Kenai, AK 6/16 - 6/21

Doesn't seem like it's been 3 weeks here in Kenai already - been having too much fun, I guess!!!

Today is 6/21 - summer soltice - and, Summer Soltice Party 2014!!  Not sure how much fun it will be this year.  It is trying to rain, and the party is in a big field.  Will have to wait and see.  Ended up not going.

We visited the airport last Sunday afternoon and saw this plane parked.  It says "Everts Fuel Air."  They are a cargo carrier like FEDEX.

Later we drove over to where we were told there was an eagle's nest.  And, we weren't disappointed.  Notice the female in the nest.

 And here is the male perched close by.

At one point, he flew away to shoo a raven away.

And then he came back to watch over the nest.

On another note, Judy found this t-shirt at the store.

We had read thru all of the paperbacks that we had so went to this unique bookstore here in Knai.  It's called "Read, Ready, Read."

This is a picture of the entryway:

There were books everywhere from floor to ceiling.

One could get lost in here!  And, to top it all off, there is a method to their madness.  They are sorted by, fiction, travel, childrens, biographies, etc. Then they are basically sorted by author too yet.

The books are all used and the paperbacks cost $2.50 and the hard cover books were more.  We turned in 6 books and got $.50 for each.

More moose sightings.  This one was along the road when we were headed up to the Nikiski Beach. 

Another shot of the Nikiski beach.

Yesterday, Friday, was the best weather day we have had yet so we did a little walking around old Kenai.  

This is The Holy Assumption Orthodox Church and has been the principal and most enduring representative of Russian culture in southcentral Alaska from 1841 to the present. For the Kenaitze Indians, who are still a significant portion of the population, it was the major institution for the assimilation of western culture when the Russian fur traders first came to the area. In addition to serving as a religious center, the church began the first school on the Kenai Peninsula educating the local Kenaitze children and young adults to read, write, grow vegetables, and learn basic building methods. It served as a judicial center acting as arbiter between the officials of the Russian-American Fur Trading Company and the natives. The church served as a social center, bringing the community together to share ideas and promote the welfare of all.  The church also provided the region’s first access to public health with the introduction of smallpox vaccine after the first epidemic decimated the local population.

Across the street is this neat little coffee shop (Veronica's Coffee House and Cafe) that we checked out and had coffee and bread pudding.

This was another historical landmark next to the restaurant.

Of course, there were some beautiful flowers there.

This week I have been busy waxing the trailer.  On Tuesday I did the back; Wednesday one side; Thursday the other side.  Now all I have left is the front.  Wanted to do that yesterday, but after a good time at the Legion with the 'boys' on Thursday night, I decided that I didn't need to be up and down a ladder too many times!!  So, it will have to wait until Monday.

Judy has been busy with her crafts.  We have gone to the beaches several times - both the Nikiski beach and the local Keani beach.  And we look for rocks!

She also found some material at Walmart, got her sewing machine out, and made some scarves.

We also made another trip to the Kenai beach.  The tide was 'way' out so we got some unique pictures of the sand.

Found a few shells including one conch shell.

We went to Walmart the other day for some groceries.  They usually have a sign out listing job openings in the store.  This time this was the sign:

Apparently they have a shortage of cashiers!!!  And to prove it, they only had one line open!

Went to the Peninsula Oilers ball game last night.  The day was just beautiful - sunny and temp was about 70 degrees.  Best day weatherwise yet!!  For the game I put on a sweater and light jacket;  Judy wore her Girl Scout hoodie. And we were too warm!  Usually, by 6 or 7 PM the temp starts to drop, but not last night.  I keep remembering the game we went to back in 2011 when we wore our winter coats!!

Anyway, the game was great - and fast.  The Oilers won 1 - 0 on a home run by the batter below. Hardly any other hits and the game was over by 9 PM. There is one more game here (tonight) and then they go on the road so we probably won't see them again this year.

We finally made it up to the Kassik Brewery on Wednesday.  

They are located off the beaten path so you have to have directions to get there.  We bought some beer - two bottles for me and two for Judy.  Judy likes the darker stuff - one was Chocolate Cherry stout and mine was this one:

They are a rather unique brewery in that all of their beers are in 22 oz. bottles.


Judy woke up early this morning (4 AM) and came downstairs.  Heard some noise outside and took a look.  There must have been 200+ sea gulls out there!  Couldn't get a picture then.  
No idea why they came here, but by morning, most of them were gone.

Tomorrow is Sunday - church and The Moose is Loose Bakery for coffee and fritters again!!