Bear Cove for the weekend

Headed to the cabin with some new friends, we met Kim in the coffee shop and met 5 new great people. These very brave people hopped on a boat and came over to the cabin, not knowing what to expect. We enjoyed wonderful food (clam scrambled eggs) , lots of kayaking and rowing and my favorite, enjoying what washes up on the beach. I, with my love of carrots have cultivated an eagle eye and found an otter skull and entire otter skeleton, I think Kerry will enjoy those pics best. The best flotsam seemed to be a really big buoy that we played soccer with and the dogs went crazy on. Kim's dog took to chewing the barnacles off, yikes. Now to relax in the rain and recover from the early mornings, late nights and sun burn, ah life is hard, that is what I like to say.

Things I found in the ocean this weekend:
Bucket lid - used as a Frisbee
Buoy- used as soccer ball
Otter skull and body
Fire extinguisher- empty


If you think about it too long the ocean will really get to you. Kachamak bay is basically crab-less, otters are dying daily, so much trash washing up, less clams every year, not to mention dad is dragging entire garage sales directly into the cabin, next I will find a tricycle in there, when I ask why we need it in a place where you have to really walk carefully he will say, "Don't touch that, we need that." Those are the words he used when asked what he does with the beige high heels and calendar from 96.

Tomato house

Last weekend I hit up the farmers markets and picked up some really cool coleaus. While driving home I saw Seth in a plastic box on the lawn, you couldn't begin to guess what he is up to sometimes. After an awesome 2 hour whiffle ball game we biked home from Becky and Erin's house and saw the grocery boat pulling in, too cool, the picture is taken about 11:30 pm, also cool, we are gaining 5/6 minutes a day. Today was the last day of school and tonight is Ashley's soccer game, big things happening, big things. Headed out to the cabin for the long weekend with 6 friends so more pictures to come.................

Leaf buds the size of a squirrels ear

Warm wind, blue skies and lots of people out. Seemed like too many without shirts on to me. I met Seth on the bike trail, he had just flown in from Kodiak and went on a run, I met him half way, he had to turn around early because of 3 bears on the trail. Now it officially summer! And as if to reinforce it all I came home today and the door was wide open (almost as if we had been broken into again) but with all the signs of Seth and no Seth. After a little deep thought I found him on the roof, now we can settle in to blue skies, lazy summer days and vacation! Only a few more days of school and Bonnie is home free until August what 10th? Don't know the exact date, try not to think of it, Ashley will call and let me know anyhow. Until than it is free and easy, the kids seems to be in relative control, as if they don't know the end if coming yet, they will smell it soon.

Neighborhood pizza

Pizza for dinner! Bran muffins for the morning and cookies for all the time. We walked to Ski and Benny's the worst pizza you will taste just down the street. It is really terrible pizza, makes you think, "huh, didn't know it was possible to make a pizza entirely with canned vegetables, meat too." Seth likes to describe the air as thick. We walk to buy their dough only. They dependably remember us and never charge the same price. Today no one really spoke English but they were all really nice. We confused the hell out of them. The lady couldn't understand Seth's order of 2 doughs and the delivery driver accused us of being Bulgarian exchange students.

The perfect cookies

While I will never top Erin's cookies I have to fill the hole that living without her for a few months created. Seth and I easily became accustomed to her beautiful cookies, brownies, breads or Bob's desserts. Now we are flying solo and so I search the recipes looking for a substitute. Ask Ashley, I don't think putting the ingredients in a certain order seems important so everything goes into the mixer in the order I can fish it out of the pantry. Time to admit I was wrong, it totally matters, who would've thought all those recipe books spent cents on ink for explanations on mixing dry ingredients and wet separately. huh. Call me wrong, don't do it often, but this would be an appropriate time.

Prep and Cook Time: about 40 minutes. Notes: If you are of the school that thinks chocolate chip cookies should be soft and chewy, you'll love this recipe. Store these cookies airtight for up to 2 days.

Yield
Makes about 28 cookies

Ingredients
1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Summer Reading

Melissa, you have inspired a list:

Bangkok Tattoo- John Burdett

The Historian- Elizabeth Kostova

The Dead Father -Donald Bartholme

Anna Karenina- I'll take another stab at it for Jolene's sake, she loved, loved it

Cloud Atlas- David Mitchel

DAVID KIPEN, book critic for the San Francisco Chronicle

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Random House Trade Paperbacks)
For as long as I've been reviewing books professionally, I don't believe I have ever loved a new book the way that I love Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Cloud Atlas is actually structured like six short novels nested inside of each other to form a chevron. You read half of each, then the only undivided one, and then Mitchell returns to each of his five cliffhangers in reverse order -- exactly as if you were reading, not six books in one, but six books chevroned inside each other.

