If you ask the locals (ok - if you ask Robert too), we haven't had a summer this year. Nope - None. We went directly from break up to mid-August with nothing in between. I am pretty sure Anchorage has had a total of 6 sunny days since the late snow in April and the rest of the time it has been cloudy and rainy. Robert is starting to grumble about not seeing the sun. I just tell him we will catch it this winter! :) Of course, this just goes back to the old adage...there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!
The really important thing to note is that if it is raining in town, depending on how cool it is, it could be snowing in the mountains. Our first termination dust arrived last week - July 22/23. (This is normally a September event.) We are honestly worried whether we will get any raspberries, apples or tomatoes this year because of the cooler weather.
Friday, Robert and I had the chance to tour an oil tanker in Valdez. Those are really big ships and it is amazing they only need 20 - 30 people to run everything from top to bottom. Unfortunately, we didn't take pictures due to security issues and the fact by the time we got off it was too dark to take a picture. If you come to my house, we will have a really nice picture of the ship though hanging on the wall!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Katmai - WOW - Part III (videos)
(I know - too many photos and movies! Oh well! Skip to the next post if you want to see the stills and Part I to read the commentary!)
View from the Ripples looking back towards Brooks Falls. Sometimes you just have to smack the water!
Dining in the water with other bears coming to check out the menu
Baby bears learning to be big bears - listen to those growls. This one also shows how close we were.
Don't worry - Mom did get the fish back (Junior knows when to behave) and the little one got a bite before it was all gone.
One last shot from the Ripples looking back to the Falls - bears, bears everywhere! :)
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Katmai - WOW - Part II (still pictures)
Where's the fish? (Brooks Falls)
This family was right below the observation deck. It is SO hard to be a cub - must snooze lots!
Got one!
And the other bears check out the catch!
Even the birds can pull one up - but they quickly lost it to a bear!
SO tired!
Mom caught lunch!
The family fest!
Remember - Grizzlies don't climb trees - HAHAHAHAHA
A different family in camp - 3 cubs again.
Flying home - the tilted mountains - and yes, the camera was level!
Augustine Volcano - the cloud cover is actually caused by steam vents.
This family was right below the observation deck. It is SO hard to be a cub - must snooze lots!
Got one!
And the other bears check out the catch!
Even the birds can pull one up - but they quickly lost it to a bear!
SO tired!
Mom caught lunch!
The family fest!
Remember - Grizzlies don't climb trees - HAHAHAHAHA
A different family in camp - 3 cubs again.
Flying home - the tilted mountains - and yes, the camera was level!
Augustine Volcano - the cloud cover is actually caused by steam vents.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Katmai - WOW - Part 1
It started out a bleary, drippy day. Our pilot said we had a 70% chance of getting to the park. Thanks to his excellent flying and a break over one of the mountain passes, our 8 passenger Cessna float plane made it with out a snag and only a few bumps. Since I had never been in a float plane before, I was intrigued to see what it was like to land on water. However, I missed the whole landing because as we were coming in over the water, a mother bear and 3 cubs were on the beach and had my total attention.
After exiting the plane, we had to go through about 30 minutes of storing food (NONE - no gum, candy, soda, flavored water, etc. allowed out of camp), orientation and lectures about how to act around the bears. We got our orientation pin (must wear or risk citation) and were off. After a short 30 minute hike (with potential to meet up with a bear at any time) we made it to the viewing platforms.
Upon arriving to the Brooks Falls area, we put our name on the waiting list to go to the actual falls. The entire park gets about 300 visitors a day and only 40 are allowed to watch the bears at that location at one time. To help pass the time, we went to the Ripples area which is just below the falls. This is where the younger bears hang out. Only the big'uns have a positiong at the falls!
It was FABULOUS!!! The bears are so close to you and don't pay any attention to you. They are after salmon and when they get one, it can be a quiet snack or a lot of growling, positioning and fish stealing. It is also a great place to look down at the falls and see all of the big bears hanging out.
