There I was, sitting at my desk, discussing something with a co-worker when I heard a loud pop, like a big wind gust blowing the window, and then my chair started moving. I was feeling an earthquake...my first earthquake. It seemed to last quite a while and ended up being a 5.0 magnitude. It was centered 65 miles NW of Anchorage. More information and the location can be found at the Alaska Earthquake web site.
Of course I had to immediately check Squirtcam to see what he was doing. Nothing different from normal late afternoon woofing and spinning.... Doesn't look like anything fell off of shelves in the house. (whew!)
Since we got home so late on Monday night, I really didn't get the chance to look around outside to see if anything changed while we were gone. From all appearances (several new moose nugget piles) Momma and Calf were busy in our yard this week. My huge, overgrown into the pathway Black Currant bushes have been SEVERELY trimmed. I planned on trimming them this spring...I am just not sure I would have trimmed quite that much. Hope they survive.
Of course, to get to the currants, they had to walk over two of the reindeer and knock them into the third. Robert had to replace about 25 bulbs across the three deer. The moose won that battle...we have moved the reindeer to the raspberry patch. (From all appearances, raspberry stalks aren't that tasty to moose.)
Speaking of moose - here's an article no one should miss out on! Drunken Moose Who would have thought. I'll bet he was pretty funny to watch and pretty cranky as it wore off!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Of course the best part of coming home....
was seeing that cuddle puppy Squirt. We really missed him.
However, he was at his favorite dog sitter's house most of the time and got to go to two Thanksgiving feasts.
I'm not certain he was happy to see us walk in this morning!
(OK - he was but he wasn't unhappy about leaving to go with her last week!)
However, he was at his favorite dog sitter's house most of the time and got to go to two Thanksgiving feasts.
I'm not certain he was happy to see us walk in this morning!
(OK - he was but he wasn't unhappy about leaving to go with her last week!)
Back Home Again
We have been traveling. This year we went outside (Alaskan for anywhere other than Alaska) to Kansas and Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. We arrived our house in Anchorage at 1:15 this morning. LONG flights but luckily no travel delays. Sadly - almost all of the snow has once again melted - no skiing today!
Egad was it hot down south. Those 70 degree days were tough. I wore shorts more last week than I did last year. There we were dressed in shorts, t-shirts and sandals looking for air conditioning when others had jeans, sweatshirts and coats with household heaters running. It finally cooled down to the 30s and snowed a little. It is nice to be able to share our weather. :) It was fun to people watch in the airports - it was sunny and 50 in Houston yesterday which means winter coats, snow boots and ear muffs. Isn't it interesting how a human body can acclimate itself?
All of our Christmas presents made it to relatives without breaking (we shipped them) and hopefully the packages we shipped back will make it in the same condition. Our families were in good health and it was so wonderful to see them. Plus - we successfully chose for the 3 and 4 year old fabulous, noisy toys for their parents to enjoy!
It had been one year since I last left Alaska and I am pretty sure that is the longest time span I have stayed in one state let alone one country since graduating from college. I discovered I missed the hustle and bustle of the Lower 48 - the 4 lane highways - the option of choosing different roads to get to the same place - the tons of places to stop and get something to eat - not that we ate a lot just the ability to do it. But coming back last night, I so was glad to get home - ironically away from the hustle and bustle. Looking out of the window and flying over the snow covered mountains awash in moonlight, no little communities to interrupt the darkness, the clear, starry skies. We had a six mile cab ride or so from the airport in the city and stopped at two stoplights. Even though most of the snow is gone, the dusting in our drive showed momma moose and calf had recently been through. While many people would never live here because of the weather, extended winter dark and summer sun along with the "isolation", to me this is paradise and I am so thankful I have the opportunity and plan to take advantage of it while we are here.
Now it just needs to get cold enough for me to dig out my fur coat and mukluks!
Egad was it hot down south. Those 70 degree days were tough. I wore shorts more last week than I did last year. There we were dressed in shorts, t-shirts and sandals looking for air conditioning when others had jeans, sweatshirts and coats with household heaters running. It finally cooled down to the 30s and snowed a little. It is nice to be able to share our weather. :) It was fun to people watch in the airports - it was sunny and 50 in Houston yesterday which means winter coats, snow boots and ear muffs. Isn't it interesting how a human body can acclimate itself?
All of our Christmas presents made it to relatives without breaking (we shipped them) and hopefully the packages we shipped back will make it in the same condition. Our families were in good health and it was so wonderful to see them. Plus - we successfully chose for the 3 and 4 year old fabulous, noisy toys for their parents to enjoy!
