Squirt - Protector Extraordinaire

With the house on the market and a showing today, Squirt and I had to get up and get it all pretty - make it look as good as we can for a quick sell. One of the required items is to sweep the leaves off of the deck.

It was about 8:30 and grey this morning due to the rain (making leaf sweeping even more of a challenge) and I let Squirt out the gate on the deck into the yard and started sweeping.

I didn't know there was a moose munching on the birch right around the corner. Squirt did however.

Since living here, I've come to discover, moose have an incredible ability to camouflage themselves. We have a new paper delivery person and you never know what door the paper will be at in the morning. Not 5 minutes before putting him in the yard, I had stepped out the front door looking for the paper. I had to be about 6 feet from the moose's nose. She didn't say a thing, didn't move, stopped eating and hid behind our birch tree. That's probably when Squirt saw her first.

Squirt didn't say anything either.

As I said, Squirt went into the yard and I was sweeping. The next thing I hear is Squirt barking, something heavy stomping on the ground and low, deep, grumbling, growling noises.

Isn't it interesting what you think about when in a crisis. Over the last 3 years, we have seen moose in the yard 30-40 times.

I have never seen a bear in our yard but I know they have wondered through and that was my first thought.

Oh NO - Squirt surprised a bear. What am I going to do?

Then I saw it was a moose.

Then I thought, what am I going to do?

(BTW - there were probably some expletives intermixed between the "what am I going to do" statements but no need to re-create that!)

I have never heard a moose make that type of noise before. Normally they don't vocalize unless it is during rut and they sound different then. This must have been a defensive sound. I'm sure the moose would feel good knowing I initially thought of bears when hearing her.

Anyway, Squirt had run up behind the moose, started barking and the moose had turned and started grumbling and stomping. Luckily, Squirt was fast enough to get away from her hooves. He ran across the yard and the moose looked at me and turned back to munching on the tree again.

Of course, Squirt wouldn't come to me. He was too busy strutting around the yard marking territory.

Both considered it a win.

However, when we saw momma and baby later this afternoon (pictures above - not the same moose from this morning - I know because these two were watching our escapades from their bedding spot across the street) Squirt opted to keep quiet.

Maybe Squirt learned an important lesson today. (I doubt it!)

What a beautiful weekend!

We found a house last week in Houston - YEA!

We spent the weekend fixing this one up to put on the market (anyone want to move to Alaska - we have a great house for sale!).

It was 65 Saturday.

We saw a pod of Belugas Friday!

We saw 3 moose Saturday in the neighborhood!

We saw 2 sheep and an eagle Sunday (not in the neighborhood). However, we did see 2 moose in the neighborhood!

Little nippy on Sunday.

TERMINATION DUST ON MONDAY MORNING!!!!

And it just marched right down the mountains Monday night. None in the yard yet. It was supposed to hold off 4 more weeks! Someone apparently didn't get the message!!

Thank You Karma!!!

We lost the bid on the last house and found a better one closer to the office! I feel much better about this now!

Back to Houston

As many of you may know by now, we are not moving to the Middle East but instead, back to Houston, TX. We recently went there looking for and bidding on a house. We found a very nice one, way far from work so the commute won't be pretty (uglier for Robert than me). But it is only 3 years old, has a pool and 3 car garage.

We drove around our old stomping grounds, checking out how much has changed and the answer is LOTS. Some good, some still to be determined.

Of course, all of the driving around, the people, the cars, the stoplights, malls, shops, restaurants, etc. made me realize once again how very hard it will be to leave Alaska - the weather, wildlife, native art, skiing, hiking, ATV riding, scenery and overall grandness - it's a perfect package. We have enjoyed it so much and do plan on moving back in retirement if not sooner. We will have a couple more Alaskan adventures...selling our house and driving back to Houston - this time in the winter.

Of course Houston will also have adventures and I plan to continue to write about them. I have also decided not to change the blog name - just my bio. I was actually called a "local" not to long ago by a "local". I'm no longer a Cheechako...now a Sourdough! :)

2009 State Fair - Really Big Veggies!

I love seeing these things at the fair...

...A 14lb puff ball mushroom...


...Really tall sunflowers (see the one almost touching the roof??)...


...A 22lb radish - a new Alaska record...


...A 146lb watermelon...


...A 125.9lb world record cabbage


...A 594lb pumpkin - note the new world record white rutabaga weighing in at 82lbs and the red beet weighing in at 24lbs...


