Camai B&B Happenings

Cornmeal Flapjacks Camai Bed & Breakfast

2011-04-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Caroline Valentine at Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska, tried a new breakfast recipe this week for Cornmeal Flapjacks served with berries. Winter is almost over and the revision of the recipes for summer guests has almost been completed. Table is set and breakfast is ready. Come stay at Camai Bed and Breakfast and join us for breakfast.

Cornmeal Flapjacks

1 cup cornmeal
¾ cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 tablespoons molasses
1 ½ cups low-fat buttermilk
2 cups strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or mixed of berries
If doing this in the winter you could use frozen berries or bananas.

Mix together the dry ingredients. Add the beaten egg, oil, molasses and buttermilk.
Heat griddle to 325 degree, then oil. Drop almost ¼ cup batter onto griddle for each flapjack. Cook about 2 minutes on each side. Keep in warming drawer until ready to serve.

Serve with berries and maple syrup or blueberry syrup.

Makes about 12—4 inch flapjacks.

To make this recipe more healthy I suggest using ¾ cup wheat flour instead of white flour.

Either way you will enjoy!

Kodiak Alaska Fishing

2011-04-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

Abundant fishing on Kodiak Island of Alaska occurs due to several factors. One is plankton. Many of the forces of nature come together in the waters off Kodiak Island in Alaska. Why? It’s all about plankton’s needs.

Plankton need nitrate, iron and sunlight. The Pacific Current heads west from Japan, sometimes fast, sometimes slow and it slams into the panhandle of Alaska. There it splits into the Southern California current and the part going north is the Alaskan Current. The Alaska bight swings it around and directs back west. In the u-turn a gyre is set up pumping up deep cold nitrate rich water.

Storm fronts also heading west hit the Alaska Panhandle’s 14,000 foot mountains and dump enormous amounts of rain. When this rain reaches the sea, it is nitrate poor but very rich in iron. In the winter this water forms a narrow vertical wedge that is weakly stratified. The weak stratification drags what plankton that grows deep and out of the sunlight. In the Summer this vertical wedge re-forms as a shallow horizontal layer on top of the cold water in a highly stratified system where the plankton can't get at the nitrates. During Spring and Fall life is good for plankton.

But that isn't all. As the Alaskan Current moves west irregularities in the coastline, small islands, and the drag against the ocean floor sets up eddies. These eddies promote some mixing. And when the Alaskan current slams against Kodiak Island currents from the deep are forced up and marine life, birds, and sea lions, harbor seals become very thick and abundant. Welcome to Kodiak one of the world's richest fisheries. The Kodiak Project documents fly fishing on the Karluk.

For Easterners you have a similar situation with a cold deep layer laden with nitrate and iron forced up by the Grand Banks into the sunlight.

While Craig and Caroline of Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage have lived in Alaska for more than 34 years, this weekend is the first that Craig has visited Kodiak, Alaska. He wrote the above report.

Pecan Cinnamon Rolls recipe

2011-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

This breakfast recipe for Pecan Cinnamon Rolls is a modification of the recipe for Bacon Pecan Cinnamon Rolls found on food.com. At Camai Bed and Breakfast’s house for breakfast this past weekend I prepared the recipe for Bacon Cinnamon Rolls. I always prepare the recipe exactly is written the first time. While it is tasty, in my opinion, it is not as good as the one below which I have modified, as indicated.

The recipe is easy to prepare and its presentation is impressive.

Please let me know what you think of this recipe. You may post a comment to this blog if you wish.

Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecan halves
• ½ lb bacon, cooked crisp crumbled (I suggest omitting this.*)
• 24 refrigerated biscuits (large ones)
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• ¾ cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar* (original recipe calls for regular sugar)
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Spray bundt pan with non-stick spray. Spread pecans on bottom. If you are using crumbled bacon, also spread it on bottom of pan. Set this aside.

In gallon size Ziploc bag mix ¾ cup sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Place biscuit three at at time in Ziploc bag. Shake well until each is coated.

Place pieces into a bundt pan on top of the pecans. About six biscuits will form a first layer. Stagger each layer. You will have about four layers.

Combine melted butter, 1 cup brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Pour over biscuits.

Bake until golden brown for about 35 minutes in 350 degree oven. Serve warm.

Camai Bed & Breakfast House’s Bathroom Remodel

2011-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Rose Suite bathroom’s newest remodel at Camai Bed and Breakfast is now completed. Our house is frequently under construction which makes it challenging to schedule work while making sure that guests are not aware of the construction. We have done fourteen major remodels.

The latest work, a minor one, was to remove a huge cabinet which served no function. By removing the cabinet the bathroom now looks even more spacious.

Last Friday the very large cabinet which extended up to the ceiling was removed. The cabinet is still good and was donated to Habitat Re-store where it will be re-sold. At Camai B&B we are an eco conscious and green award-winning bed and breakfast.

After the removal, the wall was taped and mudded. Finally the wall was textured. Two days later I painted. A framed piece of Chinese art which Craig’s mother gave to Craig now hangs on the newly painted wall. New guests arrived same evening the project was completed.

Camai Bed and Breakfast's House Energy Efficient Plan

2011-03-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Anchorage Alaska's Camai Bed and Breakfast had an energy audit done for our house this past fall. Our house is undergoing several important jobs to become more eco friendly. A major part of becoming more energy efficient was installing a Weil McLain Ultra boiler. I suggest to everyone considering a new boiler is that you find a reputable company. Moore Plumbing and Heating in Anchorage has been incredibly good! They worked very long days to get the job done and to do it correctly.

Secondly, I suggest having the new installation done in the winter. You will know immediately if something was not done exactly right. We have had two situations we would not have known about if it had not been winter and we needed the heat. The first occurred because two of the seven zone valves were mixed-up. Moore came immediately to fix it. Second problem was not getting heat from a zone valve to our garage. Moore Plumbing and Heating came promptly to fix that. Neither one of these situations would have been evident if we were in the summer months when we did not need heat from the boiler.

Now that the boiler installation is complete and working well, we contracted the job of adding insulation behind all the outer walls’ electrical outlets; insulating behind the molding around all of our windows; replacing windows where the double pane is no longer sealed.; and insulating light cans on our upper floor. This insulation job is not very exciting; however, it will save us considerable energy.

We will also be replacing all of our outer doors and weather stripping around them. While all of the outer doors have storm doors, replacing the doors will save substantial energy.

These are the major energy saving jobs we have contracted to have done at times when they will not impact our bed and breakfast guests.

Fall 2011 we will have our second energy audit and expect to have greatly improved our efficiency.

Moose at Camai House's Anchorage Garden

2011-03-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

This moose visited our Anchorage Alaska bed and breakfast’s backyard winter garden. With more than 1600 moose living in Anchorage it is inevitable that you will see moose in the city. Camai B&B’s house has a backyard which borders Chester Creek where moose often browse especially during the winter months. Alaska wildlife within our city is abundant.

Our bed and breakfast guests often ask when the next moose will stroll by. It is unfortunate that the moose do not have a published time-table for their visits to our neighborhood. The more frequent time for their appearance is either early morning just after dawn or late afternoon.

This moose came and rested in the yard in the late afternoon before continuing her browsing trip down Chester Creek.

She is a frequent visitor this winter making it important for all of us to be aware of our surroundings before using the Chester Creek Trail system.

Energy Efficient Boiler Installed at Camai Bed and Breakfast

2011-03-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

With temperatures dropping to minus 10 degrees F at night in Anchorage, Alaska, the installation of Camai Bed and Breakfast’s Weil MacLain ultra energy efficient boiler was done this past week.

The plumbers, Rich and Dustin, arrived from Moore Plumbing and Heating ready to do the first day’s work for the installation on Thursday. A snag with the venting was almost immediately discovered. With the more than fourteen major remodels to the B&B that have been done, the pipe from the boiler at the lowest floor up to the top floor some 2 ½ floors up was not a straight length. There were elbows. The new energy efficient boiler required special intake and exhaust pipes. Day one ended without the usual work being completed.

Day two brought the simplest solution. Only two different levels would have to have cuts in the sheet rock to access the pipes. One was on the top floor in our area. The other was in the kitchen’s pantry. Fortunately, neither one would effect our bed and breakfast guests.

The two plumbers arrived early Friday morning and worked at the getting the intake and exhaust pipes installed by mid-afternoon. Meanwhile the old boiler and the recently discovered broken water heater were removed. Late in the afternoon the new installation began. The plumbers worked until beyond midnight to get heat in the house. When they left, we had heat which was on and would not go off. Everyone was thankful for the heat since we had been without since early in the morning.

Day three only Dustin returned to wire the zone valves. He worked until 9 that night. He thought it was working; however, it needed trouble-shooting. A third plumber, Roy, came to do that. Roy left before 10 PM and declared that all looked good.

When we awoke this morning with our bedroom’s temperature at 86 degrees, we knew they switched at least one of the zone valves. Roy returned. It seems to be fixed.

This was a major project which we have needed for several years. It is good to have the high efficiency boiler. We look forward to using less energy while staying warm in the winter.

2011 Anchorage Fur Rondy Begins

2011-02-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

Anchorage Fur Rondy started February 25 and runs for nine more days. What an opportunity to enjoy Alaska’s Winter! The World Championship Sled Dog Races go through our neighborhood on Chester Creek trail. Neighbors on Wesleyan Drive line the trail and cheer on the mushers. Several years ago one of Camai Bed & Breakfast’s guest took excellent pictures of sled dog racers as they were on this trail.

This picture is of Arleigh Reynolds and his team. He is from Salcha which is about thirty miles south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway. For today’s second heat mushers started in reverse order of yesterday’s finish. Arliegh and his dogs finished first in Friday’s heat so he started last today.

The classic blanket toss will be February 25 from 4-7PM downtown at the Carnival. The blanket toss is sponsored by Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI). There will be more of this event on March 4, 5 and 6. Times for the blanket toss are posted on the Fur Rondy website.

