cute ground squirrel at Independence Mine

 just sat down this particular day and enjoyed his antics.  they are so funny.  he was chirping away at me. I'd left the dogs in the car or this would never have happened.

 they are doing great with moose encounters i will say though.  yesterday they were off leash when we ran across a moose with 2 calves.  they didn't bark or chase and returned to me when called. i put them on leashes yesterday and we tried to wait out this moose family but they were not going to leave the trail.  in the end our walk was made quite a bit longer on a rainy day as we had to backtrack and take a different set of trails back.

 the puppies didn't mind at all having a longer walk.

 i got out late since i had slept like a rock after working my 3 shifts.

 coughing for 12 hours has a way of wearing you out. haha.  I'm still coughing.  they put me on steroids and a zpack.  not sure any of it really makes any difference.  no matter what i tend to cough for 6-8 weeks. reminds me i need to hit the inhalers before i crash.

 rain is the forecast all week.  lots of rain this month. we get out anyway.  yesterday the dogs and i did the airstrip.  it's an easy rainy day walk. the dogs don't care where we go, they just want to play.  took mushroom shots and the moose...but it was pretty wet out so i just used the iphone for pics.

 today, i was headed to Kincaid.  it looked like there may be a break in the weather and when i checked the tides i decided it would be a good day to hit the beach there.  the pups always love that.

 got lucky as it just sprinkled a bit on the way down to the beach and for much of the time we were on the beach.  it rained pretty solid on the way back up.

 heading down there was one moose.  it was a male.  we were able to walk right past that young bull.  it was kind of odd though as the trail dropped off where the moose was so his head was at the level of my feet.  I'm sure he could have popped up on the trail pretty fast though.  he was within 10 feet as we passed.

 also saw a female with a calf on the way back. she looked less concerned about us than the moose yesterday with older calves.  she was less than 50 feet of the trail.

 not sure the pups even saw her though.

 we had the trail mostly to ourselves. i left the pups off leash except when we passed the male coming down and i did put them back on leash a few times on the way back up.

 got lucky with an impromptu shot at my favorite tree.  I'd taken a pic of the pups when they were super young at this tree so i was able to get a repeat shot today.  they have grown a lot.

 this guy is so adorable.

 liked the fog behind these flowers.

 after we were at the Independence Mine we drove Arch Angel road looking at all the flowers, which were amazing.  it was wet but so beautiful.

 those are below these of the ground squirrel.

 work was busy.  no time to do any of the required education stuff i have coming up over the next few months.  i will have 2, 2 day courses and my pals is due and there is a time card class i think.  plus all the usual required education stuff.  always kind of annoying.  it's paid i guess and i have a kitchen to remodel so i should just put on my big girl pants and get to it.

 i was actually on call the first night for the first few hours.  watched a movie and then was getting out of bed to put on my pj's and try to sleep...ring.  that was that. i got 2 patients in the ICU within an hour of each other.  the one was super sick and the other one pretty wild.  don't think i stopped the next 3 nights.  that place is crazy

 was happy today as i stopped by Cabella's after my beach walk and i was able to take both dogs in to the store together.  they are getting so much better on leash.  all my hours of training are starting to pay off.  so amazing to have dogs that are so well behaved!!  i was always proud of Blossom and Rio Catalina.  time invested in those first years owning a dog do pay off.  they do like to jump on the counter there but that is adorable and seems to entertain everyone.

 dinner with friends tonight at South.  it's  a fairly new place which is great.  we all had fun i think.  i hope the Birthday girl enjoyed herself.  late in the evening i thanked her for sitting a certain way....there was this lady in direct line of vision otherwise that had huge breasts that she had somehow gotten pushed up together and left with a gaping 6 inch gap open...so that is all you saw...boobs. after i said it my friends daughter that was sitting next to me had clearly been trying to avoid looking at the open breast scene as well.  you try to not look but there they were...

 the flowers went on and on....it was pretty amazing.

 we managed walks between shifts...

 one day we did a loop in the bog by my place, Baxter Bog.  they did really good here as well on leash. it's been awhile. I'm not always in the bog as much in the summers. the bugs can get thick and Blossom was forever trying to get in all the water, which is super stinky water.

 there was a huge bull moose in this one big pond. since it was raining, i snapped an iphone picture and was trying to get the bigger camera out of the pack when 4 geese started flying and they were screaming as geese tend to do.  they flew right over that bull moose and he was not having it.  he booked out of the bog in a rush.  that is the Alaska picture everyone wants...bull moose in the bog and those dang geese took that shot from me...haha.

 the next day we headed over to the Dog Park at University Lake.  always a favorite.  a sure way to wear out the pups between shifts.

 Blossom and Rio were always the girls, i guess these two are always going to be the pups.

 the cat in the house is finally starting to gain back a wee bit more freedom.  she is currently on my chair here in the office.  the pups were interested but backed off.  she has also been able to move more slowly between the bed and the bathroom where her food and litter box are.  before she had to make a mad dash...the bed was the only safe zone.

 stopped by Petsmart after dinner tonight.  the Halloween costumes are out for dogs.  i have loads of costumes here but i admit that did not stop me from buying a few more!! you have to buy early for costumes big enough for my dogs...they really don't stock many. i can make them both pumpkins this year as i have a new pumpkin and Blossoms old one.  there was also a dinosaur one big enough for Tusker and a little devil one....Ivy of course.  hehe.

 i could see Denali today on the walk despite the rain...the total eclipse of the sun was not going to be viewed here anyway.  i think we may have gotten a partial..but the rain would have prevented either.

 lots of fun pictures posted of the eclipse and it was clearly a pretty cool experience for all those lucky enough to see it.  we will apparently have another complete eclipse in 7 years.

 maybe I'll plan a trip south during that time to try and experience it.

 aren't these flowers amazing!! more amazing live though.

guess that is the same for the eclipse...the pictures are amazing but it would have been better live.

guess lots of animals were confused as well.

the page started doing something odd and i thought i lost all that i just wrote.

it is almost time for bed.

I'm sure you are all happy that i have not talked politics..i know you all prefer me not to, but i appreciate that you allow me to vent on occasion.

i did restock my wines.  i was almost out.  not much alcohol in the house.  haven't had enough parties of late...people bring alcohol and then leave it.  i really don't drink often or much but it is nice when you need it.  i do enjoy a glass of wine or a cooler.  had what they called a toucan Sam tonight.  of course, i only drank about 1/4 of the drink. it was tasty though.  that is hard stuff so that i really go easy on.

the most I've had to drink in the past few decades i admit was on the night of the election.  seemed the best way to deal with it at the time.  haha.

back to work tomorrow night. then i have Hunter Cabin on the 27/28th next week so I'll need to pack for that.  trips early in summer and late in summer this year.  a new cabin.  i think this one is close to parking.  may not even need the wagon i think.

I'll have to read up what it is I'll need.

plenty of room if anyone is interested in joining me out there...give me a shout.

thankful for:  A.  well behaved dogs  B.  friends to laugh with  C.  the berries are in