Willow Bend Quilt Creations

Willow Bend Creations

What a fabulous night in Delta Junction Wednesday evening. Surrounded by these gorgeous original creations by Mary Stenros from Soldotna who hails from Montana originally. We had a wonderful evening with she and her best friend, Becky, explaining how to create these works of art in various forms. Check it out at www.willowbendcreations.com.

Also pictured are some quilts from a Friday night look at what some our quilters are doing around the town. Maribeth's featured Lone Star is above in blue also.

Along with an evening of learning, we had a wonderful vegetable salad with surprise slices of strawberries (from Calico Cow owner, Maribeth) and topped off by the best peach cobbler I've ever tasted, compliments of Kit Benson-fellow quilter. I brought chocolate covered cordials (sp) cherries....couldn't or shouldn't eat the whole box.

On another note, check out http://community.adn.com/adn/node/140772to see see a beautiful, artistic and talented gardener featured on the Anchorage Daily News. Beautiful , talented and skinny-----------I'm out to walk off that extra helping of peach cobbler I ate last night...dang me!

Fertilzing Time

It's fertilizing time for the game ranch. Of course, I wish we had dozens of dairies around to gather the manure to spread but we don't have them yet and its pretty hard to find enough organic fertilizer We use fertilizer to supplement the hay ground. Spreading fertilizer over the snow, onto the frozen ground...it'll still work when we need it. Scott loading in picture.

Delta Junction featured in Alaska May 2009 Magazine

Borrowing Trucks Traveling South

Well, it takes a village to get me anywhere I swear. I have my truck in the shop with fuel pump problems..thank goodness I broke down near the homeplace and it wasn't January at -50 oF . So, it made catching a plane to head south a little tricky. I borrowed our son's truck to get to Delta (a little loud on the muffler scene), then to our other son's home in Delta to borrow our daughter-in-law's Yukon. We actually had snow flurries and frozen ground on my trip to Fairbanks early Friday morning. I was the next to last to check in at Era's gate...thank goodness they took me. I had forgotten that at 7:30 AM from Eielson AFB there'd be traffic plus had to be careful with the roads....not to mention, police out that time of a.m.

I was alittle concerned with using the Yukon as about 5 minutes out of Delta, I realized that it didn't have any "sound". This meant that the trip to and from were left to my own thoughts, not a good idea. It had a cassette player of all things, I should have brought a few cassettes I have tucked away. I made it, I appreciate it very much Hannah-no music and all--its a scary thing thinking alone for that long;).

Then had a lovely breakfast as my brother picked me up at the airport where we headed to the Snow City Cafe...(I have photos off my blackberry but don't know if I have a USB cord as daughter Tracy gave it to me and I can't find one right now)...GREAT fun breakfast, very modern, colorful, young and friendly. Not to mention that 2 art galleries were right next door so I"ll have to get back there in June before I head to Soldotna for the GFA 2009 Conference...http://www.globalfoodcollaborative.com

Once my brother got me to Chugiak, I borrowed our daughter's truck to get me to Palmer for the noon meeting. I'm such a mooch..........yea, all those years of staying up late waiting for the teenagers to get home is now paying off. I'm a mooch. Great meeting and got to see some pioneers of Alaska. The State FFA Conference was also going on at the Railroad Depot downtown too. I didn't take a peek in but saw some youth in their blue jackets around town.

Met with Victoria Naegele for the teachers' class that Ag in the Classroom is organizing for the first of June. She works tirelessly for agriculture and we owe her a big thank you. Above and beyond!

Then back to see grandkids and daughters. Leslie cooked me up a great chicken salad with the chicken "breaded" with whole oats and seasoning served over a bed of wonderful lettuce covered in vinaigrette/oil dressing. We had strawberries with Nutella & roasted coconut for dessert and dessert and dessert...okay, you know now that I'm one of those seniors who talk about food and meals..its our highlight.

