burn up fast and the bigger pieces of wood take ages to start burning. I would need a mountain of moss, twigs, and small kindling just to get a few logs burning. Marty would have to be the one who rubs the sticks together.

Psalms 77:11 (NIV)
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Brrrrr

I'm so tired.

All I wanna do is sleep.

What I wish most for in the world right now is for our boiler to work.

So we can have heat.

Marty and I just spent the last hour trying to build a fire in our fireplace.
We are NOT good at building fires, even with tons of newspaper.

First thing tomorrow we need to call a boiler repairman but I just know they probably won't be able to get us in at the last minute. So I'm thinking it will be at least a few days till the boiler is fixed.

Tomorrow is Marty's last day here before he goes back north for 3 weeks. One day for him to run this show before I have to take over.

Yikes.

*****************************************

The bright side...

We haven't had chopped wood ready to go ever, until today. Marty spent the afternoon cutting some tree's he fell earlier this summer. You know so we would finally be prepared "in case" we ever needed it. ha I'm thinking God may have nudged Marty with out him realizing because I didn't ask him to do it.

Despite the moist wood and the dummies who have no clue how to start a fire with out lots of gas or oil, we got the fire going in the ol blaze king. We didn't use any fuel or oil, only newspaper.

Thanking God right this moment for a secondary heat source (our fireplace).

Marty just found 2 space heaters from when our heater went out a few years ago in the 5th wheel

Marty was here when it happened, even if it is for just a day.

I have a case of hot cocoa that will go nicely with the cold outside and the fire going inside.

God will help me through this.

Leviticus 19:12 (NKJV)

And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

Hearing the frequent use of taking the Lords name in vein comes to mind when I read this verse. I knew there was a verse that talked about this but just never saw it till tonight, and I wasn't even looking for it.

Psalm 18:1-3 (NIV)

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise

Ladies Retreat 2005

This years ladies retreat was just this last weekend. What a refresher and rejuvinator it was. My mom and another friend came up and went with me, it was so nice to have them join in with myself and the other ladies from church. The retreat was based around

Titus 2: 1-8 (NASV)
¹But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. ²Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. ³Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ⁴so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. ⁶Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; ⁷in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, ⁸sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

The retreat was an overnighter out at Meier Lake Lodge, I think most of the ladies were up as late as 3:30am, which is hilarious when I think about it.

The accountability list was passed out to everyone but 10 more questions were added. I really like all of those questions.

There were 10 speakers, 11 speeches, with 3 crafts & a massage provided at midnight. Dinner, desert, munchies, breakfast, and lunch were all cooked and served by several men from our church. Talk about being pampered physicly and spritually. I really can't wait till next years retreat.

The speeches
1. The word of God may not be blasphemed

Mark 3:29 (NIV) - But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
Colossians 3:8 (NKJV) - But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

2. Not given to much wine (presented by yours truly)

Galatians 5:19-21 (NASV) - Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 4:3 (NKJV) - For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

3. Malicious gossips

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV) - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
James 3:5 (NIV) - Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

4. Sober/Sensible

1 Peter 4:7 (NIV) - The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
1 Peter 5:8 (NASV) - Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

5. Love/obey your husbands

Colossians 3:18 (NASV) - Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

6. Love your children

Titus 2:4 (NKJV) - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children

7. Discreet

Proverbs 2:11 (NIV) - Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Proverbs 11:22 (NASV) - As a ring of gold in a swine's snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

8. Chaste(disciplined)/pure(uncontaminated, not containing any mixture of evil)

Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV) - Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life
Hebrews 12:11 (NJKV) - Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it

9. Keepers at home

Proverbs 31:27 (NKJV) - She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

10. Being Good

Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV) - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

From one pumpkin to another

What's it like to be a Christian?

It's like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

Unknown Author
Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

Refining Silver

This was passed out at this years ladies retreat, it makes so much sense. Wanted to put it somewhere I'd remember it.

There was a group of woman in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter 3, they came across verse 3 which says:

"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..."

This verse puzzled the woman and they wondered what this statement means about the character and nature of God. One of the woman offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for the interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the siversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...". She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh thats the easy part, when I see my image reflected in it."

