Storm!

On July 6th Wrangell had something very unique...a storm! We hardly ever get thunder and lightning in Southeast Alaska, so this was quite exiting. I only took this picture. Quent left me with only one lens and this was about as good as it got with it. Ha! But he was up on a mountain and got some really incredible pictures. Stay tuned!!

It was really funny because this storm got a lot of attention from the Wrangellites. People were on their deck watching the storm just like it was watching fireworks. Our neighbor, Jen, who is from Texas, was on her deck and we were celebrating!

Playground

Before we went on a walk, I thought it would be fun to take pictures on the playground equpiment at the elementary school. It was fun!

(Hey Amanda, remember these?)

Volunteer Loop Trail

This was the last time we walked on the trail in Wrangell. It's one of my favorite places to walk in Wrangell. I miss it!


I think Quent looks like his Grandpa Smith when he makes this expression. And now that I think of it, like his father, too. *smile*

Awww...

I don't think I took this picture, but I'm too lazy to go back and change the copyright.

Fool's Inlet Hike part 1

The hiking club's destination for Saturday, July 11th was Fool's Inlet. Robert Ivy was the leader on this hike. The trail isn't developed, but Robert and his father-in-law Denny Strom had gone through before and broke a trail. On two parts there were ropes to hang onto. Normally the trail is really wet, but because we have had a drier summer, it wasn't so bad. It was probably in the lower to mid 70's. I'm a wimp now with those temperatures, so after while I was ready to be done. It was a gorgeous day though! Quent took a lot of pictures of me hiking. I'm not one to fall while hiking, playing sports, rollerblading, etc., but I sure did some fun things like that on this hike. I fell forward on my knees once, hit my head on a log, walked into a log and got a nice bruise on my thigh (ouch), and once the mud tried to eat me. It was fun! Seriously!

Last year when the hiking club hiked Fool's Inlet I wanted to go, but Quent said that I should have Xtratufs. Being that I refused to purchase such ugly looking boots, I didn't go on the hike. But since we were planning on living in Southeast longer, I finally caved in and bought the ugly things. And I'm SO glad I had them on this hike because I probably would have lost a shoe or a foot if it wasn't for their capability of fighting the slurpy mud. So here I am showing off my Xtratufs. Does this make me a true Alaskan? Oh wait, I was told I'm not a 'true' Alaskan until I eat smoked hooligan...the whole thing...even the head. (I think Mark Pempek or Bill Messmer told me this) So I guess I'll never be a true Alaskan...sigh.

Fool's Inlet Hike part 2

There was bear sign like crazy around the creek's edge when we came into the open. I bet the bears were in the woods watching us...they felt that close.


Here we are sitting on a log eating lunch.

I think I was climbing over a log here.

Hey, I think this post is all about logs...here I am walking on a log.

Slip-n-slide

On July 7th I went to Joy's parent's house to spend the afternoon outside in the sun. We made a slip-n-slide for the kids. It was an 'experimental' slip-n-slide, but it seemed to work. The kids really enjoyed themselves! It was fun to watch them and to soak up the sun.


Grace...love that smile!

Dawson slipping and sliding.

Dawson's friend John Michael. So fun!

July 5th

I have to say that this summer is the best summer I have ever experienced in Southeast Alaska. The temps got up to 80 at least once (I'm not sure how often). There were a lot of temps in the 70's. And sunshine! It was warm this day, so we drove out to Lower Salamander and dipped our feet into the creek. It was refreshing! We brought our chairs, sat with our feet in the water, and read.

Parade Part 1

I love celebrating the 4th of July in Wrangell. There's no other place I would rather be on the 4th. Except I would love to have my family and friends with me, too!


Me and my friend Joy before the parade started. I know I've said this before, but I think the parade is the only thing that actually starts on time in Wrangell. Ha!

The famous journalist/photographer Ryan Long!

Joy's daughter, Grace, watching Mark and Heidi Armstrong. Such a cute picture!

Giddy-up!

Parade Part 2

Diane, Jing, and Sophie O'Brien

Mark and Heidi Armstrong (we bought our house from them...don't worry, they aren't always this goofy)

Quent really wanted to be in the parade...

This picture makes me smile. It's Jayden Buhler wearing a shirt that says, "I [heart] rain." It's one of those shirts that people in Southeast Alaska can appreciate. Love it!

Parade Part 3

Go Denise! Go Forest Service! Where was Smokey this year?

This was my favorite float.

Keith Ivy with some furs and traps. I'm not sure what he is doing here. He was on the church float.

After the Parade

After the parade Quent and I walked over to get our 'after the parade' piece of pie. There's a pie table set up with a bunch of homemade pies. Yummy! This year I got this fluffy peanut butter pie. Quent saw what I got and he got the same thing (pretty good for someone who doesn't like peanut butter). It's SUPER good! After the pie we walked around a bit and Quent took some pictures.


Quent and Ivan Sominek (sp?) [he's another photographer in Wrangell] were both taking pictures of the same things. I just stood back and watched the photographers work.

I'm not sure who this couple is, but it was a candid moment.

Here's a digital scrapbook page I created documenting the events of this part of the day.

Log Rolling

I (Christina) have never personally watched the log rolling show (I guess it's just not my thing), but Quent has. He took some really awesome pictures of the event this year.

This is a digital scrapbook page that I created about the log rolling. I love all of the colors!