Wooly Lousewort
Willow
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Crazy Dog Part 2
Rememeber when I said that my dog was smart???? Consider this an official retraction of that statement.
Here is Kaija chasing ducks in a pond. She swam about 5 circles around this pond chasing them.
The ducks would stay just out of her reach. I really think Kaija though that she was going to catch them.
She wasn't going to give up. It got to the point that I thought she would tire out and drown....so I hollered at her to quit and come back. I had to holler plenty before she gave up.
Here is Kaija chasing ducks in a pond. She swam about 5 circles around this pond chasing them.
The ducks would stay just out of her reach. I really think Kaija though that she was going to catch them.
She wasn't going to give up. It got to the point that I thought she would tire out and drown....so I hollered at her to quit and come back. I had to holler plenty before she gave up.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Weekend
Excuse my absense these last few days. I got lazy over the weekend and didn't go through my pics.
In Kotzebue, Memorial Day is a day where many people spend some time at the graves of their loves ones sprucing things up. Last years artificial flowers are thrown away and new ones take their place. It's a time to cut back the bushes and give crosses a fresh coat of paint. Here are a few pics from Memorial weekend taken up on Cemetery Hill...
FYI...I will be leaving on Sunday for a two week trip to NH to visit family. During that time I will still be posting but it will be pictures of NH. I'll be back in Kotzebue June 14th.
In Kotzebue, Memorial Day is a day where many people spend some time at the graves of their loves ones sprucing things up. Last years artificial flowers are thrown away and new ones take their place. It's a time to cut back the bushes and give crosses a fresh coat of paint. Here are a few pics from Memorial weekend taken up on Cemetery Hill...
FYI...I will be leaving on Sunday for a two week trip to NH to visit family. During that time I will still be posting but it will be pictures of NH. I'll be back in Kotzebue June 14th.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Open Water
The Noatak River is open all the way to town. Here is a picture of the mouth of the river. People are already boating up to hunt ducks and geese and gather seagull eggs.
Every year spring feels like a miracle to me. When it is January it sometimes feel like it will take forever for it to warm up and melt the snow and ice. I think the opening of the river was earlier this year than last year. I would have to go back an look through my old pictures to be sure.
Noah and I decided to go up on the hill and have a picnic. I still wasn't feeling well but I was tired of being cooped up in the house.
It was pretty windy. About 15-20mph from the south. At least there were no mosquitoes.
Kaija was having fun chasing all the little birdies...
...but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't catch any.
On the way home we saw a flock of swans (or are they geese?) flying over town.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Breakup
Here is a photo of the Noatak River taken yesterday. All the ice was broken up into pieces that were grinding against each other with no place to go.
This photo was taken today. WooHoo!!! Open water. The ice is cracking up, and moving down the river to bunch up at the mouth and wait until the ice opens un in front of Kotzebue. When it does that it will open a path that goes out the river mouth along the current in front of Kotz and out to sea.
(These two photos were not taken by me)
Google MD
I seem to have come down with a cold. That's not surprising seeing that it has been a few months since I was sick. I had intentions of going to bed early last night but that never happened. I ended up watching TV most of the night laying in bed coughing and feeling sorry for myself. At around 12:30am I happened to look out the window and see a beautiful sunset. I fell back and pulled the covers over my head telling myself that there will be a hundred beautiful sunsets to come this summer......but I couldn't let it go. I headed out to take some pics. Here are a few that were taken at approximately 1 am.....
So I woke up this morning and immediately needed to suck on my inhaler. The cold hadn't improved. I stepped off the edge of the bed and a terrible burning pain in my instep shot up my leg. Geez what the heck is that? I literally could not walk on my left foot. I hobbled/hopped/crawled my way downstairs to the computer to look up my latest malady. Being the professional Google Doctor that I am I have diagnosed myself with Posterior Tibial Tendonitis. No, really, I think that is what it is. If that's true I am pretty much screwed because it's one of those things that you basically can't do anything about. The recommendations are rest, ice, and arch supports. Well, it's either that or something equally mysterious and technical sounding. This really cramps my style, especially since I am leaving on vacation in 9 days.
