True American Heroes I'm honored to know

These three men I'm standing with are true American heroes. I had the pleasure of meeting at the Powwow in 2004. They are Navajo Code Talkers, US Marine Corps World War II

Alfred Peaches, Me, Samuel Smith, Frank Thompson from left to right.

I only got close enough today for these two shots before this bird flew off down the slough. I will try for more tomorrow or the next day after the holiday. Traffic was terrible today with holiday and weekend right by where this bird is.

www.thesquirrelcam.com

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, to always remember. Many of our finest are overseas, in the heat of battle as we remember those who have made the supreme sacrifice for our country. May we never forget those who have paid that price. On this Memorial Day weekend, I wear two bracelets on my wrist, engraved with these names:

Lt.Col Arthur Mearns MIA 11-11-66
LCDR Donald R Ashby Sr. MIA 1-19-67

Remember them

Great Minds want to Know

Ok, who's reading my blog, I get lots of hits on www.thesquirrelcam.com but I want to know if anyone reads that blog?

Land of the Midnight Sun

Summer is such a special time here in the Great Land, but it's something else when it comes to my sleep patterns. The long daylight hours for example, our Sun Rise this morning was 3:53AM and the sunset won't be until 11:42PM. It allows me plenty time to observe the squirrels and birds that come to our various feeders. The cameras, one at the front of the house and the other at the back have a continuous flow of birds and squirrels in and out. Which is a great pleasure to me and many others who watch the cams. Nonetheless, I'm up at the oddest hours of the morning, sometimes just due to my insomnia, others due to the rooster in my chicken coup going off at 2:00 AM in the morning, as the sun is coming up. It must drive him crazy at times too. People are always commenting on how difficult it must be to have daylight all night long, and I have to admit. It's unnerving at times to drive through the neighbor hood at 11:00 PM at night and see people washing cars, mowing the grass or working in the yards and gardens. I enjoy the long hours of twilight, and the long golden hours for taking pictures. The sun is at such long angles that it makes for some really fine photographs. Still, it really takes it's toll on my sleep. I don't get a great deal when summer is here. So, here is looking at you from one of my squirrels having a very early morning snack or is it a late night dinner. I'm so sleepy, I can't remember but please remember to look for yourself at www.thesquirrelcam.com when you up late or early and it's dark where you live.

The Great Alaskan Mosquito (Bug Dope)

One can always tell when summer has arrived here in the Boreal forest. With summer comes the hordes of blood thirsty ravenous mosquitoes. Yesterday was glorious weather, and the youngest daughter and her children were visiting for dinner. After dinner every evening I take a walk, and all decided to come with me. So, down the road we went. Reaching my next door neighbors yard, where he was setting grade on the fence poles he had set recently, we stopped to chat. That's when they attacked, the blood sucking hordes. One of the funniest things you see outside in Alaska is when people are standing still talking, every once in a while someone and everyone will wave one hand around there face or head driving off the ravenous mosquito, it's called the Alaskan Wave. Everyone does it. After a while, it's automatic and when watching people you will see it. If you have never seen it before it can be quite hilarious until you realize what they are doing.

Standing still long enough to have a conversation is impossible, the kids immediately started to complain along with the wife and daughter. They all scurried back down the road to get the bug dope. One just doesn't venture forth here in the Great Land without your Alaskan Perfume. Now, you have several choices of bug dope, but 100% pure deet works best. Nonetheless the lower percentage is most likely better for ones health than the pure stuff.

Now we were armed and ready to venture forth on down the road for our walk. All doing the Alaskan Wave, even if there wasn't anyone to wave too. Just the woods and the mosquitoes. What a great evening, with the smell of mosquito repellent drifting upon the evening air Only here in the Great Land. Waving Away until next time!

Seeking Meaningful Employment

I've had many different jobs over the years, nonetheless I find myself searching for employment that fits me. I know this is a strange approach to finding work. The skill sets I've used in the past no longer fit. I don't have a commercial drivers license to drive truck anymore, which is just one of the many jobs I've held in the past. I was never satisfied with such work, even though it provided a good living for a period of time when I was raising a family. I've worked in power plant operations here in the interior, but was never happy in such positions even though they to, paid very well. The employment that I enjoyed the most, was a volunteer position, that paid nothing. I brought to that position the computer and people skills, I've acquired to organize a successful event. Before I was the chair of this organization I volunteered by providing the equipment, software and skills needed to produce the advertisement, web page and graphical arts for that event for several prior years. After becoming the chair, fund raising and public relations were the priority along with continuing to provide the latter while managing a diverse group of volunteers needed to accomplish our goals. I wish I could use those skills again in a position that would make me a decent living. That is the crux of my problem, trying to find something that was as satisfying as that was and pays me for it. Maybe, with a little luck I'll come across such a position. If my health holds and I live long enough.