February 27 will be a good day to view the ice sculptures in the Ship Creek Area near the Alaska Rail Road Depot. Judging is Sunday. Dress warmly. It was sunny and cold with wind today.

If you want to go to the outhouse race you will have to come to 2012 Fur Rondy. This race was today at 4PM. The outhouse race is sponsored by UAA to help send students to New Orleans to help Habitat for Humanity.

On March 5 my husband Craig will be running with many other humans as well as reindeer. The event is at 4PM. I am expected to get good pictures.

Finally don’t miss seeing the Fur Rondy Melodrama. This years is titled "The Merry Monsters of Matsylvania:" A Monster Melodrama. Tickets can be purchased at Center-Tix website.

It is time to get out and enjoy the Anchorage winter events at Fur Rondy.

Camai B&B recommends Anchorage Fur Rondy Melodrama

2011-02-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Camai Bed and Breakfast owners' favorite Anchorage Fur Rondy event is the Melodrama written and sung/acted by Alaska Sound Celebration. The melodrama this year is “The Merry Monsters of Matsylvania.” How could monsters be merry? One newly created monster has no name and just wants to sing and have fun. Hilarity ensues. The play runs from February 25 through March 11 at the Snow Goose Theatre, 717 West 3rd Avenue in downtown Anchorage.

The audience is invited to come dressed as your best monster and hone your popcorn throwing skills. This is an absolute must! Do not miss the family fun this melodrama offers. It is destined to be the Fur Rondy best melodrama yet.

Tickets can be purchased on line or by calling 907-263-2787.

Camai Bed and Breakfast Celebrates 30 years!

2011-01-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

Camai Bed and Breakfast is celebrating our 30th year in business in Anchorage, Alaska! That makes us the oldest operating bed and breakfast in Alaska.

We want to include our 2011 B&B guests in our celebration. Finally we got the inspiration of how to celebrate.

Alaska Denali Winery has been in business for 14 years. We have made some delightful wines using their facility and products. We purchased grape juice for both a Chilean Chardonnay and Chilean Merlot. These wines will be ready for us to bottle in late March. After that we will offer a choice of red wine, white wine or sparkling cider to our guests who congratulate us on the 30th anniversary of owning and operating a home-stay bed and breakfast.

We wish to thank the Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association and the Bed and Breakfast Association of Alaska and all their members who have been such a support throughout the years. Camai B&B was a founding/charter member of each group. We have also been members of Professional Association of Innkeepers International for many years. We commend this group for its Better Way to Stay campaign and for the monthly webinars. Most importantly we thank Acorn Internet Service

for our website design, hosting and terrific support they have done for us. Their Webinars are the best learning tools around!

So, join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone! Happy Anniversary, Camai Bed and Breakfast!!

Anchorage Alaska Ice Carvings

2011-01-21T14:28:00.000-08:00

What Anchorage, Alaska, winter activity do we at Camai Bed and Breakfast recommend? Go view the ice carvings. Earlier this month in Anchorage Alaska’s downtown Town Square the 2011 Crystal Gallery of Ice Carving Competition occurred. Each of the ten teams started with approximately two tons of ice to carve. With the cold weather the lovely carvings remain ready to be viewed. Check out “The Predator” which is a sculpture of a lynx and rabbit.

Bring ice skates for free skating on the ice rick in Town Square. The rink is groomed on Fridays and Sundays this month through February.

Your hosts at Camai Bed and Breakfast can suggest other favorite winter activities or summer Anchorage activities if you are planning a Summer 2011 trip to Anchorage.

Anchorage and Alaska Public Art

2011-01-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

In 1975 Alaska’s Legislature passed the Percent for Art in Public Places statute which requires spending up to 1% of construction cost of public buildings on art. Anchorage, Alaska, also has a similar program of 1% for art.

When a visitor arrives at the new section of Anchorage International Airport the attached art picture can be viewed. Canopy was installed in 2008 and might be missed if you are merely looking straight ahead. At eyelevel all that is visible are pillars made to look like tree trunks. Look up! Wow what a treat!

Another work of art at the airport is that of Northern Lights; however the location of this work is in the tunnel going to the train. This section is often closed.

We at Camai Bed and Breakfast enjoy suggesting activities for our guests and have printed a list of twenty-two pages of public art as just one suggestion.

Regarding the Anchorage 1% for art works: one of my favorite works of public art Boreal Ballet done by Keith Appel. It is a colored lights display on an aluminum exterior in front of a Northern Lights ABC School at Lake Otis and Dowling. This is best viewed this time of year, just like the real Northern Lights.

Another favorite of mine is located at the main entrance to East High School located on Bragaw near Northern Lights Boulevard. This work, “Thunderbird Sunrise” done by Marcus Tingle, is a stained glass window over the front entrance.

An artist friend of mine once told me that art should evoke a reaction in its viewer. Another public work of art does evoke a reaction for me. It is located outside the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. Antony Gormley created “Habitat” which is a sculpture of 57 stainless steel stacked boxes. Can you see a seated person with arms crossed?

We in Anchorage Alaska are fortunate to have such numerous and varied works of public art to up-lift and inspire us.

Hawaii's Oldest Lutheran Church

2010-12-31T17:42:00.000-08:00

Lihue Lutheran Church on Kauai was founded June 1881 and is the oldest Lutheran church in Hawaii. The German immigrants who founded the church came to Kawai to work on a sugar plantation. Their voyage was six months and around Cape Hope. The church's edifice was built in 1885 to replicate that of a ship which carried out the symbolism of the church as a ship.

In 1982 Hurricane Iwa destroyed the building. It has since been lovingly rebuilt in the same architectural style.

This Alaskan (Caroline) was practicing the organ in the balcony today when a tour group came through. The balcony is like the captain’s bridge. The acoustics in the sanctuary are outstanding.

When on Kauai plan to visit and/or worship here. The sanctuary is open weekdays in the morning. Sunday worship services are at 8AM and 10:30AM. The Rev. Dr. Paul Kirchner is the pastor.

If you have ever wondered what Bed and Breakfast owners do on their vacations, Caroline & Craig of Camai Bed and Breakfast visit Kauai where they find winter sunshine and renewal.

Kauai Coffee Company

2010-12-29T23:06:00.000-08:00

We needed coffee and set out for Kauai Coffee Plantation today. The sun was shining after several days of heavy rain and flash flood warnings. It was a short drive from our Lawai Beach Resort Time Share Property.

Kauai Coffee’s location is in the midst of its coffee orchards. The store is part gift shop, coffee tasting, coffee educational museum and outdoor “maze.”

Kauai Coffee Company has the largest drip irrigation coffee estate in the world. The tubing is more than 2500 miles. “Kauai Coffee is committed to following environmentally friendly agricultural practices.” We also learned that the coffee plants are related to gardenias. When coffee is in bloom it too is quite fragrant. In 1996 Kauai Coffee Plantation exceeded the coffee production of all the combined coffee plantations in the Kona region of the Big Island.

We did the short walking tour (the “maze”) and enjoyed the signage explaining the coffee production process and the heavy equipment and facilities used in its production. Please be aware that this is not a maze as was explained in the first “maze” sign. Our grandchildren were disappointed. The walk was extremely easy to follow and one would be hard pressed to get lost.

After the walk we returned to the gift shop and bought some coffee we had just seen roasted. We also signed up for the coffee of the month plan and look forward to the first arrival in January 2011. Kauai Coffee Company’s website has shopping online.

We look forward to serving this delicious coffee to our Camai Bed and Breakfast guests.

Alaska Winter Preparations

2010-10-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Fall at Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska is time to prepare for winter. We have put up storm doors for both the private entrances to our Fireweed Suite and Rose Suite as well as replaced our original garage doors. The storm doors are keeping our bed and breakfast guests warmer because there is less air leakage. The garage doors mean we will use less energy to heat our two garages.

To make the Bed and Breakfast more energy efficient and ultimately warmer for less money we had an energy audit this past week done by Energy Smart Alaska. The preliminary report is that we need to insulate around all the windows’ moldings, insulate all the outer walls’ electrical plugs, and to insulate the ceiling’s can lights on our upper floor. It will be tedious to do yet should have good energy savings.

Leaves have been raked and cleaned up. I hired C's Services this year. They recently became an associate member of the Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association. I was extremely pleased with their work. I've removed all the dead plants removed from our flowerbeds. Sadly I did not have time to plant the tulips before the ground froze.

Now all we need is for it to snow. Today looks like the day snow will finally come. Termination dust (snow) has been creeping lower and lower on the mountains. The picture is of the Chugach Mountain range and was taken earlier this month.

I hope the Halloween Trick-or-Treaters come early this evening before the snow.

Quinoa Recipe warms Camai B&B guests

2010-10-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hot quinoa recipe for Anchorage winter breakfast at Camai B&B hits the spot! The following recipe is a variation of another one I posted this past summer. Snow is on the mountains and coming soon to our bed and breakfast's yard. Warm up with this recipe.

Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa Recipe

I used an organic white quinoa which I purchased at Costco. Low-fat soy milk may replace the low fat milk and you may eliminate the yogurt.

1 cup organic 1% low fat milk 
1 cup water 
1 cup organic quinoa
2 cups frozen/thawed blueberries (fresh are better)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted* 
4 teaspoons birch syrup, maple syrup may be substituted
4 tablespoons plain yogurt

Combine milk, water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. Stir in blueberries and cinnamon; transfer to four bowls and top 1 tablespoon plain yogurt and with pecans. Drizzle 1 teaspoon birch syrup over each serving.

Serves 4.

*While the quinoa cooks, roast the pecans in a 350F degree oven for 5 to 6 minutes.