It had been one year since I last left Alaska and I am pretty sure that is the longest time span I have stayed in one state let alone one country since graduating from college. I discovered I missed the hustle and bustle of the Lower 48 - the 4 lane highways - the option of choosing different roads to get to the same place - the tons of places to stop and get something to eat - not that we ate a lot just the ability to do it. But coming back last night, I so was glad to get home - ironically away from the hustle and bustle. Looking out of the window and flying over the snow covered mountains awash in moonlight, no little communities to interrupt the darkness, the clear, starry skies. We had a six mile cab ride or so from the airport in the city and stopped at two stoplights. Even though most of the snow is gone, the dusting in our drive showed momma moose and calf had recently been through. While many people would never live here because of the weather, extended winter dark and summer sun along with the "isolation", to me this is paradise and I am so thankful I have the opportunity and plan to take advantage of it while we are here.
Now it just needs to get cold enough for me to dig out my fur coat and mukluks!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Oh No! Guess Who Just Turned 50???
Yes - it's a sad day for one of us....Robert turns 50 today.
One half century....
Glad I'm still several years away :)
One half century....
Glad I'm still several years away :)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Snow arrived again today!
After a good - 3 shovel Saturday, we had a "snow squall" this afternoon.
Hadn't been in one of those before.
The sky turned black - just like a good, old Southern thunderstorm. The fog moved in - I couldn't see anything out of my office window.
Except - it wasn't fog. In a matter of minutes, we had 2 new inches of snow on the cars in the parking lot. (Time to find the scraper!) Complete white out conditions in the Anchorage Bowl. Traffic going home today actually reminded me of Houston...
After dinner, Squirt and I headed out to shovel the deck. I think Squirt wanted to go play as after only one toss of snow, he was ready to go inside. He then proceeded to watch all of the work from his perch on the couch. Oh the irony of it...there I was shoveling trails in the yard for the dog and there he was watching from the nice comfy couch.
He has me trained well.
Hadn't been in one of those before.
The sky turned black - just like a good, old Southern thunderstorm. The fog moved in - I couldn't see anything out of my office window.
Except - it wasn't fog. In a matter of minutes, we had 2 new inches of snow on the cars in the parking lot. (Time to find the scraper!) Complete white out conditions in the Anchorage Bowl. Traffic going home today actually reminded me of Houston...
After dinner, Squirt and I headed out to shovel the deck. I think Squirt wanted to go play as after only one toss of snow, he was ready to go inside. He then proceeded to watch all of the work from his perch on the couch. Oh the irony of it...there I was shoveling trails in the yard for the dog and there he was watching from the nice comfy couch.
He has me trained well.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
It's Here! It's Here!
Snow Has Arrived!
We have started shoveling season. Finally - skiing can't be too far away!
We have started shoveling season. Finally - skiing can't be too far away!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
A Two Moose Morning!
What a perfect start to the day! Robert had to be at work for a 6:30am meeting which means we were up earlier than normal but all else was just a typical “go to work” day. Get ready…go downstairs…look out the front window for animals…forget to look out the side window for animals…put on coat and shoes…take Squirt outside…walk towards the gate to the yard…
That’s when it got exciting!
Squirt was standing at the gate and on there on the terrace just outside of our corral (decoration only) fence, severely trimming our bushes, were Momma and Baby Moose. (If I had looked out the side windows I would have seen them.) Momma heard Squirt’s tags jingling and stopped eating – ears went back to unhappy moose mode. We quickly turned around and went to the other side of the house to avoid the trampling of either one of us. Squirt was very good. He didn’t woof once (of course there was no glass between him and the moose).
After Squirt finished, we went inside and promptly went to the windows to watch the duo. They continued to trim bushes (I’m OK with that – if they don’t we would have to in the spring) and then nonchalantly stepped over the corral fence even closer to the house. (FYI – the top of the fence is about 8 inches below their bellies.) Momma came so close to the house, if I had been on the deck, I could have pet her…although that would have probably lead to “unhappy moose mode”.
Quite frankly, Robert is very lucky he got breakfast AND we made it to work on time because moose in the yard could have kept Squirt and me entertained for HOURS. They were still in the yard as we pulled out of the driveway. At noon, when we were home for lunch, we discovered they ate the pumpking offering....(note to self - must buy another pumpkin!).
Even the drive to work was great – we saw a fox running on the road.
Obviously, today was not supposed to be a work day. It was supposed to be a “go watch wildlife” day. I am confident if we had gone uphill to the mountains instead of downhill to work, we would have seen bears also.