Behind all the brilliant structural cantilevering is a writer blessed with a ventriloquist's perfect ear, a prodigiously sneaky gift for black comedy, a full-throated disgust at the hash mankind is making of the world, and the one thing you never find in the same package as all those other virtues: plot. David Mitchell can plot like a house afire, which coincidentally may be just what he sees when he looks at the planet -- a house afire.

As a more personal note:
Bonnie is reading "Middle sex" and really liking it, enjoy discovering Detroit in it's heyday
Seth is reading "I know why the caged bird sings" and didn't know the name of it, should've bet him money, "just little kids hanging out," he says. I can't let him read it out loud, I know they don't stay little innocent kids long enough.

Feeling Appreciated

Monday- a pirate brought a gold coin to class
Tuesday- a crown very specially decorated
Wednesday- a tulip
Breakfast on Thursday- chocolate covered strawberries
Lunch on Friday- Moose's Tooth Pizza, caesar salad, brownie sundays
Friday night- discount at Skinny Raven, new shoes for Seth
Good Week, Educator Appreciation week a success

1915 in Government Hill

Recently I came across pictures of our neighborhood in 1915- 1918. Our neighbor has been restoring his house by these photos down to the light fixtures, he opted for no doorbell due to lack of evidence of one in the 1915 picture. It is cool to be living in such history, not so cool now that we re-insulated though, now it is toasty. I like the entire idea of the victory garden than and now, the potato fields in these pictures is probably way more than a victory garden, in Alaska at that time it was a "don't get scurvy garden." Seth and I have played with the idea of making the whole front yard a garden but with the idea of moving always lurking on the horizon we just hid veggies in the flower beds. The picture of the sod hut is the first residence in Government hill, while I bet that guy smelled bad his "house" was awesome.

If any of you readers chance this posting and need a cat from June 28- August 6th just speak up, she is really just lovely, really smart, high I.Q I imagine, testing is yet inconclusive.

It's been a little while

Ever since the sun started coming out life just feels fresher, smells better, energy levels are higher and positive. It could smell better because the shower is working and massages your feet so nicely and with the two shower heads Seth and I are CLEAN. Raking the lawn, biking around and wearing thinner jackets makes the quality of life just BETTER.

Skiing after work was a great time, went with Scott and Chad, clear blue skies and views of the steaming volcano, good snow in spots too. Dinner with Ashley afterwards was FANTASTIC.

Katey's wedding was good times and having friends over afterwards to pizza at our house was DELICOUS. So many talented chefs in one room really made for quite a night, friends who have been gone for a while too and to see again, so nice. It was also a test of the new kitchen layout to have 15 for dinner and it seems Seth has done it again, there was easily 4 people cooking and the other 11 gathered around the island and it seemed really comfortable, nice work S.Andersen.

The garden will be big this year, we are leaving for the month of July to Colorado and Washington but no deal, nothing really comes to fruit until August anyhow. I tried to seed save, hop on the bandwagon but it didn't really work, will have to read up on it and try again another year. For now the lights Seth gave me for Christmas a few years ago are doing good and Seth's light rotation system is wonderful.

The neighborhood was come alive with people and dogs and Seth and I just sit at our nerd stations and type away while enjoying the view.

Finally, finally, finallllyyyyyy

Well, it is about time. I knew it all along, it is just hard to get too many people to agree (vocally in public that is). The McDonald's breakfast sandwich has something about it, if I could spell Jensi say quay I would use it to describe the treat. , You know, a flavor that makes you wonder why you love it so. It captured me in the airports after a flight from Anchorage to somewhere which was already a good thing than to throw in the soft biscuit, salty questionable meet and maybe a slice of processed cheese like goo and you have heaven. Mom didn't swing through Mc Donald's much when we were little but let me tell you, that is a woman who knows taste and she will cut loose in an early morning situation. Two years ago when driving from Idaho to Montana we got on a serious Iced Coffee kick that I don't even want to go into but we didn't shy from the paper wrapped breakfast sammies thats for sure, girl don't mess with her breakfast biscuit.

Well now vindication is mine, a very cool, very serious, very fancy pantsy cooking magazine, Savior has written a whole story on the early morning love obsession. I will leave it at this: If we are ever in an airport together and the Burger King (sub par) or Mc Donald's is closed for renovation be afraid!!!!!! Aunt Bonnie, Mom and probably parts of the Malecha family will back me up on this one.
http://www.saveur.com/article/Our-Favorite-Foods/A-Sandwich-for-the-Ages

Birds

Grout Bathroom check
Build bird cage check
Move birds in check
Say goodbye to Lady Rhonda, she will be missed and not soon forgotten.