Alaskan Winter Approaches

2010-10-03T21:41:00.000-07:00

Alaskans living in Anchorage know winter is coming as soon as the snow returns to the Chugach Mountain peaks. The snow appeared this past week after we had a rain and wind storm. This picture taken in our Anchorage neighborhood shows this year’s “termination dust” on the Chugach Mountains.

We, “sourdoughs”, say we have ”termination dust” on the mountains. A sourdough is a person who has been through at least one entire winter in Alaska. Craig and I lived outside of Fairbanks in the “suburbs” of North Pole for five winters, as well as glorious hot summers. After that we more than qualified as sourdoughs.

Someone new to Alaska is a Chechako.

Many Alaskans have the custom of removing their shoes after they enter their home. It is hard to determine where this very practical custom started. In Fairbanks everyone did it mainly because no one clumped around in their heavy “bunny” boots. These are insulated very warm boots. Once we came to Anchorage it seemed the shoe removal custom was also present. It certainly keeps volcanic ash off the carpets when we have had nearby eruptions. It also keeps the sand from all the winter road sanding out of our homes. We observe this custom at Camai Bed and Breakfast as do many of the other Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association members.

Perhaps the bottom line to the shoe removal is many Alaskans have the attitude that they don’t care how it’s done “outside.” The “outside” refers to all the other 49 states. Alaskans seem to do what best suits our situation.

Bed and Breakfast Association of Alaska Workshop

2010-09-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Bed and Breakfast Association of Alaska’s Workshop will be held in Kenai September 23, 24, and 25. The BBAA annual meetings are always a time to refresh and learn after a full summer of hosting guests at Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage.

The event starts with the state board meeting on Thursday and continues on Friday with workshops
• IRS—Tax Implications of structuring, Reporting and Selling your B&B
• New Technology and Products
• Retiring from your B&B
• Loans, Lending and Capital for B&Bs
• Social Media

This coming year is Camai B&B’s 30th year in business. We still enjoy operating a bed and breakfast, but the information on retiring will be useful. Social Media is the session I anticipate most eagerly.

Saturday will include networking/visiting and our annual BBAA business meeting. Look at the schedule and come!

Alaska State Fair 2010, Palmer Alaska

2010-08-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

The Alaska State Fair 2010 in Palmer Alaska celebrates its 75 year with a grand opening today, August 26, 2010. This year’s fair theme is “Imagine if…” The Fair runs through September 6. The fair offers exciting events, entertainment, and displays for all ages and interests.

Check out the daily events.

Camai Bed and Breakfast is offering special rates for visitors during the week of August 29. Call us and ask (907-333-2219) or go to Camai Bed and Breakfast website’s availability calendar.

Breakfast Quinoa Fruit Vegetarian Recipe

2010-08-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

Breakfast Quinoa recipe is a great vegetarian recipe and a healthy recipe for those who are lactose intolerant as long as it is served with rice or soy milk. This Camai Bed and Breakfast recipe with other breakfast dishes was served this morning. Last summer was the first time we served quinoa. This year at a guest’s suggestion we tried a modification of Pinky's recipe. Give quinoa a try and you will be in for a delicious, healthy surprise.

Camai’s Breakfast Quinoa a la Pinky

½ cup quinoa
1 cup water
pinch of salt (if desired)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries

In a saucepan combine quinoa, water, and (optional) salt. After bringing to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Cook about 10 minutes until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed. Cool slightly and fluff with a fork.

Stir in the cinnamon, maple syrup, blueberries and raspberries.

Serve warm with vanilla yogurt, soy milk or regular milk. Of course you should not serve yogurt or regular milk to someone who is lactose intolerant.

Camai Bed and Breakfast is a charter member of Anchorage Breakfast Club where you can find more recipes on their blog as well as their website.

Easy Breakfast Recipe, Anchorage Bed Breakfast

2010-07-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

Here’s an easy breakfast recipe served at our Anchorage Alaska Bed Breakfast during the summer. It is a sweet treat that goes well with coffee. At Camai Bed and Breakfast every meal starts with a generous fresh seasonal fruit. Most summer mornings this is followed with an egg dish from breakfast recipes that we research during the winter months. A breakfast meat is also served. This simple recipe really appeals to a guest’s sweet tooth.

Rita’s Cream Cheese Delight

2 8-ounce crescent roll dough cans

16 ounces cream cheese

1 ½ cup sugar (divided)

1 egg separated

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup chopped pecans

Spread 1 can of dough in 9X13 pan. Press perforations together.

Combine 16 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla.

Spread onto dough which is in the pan.

Cover cream cheese mixture with 2^nd can’s dough.

Beat egg white and brush on top.

Combine ½ cup sugar and ½ cup chopped pecans. Sprinkle on top of dough.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Cut into small squares.

Serves 12.

Rugosa Roses, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

2010-07-08T23:17:00.000-07:00

The rugosa roses along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage Alaska are in bloom and extremely fragrant. Park at the Winchester Lagoon parking lot near the Covy Cafe. First enjoy the view of the Chugach Mountains beyond the lagoon. Then walk toward Earthquake Park on the trail. In less than a quarter of a mile you will be rewarded not only by the views of downtown Anchorage but also the scent of double-flowered rugosa roses.

When you return to your car, stop at Covy Café for some coffee or ice cream. This café is operated by Covenant House Alaska for job training of youth.

When choosing things to do in Anchorage, Alaska, Craig and Caroline at Camai Bed and Breakfast have even more suggestions for their guests.

Anchorage Alaska’s Camai Bed and Breakfast Motorcycling Guests

2010-06-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska, has had several guests who traveled to Alaska on their motorcycles via the Alaska Highway. This past week we had Curtis and Ray and their wives, Kathy and Rubette stay with us. Curtis and Ray traveled the Alaska Highway (on a Gold Wing Honda and a BMW) while their wives flew up to Alaska.

The pictures were taken yesterday after breakfast as Curtis and Ray got ready to leave Anchorage and Alaska behind. Curtis has the Gold Wing and was ready to go before Ray. Curtis chatted with Jeff on Camai B&B's driveway. Ray has the BMW.

Many interesting stories where shared at the Camai’s breakfast table. Curtis and Ray are sharing their adventures on their blog where you can find out about their wrong-turn adventure coming to Anchorage. Two of the mornings we had another guest from Washington state (Jeff) who shared several rides not to be missed in his area.

Last year we had a Canadian from Ontario who took the trip on his motorcycle. His wife flew to Anchorage and joined him. They toured some of the state on the motorcycle before his wife flew home while he biked back to Ontario.

Camai B&B Rhubarb Coffee Cake Recipe

2010-06-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Here in Anchorage Alaska at Camai Bed and Breakfast our rhubarb plants are thriving along with many flowers, vegetables and hanging baskets. Today is summer solstice and a warm sunny day. We can practically see the plants growing!

Breakfast this morning started with a fruit plate. Here is the recipe for a rhubarb coffee cake that was served with Marne's Easy Egg dish as well as sausage this morning.

Camai Bed and Breakfast Favorite Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degree. Grease spring form 10X3” pan. Lightly flour.

Rhubarb sauce (makes more than you need for recipe)
4 cups sliced rhubarb
½ cups sugar

In a sauce pan cook over lowest heat stirring frequently. Cook until rhubarb is just tender. Remove from heat and cool.

Cream cheese layer
6 oz cream cheese
¼ cup sugar
1 egg

Soften cream cheese. Mix in sugar. Stir in egg. Set aside.

Cake topping
1 cup flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup butter

Mix flour, sugar, and almonds. Cut in butter. Set aside.

Cake
2 ¼ cups flour
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 teaspoon almond extract

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in butter. Mix in sour cream, egg and almond extract.

Assembly
Pour cake into prepared pan. Spread cream cheese layer evenly over cake. Spread 1 cup rhubarb sauce over cream cheese. Sprinkle with cake topping.

Bake for 50-60 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before placing on serving dish and removing pan.

Serves 8 generously.

For other rhubarb recipes check out the Anchorage Breakfast Club blog and Big Bear Bed and Breakfast's posting.

Textile Arts at Camai Bed and Breakfast

2010-06-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Numerous hand crafted works of art are displayed at Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska, for guests to enjoy. The women in Caroline’s family have worked and continue to do cross-stitch, crazy quilt, needlepoint, painting on silk, and borgello. Abbey Naumen (daughter-in-law), Cecilia Smith (daughter), Gwen Dunbar (mother), Betty Dunbar (sister-in-law), Meta Pillsbury Dunbar (paternal grandmother), Mary Louise Pillsbury, Libby Dunbar (sister), and Caroline have works displayed throughout the B&B.

When Abbey was in high school her violin teacher had her students do a “senior” recital. Abbey asked Caroline to accompany her…which Caroline did with joy. Since Caroline would not take money for accompanying her, Abbey made a cross-stitch and gave it to Caroline. The cross-stitch is of the Prayer of St. Francis. This is hanging in the B&B’s main entrance.

At the top of the stairs on the living room level is Cecilia’s latest cross-stitch masterwork. Cecilia began working on this when she visited Gwen after Gwen moved to Oregon to live in a retirement community. Gwen eventually moved to the assisted living section of the facility. Cecilia brought her baby and cross-stitch to visit her grandmother. Cecilia now has three young children. This past October Cecilia went to Illinois with Caroline and Howard (Caroline’s brother) to bury Gwen’s ashes. Cecilia took the cross-stitch out again and worked on it. Once the work was completed Cecilia decided to give it to Caroline for Mother’s Day. Cecilia sent it to her sister-in-law (Abbey) who washed it and ironed it. Abbey and Kit gave Caroline the frame. This is a most treasured piece.

When Gwen was first married she made needlepoint seat covers for all of her dining room chairs. Caroline’s sister, Libby Dunbar, obtained at least three of these needlepoint chair seats. Libby framed them and gave one to Howard Dunbar, one to Caroline and kept one. The needlepoint given to Caroline is hanging in the living room of the bed and breakfast.