I helped babysit my youngest grandson, Landon, while Leslie, Mike and Colton ran the HeartRun...crispy morning but no rain or snow! YEAH! 6,500 people ran this year. Wonderful to see the support from all types of individuals!

Before heading to the airport, we at the Moose's Tooth as I've heard so much about it but never ventured there. The atmosphere was alive with such a busy weekend, colorful and delicious pizzas plus I had a vegetable spicy soup that was partially pureed (don't know the word for it)...scrumptious for sure for me plus I tried the beer sampler.

I've heard that's the way to try the wineries and brew houses...ya know I'm listening when it comes to food and beverage. Delicious!!!!!!!!! A moose tooth house favorite, served with lemon-light and yummy, then a raspberry flavored medium brew - ahhhh!, next a darker ale that had alittle more body and "pop" but very good and lastly, a dark heavy beer. Absolutely the way to go...okay, they were small samples..I had 4 hours before I boarded the flight north...next to the airport, flight out and landing in Fairbanks in time to "hit" Fred Meyers' and head back to Delta town and return vehicles in reverse of the day before.

I'd love to see a brewery in Delta....Sawmill Creek Lodge? http://www.endofroadrally.blogspot.com and they are putting in a kitchen

I heard that the Johnson's have bought the Adam's Ribs...haven't confirmed..but that's the rumor. My next local venture!

Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

Do your part and take care of the earth. Celebrate and enjoy green!

Whether its an herb garden, a rooftop greenery, patio garden, garden of vegetables & flowers or trees in your yard, field and office space...enjoy taking care of the earth.

website: http://www.wecangrowit.blogspot.com

Hello Darlin'

There's nothing more enjoyable then seeing newborn baby bison calves and elk calves. We get to see the bison calves a few days after birth but not so for the elk. They hide theirs in the woods and we don't see them until late summer.

Got a note today from a friend that Scott's picture was in the Alaska Magazine. Don't remember why or what its about. Something about a lariat and gun. Yikes:)

Beautiful day, enough daylight but we gotta rest sometime. Scott's fertilizing the fields. Calves are happening along with swans and hawks. There's been air activity with the military air routes, sonic booms occur occasionally.

Direct Marketing Agritourism Conference in Palmer

• I love the idea of rezoning...which brings me to the idea of the reuse of the old Palmer Railroad Depot. This is where the Direct Marketing Conference was held. I served on a panel with JuneOberg, JeannieHavemeister and Cowboy Mark. Hearing old stories from Jeannie and June was the highlight. Spring in Alaska's April means:
  
• Seeing Swans on the Fields
• Seeing newborn baby calves
• Seeing rhubarb poke its way out of the snowdrifts
• Ordering seed potatoes and readying them for planting
• Stopping by the local greenhouse and ordering the plants
• Checking on the starts at the homes you've already begun
• Talking gardening with folks and staying outdoors as long as possible
• Sun, Sun, Sun............

Darren from Pizza Farm in CA...www.pizzafarm.com was gracious, informative and worthwhile.

Speaker list from the conference included:

1. Isabelle Bornemann: Exlore Tours (www.exploretours.com)
   
2. Jean Havemeister: Havemesiter Dairy
3. Khrista Huntly: Valley Insurance (www.valleyinsurance.com)
4. David Kasser: Anchorage CVB
5. Mark Marette: Trails End Horse Adventure
6. Gerri McCann: Authentic Alaska Tours
7. June Oberg: OK Catering & Fishook Dairy
8. Lynn Owen: The Milepost
9. Bonnie Quill: Mat Su CVB
10. Darren Schmall: AgPro Marketing
11. Lisa Sindorf: Valley Insurance
12. Kris Valencia: The Milepost
13. Alison Arians: South Anchorage Farmers Market
14. Steve Brown: Cooperative Extension Service, Palmer
15. Doug Carter: USDA, FSA
16. Phil Collins: Knik River Lodge, Executive Chef
17. Marie Domer: Domer Family Farm
18. Michelle Friedline: Municipality of Anchorage
19. Clayton Jones: Bear Tooth Grill, Executive Chef
20. Anne-Corrine Kell: Spring Creek Farm
21. Carol & Rachel Kenley: Kenley's Alaska Vegetables
22. Arthur Keyes: Glacier Valley Farm
23. Lorinda Lhotka: Dept. of Environmental Conservation
24. Bob McCarney: Full Circle Farm
25. Patrick Mulligan: Country Financial
26. Alex Papasavas: Turkey Red, Chef/Owner
27. Peter Schadee: Knik River Lodge

