SOME PRE-REMINISCING

Several weeks ago, Sister C. and I used our P day afternoon to take a look at the east side of Anchorage. We finally ended up in the neighborhood of the mission home. I decided to take a bunch of pictures for my failing memories' sake.

The street sign at the entrance of the cul de sac where 

the Alaska Mission Home is located. 

A view of the mission home without ten cars parked

around it.

Closer view -- three car garage. Expensive! (Real
estate in Anchorage is very expensive!!!)

The main entrance. The living room is at the right.

Another, but closer view...

From the driveway of the mission home looking North.

The home is located in Kempton Hills subdivision.
Irony - I'm related to some Kemptons. Go figure...

A view of the Brayton Chapel from Brayton Drive.

The temple as viewed as one enters the parking lot from
Brayton Drive.

The temple and the Brayton chapel are located on 

the same property and share the same parking lot.

A small "green area" adjacent to the temple

It's a "super" mini temple. We loved our weekly visit.

The front door with the sign over the window.

It's amazing how many times we visited the temple.

We used Wednesday nights as our weekly temple night.

We got to know the temple presidency quite well - not to

mention the workers. We will sorely miss them!

Another view - looking Southeast.

More of the green area...

and, once more.

This is looking Northeast - with a rain cloud sneaking in.

Flora...

a mini Daisy. I love Daisies.

Blurry Forgetmenots.

Looking at the temple toward the East.

A garden within the fence. Nice place for wedding pictures!

more garden -

and, more garden.

I should have put this pic first --

Brayton Chapel again.

Oh, please Alaska, forget me not.

Sister C.

Elder C.

Pines growing at the entrance of the parking lot.

Signs of Fall on Lake Otis Drive.

GENUINE STEAM PUNK - A VIEW OF THE FUTURE/PAST!

NO! THIS AIN'T STEAM PUNK! IT'S THE REAL THING!

While we were in Fairbanks a few weeks ago inspecting apartments, we passed this 1919 Model T Ford sitting at the entrance of a large apartment complex where we have two different missionary pair living. I had to turn around a get some shot of it. It would probably be best to enlarge these photos so that you can read the sign that gives it's history and to see the "modifications" that were made to this poor vehicle.

I know, kind of looks like Steam Punk, but it's the 

real deal.

HO! HO! HO! A VISIT WITH SANTA AT NORTH POLE

We visited and inspected all of the missionary apartments in the Fairbanks last week. Two of the apartments are located in a small city some eleven miles to the south that is named "NORTH POLE." I should have taken more pictures of the businesses, etc. around the city because the motif is definitely Christmas and Santa Claus - light posts looked like candy canes in the business district. However, we were looking for apartment addresses and I didn't stop for pictures until we ran into the SANTA CLAUS HOUSE. Sister C. was more than game for a stop and a few purchases. So we stopped.

HO!

HO!

HO!

The following pictures are on the outside of the building.

These murals are on tile.

Oh, Tannenbaum, Oh Tannenbaum...

Even Santa has a love life.

Yes Siree!

"This is the right place."

"Shop first and then drive on."

Sorry Brigham....

Before we went in, we had to inspect the reindeer.

As you can see, the velvet is coming off the antlers.
They sure weren't like the reindeer we saw in Palmer!

She's hard to see, but that is Sister C. to the left in black

The soldier was several feet taller than I am.

Another large Santa.

These two pictures are of a large Creche.

It would be large enough for a front lawn.

Another "wooden" soldier -- several feet tall.

Ornaments --

Very expensive nut crackers!

I liked the cats on the tree ornament.

Build your very own village.

Several motifs - this one for leather clad bikers!

Check out the brewery on the bottom shelf.

On the top was a collection of old memorabilia.

That's a fairly good likeness of Clark Gable...

Not that I give a d-mn, My dear.

We have that particular creche at home and it

cost a lot less that this one did.

Stuff that looks like the late 1940's.

And, of course, we have a slay for a musher and

his huskies. (I wanted to buy this but the cost was

something like $56.00. Expensive Popsicle sticks!

A likeness of Bullwinkle -- notice that the price of this

carving is $750.00.

Another Santa -- my height this time.

Check out the size of this moose -- the one on the right, I mean.

He was as expensive as he was tall.

This was a cute T shirt for kids -- tempting!

I loved this one! The John Deere emblem with a

jumping moose!

Another one for Grand kids.

I believe in you Pan, I believe in you!

Oops, wrong fairy, er Elf.

In case you are asking yourself if we bought anything, we did. Three Alaska, Christmas House ornaments, a large Santa book, suitable for entertaining the Grand Kiddlies, and two little knives. Mine say Rodney on one side and Santa Claus House on the other. Sister C's say World's best Grandma on it. Mine is the same as the knife I bought in Yellowstone two summers ago except that it has Rod one one side and "Jellystone" on the other.