Juneau and Tracy Arm

Here we are in Tracy Arm, Alaska. Tracy Arm is a fjord where cliffs as tall as 4000 feet meet the water's edge and turquoise blue bergs float on top icy cold waters. We saw Sawyer glacier at the end of the fjord and watched patiently as it "calved," introducing more ice into the waters already full of ice chunks. Calving for glaciers is not what it is on the farms back home in Missouri. It's when large chunks of ice break off the glacier and fall into the water.
The final picture shows a gourmet breakfast of poached eggs and toast our wonderful host Dan Neal made for us. He's been Russ' friend for many years. Russ taught Dan's son, Ryan, when he was teaching in Hoonah years ago.

Haines...We're in Alaska!

Just past the Canadian border is Haines, Alaska where we planned to take a ferry on to Juneau. We spent the night here with Barb and Jerry Blood, good friends of the Scribner family. They gave us a tour of the small, quaint town and we saw a brown bear sow with her two cubs along the Chilcat River. At the end of the drive we stopped for a view of this beautiful lake. Thank you Barb and Jerry for your fellowship and hospitality!

Canadian Wildlife...and mosquitos

Well, this was Canada. Beautiful country in its own way. Once we hit the Alcan Highway (Alaska/Canadian highway, for those of you from "outside" Alaska or from the "lower 48") the roads pretty much looked like the one the big black bear is crossing. Yes...my first "wild" black bear. He just minded his own business while Russ stepped out of the car and got him on video. I stayed IN the car, because I'm not a hunter and people from Missouri just do that. I did get this photo as he crossed right in front of the car. I asked God one morning if we could see some wildlife that day, and not long afterwards, we drove past a herd of bison and a dozen or more stone sheep. We camped out each of the 3 nights we were in Canada and were warmly welcomed by a mosquito convention. Mosquitos haven't been bad here in Glennallen I think because they all went to Canada for summer vacation.

Rockport, Washington and the Callis Family

Here are some beautiful people living in a beautiful place very near the Washington/Canadian border. This is John and Leisa Callis and their family. John grew up with Russ in Glennallen. We visited with this dear family for a few days. Leisa and Courtney (eldest daughter) helped me learn to make soap, using essential oils to "flavor" the product. What fun! We were serenaded one evening by the four talented bluegrass musicians in the family: Carson, Gilbert, Courtney and Margo. Thanks for a great time guys!

Seeing Friends and Family in Seattle

Nearing the end of June, we made several visits in or near Seattle. Our first stop was to see cousin Jeff and his wife Becky in Bonny Lake. I was able to see my great long-time college friend Teresa and her husband Pete. She is proud mother to sons Bryce and more recently Caden.

Our next visit was with cousin Rob Carr, wife Francine and their children Julian, Isabella, Cory and Colton. What a fun family!

Angie Hand and daughter Natalie from Glennallen happened to be at the Children's Hospital in Seattle while we were in the area, so we made a visit. Natalie is now home and healing after a successful surgery!

Meeting and Visiting with Family in Selah, Washington

Our drive through Montana and Washington included visits to Montana City, MT and Selah, WA. We spent time spotting deer with Jason Scribner in the fields and mountains near Montana City and Helena. Russ and I are standing in one of the fields full of yellow flowers.

The other photo shows part of the Scribner family I met: Ann Scribner (aunt) and Sydney (cousin Jeff's daughter); Jason (cousin), Tracy and Jayden Scribner; Jerry (cousin) and Amanda Scribner; and of course Russ and Sherri Scribner. There were four Mrs. Scribners in one house!

Fun in Utah June 10- 14

The photos below:

Zion National Park and visiting with Rod and Terry Brown in Toquerville, Utah. We had a blast four wheeling in the sand dunes on Saturday with Rod and Terry.

While in Toquerville, we reconnected with one of Russ' long time friends, David Stirling. We visited with his wife Danielle and their children.

Three National Monuments in One Day June 9

June 9 Russ is standing in front of some of the cliff dwellings we saw when we visited Mesa Verde national park in Colorado.

Above, is at Four Corners monument (NM, AZ, CO, UT) we visited the same day on our way to the Grand Canyon.

Yes, we actually saw three monuments on the same day!!