beach days....

 finally looked through some of the big camera pictures.  they tend to collect.  i should be sleeping and will probably drop off again for a few hours.

 had one of those super realistic dreams that wakes you up and makes you ponder for minute if it was a dream.  oddly, i have mostly forgotten the dream that woke me up. always strange and in short order you realize it wasn't real....but for that brief moment it disturbs you.

 Sunday we headed to a few beaches.  the first we have been too often, Oceanview Bluff park.  lots of sledders out there.  then i figured out Cheverly Dr or Rd to get to the other side of Campbell Creek Estuary...where i can walk the dogs more easily.  a few points of entry to "beach" there.  it's a brand new neighborhood.  lots of large homes.  one wonders how well these fancy homes will do in a bigger quake with possible liquifaction happening, but hopefully that is a long ways off.  after the big '64 quake these areas were avoided for building but over time...people forget.  i'm sure the folks that went through that quake really think these folks are nuts...never sure how insurance covers these builds.

 maybe the substrate is stronger than i know.  did some baking the other night.  shortbread cookies. the dough is so tasty!!cookies not bad either.  i mean it's mostly butter and sugar so can't go too wrong there.  got to try out my new rolling pin.

 after the beach day Ivy was totally worn out.  i think her poor hips were sore.  probably one of the few days in the past 4 years when i could sit on the couch and not have a tennis ball dropped by me and have her hopeful face staring at me.

 by the next day we were back to normal...this after the 4 mile Monday walk and a second walk out at Conners Bog.  below is her staring at me after dropping the tennis ball next to me. 

 they were both worn out Sunday...by Monday they were both ready to romp.

 super dogs created by miles and miles of walking.

 i'd rather have happy super dogs though i guess.

 forces me outside as well.

 there is the cat as well.  semi watched a doc last night on cats on the internet. people actually make a living posting pictures/videos of their cats!!  seems nuts to me.  more power to them.  if i could quit my nursing gig and just post cat pictures...well that doesn't sound half bad.

 she's pretty cute but i don't think i should make any big career changes yet.

 some friend had posted something that was from a "i stand with Hannity" page....that is pretty gross in it's own way.  there were some 20,000 + followers.  i popped over..those are some sick and angry people.  one post was a meme of some supposed quote of the "reverend graham" i think....it said something about trump will stay in power until America is saved?  i suppose they don't really understand how democracy works or that we have term limits for the office of Potus for good reason. 

 there was also some post about Buttigeg.  recently i think a kid had asked about coming out and he'd given a heart felt response...this post had some major gay hater comments and memes.  some were pretty sick.  disgusting really.  you don't realize the level of hatred in our nation until you get around these majorly pro trump folks.  they are cultish in the true sense of the word.

 i guess trumps son got a permit for later this year for a grizzly hunt up near Nome.  it's like Gods son is coming to AK for some of these people.  never mind the expense of secret service in a remote area just so he can kill a bear.  not big on trophy hunters but the trumpees in the state are so excited. it's bizarre.

 these first few are from the beach at Kincaid. 

 the dogs are not picky...they just want to be out walking.  we are getting more light which will get me more interested in exploring.

 the sun isn't setting until after 6 pm now. 

 this moose was spotted near Woronzof.

 this is a crappy photo but it's of a short eared owl.  a pair has been hunting near the airport.

 they do have to relocate larger birds like this on occasion since they are at the airstrip.  owls are not uncommon in the area.  a large open area makes hunting easier.  not sure if they have incredible sight or hearing when it comes to spotting voles in these areas.  i'll have to look it up. could be both.

 the pups are still wearing their Birthday ribbons. 

 i'll take them off when they get trashed or i get bored of them i guess.

 our state got a big money boost....was there a trade off with Murkowski...her vote to protect trump in exchange for this money.  it came from McConnells wife who is in the cabinet...so convenient. 

 at this point i really feel everything that happens in this administration is all on the GOP and their voters.  if they vote for this fool again, this is all on them.  i realize the impeachment emboldened this idiot and his followers but it also exposed them for all of history.  there is a record of their behavior in this situation. i feel the Dems were mostly powerless, but they did what they could. 

 it has given me some peace.  it's on them. 

 this moose and her calf were munching away on Patterson the other day.

 not sure what my walking plans are for today.  getting hungry so that is a start

 keep wanting to make a little road trip but haven't gotten to adventurous.  i also need to work more on my summer plans.

 and on plans for the fall trip to Boston and surrounding area.

 more from the beach with the big camera.

 just snap shots really.

 lots of deep snow for the pups to chase the tennis ball in.  that wore them out....and we didn't even lose the tennis ball.

 we did lose one on the Monday walk

 we had 6 dogs out there.  i was proud of Ivy.  Leo tends to be a bit of a humper with her but she finally stood up to him and ended up playing with him and having fun.  she can be a humper as well, though only with Tusker and the family cat....so she is only "dominant" with them...and i think they humor her in her dominance.  poor girl.  she's not dominant at all.

 if she has the tennis ball and another dog comes over to them, she quickly finds a way to pass the ball off to Tusker....so dominant!!

 have a few potential dates for our lecture. i'll check with fish and game and my board to see which works best.  then to find someone willing to lecture.

 i'm far too lazy at times.  the walrus deserve better, but not many were jumping in to do the job of advocating for walrus.  the poor, sweet beasts, are stuck with me for the moment. haha. 

 action shots with the pups.

 just apologized to Ivy because she has the older version of me.  the younger version did more strenuous hikes.  now i have sore knees and sore back some days.

 i'll keep moving though. she will make sure of it i'm sure. 

 my greatest appreciation to whoever invented the chuck it!!

 that has been a bonus for tennis ball loving dogs for years now.

 5 winter tourists from Italy had to be rescued after they had made their way back to "the bus" made famous by "into the wild". people keep making the pilgrimage to the bus and many end up requiring a rescue...a few have died, kind of ironic really i guess, making the trek to where McCandless died in '92. the debate rages on over removing the bus to help decrease the treks out there by equally inept hikers.

 another bus is in the news up here...well, really the road is...the Denali road into the national park.  it has taken some damage near polychrome i believe. they aren't sure when they can get it open again.  they are hoping early June, which is better than initially thought.  rocks and mudslides have done some major damage to the road. 

 will probably return to the computer tonight to pay the monthly bills....that never ends.  if you get rich you just have more bills to pay.  can't imagine multiple houses and toys to deal with...seems like a bit of a bother...though in truth i wouldn't mind a little cabin the woods some days for escaping on weekends.

 start the day or take a mid morning nap...i'm undecided. i may just rest for a few minutes before really getting the day started.  laziness tends to win in my world.

 the pups give you an idea of the size of this beach ice. 

 well, whatever i do i am off to start the day at some point.  enjoy yours.

thankful for: A. winter, cold, snow and ice B. beach days no matter what season it is. C. mom's potato salad....always a treat.