Camai B&B Happenings

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.

First snow, but it melted

2007-10-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

It snowed here at our B&B last night--sometime after midnight when I was up greeting a guest. This morning we had a light dusting of snow. Craig took a picture of our raspberries with the snow. I am glad it took the picture this morning. The snow is gone now. I am sure that later this month we will have snow for the rest of the winter. Soon I will post several of the summer flower pictures. It was a great summer for our flowers!

Family

2007-10-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

Craig and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary tonight by going out to dinner with our daughter-in-law (Abbey) and son (Kit). Afterwards Abbey helped me set up this new blog. Thank you, Abbey!!! I love you all!

Fall in Anchorage at Camai B&B

2007-10-06T22:22:00.000-07:00

We have had rain for several days now in Anchorage. Each time it clears after the rain we see the snow level on the mountain getting lower and lower. Because we have such healthy trees we have lots of golden leaves covering our lawn today. I harvested my small vegetable plot and was thrilled that I beat the moose to getting the brocolli and cabbage! We are having a wonderful long autumn this year!

Moose sightings at our B&B

2007-10-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

Our bed and breakfast guest who left yesterday after staying with us for ten days saw moose in our yard several mornings from our dining room breakfast table. Finally they came to breakfast with their camera. I told the guests I thought they had more than their quota of moose sightings. The cow and her two baby calves have been making the rounds in our neighborhood this fall. This is the same cow we saw earlier this spring right after she had her babies.

Here is the picture of the moose in our front yard.