Summer

Summer brings visions of sand, waves, heat, pools, and tans. You think of folks in sun dresses tank tops, shorts and bikinis, that is unless you live in Alaska. Our highs have been in the 60s with some days reaching 70 F. To some friends back East, I know that sounds like heaven compared to the sweltering triple digit temperatures you all have been reaching, however, coming from below zero temperatures...... wait let me think.... that does feel like heaven. You know me I can't stand the heat.

We have a beautiful flower here called Fireweed. Roads are named after the flower. Desserts, jams, candies and teas are made with this beautiful flower. The fireweed begins dark purple and as summer progresses the flower gets taller and taller and darker and darker pink. I read once the Native Alaskans say when the fireweed is tall and pink summer is almost over. The fireweeds are mostly tall and pink now. I guess that means summer is almost over.

Chugach range-snow tops

Mt. McKinley in the middle-bright white

We moved here a year ago. There was no snow on the mountains. Yet this year there is still snow atop some of the mountains. Last year it rained 41 consecutive days. This year we have had a beautiful summer with sun and clear views of  Mt. McKinley, 21 hours of sunlight. I have seen it bring out the best and worst in folks.

This year has brought some of the most exciting times in my life, new opportunities for me for the children and for Scott. We survived a winter and a summer. Looking forward to another fall and another winter.

With the fireweed getting taller and turning bright pink school will be starting soon, the sun will start to fade. Our days will become shorter and life will get back to normal once again. I welcome the darkness. Its my favourite time of year. Thank you for taking this exciting journey with me this year. I plan to keep going as I learn new things and have new opportunities available.  My door is always open and I welcome you to my home.


With love my friends,
Angela

Snowing in July

Driving along one day early in July I thought I was losing my mind. Little bits of white were hitting the windshield as snow in the winter would. I knew it was summer and I knew it was chilly but not cold enough to snow. The mesmerizing beating of the little white dots had me perplexed. I had to find out where they were coming from. Upon investigation I found tufts of little white balls all over EVERYWHERE. Piles were along the roadside. My porch had puffs piled in the corners, on my doormat. Tufts of white on rooftops and on the green grass. This wind of white continued into July. No it wasn't snow, but the cottonwood tree. However, this is unlike the cotton wood trees I grew up with. The cotton wood trees here have pods that release tufts of white that remind me of the old movie Legend with Tom Cruise and Mia Sara. While in the forest when Tom is showing her the unicorn, the wind is covered with these puffs of white. That is what July in Anchorage is like. The cotton wood trees hang with these pods open, ready and willing for the wind to carry it away. While hiking one day, one of the tufts landed square on my eye.. not a good feeling. The snow in July seems to ending as July ends. I still spy the occasional cotton wood pod still hanging in the tree, but the beautiful snow in July is over for this year. Next year I will be better prepared with eye drops. What a beautiful sight to behold, snow in July.

With love my friends,
Angela

Hatcher Pass

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I am very thankful to live in Alaska. I am especially thankful to live in South Central Alaska. Here I go again living in the South. :) In this area we have the best of both worlds, the wonderful wilderness and the convenience of quirky stores and wonderful eateries. We have my glorious opera, theatre , and cultural museums but only a short, less than an hour to a few hours drive the best hiking, skiing, fishing and hunting in the world.

We took a short half hour drive to Hatcher pass to see what was there or rather what was not there.  Hatcher Pass (3886 ft.) is a mountain pass through the southwest part of the Talkeetna Mountains. It is named after Robert Hatcher, a prospector and miner. It is just on the other side of Palmer which is about 17 miles from my house. Willow, Alaska, approximately 26 miles to the west is on the other side of Hatcher Pass. The Dena'ina Indians hunted for caribou, sheep, and moose in the Talkeetna Mountains until the 1930s when the miners came in and homesteaded the area. There is still mining today. There are signs all over with stake claim numbers and warning DO NOT MINE HERE CLAIM MADE. I thought of the new show on TLC about gold mining. When you first enter the pass there is a pull off for public mining recreational mining. The are so spectacular I don't know if I could concentrate on the mining. Right now everything is a luscious green with light undertones.

rocky area where a glacier used to be

this mtn. is actually rather far away

Shades of gray, jagged peaks surround you as you drive through the pass. No trees, grass or moss grow at those heights. I was brought back in my mind to our time in Iceland. The beauty around, the clouds, the windy mist. It is a different kind of beauty. The rocks create pictures, the greens creates images on the mountains.

