some reasons why....

 these are all from the iphone in August.  mix it up i guess. i should be out walking the dogs, i am between shifts and slept in.  all showered but i think I'll write this and then just toss the tennis ball outside.  that seems to satisfy them some days.  they are pretty accommodating really.  above is a bull in the bog.  it would have been a better shot if I'd been able to get my real camera out before the geese flew over him and he took off.

 Skelly and Skelly cat.  was tempted at Home Depot the other day as they have super sized skeletons of horses, dogs and dinosaurs.  don't think they would fit on the deck.  i may have to add a female friend for Skelly...calling her Skellina.

 the yard finally gets green and then the fall comes.  it's mud right now.  twigs and branches are all over as the wind we had brought down a bunch of stuff...of course, it's nothing like the wind that has devastated some islands in the Atlantic and that is bearing down on Florida.

 Irma.  hurricanes look pretty scary.  happy to not live in a hurricane zone.  people like to say there is no global warming or climate change....terms that are used interchangeably.  not sure where the idea that it was switched as some sort of plot or to confuse issues.  i think different catch phrases come about.  they sometimes stick.  perhaps someone figured using a different term may bring some around to what is happening.  easier to just believe it's not happening but as someone recently said...if it is happening and you do nothing people will die.  if you do make adjustments for potential rise in sea levels and storm surges maybe you protect some during these big storm events.

 someone posted that these storms in Florida and Texas are a way to somehow cleanse the earth of sin or some such silliness.  don't think the poor child that was ripped from a woman's arms on one of the islands that was devastated and later found dead; was a sinner needing to be cleansed.

 i think the earth ultimately holds the power in these natural events.  the earth doesn't choose between good and evil, it takes those in it's path without judgment.  sometimes i think people like to make some sort of religious meaning out of that which doesn't make sense.  life isn't fair.  when these disasters hit it shows how unfair and random things really can be.

 i also don't think these are necessarily signs of the rapture.  a friend posted that she was ready to be taken.  i thought it odd really.  mostly odd to me is that people of many faiths seem to have this belief that they are of the correct faith and that they have a pre-determined place in heaven.  i just said i couldn't imagine myself rising to heaven in joy while others suffered. i would think those that would be plucked and selected to be taken would probably be not the ones sitting waiting to be taken but instead would be people who thought not of themselves but who were out there risking their lives in the service of others.  that they may even be taken to heaven kicking because they would want to stay and help others.

 i have long suspected that many who believe that their religion will protect them or cause them to have a superior position in the next life may be sadly fooled. religions have become corporations in many cases and if you look at those who run them and live extravagant lives...i just don't see this in keeping with the basic tenets of that they supposedly preach. they take the money of those who are less fortunate and claim it's for God and yet for some reason apparently this God desires that these leaders of so many religions live in mansions with millions of dollars profit.

 the need to be right, to feel that we alone have the answers to the unanswerable questions.  it seems arrogant to me i guess.  i have no more answers than anyone else.  there is just much that i don't know, and I'm okay with that. i really believe less and less that we are expected to know the answers to the big questions.  i think all that is really required is the basics that were taught when Jesus was on earth.  kindness, love, not judging others.

 it can be fun to discuss theology and ponder what may be true or not true, but in the end i feel it's best to just let those big unanswered questions remain unanswered and focus instead on the simple message.

 was speaking to a patient last night, she goes to a small community church.  i mentioned that if i returned to a church it would have to be that...a small community church.

 the larger the church the more it seems the priorities get lost.  i think that is true with most stuff.  the more organized it becomes the more it loses it's core.  the cookie cutter mentality kicks in and humans just don't fit in neat little boxes.  religions shouldn't either.  the larger a thing is it also seems the more possibility it will  be corrupted.

 governments are the same.  bigger governments equal more red tape.  government/religion/larger corporations.  they are all subject to the same mess the larger they get.  it becomes an uphill battle to not lose the core message and the core values.  we see this all the time in large non-profits too.

