Alaska Sea Life Center

Among the many things to do in Alaska is a scenic trip down to Seward.  The Alaska Sea Life Center is a nice place to stop in at.  This center, focussing on education and wildlife rehabilitation, is home to many soulful little creatures.  The first of which I encountered soon through the door.  I think this little guys was a rockfish...and he or she certainly has the eyes of an old soul.  

I then wandered to the window overlooking the seal pool, and saw one seal trying to peacefully enjoy sunning itself of a summer day.  But...we all have one of those 'friends'...this one apparently thinks playing Jaws is funny (not for the average seal I imagine).

In a suelte seal move, 'Jaws' got body slammed back into the pool lol.

I am not sure how the sea anemone's feel about this, but they live in the 'touch and feel' tank.  Fitting because they have so many fingers of their own, but guessing it gets a little old getting poked by preschoolers.  I predict an evolutionary adaptation of eel-like tazers by next summer.

Either way, the anemone's are shiny and silky, every one and an-y-one (pardon the attempt at the pun).

There are also lots of birds at the Sea Life Center.  I am always amazed at the variety of duck like creatures on the planet.  A lot of them definitely look like space-ducks, case in point below.

This puffin is looking a bit grizzled (but hey, that's what Rehab Centers are for, right?)

All the visitors are no reason to get one's feathers ruffled.  This little duck is sleeking down feathers and committed to always looking her finest.

Aaaaaand then there's crazy eyebrow angry duck.  If there are mad scientist ducks, I found one.

Here we have another seal soaking up some sun.

And much to my amazement, deep underwater in the 2 story tank, is it a stingray, is it a mini shark, is it a....wait, what is ithat?

It's a freaking penguin at the bottom of the tank.  So apparently, this is among the things that penguins do, steal fish food from the fish tanks.  I have this image of them just hanging out on iceflows, so, yeah, I guess they have to go somewhere for food.  I just wasn't expecting to see wings and feet in the fish tank lol!

This is the look of the residents when the penguin steals all their food.

A spotted harbor seal cozied up against the glass and wanted belly rubs.  Hopefully it wasn't because it thought I was in similar shape.  I'm going to go with it's just friendly, versus the idea that I look like a fellow seal.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  We are all unique, and I think this little guy has a beauty all of his own.  I would call him "The Professor."

And then of course, there are jellyfish.  Who doesn't love staring at jellyfish (particularly when on the other side of glass).  I can watch these little guys swoosh along for hours.

This little guy was about the size of a mandarine orange.  It just goes to show, it doesn't matter how small you may be in the world, you never know who is being inspired by your light.  Shine bright.

Life Lessons from a Porcupine

 Yesterday I willed my tired self out into the world, since the snowless days of Alaska are almost gone once more.  I made my way to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which is always a good way to chill out and spend a day.  I met somebody new when I was there.  Twix.  Twix has been around humans since she was a wee porcupette -- she was found orphaned at just one day old with her umbilical cord still attached.  She was raised at the Conservation center, on goat milk, and seems to be quite alright with life with lots of humans to peer at, and a spacious cage with an awesome log to play on, and chicken wire to climb.  Hey, it beats traffic on the Glenn Highway.

Twix 

As I watched little Twix crawl about her cage, quick to come up to me and snuffle as she took in my scent, with large and expressively cute little porcupine nostrils, I realized she looks quite happy despite the fence.  Then I thought, orphaned, in a cage, but having the time of her life walking on her log, seeing the sites, and just being safe and warm and fed and entertained.  We all have our cage...maybe it's your job, your headspace, or something else.  But that doesn't mean you can't take joy in good snacks and your favorite log, and enjoy the day.


So there you have it.  Today's life lesson, from Twix the porcupine.

Isn't she the cutest!?

Now get out there and have your best day!

Don't Worry Be Happy

And then it was ten

March 28, 2009.  Feels like yesterday that we talked on the phone about the volleyball game, and the day.  Maybe it's because the better part of me is left back there, across this chasm of 10 years, but it feels like you are right there.  Like I should be able to hear your voice, see your smile, feel your hug.  I know how much all three of you are missed.  And after 10 years, the answers are no clearer, the scars not healed.  I know those things are among all the others that just will not be.  Yet I am grateful for the time we had with you.

