mostly packed....

 just will have to load and go in the morning.  today turned out beautiful. i did some meandering loops in North Bivouac trails.  i had thought of heading to some big trail but i think i had lots to do and the mushrooms were calling me.  i knew i would see them out there. above is just fun with fungi

 the Texas hurricane has been down graded to a tropical storm.  the amount of rain will be the issue...they are getting lots. my niece is in Houston area and she said her street is flooded.  all the best to those in Texas.  Mother Nature can be a beast some days.

 most of the time I'm a fan though.  our earth is pretty amazing.  i love it up here.  it all changes so quickly and it's never dull.

 was able to get a trunk out back whacked down with my tiny power saw.  it's level with the ground now.  still a few more to level down at some point but i was pretty happy with my progress.

 moose by the airport.  young male

 lots of laundry done today. linen changed, packing, cleaning out car a bit.  pretty much load and go.  if i forget anything...I'll survive.  I've got dryer lint and shredded bills for fire starter.  will pick up ice and wood on the way.  finally gonna have a s'more!! haven't had one all summer...WHAT!!  i know, crazy!

 making my way through July pics....August is filling up.  walking and snapping photo's every day does add up...digital is that way...much more limited in the days of film.  will see what Hunter cabin has to offer as far as photo's.  hopefully we have decent weather and get a hike up to Ke'Sugi for some views.  new cabin for all of us up here so new to me as well.

 I'm pretty sure it's right at the tent camping area so won't need my wagon, but i figured I'd toss it in the back of the car and then I'm ready for Byers in a few weeks as well.  that one does need the wagon...last year the tires were flat...blew them up.

 not sure he liked me watching him.  i was in my car though so i could make a quick get away.  good for the puppies to dull of moose so they don't get tempted to chase them.  they did attempt as babies but i have noticed they are coming right back when called when a moose is spotted so I'm quite happy about that.  I'd be fine never seeing a bear with them...it will happen one day.  hopefully they react appropriately....meaning they don't chase or run towards me with a bear chasing them.

 porcupines are another worry.  small enough that i suspect they will chase....one of the many reasons to pay for dog insurance.

 Ivy appears to have broken off one of her canines already. no idea when that happened...though i found myself laughing wondering if it's lodged in poor Tuskers skull.

 back to eating to he must not be too concerned about me.

 just cool to watch...especially from the safety of the car...that is also my favorite way to see a bear.

 thinking i will spend a day cruising the Denali Highway after the cabin....it should be pretty this time of year.  will pack the tent in so i could stay out in that in a campground on the other side...not sure I'll ever stay at Sourdough Creek Campground again...that was the place of my grizzly bear awakening...would prefer to never have that happen again.

 this mom and two calves was near the airport as well.  the babies are so cute.

 the pups have fun today...they got to spend hours running out there.  i stopped to take pictures a lot.  they really don't care how fast or slow i walk...slow just means we are out there longer.  only ran across one other couple out there on the trail today.  it looked like it would rain but it turned sunny instead.

 mama checking us out.

 saw a hawk out there today.  never got too close so no pictures. heard it first.  always love running into more unusual species out there.  just don't see hawks all the time.

 moose...plenty of these guys around.  haha.

 lots of folks on my street were outside doing yard work today...it's rained quite a bit so i suppose it was a catch up day.  lawns grow fast so when it rains for a few weeks your yard gets really out of control.

 moose on the move.

 always nice to go off the grid...doubt I'll have much coverage in the campground.  no news for a few days.  so easy to get sucked into the crap storm of bad news presently happening.

 no matter what happens these moose remain clueless about it all.....they are always off the grid.  lucky beasts.

 of course, that also means they are at our mercy...thankfully, they are unaware of that for the most part i suspect as well.  moose know no politics.

 my dogs are also free to go about their days.  if you get in the right home...a dogs life looks pretty sweet.  my dogs lives are pretty sweet anyway.

 i guess it was National Dog Day.  at least that hasn't been cancelled by this new administration...yet.  they seem to suck the joy out of life.  hail to white males is how they plan to make America great again.  white males and corporations...

 so many checks and balances that we have always thought existed were really more based on there being someone in office who had ethics, morals and values enough to take the oath of protecting the constitution seriously...it wasn't set up to protect us from a narcissistic madman...so here we are.

 sadly, there remains a rather large percentage of the population that tunes in and believes fox news.  calling that station news is a stretch...it seems mostly propaganda to me.  they believe there is nothing to see.  they have convinced themselves that there is nothing different about this administration...

 i have been shocked by how every horrible thing is justified and brushed aside.  excuses flying from the Christians....i suspect God is just shaking his head...not again!!  how do these people so blindly follow these people simply on some claim that they are Christian as well and supposedly have their best interests at heart. the decisions i see being made are not decisions i would see God approving of. the messages brought to the earth by Jesus have once again been lost as large organized religions choose profit over kindness.

 of course, Jesus would want the people in any nation to vote to help those who are struggling.  Jesus would prefer that taxes for society go to help the poor over helping the rich.  go to build up those who struggle over building war machines or walls. Jesus would prefer us to heal the sick.  the messages were simple, i suspect that was for a reason...make it clear and uncomplicated.  the simple messages are being manipulated by a dark force though.

 these flowers are out at Reflections Lake trail.

 you have to open your eyes to really see what is happening.  many have been fooled and manipulated...like the emperors new clothes...his garments are off.  everyone should see him for who he is and what he is trying to do.  the sooner they see, the sooner we can begin to clear up this mess.

 until then....

 try to focus on the dogs.  try to get out and walk and take my mind off of the news of the day.  try to make sure i read a variety of things and know the truth.  try to avoid just reading a headline and thinking i have read news.  try to correct those who share sham news stories...totally sick of the "fake news" narrative.  "fake news" is rare. "fake news" is totally made up.  manipulated news is more common.

 i still believe the vast majority of true journalists are trying hard to get the truth, the real story.  i hope they can find the truth of what is happening and even if the iitoo pardons every last one of them, the truth still comes out.  truth is truth and even if they don't get convicted...everyone will know it.  everyone will know the truth of it all eventually.  will they believe it or will they continue to make excuses and justifications and blame everyone else....

 only time will tell.

 Alaska cotton above.  always fun...flowers are fading now as the mushrooms take center stage...then the fall colors will really come into play and then...

 winter will return.

 this is July though in Alaska.  wildflower time

 the dogs love it all.  i think they will be excited to see snow again.  Blossom always loved winter.

 butterfly

 guess i should try to get some sleep and set the alarm so i can get my day started early.

 driving day.  hopefully i leave early enough i can meander a bit and see some sights along the way.

thankful for:  A.  mushrooms and lichens...fungi  B.  public use cabins..  C.  my brother Jeff.  he is kind and funny and giving and full of love.  Happy Birthday.  :-)  (Happy Birthday to my nephew Grayson as well-hope the new school works out great for you!! hugs!)