Unknown Author
Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

Friendship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Valley Church of Christ
Ladies Retreat 2005

Traitor

I am so emotionally attached to all of our vehicles. I always have been. I remember when I was 5 my parents told me they were selling our station wagon. That station wagon was the only family car I had ever known at that point, and I loved it. And of course at 5 I thought it secretly had a mind of its own, was a happy car, and loved our family right back. When I found they were getting rid of it I went out, got in the front seat and said goodbye to it. I was so sad and no car was as good as that one in my eyes for years to come. Even though it was a Ford.



This one is an 86, I think ours was a 79 LTD but they look the same and the paint jobs are identical. I can't believe I found a picture of one with the wood paneling and all.


Anyways.....



Yesterday we traded in our dually. We've had it for years and of course I was completely attached to it. It was my baby.

We've been talking about trading it in for a while. With it being our only newer vehicle that we trusted, it was what we drove anywhere beyond 30 miles. The purple truck is to big to drive long distances and we expected the blazers motor to blow when we bought it 5 years ago. So the dually is what we drove to Anchorage - or Homer - or to haul people - or our 5th wheel in. With gas prices what they are - and the 454 motor under the hood - and the high payments - and the high mileage - and with one year left for the extended, extended warranty, it was time. So we've been looking for a while at different car lots for a 4 door car to trade it in for, with out luck. Yesterday we found the car, it was totally unexpected and unplanned. We weren't even planning on driving by the lots yesterday but sure enough we ended up going by all of them and found a good deal at Park n' Sell. Before I knew it we were giving the keys to some stranger and saying goodbye to the dually. I can't tell you how wrong that felt. I feel like I just gave away my child, or lost a family member. It was so dependable and good to us, I feel like a traitor. The bright side is that we have a great car now (that we love) but my baby is gone.



There it sits, as we are about to leave it. I bet you its heartbroken.

And now you all know what a lunatic I am, if you didn't already.

Accountability list

I recently stumbled upon a new blog. She's a great Christian writer and has posted some really inspiring things. One of her posts was an accountability list that apparently was

"used by John Wesley, the noted 18th century theologian, with a group He called The Holy Club."

When I read that list it really hit me. I'll be saving a copy to keep me in check, I definitely need it. Thank a lot Mary for posting it.

With out further ado...

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you..." (2 Cor. 13:5)

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?

John 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Gwin's Lodge Smoked Alaska Salmon Chowder

There is a famous little restraunt in Cooper Landing, Alaska. First off Cooper Landing is one of the most gorgeous places in Alaska. Its way up in the mountains, its very small, and it has the Kenai River flowing right through it. The Kenai River is like no other river that I know of because it glows like tropical waters (no picture doing it justice). I've heard that its because its all glacier fed but I'm not entirely convinced that's what makes it glow. Anyway we have to go through Cooper Landing to get to Homer, so everytime we make a trip down I beg Marty to take me to Gwin's Lodge for their Salmon Chowder. YUM, its better than any soup I've had. This time I found they give the recipe out (awesome gift from above) so I thought I would share it... This is their recipe, word for word as they had it in the menu I brought home (with some comentary questions of my own). Their website also has this and several other recipe's.

1 & 1/2 lbs. smoked salmon (sockeye preferred), flaked
10 strips raw bacon
2 large onions, minced
4 stalks celery, minced
3 carrots, finely chopped
5 green onions, finely diced
6 cups fish broth (water mixed with fish base) what's fish base??
8 red potatoes, chopped
3/4 bunch fresh parsley, chopped (wondering what a bunch is??)
1 cup butter
1/4 lemon juice (a forth of what?)
1 & 1/2 Tbsp. dry dill
1 & 1/2 cups corn kernels
1 cup flour
1/3 Tbsp. black pepper
5 cups milk
3/4 cup white wine

Preparation: Chop bacon and saute in a large pot with onions, celery, carrots, green onions, and parsley for about 4-5 minutes over medium heat. Slowly add in 1/2 cup water and cover for 1 minute. Add spices and fish broth and simmer until carrots are tender. Add the chopped red potatoes and simmer until they too are tender.

