By 2010

Dawn broke for me this year
Secrets to life's riddles answered
Harmony achieved and savored daily
An appreciation of my reality gained
With unmasked truths accepted at face value
Gratitude given for the stormy as well as the calm

Like a wave washing over me
I felt the changes inside emerge
I felt youth fade and maturity appear
I traded seeking something for finding everything
All the treasures known yet unseen
Already possessed but not purchased

I know the light of wisdom
Wisdom only gained through the years
The trick of letting go and holding on
The balance between sharing and taking
The power in wanting to give more
The payment received in expecting nothing

These are the things I realized in 2010
The gifts age has bestowed me
Gifts not meant for those still seeking their rainbow
Destined for those who learn they must create their own
I am now on top of the world
Having conquered my mountain
Enjoying the view towards my future
I could not see before.

By Cindy Butherus
August 30th, 2010

THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )

Plant an Amaryllis

Sure brightens things up!

Angels are Amongst Us

And I got picutures to prove it!

Upside Down Christmas Tree

FAKE!!

Lookout for ICE

Still alive and well, so far...

Neverfind Apartments

When I first moved to Anchorage 30 years ago I lived in the "Neverfind Apartments" owned by some folks with a sense of humor from Finally Found, Colorado.

My new apartment reminds of that place. Except this apartment building has no name.

Reefer Madness gets a musical makeover

Anchorage Press > Arts & Entertainment > Smoking - Reefer Madness gets a musical makeover

Going to see this Saturday night!

Gary Hoey Live on The Johnny Dare Morning Show - "Carol of the Bells"

Happy Thanksgiving! Time for CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

Coat of Ice

If you look through the trees you can see a guy riding a bike on a sheet of ice. He's pulling a trellis type wheeled wagon. That helps steady him I think. I've seen him going both ways on the one-way frontage road. Once when I was driving it. He was in the middle of the road going the wrong way. I gave him plenty of room. He smiled and waved as I went by.

Fish Earrings

I picked these out. I don't have peirced ears but a friend who does would also like these. With Christmas coming soon I've got to get busy shopping. I don't have any of my canned salmon left to give away as presents this year. Hopefully that will change next year!

Open Snow Sleigh

Hop on board!

Alaska Cactus

An early Christmas cactus that is.

Big Lake Pumpkin Family

I had a great couple of days off. Went and visited friends in Big lake. They got their outside Christmas lights up and the inside getting ready for Thanksgiving. I'll be working Turkey Day making 8 turkeys! That will be a record for me.

Ran Out Of Beer

Good thing we had Munchie Trays!

Miss Fish

Mr. Chief

One of the perks of living in Alaska is the diversity of the land. I've lived here 30 years and have only seen 1/90 of the "Great Land". And it still amazes me. I'm in the largest city now where I lived and worked 30 years ago. Since then I've been on any accessable road from Anchorage.

They don't call me the FishTaxi for nothing. Okay, I'm getting on my high horse.

Come along for the ride.

The Works

The day went off without a hitch. NO casualties.

Google Veteran

I am always a day late in posting, clocked in at 11:29 pm Alaska Time and Google shows up on my homepage with what every American should know.

I did my part and volunteered to get the bbq going! Shopped for the ribs, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and made the pot salad while the cutup ribs were baking in the oven soaked in coke. They are now out of coke and are resting quietly, in the cooler, to be qued on this Veterans Day.

My View Today

In the top pic I photoshopped out the New Seward HWY and frontage road. The bottom pic is from inside my apt.

I block out the noise of highway by telling myself its a waterfall while listening to Radio Paradise.

Skinny Scarecrow

Picture taken on 10/2 in Big Lake. Going through my pictures I took this past summer/fall.

Pansies in November

Pansies in November in Anchorage!

Grown from seed this is a hardy plant!

Took this pic on my friends deck today.

Cute Little Raider Fan

Took this pic last Sunday at the American Legion where I work as a cook. On Sundays we do a killer breakfast brunch for football fans. Then after breakfast I put out a big spread for the Texas Hold 'Em crowd. So far they like my cooking, only complaint is it isn't "enough". I'm learning fast how to cook for crowds. Don't want to lose this job! I enjoy it and I signed a year lease on my new apt. I've never been Head Cook before. I do all the ordering, shopping and menu planning. And take the flack if its not done right. Its fun though and I'm meeting new people in the big city. Oh, and GO PACKERS!!!