So I woke up this morning and immediately needed to suck on my inhaler. The cold hadn't improved. I stepped off the edge of the bed and a terrible burning pain in my instep shot up my leg. Geez what the heck is that? I literally could not walk on my left foot. I hobbled/hopped/crawled my way downstairs to the computer to look up my latest malady. Being the professional Google Doctor that I am I have diagnosed myself with Posterior Tibial Tendonitis. No, really, I think that is what it is. If that's true I am pretty much screwed because it's one of those things that you basically can't do anything about. The recommendations are rest, ice, and arch supports. Well, it's either that or something equally mysterious and technical sounding. This really cramps my style, especially since I am leaving on vacation in 9 days.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Idols, Rivers, and Fog
I went to my friend's house tonight to watch the American Idol season finale. My friend, Kathy, has been faithfully watching Idol for years. I, on the other hand, watch sporadically. I figure I will wait until all the second rate singers have been weeded out and then I'll watch. I wanted David Archuleta....Kathy wanted David Cook. Oh well, win some lose some.
So I haven't taken any pics for a couple days. It has been too foggy...that is unless people want to see pics with a lot of gray in them.
If I were to take a picture this is what it would look like, courtesy of Photoshop.
Here is a pic of the Noatak River today...not taken by me. As you can see the ice is rotting away and has some big potholes. I think it is open from the Aggie River up. Pretty soon the open water will come around the corner and be visable from this vantage point advancing every day. I will post pics of the river as I get them in anticipation of open water...woo hoo.
So I haven't taken any pics for a couple days. It has been too foggy...that is unless people want to see pics with a lot of gray in them.
If I were to take a picture this is what it would look like, courtesy of Photoshop.
Here is a pic of the Noatak River today...not taken by me. As you can see the ice is rotting away and has some big potholes. I think it is open from the Aggie River up. Pretty soon the open water will come around the corner and be visable from this vantage point advancing every day. I will post pics of the river as I get them in anticipation of open water...woo hoo.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Crazy Dog
My dog, Kaija, is a Karelian Bear Dog.
She loves to play.
She loves water.
She can run for miles and miles and loves to be out in the country.
She is always on the hunt.
She loves her boy.
She likes to chase sticks. She's our crazy dog.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
It was a good Mother's Day. My boy brought me coffee and my presents while I was still in bed.
This is what Uyaana gave me. A pen and a pewter wall hanging. My mom gave me a cool collapsible campfire grill and camp coffee percolator.
I gave my mom an afghan crocheted by a friend of mine. Uyaana gave her an iTunes gift certificate.
This is the card that Uyaana made me.
This evening I went for a ride on the 4 wheeler so the dog could go for a run.
We went up toward the radar site.
We still have a lot of ice and snow, but there is also a lot of bare tundra.
The pussywillows are out in full force.
Kaija was happy that there is water to swim in again.
She could care less if it is freezing slush water.
When we got home Uyaana decided he wanted to "plant a tree".
Hope everybody had a great Mother's Day.
This is what Uyaana gave me. A pen and a pewter wall hanging. My mom gave me a cool collapsible campfire grill and camp coffee percolator.
I gave my mom an afghan crocheted by a friend of mine. Uyaana gave her an iTunes gift certificate.
This is the card that Uyaana made me.
This evening I went for a ride on the 4 wheeler so the dog could go for a run.
We went up toward the radar site.
We still have a lot of ice and snow, but there is also a lot of bare tundra.
The pussywillows are out in full force.
Kaija was happy that there is water to swim in again.
She could care less if it is freezing slush water.
When we got home Uyaana decided he wanted to "plant a tree".
Hope everybody had a great Mother's Day.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Lunatics On Ice
I went hooking for sheefish last night. There were lots of people out on the ice.
Remember what I said about hooking in short sleeves? I wasn't kidding.
I got out there around 6pm. It was about 40 degrees.
