Everything I know about pie crusts, I learned from my mother

I made my first (and successful) pie crust yesterday. Just had to document the making of the taco chili pie:

folding into 1/4-sections to transfer

carefully forming the 'wave'

trimming the excess (nobody likes too much crust!)

50's housewife? ('apron' included)

Swooping in to look like he did something

Rabbit Ice?

Cody and I enjoyed a joint day off (how rare!) so we decided to squeeze in as much as we could. We started of course with some coffee (although Cafe Loco was somewhat of a disappointment today) and headed out to conquer Rabbit Lake. Sadly, it was a bit more snowy than I anticipated, so we didn't quite make it all the way to what would have been a frozen, snow covered lake. Here's what we could have seen had we hiked this summer: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/maps/mchughrabbitlakeguide.pdf

We had fun regardless and enjoyed a play production of Arsenic and Old Lace by the Anchorage Community Theater (A++). 

We spotted a moose family on the way out of town

And then kid #1 proceeded to cross right in front of us

Headed over to join her sibling

Very snowy mountains of the Chugach Mountains

Not yet so cold (it was only about 30 degrees)

Cody with the view

Showcasing the mostly snowy path on our 8 mile hike

mmmm dinner

date night

Approaching Winter

Cody can't help but be giddy of the approaching winter snow (he keeps checking the snow level on the mountains each morning). He's very exciting, although I can't determine if he's excited to have a small break from the 20 hour days or moreso for the winter activities. Either way, I just can't get on board yet. Winter will be long enough already.

A view from the course today

Cody spent the day helping to cover the greens

Forgive the glare- I'm still on contact restriction- We went to see Moneyball yesterday- great movie!

Little Suzy Homemaker

day of productivity:

Baking for the bazaar at church

The start of the wedding scrapbook

Keeping a certain cat out of the kitchen

And a craft project for the front door

Whew!

It's Clementine Season!

First bag of the season! (Ignore my stink eye: for some reason my eyelid's swollen)

Enjoying the Last of Alaska's Fall

Cody and I have been trying to take advantage of the dwindling daylight and decent weather before winter's in full force. The first snow typical falls Oct 8, with the first snow sticking around Oct 15, although the 'natives' say snow wasn't around until November last year... let's hope that's the case again.

A fall view of Potter's Marsh

There were beautiful fall colors all along the Arm... much different than just a month ago!

We got our wedding bikes!

Much thanks to Cody's coworkers for contributing to our bike fund!

He's very excited...

AND we saw moose along the Campbell Creek Trail: begin Moose Montage #2

And another one (was Cody's first moose sighting in over a month... I've seen a few since I've been back).

I'm back at work now and trying to adjust to a nights schedule again (I'll be on nights for another 3 months). Cody's still busy at the course- he and Jeri have a whole to-do list while they remain the only course in the area with all their greens still uncovered. He's playing in a tournament today with many of the other pros in the area, so it'll be a good networking day for him.

We did purchase our tickets home in November (Nov 23-29 for me, and Nov 23-Dec 2 for Cod). Hopefully the weather holds for safe travels!

We also tried a new recipe last night: it was delicious! It reminded me a little of Mom's spare ribs, if anybody's had the pleasure of trying those :) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Pepper-Steak/Detail.aspx

Together for our one-month anniversary

I made it back to Alaska last night in time to ring in our first month of marriage (although it was probably only about the tenth day we'd spent together). My flights turned out fine, thank goodness, just had to endure a long layover and a long wait for my luggage). We enjoyed a full day together, which was mostly spent on base getting Cody in the system and enrolled in health care. Oh, and groceries, as the fridge was mostly empty upon my return... Tonight we're busy hanging pictures (finally!) in the living room.

I had a great visit back home in Nebraska... nothing too terribly exciting but it was nice to spend some relaxing time with my parents and see a few people I don't get to see very often. Now it's back to work for me this week, where I'll spend the next three-old months orientating to labor and delivery before I start taking labor patients independently, ekk! Cody's still working at the course, although the hours are now 9am-6pm (big difference from the summer hours of 4am-10pm!). They will begin covering the greens for winter on October 10th, so work will change a bit after that.

Enjoy a few pictures from the past few days:

Silly us, thinking we could arrive AT 7 for the showing of  'The Help'

Mann in the jungle with the wild animals (Cody thought that joke was funny)

Otie, Otie, Otie, O! Otie, Otie, Otie, I!

Officially a military dependent, whoop woop!

And this is what I returned to from the 75 degree, sunny Nebraska

Just a tree Cody and I liked.

Finally! hanging pictures in our living room (we had commitment issues, go figure)