There's a BEAR in the Camp

I used to think driving in San Antonio was the last, great, legal adrenalin rush.....and then we moved to Alaska. We did not see ANY bears, in the wild, while here for those 3 years. We DID go camping and hiking! Of course, we had 8 kids with us...lots of bear warning humans are on the way. We have been here three weeks and this is our 4th sighting. All this while going about our NORMAL day and not looking for them at all. 

With recent bear maulings on base, I realized I shouldn't go hiking the trails alone. I was thinking today, I would just walk around the campground and that should be fine......and then Nolan was looking out the window.....he thought he saw a Black Lab in our campsite. 

No....."There's a bear by the picnic table." 

We grabbed cameras and crowded around the windows. 

The bear moved and we rushed out to follow.  He wasn't very big. Turns out he's a yearling. There is a sow around with a couple of cubs, a yearling and a 2 year old or two. Um - whew. 

Taking out the garbage has a new zing to it

He's heading for the shower house 

He continued to walk the loop - back to our loop. He seemed to be looking for something to eat.....

It frustrates me. There are signs EVERYWHERE and still someone left a can of Apple Pie filling at their site. They must have been making campfire desserts.  This is not good! He is not worried at all about people and as he grows this could cause problems for him and for the humans who surprise him. 

Today, he was just a cute reminder to go buy some bear spray!  Either that, or stay in the RV forever and ever......he also gave us insight into Yuuki's odd whining at the door. 

I commented he and his family presence in the area does add a bit of excitement to making s'mores.  That's all the family needed.

"Doing s'mores might be a bear."

"I couldn't bear the thought of not doing s'mores."

"I wonder if s'mores are actually a bear necessity of life."

"I can't bear the idea of losing my s'mores."

These two spent an hour, or so, prepping their fishing kits....fun times ahead. 

4th of July in Oregon

Meanwhile, back in Oregon, our grandblessings celebrated the 4th with fireworks and friends. It's been their tradition to do fireworks up at the cross on New Hope. 

Every girl needs a big brother like Dakota! 

Dakota, Bella (almost 15 months)

Gideon - 6 weeks?

Loves her chalk 

Cory, Arielle and Baby S

Baby S - all four GrandBlessings in one location. 

Uncle Cory is great fun 

Izaak, Bella and Cory 

 Look at the grip Bella has on Dakota when the fireworks began! 😊

I'm imagining the group we'll have in AK next 4th.....wow.

4th of July in Alaska

We drove out to JaRissa's to celebrate the 4th and to retrieve our kids. We had a lazy start and Jamin had to go to work as we arrived.  Josiah was at work, but arrived as we grilled. 

Alex, Jared, Michael, Nolan

 Larissa made her famous guacamole and a wonderful potato salad. This gal shines with Southern Hospitality. 

With our tummies full, we set out to create some family memories. We made tie dye shirts.....

Rissa certainly knew more about HOW to do this than any of us

Success

 

Michael and I were a bit messy. This truth will assist you well, "Never open the bottle of dye with your teeth."  Enough said. 

We had a great day with the Gherkins who are here.  I will say there were no fireworks. NONE. Fireworks are not allowed in the Matsu Borough. We saw no stands.  We did hear a few bangs....but well it's LIGHT.  They did put on a display at the Eagle River Lion's Club at midnight.  This has been our one disappointment to date with our new home state. LOL

Heading home

Risk Marathon - Date Night

I believe Jamin was the motivation behind Risk Marathon. We began to get texts suggesting the boys come over to play Risk, spend the night, and we'd pick them up on the 4th. The plan morphed, until Stacia was going over for dinner and shopping with Larissa and spending the night too. 

Woot! This provided Michael and I time ALONE. We found a new Mexican restaurant, which we loved, and ate in leisure. The service was some of the best we've had. We enjoyed  a sappy movie together and the chance to talk deeply without six other ears in our tiny home. 

THIS is what the boys look like at 0330 on the 4th - an all night marathon

Gideon looks like he is not impressed with the service he's receiving. LOL 

Doing Life Together

We are enjoying doing life together with these Gherkins. Sunday, we went to JaRissa's church where we heard a sound and challenging sermon.  We opted for an Asian Buffet after church. 

Stacia, Cy, Nolan, Jamin, Alex, Larissa, Jared, Michael 

 Feeling "sufficiently satisfied," we headed back to JaRissa's. One young man took a nap, another attempted a hike - but was stood up.  😉These four played Jamin's new Lord of the Ring Risk.....

Larissa made some yummy Reeces cookies 

We girls did nails, hair and watched Beauty and the Beast. 

All the workers had to show up for work Monday, so we called it an early night. It was a good day.

Saturday Socializing

It is rare for Michael and I to go out for an adult dinner these past couple of years. Tonight we did. 

Share the road

Stephan graduated from the same boarding school as I in Manila....3 years behind me. We've met on Facebook and he and his wife live in Alaska.  Dinner was fun as we  relaxed, visited, swapped stories  and gleaned info about Alaska. It was also fun to try a new restaurant - Suite 100.  We look forward to spending more time with Stephan and Joyce. 

We stopped at Ship Creek on the way back to JBER. Michael talked with a fisherman. I took the advantage to take my first photo of Sleeping Lady this time. 

I need to remember to take my camera with me EVERYWHERE. The phone does "ok," but I always find myself wishing I had the camera. 🐽

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the VA

We drove out to the Valley to visit the Matsu VA CBOC (Community Based Outpatient Clinic). A funny thing happened on the way to the VA.....

Michael saw this truck's tire blow. He didn't realize it. He kept driving, even though I was hanging out the window, pointing at his tires. Michael pulled ahead of him, flashing lights and then pulled off. He pulled off and Michael let him know what he saw. Yep - he was thankful.

We met Michael's new Primary Care Doc at the CBOC. This is a BLESSING. We were told the only option was another care facility or telehealth. Still thankful for the angel/man at Anchorage VA that saw Michael's chart, made a few calls and got Michael on with a doctor. We would have gone to an LPN or PA - that's what we had in Eugene.  In any event Dr. B seems nice, caring and he did offer a few new suggestions for pain management. He also gave Michael quite a few referrals. Finally.

We enjoyed lunch together and then we headed back to the VA for an "Initial Info" meeting. All have to go through this when the begin treatment at the Valley CBOC.  It was fairly pointless for us. Info on how to be seen, where to be seen, how to get your claim through the VA and such.  But we jumped through the hoop like pros.

We were tired that night and instead of socializing opted for dinner and games at home.