...And a big kale for decoration...

Squirt LOVES the UPS man...

We opened the door tonight to pick up the package and this is what Squirt found...

Where else but here...

I was out with Squirt tonight for our evening walk when my cell phone rang. A friend of mine had free tickets to a concert at a grand re-opening of a local bowling alley. Her husband got sick and she invited me to go. I said - Sure!

After all - how many times to you get to go listen to the Beach Boys on the spur of the moment!

It was to start at 8 and we got there about 7:30 or so, grabbed our lawn chairs and headed into the bowling alley parking lot where the tents were set up. I think there were approximately 600 people. The weather was perfect - probably about 55 degrees with a strong southwesterly wind. A light jacket was the only thing needed.

Of course...I didn't take the camera...who would have thought they would let those in. Oh Well...next time...

I did notice as we were leaving all of the patrol cars ready to corral the rowdy fans. (I don't think there was much "rowdy" going on - but then, I wasn't over by the beer tent.) At one point, my friend said something like this being an older crowd...since many of their songs were written before I was born...I had to agree.. :)

I still enjoyed it, sang along to some great music and say thanks for the opportunity!

The Bear Rug is Here

Finally...after months of waiting...it is finished! As you can see below, Squirt wasn't too sure about it. In fact, the first night, we had to go check on it as we went by going to bed to make sure it hadn't moved. THEN the next morning, he stood at the top of the steps pointed toward the bedroom, sniffing to see if it was OK. I had to turn on the light for him to go check to make sure the bear hadn't moved. In fact, for 5 days in a row, I had to turn the light on each morning for him to check to make sure the bear hadn't moved. Luckily...it hasn't moved.

Now we just have to make sure our new house has a place for it to hang!

What a Beautiful Moose Morning

As the days get shorter :( and we slide towards winter months, it is always a lot of fun to see a mother moose and her baby.

This morning as I was out watering plants, I heard little trees being destroyed and looked over 2 houses and there they were - just enjoying the heck out of the leaves.

I was so glad to see a new momma moose here as I am pretty sure the one we have been watching the last 3 winters was shot this year about a mile away because it was threatening a person (for interfering with her twins).

What a good way to start Friday!

Danger Avoided!

We went out to Kincaid Park today to walk. Since my ankle is still weak from Thursday's outing, I didn't want to go on uneven dirt with hidden rock trails today and Kincaid was the perfect answer.

And what a walk it was!

We saw 6 moose - 2 bulls, 3 cows and a calf.

We even did the one thing you are NEVER supposed to do - accidentally of course - we got between a momma moose and her calf. She was eating beside the path and when we tried to pass her, she walked across the path in front of us, heading off into the woods. Squirt was woofing and waving at her. But she walked away and didn't even act too upset.

Little did we know, when we came back by later, she had a calf bedded down opposite of where she walked to. The first time, she was trying to distract us from her baby. It worked! We saw the calf on the return trip. It was a cutie.

Naturally, the camera was in the car.

Look Look - we are actually having summer!

Yes - we have been in the 80's (which is brutally warm at night for us - remember - no air conditioning!) and sunny for almost 3 weeks now. Our tomatoes are growing nicely, the petunias in the hanging basket are 1/2 way to the ground and I am actually getting a tan! We have even picked and eaten a strawberry form our plants. (Yes - one strawberry - but more are coming!)

Vegetables this year at the fair should be HUGE!

Needless to say, every chance we get, we are outside in shorts and tanks!

Another First...

Sitting here watching the news another first for living in Anchorage....a severe thunderstorm warning. What a surprise considering I think I have only heard thunder once since moving here. Luckily, it is for a community 45 miles northeast of here. Although it did rain at our house today...just after the windows were finished. ARG.

Squirt and I headed out today. I packed the bag with bear spray and granola bars and we were off. We went to Glen Alps for a hike and ended up going about 6 miles round trip. We saw 1 bull moose lunching just off of the path. He stayed around long enough for me to get the camera out and snap a pic. Hope it turned out.

We also saw a grouse with chicks. She was REALLY upset at us being on the path and pulled to old wounded wing act to help hide her chicks. Squirt fell for it. I couldn't get the camera out fast enough to get the babies though. They were tiny.

We also saw a vole running around...and one dead one. No pics.

After walking, we drove to Girdwood looking for Belugas. None to be seen. Squirt wasn't a lot of help en route looking for them. He slept the entire way down and back.