 so many things start out with good intentions but the larger it gets the more lost those good intentions become.  suddenly things like money and greed take over. power...these are all dangerous.

 maybe I'm not making any sense.

 why is it so impossible to believe the science of climate change but to believe that these hurricanes are stronger because it's signs of the rapture?  the earth is warming, the sea levels are rising.  in my mind these are provable facts...the question can be then...is man hastening this, is man responsible? is this different than other heating/cooling cycles of our earth?  pretending it isn't happening will only mean we are less prepared when it does...no matter what the cause is.

 faith....facts....

 why are issues of faith so much easier for many to hold tight too and issues of facts so hard to believe?  it would seem logic would make facts much more easy to believe than faith. faith is based on belief, on unknowns. facts are based on logic and testing.

 why must people be made to choose between the two?  why can't you have faith in that which you believe but also trust the facts as presented.  find a way to merge the two rather than see them as polar opposites. God works in mysterious ways.  why couldn't humans be held responsible for global warming just as we are held to the damages of war?

 ultimately i will be gone from this earth long before the worst of it comes from the climate..but we could destroy ourselves long before that by wars.

 seems we have a radical Christian element to our society that is emerging.  much like the Muslims have had to deal with a radical element to their society. i find it interesting that many over the years have slammed the Muslims for not coming out more strongly against the radical element that bastardizes their religion...but then i think, will the Christians stand up against the radical element that seems to be moving forward to bastardize their religion.  it seems not.

 you see the history repeat itself. battles over which religion is right, more true.  as with governments those that supposedly lead sit back in safety while the followers or little guy gets steam rolled and killed.

 i tend to think they all are right and they all are wrong. there is truth in all and they have all been corrupted.  each individual must find the truth and reject that which is corrupted.  each member of any religion must hold those in the roles of leadership accountable.

 any leader who is living far beyond their means while collecting monies should be suspect.

 look for the helpers...that was what Mr Rogers said.  it's true.  those who quietly go about helping others with no expectation of return.  i watched some young men out helping others in Houston...the only thing that i found odd was this desire to wear cameras and film themselves helping.  they say those who are selfless in helping would not desire to be made out to be a hero for doing what they feel is their responsibility.

 waiting to be swept up to heaven in the rapture is useless.  if it happens i suspect God will be seeking for those who aren't waiting but who are instead out helping others without concern for themselves or their futures in heaven.  they aren't doing good to score points with God, they are doing good because good needs to be done.  they will be plucked to heaven screaming because they would rather stay and help than be lifted to glory.  that is what it is to be humble.  not sure i have true humility in me.  not sure i have had the opportunity to put another's life over mine in this world.

 i save lives at work but not at risk of my own.  still we all choose to do the extra or not.  to serve others in our day to day lives or to just do the minimum required.

 we choose each day.  we have that opportunity.  do we greet everyone we meet with a smile.  you never know what small gesture on your part can brighten a day of someone who is struggling. you never know what small compliment you give may mean to another.  what tiny kindness shown will matter.  i always love the quote, "practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty".

 pick up that litter, smile, hold a door open.  step in when you see someone being treated unkindly or unfairly.  help each other.

 the rapture...if it happens, it happens.  don't assume because you go to church or donate money that you can just plan on standing and waiting to be taken straight to heaven.  don't assume that you and your chosen faith are necessarily the only right answer.

 if your religion brings you happiness and helps you to be a better you, then i have no qualms with it.  be happy.  if your religion makes it seem that you and only you hold the hand of God, that only you have the truth, that only you have the right answers...well i urge you to ask more questions to meet more people of different faiths and beliefs.  you can't all be right and you can't all be wrong i guess.  perhaps you are all right and you are all wrong.  allow that you may be wrong and allow that others may be right.

 it's almost 5...i will have to get off this and get ready for work.  boo.  i have been in RCU last 2 nights.  they apparently let a good percentage of their staff vacation at the same time.

