Texas Ceegars

"Mama, don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies. "

Hunters were stranded in Dutch Harbor due to remnants of a Japenese Typhoon. So, instead of Scotland Scotch and a fresh reindeer kill somewhere on the Aluetian Chain, it was fishing on the Kenai. And my cooking. So much for down time. Is August over with yet?

Blogging from the Bluff

We had some down time so I hooked up my laptop out on the bluff and tuned into Radio Paradise.

I wanted to do this all summer.

Wish you all were here with me.

Cook/Cleaner

Here is a perfect example of what I do for a living. Thats my mop bucket whom I dance with every other day. On the burner are 4 different kinds of mushrooms. The grill is preheating to just the right temperature for searing steaks. In the oven is Alaska fresh caught salmon. The twice-baked potatoes are hot on the stove. The table is set and the salad plated. Wine is opened, poured and everyone is seated. The aroma of tarragon sifts through the door open while I'm bbqing in the August rain.

Beefing up my resume.

Loose Moose

Moose hunting opened on the Kenai Penninsula August 20th. Seems early to me since I'm used to Unit 13 where it doesn't open til the 1st of September. Where did the summer go.

Went into the Moose is Loose and never did find out what a Hunters Loaf was. My mission was to buy 3 Red Salmon Cookies to put on the table for centerpieces. Found out at 11am that I was making a King Crab dinner for the lodge at 6pm. No time to make fish cookies. Thank goodness for local bakeries.

Dinner was a success! I gathered all the scissors and let everybody crack their own King Crab. I wasn't cutting them in half like they do at Louie's Deadliest Catch.

Parrot in a Spruce Tree

Only in Alaska.

the Albatross

This old skiff sits outside the Albatross Restaurant & Lounge near Mile 13 of Kalifornsky Beach Road. It no longer is a restaurant though the lounge is still open and so is the package liquor store. When Pat, the owner, husband died 9 years ago, she couldn't do it all. He was quite the cook and a popular all around guy. Pat is a nurse and while at the bar takes good care of her loyal customers. In more ways than spirits.

When she was younger she would plant flowers in the coffee pots of the skiff.

When I googled albatross alaska I found this cool site: NOAA Photo Library Old pictures of Alaska at the turn of the 19th century.

Fish Be Pink

Or a silver all covered in sand.

Sunset on the Bluff

There has been some beautiful sunsets lately. I can imagine that spruce tree being a palm tree.

Fishing with Carp & Jimmie Jack

Got to go silver fishing with the Fishing Dude, John Carpenter, and Jimmie Jack yesterday. What a total blast! Here's the link to the Fishing Report on Channel 2 Anchorage.

http://www.gotoak.com/Global/story.asp?S=10967540&nav=menu1675_2

whose butts are these?

stay tuned...

Oyster Scenes

The oyster shell on the left is reminisent of a Valdez waterfall. One of the shells of the 16 PWS oysters I ate. The shell on the right holds a Kenai River fishing scene. Both shells painted and signed by Becky.

Chitina Fishwheel Rig

Ultimate Alaskan Camper for sale!

Eagle Waves

Immature eagle taking a walk on the beach.

At first I thought this bird might have been a Golden Eagle he was so big. A closer look showed an immature bald eagle about ready to take flight.

Oyster Beer

All summer long I've been driving past Snug Harbor Seafoods on Kalifornsky Beach Road seeing the sign "fresh oysters for sale".

The pretty painted oyster shell was done by Becky. Its not from this group of shells. Its there for picture purpose only.

Nuke 3 at a time for a minute. Just enough for them to open. With a butter knife pop the shell and cut the top muscle. Let the oyster wallow in the bottom shell's juice with a squeeze of lemon. Slurp and swallow. Chase with a beer.

Another Leo

Welcome to the world Billie. Its going to be fun watching you grow up!

Canon Zoom Lift

Thanks everybody for the birthday wishes.

Heres a pic of the bucket with no chair in it.

Dusty Millers

You can never plant enough Dusty Millers in Alaska.

Rode the Chair

Tried to upload the video of riding 50 ft into the air on a manlift at my birthday party. What a blast! I wasn't chicken at all after a few beers. I'm 54 today. Can't wait til next year when I'm 55 born in 55.

View from the chair.

Peace and Love

The Luv Bus sits at the Big Lake Rd. turnoff and the Parks Hwy in front of Lil' Gorilla Groovy Fireworks. Reminds me of my 1971 Camper Bus I drove up here in 1980. Left Seattle on Aug. 1 and arrived in Anchorage Aug. 5th. I took my time and figured I was going faster than a covered wagon.

The air-cooled V-dub engine did not fare well that first winter in Anchorage. By my second winter I was driving a V8 with a good heater. My bus was used for storage and one winter a dog house until one day I was offered $500, my asking price, for the bus with a blown engine and no 4th gear. The buyer put a new engine and transmission in the bus and drove it all the way to Costa Rica and back. Last I heard the bus was sitting in his yard in Homer.

It would be cool to buy it back.

Chignik Hawk

Harnessing the power of Cook Inlet wind in Turnagain Arm today.

I have got to learn more about this.

My Beach

This is where I like to hang out. Cannery Road is a couple miles from the lodge with public beach access. I've managed to live on my tips and save my wages so far. If I get a big tip I'll splurge and go to the Duck Inn. Have a Permafrost Alaska Vodka martini, or two, and watch baseball.

Most of the time my beach is my getaway.