When Caroline was in sixth grades she had a severe case of viral pneumonia. Gwen wanted to keep Caroline occupied for the few hours a day that Caroline was awake. Needlepoint was Gwen’s answer. The two pieces Gwen had Caroline work were eventually completed by Gwen. These hang above Caroline’s piano at the bed and breakfast’s common area.

Grouped with Caroline's two needlepoint works is a cross-stitch of an angel, one of Cecilia’s early works.

On the piano bench is a needlepoint cover which Meta made and which she had on her piano bench in Illinois.

Gwen and Meta embroidered many pieces which were used on a daily basis. Parts of the hand towels, napkins, tablecloths, and bed linens were soiled beyond cleaning. Several of these pieces were given to Betty. Betty created a crazy quilt out of the good, clean remnants from Gwen’s and Meta’s work. The crazy quilt is framed and hanging in the Rose Suite.

Also hanging in the Rose Suite is a painting on silk which was done by Mary Louise Pillsbury circa 1902.

At breakfast, Camai B&B’s guests sit on the dining room chairs which are a combination of needlepoint and borgello. Each one represents a state flower. Craig’s sister, Lynne Worth, did them for her mother. When Mom (Peggy Lane) remodeled, the chair covers no long fit her décor. She asked Craig and Caroline if they wanted them. Yes, was the answer! Craig is trying to encourage either Lynne or Cecilia to do two more seat covers. One would be of the “forget-me-not” which is Alaska’s state flower.

A folder of pictures of each art work can be found on Camai Bed and Breakfast's Facebook page.

Anchorage Museum & Star Wars Exhibit

2010-04-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center’s Star Wars exhibit is in its last week. A tip for all procrastinators: early in the week will be a better time to go. The museum is closed on Monday. It will probably be packed with people wanting to get in for a last look this coming weekend.

You can go online to reserve. Craig and I from Camai B&B will be there this coming Wednesday. We have our tickets and plan to have lunch in the Muse. You can make reservations to dine there online.

Spring Cleaning Tips—Camai Bed and Breakfast Progress Report

2010-04-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

Anchorage Alaska days are getting longer. Spring is coming. It is time to do the deep cleaning before the busy season brings us guests. Below are five cleaning tips. Now that Camai Bed and Breakfast's kitchen remodel is complete except for installing one last light fixture, it is right to get the spring cleaning under way. (Pictures of the remodel can be found on Camai B&B's Facebook page. Use the Facebook button to the right of this blog.)

The picture with this blog shows the effect of a sparkling chandelier in our dining room. Cleaned this gold plated, crystal chandelier is stunning.

• Clean door mats: I started the major cleaning with the door mat and the front porch. I cannot say enough about what a difference it makes to rid the entry of all the fine grainy construction dust/dirt which the kitchen remodel workers brought with them.

• Clean/shampoo the carpets, draperies & upholstered furniture: Craig and I removed the draperies from the dining room and took them to the cleaners. As we removed the hooks, I marked the drapery hook holes with a permanent marker. Tomorrow when we get them back it will be easier to put the hooks back and hang them. I called the company I use to clean our blinds. He came last week; took down the kitchen shades; cleaned them; and returned them in pristine condition. This week he will come for all the other shades.

• Clean light fixtures: The kitchen has all new light fixtures. In the dining room I used the best ever product (Sparkle Plenty) to clean the crystal chandelier. All it took was putting down plastic and newspapers, spraying the chandelier, letting it dry. Voila! Instant sparkle…beautiful!

• Clean refrigerator’s condenser coil: I’ve done this in past years. This year the refrigerator is new and wonderfully energy efficient. I’ll do the coil cleaning in about 6 months.

• Wash all bedding, comforters, mattress pads, and pillows. Vacuum and flip your mattress over to provide even wear. Clean out from under your bed. Replace bed with clean bedding. This is now complete in two of the three suites. The final suite will be done this week.

Camai Bed and Breakfast's deep cleaning is just beginning. By early May when the bed and breakfast has its biennial inspection for continued membership in Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association, everything will be ready.

New Kitchen Flooring at Anchorage’s Camai Bed and Breakfast

2010-03-29T23:12:00.000-07:00

At Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska, we planned our kitchen remodel to use environmentally friendly products. The new hardwood kitchen floor is a product of Columbia Flooring. Our B&B’s flooring is a light cherry engineered hardwood floor. Columbia Flooring crafted it from renewable resources grown and manufactured here in the United States. The flooring was manufactured without using urea-formaldehyde which is traditionally used to manufacture composite wood flooring. Columbia takes its role of being an environmentally friendly company seriously.

Early in January the flooring was delivered so that it could acclimate to the interior heat and lack of humidity of our home. The flooring was placed over a product made by The Silencer to do just that—muffle the sound in the rooms below the kitchen. The product claims to be the finest acoustical underlayment for all wood floors. The floor installation was just completed tonight by Eric Kollander.

Anchorage B&B's Spinach Frittata Recipe

2010-03-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

As the Anchorage winter continues bringing snow we at Camai Bed and Breakfast use the time to find and try new recipes. The recipe for Spinach Frittata is a modification of a recipe that Carol Ross of Big Bear Bed and Breakfast tried at our Anchorage Breakfast Club gathering in January. Camai's long term guests agreed that it is a "keeper." Enjoy!

Spinach Frittata

¼ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped onion
½ cup fresh mushrooms
1 tbs butter
2 cups hash brown potatoes
1 tbs Johnnies Garlic Parmesan garlic bread spread powder
¼ tsp Mrs. Dash
1/8 tsp lemon pepper
¼ tsp thyme
12 oz. fresh baby spinach (lightly steamed and drained)
4 extra large eggs
¼ cup half and half
1 cup montereyjack cheese shredded
4 cherry tomatoes cut in quarters

Cook the celery, onion and mushrooms in 12” cast iron skillet until mushrooms and onions are tender. Remove from heat. Drain.

Mound hash brown potatoes in center of skillet. Season with Johnnies Garlic Parmesan, Mrs. Dash, lemon pepper and thyme.

Spread steamed spinach over ingredients in skillet.

Wisk eggs and half and half. Pour over spinach.

Top with cheese and quartered tomatoes.

Bake 350 deg. about 30 minutes or until set in center.

Serves: 4 generously, 6 regular servings

Variation: crumbled bacon may be added to spinach

Iditarod Sled Dog Race Anchorage 2010 start

2010-03-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race's 2010 ceremonial start happened today in downtown Anchorage. The mushers travel the trails through Anchorage for this start. This trail comes very close to Camai Bed and Breakfast as the trail borders the properties of both Alaska Pacific University and University of Alaska Anchorage. Our local street was down to a one lane road as people parked on both sides of the street and walked to a vantage point near our B&B.

The re-start is tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 PM at the Willow Community Center in Willow, Alaska.

Besides checking out the official website, information can be found on the Anchorage Daily News website.

Anchorage Alaska Fur Rendezvous' Melodrama

2010-02-28T22:06:00.000-08:00

A group of Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association members went to the 20th annual Anchorage Fur Rondy Melodrama this afternoon. What hilarity! “Pirates of the Aleutians: Saloon Girls Gone Wild” lived up to its promise of out-right fun. We laughed, booed/hissed, cheered, and threw popcorn all over the place. The pirate captain, Meg Raven, sails out to find buried treasure with her crew. Along the way romances blossom as a villainous Captain Black Barry’s taking over the ship is thwarted. The parrot/accompanist added many truly corny knock-knock jokes. We all yelled many an “arrrrggh” as we enjoyed the fun and adventure of this year’s melodrama.

Pictured are Rita from Alaskan Frontier Gardens B&B and Lori & Del Ann from Susitna Sunsets B&B. Caroline from Camai B&B took the picture.

There is still time to go to the show. It plays through March 12. Tickets can be purchased on line and are extremely reasonably priced.

Anchorage Alaska Moose and Bears Study

2010-02-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game commissioned a study of Anchorage, Alaska, residents to find out our opinions on bear and moose population levels within Anchorage. We at Camai Bed and Breakfast were vacationing in Hawaii during the time approximately 2500 Anchorage phone numbers were called. About half of the called numbers resulted in a response.

As reported in today’s Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage residents “like having moose and bears as neighbors” however, we don’t want an increase in the number of moose or bears living here. Respondents indicated we find Anchorage “more interesting and special” because of the wildlife living here with us. The study is posted on the Anchorage Daily News website.

While my response was not taken, I certainly agree that I like having the wildlife living within Anchorage. Many of Camai Bed and Breakfast guests enjoy the moose that frequent our backyard’s garden. I also agree with the respondents who have almost no bears in their neighborhood and am thankful that in the almost 30 years of living in our frequently remodeled B&B, we have only heard about one bear several blocks away from our place.

Anchorage Moose at Camai Bed and Breakfast

2010-02-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

The moose sightings continue to be abundant at Camai Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska. This moose was seen and photographed by Pele Harrison, one of the bed and breakfast guests last month. The moose enjoy eating their way along Chester Creek which bounds Camai B&B in the backyard.

Moose are so common and loved, except when they eat expensive ornamental plants, that the Anchorage Daily News puts out an annual moose calendar. So far this year the moose have not eaten any valuable plants in our yard. At times I would like them to do a little more pruning of our rose bushes. When spring comes we keep our tea roses up on our back deck since they are so appealing to the moose.

Alaska Stuffed Biscuits recipe

2010-02-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Club met today at Camai Bed and Breakfast. The picture was taken after we enjoyed eating breakfast. I served several new-to-Camai B&B recipes. The Alaska Stuffed Biscuits recipe was sent to me by a Heather, a friend in Juneau, Alaska. Heather used to live in Anchorage. She got married, had a child and the family moved to Juneau.

The recipe is posted on the new blog for the Anchorage BB Club.

