grey skies are gonna clear up...

 they didn't totally today but it didn't rain on me so that was cool.

 these are all on the Richardson Highway last month.

 it was incredibly beautiful in this section.  the colors were fabulous and i stopped every 100 feet i think..haha

 the colors are fading already here in Anchorage.  the leaves are quickly becoming more of a ground carpet than hanging in the trees.

 no wild animal sightings today.  ended up staying up til the wee hours watching the last season of big bang.  can't say that kept me up....some days us night shifters don't switch over very easily.

 some pipeline sightings.  this is "the pipeline".  the one that runs from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.  i have traveled the roads from Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse to Valdez.

 chatted on the phone with family and friends before heading out for a walk so my walk was started pretty late.

 decided to just head over to Campbell Airstrip.  did a longish loop.  went up to Homestead Trail and then across a trail that goes through a clearing.  i think it's a fire break.  always pretty in there though.  the reds have for sure dimmed.  need to see if there is a dog room for Homer for Monday/Tuesday...see if i can chase some fall colors around down the Kenai.

 would love to see the walrus again too.  they have shorter hours now though and the sun sets much earlier so I'll have to book sooner.

 ran a few errands after the walk.  i have a functioning toilet seat again.  i also have a functioning remote control again.  hoping there are no further chewing incidences.  was kind of surprised this never happened all these months.

 the pups made a repeat appearance in the Home Depot.  they did better today than yesterday.  today they pretty much ignored the Halloween displays.  maybe i had better treats today.

 the grocery, dishes, laundry...got accomplished.  so a better day for actually getting stuff done. it's never all done. I'd rather be outside on the trails.  house cleaning and chores are clearly not a huge priority for me.  if you come over do not expect some sparkling clean house.  especially this time of year.  rain equals mud.  doodles can hold a lot of mud in those furry paws.

 lots of snuggle time this morning since i lingered in bed chatting.  love puppy snuggle time...of course, at times with Ivy Rose, that can be dangerous.  Ivy's idea of snuggling can be painful.  she will never be accused of being delicate or dainty.

 they are big dogs.  sometimes it's easy to forget how big they are.  they like to put their front paws on the counters at the stores we visit. that is when you see how big they are.  yesterday Ivy Rose almost made a leap right on to the counter.  Ivy's bounce...just like Tiggers.

 happy i got to see these mountains in their prime.  this state is amazing when fall comes.  tundra in the fall is one of my most favorite things.

 the wind was blowing as i was taking many of these so there were several throw aways.  blurr got some of them.

 you always wish there was a big bull moose sitting right in the middle of the color

 looks like the road lottery saw some decent weather.  the last day looked to be some snow.  saw a video of a big grizz strolling down the road in the snow.  some of those roads are super steep and they have zero guard rails out there.  it's not the widest road either.

 always beautiful, prime fall colors are usually just a bit before the road lottery.

 I'll head to bed soon in hopes i wake up a bit earlier tomorrow and get the day started.  really i slept 8 hours last night, which is pretty normal.  i always figure if i need it i need it.

 love the mountains in the background

 cooked up some of Moms meatloaf tonight.   i don't eat that very often. she did have a good meatloaf though i think. i always liked it.  cooking your mom's meals some days really has a way of bringing her home.  i spent quite a lot of time in the kitchen with her. i learned how to cook, how to shop...all from her.  i sometimes see how i select fruits and veggies are exactly how she taught me.  i flip over the carton of eggs and then flip it back and open it to check from cracked or broken eggs, just like my Mom did.

 i suspect i spent more time in that kitchen with her than anyone else.  I've been posting a few of her recipes on our family page on facebook. she didn't always give me exact amounts to add, but since i worked with her, i learned how much of stuff was needed.

 she's been gone for quite some time but she is always with me. i always feel those who leave us behind keep an eye on us.  i know she worried about me since i was alone here on earth.

 look at these colors!!! and these are pictures...it's never really totally captured on pictures.  i only add contrast and crop my pictures...far too lazy to do big computer jobs on my photo's.  these are pretty basic.  pretty true to life I'd say.

 tomorrow is another day.  probably should find a cool place to hike before we hit the pool.  pool party tomorrow!!  :-)

 the puppies are in for a treat!  I'll have to get my soap and towels ready

 not tons of folks on the trail.  only saw one on the firebreak crossing...and i pretended not to see them since they were off in the woods doing their business.  I'm sure they felt like i did in Byers.  hadn't seen a soul all walk until they decide to relieve themselves.  haha.

 they had a big white dog sitting sentry...very hard to miss.  i laughed to myself realizing that my dogs aren't so good, i have to fight them off if i head into the woods.  they are trying to lick my butt. i suppose i could put them in a sit stay...funny how you forget to use the stuff you have trained them in certain situations. then it comes to you.  oh right....i have a command for this.

 can't beat the views on this drive!!

 missed some favorite fall spots but enjoyed others.  soon the snow will take over.  snow and ice.

 still have some prep stuff to do to prepare for that.

 planning to try to prepare for my kitchen remodel in the Spring.  lots to do.  very anxiety producing.  will be great when it's all done.  it will be very annoying in the process though.

 love this one above.

 well, i shall head to bed and dream good dreams i hope...maybe one like Ivy Rose is dreaming right now.

thankful for: A.  my sight..all my senses...but i would hate to miss all this  B. that i took the path less traveled...it really has made all the difference.  i remember reading that poem in school...and feeling that i wanted to take that path less traveled.   C.  snuggle time with the pups...