Tasha in Alaska for the first time!

Tasha's first visit to Alaska included an impressive display of scenery on our first day's drive in a rented Toyota Camry to Valdez. Prior to reaching our destination we had to stop in North Pole (where Nancy lived for a year) to visit the "Santa Claus House" and have a picture taken with Santa.

We had good weather for most of the trip -- apart from some initial cloudiness. But, there were plenty of places to stop and take pictures prior to arriving in Valdez at a very nice B&B. - rw

The big win!

Nancy and Eielson H.S. were presented with a $60,000 check as the Grand Prize Winner in the Follett Challenge on Friday, May 6th when folks from Follett in the Chicago area flew to Fairbanks to visit Eielson, present the check and throw a party for the whole school (everyone received from Follett matching white T-shirts).

Not only was Nancy presented with the "grand prize award," but the Follett staff took Nancy and other leaders from the school, and the district, out to dinner that night. It was obviously a fine climax to Nancy's last year as a school librarian! At present she is closing-out the school year and awaiting the arrival of Tasha and myself on May 26th for a week-long tour of various tourist sites in Alaska. Nancy has succeeded in selling her car and most all of her furniture and household items. We will be riding in a rented Toyota Camry for our Alaska tour. (Student body below - w/ T-shirts) - rw

Colorado Columbine flowers

These Colorado Columbine flowers came up from seeds that former residents, Ed and Martha White, had planted last summer or spring. They came up in impressive fashion in the planting area in front of our place at #19, Springbrook Meadows. (Ed & Martha once lived in the high country above Pagosa Springs, CO.) - rw