In a separate sauce pan, mix the butter and flour over medium heat and stir to make a roux, or paste. Before adding this mixture to the pot, add a few large spoonfuls of the hot broth to the roux for thinning and to bring it to the proper temperature. Add this thinned roux to the pot with vegetables and broth. Stir thoroughly and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add milk, stir and bring to a simmer, allowing it to thicken slightly. Add white wine, lemon juice, corn, and flaked Smoked Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. Continue simmering, stirring frequently, until the disired thickness is obtained. A little water may be added if the chowder becomes to thick.

There you have it! Try it and you will like it.
Servings: 8 large servings

To the Fashion Designers and Manufacturers.....

Why is it that women's jeans come in lengths petite and regular? Where are the talls I have heard so much about?? And although I'm not short, I have only rarely seen petite offered. Why is it despite having three lengths to choose from, every women's department in Alaska only ever has regular with a petite seen maybe once a year?

I have now banned shopping for woman's pants (jeans or otherwise). Its just the biggest waist of time.

What did us girls do to deserve only three non-existent length selections? What did the guys do to be favored so well as to have a double selection of waist and length sizes from 26-42's in every store? I have heard legends that women's pants come tall, I have searched high and low, from Alaska to the east coast and have yet to find a pair.

My choices are to go to the ladies department and see selections like 8, 10, 12, & 14's for waist that will no doubt be high waters on me (which means I really can't be seen sitting down) OR go to the men's department and pick whatever waist size I'm sporting at the moment with either of my favorite lengths of 34 or 36 inch.

I'll be sticking with men's pants but I'm sad I won't ever get to find a great looking pair of embroidered, studded, or otherwise girly and cute looking pants with a long length. Why won't you fix this?????

B1

"The best vitamin for a christian is B1"

Great line, hope it makes you giggle too.

Concept Cars

Ok its been forever since I posted. With Marty in town I got a little distracted. We had all sorts of fun, I may post on a few things he did later.

I came across some concept cars and thought they were so neat so I decided to do a whole post on them. It took days to put this together, little by little. My Favorites are the Chevy Camero, Caddy Sixteen, and the Pontiac GTO.

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2003 Audi Lemans Concept

What happened to Pontiac Lemans??

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2004 BMW H2R Concept

Sorta looks like a cigarette boat.

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1993 BMW Z13 Concept

I swear this one looks like an alien.

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2003 Buick Blackhawk Concept

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2003 Cadillac Sixteen Concept

Oh yeah, I could drive this car. Doesn't it just have that Jessica Rabbit look to it? It's currently a concept car only, but one site said its worth $250,000. Yikes.
I don't think Marty will be buying me one anytime soon.

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mmmmm, yum

Chevy Camaro Concept (version 1)

Chevy Camaro Concept (version 2)

Both of these versions were designed by Kris Horton. I like the orange design best.

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2001 Chevy K5 Concept
plus one more link

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2004 Chevy Nomad Concept

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2003 Chevy SS Concept

I think I like the old ones much better. An SS remake has so much more potential than this.

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Chevy SSR
Concept to Market

1954 Chevy - The Original

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2003 Chrysler Airflite Concept

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2005 Chrysler Smart Crosstown Concept

This thing looks like it could be a character in a cartoon. Come to think of it, maybe its cousin is the cab in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

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2003 Daihatsu D-Bone Concept

Looks like the skeleton of a PT Cruiser.

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2006 Dodge Charger SRT8
From Concept to Market

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2003 Dodge Kahuna Concept

Yikes.

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2002 Dodge M80 Concept

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2002 Dodge Razor Concept

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2001 Dodge Super 8 Hemi Concept

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2003 Dodge Tomahawk Concept

One reproduction was made for market, it'll be on sale for the low price of $500,000. For anyone in low brain function, thats half a million dollars! Anyone selling or buying for this price is crazy.

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2005 Ford Mustang
Concept to Market

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2005 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept

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2004 Ford Shelby GR-1 concept

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2005 Ford Synus Concept

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2001 Honda Bulldog Concept

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1999 Honda F-Mover Concept

Ha ha! Its a hover!

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2003 Honda Kiwami Concept

Ok first a hover, now a dustbuster.