 turned out to not be too bad out there today...probably should have gotten motivated to walk.  will walk tomorrow.  the pups will be raring to go then.

 from a painting class.

 was looking at tile last night...in between patient cares and trying to read the large manual for this class i have this week.

 always love those funky hand painted tiles.  Italian, Moroccan, Mexican.  will keep looking and see what i decide to do in the kitchen.  don't want to make it too crazy.

 loved the purple in these

 pups chilling. they are getting better at "hold up" and "sit" for Tusker and "sphinx" for Ivy Rose.

 more art.

 tiny shrooms.

 better make dinner.  I'll have to toss the tennis ball while i do so the puppies are a bit worn down when i head to work.

 this time i painted Tusker...will have to do a repeat class and paint Ivy Rose.

thankful for:  A.  happy puppies  B. many truths  C.  that i have 12 hours to go

back from Byers...packing away summer.

 need to look at those pictures so these are from my run down from Fairbanks.  a few fall colors.  above is Mt Drum i think...pretty sure. just loved the light that was hitting the top as dusk fell.

 it was kind of a windy run down from Fairbanks for a bit so tough to get pictures of leaves that weren't blurred from the action. beautiful drive though.  always love and try to chase the fall colors.

 i am so far behind on summer photo's.  hopefully i will slowly catch up.  not much planned this month except mandatory classes for work...you know how much i love those.  supposed to study beforehand....hopefully i don't fail this TNCC class. tomorrow i have a class on the time cards.

 thought this below came out really beautiful with that one stand of orange trees and the glacier.

 just Libs and I out at Byers cabin.  we got out of Anchorage at a reasonable good time.  the weather, well i had expected it to be rainy and cloudy but for day one we had a beautiful day.

 nice views of Denali and a little campfire for the night.  a few trips back and forth with the wagon hauling gear.  then i forgot dog bowls so i had to return, then L thought she didn't have her sleeping bag so we returned for my spare one... it's over 1/2 mile each way i think so that is 4 miles with the back and forth..before we left i had met up with LS for a 3 mile walk to wear pups out pre drive.

 they were pretty excited to be at another cabin.  they would really love to have their own lake one day.  haha.  not sure i can make that happen for them.  they may have to survive with visits to local lakes and summer outings such as Byers Lake.

 a pingo below

 took some time to get the pups settled.  Tusker was particularly concerned about sights and sounds in the woods.  a group was supposedly staying in the other cabin and stopped by to ask if there was anyway to drive down to the cabin, also seemed to believe there was electrical outlets in these cabins.  we are pretty sure they opted to find a hotel as they seemed pretty ill prepared for a cabin with zero amenities.

 starting next year Alaskans no longer have an extra month on those out of state  visitors to rent these cabins.  kind of a bummer really.  especially if folks like this, who really have no awareness of what these cabins have available, will be taking spots.

 Tusker was shaking a few times with nerves, finally just led him to the bed and snuggled with him until he relaxed.

 the pipeline in the fall foliage.  even that looks pretty in a way.

 got up several times to check for lights outside.  none seen. seemed like a good day for Northern lights.  i never went out though as i figured it would just get the dogs riled up.

 next day was cloudy, but a high ceiling so we went for a walk around Byers Lake.  it's about 5 miles and we added the side trail over to the falls.  we could see Denali from the other shore, but that was the last we would see the big mountain on this trip.  soon after we got back to the cabin it began to rain...rain and wind all night.  the pups were more tired i think and they settled in that second night a bit easier.

 we had a good fire in the cabin to keep it toasty warm.  we also had new neighbors who had not had the luck we did.  they appeared to have walked quite a while in the rain.  they were soaked and cold.  they had accents, not sure where they were from actually, but they had backpacks, no wood.  he came over asking if we had any wood he could buy.  they had apparently parked a ways north of Byers and hiked/hitchhiked.  so more less than prepared.  we had spare wood but we would take any money for it.  we saw them hiking out in the rain again in the morning.  they had been able to at least get warm.

