Hank Jr. asks, ......

"Does this mule make my butt look big?"

It was -24 the morning I took this picture ---- pretty frosty, aren't they?!?!

Ruby ...... Oh, Ruby.

FINALLY, here is a picture of my new mule, Ruby. She is adorable, don't you agree? ; ) In this picture, she and Hank Jr. have just hauled home a load of firewood (Saturday, January 29, 2011). It wasn't a huge load of wood, but it was hard for them getting it off the lake because we have had a lot of snow and the bobsled was dragging bottom where the lake meets the road. She is a trooper and is really STRONG!

My Temporary Puppy ....

Yes, I had a puppy for a few days, but I knew he would be happier in a different home so I delivered him yesterday on to the next leg of his journey. He sure is a cutie, don't you agree??

I called him TryMe, because he is tri-colored and because he DID 'try me', as all puppies will do.

Before I brought him home, I wondered if Babe or Cheddar would be less tolerant of him, but it turns out that it was TED! What a riot -- Babe and Cheddar were both much more accepting than I anticipated, but Ted went out of his way -- again and again and again! -- to make sure TryMe knew he was not welcome in Ted's space.

;)

Hello from Sitka!

Hi All,

No time to post photos today -- I'm in a public library in Sitka, soon to re-board the ferry. We have stopped in Sitka long enough for me to buy a souvenier and, more importantly, a chunk of fresh chocolate walnut fudge! Yep, I am losing weight on this trip! ; )

Tomorrow we dock in Ketchikan for most of the day, then on to Bellingham, WA. I will get off there at 8am Friday and catch a shuttle to the airport. I am having a great time but am also ready to come home. I miss my puppies!

Click-a-Pic

Remember, you can click on any of the pics in my blog to enlarge them .....

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alaska is beautiful! Words cannot describe it ... I'm posting a few pictures to help. Everywhere I go, I just want to take off into the mountains to explore!!!!

Did you notice the two bears in the middle picture??? : )

Conference time ....

Hey All. Yesterday was a visit to the hot springs and the ice castle -- very interesting and very Alaska. A young bull moose walked right through the hot springs grounds -- I got lots of pictures. Also got to see sled dogs and trail-ride horses there, so I got my animal 'fix'. Sorry, but I can't post pics from this computer -- not sure when I might be able to again, but for now it's just text (*boring!*). Conference starts this morning -- 8-5:30 for the next three days -- YEA!

Oh, yeah .....

And I forgot to mention, it really doesn't ever get dark here! That's why I am up in the middle of the 'night' sending email and posting on my blog .... the sun is still shining. And I'm not kidding! ; )

Yep .... it's so beautiful here!

I am having a FANTASTIC time in Alaska! I have spent the last three days touring the area between Fairbanks (central AK) and Valdez (Prince William Sound/south AK). We toured a salmon fishing boat, a self-sufficient community, talked to a young-ish couple who live off the land, toured the pipeline, looked at lots of cool plants and birds, have seen a MILLION beautiful scenic vistas, saw one grizzly bear ! and several moose ..... and have eaten incredibly good food (and lots of it). MAN, I have had a great time already! Tomorrow is free, then it's back to a packed schedule full of fun. More details later! klt