Austin, TX - Mom gets her first iPhone lesson. Amish parents are hard on a technophile.

Austin, TX - Sam plays me a new song. As you might expect, it's devastating.

Austin, TX - Will Sexton adds his magic. And it was, indeed, magic.

Austin, TX - The new album recording is under way at the amazing Blue Rock Studio.

Talkeetna, AK - Me and Carrie eat our first moose steak.

Talkeetna, AK - In classic Alaskan "function over form" fashion, Murray's suspenders are fitted with duct tape . . . the official state bird.

Talkeetna, AK - A pickin' party at Murray's

Talkeetna, AK - Carrie was invited to be a guest firework lighter-offer for the big display. At midnight.

Hatcher Pass, AK - I convince Carrie she's driving the train.

Hatcher Pass, AK - Carrie is convinced there's still gold in them there hills.

Hatcher Pass, AK - Visiting the Independence Gold Mine. They found 135,000 ounces of gold in the late thirties. It appears to be no longer operational.

Hatcher Pass, AK - We detoured through Hatcher Pass on our way back to Talkeetna from Anchorage.

Anchorage, AK - Security at the Tap Root can be pretty salty.

Talkeetna, AK - Carrie helps clear Alaska of that pesky invasive weed, The Daisy.