Easter Picnic at Frosty Reef

Family tradition each year is that we go on an Easter picnic--typically my dad expertly hides the eggs we have dyed in whatever picnic spot we have chosen... yes, even up until last year I was hunting for them.  This was the first year we have broken that part of the tradition, but we did get to take a boat out to a neat spot and have our Easter dinner of ham and "Au Gratin" potatoes warmed in a dutch oven and enjoyed some romping around.

 

This year the herring fishery overlapped with Easter -- Here's a character-filled fleet moored together.

 Troller and Lund skiff
(I love this picture -- so glad I was able to capture it the way I wanted to)

 One happy dog -- Kruzof was selected from the bunch to come along this time...

 Dad paddling in on the inflatable raft after anchoring

 We didn't bring any wood this time, so collecting began as soon as we reached the beach...

 Happily munching sea weed

 Summoning the Dutch oven spirits... not really... she doesn't need those!

 Sphagnum Moss -- Easter basket lining blanketing the whole forest... 

 

 Gathering limpets for us off the rocks as a little appetizer...

Does this not look like a Japanese painting?

 See me?  I love this funky tree rock.  (It's a rock, right? Then why are there branches coming out of it?!  Also, that huge bulge above my head is entirely composed of generations upon generations of moss! Not to mention the berry bushes and at least three species of trees growing on it...)

This kind of reminds me of the "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" painting. 

 Got a little artistic with the cutlery... isn't that nearly the most beautiful knife and fork you've ever seen?  I dropped them in the water to wash them off, then loved the way the old metal and flowers looked with the black rocks...

 Whale watchin' -- one of my favorite pastimes. I love me some Humpbacks.

 Mom.

I was very glad that even though I had to work my 12-hour shift the night before and the night of, I still got to enjoy a little quality time with my family and, though I didn't get to go to church, seeing all the signs of Spring in the forest and on the water helped me ponder and rejoice in the life after death that is ours because of Jesus Christ.

Mushing up Harbor Mountain

On Saturday, a beautiful sunny day, we took the dogs up Harbor Mountain--actually, they took us.  We took breaks, helped push when it got hard for them, and on the steeper parts, Keith walked/ran.  They did wonderfully!  What a rush it was when, after taking a break, they would burst forward with renewed energy--it was so surprising to me how fast they could go uphill!  SO fun--for us and the dogs!  They were loving it : )  We started from the bottom parking area and made it up to the second gate and back.  We probably could have made it all the way up, but didn't want to overheat or exhaust the dogs.  The sled is a beautiful little sled Keith bought from an experienced old sled maker in Montana--it is a fine sled, indeed!

Funny, all the many times up Harbor Mountain throughout my life, I never imagined I would be mushing a dog team up it!  We figured this was one of only a couple times this has ever been done, if not the only...  It made a pretty awesome day in my book, dog mushing up a snow-covered mountain in the afternoon and eating Cuban food and dancing Cuban Salsa at the Larkspur that night!

 

 

 

 

 

Re-cap on "The Pups"

Since it has been a looong time since I posted, here's a short progression of the puppies--just to catch up--for readers who don't use Facebook... They've grown ;)

 

Living in the garage stage -- still VERY high-maintenance, but the most adorable things imaginable.

 

 

Moved outside -- This is how they always liked to sleep!

 

 

 

First time running around outside -- exploring the forest, timid at first, but after a few minutes, oh, how they loved it!

 

 Keith did such a great job making the perfect little habitat for them and adapting it as they grew

 

 First, and maybe only, real baths...

 

Post-bath lovin' -- Connor love dem puppies!  So sweet  :)

 

Playing at the park

 

 Seriously, Baranof?  How are you this cute?

 

 Rompin' in the muskeg

 

 Drive up Harbor Mountain

Frolicking in the Alpine

Rompin' in the Muskeg again

Behold, the new puppy truck

 

 

 Keith took them to work with him everyday, they LOVED (and still love) being in there!

 

 Frolicking in the Forest

 

 Being dogs at the Dog Park

 

 Helping us with our Christmas cards -- 

First time hooked up as a team

 

 On the ferry, on their way to become real sled dogs

 

 Cruising around at Grandpa and Grandma's ranch

 

 Delighted

 

 The expanded puppy truck

 

So handsome...

 

 Hooked up and pulling a real sled! With Keith and I on it!

(with the help of a few much smaller, but experienced, dogs)

 

They did awesome!!

Krestof

Kruzof

Baranof

Fatima

Three months with Keith in Idaho/Wyoming and they came back to Sitka wonderful sled dogs!!!  And they're huge and handsome!  They still have some growing to do too, mostly the boys.  We're very happy they survived--that we were able to keep them alive without their mom--and that they are growing up so healthy and strong and good!  Nine months old!  They each have wonderful personalities and they are good with each other, with people, and with other dogs :)  This is all thanks to Keith's hard work (and some sacrifices too), but they bring joy to our lives and it's a good adventure to have them!

Now we're up to date, at least on one part of our lives!  Ah geez, I'm the worst blogger.