Outdoor Fridge

We made a quick stop at the grocery store during our lunch break and get this... WE LEFT THE GROCERIES IN THE CAR ALL AFTERNOON!! Yep. Our groceries included all the perishable stuff like milk, yogurt, ground beef, lunch meat etc, but when you live in a place that is 5 degrees, your car might as well be the fridge.   Just another one of the perks of living in Alaska :) You get sunlight and I get an outdoor fridge.

Sadly, we left our favorite grocery store chain behind when we left Texas. Goodbye HEB. We will miss you greatly.  Up here, the major chains are Fred Meyers and Carrs, which is owned by Safeway. Overall, we've been pleasantly surprised at the selection-- peppers AND tomatillos! But the prices make me wanna scream--every time I'm at the checkout. Hopefully, it will get easier to pay $6 for a 10 oz box of cereal. Right? $3 for a gallon of milk? No? What about $8 for some asparagus? I'm starting to get the message...

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Ice Ice Baby

We went for a short drive just south of Anchorage over the weekend. It was amazing. We caught the tail end of the sunset over the icy ocean water.

Anchorage is famous for it's Bore Tides. Here's the quick Wikipedia definition:
A tidal bore (or just bore, or aegir) is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave (or waves) of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the current. As such, it is a true tidal wave (not to be confused with a tsunami).

Read more about Bore Tides and see pictures here. I'll have to get some pictures in the summer!

Basically like National Geographic.

Basically...

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New Boots

Roma's new snow boots came in today. I was laughing hysterically when she first put 'em on. So glad we got this video... (be sure and pause music at the bottom of the blog for the full video experience)

 Looks like she's walking on sticky peanut butter. so funny.

Mom reminded me of my first pair of shoes. I think I was more confused than Roma. And it ended in tears. So all in all I think Roma did stellar.

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Princess

Isn't Roma cute all dressed in black and white...

Now let's do a brief flashback to this afternoon. This very pup had an upset tummy... in the CAR. I'm going to leave most of this to your imagination. However, I will be having nightmares about it for many nights to come. Many, many nights. But I will spare ya the details.

Her parents love her very much. EVEN when...

Love.

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Holly Jolly

Merry Christmas AND Happy Holidays!

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Mountain Sunset

Looks like it's going to be a VERY white christmas :)

It's been awhile since I've had cold and snow on christmas. Just one of the perks of Alaska. Make'in you want to come visit?

Maybe next year... :)

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Lunar Eclipse

Ross and I went up to Flattop Mountain here in Anchorage to watch the Lunar Eclipse last night. The thermometer read 8 degrees and I think it adversely affected my photographs (ie freezing fingers). I also needed my tripod, but failed to think of this as we ran out the door, "Ahhh, we're going to miss it!!!"

It's not too often that you see a RED moon. There were so many people on the mountain top with telescopes, cameras, and binoculars. Pretty neat. So glad we stayed up to see it!

Our (very cold) moon-watching group.

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Medium-Large?

Roma is about to be the most fashionable girl on the block with these Neoprene High Performance Boots...

Ross had to measure her paws with a tape measure. Pretty funny.

In the move to Alaska, we've had to get Roma quite a few new things...jacket, boots, earmuffs, airplane kennel, medicine, etc and she's been a size Large in everything. I'm starting to think that Roma might be a Large dog, rather than the medium dog that Ross assured me we were getting 3.5 years ago. Hmmm....

"I am stuck on band-aids because band-aids stuck on me!"

Just a little bo bo.

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Spikes or Bust

We went out for our first hike on Friday! We braved the 6 degree weather and got outside for some much needed exercise. We got Miss Roma some Paw Protectors (dog boots) and bundled her up. She kept sinking down in the snow. Now you see her, now you don't. 

Ross and I bought some spikes for our shoes, but I recognize most people haven't seen these before. Here's a picture...

You strap the spikes onto your hiking boots or running shoes and they provide some added grip. Notice, I didn't say that they prevent you from falling. We can attest to that.

We met some friends for dinner on Friday and I ate it in the parking lot. Uggs don't work the best on ice, but I didn't think wearing my spikes at the bar would help me make friends either.

We got auto start installed on the 4-runner before the big move, and it has been worth it many times over. Studded tires is the next endeavor...

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More Huebel Family Pictures...

 

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Huebel Family Picture

We had to combine some holidays this year while the Huebel family was altogether in the great state of TEXAS. We went to the park across the street to get some family pictures. I lugged the tripod with us, but it was worth it...