From the craggy rock come beautiful flowers. The moss creates the smooshy mat that you walk on. I think camping on it would be a nice comfy cushion. Jacob and Ashleigh decided it was necessary to do funny poses on the craggy rocks. (I think they are elf houses, but I think we are in the wrong country for that statement). I know the day we went it was misty and dark cloudy so on a sunny day the experience will be different. I love the clouds, the dark mountains, the little arctic ground squirrels and water falls in the rocks. I was unable to get a picture of the little ground squirrels, but they looked just like prairie dogs running across the gravel road.

Scott and I had traveled the night before up Hatcher pass on the motorcycle. You can certainly tell a difference in the temperature, it drops once you get to a certain point.
Enjoy the pictures of Hatcher Pass. There has been talk of adding a ski lodge and more areas for folks to live. I hope it doesn't come to pass in the pass. I love being able to go and see all the wonder and beauty. If you want shops and places to stay I ask you to go back to Anchorage or the lower 48 from where you came. It is amazing the way it is.

Chugach range in the distance

With love,
Angela

Stages

While I was sitting in the park on E St. and 4th the other week listening to a fun kids band and soaking up the nice Alaskan sun, a funny thing dawned on me. I was watching my "tweens" run and play with my new friend's children, 2, 5 and 8. I looked at the varying ages of the children in the park dancing and playing. All the children all the ages. Teaching parenting and breastfeeding classes I tell the parents about the different stages the children will go through, that each thing is normal, when to expect each change etc. Watching my children play with the other children I was reminded of when my own were little and sweet. I watched my friend's little girl in her cute little shoes that were a bit too big, but she insisted on wearing and thought of the times Ashleigh insisted on wearing "cute" shoes. I thought of the time Jacob told me wanted his hair cut in a mohawk just like Magnus Schieving's. Each of the stages, each of the months, the years going by like sand in a hour glass. I miss the times when each of them were little babies who relied completely on me for their food. I miss the times when I had to nurse them to sleep. I miss the times when mama's hug made it all better. But with all of that... I love each new stage, when they learned to talk, to walk, to do things on their own. I love who my children are becoming, the little people they are growing to be. I enjoy spending time with them. Learning all the new things with them.... ski team, algebra, brightly colored hair extensions, skateboarding, and most importantly giving their lives to Christ.

Ashleigh has these two sweet pixie sprites that think she walks on water. I think they are adorable. The two girls make me think of the boys that are older than Jacob which he thinks walk on water. These boys, when I look at them now, I still see the cute little angel faces that used be, that are now replaced with man faces and deep voices. I know in time I will be calling their moms and asking what to do with Jacob's next stage.

As we cross over into each new stage, I pray I will cherish each moment with the children. As we leave one stage and enter a new one I look forward to who the children become.

with love my friends- I pray for each new phase you enter. May you enter it with open arms and open minds,
Love,
Angela

Anchorage, AK

I have gotten requests asking about Anchorage. I talk about Alaska and many of my adventures occur in Anchorage, but I haven't really taken pictures and talked about this amazing city.

Anchorage from Midtown building

Moose and baby walking down road

I live about 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage. Anchorage has about 300,000 residents classifying it as a large city. There are beautiful skyscapers, log cabins and shops down town. When I found out we were coming to Alaska all I could think of was the show Northern Exposure. Moose just walking down the street, folks knowing each other in town, expensive milk. Well, all those things are true. This is the largest "small town" you'll ever be in. Moose really do walk down the road. I saw one snacking on a tree in the Taco Bell drive though, down town Anchorage and another one on the side of the road on my way to the airport. I keep meeting folks in different circles who know each other. It is almost like 7 degrees to Kevin Bacon Alaska style. And the milk and gas are very expensive.

My favourite store is Fred Meyer. I am there at least 5 out of 7 days of the week. Just imagine, Kroger, Kay Jewelers, Lowe's, Kohls, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Toys R Us got married and had a baby. That baby would be the Fred Meyer store!

As you know I have been singing with the Anchorage Opera.... life long dream has come true. One of our rehearsal venues is in the corporate offices, down town Anchorage in the industrial area. Another location is in midtown in the amazingly beautiful highrise building on the 9th floor. I have been able to take gorgeous pictures of our lovely views.

There are so many diverse places to eat also. I love foods from all over the world and the food here is as diverse as the people. However, I have not found a Mexican restaurant that is very good. We have all kinds of Asian, Hawaiian, American, although no home cooking places like Ol' Times, Seafood and just about anything you name, its here. I have many places on my list to go. I am wanting to try out Bombay and Yak and Yeti, just have to find a foodie buddy. 

A place the opera likes to frequent is Ginger. A quaint modern restaurant with music and great food. www.gingeralaskacom

I don't have any pictures of Ginger but feel free to follow the link. 

I love Anchorage and there is much more I could tell you about it. Anchorage welcomes you and so do I. Come see us in Anchorage. This summer I will take pictures at the city market and let you know about them. Beauty on all sides, Anchorage is a wonderful city to call home. 