Anchorage Summer Sun & Hawaiian Sunsets

2010-02-10T21:27:00.000-08:00

We just figured it out! Hawaii has such a winter attraction for Alaskans because we crave the sunshine! I suppose it can all be corrected by taking Vitamin D supplements. I bought the Vitamin D supplement at Costco today and am ready to start tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile I hope you enjoy all the Hawaiian sunset pictures I took while we were there the end of December 2009 through beginning of January 2010. All of these pictures were taken either from the roof top parking garage at Lawai Beach Resort or from the lanai of our unit at Lawai Beach Resort. What great memories we have of our trip!

I now look forward to my training walks in the great Alaskan outdoors once spring comes. I recently found more information on Vitamin D from an online newsletter from active.com.

Alaskan enjoys Hawaii winter sunrises

2010-02-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

This past December and January we at Camai Bed and Breakfast vacationed in Hawaii, Kauai to be specific. The Alaska winters are beautiful as shown in this time lapse of Cook Inlet. While beauty surrounds us in winte, daylight is short. I crave the light.

Almost every morning of the vacation I got up well before sunrise and set out on a walk. Some mornings I walked toward a place with a good vista for sunrises. The south shore where we stayed had no view of the sunrises.

Every sunrise I saw was beautiful and unique. Afterwards I walked back to our accommodation and enjoyed just being able to walk without extra outer wear. While Kauai is the garden isle and a great place to get away from Alaska’s long winters, I am glad to be back home in Alaska with all the activities an Alaskan winter affords.

Fair Trade Coffee at Anchorage Alaska’s Camai Bed and Breakfast

2010-02-06T18:55:00.000-08:00

Fair Trade Logo

We at Anchorage Camai Bed and Breakfast became aware of the Fair Trade movement for social change several years ago. At that time I began buying Fairly Traded Coffee to serve at Camai B&B. Recently I’ve become aware that gourmet coffee giants such as Starbucks are selling coffee that is Fair Trade. On the surface buying Fairly Traded coffee sounds like a good thing to do, but what is it and does it matter that Camai Bed and Breakfast buys Fair Trade coffee?

Fair Trade Coffee is a to way for ethically minded people to link to democratically organized groups of poor Southern producers. The goal is to help alleviate the poverty of many of the world’s coffee growers.

“One Cup at a Time: Poverty Alleviation and Fair Trade Coffee in Latin America.” This report dated March 2003 was based on a research study conducted by the Fair Trade Research Group at Colorado State University.

Some highlights of the report:
• Fair Trade certified coffee producers agree to produce their coffee under an externally monitored set of social and environmental standards. In return they receive a guaranteed price for their coffee.
• When this research was done the vast majority of Fair Trade coffee was produced in indigenous communities in Latin America.
• It concluded that the Fair Trade movement has “greatly improved the well-being of small-scale coffee farmers and their families.”
For the full report click here
Scroll all the way to the bottom and click on reference note #20.

The World Trade Organizations’ website lists ten standards (mostly for the growers) of fair trade.

1. Creating Opportunities for Economically Disadvantaged Producers
2. Transparency and Accountability
3. Trading Practices
4. Payment of a Fair Price
5. Child Labor and Forced Labor
6. Non Discrimination, Gender Equity and Freedom of Association
7. Working Conditions
8. Capacity Building
9. Promotion of Fair Trade
10. Environment
Details are on their website linked above.

Bottom line: Join us each morning for freshly brewed Fair Trade coffee or a Fair Trade espresso at Camai B&B. Each cup makes a difference.

Anchorage Winter Activities & Camai B&B's flowers

2010-02-01T00:31:00.000-08:00

It is a beautiful winter in Anchorage; however I long for summer flowers. My garden of last summer is merely a memory as the Anchorage days grow longer. I'm certain one of my Master Gardner friends is busy planning her annual trek to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle this week.

The end of this month we in Anchorage will celebrate Fur Rondy and then have all the Iditarod Race mushers leave for the long trip to Nome by dog sled. All great winter activities that will get us outside to enjoy winter.

I will begin forcing some twelve tulip bulbs which I’ve had getting ready in my freezer for this moment. Can spring and summer with all the colorful flowers be far behind?

Yet More Moose at Camai B&B in Anchorage

2010-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

So far this winter the sightings of moose in Anchorage, Alaska, around Camai Bed and Breakfast have been numerous. Sean and Pele, Darwin’s parents, sent many of these pictures from their stay at Camai Bed and Breakfast this past January. Some of the pictures posted were taken by Craig from inside Camai B&B. One picture shows the van where Darwin and his parents were taking pictures of the same moose.

From a previous post I expressed my wish that Darwin could see moose during his Anchorage visit to see his great-grandmother. Darwin saw approximately ten different moose while he was in Anchorage. In the beginning it was exciting to see the moose. Toward the end of his visit it had become rather “ho-hum.” Darwin’s grandmother was “the high number of moose sightings” winner with 12 different moose…pretty remarkable within a span of just one week!

What a well-mannered child Darwin is and a pleasure to have had him, his parents, his grandparents, and aunt stay with us. It is such a joy to interact with curious ever-eager-for-knowledge children. His parents emailed that Darwin asked a lot of questions about us and the B&B, “If they have a bed and breakfast, do they eat dinner there too?” This is a perfectly logical question! (Yes, Craig and I do get to have dinner most evenings.)

Camai B&B's Rose Suite Bathroom Remodel

2010-01-31T15:46:00.000-08:00

We are still whirling around after the quick, but quality work that was done in remodeling Camai Bed and Breakfast's Rose Suite Bathroom and Dressing Room.

The wallpaper is down, new Corian counters, new sinks, new faucets, new mirrors, and new lights have all been installed. What a difference in appearance all of this has made. The lines are clean and everything sparkles as it should. Bathroom remodeling suggestions abound on the internet.

After we waved good-by to Darwin and his family the painters, plumber and electricians went to work. Everything was coordinated by the absolutely best interior decorator at Touch of Elegance and Design. Marie was awesome! It all came together the week following Darwin, et al's departure... literally minutes before the arrival of our next guests from Australia.

Moose checks in to Camai B&B's yard

2010-01-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

Another moose took the afternoon off and rested in Camai B&B’s backyard. She was extremely comfortable and calm as she was lying down in the fresh snow chewing her cud. Our backyard has been designated as a wild-life friendly place.

Currently all of Camai Bed and Breakfast suites are booked. One of the families staying with us has a young four-year-old son who is extremely well-mannered. This young person wants to see moose. As things go, the child was not here this afternoon. Probably he is forming much better memories than seeing the moose. He is visiting his great-grandmother with his parents and grandparents. Great-grandmother is living in a near-by nursing home. I am posting these moose pictures for him! All the child will be able to see tonight is the indentations in the snow where the moose was.

Camai Bed and Breakfast is very conveniently located near several assisted living facilities and nursing homes. From time to time we have guests stay with us while they are in Anchorage to visit family members in one of the facilities.

Cleanliness assured

2009-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

Being on vacation and experiencing other accommodations reminds me of the importance of having a super clean place to stay.

At Camai Bed and Breakfast we have a zero tolerance for hairs in the bathroom. As a guest of a hotel I experienced seeing someone else's hairs on the bathroom counter. While they can easily by wiped away by me the guest I certainly did not want to see them. This is one area that both my cleaners and I work diligently to remove all traces of previous guests before greeting new guests.

The Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Assocociation has stringent criteria for membership. Safety items as well as cleanliness items are very important to the association.

Camai Bed and Breakfast is a proud charter member of Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association as well as the Bed and Breakfast Association of Alaska.

Winter Pictures

2009-12-12T14:39:00.000-08:00

While winter is definitely here, we in Anchorage at Camai Bed and Breakfast have taken the time to enjoy the beauty of the hoar frost on the tress and the sunrises followed all too soon by the sunsets.

Yesterday as I was leaving home I first heard all the ravens. Then I saw them in the trees. They looked like ornaments sitting on the top branches of the trees which were laden with hoar frost. I went back and got my camera to capture what I saw leaving Camai B&B.

In today's Anchorage Daily News there was a georgous Anchorage winter scene. The Anchorage Daily News has more winter photos on line. Follow the link, scroll down, click on Frost and Fog on the left side of the page.

Alaskan winters have their beauty.

Pumpkin Pie recipe plus

2009-12-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

We have returned from celebrating Thanksgiving in Seattle with our daughter and her family at her in-laws. It is always a heart-warming experience. This year the pies were even better than I remembered they might be.

My daughter's pumpkin pie recipe comes from the Klesick Family Farm who sell her produce. Around Thanksgiving the produce always includes a sugar pumpkin.

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium sugar pumpkin 4 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 9" pie crust, unbaked
1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt ½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup honey, warmed slightly 1/2 cup milk

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cut pumpkin in half and remove seeds. Lightly oil the cut surface of the pumpkin halves, and place cut side down on a jelly roll pan that has been lined with foil and lightly oiled. Bake pumpkin at 325 degrees F until the flesh is tender when pierced with a fork. Let stand until cool enough to be handled. Scrape pumpkin flesh from the peel, and mash by hand, or puree in small batches in a blender or food processor. Increase oven heat to 400 degrees F.
In large bowl, blend together 1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree, spices, and salt. Beat in eggs, honey, milk, and cream. Pour filling into prepared unbaked pie shell. Bake pie at 400 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1" from edge of pie comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream seasoned with cinnamon. Makes 8 servings

Tristan Klesick

Along with pumpkin pie we also had Chocolate Coconut Pie which my daughter's father-in-law (John Smith) made. The recipe is easy to make and extremely tasty.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT PIE

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons Cocoa
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup butter
7 oz. canned milk
1 cup coconut

We have returned from celebrating Thanksgiving in Seattle with our daughter and her family at her in-laws. It is always a heart-warming experience. This year the pies were even better than I remembered they might be.

My daughter's pumpkin pie recipe comes from the Klesick Family Farm who sell her produce. Around Thanksgiving the produce always includes a sugar pumpkin.

