multiple hikes but i always get my mileage!!

 

have tried to make the most of my days off this week without going out of town for the first time. may sit down and paint some rocks after i write this. 

i also need to do a bit more sanding.  using the electric one but the rails are a bother really...will have to do much of the sanding by hand.  time is running out.  eek! should just finish sections and start staining so i can motivate myself.  a finished section is very motivating i suspect. cute puppies on ice

today was a project day.  cat litter, mowing lawn, picking up dog poop.  i suspect the bears have never been too keen on my trashcan as i have a lot of critter crap in there. In Ketchikan i always just kept a bungee cord on it....that was all it took.  there were a few bite marks around the lid but no break ins. 

i attempted to create a little rock exchange area...but have gotten no bites.  the rainbow one did find a new home though 

probably too attached to these pups but they are a constant in my life. 

do wish they would do some of the work around here but they do all the mental health heavy lifting....keeping me sane. that turns out to be a full time job for the critters so i'm happy to have them on my team. 

these are Valdez Lake, Matanuska Glacier and Reflections Lake

yesterday i ended up not going to Seward.  was just missing the good low tide due to sleeping in a bit and the weather was just better on this side. 

instead i did several smaller walks and had a fun photo taking day, some of it in the rain. 

i actually really enjoy the rain and the dogs seem cool with it as well.  up here 70's can feel super hot. 

we did part of the Trail of Blue Ice in Portage.  mushrooms are starting to pop out and there were moose tracks on the trail.  i need to get more brave again in my hiking.  i think the knee thing has slowed me down.  gotta make some appointments and find some better options.  walking is my thing.  not ready to slow down.  

we then headed to the Byron Glacier hike. i was the only one wearing proper footwear it seemed so i was splashing through the puddles while others had to creep around to avoid wet feet. 

did not linger long near the big snow area as people were climbing all over it.  that is kind of risky business.  i didn't feel like saving people.  they were not properly dressed and the stability of the snow/ice this time of year, hell, anytime of year, is unpredictable. hard to get under, no big caves seen on this side, but those can collapse and the entire thing can collapse really. as with most things in nature.  we get away with a lot of stupid stuff until the day we don't.  so lots of great selfies are taken before disaster strikes.  that is how it works. 

experience is not always a good thing.  you learn what can happen.  ignorance really is bliss. 

i have a pass for the wildlife conservation center.  as i drove past the first time heading to portage...i was surprised to see the cars lined up to go in on the highway. i  have never seen it that backed up.  it was better later so i cruised through.  it makes a nice stop for me and they have clean bathrooms. well worth an annual pass...also supports those cute critters. 

after that i headed to Girdwood.  there are often loads of forget me nots in the culverts.  i stopped for a quick walk up to the Virgin falls.  the walk is at the end of Timberland Dr.  they say 1/2 mile but it's more like a few hundred feet to the falls and back. well worth it.  i left the dogs in the car.

after that short stretch i headed over to the Crow Pass Rd end of Winner Creek trail. the tram is still down.  i've never actually been on the tram. not keen on heights and i think i have flashbacks to my brothers rocking the tram at Disneyland as a kid to scare me. that was their goal and they succeeded every time. i hated that tram for that reason. 

once we'd gotten a bit of a stretch in for the dogs, i loaded them back up and drove up the road a bit.

the old Crow Creek Mine is a good place to stop and explore.  you can go gold mining, just walk along the creek or, as i did, wander the various old buildings.  they are very good with their flowers and so it just looks so pretty with all the old stuff and the flowers.  

you can take your dog on leash but mine were well walked by then so i left them parked it the shade in the car. happy i did as there is a resident cat at the mine...super sweet and cute. my dogs would have ripped my arm off trying to get to  it.  they see outdoor cats as squirrels i think.  they are fine with my indoor cats but those outdoor ones...chase worthy.  

the cat is a dilute calico polydactyl.  so sweet!! it ran right up to me and starting rubbing my legs. had some pet time for sure.

so first plans were altered, not always a bad thing.  

today i debated the run to Seward with the dogs vs a run to Seward for a wildlife cruise.  it would have been a long day and in the end i had really wanted a more chill day and to get some of this sanding done. it will not look perfect but hopefully i can make it look okay. 

some times it's bad that i'm not a perfectionist...but overall, it's probably good.  

my sort of spruced up little free library.  not perfect either.  now i'm hearing from some kids that there is another little free library in the neighborhood.  must be new?

discovered my bottom step is loose. so i had to stop sanding and put a screw or two in that. you know it would be me breaking something on that mess. the deck is starting to get pretty bad. outside will be after inside though, besides the lumber prices were high this year. 

thankful i had my handyman for my kitchen.  he hasn't been available since covid hit.  drag, really trusted him.  

i think i have found pet care for a trek in August.  so that is good. that isn't easy.  fingers crossed!!

keep checking my mail for my personalized plates...nothing yet.  slowly working on making the CR-V look more like me.  just ordered a steering wheel cover.  i like the leather but fear i will trash it.  i am a trasher of cars.  

today we just hit the dog park.  the dogs are totally cool with that.  took the Element then came home and dropped off the dogs.  seemed to hot to have them in the car while i shopped.  took the CR-V. i do enjoy my two car life.  who knew.  

i may be less thrilled when the semi-annual insurance bill comes though it's not really much higher than it was.  

i think i may be able to get that card table down tonight as well.  my dreams are small. 

"i am a kayak"...quote from Gilmore Girls for those of you who have watched that. 

the end of the road just outside Matanuska Glacier access. turned out to be a great spot to get out with the dogs. 

carpet soon.  i think there is only one layer of linoleum in the downstairs bath...probably original, which is why it looks so bad.  perhaps tomorrow i can get my blood drawn and talk to someone about tile down there. 

a few random Palmer shots.

the dandelions are always impressive in the early season...and then the other real flowers show up 

the end of the road before it totally returns to nature

for sure feeling hot in here. 

politics...trying to avoid.  so frustrating.  the Dems seem powerless to get past those obstructionist Republican fools.  we could do so much good if it weren't for the GOP.  they could care less about anyone but their big donors. 

the wheels slowly turn on the trump bull.  they are still just trying to pretend that there is nothing to see.  the lies and distractions are bizarre and nuts really. 

our covid numbers climb. i believe mostly from the unvaccinated.  we were doing great but then i guess we hit the Republican wall.  surprise the valley is only at 35% vaccines. i think many areas of the Kenai are also super low. so we are in for another surge.  

my phone has been getting texts daily looking for help so that means the place is full up. 

i would love to go to part time and just pick up overtime shifts but the truth is i never would.  the count down begins i hope for retirement.  a financial crisis could zap my gains though.  trust none of it. 

the bridge to the glacier access.

i need to make another trek over there as well as a trek back to Valdez. the salmon are running which means lots of sea lion and seal action at the hatchery.  i'm sure bears too but i've never spotted them there yet. 

sand/paint rocks...that is the plan for the rest of the evening. 

back to work tomorrow night.  dreading it but not as much as i was several months back.  we shall see what this week brings.  many nights of hold patients perhaps. 

get that cardboard table done before i paint i guess. 

thankful for A.  distractions from all the craziness of this world  B. dogs and friends who keep me sane. C. adorable cat sightings...and of course, my own sweet cats.