Living In Alaska - May 2007

Wednesday, May 2nd - May Flowers

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose
I would always greet it in a garden.
~ Ruth Stout ~

Happy May to all! I love the month of May. I love the promise of spring that it brings to Alaska. May is the month when my thoughts turn to flowers and gardens, camping and hiking, and photographing colors and textures.

I celebrated the first day of May with a trip to Plant Kingdom - a nursery on Farmers Loop Rd. Plant Kingdom is my favorite greenhouse to visit. While there are others in town, I just love the way Plant Kingdom is laid out - with rows and rows of colorful flowers, many hanging baskets, a small section of garden accessories, and friendly staff. One greenhouse is full of flowers. Another greenhouse has herbs as well as flowers. There are shrubs and ornamental trees, and vegetable plants too. It's a real treat for all the senses! The best part of all? The ladybugs who live there too!

My friend Abby spent the day with me, and we began our afternoon with a late breakfast at The Cookie Jar. From there we made our way to the nursery, our cameras in tow. I hoped to bring home a few plants, but even if I didn't, I certainly planned to bring home photographs. (I did come home with a 6-pack of pansies and a fuscia plant)

Enjoy...



I've resized the photos below for use as desktop wallpaper. Click the links beneath the photo, to download the 1024x768 images
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Abby and I made a few more stops to check out the scenery. I also had a few quick errands to run, and she didn't mind the stops. It was nice being out all afternoon with a gal pal. I know that Abby appreciated it too. She hasn't had much time for 'girl time' since arriving in AK with her husband (an RN at the hospital), and her two sons. Recently she adopted a Boston Terrier (Jezebel: Belle for short), and with her kids in football, her husband's work schedule, school winding down, learning to live with a new furkid, and getting settled at home, she's been overwhelmed with responsibility, schedules, etc. I enjoyed her company, and I know she appreciated one afternoon when the only pressure was which plants to buy for her garden.

Today I went walking with Karen again. This time, we walked in her neighborhood. The route that she does is 2 miles, but the beginning portion of it is uphill. Forget talking during that part! It's all I could do to keep from panting. I did feel the burn and that's a good thing.

Karen brought her dog Molly with us. Molly is a cute beagle, and very friendly. Molly is the first beagle I've come in contact with in a long time. Being a beagle, Molly likes to bay. I never heard a dog bay before, and it was definitely different than the barking I get from Sedona when she sees another dog or something interesting. (You can see a short video of a beagle baying by clicking here.) Considering it was 9:30am, and Molly's baying was really loud, both Karen and I couldn't help but chuckle a little and hope that everyone was already awake. We did manage to get her to tone it down a little but reinforcing that she was a good girl and distracting her from the other dogs along the way. I hope Karen continues to have this luck with Molly. Either that, or she better not take her out walking at 6am. (I'm so glad you're walking with me, Karen - and Molly was a real treat to have along, even though she announces our presence. *laughs*)

Steve had another retirement briefing today. This one went long, and touched on issues he's already handled in regards to clearing the army. However, he also had the chance to talk to a few people who had information about jobs becoming available on Fort Wainwright. One of them just posted today, and he applied for it. He has quite a few applications and resumes out there, and he's not even on terminal leave yet.

There will be a private retirement ceremony for Steve on Friday. He didn't sign up for the garrison wide retirement ceremony because he wanted his farewell to be with those he's worked with for the past three years. At first he asked me to attend with him, so that I could get photos of him getting his plaque and saying his goodbyes. About 30 minutes later, he turned to me and asked me if I'd be upset if he decided he'd rather go alone. The ironic thing is that I fully expected this change of heart. The more I thought about how emotional this day was going to be for him, the less I felt I belonged there.

I have supported my husband 100% throughout his military career. I did the best I could to be a good military wife for him. I provided him with the emotional and mental support he needed while he was deployed, or in the field training, or under the various stresses that come with serving our country. Regardless... I still don't have the inside scoop about what being a soldier is all about. I can imagine the strong bond between soldiers. I can envision the hardships a soldier endures when he/she is in a war torn country. I can try to understand the sadness or horror that comes with the death or injury of a friend and fellow soldier. But in reality I am an outsider.

This day should be for him and his soldier friends. I will have him for the rest of our life together...