At last it was our turn to get to the Brooks Falls viewing platform. It is almost indescribable. (Luckily we have 45 different videos and 201 pictures. :) ) There were the master fishermen and the teenagers trying to encroach. At one point, I counted 16 bears either in the river or on the bank. We even had a momma and 3 cubs stationed right by the platform which is pretty unusual. Male grizzlies have a tendency to kill cubs and momma did not leave her babies except to fend off males (we have it on video) or to grab a fish every now and then. (OK she was actually the best at fishing.) About once an hour, she would wait and watch, jump in the water and come out with a fish immediately. The babies would pounce on the fish and rip it apart. It was very easy to see which cubs were dominant. They were learning how to be bears.
Our hour on the platform absolutely flew by. Once we had to leave, we went back to the Ripples again and this time saw a momma with 2 cubs being chased by a male. Believe it or not, the two cubs ran up the tree for safety. (Ya - right grizzlies don't climb trees!) I'm sure we spent another hour there before heading back to the lodge.
Sure enough, on the way back to camp, we rounded a corner and people across the river started to yell "BEAR". Four of them were just beyond us out of sight...thanks to whoever yelled and stopped us!!!
Back in camp, we heard there was another mom with cubs by the cabins. Of course we had to check it out. Sure enough, there she was, laying on her back resting with the cubs on top of her. Unfortunately, I'm not sure those pictures turned out as she was in an awkward location and we had to stay at least 50 yards away from them at all times. (All bears - not just cubs.)
We even stumbled across a bear with cubs when heading back to the plane. Of course, the bears have the right - of - way and humans wait. No matter how long it takes.
Our pilot was fantastic. On the way home, he took us by St. Augustine Volcano for a few shots and also the tilted mountains (named because of the tectonic upheaval) and is best shown with a picture (to come). Luckily the weather had cleared quite a bit for the flight.
An absolutely incredible experience I recommend.
Pictures to come once we cull!
After exiting the plane, we had to go through about 30 minutes of storing food (NONE - no gum, candy, soda, flavored water, etc. allowed out of camp), orientation and lectures about how to act around the bears. We got our orientation pin (must wear or risk citation) and were off. After a short 30 minute hike (with potential to meet up with a bear at any time) we made it to the viewing platforms.
Upon arriving to the Brooks Falls area, we put our name on the waiting list to go to the actual falls. The entire park gets about 300 visitors a day and only 40 are allowed to watch the bears at that location at one time. To help pass the time, we went to the Ripples area which is just below the falls. This is where the younger bears hang out. Only the big'uns have a positiong at the falls!
It was FABULOUS!!! The bears are so close to you and don't pay any attention to you. They are after salmon and when they get one, it can be a quiet snack or a lot of growling, positioning and fish stealing. It is also a great place to look down at the falls and see all of the big bears hanging out.
At last it was our turn to get to the Brooks Falls viewing platform. It is almost indescribable. (Luckily we have 45 different videos and 201 pictures. :) ) There were the master fishermen and the teenagers trying to encroach. At one point, I counted 16 bears either in the river or on the bank. We even had a momma and 3 cubs stationed right by the platform which is pretty unusual. Male grizzlies have a tendency to kill cubs and momma did not leave her babies except to fend off males (we have it on video) or to grab a fish every now and then. (OK she was actually the best at fishing.) About once an hour, she would wait and watch, jump in the water and come out with a fish immediately. The babies would pounce on the fish and rip it apart. It was very easy to see which cubs were dominant. They were learning how to be bears.
Our hour on the platform absolutely flew by. Once we had to leave, we went back to the Ripples again and this time saw a momma with 2 cubs being chased by a male. Believe it or not, the two cubs ran up the tree for safety. (Ya - right grizzlies don't climb trees!) I'm sure we spent another hour there before heading back to the lodge.
Sure enough, on the way back to camp, we rounded a corner and people across the river started to yell "BEAR". Four of them were just beyond us out of sight...thanks to whoever yelled and stopped us!!!
