Big Alaska, Little Rug (Alaska Part Two...)

We have been home from Alaska for one month, and I can't stop thinking about it!  I just see the beautiful images over and over in my mind.  That is not a bad thing right???

I know some of you come to the Dusty Trail to see rug hooking stuff, so here is a little of that before I get back to Alaska memories. I have had this little mat pattern for a long time.  I blogged about it back in 2011 when I posted this picture as I was just starting it...

 

It is all hooked now and ready to finish.  This is a pattern called Tulip from Anita White's Cupboard Series.  They are really cute!  She also has wooden frames to fit them perfectly.  As you can see, the frame I bought is unfinished.  I have an idea to cover the frame with the teal wool (the teal is in the mat as the stem and outline color.)  I have 3 pieces of it so I think I have enough.

 

 So here is kind of what it would look like...   

I bought some spray glue that is supposed to work to adhere fabric to wood.  We'll soon see if it works!

 

Back to Alaska... Part Two.  We are still in Fairbanks.  The flowers in Alaska were amazing.  I just could not get enough!  Being from Kansas, I loved seeing these big old Sunflowers.

 

This arch in a park in Fairbanks is made with moose antlers.

 

 Close up...

Everywhere... flowers.  We couldn't pass up this photo op.  Mike must be taking the photo.

 

Window boxes and street flowers in downtown Fairbanks.

We asked someone to take our picture outside this restaurant when we left - you can see his shadow in the photo!  The sun was still so bright at 9:30PM or so that I couldn't even open my eyes to look at the camera!

About one second after I took the photo, this innocent little dog tried to bite us through the glass!  He was hoppin' MAD!  I love these bright colors.

Some more Alaskan eye candy on the streets of Fairbanks...

 They REALLY do take this dog sledding thing seriously!

 For tourists, Fairbanks provides a good opportunity to see and learn about the Alaska pipeline.  I did not realize so much of it is above ground.

 

Look at this!  So pretty.  

 

Love this raven at the pipeline site.  (Mike's photo)

 

We also enjoyed panning for gold outside of Fairbanks.  

This young guy is a pro, and he's attempting to teach a bunch of gringos from the Lower 48 how to do it.

 These guys are pros too!  They've been to Alaska 187 times - give or take a few ;>) 

Now something is just not right here.  Mr. Mike has successfully panned for Mr. Ray's gold rings.  (Morty's photo?)

Here's what it looks like after you swish and swirl and sweat your way through your little bag of gravel in your metal pan full of water.  Those little gold flecks are just that... little gold flecks.  Mike and I pooled our little gold flecks and it was $47.00 worth!  As you might suspect, there is a gift shop right there and they LOVE to turn your amazing find into a piece of jewelry, while you wait!  Didn't do that.

This huge contraption is how they really got the gold out way back when.

Can't you just see this guy down in the creek bed with a pan striking it rich!!! (Mike's photo)

Mike and I on the wonderful little train that takes you in and out of the gold mine.  (Morty's photo)

Goodbye Fairbanks.  Next stop Denali. 

Check back soon to see Mike's wonderful photos of Denali.  

For Denali, I will suspend my usual rule to show only (well, mostly) my own photos on my blog! 

For now, I'm back to Alaskan daydreaming....

oh... and I am hatching an idea for a hooked rug about Alaska...