With love, 

Angela

Overcoming fear

Many of you know I am terrified of heights. For La Boheme I had to climb a 10ft ladder to get on a platform to climb a 3ft ladder and peer out of a window to sing. One night the set was hit while moving other set pieces. I was on my "perch" at this point with nothing to grab onto but the set piece I was on. I was fine and overcame my terror at being up so high.

Last weekend the children's ski team had a family weekend at Moose Mountain in Fairbanks, AK. I have said earlier I don't ski well. There were no beginner slopes only intermediate. I am indebted to the coaches for helping me down the slope. Looking down that STEEP slope brought out the terror in me. Yes, I did cry. I tried to give up but Mary Beth wouldn't let me stop or slide down the hill without skiing. I had to make a decision to keep going. I couldn't go back and the only way forward was to ski down. I fell quite a few times and look like I have been beat with a bat on my legs and hip.  I had to let go of my ego and expectations of what I "should" be doing.

Have you ever had a time when you thought of giving up? When you look down the terrifying steep slope and thought there was no way down? I was shaking and crying and was quite embarrassed, but I made it down. I got the movement and skied down the slope. Jacob flew past me, great job mama! Ashleigh skied down and stopped to check on me and zoomed off. Scott skied down to check on me. My family is so sweet. When I didn't think I could go on, with my thighs burning, I lifted my head and said I can do this.

When life scares you or you think you can't go on think of all the good things in your life. I know you will find they out weigh what is happening. Start little and you can overcome your fear. It may not be pretty or just the way you want, but you can do it. I have faith in you.


With love,
Angela

Opening Night - La Boheme

Opening night... images appear on stage in the dark, everyone takes their place. The long hours of rehearsals, the hard work of the designers, the lighting, the sets all come together in an instant. The stage is set and you are in an apartment in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Act I sounds beautiful as I listened for my cue to come up to the stage.

Matthew  Crockett's Act I photo

Act II and its dark again.. places places everyone.. Angela get on your ladders... Lights up with an explosion of wonderment, surprise and awe. We are back in the Latin Quarter Christmas Eve in the market. Towns folks all around. Me, in my window looking down at the scene. Our voices fill the air, watching, singing, reacting to the sights.

Matthew Crockett's photo of Act II-I am sitting on the cafe edge.

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Act III, backstage beautiful lady voices singing from a far, the snow, the men singing their pub song. You are taken there, the quiet early morning scene. Workers, townsfolk, fill the stage preparing for the day ahead. When all seems bleak, the sadness fills the room, the heartbreak, the love lost, a bride and groom are a dream of what should have been. Then they are gone and its dark again. 

Denny Well's photo of Loren and me.

Act IV, Sounds of missed love, missed opportunity, songs of comic relief. Then Musetta and Mimi return with the sad news. Mimi is sick and may die. The theme of love lost and what should have been returns. Mimi dies and Ruldolfo's heart is torn apart.

Matthew Crockett's Act IV photo

We had so much fun Opening Night. The cast and crew did such a great job. I didn't fall off my platform or ladders, things went smoothly.  Our cast party was held at a lovely restaurant called Ginger.

We still have Wednesday, Friday and Sunday to perform. I hope it goes as well as Opening Night. I feel so blessed to be apart of this talented cast. Thank you my new friends for taking me in and making me feel welcome.

Talented photographers have been documenting our progress. Matthew Crockett's site listed here gives beautiful aspects of our show.

 http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=375916&id=322785073573

 

Matthew Crockett's picture of the Performing Arts Center

Thank you to my fellow cast mates, to our stage management team, our backstage crew, costume department, our Maestro and Director... You all are awesome to work with. I look forward to working with you again. 

With a thankful heart-Love,

Angela

Little girl in the pretty dress

Every little girl has a moment when she stands before her dad, twirls and says "Daddy, do you think I am pretty?" This is affirmation, not being pretty, affirmation that she matters, that she has made her father proud. In Staci Eldridge's book "Captivating", Staci goes into depth the relationship this single act can have on a woman. After 38 years I finally think I have "spun" in my pretty dress and made my dad proud. He has been telling everyone about me being in the Anchorage Opera.

Its funny what you do that make your parents proud. I thought it would be graduating from college, having children, being a teacher... no.. its singing in an opera.


Singing has been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. In my Kindermusik profile, listening to ABBA and singing at church as a child is listed. I sang my first solo at 11 years old, from there school plays, church solos, singing in weddings, funerals came through out the years. In college I visited the Sydney Opera House, with the thought, one day! As a Theatre major the stage was like a second home, but the years and life got in the way.  Still singing, teaching Kindermusik and elementary music, one thing always was in the back of my mind. I wanted to be back on the stage and wanted to sing opera.