Here's my favorite one, post photoshop...

I'll post the others soon :)

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Back to Basics

Normally the Huebel Hammock is filled with cooking, baking, recipes, yummy pictures, etc. However, with the move we've not been cooking much. Well, I take that back. We've been cooking, but only quick simple meals. I am also going to need to get better at nighttime photography since it is dark here in Anchorage for the majority of the day. We're in a furnished corporate rental house until we find a house of our own. The kitchen is pretty nice, but it's not stocked with some of the essentials. When you move, you don't really think about having to buy all new fridge items. But, you do. Grocery items are more expensive here, mostly because it's harder to get things to AK. For example, a bag of Tostido Tortilla chips was $5.19. What??? Guess I'll be making my own chips by hand.. just joking. But really? Hopefully, the food recipes will start flowing again soon.

Roma had her first play date with another dog named Chloe tonight. We had a little pep talk with Roma before we knocked on the door, but she couldn't hide her excitement. She promptly inspected the whole house and then said hello to her new friend.  We very carefully hid all the dog toys, balls, etc so Roma wouldn't get distracted with fetch BUT she tried to grab a cue ball from the pool table to make do. Ohh, silly puppy.

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Heart to Heart

This picture makes me laugh...

"Hush ROMA!!!"

I can hear it now.

Well actually I hear them both snoring right now (yep, simultaneously) :)

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iPhone Pictures

I plugged my iPhone into the computer for the first time in awhile to download the latest software update... An added benefit was that a whole bunch of pictures were downloaded onto my computer. Iphone photos aren't the highest quality, but I thought I'd share them anyway- I also tried to keep 'em in chronological order.

Lap Dog(s), Sonny and Roma

Texans beat the Titans!

A lonely, empty house.

All our stuff loaded up, ready for the cargo ship.

Roma's first walk in the snow.

Cross Country Ski Lesson

Sleepy time. Roma's not sure why it's dark all the time...

6 degrees outside!

Work Holiday Party (we got a free 5x7)

A Roma Pillow.

Hopefully our new house (under contract now!)

Coastal Trail- no instructor!

 Ross, after our first legitimate cross country ski endeavor!

We've officially been in Anchorage for a week now. As I was strapping on my ski boots this afternoon, I was thinking about how many things I've done in the last week that I never thought I'd do or see. Let's recap:

*Running outside in sub-10 degree weather
*Buying metal spikes to strap onto the bottom of running shoes
*Having a moose run out of the woods, crossing the path about 5 feet ahead of me
*Pricing out studded tires for the 4-runner
*Buying a humidifier and having to refill it 2 times a day because its so dry
*Worried about a vitamin D deficiency because it's dark outside. Daily vitamin!
*Taking Roma for a potty outside at 6AM in the cold. I miss our backyard.
*Importance of finding a parking spot below the office window, so we can click the auto-start just before heading down the elevator.
*Sharing a single TV with Ross (our rental only has 1. Ross doesn't like Real Housewives of Atlanta and I'm not into video games)
*Trudging 2 blocks through the snow in high heels to a formal work Holiday Party

Never a dull moment!

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WAX

We are under contract on a house and today is the home INSPECTION. We're keeping our fingers crossed. The house is 27 years old and needs some renovations, mainly on the kitchen and bathrooms. I've always wanted double ovens, so it might be time :)

The Anchorage REI offers lots of classes and information sessions. Ross and I went to a Cross Country Ski class called "Get your Skis On!" last night in preparation for our lesson this saturday. Anchorage has groomed ski paths and parks everywhere. We learned where to go as a beginner. We also got an hour lesson on waxing. That's right, WAXING. It's an art unto itself. The guy showed us the "kick" section of the ski where you use a higher friction wax and the glide part of the ski where you use a really slick wax. There's a different wax based on the temperature and weather conditions. On the kick section you apply/remove the wax about 8 times to create thin thin layers on the ski. On the glide section of the ski you actually use an iron to melt the wax and press it into the ski. Crazy. I agree.

I never imagined I'd be waxing cross country skis.

But now I can, and it sounds fun :)

Internet is down at our house so I gotta keep it short. Hoping to get it resolved soon.

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New Office, New jobs, New people

We had our first day at the new office. My experience was akin to a reunion, one in which you don't know ANYONE. It was pretty overwhelming. I think I met over 40 people in the span of 2 hours. It seems to be a pretty tight knit group here. That sounds fun to me.