That’s when it got exciting!
Squirt was standing at the gate and on there on the terrace just outside of our corral (decoration only) fence, severely trimming our bushes, were Momma and Baby Moose. (If I had looked out the side windows I would have seen them.) Momma heard Squirt’s tags jingling and stopped eating – ears went back to unhappy moose mode. We quickly turned around and went to the other side of the house to avoid the trampling of either one of us. Squirt was very good. He didn’t woof once (of course there was no glass between him and the moose).
After Squirt finished, we went inside and promptly went to the windows to watch the duo. They continued to trim bushes (I’m OK with that – if they don’t we would have to in the spring) and then nonchalantly stepped over the corral fence even closer to the house. (FYI – the top of the fence is about 8 inches below their bellies.) Momma came so close to the house, if I had been on the deck, I could have pet her…although that would have probably lead to “unhappy moose mode”.
Quite frankly, Robert is very lucky he got breakfast AND we made it to work on time because moose in the yard could have kept Squirt and me entertained for HOURS. They were still in the yard as we pulled out of the driveway. At noon, when we were home for lunch, we discovered they ate the pumpking offering....(note to self - must buy another pumpkin!).
Even the drive to work was great – we saw a fox running on the road.
Obviously, today was not supposed to be a work day. It was supposed to be a “go watch wildlife” day. I am confident if we had gone uphill to the mountains instead of downhill to work, we would have seen bears also.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Still no significant snow
Last year, I am pretty sure, we were downhill skiing by now!
Today has been the first day in a couple of weeks it was below freezing in the morning. It's still below freezing (which actually feels OK) but no snow on the horizon.
At least I don't have to shovel anything yet!
Today has been the first day in a couple of weeks it was below freezing in the morning. It's still below freezing (which actually feels OK) but no snow on the horizon.
At least I don't have to shovel anything yet!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Headline - Reindeer lost to Moose...
Yes – it happened. Based on the tracks and other evidence, a moose sashayed up or down the terrace steps, went a little wide and knocked Papa Reindeer over. The deed occurred sometime between 6:15am and 5:30pm. (Interesting it occurred on Halloween!) The Land of the Midnight Sun is very difficult on mechanical reindeer. Mama can now only light up this year as the mechanism enabling her to move broke during the one of the gales last year.
OK OK – we had our reindeer up before Halloween. They aren’t turned on and are in an inconspicuous place where you don’t see them unless you are looking. Besides – we have to have our Christmas lights up prior to the show arriving or they won’t get up.
I also started working on the Christmas tree this week. Since a lot of work goes into decorating, I am going to have it on starting Thanksgiving. I closed the blinds for those windows so it wouldn’t be as obvious to the neighbors what I was doing. Robert really looks forward to decorating the Christmas tree. Every year he helps get it out of storage along with all of the boxes of ornaments, sets the tree up (it is very heavy and awkward) and then normally entertains Squirt (by snoozing with him in the recliner) until it is time to do the very top of the tree (which I can’t reach). He then helps me push it into the corner with the hope that nothing falls off and breaks. I have been gathering Alaskan Christmas ornaments over the last year at various craft fairs. I can't wait to see how it turns out!
Halloween passed with what appears to be minimal tricks from humans (see moose comment at beginning). Robert and I took Squirt to the pizza place and spent a couple of hours missing most of the kids. It was very balmy last night (35 and dry) compared to the 8 or so inches of snow on last Halloween.
OK OK – we had our reindeer up before Halloween. They aren’t turned on and are in an inconspicuous place where you don’t see them unless you are looking. Besides – we have to have our Christmas lights up prior to the show arriving or they won’t get up.
I also started working on the Christmas tree this week. Since a lot of work goes into decorating, I am going to have it on starting Thanksgiving. I closed the blinds for those windows so it wouldn’t be as obvious to the neighbors what I was doing. Robert really looks forward to decorating the Christmas tree. Every year he helps get it out of storage along with all of the boxes of ornaments, sets the tree up (it is very heavy and awkward) and then normally entertains Squirt (by snoozing with him in the recliner) until it is time to do the very top of the tree (which I can’t reach). He then helps me push it into the corner with the hope that nothing falls off and breaks. I have been gathering Alaskan Christmas ornaments over the last year at various craft fairs. I can't wait to see how it turns out!
Halloween passed with what appears to be minimal tricks from humans (see moose comment at beginning). Robert and I took Squirt to the pizza place and spent a couple of hours missing most of the kids. It was very balmy last night (35 and dry) compared to the 8 or so inches of snow on last Halloween.
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