Then it was back to Anchorage for lunch/dinner - Moose's Tooth Pizza. Now that we are moving - I can't get enough of it!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Time to go for a bike ride...we have hours of daylight left! I think the sun sets around midnight-30? tonight?

Where has the blogger gone...????

Getting the house ready to put on the market...painting, culling items and the big ugly one - doing a household inventory for the move. We own a lot of stuff. Oh - and she does still have her day job earning doggy kibble money.

Will be back one of these days with regular posts...in fact, I have to tell you about the rabbit dinner.

Moose Babies!

Another sign of spring...look at this family - they are adorable!!!

ADN moose video

How fun to watch!

One less moose predator!

Robert was very successful in his bear hunt this weekend! The moose over at Beluga are that much safer now! :) This guy was over 250 lbs and is between 2-4 years old (we are guessing - will know more after ADF&G seals it!). Robert took it with one shot - hit both lungs. It will make a very nice wall hanging! Squirt wasn't really sure about it. He didn't attack it like he did the grouse.

What a beautiful day!

It is sunny and warm (47 last time I checked)! No wind - no jacket - a shorts day already! Plus there were 3 moose running around the neighborhood this morning providing entertainment while I was eating my bagel. What a GREAT way to start the day.

Squirt has company this week. Petey, a tiny little Yorkie is staying with us for a couple of days. I think he weighs about 3 lbs. I love watching the dynamics between the two of them. Squirt is very laid back and willing to share everything - for a time period. Then when Petey doesn't understand the time period is over, Squirt goes and lays by the wall and pouts. Or when Squirt is getting attention and Petey doesn't want to be on the same lap, he turns his back to you and stares at the wall. Petey normally lives in the country is not used to the nightly "city" noises - cars / people etc. That first night there was much growling and barking, to the point I'm pretty sure Squirt even told him to be quiet. Squirt made up for it though by barking at him the entire day on Thursday. No rest for the guard dog!

With us setting record temps this week (upper 60's), I started cleaning out the flower beds. I almost waited too long as there are a lot of things budding and spouting. Unfortunately, I clipped a volunteer lilac bush. To make up for it though, I sacrificed one of the soaker hoses. Chopped it right in two. One less thing to move!

We have a black bear and her two cubs hanging around the neighborhood now. Guess it's time to take down the bird feeder!

Rude Awakening!

Yes - at approx. 5:45 am, the door to the bedroom started rattling and the bed was shaking. Of course by the time I was really awake and coherent (OK - awake - coherent happened about an hour later after coffee), I realized we were having an earthquake. (Either that or the house was seriously haunted all of a sudden.) I immediately checked on Squirt. He was asleep. And then it was over.

What a good guard dog! He knows the difference between the door rattling from an earthquake vs the wind blowing. Wind blowing door rattling generally causes guard duty barks. (I guess he isn't one of those animals that warns of potential natural disasters.)

Anyway, I had all the chores done, grocery shopping and breakfast over by about 8:30 this morning. BTW the quake was centered 19 miles ESE of Anchorage and was a 4.0.

Luckily it wasn't the volcano as ash would come our way today. Here are a couple of pictures of it from my office last week. Too bad it is so far away for the camera. The view was pretty impressive. There is a steam / ash cloud coming out of it in these.

Squirt does cartwheels!

Yes - little circus performer that he is...

We went for a walk last night and upon reaching our driveway I took him off leash to run from the sidewalk to the door. Well he missed the door and zoomed straight up the cement stairs into the raspberry patch. He was looking for Buck, Owen and Ford, his under the fence, nose to nose buddies.

I told him to come back down to the door...twice...and the second time, he realized I was serious and came running back toward me full bore - forgetting about the steps.

I am not exactly sure what happened...did he slip...get a paw caught...is just a natural acrobat, but he actually did a fully extended, back legs over his head flip over 4-5 stairs and landed in the driveway.

I started toward him, calling his name and he kind of looked up...looked around...almost like he wondered if anyone saw him, jumped up and ran straight toward me.

I told him he was too old (12 years) to be doing those things and he was lucky he didn't break his neck! Thank goodness.

Tonight up on returning to the driveway, he went directly to the door - no raspberry patch shenanigans!

A new challenge...

Go ahead...try doing sit ups holding a 20 lb weight and finding out after it's too late the dog is standing on your hair.

Ow.