I've already got a pup play date set up for Roma next week. We're doing our best to get her outside, but she's got extra energy. She needs friends.

We are signed up for cross country skiing lessons on Saturday! We've learned that there are 2 forms of cross country skiing: classic and skate. Classic resembles running more and skate kinda looks like a speed skater. We're starting out with Classic. I'll try and snap some pictures.

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Roma's First Snow

Here's the video! (Be sure and pause the normal music- scroll all the way down all the way to the bottom and hit Pause or stop)

Roma's all bundled up in her new arctic gear! She kept trying to pull off the earmuffs inside, but the minute we went outside Roma stopped trying to pull it off becuase it's so COLD.

Love her.

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Alaska is a little Grey-er

Roma arrived safely today!

We showed up at the cargo terminal, just as we saw a forklift coming around the corner with a GIANT crate on it. ROOOOOOOMA!! They didn't let us behind the caged fence for a couple minutes while they went to get the other animals (Roma's the prettiest so she came first). All we could do is talk to her through the wire. Roma was whimpering and crying, "Mommy I've been in here for 11 hours. I even had to go potty on my bed and I NEVER do that. Let me out... NOW!"

Reunited at last! So happy!

Our little family is now complete... just a little colder :)

We bundled ourselves up and took Roma for her first walk in the snow. It was pretty funny. I have a cute video, but not the bandwidth to upload it right now.. Soon.

Roma was really confused where the grass was when it was potty time, but she finally got it. Pretty funny indeed.

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Special Delivery!

Our air shipment is supposed to arrive on Tuesday! We'll be able to add some shirts to the tired rotation. Ross also won't have to wear cowboy boots out in the snow anymore. And I get my mixer :)

We are getting a very VERY special delivery at 4pm...

...

Roma!!!!!


We're so excited... things just aren't the same without her. I so wish I could video her first snow experience. It no doubt will be hilarious. Hopefully she will have her very own backyard with heated garage soon, but until then she's going to be a mostly inside pup. Yes, an indoor Wiemaraner. Crazy. I know.

There's a great path right behind our rental, with lights and everything. Miss Roma is going to love it. We've already tested it out...

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House Search

So we've been trudging through the snow to go look at houses this weekend. It's a much different market than Houston and the prices can be daunting, but we found one we like! We put an offer on the house this morning. Nothing's final yet, but I'll post pictures when we know :)

I got some snow boots today and I had to break 'em in so we went for a walk outside. It was 8 degrees. BRRR. Ross and I got in a snow ball fight, mainly because we could, however we were really really cold after the excitement wore off. Ross was wearing cowboy boots (his warm boots will be coming with our ground shipment). We both decided those probably aren't the best shoes for an Anchorage winter.

A couple other random thoughts...

* Everything at the grocery store is more expensive
* We are going to be at REI a lot while we are here... ski boots, snowboard, goggles, ski shoes, .... the list goes on and on and on.
* People start skiing/snowboarding at the age of 3 or 4. I'm slightly intimidated. I'm going to be the oldest in the beginners class.
* You must always take your shoes off at the front door. It's an unwritten rule.
* Coffee "booths" are everywhere. Little huts just off the road for you to walk up and get your java fix.
* Anchorage turned out to be a WAY bigger town than I thought it was
* You must drive SLOW or you'll slide into a ditch
* It doesn't matter that it's cold here, I'm still eating ice cream for dessert :)

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We're HERE!!

We've arrived safely in Anchorage Alaska!

The last couple days have been a real whirlwind. Our Houston house was packed-up and the next day all our belongings were loaded into a freight container on the back of an 18-wheeler. So long stuff... See you in a couple months.. Hopefully we'll find a house for you soon!

We got into Anchorage Thursday night. Now, you know it's cold when the native ALASKANS are complaining about the cold. Yep the temperature was about 7 degrees that day. Welcome to Anchorage! At the airport we had to wait outside in the taxi line for about half an hour. I was having trouble forming words by the time we got into the warm taxi. The sun comes out about 9:30 and sets about 3:30, so it was pitch black by the time we got some dinner, but beer will really warm you up :)

We've started our house search and plan to continue looking today. We haven't found a winner yet.

The phase, "We're not in Kansas anymore" keeps popping into my head.

Everything is foreign to us, but we are enjoying it!

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