Where's Blossom....?

 went to the dog park at University Lake again today.  ran into many whom i have known there for years.  so the questions came up several times, "where's Blossom?".  several hugs and more moist eyes....

 still trying to wrap my head around her being gone.  nice to have such kindness and support from my crew at the dog park...the dane gang.  we are the danes and the doodles...but one less doodle.

 i'm sure this question will come again and again over the next weeks/months.  Blossom touched many lives in hers.  still grapple with the thoughts back and forth.  some of those questions that invariably come when you lose a dog suddenly.  the pain of not being there in those last moments, the hope that she wasn't scared or feeling abandoned.  it all does come in waves like my friend CR said.  she lost her dog maybe a week or so before i lost Blossom.

 it could have gone worse i remind myself.  she could have just quietly passed away sitting by the front door and i would have just gotten up and found her gone.  she could have choked while i was sleeping or at work and again i would have just found her and not had any idea what had happened.  i still marvel that she was somehow able to get up and come over to me that night.  she could barely walk.  i remember it all so clearly.  she was so blue, so close to death in that moment.  so i try to remember that in a way this was a gift that i could be there for her and then have those moments again with her the next afternoon in a time when she was feeling more like my girl.

 no idea what surgical options would have been available for her and how horrible those last months could have been had we actually discovered the cause before she passed.  i try to just accept that things happen the way they are meant to happen and we must carry on and accept it.

 friends...

 i've been thinking of a few nights ago when Tusker suddenly and randomly started looking directly at the ceiling and making a little grumbly noise.  there was nothing there that i could see, no noises, the room above was closed and empty.  he did this at least 10 times in 3-5 minutes.  what was he sensing?  what was he seeing?  it had to have been her.  i hope she is okay, i hope she knows what an amazing companion she was.  i hope she forgives me of my imperfections.  i hope she had a wonderful life here.

 the pups had fun at the dog park.  lots of leaping by Ivy Rose of course.  she loves those danes.

 the kids on the rock by Blossom's second memorial.

 memorial #2.  it's my process.  i hike, i write, i photograph. it's how i get through things in life.

 snow today.  the pups had tramped down the entire yard before i returned from work  they should be fairly tired for my second night at work tonight.  no disasters so far.  they have been doing pretty good.

 worked PICU last night.  may be there all week.  it's that time of year.  kids getting upper respiratory illnesses.  it can get nuts there and it usually does.

 the ashes are just a symbol of their life.  it is good for me to be releasing them.  i think there is always this part of me that is jaded and wonders if they don't just measure out random ashes to fit the size of whatever dog.  don't want my dogs to become another "thing" in my life.  there are too many things in our lives.  as i look around my place and all the other things i've collected.  there is much i should purge.  what do we really need?  she is forever in my heart as are all the other pets who have come and gone in my life.  i sometimes just sit and scroll through pictures.  i have plenty

 these are from the other day when i went to the beach with the pups.

 this young moose is right on the trail...we had to skirt around.  the mama moose was pretty far off.  on the walk down to the beach we had 4 moose encounters.  puppies did really pretty good.

 love when they bend down to eat.  so cool.

 it was a beautiful day out there. cold, but so pretty.

 for sure a bit warmer out there today.

 the ice has come in since last time i was there. love taking photo's around the ice.  just a totally different beach

 the pups had a great time running and running.  freedom!!

 Ivy is still a bit pink from Sunday.  not much left but that got many questions at the dog park as well.  it really does suit her personality though. spot her in the snow, early warning or a remnant of my little celebrations of the life of Blossom, Rio Catalina and Baby Huey.

 guess i shall try to get a wee nap in before i head back to work again.

thankful for: A.  each walk, each day, each memory, each photo of Blossom....one of the best dogs to ever run/walk and swim this earth.  B. the kindness of folks you meet out walking  C.  dogs in general, my life would have been much less without them

from totally warm and sunny to pouring rain...with a quake in there too

 of course, i missed the quake.  i must just be out and about and moving myself so i don't notice.  i guess it was a 5.0 .  not sure of anything besides that.  half of these are from Powerline Pass-Hidden Lakes.  the other half are part of the Byron Glacier hike.

 today i did manage to get to the dog jog.  the folks who run the non-profit, Friends of Pets.  do remember Rio ( who was star) and i think it makes them happy to see that she is still out there and doing so well in the home they placed her in.  success!!  from running my own non-profit i can tell you it's always great to hear that you have helped in some way.

