Sunrise, Sunrise

Our mornings and evenings have been surprisingly clear these last couple of weeks.  That's not to say that it hasn't still dumped rain on us every single day (because it has).  But, we've been gifted with some pretty beautiful skies.  I've noticed the clear skies mostly around sunrise and sunset, which is now happening at 7:30am and 3:50pm.  It's only a matter of time before we're down to a whopping six hours of daylight.  Woo-hoo.

Rising and setting times for the Sun       Length of day Solar noon Date Sunrise Sunset This day Difference Time Altitude Distance (million mi) Nov 9, 2013 7:33 AM 3:49 PM 8h 16m 25s − 4m 30s 11:42 AM 14.7° 92.066 Nov 10, 2013 7:35 AM 3:47 PM 8h 11m 56s − 4m 28s 11:42 AM 14.4° 92.044 Nov 11, 2013 7:38 AM 3:45 PM 8h 07m 31s − 4m 25s 11:42 AM 14.1° 92.021 Nov 12, 2013 7:40 AM 3:43 PM 8h 03m 07s − 4m 23s 11:42 AM 13.9° 92.000 Nov 13, 2013 7:42 AM 3:41 PM 7h 58m 47s − 4m 20s 11:42 AM 13.6° 91.978 Nov 14, 2013 7:45 AM 3:39 PM 7h 54m 30s − 4m 17s 11:42 AM 13.3° 91.957 Nov 15, 2013 7:47 AM 3:37 PM 7h 50m 16s − 4m 13s 11:42 AM 13.1° 91.936

You can check out more sunrise and sunset times on this website. 

I have been lucky enough to snap pictures of a couple of these incredible sunrises over the last weeks.  I think you'll all enjoy them…they are seriously spectacular.  And, to make it MORE awesome, none of the pictures have been edited and they all retain their original colors and beauty.  Enjoy :) 

And, then there is my personal favorite….

Cody was outside walking the dog when he spotted this beautiful sunrise.  He hurried back inside, dragged me out of bed, and insisted that I make an appearance in the front yard.  It was totally worth it. 

Questions:

Do you ever watch sunrise?

Which do you prefer, sunrise or sunset? 

Things To Do In Juneau: Eaglecrest Ski Area

One of Cody and I's favorite things to in Juneau is drive up to Eaglecrest Ski Area.  It's only a 7-10minute drive from our house, which is incredibly convenient.  Once the snow hits, this area is open for skiing (my preference) and snowboarding (Cody's preference).  There are tons of "alpine trails" for your winter sport enjoyment during the cold season.  Prices are expensive but that's pretty typical for skiing and snowboarding.  During the summer, Eaglecrest is a popular hiking spot and when the berries start coming in it is the best place to go picking (seriously-DELICIOUS blueberries).  I'd highly recommend a trip up to this beautiful place at any time of the year.  You can check out more about it here.

Cody and I headed up to Eaglecrest this weekend for a hike and we snapped some pictures.  The views were spectacular! The temperature kept us from hiking/exploring for too long though.  It was in the upper 20's and neither of us had busted out our winter gear yet (wishful thinking that it might be warm a bit longer).

The weather at Eaglecrest varies, much as it does in the rest of SE Alaska.  It will finally open (officially) for the year after the snows get deep enough for winter sports.  The opening date changes from year to year.  To show the extremes, I've included a picture from last year at Eaglecrest in November (knee-deep snow drifts) to compare to this year in November (no snow and sunshine).

Only in Alaska ;)

Questions:
What kind of weather are you experiencing?
Do you enjoy winter sports? 

Insta-Lately: Fall in Juneau Edition

Juneau has been rainy and incredibly October-like these days.  The leaves are red, the wind is howling, and the days are growing shorter.  Fall could not be any more amazing.  I've been snapping lots of pictures lately to capture everything I love about this season.  Here are a few of my favorites from this beautiful month.  Enjoy :)

Fallen leaves in the Gastineau Channel. 

Sunset on downtown Juneau. 

Rainy days in the woods. 

Sunset skies and falling leaves. 

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.
--L.M. Montgomery

Questions: 
What is your favorite month?
What do you love about October? 

Things To Do In Juneau: Hangar On The Wharf

Hangar on the Wharf is a local eatery in Juneau.  However, the building known as the "wharf" also houses tour companies, fishing adventures, and is the location of both the sea-plane and cruise ship docks.  This can be a beautiful area to stroll in on a pleasant day…

As you can see, when went there this weekend it was not-so-plesant.  That's Juneau for you... it is a rainforest so the rainy weather is pretty typical.  Personally, I don't mind the rain and find it to be just as beautiful in the fog and drizzle.

