Summer Solitice

AHH the warmth of summer, if we had any. I love this weather. It is a comfortable 66 degrees and then it rains at night. I can do this kinda summer.Forget the 100 degree temps. Dad,Karter and I went into Anchorage on Saturday for the outdoor market and some downtown walking.It was a beautiful day.All the flowers and baskets are in bloom.Wildflowers are all along the highways and mountains. Mom will be here in 3 weeks and by then it will be even more beautiful.
James and I went to Soldotna last weekend to fish for kings and we did not get one. I was really sad.I am really thinking about giving up this so called fishing!. I am going to try dip netting this weekend.Maybe that will work. I am not a patient person, so I want my fish now! Forth of July will be an adventure. Dr. Burk has invited us all out to his cabin on Big Lake. You can only get to it by boat or plane.We are going to spend the day and hope we can escape before the beverages get to out of control! Stay tuned.
Some times, I have an issue from time to time with hitting my head.Today, I hit it again. I had a dental device called "Electroserge" fall on my head. Some stitches and broken glasses later, a scar. Where is Dr. Nelson when you need him? I attach a photo of the new scare on my forehead! I need a helmet! I am fine and again I got to use my coffee cup with my name on it at the hospital...lol
Love to you all
The wounded
Eskimo

The long drive...

I wake up everyday and still wonder how I got here. It is hard to believe that 9 months ago we were packing and trying it again. I still catch myself thinking I am in Boise and driving to Cobby's for a sandwich. A long drive I might add for a sandwich. Today I got a dose of reality.
I leave work about 7 am everyday with a short drive of 15 miles into Anchorage. I see the same cars almost everyday and the same people on their cell phones.I watch for moose and look at the snow topped mountains without a care. Today was different. As I crossed over Eagle River and up a hill, I heard an empty thud that still sticks in my stomach.With a sudden jolt all the cars stopped and a cloud of dirt followed. I knew in my head what had happen and dreaded the sight. I was sure a moose had just got hit by a driver and I was not prepared for this. Boy was I wrong.As the traffic began to creep I saw a man get out of his truck with a large rifle and walk back towards me. I looked over and on the ground layed a HUGE bear.He was very still and I knew he had been hit. I also knew what was next. I turned up my radio as loud as it would go and plugged my ears and screamed as loud as I could.It did not help. The only comfort I had was that he was out of any pain.
As I drove to work, I cried.I hate to see any animal in pain let alone a beautiful wild animal just trying to survive in the forest we took over.I also realized I was not in Boise anymore.I live in this wild country of bear and moose.I have wolves,fox,caribou and eagles that fly by my house everyday.Dall sheep up on the mountains by my house that stand on the peaks. If I drive 30 minutes any direction I have whale,seals,otters and beaver. I have views that are amazing and make you feel small in comparison.I will admit it is hard to be away from family and friends, but I live in this amazing place and sadly it took me seeing this poor bear to really understand the wild I do live in.I hear allot of people say that this is still God's country and I will agree. He took his time with Alaska.
Love to you all
The Eskimo's

Summer !

It looks like our summer is here. We have had several nice "HOT" days. Hot to us now is 70 to 75 degrees.Alaska does not have central air and we live with the old box fans.It reminds me of when I was a kid and Chad and I would lay in front of the fan to sleep. Simple but effective.As most of you know we went out on a salmon charter and was lucky enough to have caught 2 big salmon. I was happy that my Dad had that chance. He caught the first one and then Tony pulled in the second. I had one on line and then it was gone. I am bitter, but maybe it was to small and I deserve a bigger one. The fishing has been really slow this year.They seem to be coming in now better but we have a few rivers that are very slow.I hope to catch one this summer, but the odds are slim.
Karter is in summer school and seems to like it. He was low on his math scores so in order to prepare him better for next year we put him in. He was not happy in the beginning,but enjoys it now.He will be starting football next month and hope he comes around to living here. He has been so home sick for several months. Almost everyday he says he wants to move back to Idaho. Reminds me of someone else when we lived in Fairbanks.
NaNa is still fighting the fight with his health.He still has two small bumps on his stomach that we watch. He has perked up and I am very happy for that. He does play and bark more now. He is to smart for his own good. Since we have to trick him to take his medicine in bread, he would just gulp it and it would be gone...not now. He will pretend to eat it, turn his back and then spit out the pills.He eats the bread, but now pills.We need a new trick.
Hope this finds you all well and enjoying the summer!
We love you!
the Eskimo's