Back in camp, we heard there was another mom with cubs by the cabins. Of course we had to check it out. Sure enough, there she was, laying on her back resting with the cubs on top of her. Unfortunately, I'm not sure those pictures turned out as she was in an awkward location and we had to stay at least 50 yards away from them at all times. (All bears - not just cubs.)
We even stumbled across a bear with cubs when heading back to the plane. Of course, the bears have the right - of - way and humans wait. No matter how long it takes.
Our pilot was fantastic. On the way home, he took us by St. Augustine Volcano for a few shots and also the tilted mountains (named because of the tectonic upheaval) and is best shown with a picture (to come). Luckily the weather had cleared quite a bit for the flight.
An absolutely incredible experience I recommend.
Pictures to come once we cull!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Moose Mama
She's awful skinny...raising twins must be tough.
One of the twins that wasn't camera shy.Friday, July 04, 2008
Moose Babies!
We finally hit 70 degrees this summer on July 2 and we had 2.5 sunny days in a row.
That hasn't happened in a several months!
BTW - The photo is courtesy of Natalie...Thanks Natalie for letting me use it!
Thursday, July 03, 2008
I got a new toy!
Robert surprised me with a new computer yesterday! It works GREAT! I should be able to blog at lightening speed now. It is very sleek and fast. I will spend hours with it!
Robert had dental surgery yesterday. So far, all has gone well. It will be very tough at the BBQ tomorrow though. He isn't really supposed to eat solid foods!
We have company with us now. Robert's niece is here for a few days. We have gone hiking by the gulf, in the mountains and on Matanuska Glacier! (OK - that was pretty cool!) We also have pictures of the moose twins but they are still safely on the camera!
In case you missed it, there was a serious bear attack about 1.5 - 2 miles from our house this last week. http://www.adn.com/bearattacks/story/454296.html Luckily the girl should live. Then there was a fire along the same creek in town this week. We assume that pushed all of those bears closer to our house. Squirt just has to be on alert!
Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!!!
Robert had dental surgery yesterday. So far, all has gone well. It will be very tough at the BBQ tomorrow though. He isn't really supposed to eat solid foods!
We have company with us now. Robert's niece is here for a few days. We have gone hiking by the gulf, in the mountains and on Matanuska Glacier! (OK - that was pretty cool!) We also have pictures of the moose twins but they are still safely on the camera!
In case you missed it, there was a serious bear attack about 1.5 - 2 miles from our house this last week. http://www.adn.com/bearattacks/story/454296.html Luckily the girl should live. Then there was a fire along the same creek in town this week. We assume that pushed all of those bears closer to our house. Squirt just has to be on alert!
Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!!!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
A King Salmon Each!
Yesterday, Robert and I fished on the Deshka and each caught a King Salmon.
YUM!!!
A fate would have it, once again, I received the First Fish and Biggest Fish award! :)
I pulled in a 21.4lb fish in the first hour (which made for a long evening - after you catch one, you are done!) and Robert pulled in a 17.6lb about 2 hours later. They are fighters. Once they hook, hold on for a ride. Some of these are strong enough they will pull the boat around. My fish appeared to be out of salt water less than 48 hours and we are now in the process of packing and freezing 24 pounds of fillets. (Except for dinner tonight!) It was a pretty silver fish!
It was a beautiful day for fishing - just not many fish to be had. We were out for 6 hours and only saw 4 fish caught. Two in our boat and then two others. In fact, at 11pm last night, Fish and Game closed the Deshka to King season. No one knows where they have all gone! By now, there should be 20,000 Kings in the river but so far, only about 2,000 haves shown up. We were lucky to get ours.
BTW - yesterday was the solstice...the picture of us was taken at 11:39pm with no flash!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
And they're off!
Yes - Mom and Ginger (my sister) left us on Friday night to head back to stormy Kansas (did you see the pictures?). We had a wonderful time while they were here! The day trip to Seward was fantastic. I think we saw just about everything you could see from the boat (including whales and a black bear) and to top it off, while leaving Seward, we saw a brown bear sow with her cub. What a treat! I am so glad they came this year!