 we had a break in the rain for our first load out and then a building rain for the second run.  L through the tennis ball for the kids while i loaded all the gear in the car....it's a delicate packing routine with the wagon and various bungee cords.

 i had tossed the toy earlier as she swept out the cabin.  wrote our note and headed out.

 we stopped in Talkeetna for a bit, eat lunch, wander a few stores.  still buses of tourists and trains of tourists stopping through.  not in the numbers as the peak of summer, but still more and more tourists come earlier in Spring and stay later in Fall.  I'd go for the fall end...these colors are always amazing.

 had debated heading north a bit and driving a bit of the Denali Highway...but the lousy weather made it more attractive to just head home.  so i guess I'll have to skip a year of that drive and be happy with what i experienced.  perhaps I'll head to the Kenai for their fall color changes.

 these are at a pull out....with the pups i always stop every few hours at least just so they can romp and stretch their legs, chase the tennis ball.

 even Ivy is wiped out tonight.

 must have been some winds here while i was away.  my deck chair and taken out my deck table.  the glass top is shattered.  I'll have to deal more with that tomorrow.  i swept up the glass that had fallen, so now I'll have to put something down and break out the rest of the glass.  the deck umbrella also seems to have busted.  bummer.

 the rain on the second night forces relaxation, which was nice.  reading, napping, jenga and solitaire were on the docket.

 the honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Stubbs the cat, passed away not too long ago.  we stopped in Nagleys store to pay our respects today and to meet he acting new mayor, Denali.  he is a Siamese.  thankfully, he'd been acting as intern so was prepared to take over the duties of Mayor after Stubbs passing. haha.

 was surprised to note that Denali is not really a young cat.  i hope he has an intern just in case. Stubbs survived a dog attack and lived to a pretty old age.

 will be lovely to sleep in my bed tonight....then back for 3 nights of work again.

 amazing how quickly the colors do change.  could tell some differences just from last week.

 the highway would have been cool but it was nice to be home before 3 pm today and get showered, take a nap and start putting summer away.  time to stow the gear and prepare for winter.

 annoyed that this handyman has been a slacker in getting my little library built.  haven't heard from him for a few weeks and starting to think i may need to look for another and give up on this guy.  he says he has it mostly built though.  does he?  frustrating depending on others some times for stuff like this.

 really hoped to get the library out and enjoyed through the summer months, now hoping i can find a place for it before the ground freezes.

 may have to just plan on painting it this winter and get it out there in the Spring.

 so another lovely time out at Byers Lake.  hard to go wrong out there.

 saw no bear scat or tracks on the loop around the lake.

 did see some leftover salmon swimming.  Ivy saw them jumping.  there were quite a few near the tent camp sites on the other shore.  doubt she knew what was jumping but she took off swimming after them.  soon after Tusker saw a merganser and he took off swimming after that.

 the hanging bridge has been replaced, at least temporarily.  guess it didn't survive the winter.

 we didn't see a soul on the loop...at some point i decided to answer the call of nature...of course, at that point some tourists came along.  that is life i guess. we were cracking up though...i mean we had not seen a soul until i made my way into the woods to take a pee.

 just some shots from the road

 then Mount Drum.  that was seen right after i got gas in Glennallen.  after that darkness came and there were no more stops for photo's. i did see several moose on the sides of the roads so i drove it a bit slower.  no desire to ever hit a moose out there.  they are too big.

 the pups slept all the way back from Glennallen.  they did pretty well on this trip as well.  i finally used this divider thing my friend Gnat had given me.  they could still jump over it but it at least gave L a fighting chance at peace in the front seat.

 i better get some stuff done, check on the time and place of this class tomorrow.  you can imagine how thrilled i am for it.  haha.

grateful for:  A.  safe travels once again with beautiful views.  B.  health to enjoy these adventures C. living in such an amazing and inspiring place.