Brain Food

Thanks for the wakeup/job call! I had a great summer off from blogging, missed it a lot. Took a lot of pictures when I could charge my battery and had my camera in hand. When I had internet connection I joined facebook and hooked up with family and long lost friends. I love it! I no longer need to send a birthday card to my mom or my grandma needs to send me the bd card every year with 5 bucks in it. Its the frugal way now. We are all connected some way.

This is a pic I took out of my hotel window in Spenard. Thats the top of my duffle bag propped up. I came into Anchorage to get my 1999 Toyota Sienna get worked on. Took longer than I thought and in the meantime since then landed a job, got an apt and here I am blogging again.

From Anchorage and beyond!

Sail on Sailor

Unless anything good comes up I'm taking a break from blogging for the summer.

Sail on Sailor

April Bluff

No drug test today. Hoping it was an April Fools joke.

Studying Hard

For a drug test for my new job. When I was in the USAF and on duty 24 hours, defending my country, I peed freely for "golden flow". At the time (1974) they couldn't detect marijuana. My dad, who was still alive and in the Army at the time, said "now kath, you're going to have to quit smoking pot." I answered "no dad, pot isn't a drug". Secretly praying no scientist ever comes up with a way to incriminate myself with bodily fluids. 35 years pass and now I will have to cheat to pass.

Wish me luck.

Minnie Cold Frame

Anything to extend the growing season.

Snow Van

Picture taken in Valdez March 16th.

Picture Window

View from the Mile 69 Burger Bus' new cut out window in Willow.

I do need to change my header as I am no longer residing in beautiful Valdez. Nor am I going back to work on the Kenai except to pick up my summer tires and the totes of my life.

I've secured a boring, steady, year around job in Wasilla.

Will be paddleboating all the lakes around the valley so still come along for the ride!

Moose Lunch

A young bull moose munching on Mystery Road by Bumpus Ballfields in Wasilla.

Snowman Town

I'm alive and well back in Wasilla. This photo is one of my last taken in Valdez.

Dental Truck

Valdez is very lucky to have Dr. Houseman residing here. He cleaned my teeth on a Sunday.

Part-time dentist/part-time goldminer.

Survivor:Valdez

Artesian lillys in the kitchen window; smorgasbord below.

Cannery Road

Whale Hatchery

Its not a whale hatchery. Its not a big shopping mall. Its the Valdez Marine Terminal across the snowy bay. Valdez has recorded more than 5 ft of snow since I got here. Whose counting inches?

Valdez Styling

Snow Dock

I forgot how much snow Valdez gets. March on!

Snow Signs Everywhere

More Pennies Today

It was snowing when I woke up and its still snowing. I'm using my swimming flipper to remove the snow off my car. Also swimming at the Valdez High School pool...for free! Gotta love Valdez.

Pennies from Heaven

Corner of Chitina and Kobuk

You can barely see the tip of Sugarloaf above the navy gray cloud blanket at this morning's low tide near 8am.

Spring Skiing Valdez

Gaining daylight over 5 minutes a day! March on sun! Next 2 months are my favorites in Valdez.

Frozen Falls

Snapped this pic of Bridal Veil Falls as I was driving through Keystone Canyon last Saturday. I got a job in Valdez cooking for the construction crew at Silver Bay Seafoods. They are out of Sitka with a cannery there and another in Craig. They bought the old Seahawk Seafood cannery here in Valdez and are fixing it up. I'm not kidding when I say its a old cannery. Hilary Clinton worked there when she was going to college. Back in the day when U.S. cannery workers were the most educated migrant workforce in the world.

Only 10 Inches

I wasn't in Valdez 3 days when the sky opened up and dropped a boat load of snow on good ol' Valdez town. It had been a while since I smelled a breath of fresh air. Smells like home.

Winter Olympics Hiatis

Enjoy the 2010 Winter Olympics!

See you in 2 weeks.

Orange Alert