I have so many pictures to post (need to start making a list) including some of our yard. It is in partial bloom and so very pretty!
To start with though, here is a picture of the two of them in Jerry's "office"...the cockpit of a 737. (Jerry was able to fly them here, come back to visit once and then fly them home! How cool is that?!?)
I have so many pictures to post (need to start making a list) including some of our yard. It is in partial bloom and so very pretty!
To start with though, here is a picture of the two of them in Jerry's "office"...the cockpit of a 737. (Jerry was able to fly them here, come back to visit once and then fly them home! How cool is that?!?)
Our next guests are friends from work on Wednesday night. It is hard for me to believe that one of them is old enough to work...I used to go to his T-Ball and "bunch ball" Soccer Games. We also found out that Robert's niece will be spending a couple of weeks with us over June and July! That's what summers are for!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
So what's up with no blogging???
A good friend e-mailed me today and asked if we were OK as nothing had been posted on the blog for over a week! Boy do I feel guilty! :)
Actually, I have been spending all available home time (after dinner, clean up and dog walks - you know - priorities!) working on our flower beds. It appears I have 3 personal vendettas this year:
Dandelions
Clover
And something new (I just found out) - horse tail. These darn things are about to take over everything. Just like kudzu in the south - only not a vine. Tonight I filled 6 plastic grocery bags full and barely made a dent.
Oh and I forgot the grass that is invading all things - except the bare spots in the yard. Of course, the worst place the grass is growing and where I want to work most, we have a tiny bird nesting under a big rock on the ground. She has been rather angry at me the last 3 nights.
You would think with the sun up at 4:30am and not setting until 11:30pm, I would have it well under control but work and sleep interefere's with my weeding!
Company arrives tomorrow. They may be enlisted to work in the gardens also! (Not really!)
The new exciting news I do have is our momma moose in the neighborhood had twins this year. We spotted them yesterday and oh boy are they at that cute adorable stage! Too bad we didn't have the camera!
Actually, I have been spending all available home time (after dinner, clean up and dog walks - you know - priorities!) working on our flower beds. It appears I have 3 personal vendettas this year:
Dandelions
Clover
And something new (I just found out) - horse tail. These darn things are about to take over everything. Just like kudzu in the south - only not a vine. Tonight I filled 6 plastic grocery bags full and barely made a dent.
Oh and I forgot the grass that is invading all things - except the bare spots in the yard. Of course, the worst place the grass is growing and where I want to work most, we have a tiny bird nesting under a big rock on the ground. She has been rather angry at me the last 3 nights.
You would think with the sun up at 4:30am and not setting until 11:30pm, I would have it well under control but work and sleep interefere's with my weeding!
Company arrives tomorrow. They may be enlisted to work in the gardens also! (Not really!)
The new exciting news I do have is our momma moose in the neighborhood had twins this year. We spotted them yesterday and oh boy are they at that cute adorable stage! Too bad we didn't have the camera!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Breaking News....
Our tulips bloomed today and we have little purple flowers starting to show up in our ground clutter. It is absolutely beautiful today. 60 degrees with no wind or clouds. Squirt and I just got back from our evening walk and he is one panting puppy...literally!
Our first guests of the season left Sunday night. From the sounds of things they had a good time. However, I guess we scheduled too much for them to do as they LOST weight on vacation instead of gained. I felt really bad! More about our adventures when the pictures are ready this weekend.
The bears are definitely out now as evidenced by this article in the paper. It is sad the bear was shot and killed but it now associated food with homes and that is never a good combination. FYI, I am pretty sure they tossed the rug too.
Today's Alaska Daily News had a discussion of what to do when a moose dies in your yard. I particularly liked the suggestion to...
"Instead, property owners should haul their inedible dead moose to the dump ... Another option is burying the carcass in the yard..."
Now - there's a picture - Robert, Squirt and I trying to bury a moose in the yard deep enough every so dog, fox and wolf doesn't try to dig it up for a snack. (Now where did I put my backhoe?) I would probably go the "pay someone to do it" route.