 just did the mile with the dogs as i had Rio.  she just gets tired and over heated.

 i was up late last night. partly because i slept all day it seems yesterday and partly because i was deeply immersed in the book i was reading and no matter how sleepy you are some times when a good book calls you have to keep reading until the end.  of course, there is always that bit of disappointment and sadness when it's over....you want more!!  this one was called, "At The Waters Edge" so on to the next book

 ran into some friends from the ER at the dog jog so chilled/walked with them.  so bonus.  some little kid seemed to take a liking to Rio and was asking about her.  he apparently loves dogs and has done some research...was excited to add a few new breeds to his list of breeds he's seen live.

 since i was again sleepy...i headed home for a bit of a nap. later i woke and took Blossom down to Point Worzonof for a walk on the beach.  we got lucky and bald eagle #77 had found a dead salmon on the beach. he was pretty chill so we hung with him and i took some pics with my new lens.  so far i'm enjoying it. much easier.

 then i got some to do things checked off the list. much to Blossoms happiness i wasn't able to get dog wash checked off the list.  haha.

 the rain started coming down pretty hard this afternoon, but thankfully, it wasn't raining when i was actually walking.

 i've heard that dogs can go on trains..hmm....so now i'm debating seeing if Rio can chill at home and i can take Blossom for a train ride.  last minute  may not go very well though.  i really should be planning more this summer.  such a slacker.  if i don't do that i can always do one of the hikes that i've been wanting to do.

 really need to prep for trip next week.  write up a note for what pets will need.

 will need to put some cash in the bag just in case i see some native crafts up there of interest.  bargains can be had i hear.

 bad year for marine mammals. several seal strandings, fin whales and walrus deaths out of Izembek National Park and Kodiak.  Sealife has several seal babies they are working with and fish and wildlife are investigating the other mammal deaths.

 should probably write to  President Obama, he's coming here in late August. seems like we should let him know about the walrus and WARIS and Round Island.  probably won't hear anything but may at least get a form letter...which is nice for our fledgling non-profit i think.

 a few walrus had returned to Round Island to the entertainment of those watching them on explore.org.

 it was so beautiful on Hidden Lakes trail that day.  the flowers were wonderful and the skies blue.

 Blossom wasn't sure why we lingered here so long, but she's always just happy to be outside doing anything.

 some hikes are great in that you just get more for your work.  in Alaska that is more common than not.

 car talk was on as i drove home from the dog walk.  even though the one brother passed away they still play the old classics.  that show always makes me laugh...

 the rocks up closer to the lakes are plentiful and covered with lichens

 lichens are a combo of algae and fungi...i think i have that right.  there are so many varieties of lichen. i have a  big coffee table book of lichens.  crazy how many there are out there.

 and there is also fireweed up there.  though the fireweed is quickly reaching the top...so winter is coming.

 on the way back down.

 coming back always goes much quicker.  i was happy that i didn't feel exceedingly tired or sore coming back.  always a good sign.

 these switch over to Byron Glacier.

 if it's pouring rain tomorrow it may be tough to get too motivated.

 built a few cairns.  they add perspective to photo's i think. plus it's always just relaxing to build them.  takes some patience...especially with the wind blowing a bit as it was that day

 great deal of snow melt this summer and last i'd say as well.  with warm winters the snow back that often lasts all summer has melted back a great deal.

 this trail is always pretty popular. easy walking to a glacier.  not as easy to get close to the glacier anymore though.  now it's a pretty high hanging glacier.  still pretty and worth the walk.

 Blossom enjoys it because there is plenty of water on a warm day.

 more cairns

 did i mention there was a bear at the zoo.  that doesn't sound strange...there are generally bears at zoos...but this one wasn't in a cage, he was apparently just visiting relatives.  they had to close the zoo for several hours until the black bear was encouraged to vacate the premises.  pretty funny actually

 i had fun with this crack in the snow patch.  made for interesting photo's i felt.

 sometimes i can't decide if i prefer it in color or black and white.  thoughts?

 always prefer it with a little Blossom in it though.  she's such a good girl.

 here i am with Blossom.  wind blowing a bit here. guess i will try to get more sleep than i did last night and hope that i get my arse moving tomorrow and have some fun out there.

thankful for:  A.  days when i get stuff done on the to do list.  B.  strolls on a beach....any beach  C. ice cream with chocolate syrup, blended like when i was a kid.  nummy treat tonight.  :-)