Ken and I spent last weekend in Anderson with Melissa and Tom, several of their friends from home (who are becoming our summertime friends here in Fairbanks), and Kaley and her brother. Anderson Bluegrass Festival is one of the highlights of our summer, and this is the second year Ken and I have gone. (I've been once more than that, eight years ago. Not much has changed.) This is also the second year our dogs have enjoyed the festival with us; and since Kaia is no longer a tiny puppy, her company at the festival was much more pleasurable. We didn't worry nearly as much about her wandering off in the direction of any outstretched hands or toys being tossed. She could actually stand near us and play with other dogs; and as long as she had our constant attention, she didn't go anywhere. She's still a social slut... So we do still have to watch her. This was the first year Tom and Melissa had puppies to bring along: Elka and Sweeper, the beautiful pointer-husky mixes in the pictures below. It was great to have them along; these once terribly timid former sled dogs are really coming out of their shells, with lots of love from Melissa and Tom. This was also Kaley's first year at Anderson, and consequently the first time we had her dogs- Crimson and Tilly- along. And finally, we were joined by Echo, Sally and Eric's beautiful shepherd-beagle mix (I kid you not). We had quite a motley crew.
We took the dogs wading / swimming in the Nenana River, at the very end of the gravel bar, where Kaley and Ryan camped out. It was a beautiful spot on such a hot day. Our retrievers and Echo enjoyed swimming after a bumper that everyone took turns throwing (except for me... I snapped photographs and shirked my turn). Elka and Sweeper splashed around in the water, which was perhaps the first time they've done this (aside from the time Melissa threw them into a kiddy pool... it didn't go over well). And Kaia proved to Ken that she is a water-liking Elkhound mix, which is almost unheard of. (I always knew she had it in her.)
Musical highlights of the festival included Redhead Express, Hoe Slinger, Steve Brown and the Bailers, Northern River, the Joe Paige Band, and the conglomerate of musicians we found down by the river.
Eating highlights included Southern Macaroni and Cheese (with potato chips on top! who woulda thunk it!), limeade, and pudgy pies. Yum.
I could go on, but instead I'll post a few pictures. This entry is already taking too much time away from cleaning. My parents arrive on Friday, and we have much to do!