I have had a couple people ask what we are paying for gas. Alaska now has the distinction of being the first state to average more than $4 per gallon...Yippee! We are paying $3.89 in Anchorage last I checked.
Our first guests of the season left Sunday night. From the sounds of things they had a good time. However, I guess we scheduled too much for them to do as they LOST weight on vacation instead of gained. I felt really bad! More about our adventures when the pictures are ready this weekend.
The bears are definitely out now as evidenced by this article in the paper. It is sad the bear was shot and killed but it now associated food with homes and that is never a good combination. FYI, I am pretty sure they tossed the rug too.
Today's Alaska Daily News had a discussion of what to do when a moose dies in your yard. I particularly liked the suggestion to...
"Instead, property owners should haul their inedible dead moose to the dump ... Another option is burying the carcass in the yard..."
Now - there's a picture - Robert, Squirt and I trying to bury a moose in the yard deep enough every so dog, fox and wolf doesn't try to dig it up for a snack. (Now where did I put my backhoe?) I would probably go the "pay someone to do it" route.
I have had a couple people ask what we are paying for gas. Alaska now has the distinction of being the first state to average more than $4 per gallon...Yippee! We are paying $3.89 in Anchorage last I checked.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Our first blooming flower of 2008
Yes - this was disappointing since I tried to rip this out last weekend...
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Another Year ... Another City Wide Clean-up Week
Hopefully, many of you have visited our beautiful State and have fantastic memories of the views, wildlife and people. If you have, chances are it was not during or just after break-up because it is UGLY.
As far as I can tell, this is the one downside to living here. Just before spring and green fully arrive, we go through melt. Everything is wet and brown because of all the gravel used during the winter and the mud created during breakup. We also have LOADS of trash uncovered.
For some reason, many people believe it is OK to toss all trash out of their cars in the winter. I don't understand why - maybe because it is easily covered up with snow? Regardless - when the snow leaves - the trash is everywhere. From 27.5 gabillion cigarette butts to full size mattresses, passports to wallets, paper cups to sleeping bags, used shotgun shells to wine bottles...it is all there.
Of course, we don't want of our visitors to remember trash and we really don't want to look at it so for the last 40 years, the city has organized a clean up week. For one full week, they provide trash bag and free drop off at the land fill. The residents and businesses provide the labor and today was my day to pick up trash along the road in an orange safety vest.
Picking up trash gives you lots of time to think about things like how sore you are going to be the next day due to the bending AND how to reduce the trash problem with heavy fines, jail time and prison work crews.
I am thankful our employer is willing to participate and let employees volunteer to help clean up the city. It does make an amazing difference. It is just sad we need to do this each year when the solution seems so simple...
As far as I can tell, this is the one downside to living here. Just before spring and green fully arrive, we go through melt. Everything is wet and brown because of all the gravel used during the winter and the mud created during breakup. We also have LOADS of trash uncovered.
For some reason, many people believe it is OK to toss all trash out of their cars in the winter. I don't understand why - maybe because it is easily covered up with snow? Regardless - when the snow leaves - the trash is everywhere. From 27.5 gabillion cigarette butts to full size mattresses, passports to wallets, paper cups to sleeping bags, used shotgun shells to wine bottles...it is all there.
Of course, we don't want of our visitors to remember trash and we really don't want to look at it so for the last 40 years, the city has organized a clean up week. For one full week, they provide trash bag and free drop off at the land fill. The residents and businesses provide the labor and today was my day to pick up trash along the road in an orange safety vest.
Picking up trash gives you lots of time to think about things like how sore you are going to be the next day due to the bending AND how to reduce the trash problem with heavy fines, jail time and prison work crews.
I am thankful our employer is willing to participate and let employees volunteer to help clean up the city. It does make an amazing difference. It is just sad we need to do this each year when the solution seems so simple...
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The Bears Survived Another Outing
Nope - I don't have a new black bear sofa throw. However, I am sure he brought home approximately 200lbs of mud on the ATV, packs and gun boot. All of the colors had turned into brownish gray. .