Hey Speed and Lois

Happy Spring Speed and Lois.

I ran into some old friends who helped with the Deltana Fair so many years ago.
The Speeds who now reside so far away in Fairbanks/North Pole area...if I got it right.

I didn't have my camera on me, I won't make that mistake again....a big howdy from Delta and the hawks are here, the snow is melting (well, kind of) and it smells like spring.

A Birthday Party in the early 1960's Pamer, AK

Oh my, here is Candy and Cathy Frost (in forefront), Susan on left, me (dark hair and cat glasses) in the middle back next to Dr. Kolberg's granddaughter I believe and Renate Knuepple sp? - what a group....

It surely must have been at Renate's, just look at the finery. Thank you Cathy for the photo. Visit Cathy's website at www.ravenglacierlodge.com

Absolutely adorable photo--

A birthday party,
In old Palmer land.
Little girls sitting in a row,
Don't we put on an Alaskan show?

Dresses, linen, cake and ice cream
from Matanuska Maid
All the paper finery
Is so delicately laid.

Our mothers were so proud
Of these little girls in the valley
I say, another tea party
Come on girls! Let's RALLY!

by Ruby Peck-Hollembaek

In Palmer Today

What a beautiful day. 2 days of conferences involving agriculture. Met up with rhubarb group and talked plants. Great speaker involving agritourism. Fun.

Easter Rhubarb Cake

Rhubarb Cake from Ileen Hollembaek
1/2 cup shortening
2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour milk or buttermilk
1 tsp soda
vanilla
2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup rhubarb (cut fine)

Sprinkle over top before baking
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon.

Bake off 30-40 minute

Don't Look Outside-It's Spring

• Check out a site to submit photos and let us know about your veggie garden that you planted this year in celebration of Alaska's 50th Anniversary of Statehood.
• http://www.wecangrowit.blogspot.com
  

Glass - Phillips Wedding

It was a down-home kind of wedding. With family and friends pitching in, Joe and Angela Glass are on their way to a great start.
The wedding took place at the Delta Christian Center where both have attended with their families for years. A reception followed at the Delta Community Center. I am sorry to say that I didn't get any more pics as I hadn't checked my camera battery before I left but it was wonderful to see the families and friends.

The groomsmen dressed in black suits and hats with a band of red ribbon. The beautiful bridesmaids wore red form fitting gowns. They were stunning. The cake was made by friend, Phebe Horschel and Cliff Mason presided over the meal. Brandon Krebs was the DJ. Visiting from "outside" was mother of the groom, Evelyn Glass' sister, Barbara.

Parents of the bride and groom are Dwight and Julie Phillips and Dan and Evelyn Glass.

Calves "burst" out = "qaaq" in Inupiaq

31 calves from last year's crop were run through the squeeze chute, through the corral and into the stock trailer to spend a 6 miles trek up to the homeplace for relocation. We do this to separate calves (which are about 8 months old and ready to leave their mothers) to assist the cows out for calving and for better feed management. It's tricky business. The kids went out with the last load and watched. Soon, the new crowd will find their place in a herd of 150 animals that are anywhere from 2 year olds - 5 year olds.

Another day.

No more Ice Fishing

The End of Ice Fishing Season - Yesterday...............