Just back from Hawaii!

To new snow and the threat of the Redoubt Volcano blowing its top. We missed the 5.7 earthquake last weekend...Must get some things done but will add more later!

Oh boy are we ever having a Chinook!

After the brutal cold over Christmas Holiday, this week has brought not one, not two but three low pressure systems directly up from Hawaii. Our winds have been horrible (so far we haven't lost anything but some paint and sleep) and the temps have been in the 40s at our house for the last three days. This translates into our first breakup of the season. About 2/3 of the snow is gone and we do have grass in the yard again in Squirt's paths. It was 46 here this morning. It's good to be able to go outside in a t-shirt and no coat...

Oh...So...Close

I just checked and the current temperature at our house is -1.9 degrees. The last time our house was this warm was 21 days ago.

Looking forward to positive digits tomorrow!

And they say it will be in the 40s by Thursday.

Eagle Videos...Finally!

Don't know what the problem was Sunday. Maybe Vista? Maybe the site? Now I wonder how many times I have the same videos uploaded. Must do research on this issue. Regardless - This is a slice of what we saw Sunday.

The Initial Salmon Toss...like fighter jets coming in for a strafing run...



The Feeding Frenzy!



Eagles Everywhere!

The USPS Alaska 50th Birthday Stamp

Here is the brand new USPS stamp recognizing Alaska's 50th year of statehood.

The picture was taken at Rainy Pass by Jeff Schultz during the 2000 Iditarod.

While the Postal Service refuses to acknowlege who the musher is because she is still alive.

I'll let you in on a secret...

it is DeeDee Jonrowe.

Eagles Eagles Everywhere!

Happy Birthday Alaska! 50 years of Statehood!

What a perfect winter Sunday! It started out with Momma and Baby Moose eating at the All You Can Eat Moose Buffet right outside our windows. Baby is looking very good for as cold as it has been. Momma must be showing it all of the best places to snack. They circled the house, trimming bushes and trees left and right. The forsythia is significantly smaller now than it was yesterday. Squirt was very worried about those huge dogs in the yard especially since we weren't chasing them off! All was well until Baby started to munch on the raspberry stems. Then I had to tap on the window. Some things they need to be a little more sneaky about eating.

After breakfast, we opted to head to Eagle River. During the colder winter months, each Sunday morning at 11:00am, someone feeds eagles pieces of salmon at the Eagle River VFW parking lot. We had never been before and decided to wander over there this morning. (What else to do when it is -20 outside?)

Not knowing for sure:
1. Where the VFW is;
2. What time the feeding starts;
3. What to expect at the event;

we drove around the community until we found the fire station. At that point we knew we were close.

We pulled into the parking lot about 10:55 along with several other cars and didn't see a single bird.

Then at 10:58, the first eagle arrived.

At 10:59, two more showed up.

At 11:00, all of a sudden, 30-40 eagles were flying around watching a 4 WD pull into the center of the parking lot and open their hatch back. (Who says these birds can't tell time OR day of the week???) Pretty soon, pieces of salmon were flying from behind the truck and the feeding frenzy started. It lasted for about 15 minutes. Utterly amazing...the pictures and video below don't do it justice. I highly recommend this as a winter activity! (Note, we are facing Southeast...this part of ER will not see the sun for another month as it is too close to the mountains and the sun does not get high enough in the sky.)





OK - The video server isn't working right now. I will post those as soon as I can get them loaded...

New Dangers for the Little White Pooch

Anchorage doesn't have little things to worry about. There are no fleas, ticks, snakes, fire ants or poisonous spiders which could make a dog or human sick.

No, what we have here are BIG things in our neighborhood.

Bears.

Wolves.

Coyotes.

Moose.

Eagles.

Owls.

And new this year...

Lynx.

Yes, last night there was a news report of an increase of Lynx in and around Anchorage due to the high numbers of snowshoe hares and they will only be increasing over the next two years. Of course, pets should be fine as long as there are lots of white bunnies for the Lynx.

But then...who in the family could be mistaken for a white bunny - especially when running around in the deep snow?



Luckily, Squirt (a.k.a Wolf Hound Zero) has no idea there could be a problem. In his mind he can take on any one of these animlas. Well - except maybe the moose - those are really big dogs better woofed at from behind a window! However, based on his Houston, TX., experiences, he would run right up to the Lynx and say - are you friendly kitty or ugly kitty?

Another reason to stomp loudly and carry a big stick on walks!!!

Welcome to 2009!

Happy New Year!

I am proud to say, Robert and I both stayed up for the arrival of 2009. Thank goodness there was an interesting movie on or we wouldn't have made it. Squirt pretty well slept through it. There were some fireworks around town which we can see nicely from our house.

It is cool this morning (-13) which somewhat eliminates skiing for me today. Our house hasn't been above 0 for 6 days now and I don't think it will be for another 3 days. (It's good to use that winter gear!)

One thing we must do today is apply for the Permanent Fund Dividend. It's Alaska Tradition.

May your new year be happy and prosperous.