The funny part about the hunt was after they parked the ATVs and went up a hill on foot, a moose came by the and left a "deposit" right by the quads. They are probably lucky the moose didn't gnaw on some part! (Unless, of course, the quads were already covered in mud and the discriminating moose palette doesn't eat mud!) I am just glad he got home safe and sound!
My hunt however was more successful. I have new shoes and Squirt received a gourmet biscuit at a new canine store in town for being such a good guard dog all morning!
Sunday, we made our first (of many expected) trips to the nursery. Our tomato plants, cilantro and mint are hardening off as I type. Our chives are up and ready to use plus I found the first poppy flower just so close to blooming. All this means is I spent the rest of Sunday in the flower bed cleaning out the dead brush from last year. It actually took us part of Monday to finish. Just a few more days and dingy winter will be gone!
The funny part about the hunt was after they parked the ATVs and went up a hill on foot, a moose came by the and left a "deposit" right by the quads. They are probably lucky the moose didn't gnaw on some part! (Unless, of course, the quads were already covered in mud and the discriminating moose palette doesn't eat mud!) I am just glad he got home safe and sound!
My hunt however was more successful. I have new shoes and Squirt received a gourmet biscuit at a new canine store in town for being such a good guard dog all morning!
Sunday, we made our first (of many expected) trips to the nursery. Our tomato plants, cilantro and mint are hardening off as I type. Our chives are up and ready to use plus I found the first poppy flower just so close to blooming. All this means is I spent the rest of Sunday in the flower bed cleaning out the dead brush from last year. It actually took us part of Monday to finish. Just a few more days and dingy winter will be gone!
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Shhhhhhh! Be verrrrry quiet!
Robert's hunting .....Black Bear
Yes, I got up bright and early for a Saturday morning (although the sun was up), made a very spicy breakfast of hearty biscuits and gravy and waved goodbye to our hunter. Maybe we will have a black bear blanket by the end of the day.
Squirt and I will also be hunting today. We will be hunting for shoes. Apparently, the dry Alaska climate is hard on soles of shoes formerly used to a humid existence. I have had two different pair in the last month lose chunks of soles the size of gravel. Btw - this is very uncomfortable to walk on. Regardless, I had to put back change outfits twice this week because I didn't have matching shoes. Then I learned about the male bonding bear hunt....perfect timing for a shopping trip. Lookout mall, here I come...after my next cup of coffee.
Breaking News....
One of our friends still living in Houston is now a published author. He contributed to a book by Heather B. Armstrong a.k.a Dooce (of blog infamy). Congrats to Bill and the new book Things I Learned About My Dad
Yes, I got up bright and early for a Saturday morning (although the sun was up), made a very spicy breakfast of hearty biscuits and gravy and waved goodbye to our hunter. Maybe we will have a black bear blanket by the end of the day.
Squirt and I will also be hunting today. We will be hunting for shoes. Apparently, the dry Alaska climate is hard on soles of shoes formerly used to a humid existence. I have had two different pair in the last month lose chunks of soles the size of gravel. Btw - this is very uncomfortable to walk on. Regardless, I had to put back change outfits twice this week because I didn't have matching shoes. Then I learned about the male bonding bear hunt....perfect timing for a shopping trip. Lookout mall, here I come...after my next cup of coffee.
Breaking News....
One of our friends still living in Houston is now a published author. He contributed to a book by Heather B. Armstrong a.k.a Dooce (of blog infamy). Congrats to Bill and the new book Things I Learned About My Dad
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Correction....
With the snowfall Friday/Saturday, this has now become the 6th snowiest winter on record.
It is a sloggy, mushy mess outside now. But at least the trees are budding!
It is a sloggy, mushy mess outside now. But at least the trees are budding!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
18+ Inches and still snowing! Where's Squirt???
The deck furniture...
Our front porch...
There he is! Barely able to see over the snow banks...
Our front porch...
There he is! Barely able to see over the snow banks...
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