Sighted along the ALCAN

This was our first sighting, a sow with two cubs.  We turned back to get some pictures, but by then she had seen us and was calling her babies back and away from the road.  One cub is not visible, it is in the brush behind her.

This was our second sighting, not a close encounter this time either.  Black bears are very shy and beat a hasty retreat once they know they have been sighted.

We think this one may have been sick.  You can see the mange on its backside.  It was also swarmed with flies and mosquitoes.

Right next to the road.  After this one crossed a cub crossed behind her, but I was not quick enough to get a  shot.

This is also considered a Black.  I have a whole series of pictures of her I will share soon.  

All the times Stan and I have traveled the AlCan, we have never spotted a Grizzly.  I have a whole series of pictures of this one I will share soon also.

This was our final sighting.  In total we saw 13 blacks and the one grizzly.
We also saw, but did not get pictures of; 2 moose, one fox, and two porcupines which  were actually alive and not road kill.  Don't think I have ever seen a porcupine still standing before:)
Many more pictures to share as I have time.

Copied and Pasted from my Yes They Are All Mine Blog

I have not blogged for a while

I find it very difficult to write anything right now.  This is my "fluff" blog.  It is where I chronicle all of the happy of being a mother and a grandmother.  It has been kept, for the most part, pretty ,safe, free from really private and heart wrenching matters.  Families all go through things, but we usually do not put it out in Cyber World for everyone to see.
My family is going through something.  Not infidelity, not job loss, not a major move, but the very real possibility of one of us leaving this world sooner than she should.  Losing my mother was expected.  She was 90 years old.  She had lived a very full and rich life.  With her is the realization that she was going to die, we were prepared.  Everyone wants to keep their loved ones forever, never wanting to face the reality of death.  Losing my daughter is the hardest thing God has ever put into my life.  I cry, I scream inwardly, I beg, I pray.  I find comfort in Him to only begin the cycle over again.  I think of my friends who have lost a child. I wonder how long it takes before they begin to function again.  Do they ever function on the same level they used to. Is there a huge void forever?  People say you will heal, but do you really.  Yes you go on with life. You have to, others are depending upon you.  Much as you may want to, you cannot withdraw, you cannot quit.  People get hungry, the house gets dirty, the laundry must be done, yes, I know life goes on.  I know He is in control.  I know that even when she was in my womb, He knew at her conception how long he would leave her here on the earth before taking her to her heavenly home.  I know all of that............We are suppose to rejoice when a Saint is called home.  Why am I not doing so?

My Daughter is sick again. First Breast Cancer, now Lung.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

..............................Remission................................

My 5 year marker is today. Yea! I'm counting from my last Rad of radiation.

There are a few things that cancer has taught me that I'd like to share.

#1 I am nothing. I am everything.

All my accomplishments, my talents and my self confidence, mental, emotional and physical strength mean nothing. Take all that away(plus the hair).

Weak and sick. Begging to die, feeling so alone in my pain. At the end ofmyself, I am everything! A child of God. When I am weak He is strong.

#2 A mother's work is never done. And never properly acknowledged.

Thank you Mom for all the time and effort you put into taking care of my family. (Although, I think that the boys still don't change thier underwear regularly!)

#3 Good friends will muddle in the muck with you. And kick your rear when you need it.

#4 Hair is highly over rated.

Almost three years of remission. Please keep her in your prayers.

They continue to tell us they are a Religion of Peace and Acceptance.

Memorial Day, Small Town style.

The presentation  of the Flag

Our WW2 Vets.  The gentleman 2nd from the left was the city Mayor the year Stan and I moved here.
He likes to come to Stan's office and sit and chat with Stan.  He will be 90 years old this year.

Arlington High School Band

I love this picture of these little guys trying so hard to keep their flags erect.  Good thing our Main Street is only about 6 blocks long.

Girl Scouts are active in Arlington also.

A car holding our dignitary.  I could not see inside very well and there was no sign on the car, but I am thinking Mayor Margaret Larson may have been riding inside.

Motorcycle Club.  All Combat Vets.

The festivities moved to our Cemetery.  Just had to take a picture of the backs of a couple of the Motor cycle club Vets.

The speaker is a retired Navy Seal.  He gave a great presentation of how the Seals work.  He told a very emotional story of one of the Seals who lost his life disarming a bomb.  The young man is number 38 on the Seal's Memorial Wall.  There are now 49 brave young people there.  He also made it a point to thank everyone who was involved in the killing of Osama.  With one exception.  He did not in any way at all reference the other "O".  Believe me, I listened.

The flag at 1/2 Staff

Retiring the Flags.

One of the roads into the cemetery lined with flags.  Each pole has a tag on it honoring a service person.

Arlington High School Band leaving the Cemetery

Another view of the flags in the Cemetery.  They lined every road inside the Cemetery.

There really was a much better attendance at the parade than it looks from my pictures.  Most of the viewers had congregated two blocks down where the parade culminated with a small ceremony in the town square.  I just did not make it down there in time to take pictures of that event.  Needless to say, our town is proud of and supports her veterans.

Dinner at PF Chang's

Gina and her new baby boy.  I cannot show his face because he is a foster child and we must protect his identity.
I can say he is a darling baby and the entire family is in love with him.

Tricia

Olivia, Angie and Amanda

Kris is putting baby to sleep.  It turned into a long night for him.

Gramma

Tricia and Shay.

Tricia was in town for some training this week.  We were able to meet in Bellevue and go to PF Chang's for dinner.  I had never been there.  Must say it was nice, food was good.
But the 18% gratuity kind of grated on me.  I really resent having the gratuity added to my bill.  I am a very generous tipper and had they not added the gratuity, they certainly would have received more than they did.
That rant over, I must say we had a good time.  Sadly, Chelle could not make it because she was having a meeting at her house that night.  Gina and I shared a dinner for two which included soup: Egg Drop, appetizer: Crab Wanton, 2 entrées: Mongolian Beef and Crunchy Honey Chicken and dessert: 6 layer chocolate cake.  One huge slice that we divided between all of us.
Tricia finished her training today and is planning to go play for a while.  Since Dave has to work this weekend, the boys are flying down on Thursday to spend the weekend with us and then will fly home with her on Sunday.
Dang, I thought I was posting this on my fluff blog.  It is so late and it takes so long to download pictures, I am just going to leave it.  Maybe I should have gone to bed hours ago and left this for tomorrow:)

OSAMA THERE ARE 71 MORE VIRGINS JUST LIKE ME