Leaving Alaska

Mark and Velma, they are leaving Alaska after 5 years of living here. Going to Alabama. I will miss them, and wish them well. Take care guys and we will always remember the good times we had at this powwow.

bob

The Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow

The Powwow has chosen it's drums for this year. Please, check out their web page at: http://www.midnightsunpowwow.net/ for this years guest drums. And schedule of events. It's a good thing, I was the chair for the organization and event last year and have been involved with the Powwow ever since the second one. I support them whole heartedly and hope they succeed beyond all expectations. I won't be here for this years event but I will be here in spirit. The group coming up from the lower 48 will do a stomp dance exhibition. Being I'm Mvskok Creek, that is very special to me. I would so love to see it but do hope the local native population sees this exhibition of my tribal ways.

Tipi Door

This is a shot of the door to my lodge, it's got all the handprints of my family. My daughters with their husbands and children. It's so special to me.

bob

Good Morning from the Great Alaskan Red Squirrel Cam

I spent the better part of yesterday putting up the liner for the lodge, so I took a couple of shots to show everyone the interior of the tipi. As you can see, I've got the winter liner, which is painted in. The summer liner isn't painted and is shorter than the winter by one panel. My hands are so sore from putting the liner up, it takes a lot of tying the straps to hang it. Plus, getting up and down. I'm pretty much sore all over. Growing older sucks, but I do guess it's better than the alternative.

My Lodge

I just put up my lodge or tipi, depends upon what you want to call it. I'm glad to get it up, its a peacefully place to be at anytime. As you can see its painted blue on the top that has round circles which is a lakota pattern that represent the big dipper, and the dancers around the bottom are Zuni rain dancers. They work because today as soon as I go it up, it clouded over and looks like it's going to rain. I don't have the liners in yet and when I do I will take some photo's. They to are painted, and you can see some of what is represented on them in one of my earlier postings about coffee in the morning.

Board of Honor

This is a photograph of the veterans Honor Board at the Andrew Issac Clinic in Fairbanks Alaska. It's is a little known fact, but Native Americans minorities serve at a higher percentage of population than any other minority in the country. This honor board is for those of the interior of Alaska, who have served or are serving this country.

Mothers Day

Mothers Day

My mother is long gone, but I wanted on this day to remember her. I love you mom and always will. For those of you whose mother is still with us, appreciate her while you can.

bob

Snow Shoe Hare

Snow Shoe Hare, and it's in it's summer color phase, it's amazing how fast they can change, for example this is a shot of one just this early spring before the snow melted away: http://www.thesquirrelcam.com/Viewerschoice.html. Scroll down to the bottom to see. I just caught him in this photo out in the yard today.

I love the little creatures that inhabit my yard. I'm a very lucky fellow to have such wildlife to photograph and to make my life more interesting.

bob

Ducks

This hen mallard has returned to the yard every year for the last 3 years. This year I've not seen her mate, he was a beauty of a duck. I hope he made it through the long winter and hunting season. Usually they are together when feeding, one will feed while the other stands guard. As you can see from this photo, she's very wary and keeps a close eye out for predators.

That First Cup of Coffee

I'm sitting here drinking my first cup of coffee. It's got to be the best one of the day. I've been having some medical testing done this last week. It involves having to fast for 12 hours before having blood drawn. What I miss more than eating is having that morning coffee. Being I've given up cigarettes, drugs and drinking over the years, I don't know if I could give up my coffee. I drink it black without any thing else.

The days here at the permafrost ranch in North Pole, have grown long with the advent of spring and summer. The long hours of daylight cause havoc with my sleeping patterns. They must effect the flying squirrels that frequent the feeders, I don't hear them bouncing off the tipi poles that I store on the side of the house. It's almost time to put the lodge up for summer.

It's one of my favorite places to be, early in the morning with a fire burning and the coffee perking over the fire

The times they are a changing.

Greetings from the Squirrel Cam,

Someone in Lockergnome asked how long I've had the Squirrel Cam up and running. It's been more than a few years as you can tell by my last posting with the date on the image. So, being that image of me is so old, I've posted this new one. No, I'm not Santa. Even if I do live in North Pole. So, please don't send me your list.

bob

Hello,

I've decided to keep the Squirrel Cam up and have added this blog to it. For those who want to post to it and answer my insane ramblings, go ahead.

bob