Seth went to Grandma's house on Monday and came home with four beautiful finches. Two full grown Shevtails and two Green Singers. The Green Singers are basically toddlers, their Mom was barely finished mouth feeding them but she was laying eggs as well so Kernel Green and Lady Rhonda had to make the step to adulthood. The four lived in a small cage while I sanded and painted their new aviary and Seth formed the wire. In the interim Lady Rhonda passed away. Now Kernel has no one to sing to but he lives on, proving to be very agile, eating while hanging upside down and snuggling with Tui and Dolly at night. If we play a Green Singer on UTube Kernel will sing back, Seth sweet talks to them all and Spycat is sprayed with water if she comes near.......

Ash fall in Anchorage

Well, today after a productive day of shower tiling and painting we were getting ready to head to a movie and dinner, than a strange cloud engulfed the sky. Seth was actually running to the gym where I was going to meet him, he came home, the gym was closing up, as was everything in Anchorage apparently, this is what the gym lady said anyhow. So now we start a fire, turn off the hvac system and enjoy quiet night at home I spose?

It has been a nice week, it was until Thursday when I came home and after two hours of goofing off I noticed things missing, turns out we were robbed, so much for Bonnie being a detective in her next life. As far as someone walking into your house and taking things we were lucky (n the door wasn't locked), they took the new computer (really Aunt Bonnie's on lone) and both IPOD's. So now between the house and the eruption I (Bonnie) am felt feeling a bit violated and tired of Anchorage's shenanigans. Well, better buck up because there is no flying out of here anytime soon, now maybe we can find a maverick delivery service to bring some dinner!!

You'd think an explosion would be a little more dramatic

Here is the volcano before it blew and above is while it was erupting yesterday, huh, would've expected lava, people running, not Alaska, we are just a little more boring than Hawaii I spose. In the meantime we will keep turing into the radio to see if the winds change and than put panty hose over the cars intake valves, find the masks and continue life as before.

Slow & snowy weekend

It seemed as if Anchorage really was going to redeem itself, it was going to be a real spring with grass and pussy willows galore. Than it snowed 4 inches and I was shin kicked back into reality, we live in the Upper One, spring does not happen until the beginning of May.

Before the big snow yesterday we headed to Grandma and Grumps house to visit and see our cow, April. A new calf was born, cute little thing that is very friendly, two days old, they are thinking of naming it Leaper. Our cow April is lovely as ever, she isn't much for petting or hugs, that's really probably better anyhow. While we were up there Seth and I found a really beautiful aviary and will fix it up. Grandma had lots of luck with her finches this year and three Green Singers hatched, she will give us a pair in three weeks if we are set-up by than. They have a beautiful song so we had best get the cage in order. I don't think the cat will give us any problems, the cage is about 5 feet tall and we'll put the door up high. Also discussed was the summer visit of two ducks to mow our lawn and eat all our slugs in a custom made duck tractor.

Lots of animals to come to the Deandersen compound soon. Now if Seth would feel a little better we would be ready everything life can through at either of us.

Spring Break

Well we hit the road to Girdwood for skiing with friends this week. Stayed at an amazing house built by a friend and really lived in the lap of luxury. The weather was beautiful and besides not much new snow things were great. Seth got in some ice climbing and is backcountry skiing as I write. Anchorage seems to think it is Spring and the pussy willows are out.

We have our man

The DeAndersen house is at least agreeing on one point right now, Sebastain Schnulle is our man for winning the Iditarod. Really like him and his giant clumps of hair, may not be 100% agreed on our Mayoral selections but this we can both cheer for.

oh la la

Today Meghan and I worked on "The wedding quilt." We picked out backing and than sewed it up real perty like. It still needs to be tied but that seems like something fun to do later with some friends over wine and dinner. Katey and Meghan made the top before our wedding and doesn't it look beautiful on our bed? Lucky Seth and Bonnie to have such thoughtful friends to keep up warm.

Three Things:

1.) Yes, that is fake neck hair, and I actually said these words, "Can I take a picture of your neck hair?"
2.) Yes, that is my family, a crazy bunch yes.
3.) Unfortuantly yes, I do look like when I dance, time to fess up.
4.) One more thing, yes, that is Sara P. and Miss Wassilla

Quite a Night

Well, we had planned an Arctic to Indian trip, bought the food, even went so far as to check with others about trail conditions. Than with best intentions the family went to The Miner's and Trapper's Ball and BLAM, no more Arctic to Indian. With daylight savings we were home at 2 am and in bed by 3, way too late for a long day of skiing for the Bonster. So a little hillside ski and a nap has made for a really great Sunday. A few pictures of last night are following this, but in the interest of staying friends and close to family not all pictures made it on. Although I as going to leave out the one of you and Fat Bastard friend H, I just couldn't. The blog fans are dying to see a 300 pound man harrassing you.

Snow Sculptures

Well, after breakfast with the fam at Gwennie's I was just a little too late to see the start of Iditarod but did manage to see the snow sculptures. I have to say they were better than last year but still not as good as when we were little. Tonight though we are attending the Miner's and Trapper's ball and so I will post pictures than. The fam and coming over to create some costumes and have a little snack than off.