As I said then, I say again today.  I love you today, tomorrow, and always.  Miss you!

It was the Best of Times, it was...the Best of Times

26.  That's how old she would be today.  I found myself thinking on the drive home today, where was I when I have 26, to try to imagine what she might be getting up to today.  I quickly realized that at 26, I was just figuring out that I didn't have it all figured out, but one thing I know for sure was I loved the time I spent with my favorite little humans.  At 26, I didn't know that half of my time with her was already gone.

So, those days were the best of days.  Life stretched out endlessly.  Laughter mixed with sparks rose up over bonfires and half burned marshmallows into timeless starry skies.  Decadent days spent in pajamas at the coffee table.  "Spin me again aunty!" and going round and round and round on a sunny Saskatchewan summer day.  Christmas day excitements.  Favorite pets, cartoon marathons, and the crinkle of nose before a laugh.

I grieve for all the lost time with you between then, and now, and all those still to come.  But I remember how happy you were.  There was always a giggle, a story, a smile.  Sure, there were also adorable bouts of indignant melodrama, as all wise old souls are prone too.  But mostly there was laughter, there was love.  We were all so happy back then.  All time with you was simply the best of times and...the best of times.


love you, today, always, and forever <3  Happy birthday my beautiful girl.

Derby Day

About a week ago, I found myself in Kentucky.  Sometimes my wanderings surprise me as well.  Also taking me by surprise...I fell in love with Kentucky.  And so today, we are talking about a big day in Kentucky.

It's Derby Day.  Thats right, the famous Kentucky Derby is happening right now in Louisville.  Tucked away deep in Louisville, the famous racetrack Churchill Downs has been hosting the Kentucky Derby for 144 years. 

A dirt track, one and quarter miles, it is one of the longest races in the career of a three year old thoroughbred. 

If you take a second to think about that, I said three year old.  That's right, this race is restricted to three year olds.  This is the only chance they ever have at running this race.  It's 2 minutes in their careers, a once in a lifetime chance to have their name go down in history, and up on the walls of Churchill downs.  Like Secretariat, the 1973 winner, who also won "the triple crown" title (a triple crown means that horse must win The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes).  

Those famed triple crown winners are Sir Gallant (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941),  Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), and most recently American Pharoah (2015).  That's it, only 12 horses have ever done it. And those legendary horses, ran this very track I stood peering onto last Saturday.

The famous twin spires of Churchill downs are today hosting 150,000 fans for the most exciting 2 minutes in sports.

Here is the paddock, where the horses may be seen briefly before the race.  In real time, they have just done the walk from the stables with their owners onto the track.

And of course, today is a gamblers paradise.

Will Justify continue his winning streak and beat 'the curse of Apollo'? Can Mendelssohn challenge? Will Bolt d'Oro rise up? Or Vino Rossi? Audible is a fan favorite, but My Boy Jack is getting lots of attention as he seems to like running in the mud and it's raining in Kentucky. I will be watching Magnum Moon, who like Justify did not race as a two year old. If i were standing in Louisville today, I'd be betting a trifecta on Justify, Bolt d'Oro, and Mendelssohn. Let's see how they fare in the muck though! But only 20 horses out of 23,000 thoroughbreds foaled three years ago will run.  They are all magnificent.  There's also Free Drop Billy, Promises Fullfilled, Flameaway, Good Magic, Firenze Fire, Lone Sailor, Hofburg, Enticed, Bravazo, Instilled Regard, Solomini, Noble Indy, Combatant, and Blended Citizen.   It's going to looks a little like this, a snapshot I took of the Churchill Downs video at their museum.  But muddier.  

The winner will wear the famous garland of roses.  I for one, and going to settle in to watch, and wish each of the magnificent creatures a wonderful, close race.

Cheekwood in Bloom

Cheekwood Estate was the next stop on my list.  I knew there were flowers and gardens, and not much more.  On the drive over, my uber driver was a slender, silver haired gentleman in a suit who looked an awful lot like Jeff Sessions.  A Nashville native, he said that if I thought Belle Meade was large, it would soon look like the guest house compared to Cheekwood.  Right he was.  Here is a view from the lawn of what I imagine was the breakfast nook or morning room at Cheekwood.

The view the lawn overlooks truly gives a hint of what the view was like back then...the trees still dominate the landscape.