For hours hooked and hooked and hooked and I was catching nothing but a bullhead here and a tomcod there.
My friend Bree came with her kids. She's not much of a fisher woman....but she's a good mom and brought her kids out. She caught a fish after only hooking for 20 minutes- darn it. She has a big smile here for the camera....
...but her face in this picture shows what she really thinks about picking up that fish...hahaha.
Here is a view of Kotzebue from out on the ice.
Finally at around 10:30pm the fish started to bite. Not much but enough to give us hope. I eventually caught 3. Here is a pic of two of them with my glove as a size comparison.
Sunset last night was at 12:09am.
There were only three of us hooking lunatics out on the ice by the time we headed home at around 12:45am.
Remember what I said about hooking in short sleeves? I wasn't kidding.
I got out there around 6pm. It was about 40 degrees.
For hours hooked and hooked and hooked and I was catching nothing but a bullhead here and a tomcod there.
My friend Bree came with her kids. She's not much of a fisher woman....but she's a good mom and brought her kids out. She caught a fish after only hooking for 20 minutes- darn it. She has a big smile here for the camera....
...but her face in this picture shows what she really thinks about picking up that fish...hahaha.
Here is a view of Kotzebue from out on the ice.
Finally at around 10:30pm the fish started to bite. Not much but enough to give us hope. I eventually caught 3. Here is a pic of two of them with my glove as a size comparison.
Sunset last night was at 12:09am.
There were only three of us hooking lunatics out on the ice by the time we headed home at around 12:45am.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Sheefish Mania
It's here and it's contagious. We all have it....it's sheefish mania.
The last couple of days have been so beautiful. Last night was just great fishing weather and there was a mob of people on the ice hooking for sheefish.
Why wasn't I out there fishing? I was feeling lazy...but I will be out there for sure tonight.
The last couple of days have been so beautiful. Last night was just great fishing weather and there was a mob of people on the ice hooking for sheefish.
Why wasn't I out there fishing? I was feeling lazy...but I will be out there for sure tonight.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Play Ball
It has warmed up a bit. It was 25 degrees today. That may not seem like much but the sun is pretty intense this time of year. While the temp may be below the freezing mark the 17 + hours of sunlight be have everyday zaps the snowpack and gets things a dripping.
School ends in Kotzebue next week. School is winding down and the kids are winding up. They are tired of being stuck inside all day. The kids want out and some teachers are willing to oblige them. The problem is all that sun is turning everything to slop.
Most surfaces are starting to look like this.....
...and this.
So, you make due with what you got....and what we got is ice. Lots and lots of ice. In fact we probably have another month of ice. Even after the snow has melted in town over the next few weeks and the grass has started to poke through the ground, we will still have ice.
The ducks and the geese will return and the willows will bud and green out and we will still have ice. We will be wearing shortsleeved shirts, our sweaters tied around our waists, hooking for smelts and sheefish through holes in sloppy wet ice.
And then one day the ice will shift, groan and shudder. It will fissure and crack. It will break up in huge slabs and small crystal shards. It will bump and grind and heave it's way out to sea on the current and these kid's ball field will be no more.....til next year.
School ends in Kotzebue next week. School is winding down and the kids are winding up. They are tired of being stuck inside all day. The kids want out and some teachers are willing to oblige them. The problem is all that sun is turning everything to slop.
Most surfaces are starting to look like this.....
...and this.
So, you make due with what you got....and what we got is ice. Lots and lots of ice. In fact we probably have another month of ice. Even after the snow has melted in town over the next few weeks and the grass has started to poke through the ground, we will still have ice.
The ducks and the geese will return and the willows will bud and green out and we will still have ice. We will be wearing shortsleeved shirts, our sweaters tied around our waists, hooking for smelts and sheefish through holes in sloppy wet ice.
And then one day the ice will shift, groan and shudder. It will fissure and crack. It will break up in huge slabs and small crystal shards. It will bump and grind and heave it's way out to sea on the current and these kid's ball field will be no more.....til next year.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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