2011 was a very good year. I was baptized by my husband, I went back to school, he had continued to have a great year at work, and we did lots of traveling. A few weeks ago, we found out some big news that makes 2012 a promising year. DGH and I are expecting our first child around August 25, 2012!
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Having fun with Siri
I bought a new iPhone 4s on Friday. My 3GS was ready to be replaced. DGH and I have been having a lot of fun with Siri.
Autumn has come to Alaska
This is one of my favorite times of the year.
I’ve been incredibly busy. I started working a new job, though it’s only 4 hours a day, Monday – Friday and it’s pretty slow and easy. I do have 18 credits of classes, all online though. I’m taking Technical Writing, Intro to Computer Science (which is Java/Object Oriented Programming), Web Development 1, Beginning Algebra (it’s been 11 years since I took math and about 15 since I took algebra), and PC Support and Repair. They are going very well but they are keeping me super busy. I’m also signed up for 3 Institute classes (religious classes) but I have been swamped with homework and haven’t been able to make it the last two weeks. This week I took three days to work on one class’s homework. My programming assignment was incredibly hard. DGH tried to help and we got it close but not quite there. The day before it was due the teacher sent an email and saying that she knew it was hard and to just turn in what we had with a note stating where we had trouble. The text is very difficult to understand and she also said that it drove her crazy but it’s what the University of Wyoming was using (I’m attending a community college in Wyoming).
Gluten free for weight loss?
In the last two weeks I’ve seen forum posts on Ravelry, articles on the internet, and even overheard people going on about how eating gluten free or eliminating wheat from your diet will help you lose weight. I was in Natural Pantry and someone was buying gluten free products because her family needed to lose weight.
Seriously? Wow. Flip those products over and look at the stats. Gluten free fibers are higher in fat and calories and lower in fiber. To boost the fiber you need to use different flours and then you have to add more eggs. Plus I was at the mall and overheard someone say she was “cheating” on her gluten free diet but she’d start it again on Monday. She’d lost x amount of weight so far. CHEATING!!! Those of us who need to use a gluten free diet and actually understand what that means can’t cheat. I would give anything to be able to get an Auntie Anne’s pretzel or to have the local favorite of fish and chips. Going to the fair and hoping that what I chose was as safe as I was told wouldn’t need to send me running for the bathroom in a half hour. I’d love to not have to just watch my husband eat at the Greek festival because I couldn’t find anything safe.
Rant over.
Playing Catch Up: The Anchorage Botanical Garden
These are the final pictures from the trips we took with our niece who visited from Montana. Warning, there are a lot of pictures.
Playing Catch Up: Girdwood and Anchorage
In Girdwood you can take the tram up and eat at either the Seven Glaciers, which is a really fancy restaurant that DGH and I want to eat at someday (but it’s going to be $120 at least) or the Glacier Express, which is where we took our niece. Great view and it was a wonderful day.
This is St. Innocent the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Anchorage. I admit that I don’t know a lot about their faith, but I love their cathedral. They are building a second one on the south side and I’m curious if it’ll also be blue. That one will be much bigger judging by the turrets I’ve seen so far.
Crockpot Recipe: Sweet potato, apples and pork
1 pork roast (about 2 pounds — 1 of a 4 pack from Costco)
3 Sweet potatoes — peeled
4 or 5 apples — peeled
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp cinnamon
6 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper the pork and put it in the crock pot. Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes around and over the pork roast. Drizzle the honey and cinnamon on top. Pour the broth over. Let it cook on low for 6-7 hours. Peel and cut up the apples putting them on top. Cook for one more hour. The sweet potatoes are nice and mushy. If this isn’t how you like them, wait a few hours before putting them in.
Playing Catch Up: Alaska Zoo
July 15:
Playing Catch Up: SeaLife Center in Seward
The next day, after fishing we headed off to the SeaLife Center.
Playing Catch Up: Fishing in Seward
After one failed attempt to go down to Seward and enjoy the beautiful town with our niece, we were invited for some fishing. It was a wonderful day.
Great little spot to stop on the way down.
Puffin
Orcas