With the blessing of being in Alaska comes the blessing of the Anchorage Opera. I have had so much fun being apart of the Big Wild Chorus. Being back on stage, singing and remembering the things I had forgotten, has been a joy. We open La Boheme this coming week. A French opera done in Italian.  I have had my costume fittings, our staging rehearsals, now onto dress rehearsals. Can't wait to rehearse in our costumes. I get to yell at little children, calling them demons, little scoundrels. I get to be a new bride in a vintage 30s wedding dress and stroll across stage.

reacting to Musetta's aria

I have met some wonderful people that I know will become great friends. Next up is South Pacific. We go right into rehearsals as soon as we close on La Boheme. I have to start my crunches now! Costume director says, shorts and possible swimsuits.. Luckily, South Pacific is set in the 1940s.

So, I am not Musetta or Mimi in La Boheme and I will be a nurse in South Pacific, but I am back on stage singing doing what I love using a talent God has given me. I am blessed and thankful.

I am twirling in my pretty dress as a grown woman with a little girl's heart, "Daddy, do you think I am pretty?"  For my friends that are fathers take this to heart. Make sure you let your girls know how much they mean to you, whether they are little girls or "big" little girls.

With love and a thankful heart,
Angela

Its Feb. all ready??

My friends it has been awhile. I have been reminded its NOT Thanksgiving any longer. I mean well, I do. So many exciting things have been happening, that I haven't had a chance to sit and tell you about them. I have ideas and things to say but they don't always make it to the keyboard.

Jacob is #92 Ashleigh second row behind #10

The children have started skiing. They are on the Hillberg Youth Ski Team (HYST). How exciting for two "summer" kids who have never been on skis. After three practices they were off to the big hill going up the ski lift. I find it easier for them to learn than their old mother. If Jacob falls which doesn't happen usually, he gets right up and starts skiing again. Same goes for Ashleigh. I think they are made of rubber and just bounce! I tried skiing, after not skiing for 23 years, and it was not pretty. I was a turtle. Yes folks, a turtle on my back. I don't bounce like tigger or bend like the children and get right up. I was embarrassed and felt like a real dum dum when my sweet baby girl goes its okay mama, I will ski backwards and help you down!!! I kindly told her to go away and made it down with out falling. When you first start to ski there are two basic positions... french fries (skis straight like french fries) and Pizza wedged like a pizza slice to help you slow down or stop.. My skis don't like pizza, like my stomach, my skis like french fries.. I felt like I was flying fast down the hill, which I wasn't according to Ashleigh. I kept saying pizza pizza.. go into pizza I want to stop.. Haven't skied since.

Luckily the children have and have improved every time they hit the slopes. A typical ski team day is get to the slope at 11:30am Saturday morning with skis, helmets, gloves, toe warmers, extra gloves, face masks, picnic lunch and everything else but the kitchen sink. Scott and I are in and out of the lodge watching them come down the hill. We don't leave the slope until 5pm or after. A race day is even longer!! We arrive at 8am and leave around 5pm after awards! We try to get in a bit of race practice on Friday nights when the gates are up and on Sunday afternoons when we get a chance. Jacob has learned that freestyle ski is the up and coming thing. You know.... doing snowboard stunts, grinding, picnic tables and rails on skis!!! The first time I saw him try a picnic table I almost jumped up out of my seat in the lodge. One of the dad's assured me it was the up and coming thing.. easy for him to say Dan is a ski instructor....

                                   My racers on race day!!

Ashleigh coming down the hill

Ashleigh crossing the finish line

Jacob down the hill

Jacob crossing the finish line!!

The first race was so exciting!! Jacob and Ashleigh did so wonderful in their classes.  Jacob won a bronze medal. He was so stunned. He didn't think he placed at all or maybe 5th but not Bronze medal!! The coaches wanted the boys to raise their arms as you can tell from the other boys, but Jacob was so surprised he just raised his finger. Ashleigh did not medal this time because she wiped out on the 2nd run. The judges combine run times and if you wipe out you are disqualified. Her first run time would have gotten her a bronze. She wiped out because she hit ice and then powder on a turn. However, my girl got up and finished. Despite her little knee bruised and swelling she finished all the gates and crossed the finish line. I was so proud of her for getting up and not quitting. A fry and hot cocoa made her knee feel better.

We have another race this weekend, tomorrow to be exact... at Alyeska Resort. I am excited about going too. Looking at the place online looks beautiful.

I have more to tell you! Exciting things in store for me.. I want to tell you all about how dreams come true hint hint..

Until then my friends. We are having so much fun in this Alaska snow. New sports, new adventures.. new opportunities. I will keep it more up to date on things Alaska.


With love,
Angela