A Christmas Day Calf

I spent the holidays back in my homestate of Alabama, and it was terrific.  There was so much Chick-Fil-A and Krispy Kreme consumed that I reckon I'll be detoxing from the South for a good month before my dietary habits get back to normal. 

One of the high points of my trip was driving up to Tennessee with my dear sweet Momma on Christmas Day.  Most of my roots are still in the Deep South, and whenever I'm that side of the Mason-Dixon line, I try to get some time in with family in Centertown, Tennessee.  My last trip to see my Tennessee kinfolk was way back in 2012, so my visit back to the Farm was long overdue.

Most of the family's got a history in farming, and Uncle Pug - who's in his late 70s - is still up and at 'em.  Imagine my surprise when he tells me Christmas morning that one of his Black Angus cows birthed a little one just a few hours earlier!  Somehow I talked Uncle Pug into naming it Candice, because let's get real - who doesn't want to have livestock named after them?  What an awesome, one-of-a-kind Christmas present!

Check out the video below of when Uncle Pug and I took the four-wheeler on the farm in search of "Candice."  My fave part is at the 02:19 minute mark when Uncle Pug tells me about "Big Daddy."  Enjoy!

Uncle Pug.  Quite the character.

"Candice" and Momma Cow.

They call this one "Candice."

I don't know this cow's name.  I will call it "Grumpy Cow."

First Friday with Kindred Post

Juneau's First Friday in December is kind of a big deal.  Not only is it the biggest and most attended of all the First Friday Gallery Walks, but it's a time to stroll downtown with thousands of other Juneauites, reveling in the colorful storefronts, yummy treats, and festive cheer.

A new kid of the block is Kindred Post - a little spot that's quite possibly becoming one of my favorite places in Juneau.  Fellow blogger Emily in Alaska recently termed Kindred Post the Best Post Office Ever, and I'd have to agree.

A Smörgåsbord of goodies. 

Kindred Post proprietor Christy Namee Eriksen debuted the latest installment of Growing Upwords prints. This deeper-than-deep quote is from her five year old son.  Nothing like a stark reminder from a kiddo about the needlessness of worrying.

Eye candy, ear candy.

Decadent concoctions from Sentinel Coffee.

For someone who's obsessed with coy and cunning stationary, it was all I could do to not walk away with a fleet of these cards.

Time for a selfie with Conor/Grumpy Cat and Christy. These two, some of the BEST conversationalists I've ever met.

Way to go, Christy, on an amazing community space, full of fun finds, terrific conversations, and the celebration of all things LOCAL.

 

Flashback: December 2012 First Friday Gallery Walk

Alaska Day Adventure

Alaska Day... it's our official state holiday that honors the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States.  This event happened way back when on October 18, 1867.  Alaskans still celebrate it today - and for good reason. 

And what better way to celebrate this special holiday than by taking off on a sunset motorcycle ride through North Douglas and the Eaglecrest Ski Area?  Especially on a rare sunny evening when Juneau takes a break from her rainforest ways...

The view south from False Outer Point on Douglas Island.

The view north from False Outer Point on Douglas Island.

Alpenglow up at the Eaglecrest Ski Area.  John Muir quote.

Second time on a motorcycle.  First time on a BMW.  German engineering is zee best.

Summit Fever

Mount Roberts was beckoning.  From so many vantage points on Douglas Island, I could look across the Gastineau Channel and spot the majestic Mount Roberts rising high above sea level -  3,819 feet to be exact.  I was determined to climb it, to see the eagle's eye views, take the fresh air deep into my lungs, and find peace of mind atop the mountain.  I was determined to do all of this - solo.  And it happened - wonderfully, slowly, and surely - marking my highest hike up a mountain.

In planning for the trip, I decided to shave about an hour and 1,900 feet off my elevation gain by taking the Mount Roberts Tram and starting my hike from there.  I chose the second to last day of the 2014 Juneau cruise ship season, but little did I know I also picked one of the windiest days of the summer to brave the mountaintop.  The friendly shopkeepers at Gastineau Guiding's Nature Center warned me about going on the trails above the Tram.  60 miles an hour wind gusts, they said.  You'll get blown away, they said.

And boy did it blow.  Like a banshee.  From all sides, I was blown around on that trail, but determined to get as far as I could (and back) before sundown.  I made it all the way past Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak.  Once the wind finally knocked me clear on my tailbone, I figured it was best to turn back.  A hunter had gone missing from this very trail just two days prior - and I was set on not being a statistic or another talking point in the news.  So, in turning back towards downtown Juneau, I was proud I made the milestones there for me to achieve that day.  The hike down was ever so breezy, not to mention absolutely breathtaking in the midst of the alpenglow.

Juneau's smallness rarely disappoints, and I was thrilled to run into good friends who were up at the Tram for a leisurely jaunt.  We shared a bite to eat, had a few celebratory drinks, and reminisced about the fun-filled and challenging summer.  Turns out, hunger and laughter with friends is the best seasoning, after all.

Loads of photos below, plus video of a very entertaining Tram ride with Daku'dane John Perkins, a Tlingit storyteller from the Shangukeidi (Thunderbird) clan.  The crazy winds start at minute 3:54, and you can see friendly ptarmigan (the Alaska State Bird) at minute 4:59.  Enjoy!

The Basics: Heed the Caution Signs and Get Outfitted with Bear Spray, Maps, and Gummies

The Views, the Climb, the Top

The Descent Amongst the Alpenglow

Celebratory Brewskis and Nightfall Over Juneau