Sunrise, Sunset, Sunrise, Sunset...

Sunrise 4:30 a.m.  Sunset  10:49 p.m.

Let me put this in perspective for you.  It's midnight in Delta and I can still see, though it's dusk out there, across my yard.  And around 3 a.m., Cash's favorite time for a mid night pee, it's already starting to lighten up.  So, that means, LIGHT BLOCKING DRAPES.  Lol.

So, we've been out riding ATV and wandering the woods.  In areas there is still snow, and ice, and well, it makes for interesting, and messy riding.   It's still a little on the cool side, topping out in the 60's, but I'm hoping that soon, very, very soon, we'll see some warmer temps.

The leaves are popping.  Grass is greening up and hopefully Delta will soon be in full bloom.  Alaska is so beautiful, in every season.  But I have to say, summer is the best.  THE BEST.  The wildflowers alone offer infinite opportunities for capture via film, er, digital capture.  Fireweed, poppies, blue bells...there are so many to choose from.  I cannot wait.

In addition, the summer berries will appear.  Teeny tiny wild strawberries, which I'm determined to find, pick and consume this year.  Blueberries, high and low bush cranberries, and Brent's favorite rose hips.  I know there must be more out there, but we're new, and just learning.  Remember?

This week we've been uber busy.  Over the weekend we sent the Envoy packing.  Our beloved Envoy.  Bought out of necessity, kept out of love.  It got us through the wilds of Canada, and into our new territory, Alaska.  It didn't let us down, but since it was growing older, and worn beyond it's miles, we decided to send her on her way.  

We replaced the Envoy with a new, yes brand new, Chevy Silverado.  Still have the 4 doors, so plenty of room for the 4 of us.  But now even more room for the boat, the ATV, and anything else we need to haul.  So far, so good. I hope the Chevy treats us as well as our GMC did.

Tuesday I found myself in Fairbanks for a doctor's appt.  It was a very nice day and I was sorry to waste a day off in the "city".  But now and then, we must sacrifice, I guess.  Ha!  So, I ran the necessary errands and got home.  Safe and sound.

On other good news, the moose are back.  They're moving again, and back in sight.  It had been weeks since I'd seen a moose, and now I've seen several this week.  With no camera in hand, of course.  That's always the way it goes...hmph.

We have a busy week ahead.  Tomorrow I'm planning to visit the Sno Hook Club.  A local restaurant.  I've heard good things about them, and I'll be meeting friends their to celebrate the May birthdays.  Happy Birthday to my friend, Kathy, who celebrates tomorrow.  And then someone else, someone you all know and love, yes, me...celebrates on Saturday.

Saturday evening Brent and I fly out to Portland.  We've hired a wonderful house/pet sitter to stay with the kids.  It's much easier, and cheaper, than kenneling them.  So, I'll be on the road.  Traveling.  Ooh.  And I'll let you know exactly what I think of Portland, Oregon.  I'm pretty sure it won't compare to Delta!

Happy Spring!!

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Sunrise 5:09 a.m.  Sunset 10:09 p.m.

As the title states, it is indeed the 5th of May.  Guess what greeted us on this gray May day?  Yep, you guessed it.  Snow.  SNOW.  Ugh. I was really hoping that we'd keep the rain, if absolutely necessary, and lose the snow.  But nope.  Not so lucky.  And some of it is sticking.  Pffft.  Snow, mud, rain, mud...

So, we've been wading, in mud, water, snow, more mud.  And having fun, while we're doing it.  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?   

In an effort to socialize Cash, and have some fun of his own, Brent took Cash on a playdate with a couple of his friends, and his friends dog, Early.  Early is a pitbull/lab mix pup, who is about a year old.  And since Cash thinks he's the King of Kings, we decided to put the pups together and see what happened.  Well, as you can tell, he had a lot of fun.  And he got really, really muddy.   Silly boys.  What's a little more mud?

A couple weekends ago we took our first ride on Coal Mine Road.  It was a gray day but fairly warm, and the ride was enjoyable.  We hit plenty of puddles on our ride, but I was happy to report they weren't nearly as deep and rutted as last year's puddles this time of year.  Last year I thought we might all get swallowed up, but not so this time around.  This time we skated across a number of them, and broke through the rest.

As we wound up and around the path (road) was covered in snow.  Amy and Trevor, our Alabama friends, decided to take their Rzr up and over, in hopes that if they didn't make it, we could pull them back out.  Luckily for all of us, we all made it up and through.  Though a couple times I had to take Cash and Ches out to walk, so we didn't turn the Rhino over and break their little necks.  It was a great ride.  Despite the gray.

That evening Amy treated us to a gourmet Southern style meal. I even tried my first helpings of collards, and am happy to report that I loved them.  Amy treated us to twice baked potatoes, steak, pork chops, ptarmigan, and pot roast.  A feast.  I'm telling you.  Delicious!  And such a treat.  

I'm happy to report that I have finally been feeling better.  Much more like myself than I was for a while there.  It was a rough month of April, and May is looking up.  Promising indeed.  I'll stick with May.   We've had a day or two of sun, and for the most part it has rained.  But we needed the moisture, as April left us with an early season burn ban.  I'm thankful for the rain, as the smoke and haze last summer was bad enough.  I'm really hoping to avoid it.

In other news, it's been an exciting week at work.  Chuck came to visit and say Hello.  Chuck is Hailey's hubby from Alabama, and he's new to Delta.  It was nice to meet him and I'm looking forward to meeting Hailey and their daughter when they reach Alaska.

Also, I was sitting at my desk on Tuesday and a nice couple walked in.  We chatted a bit, and the gentleman handed me his business card.  Turns out they were from Park Rapids, MN.  Small world indeed.  They're thinking about moving up to Delta, and I am anxious to see if it works out for them.

So, here we sit.  Waiting for the sun to come out so we can play, play, play.  No moose.  I think they're in hiding.  Maybe they joined the Witness Protection Program.  Hmph.  In all actuality, I think they're calving somewhere.  Enjoying some peace and quiet before the woods light up and get really noisy.

And I'm studying.  Studying away for my real estate license. I only want to take the exam once.  So, I'll be studying for awhile.

Happy Spring!