Washington-Alaska 2019: Skagway

Our first port of call in Alaska was Skagway. Most of the historic downtown is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, which we explored after our morning excursion. 

In Alaska, we really wanted to explore nature and get outside, so we signed up for a Chilkoot Trail hike and rafting excursion.  We hiked a few miles of the 33-mile trail, which was one of the major routes gold seekers traveled from the coast to the Yukon in the late 1890s.  

After our hike, we boarded this raft for a calm float down the river.  We learned a lot from our trail guide and had a lovely time hiking and rafting.

After we returned to Skagway, we went to lunch at the Skagway Brewing Company.  

Gene and I split a flight of beer, including a spruce tip ale, which was delicious.  

 

We toured historic Skagway.  

This building is made completely of driftwood.  

Sculpture of a tired miner

 Snowplow

Views from the ship

Skagway was a fascinating port of call, full of history, nature and good eats.  

Adventures in Brewing

Gene has been itching to brew beer since law school, and he has brewed with friends on several occasions, but he had a bad track record (beer exploding and ruining apartments), so I have never been too keen on it. Last year, his brother got him a beginner brewing kit, and it was fun, but this year, he was determined to spend some of his Christmas money on real brewing equipment. He and our friend Joel (who owns a brewery and knows his way around brewing equipment) spent a couple of hours last weekend helping Gene pick out exactly what he needs to brew a low-alcohol brown ale.

Gene's shiny new pot

The whole set up on New Year's Day. Gene swears that the cold temps (highs in the low 30s) helped the brewing process. I wouldn't know one way or the other, so I am tempted to believe him!

Beer!

Gene's helpers

Gene used the spent grain to bake dog biscuits for Ruby. She is a huge fan!!

Check back with us in a month or so and we may have some beer to share!

A Weekend Adventure: East Texas (Day 2)

Every year when we go to Palestine for the Polar Express, we make plans to extend our time in East Texas, and every year, the weather intervenes and we have to cancel our plans. This year, since our trip was in November instead of late December, we were finally able to extend our trip and explore some new-to-us parts of East Texas.

On Sunday, we headed out for an early morning hike at Fairfield Lake State Park. The boys found a "Little Lake" library

and a big hunk of petrified wood.

 It was a beautiful, cool day, and we chose to hike the nature trail.

The nature trail could have been named "Spiderweb Trail" since we went through hundreds of spiderwebs. Gene led the way and was covered in sticky webs by the end of the 2-mile hike.

It was pretty, nevertheless.

By the time we had shed our sticky outer layers, we were ready to hit the road. Our destination was Athens, where we discovered that the first hamburger was made (there are several claims to fame for this, but Athens's claim is as legit as any of the others). 

Athens: Hamburgers - Heritage - Texas

We love small Texas towns!

We also love local craft breweries and were excited to visit the Athens Brewing Company for lunch,

 beer,

and games. 

What a fun little spot!

Our final stop for the day was the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, just outside of Athens.

We learned all about fisheries in Texas, explored the grounds and took a tram tour of the outdoor hatchery. 

 

There was more to explore, so we'll have to go back for another visit!

Lately: September Recap

It is October but it honestly feels like mid-September. Everyone I know feels about two weeks behind because of the two weeks we lost after Harvey. The weather also feels like mid-September -- hot!

Here's a peek at some of what we've been up to at the end of September and beginning of October:

A couple of weeks ago, we were hoping for a cool front, but it fizzled out (as they so often do!). We were itching to get outside but it was too hot to do much, so one morning, we took ourselves and Ruby over to Smither Park near the University of Houston. This is a tiny little art park but it was a little something new to explore.

Ruby enjoys all outings, even to art parks!

Afterwards, we explored the Park for Humans and Dogs in the Sixth Ward, where Ruby wore herself out!

The boys love to play games! 

Henry's open house was the last week of September. It was fun to see his classroom and meet all his teachers, though two of them were also Will's teachers. If they can't remember Henry's name, they just call him "Will's brother!"  

Henry and his homeroom teacher

Henry's work

Last week, one of Will's carpool buddies invited him for ice cream after school -- and it wasn't just any old ice cream either! They were headed to Creamistry, where ice cream is made with liquid nitrogen. Check out the pictures the mom sent me!

Will loved it so much that we are going to take Henry there for a post-flu shot treat!

While Will tried out Creamistry, Henry and I decided to get some ice cream from The Chocolate Bar. 

More treats -- Rice Krispie treats like when I was a kid!

We also got the boys new bikes. Henry especially loves to ride, and he and I headed down to "Treehouse Park" over the weekend.

Will is loving band this year and is playing the trumpet! He is so excited that he practices at all hours.  

And finally, we celebrated Gene's birthday on Sunday! Our good friends from Austin happened to be in town, so they stopped in for a special birthday brunch on Sunday morning.

Photo-bombed!

Gene and his boys

We got him garlic Tabasco and a new science-y cookbook.

For dinner, Gene chose to visit King's Biergarten in the Heights, and it was so much fun!

Beer + sausage is this guy's perfect birthday dinner!

Candle in a Rice Krispie treat afterwards

Here's to many more birthdays with my sweet husband!