Cheekwood is opulence and excess in 55 acres.  A couple, the Cheeks (her maiden name being Wood), built to mansion to accommodate a gilt mirror that was too large for their other house.  Sitting atop 55 acres, the Mansion is a 1930's estate home -- so this was a different feel than visiting the 1806 Plantation just a few hours earlier.  Construction began in 1929, the family moved in to the home in 1932.  Mr. Cheek died suddenly in 1935, Mrs. Cheek in 1945.  Their daughter and her family moved in and remained until 1957, when the property was offered the property up to be a horticultural center and art gallery.  This massive home, reminiscent of estate of Europe which are coveted for hundreds of years, was only used for 25 years.  Something about that is just stunning to me.

Entering the lobby is a spiral wooden staircase to the upper levels, and branching hallways to the left and right on both floors, adorned with tapestries and artwork.

The LED chandelier was apparently added as art feature in the 1990's.  It's quite beautiful.

This sun room was too large to get in a photo, but it was large, bright, and had it's own fountain.  So how do people make enough money to build a home like this on a whim?  Well, Mr. Cheeks' father basically invented wholesale grocery distribution.  The family also invested early in a cousin's coffee business, named after a famous Nashville Hotel, the Maxwell House.  It was President Theordore Roosevelt who tasted it and declared that it was "Good til the last drop!"  As for that grocery business, it was later bought out by a company called General Foods for about $40 million dollars.  So, I guess that's the kind of story that means you can build mansions around mirrors.

Family portraits and furnishings still remain.

I presume this to be Mabel and Huldah Cheek.

True to the era before TV, generous sitting rooms and libraries and entertaining rooms are throughout the house, with seating for dozens, centered around conversations.  Finer than the average hotel lobby.

The library immediately caught my eye.  I wasn't allowed to touch to check the editions, but it did make me check later to see when these classic stories were written.  Alice in Wonderland dates back to 1867, and Peter Pan was written in 1902.

Thousands of old books lined the shelves, but I suspect most were printed  around 1910-1940, a collection of modern work at the time.

The most fascinating thing about Cheekwood is the gardens.  I realized that I don't know a lot about gardens, but the design of the garden was an integral part of the estate's design.  More recently, a modern art sculpture walk has been created around the estate.  But the original design of the gardens is quite well defined.

The crowds were drawn to the vibrant colors of this stand of flowers.

The grounds are sloped and terraced to give views of the grounds from the mansion and views of the mansion from the grounds.

There were more weeping ruby trees ...

And an extensive Boxwood Garden as the primary style of garden around the mansion.  Boxwoods are a dense, evergreen shrub.  They can be styled in hedges and toparies, and be modeled to create and elegant landscape.

The pool and fountains were central to one section of the boxwood garden.

Running water and water features were thoughtfully added to provide balance and harmony to the gardens.  The boxwoods also provide shade for the perennial gardens; the hardy and colorful plants that help transition the grounds to the natural landscape below.

The horticultural society added gardens, and built on existing gardens on the property to create a gardener's delight.

There has been the addition of a Japanese garden, surrounded by stands of bamboo.  I learned that a Japanese garden is each unique and designed to be contemplated in from one precise, singular viewing point.

Larger trees surround the 3 ponds on the property that made up the water gardens.

These, of course, were part of the Color Gardens.

This garden was dedicated to Sigourney Cheek, the previous CEO of Cheekwood gardens and estate.

The gardens continued, through stands of tulips and sculptures.  The tulips were of every color and type available.  Shades of pink, purple, red, yellow, orange, white, hybrids, each with a name. I never knew there were so many types of tulips.

 Quite literally, it was nice to get a chance to be out smelling flowers instead of working.

Over in the Howe gardens, just beyond the Dogwood trees, I found a plethora of purples.

The white and purple together were absolutely stunning.

The rows of cornflower blues made me smile too.

These smelled absolutely delightful.

And as a feature for the kiddos, numerous trains (including a Thomas) cruised around buildings and bridges and mountain passes.  There was a strange predominance of dads and grandpas hanging out in this area too!

And complete with a thatched roof, this little cabin in the Howe Gardens offers shelter if the rain catches you out.  Cheekwood estates, definitely a gorgeous layout and view into a world few of us would ever know.