from last Homer Trek...

 yes, it's summer so yes, I'm behind. still fun to post the happenings in AK.  i get to what i can.  above is a chocolate Lily.  they are stinky but still pretty.  they are all over just after you get to the big open area heading towards the hope cut off.

 wildflowers are going nuts.  i try to get out and enjoy them when i can.  these are from the Wildlife conservation Center. they had some baby buffalo which, well, baby anything is adorable.

 today i just walked with my friend LS in Kincaid.  we did the little campbell lake loop.  it's a scorcher out there...meaning into the 70's!  the park was packed. the lake was getting fully utilized by the locals.  the dogs enjoyed as well.

 had plans to get some stuff done but didn't want to leave the dogs in the car on such a hot day so i came home.  I'm into a good book so then that happened and not much else.  did get the hose out...the dogs love hose time and i suspect the garden does as well.

 Ivy will be npo after midnight for her dental procedure tomorrow.  poor girl.  i am not a fan of dental work myself so she has my sympathy.  part of her canine cracked off somewhere around her first year of life....i didn't think much of it but the vet was concerned and wants to do a root canal...i honestly  had no idea that they did root canals on dogs now.  doesn't seem to bother her but could cause major issues down the line if not fixed.  so in she goes tomorrow. 

 Sunday was another beautiful day so another friend and i headed to Portage Pass with the dogs.  she had never been. i think she liked it.  there are some tarns at the top so the puppies just went in over and over.  we missed the first tunnel because i thought I'd be clever and use change.  the girl at the booth was rather inefficient at counting coins so they closed the tunnel.  i suspect there may have been some folks behind me cursing at me as well. they weren't there when we pulled up to the booth.  we did a short, let the dogs run, walk at Byron.  just part way in and back.  the tourists seemed to enjoy the puppies antics. 

 new neighbors moving in today.  the house a few down sold.  the van was outside and the neighborhood watch guy was already over chatting with them. 

 lupine is all over the place. the dwarf fireweed is started. soon the main fireweed will begin it's climb.  we monitor the end of summer by the fireweed growth.  when it blooms to the top, winter is soon approaching.

 this young black bear likes to hang out in his tree at the center. 

 i stop several times on any drive, with or without the dogs.

 this was a place i hadn't stopped before.  it's right after the turn off for the Kenai.

 this is what we call combat fishing in AK.  i think they have cut season on many of the fishing area's due to low salmon return.  they also just caught a Chinese vessel with 80 tons of illegal salmon catch.  hmm...

 the iitoo is busy creating havoc with our trade partners, even our most friendly ones.  thanks idiot.  any corporate gains may soon be lost to tariff wars.  why people still support this idiot is beyond me. 

 5 journalists were killed in a mass shooting.  the iitoo sends "thoughts and prayers" which loosely translates to "i don't give a shit".  his wife wears a coat with "i don't care, do you" to visit children who have been taken from their parents by this administration...this loosely translates to "i don't care, do you"

 we stopped at this beach in Ninilchik to let the pups run as well.  we just means me and the dogs.  my mom used to get so excited when i said we.  thinking i had some new romance. 

 cool rocks, cool dogs.

 spongy thing on the beach.

 the supreme court upheld the latest rendition of the racist travel ban directed mostly at Muslims.  Sotomyer's dissent is worth a read. they had added N.K and a nation in South America i believe, it escapes me. that is really how they were able to prevent the iitoo words from totally being used against him.  the next day Justice Kennedy announces his retirement.  this iitoo gets to select another justice after McConnell refused to allow Obama this honor.  such an injustice.  it's maddening.  also funny as for all the talk about what a corrupt person HRC is/was the same people who hate her have zero issues with this man who is by far more corrupt and scandalous.  proving all along that it had little to do with actual corruption since his supporters have proven corruption means nothing to them as long as their agenda goes through.

 hatred makes people easy to manipulate.  these tactics are not new but it is surprising really how easy it is to influence people who have hate and racist tendencies.  i have said that for years though.  we are surrounded by terrible people who are just waiting for someone to justify their hatred.  that is all it takes for them to act on it.  mostly, society norms keep people from acting on it because most attempt to be decent and law abiding but when it comes from the top, the allowance, they jump on it.  this iitoo has release the hoards of terrible humans onto our society. he calls journalists the enemy of the state and now 5 were killed.  it's not much of a leap from his words to others actions.