Back to the Hangar.  We enjoy eating here occasionally.  The prices are a little spend-y compared to other Juneau restaurants. As a vegetarian they do have a few (3-4) good options but they definitely don't cater specifically to "our crowd."

At the Hangar you will definitely be paying for the atmosphere and location.  The restaurant is right on the water and has incredible views.  During the summer you are up-close and personal with the cruise ships and throughout the year you can watch the sea planes dip into the water while you dine.  I recommend trying this place out if you are in town.  It's quite beautiful and has that Alaskan-vibe.  Plus, when you finish eating you can walk down the hall and book a flight to the glacier! Woo!

Questions:
Do you enjoy going out to eat on vacation? 
What is your favorite restaurant? 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

It's no secret that I am in love with Fall.  In fact, I did an entire blog entry about my favorite season (you can read it here).  One of my favorite things is eating/drinking pumpkin-flavored goodies.  This weekend Cody and I enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning and I decided to tryout a recipe I saw for homemade pumpkin spice lattes.  There was no choice…I had to do it.

Ingredients:

1cup milk

1tbs sugar

1tbs pumpkin puree 

 1/2tsp vanilla

brewed coffee

cinnamon

nutmeg

Directions:  Heat 1/2cup of milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, vanilla, and spices on medium heat. Bring to a simmer and hold at this temperature for 5minutes while occasionally whisking.  Then, whisk in remaining 1/2cup of milk.

I used this as more of a creamer for my coffee.  The website that the original recipe came from included a few more steps (but, hey, I'm a little lazy).  My coffee was amazing! I definitely recommend it.  Plop a little whipped cream on top and enjoy!

Questions:
How do you feel about pumpkin-flavored goodies? 
Do you make coffee at home or get it to-go?

Things To Do In Juneau: Sandy Beach

Well, I have not been blogging much lately…whoops!! In an effort to re-immerse myself in blogging and the blog-community I am hoping to tackle this weekly (or bi-weekly) series.  I want to take some time over the next few months to give a little insight into some of Juneau's best places to visit/things to do in the community.  To start off I want to introduce all of you to…

Sandy Beach! This lovely beach is also known as Savikko Park.  It is located on Douglas Island and is owned by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ).  You can look at more of the "technical" stuff about the beach/park on the CBJ website.

We love Sandy Beach for a variety of reasons.  It is a huge, lovely, all-sand beach for starters (perfection in my book).  But, the beach is also incredibly dog-friendly.  In fact, it is the closest thing to a dog park that Juneau has to offer.  Saturdays and Sundays the beach is filled with dog-owners strolling along the sandy shores while all the pups play together in the Gastineau Channel.  Our pup, Specks, is quite the fan :)

We also love to visit the historic trails located at the beach. The trails are very easy to hike and you will get the opportunity to traverse through the ruins of Treadwell Mine (a once successful mining operation in Juneau).  Signs can be found on portions of the trail describing different aspects of the mine. There is an incredible amount of history to be found on the trails (as well as the beach).

This site is accessible during all seasons! We have definitely enjoyed it at all points of the year, we even swam in the channel here during the summer!  However, when the Taku Winds blow through town, I'd steer clear.  Gusts can be pretty steady at 60mph, and on a chilly winter day…well, it isn't super pleasant.  All in all, this is a great place to go for a leisurely stroll or hike.  If you are new to town (or just visiting) you can come to Sandy Beach for free (just ask a cabbie to drop you off if you aren't sure of the locale).  Hope to see you there :)

Questions:
Are you interested in any of Juneau's attractions?
Where do you take your doggy to play?

I Love Fall

Things I LOVE about Fall: Halloween, oversized sweaters, long walks, cool nights, rainy days, bonfires, pumpkin-flavored everything, changing leaves, soups, warm beverages, apple cider, decorations….The list goes on and on.

Fall is my favorite season.  And, while Alaska doesn't boast the same amazing Fall colors that the Midwest is famous for, there is still beauty to be found everywhere.  The leaves are changing, the fields are turning brown, and the snow is creeping down the mountains.

There is much to be thankful for during my favorite season.  It is spectacular to see how Fall progresses here, in the 49th state.  I can't help but compare the changes to those that I experienced growing up in the heart of the Midwest.  I am not sure which place is better for celebrating this season but I do know that I love them both :)

Questions: 
What is your favorite season? Why?
What do you LOVE about Fall?