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium sugar pumpkin 4 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil 9" pie crust, unbaked
1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt ½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup honey, warmed slightly 1/2 cup milk

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cut pumpkin in half and remove seeds. Lightly oil the cut surface of the pumpkin halves, and place cut side down on a jelly roll pan that has been lined with foil and lightly oiled. Bake pumpkin at 325 degrees F until the flesh is tender when pierced with a fork. Let stand until cool enough to be handled. Scrape pumpkin flesh from the peel, and mash by hand, or puree in small batches in a blender or food processor. Increase oven heat to 400 degrees F.
In large bowl, blend together 1 3/4 cups pumpkin puree, spices, and salt. Beat in eggs, honey, milk, and cream. Pour filling into prepared unbaked pie shell. Bake pie at 400 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1" from edge of pie comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream seasoned with cinnamon. Makes 8 servings

Tristan Klesick

We also had another delicious pie which my daughter's father-in-law (John Smith) made. The recipe is quick and easy.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT PIE

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup sugar
4 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted
7 oz. condensed milk
1 cup coconut
1 unbaked 8" pie shell

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the sugar and cocoas together. Add the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the butter. Add the milk and stir. Finally stir in the coconut. Pour into the pie shell. Bake for 45 minutes or until done.

I hope you enjoy these pies with family and friends.

Granola Recipe

2009-11-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

Here at Camai Bed and Breakfast I used today to revise the recipe for Craig's Favorite Granola.

Here's the new recipe:

Camai's Granola
Ingredients:
1 cup old-fashioned peanut butter (only peanuts and salt)
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup honey
6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, uncooked
2 cups steel cut oats, uncooked
2 cups roasted unsalted peanuts
1 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup dried blueberries
1/2 cup cranberries
1/2 cup dried apricots, cut up

Preparation:
Combine first four ingredients in sauce pan; heat until simmering.
Combine oats in large baking dish.
Pour hot liquid over oats; mix together.
Bake in 300 degree oven for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Remove from oven. Mix peanuts and dried fruit into oat mixture.
Cover and let cool to room temperature. Store in airtight container in cool dry place.

Enjoy with milk or plain yogurt.

Oatmeal recipes even an oatmeal hater can like

2009-10-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal is good for us. It is the small instant packets that I really do not like. Camai Bed and Breakfast has a very good granola recipe which is worth the preparation time. Here at Camai B&B I am using the winter to explore new-to-me breakfast oatmeal recipes.

When I plan ahead and prepare oatmeal groats, I find everyone likes their texture. The grout's texture is a firm squishy whole grain and certainly not slimy as rolled oats can be. At Camai Bed & Breakfast during the cold winter I serve hot groats with frozen blueberries and plain yogurt. The heat of the groats melts the blueberries and their sweetness is balanced by the tart yogurt. It is absolutely a great winter breakfast served with fresh fruit, juice, and coffee or tea.

At Camai B&B steel cut oats are also served from time to time. As you probably know, these take less than 10 minutes of cooking time. They have some good texture.

I use the following recipe for baked oatmeal when I have not spent the more than an hour to cook groats. It can be prepared and baked in less than an hour.

Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup dried blueberries
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped almonds (optional)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cup non-fat milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 large egg, beaten
Prep
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. In separate bowl combine remaining ingredients. Add liquid ingredients to oatmeal. Mix well. Pour mixture into 8 inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Serve warm with blueberry yogurt, if desired.

There are many more recipes I will try this winter. In searching the internet I found these tipsfor oatmeal to start with from Rachel Keller.

Planting Tulips

2009-10-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Today Craig and I planted about 75 tulips at Camai Bed and Breakfast. The fall this year has been long and beautiful; however, snow showers are predicted for this week. So it was time for planting tulips.

We planted a mass of red bulbs in a small area behind our planting of yellow bulbs. Both are beside the house yet in an area where it is difficult for moose to access. In past years we planted tulips; watched them come up; saw the moose eat them just before they flowered. It was extremely disheartening. I think this new planting location is a favorable one for the tulip's making it to flowering.

While we planted all the bulbs in 30 minutes using a bulb planter, I recommend using the "dig out a bed" method described at Pioneer Thinking's website. We would have avoided digging up just planted bulbs. This happened several times to us.

When spring comes Camai B&B's guests in the Fireweed Suite will walk by these new tulips as they enter their suite. The Peony Suite guests will see the tulips outside their bedroom window.

Having planted tulips gives all of us something of beauty that we can anticipate happening this spring.

Anchorage Concert Association Events

2009-10-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Camai Bed and Breakfast is now offering special rates for nightly stays to Anchorage Concert Association attendees. The concerts are diverse and a great way to enjoy our long winter nights. So why not make it a real event and spend the night at Camai B&B after the show. Our special rates start at $50/night and include an accommodation with private bath and queen bed. The next morning relax with a leisurely breakfast served in our dining room.

Seattle Marathon

2009-10-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

The training for the Seattle Marathon has begun...actually last spring before I walked the Skinny Raven Half-Marathon. This picture was taken toward the beginning of the Skinny Raven Race. My daughter's call came regarding the Seattle Race. She asked me to do a half marathon with her. I said, "yes," since I'll have more than three hours with my daughter and will continue all the benefits of distance walking as I train.

After finishing the Skinny Raven Half Marathon in August of this year, I continued to walk. For the Seattle training here in Anchorage, I anticipated a lot of walking in cold damp rainy weather. Walking in miserably cold rain hasn't happened. Again today the weather was absolutely beautiful for a sunny warm fall day. The only obstacle is the occasional moose browsing in someone's yard. I've just been alert to the possibility and change directions accordingly.

I know that as October continues Anchorage's weather will eventually provide snow. While I've always been cold in Seattle over the Thanksgiving weekend, I don't remember it snowing. I'm looking forward to the training and the actual Seattle Half Marathon.

Walking and Walkability Neighborhoods

2009-10-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Walking is the exercise of choice for many. You do not need much equipment beyond a good pair of walking shoes. You do not have to train for a half-marathon to reap the advantages of walking several times a week for 30 minutes or more. A person who walks can take in the surroundings at a reasonable pace and find a calming stillness from all the hustle and bustle of the day. Walking is good for weight control and appetite control as well as keeping your body flexible. Many articles have been written about the benefits of walking. Here is a particularly good article.

Jarvi Home Stay's blog has valuable information on determining walkability of your neighborhood. Find your address' Walkability score.

Camai Bed and Breakfast is located on Chester Creek which affords the opportunity to walk downstream to hook up with Anchorage's Trail system. The Walkability score takes into account how close a residence is to grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and similar businesses. Camai Bed and Breakfast's Walkability score indicates that it is more car dependent than walking; however, it is located about a quarter of a mile to the bus stop besides having easy access to University and Anchorage trails.

Alaska Railroad

2009-10-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

What a perfect day today was for a trip on the Alaska Railroad! We traveled from Anchorage to Spencer Glacier and back to Anchorage. During the summer months Alaska Railroad offers a rail tour to Spencer Glacier and then a float trip down the Placer River. The return to Anchorage is by motorcoach. While the raft portion was not an option today, I highly recommend this trip.

Today's clear sunny day was perfect for enjoying the fall colors as well as the wildlife. We saw swans and ducks along the way.

This tour was the annual Anchorage Chamber of Commerce trip. Several of the board members of Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association mingled with other Chamber members. Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast members who went were Mary from Jarvi Homestay, Sam from Calla House, Chris from Between the Arms B&B, and Craig & Caroline from Camai Bed and Breakfast. Everyone had a great time networking as the glorious Alaskan scenery passed by.

Fall Pictures

2009-09-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

The afternoon in Anchorage brought the sun out and many opportunities for pictures as I walked the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail starting at Winchester Lagoon. The water, trees with their yellow leaves and a backdrop of the now snow covered mountains made a beautiful site.

I mistakenly left my camera at home. The morning newspaper (Anchorage Daily News) suggested looking on line at their reader submitted fall pictures. These pictures are far better than I could take. Each captures a bit of all the beauty that we enjoy here.

To all who live in Anchorage I suggest getting out and walking the trails before we have to break out the skis. I did see one man in shorts on his roller training skis using the trail. I wondered about the shorts. It is very chilly with a little breeze when I was out.

Social Media and Camai Bed and Breakfast

2009-09-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

While I have been blogging for several months, to keep people informed I have joined other social media and now have a twitter account. My tweets can be followed and followers can get a sense of what it is like living (working and playing) in Anchorage, Alaska.

I also intend to let people know what we are working on here at Camai B&B to improve our already high quality bed and breakfast. When I taught in the public schools, I always used to say that some of my best teaching ideas were "stolen" (then modified) ideas. So if anyone has thoughts or ideas on what amenity or amenities puts an already great B&B "over-the-top," please let me know.

Remodel of Peony Suite at Camai B&B

2009-09-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Peony Suite at Camai Bed and Breakfast continues to have its remodeling work done. The bathroom wallpaper has been stripped and the room painted. The granite counter top is installed and the new vessel sink is in place. The plumber comes early next week to hook up the sink and its new faucet. The Corian tub surround will have some minor repair work done to it next week as well. After these tasks are done we will install a new shower curtain rod that is U-shaped. This style increases the space inside the bathtub/shower.

The pictures show the work-in-progress in the Peony Suite's bathroom and the counter top in the sitting room of the suite.

This is taking patience, but I know the end will be well worth the wait.

Fall Colors in Anchorage

2009-09-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day today in Anchorage, Alaska with all the golden fall colors along with a few reds! As I started the day with a ride to my teaching job at University of Alaska on Anchorage's People Mover bus, I was able to enjoy the new snow on the Chugach Mountain range. We call it "termination dust." It happened just yesterday.

After teaching I road the bus home, took the short walk on the street to our front. Wow! I've posted a picture of Camai Bed and Breakfast from the front and one from the back. You can see fall is here!