 there are reports out there as well that Justice Kennedy's son has made huge loans to iitoo and company....so many coincidences....

 the iitoo has a meeting soon with his boss, Put.  he helped push iitoo towards promising NK to stop training exercises.  rumors are that despite iitoo believing his headed for a nobel, NK is continuing their nuc program.  it doesn't matter what he does though, only what he says he does.  his cult of don fans believe it all.  believe the conservative lies told to them.  it's pretty crazy.  i love to pop over to the conservative stations when news breaks.  so bizarre how little they cover stuff, how they fluff over it or just ignore it. 

 those seeking asylum have been treated horribly by our nation due to the implementation plans of this administration.  it's truly embarrassing at this moment to be a citizen at times. this administration has made a mess of things.  they never admit any blame or take any responsibility, though they control all at this time, they still attempt to blame the dems for all.  the cult of don folks totally buy it though. 

 these short xtra tuffs are still super comfy.  wore them a lot down there.

 look at that sweet face.  so cute. 

 we all had a snuggle fest with the cat this morning as i read.  Ivy keeps constant watch on me. 

 wood and rock art.

 there was a live chat with the rangers out on Round Island while i was off in Valdez.  i sat down and watched it this evening.  it cut out a bit but overall it's pretty amazing to be able to have such a clear feed in such a remote place

 leaving Ninilchik

 and arriving in Homer. that is "the spit" in the distance.  Homer is a really popular spot for all. 

 the dogs are big fans of it. they love the beach.  they had fun yesterday playing in the tarn too.  all water is great in their minds.

 this seal was watching them run in/out of the waves.  kept popping up a few hundred feet off the shore.  always funny when they do that. i have seen sea lions do the same with the pups as well.

 i still have more photo's to look through from this last trek.  may try to get to some of those before i crash.  i need to wake early to get Ivy in to the vets.

 this is Bishops beach.  we ran down there right after we checked into the room.

 pretty typical for Tusker, he will sit and wait for the next tennis ball toss. no point wasting energy running back.  they have such different personalities.  today was super cute. he was laying in front seat, Ivy was sitting next to him and just started grooming him.  so sweet.

 he doesn't do that for her really.

 turns out a rafter in camp along the Copper River that was mauled by a bear, is one of our Hospitalists.  brings it a bit closer to home. he is said by reports to have fairly minor injuries, nothing life threatening anyway. he got help from a fishing charter boat in the area, turns out to be the charter owned by a co-workers ex. 

 a veteran lit himself on fire in front of the Georgia Capitol building in some sort of protest.  the report said he had like 90% burn on his body...that is generally not compatible with life.  so sad.  it did not say what his specific gripe with the VA was. 

 the supreme court did toss the original ruling regarding Japanese-American forced internment camps.  admitting it was a mistaken ruling. they are fallible. 

 attempts to get photo's of both pups together can be a challenge at times.  this one turned out pretty cute though.

 one eagle on the rock. these are in the morning at Bishops Beach. 

 bright sea anemone.

 generally just go from beach to beach when I'm down there. it's what the pups love. 

 had debated a run to Seward. it will be a mad house though with the 4th of July. really don't feel like celebrating our nation at this time.  it's all pretty depressing.  seeing the damage done through this administration.  these radical Christians are taking the same path that the radicalized Muslims took.  being radicalized in anything is never good for anyone. the mainstream Christians don't seem to realize that they will not be welcome by the radicals.  eventually, the radicalized Christians will turn on them.  they already have in many ways.

 the lupine was really beautiful on the spit as i headed over there to enjoy the main low tide with the dogs.

 i had to stop and take some photo's...so shocking i know.

 the car is getting old, but so far we still seem to be managing some adventures together.

grateful for: A.  these pups, sure missed them when i was gone  B.  hot summer days C.  a cool Icee.  i rarely get those but man did it taste good today.  also have you tried the cinnamon bun oreo's.  i can only handle one at a time, but tasty!