Denali Highway colors.

 on the way to MacClaren summit and the hike that i tend to do up there. the dogs loved the stretch too.

 guess the northern lights went crazy about 3 am...somebody was sleeping then.  they seemed pretty cool when i saw them around midnight.  couldn't find my wide angle lens in the wee hours.  a side result of moving all sorts of stuff around.

 the cabinets did arrive.  i had all sorts of plans for making sure to count each cabinet...it all happened so fast.  hoping all are there. hard to tell in their boxes.

 lots of yellows at this end of the road.  quite scenic. such dramatic changes through out the drive.

 another glacier comes in view. 

 joined LS for a walk today.  we just did a loop at Campbell Airstrip.  still focused on the kitchen stuff.  still not able to remove that one screw. i am currently in nearly $15 in the endeavor of Betsy vs the stripped screw.  so the cabinet is still hanging by one screw. 

 a you tube video said use a rubber band.  i scoured the house but was unable to locate one rubber band. in the meantime, while looking, i went through dozens of pens scattered in various cups and drawers in search of the rubber bands.  these were tossed, saved or will be taken to work...it's always impossible to find pens at work.  most units do not supply them.

 i was unable to make this trick work.  so next the video had told of a bit that was two sided and you use one side, turn it and then the other gets the screw out.  maybe I'm not doing it right or not strong enough?  regardless, it did not work.

 ran a few errands this afternoon.  got my passport photo taken.  not much of a photo but hell, in 10 years, when it expires, I'll look so young!! haha.

 Ivy is working on a dream.  she cracked me up the first night at Byers Cabin.  she was exhausted.  she climbed on my bed and fell into a deep sleep.  she fell asleep with a tennis ball in her mouth...can't say as I've ever seen that. don't think she even woke up when i removed it.

 i also got a spare tent i had returned to Target.  they were just getting their Halloween stuff out.  i have a credit there.  just not in a buying mood i guess.  after the kitchen is put together again perhaps.

 the guy helping me at the counter had a necklace on which was interesting and cool so i asked him about it.  it was made from the stalk of devils club.  he let me touch it.  it's solid..reminds me of bamboo...wonder if it could be used in ways like they use bamboo.  he says the natives in the Southeast do harvest it. making beads and other products for themselves.  fascinating i thought. 

 he grew up in Hydaburg.  i think he was pretty excited when i told him I'd lived in Ketchikan for 6 years and had been to Hydaburg on POW Island.  i do miss SE AK.  so pretty.  not sure i totally miss the rain though...and i do like roads, and moose.

 Woodwards book came out today.  haven't started it yet.  he does sound fairly alarmed about the current situation in interviews I've seen bits of. of course, iitoo and crew are just saying he's lying. that is their go to response.  if folks turn on them from their own side...well then they are lying and working for the deep state.  it's pretty easy to read them in their lying habits.

 always cracks me up how his loyal subjects don't seem to see his flaws or simply ignore them i guess....oh how the mighty fall.  greed gets people all the time. greed and power i guess.  it's taken folks down since we discovered fire i suppose.

 guess he claimed that his administrations response to the hurricane damage in Puerto Rico was the best response ever, tremendous...well, that is yet another lie.  step right up folks the man can toss out lies faster than a snake can bite. he's a pro at it.  been lying his entire life...no chance he'd stop today.  he started this 9-1-1 day tweeting against the DOJ and FBI i believe.  hopefully, our hurricane season is not as bad as the last years.

 he was interviewed on Sept 11, 2001 on a news show.  he showed zero compassion instead mentioning that his building had previously been the second tallest but now it was the tallest.  guess you could say he's just seeing the light in all the death.  cream of the crop that one. 

 expect your air quality to get worse, your water quality to get worse and the deficit to soar...that is the future of America.  i don't have kids so at least i won't have to worry about what is left behind.  it's just sad and so dedicated to pleasing the corporations. 

 had a nice chat with my niece.  always fun. 

 pups out enjoying the sunny day...we had that today as well.  i really should be doing bigger hikes i guess but this week is the kitchen.  prep so when my handyman is done with his hunt we can jump in. 

 so many berries out there.

 and this tiny bone...shrew?

 the pups of course, are scenery impaired.  they could care less i guess.  perhaps fall is just missed  on them with their limited color vision.

 since i couldn't get the screw out i took most of the cabinet doors off. 

 blueberries and lichen. 

 the only wild beast we saw today was a little grouse.  the pups saw it too and took off after it.  so far they haven't caught anything.  thankfully.  Blossom only ever caught one grouse with all her chasing.

 both dogs have now joined me in the office. it seems to be one of the only tennis ball free zones for me in the house. in general, the upstairs is pretty tennis ball free.  I'm not safe downstairs though.  reminds me of the dog in Spanglish where they all screamed NO, don't start with the tennis ball or the dog will never leave you alone.  haha.

 will have to snack before i crash.  hoping the kitchen being torn up will result in a few pounds lost from lack of access.  we shall see.

 more lichen

 i always love mushrooms and lichens.  i was looking at some pictures of mushrooms i took with the macro lens.  i really need to put that on more often.  it's always a fun lens.

 loved this one of Tusker. he looks pretty handsome in the fall colors.

 he always gets loads of compliments...poor Ivy.  she is the sweetest though.  just a bundle of happiness i think. currently back to dreaming.

 reds at MacClaron.  i think i keep spelling that wrong

 soon after this summit you get back to the paved road.  then the long drive back to Anchorage.

 my little sweeties!!

 caribou moss...really another type of lichen.  lichen comes in so many different forms.

 just a few remaining flowers out there.  this one a harebell.

 there is the summit signage.

 and a few more before you hit pavement

 the sun gifted me with some lovely views on my drive. 

battled a headache much of today...hopefully, i wake up without one in the morning.  the lights may come out again tonight.  should locate my wide angle lens just in case and get it prepped.

 it's rare to find one of the old mile markers anymore.  this is probably one of the last remaining ones.

 like that it's by this old camper.

thankful for:  A. first responders who put their lives on the line to help others...always look for the helpers.  many helpers out there on Sept 11, 2001.  B. the relative peace i have been blessed to have had over my life time living here...many thanks to all who serve, who volunteer for that duty, who sacrifice for our freedoms. may they not have to be put in harms way unless absolutely necessary.  c. the prospect of the new kitchen...hoping it's not too fraught with stress and/or disaster. as i have all these cabinets, i found myself hoping we don't have a big quake anytime soon..night.