Bathroom Remodel at Camai Bed and Breakfast

2009-09-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

Today at Camai Bed and Breakfast our guests who had been staying with us for several days left to return home. Within an hour of their leaving, the workers came to tear down the Peony Suite bathroom's wallpaper. The old counter top, cabinet and sink were removed. The new, absolutely beautiful, granite counter top is ready to be installed. The new sink is a vessel sink. The installation will take place tomorrow morning. The painters will come in the afternoon and paint the bathroom.

The Peony Suite's sitting room had its counter top replaced with the same granite today.

It is all so opulent feeling!

Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

2009-09-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day for walking The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail here in Anchorage, Alaska! The weather was sunny but not too warm. The tide was out. The vistas across the inlet were spectacular! Craig and I enjoyed smelling the roses along the trail as well as the views.

The coastal trail is just one of many inter-connecting trails in Anchorage. Tomorrow I intend to walk around Goose lake to enjoy the end of summer scenes.

Pictures of flowers at Camai Bed and Breakfast

2009-09-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here are pictures of flowers at Camai Bed and Breakfast that I took earlier this week when it was sunny. The sweet peas are fragrantly growing next to our garage while the clematis is growing up the trellis behind our peony bed.

I took the pictures since every morning feels more like fall. I want to remember the summer flowers during the short days of January when the brilliant white of the snow seems as if it will remain. Under the snow will be my "sleeping" perennials...the peonies, clematis, and roses, to name a few.

Alaska Birds

2009-08-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

The Alaska Birds flying around Camai Bed and Breakfast today seem to be preparing for fall and winter. This morning the waxwings were "hunting" on flights from our roof to the birch trees along Chester Creek in our backyard. This afternoon the geese were out in numbers checking out their "V" flight patterns. We can tell fall is approaching.

Lion King Broadway Musical comes to Anchorage

2009-08-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

Disney's Lion King Broadway Musical is brought to us in Anchorage by the Anchorage Concert Association. The Lion King's opening performance is on September 2. The Lion King will be performed through October 11.

Some Anchorage residents I know are already planning on seeing the performance twice!

At Camai Bed and Breakfast we are offering a Lion King special one night rate for people attending who either live in Anchorage and want a special relaxing evening/night away from the responsibilities of family or for people who are coming into town for the performance. Already we have had inquiries.

Moose at Camai B&B

2009-08-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today a cow moose snacked on the trees in the front yard at Camai B&B while our guests delightedly took pictures. The moose lingered more than usual, went into our neighbor's yard, ate there, and then lay down to digest and rest. The moose certainly gave everyone ample opportunities for good pictures. Anchorage, Alaska, has hundreds of moose residents which we are fortunate to see frequently.

New Paint

2009-08-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer I got in the queue to have our exterior of Camai Bed and Breakfast / home painted by the company which did the job five years ago.

While I was in Milwaukee two weeks ago, they started the job by power washing the house. This past week they actually worked on scraping and then painting. The rains started. The job is very close to complete. The bed and breakfast looks so good with the fresh exterior paint. I am glad this is almost done before we go into winter.

Summer business and a business trip

2009-07-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

We have had many wonderful guests this summer who have said very good things about our garden and flowers...even after the moose visits. We look forward to hosting many more this summer who have made reservations.

Tomorrow I leave for an Association of Lutheran Church Musicians national meeting in Milwaukee. I am excited as a musician to be going to this event. My friend (Voni) at church will be playing the organ for the service I will miss this Sunday. Thank you Voni!

The planning that has led up to going is big. Craig will stay behind with the B&B guests. I've arranged/trained cleaners to come and work while I am gone. I also arranged to have Erna,a friend and former B&B owner, come very early each morning and prepare breakfast. I am soooo fortunate to have her as a friend. Thank you Erna!

I feel all will go well while I am gone for the six days.

More Moose (Cow & 2 calves)

2009-07-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

A little more than a week ago we were visited by a cow and two calves who lay in the grass of our backyard. They were resting and provided a great opportunity for our guests to take pictures. I also got numerous photos. One you would have seen with this post if I knew how to operate my digital camera. I just found out I was taking movies of the moose. I will try to put those on my Facebook wall. As an aside if you want to be my "friend" please just send in the request. I've set up the account under "Caroline Dunbar Valentine."

It was mid-afternoon when the moose were here. I had errands. I left the moose chewing their cuds.

Next morning I noticed the carnage in the garden. All the leaves were gone from our strawberry plants. Every broccoli plant was also gone. Further, one or several of them stripped the flowers off the center fuschsia hanging basket. This basket is right next to the basket which previously hosted the robin's nest. There are other flowers throughout the garden that they ate before leaving.

They were being typical moose except for the fact that we did see them for a lengthy period of time.

Robins have flown

2009-07-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

It has been exactly one week since all the baby robins flew away. Before I went for my usual long Saturday walk, I checked their nest. All four were stuffed in the nest. I returned back to the B&B after two hours. They were all gone. Now we have a second empty nest.

My husband and I will probably remove this nest from our fuchsia hanging basket tomorrow. I am considering setting up a letter box on our Camai B&B property and using the two nests.

Walking

2009-07-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased that Craig and I walked the Mayor's Half-Marathon on June 20. Craig finished better than his previous half-marathon time by 30 minutes. I finished in the same time as my previous time last August; however, I had so much energy that I jogged the last half-mile.

Today, I downloaded my Nike+iPod and found out that I've now logged in more than 500 miles since using my Nike+iPod. I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment. The Nike store sucked me into buying a T-shirt for the Nike 500 mile club. I just may be wearing that shirt if you see me at Camai B&B or around Anchorage!

Peonies in bloom

2009-07-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

The peonies this year have been outstanding in their display of numerous and large flowers. I am not only enjoying them visually but also enjoying their fragrance. I remember the scent of peonies that were in my grandmother's backyard in Illinois. I was barely more than a toddler then.

Rose Suite (Antiques are "New")

2009-07-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

Just this past week we changed the furnishings of the Rose Suite to a beautiful walnut antique headboard and dresser. We also changed the art on the wall. These furnishings came to me via my grandmother. She used the furniture in the late 1890's in her home. I have her photos of some of the pieces she used.

After my grandmother's (Meta Pillsbury Dunbar) death, I inherited several pieces of her furniture. Some of it had been stored in her Illinois attic for such a long time that it was damaged. In Anchorage we are extremely fortunate to have a man who does repair and restoration beyond outstanding! He worked on this "new" furniture and has brought it back to its glory.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. More than that I want our guests to enjoy the quiet relaxed space.

Baby Robins at Camai B&B

2009-07-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

The eggs hatched and the babies are getting big enough to see over the edge of the nest! The babies are just furry mouths to be fed. B&B guests, young and old, are enjoying watching the birds.

Moose cow and calf vs. roses

2009-06-13T18:10:00.000-07:00

Much to yesterday's guests' delight, they were greeted by a cow and calf in the neighbor's yard. They took many pictures. I took none.

This morning at breakfast the guests told me that they were delayed getting into their room late last night because the moose were just hanging out in our backyard. They were eating the rose bushes. The guests also mentioned that the moose were just lounging in our front yard this morning. I went and looked. Sure enough! They were there. Still I took no pictures.

The picture is of one of our 15 roses bushes that we keep on our deck just so the moose cannot eat them.

2nd Robin's nest

2009-06-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Today I watered the fuchsia hanging basket which has a robin's nest in it. Somewhat later a robin came and stayed. I took its picture. I also took a picture of another fuchsia hanging basket which is just to the right of the basket with the robin's nest. This is more excitement for me.

Two days ago I left home to do a long training walk of 11 miles. (My half marathon walk is in just one week from today.) When I returned home three of the four baby birds had flown away. The fourth flew away sometime yesterday. My feelings are akin to an empty nest feeling when our children left home for good. I wish I had been present when they left.

Oh, well, I'll get another chance to watch this new nest's birds hatch and eventually fly away.

Robins at Camai B&B

2009-06-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

The first robin's nest has four baby robins which appear to be just about ready for their fledgling flight. Yesterday one baby flew straight up bounced off the house's eve and landed back in the nest.

Today we saw another robin making a nest in one of our fuchsia's hanging baskets on our backyard garage. I water that basket daily so that the plant will live. Now I'm in a quandary about watering.

Garden at Camai B&B

2009-05-31T21:46:00.000-07:00

The weather has been so great for gardening this spring. I've got all twenty-three of my hanging baskets planted and hanging. They are beautiful and full of promise for increased beauty.

I had more than the usual dead perennials in the rock garden this spring. Almost all have been replanted. Certainly everything is doing well now. The picture shows the blown glass flowers that my son gave me for Mother's Day. I think they go very well in the rock garden.

Robin nesting

2009-05-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

This year we have a robin building its nest on top of our low pressure sodium light fixture on our building. I was slow in figuring this out and just thought that the dead plant material on our deck was stuff that we didn't get picked up when doing yard clean-up.

I am eager to watch this cycle of nature play out with eggs, baby birds and their first flight.

Last year we had a nest of dark-eyed junco. This nest was in our strawberry bed against the house.

Springtime at Camai B&B's gardens

2009-05-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

Wow! The weather has been fabulous! Yesterday we watered the lawn, and today it is turning green.

Craig purchased some pink delphiniums for our raised bed next to the garage. He was told that pink is a double recessive gene. Since we have no other delphiniums they will breed true. The promise of their beauty excites the gardener in me!

If you are staying with us this summer, please ask to see them. They will be right next to our plantings of canary vine.

Planning up-grades for Camai B&B

2009-05-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I met with my interior decorator to work on plans for changes to the bathrooms and kitchen.

In the fall I intend to change the furnishings in the Rose Suite to antiques which were in my grandmothers late 1890's home. I had the antique bed and dresser restored. The dresser has a marble top.