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2001 Honda Unibox Concept

I can't imagine seeing this one out cruisin. But how nice of them to think up more places to store junk.

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Honda NTT Concept (which hasn't made it off the drawing board)

Notice the size of the tires verses the size of the person inside? The whole thing bothers me, don't ask me why.

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2005 Jeep Hurricane Concept

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2001 Jeep Willys 2 Concept

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Kia Kitsch Wagon Concept (Hasn't made it off the drawing board)

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2005 Kia Mesa Concept

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1999 Mini Cooper Concept

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1987 Mitsubishi HSR Concept?

Ferrari meets the Jetsons?
I found several pictures but all the sites were in something other than english.

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2001 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Concept

I had a off brand hotwheels car like this when I was little, ha that must be where they got their idea.

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2003 Mitsubishi Se-Ro Concept

Whoa.

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2005 Mitsubishi Sport Truck Concept

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2003 Nissan Jikoo Concept

Sorta looks like something that might be on a monopoly game one day. On different note, I can't picture those headlights working to well.

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2001 Nissan Nails Concept

All I can think of is a dart, or maybe another dustbuster.

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2003 Nissan Redigo Concept

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1999 Pontiac GTO Concept

What happened to this one? I love it! It should be on the market by now.

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2004 Saturn Curve Concept

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2003 Subaru B9 Scrambler Concept

A subaru sports car, crazy.

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Suzuki Alto Winkel Concept

Nothing in english on this one, I assume its a flower truck for another country.

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2003 Suzuki Landbreeze Concept

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2003 Suzuki Mobile Terrace Concept

This one is definately a trip. The link above is to a site that isn't in english but has great pictures.
I did find thess exerps...

"If Toyota’s PM concept earned the Most Bizarre Concept honors, this glass microbus from Suzuki is the undisputed runner up. It looks like it could be driven in either direction, and perhaps this fully drive-by-wire vehicle could. It’s constructed on a scaled-down version of global partner GM’s Hy-wire fuel-cell electric hybrid concept (the one in which all the running gear is packaged in a skateboard-like rolling chassis to which different bodies can be docked). Six seats in three rows can face forward, or, when parked, the “dash board” can be converted to a narrow table that can be relocated to the center of the vehicle, with all chairs facing it for kind of a tiny portable boardroom effect. We were especially fond of the shag carpet. Only in Tokyo..."

"— it looks like something Malibu Barbie might be driving in about 20 years. While it might not win any beauty contests, you've got to admire those huge whitewall tires and abundant use of Avocado Green."

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2003 Toyota CSS Concept

I guess windshields really aren't that important.

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2003 Toyota Fine S concept

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2003 Toyota FJ Cruiser

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2004 Toyota Hiace Sound Satellite

The stylish design and spacious interior of the new HIACE have been used to create a “customized vehicle that makes work enjoyable,” billed as a multifunctional mobile studio fitted with an “open studio” and merchandise showcase. Open the double doors on the left side of the vehicle and a fan-shaped “revolving open studio” equipped with a counter, audio gear and other fixtures emerges on the left, while a fan-shaped “revolving merchandise showcase” emerges on the right. The vehicle can thus be used as a DJ booth, to set up equipment for an event, to display goods, or in a variety of other ways. In addition to its two large roof-mounted foldaway plasma display screens, this vehicle is also fitted with audio gear, indoor lighting and other equipment, allowing it to liven up any outdoor event.

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2003 Toyota PM Concept

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2001 Toyota Pod Concept

(For the pod people)

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2001 VW Microbus Concept

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2005 VW Ragster Concept

Who would want a bug when you could have one of these??

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Volvo Concept Shuttle - (Not off the drawing board)

The Volvo Concept Shuttle (VCS) is a vision of a future urban transport vehicle. The aim of the design is to create a strong personality, suitable for its field of use and built on the history and future of the Volvo Trucks brand. With its backbone in the latest technology and materials, VCS has evolved from studies of the drivers working environment and the different cargo types to carry, into a unique way of looking on commercial vehicles.

(Until further notice the project is protected by a secrecy agreement with Volvo Trucks.)