Going with the marble top, plans are being made to re-model the Rose Suite's bathroom. The counters will be changed to a marble-like surface; mirrors will be changed as will the fixtures.

When it is done this winter, it will have a different look to the bedroom and bath area.

There are also changes in the planning stages to remodel the Peony Suite's bathroom and have a granite counter as well as a different sink...perhaps a vessel sink.

The kitchen remodel is the biggest of the plans and I will be talking about that as time goes on.

Since we are fortunate to have guests throughout the summer, I plan to get all the remodel plans done as well as purchasing/obtaining the parts needed for the remodel done this summer. Come fall the actual tearing out and putting in new will happen.

Church Activities - Pioneer Home

2009-05-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

My congregation (St. Mark ELCA) partners with another Lutheran congregation and does a Lutheran Fellowship Hour on the first Thursday of each month. We do this in the dementia wing of the Anchorage Pioneer Home.

Last night's Fellowship Hour was on the theme of the Good Shepherd. I enjoy playing the hymns so everyone can sing. Last night we sang hymns, and our leader (Fran) encouraged each person there to tell what memories or reflections they had concerning shepherds.

At the close one of our congregation members (Doris) gave each person there a large hand-made cross which she fashioned using yarns, ribbons and artificial flowers. As she gave each person his or her wrapped gift of a cross, Doris said, "I made this with love for you." What power there was in that. Each resident showed true joy and let her know the exact spot where it would hang! One resident quickly left in her wheel chair, hung the cross, returned, and invited Doris to see what a great place she had for the cross.

It was a WOW moment!

Camai B&B's website & mobile site

2009-05-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

Acorn-IS designed my new website. I am pleased with the results it is bringing us. I have a superior bed and breakfast. Guests are finding our website on-line. While some are saying travel reservations are down, I attribute our bookings to this new site.

I am also pleased to have the only mobile site for an Alaskan bed and breakfast at this time.

Almost a month ago Acorn-IS very graciously surprised me with setting aside the mobile design cost as they tried to please me. I did not realize that designing mobile sites has very new and newly developing technology. Thank you Lisa and Mark (Acorn-IS) for your work.

Spring time means preparations

2009-05-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

We at Camai B&B are getting ready for summer with several changes to the bed and breakfast.

We are moving some of the furniture out of the common area to make a more spacious room for guests to relax. I have cleaned up a desk in the "tree house" area off the common area. It is now ready for guest use.

Later this week I will update the information books in each suite to reflect all the new DVD's Craig and I have purchased for guest use.

It is truly an exciting time of year full of promise for a great summer! I look forward to welcoming many visitors again this summer.

Spring is here!

2009-05-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

The weather has been positively summer-like with many days of warm sunshine. The snow is gone. The flower beds have been cleaned and I'm ready for the grass to green!

I must restrain myself from planting flowers. Temperatures could easily dip below freezing at night.

March walking

2009-03-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

The sun has been shining, our mountains are dazzlingly white with snow, and we have gotten outside to walk. It was very brisk when we walked outside last Sunday but certainly worth the views. We had just returned from being in Hawaii for one week. We walked every day while in Hawaii. I must say it was a cold wind here and caution against slipping was necessary.

It was good to get away from the cold, but we are glad to be back home in Anchorage.

January Walking

2009-01-31T20:22:00.000-08:00

I did it! This month I walked more than 60 miles. My goal was to walk 30 miles. As Craig says, "You're always far exceeding your goals." Apparently I can make my Nike walking information public with the icon below.

January Walking

2009-01-30T21:26:00.000-08:00

January has been a wonderful month for walking. The first week of this month Craig and I enjoyed walking in sunny Hawaii. Once we returned to Anchorage the weather made it impossible to walk outside. I enjoy walking the halls of University of Alaska Anchorage where I teach. The walking "course" from the business building to the library and back is 1 mile. On Saturdays my walking partner and I walk several miles. It's inside and a free walk!

After tomorrow I will have walked more than 60 miles for the month.

New website

2009-01-30T21:23:00.000-08:00

I hope that you are as pleased with the ease that you can find information on our new website. The professionals at Acorn-Internet Service produced the website I wanted. They are now designing a mobile friendly site for the B&B.

New website

2009-01-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

Finally the new website is "born!" There are still a few things to tweak but I am hopeful they will be done the first of this coming week. I am very pleased with the result but do not want to go through the process for awhile.

Green Happenings at Camai B&B

2009-01-22T22:54:00.000-08:00

In December we bought a Prius Hybrid. While I am finally getting used to driving it, I still take the city bus to my teaching job. It turns out that riding the People Mover is very easy and the walk to the bus stop in just far enough for some exercise.

New website

2009-01-22T22:46:00.000-08:00

It is a new year and still no new website. I continue to diligently supply all the information requested almost within hours of receiving the request. Acorn-IS and the many people working there tell me it is very close to being done. I am so frustrated that I am blogging about it.

If you decide to have a new website designed and marketed, I suggest you choose a smaller company. Acorn-IS did a great site for our Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Association. It was done without all the hassle I feel I'm going through. They have grown bureaucratic since then.

New website

2008-09-27T20:14:00.000-07:00

I started working with ACORN-Internet Service to create a new website for the bed and breakfast. Work is going well. Before this process, I never realized how much work there is to be done to create a new website worth having.

Yesterday we had a professional photographer come and take even more pictures of the bed and breakfast as well as pictures of us the lighter, newly revived Camai B&B hosts. (That is us, Craig and Caroline.)

My goal is to have the website up and running by December of this year.

Summer 2008

2008-09-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

It was a very busy summer at the bed and breakfast. We had many wonderful guests from all around the world including Australia and China, as well as Canada. While it was one of the colder summers on record we had beautiful flowers in our garden and yard.

This was the summer Craig and I trained for and walked a half-marathon. It was a first for both of us. We plan to continue our walking the Anchorage trails and enter the Mayor's Marathon next June; however, I will stick with the half-marathon.

I am proud to say that Craig has lost 40 lbs while I have also lost 40 lbs. It was all done through eating healthy and walking!

Green Star Award

2008-05-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

This past week Camai B&B received an award from Green Star. Camai B&B is one of only two bed and breakfast accommodations in Alaska to receive this award. The award is for achieving the Green Star Standards to increase sustainability and reduce waste. We are environmentally conscience and practice the three "r's". We think, "Reduce, Recycle, Reuse."

Stained glass windows at Camai B&B

2008-05-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

We commissioned an artist to create two stained glass windows for our bed and breakfast. They were installed this week.

One of the windows is a rose and is located in our Rose Suite. The window's colors match the colors in the room very well. The second stained glass window is located in our office and is visible from the street. The picture is of the artist and installer with the B&B office's window. Dru Malone is the stained glass artist.

We have a third stained glass window which was in First Presbyterian Church of Macomb Illinois. My father grew up in that congregation. He walked under the window on his way to Sunday school class. When the church remodeled they sold some of the stained glass windows. This window is now located just above our guest living room.

Birds at Camai B&B

2008-03-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

A bird population density, in nearby Tudor Road Bog, measured 7.32 birds/ha and a bird species diversity of 2.02.

Birds seen in our neighborhood
Red-poll
Junco (dark eyed)
White-winged crossbill
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Black-capped chickadee
Mallards
Green-winged teal
Yellow-rumped warbler
Water pipit
Orange-crowned warbler
Lincoln Sparrow

In the breeding season
Widgeon
Pintail
Lesser yellowlegs
Least sandpiper
Common snipe
Alder flycatcher
Violet-green swallow
Robin
Song sparrows
Rusty blackbirds
Pine siskin

And in the Fall
White-crowned sparrow
Belted kingfisher
Gray jay

Winter at Camai B&B

2008-03-04T19:38:00.001-08:00

Here is a picture of Camai B&B taken March 4, 2008.

Iditarod Sled Dog Race Start 2008

2008-03-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

This year we had several guest come to Anchorage to see the ceremonial start of the race. One guest (John Roseblade) from the UK took this picture of the dogs on the trail in our neighborhood.

Moose does gardening work

2008-03-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Early one morning recently I came out of our front door and headed for our garage in back. There they were! Two moose, a cow and her calf! They were pruning our rose bushes and eating all the beautiful rose hips. I guess they know how to eat healthy and get their vitamin C.

Moose have been very frequent visitors this winter.

Improvements at the Bed and Breakfast

2007-11-20T23:31:00.000-08:00

Last week we had new black-out shades installed in our Rose Suite. They are a beautiful light blue and not only make the room dark but also insulate the windows. Presently the cold is better kept outside because of the new shades. In the summer the hot will be kept outside.

Early this fall we commissioned a stained glass window in a rose design to go between the Rose Suite's bedroom and sitting room. I am eager to have it installed.

We are also considering replacing our living room and dining room with oak floors. We will put a sound proof barrier down before the floor goes in. This will further help reduce any sounds made in the dining room from going to the area below.

Winters are always the time we get the most improvements done around the bed and breakfast.

Real Snow

2007-11-20T23:29:00.000-08:00

Real snow is the snow that sticks on the ground. It finally snowed more than a week ago and made everything look fresh, clean and new. It is beautiful!

Garden this past summer

2007-10-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my rock garden with its many perennials. I like to sit in my glider and just look at all the flowers which surround me.

More Moose

2007-10-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found a young cow (moose) sitting & resting in our backyard. She apparently spent a good portion of the night there. I alerted four out of six of our B&B guests. One guest took this surreal picture from our dining room looking out at the moose in the early morning.

Today our guests we treated to seeing a juvenile bull (moose.) No pictures were taken.

Wild Life Guests

2007-10-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Mama Moose and her calf spent some of the night in our back yard. They ate their fill of the remains of my garden then settled in for awhile.

In the morning Dmitry and Andrew (two of our B&B guests who are here on a pharmacy rotation) were startled when they saw the moose. Dmitry and Andrew were trying to walk to their job at the hospital.