Sleepless in North Pole

1:18 AM in the morning. I was so tired this evening that I laid down to watch television in the bedroom early around 7:00 PM. Now I'm wide awake. My sleeping patterns are in turmoil. Causing major problems with my mental state. The only advantage to being up at this hour is to see the flying squirrels who visit the feeder.

Lounge Lizard 2008

This shot has been done many times over the years with several different squirrels. I've called them all Larry the Lounge Lizard Squirrels of the Permafrost Ranch.

Todays dose of Red Squirrel

I can't let a day go by, without a dose of squirrel goodness.

Camera for hire

My little buddy here was telling me, I should go do something constructive with that camera. At least I think he was saying that, I also heard something like shove it. But then Squirrels are hard to understand.

Little Forest Hunter

I happened to catch a rare hunter on the feeder this morning. One of our littlest hunters of the boreal forest.

Squirrel summer and taking it easy

Sometimes the photograph just says it all. I grabbed this one the other day. I thought it puts summer time for my little buddy into perspective. Every Picture tells a story...

Summer on the Permafrost Ranch

Summer is always a welcomed arrival here on the Permafrost Ranch. Nonetheless, along with warm weather comes another problem only seen in this welcomed season of warmth. Yesterday, was the first real warm day of summer. It was in the high 60's all day. I had the doors and windows thrown wide open. Both daughters stopped by with grand kids in tow and before we knew it. The house was full of mosquitos from the kids running in and out the front screen door. Alaskan mosquitos are known for their ferociousness and abundance. When the screen door is closed you can see the little vampires all over the outside trying to slip through the netting. Some wait patiently with evil intent for some unsuspecting agent to open the portal for them. Once inside they spread out hiding and waiting for the right moment to sneak up and get you. The bedroom is always one of their favorite hiding spots. They are sneaky ambushers waiting patiently for you to slip off into sleep and then they pounce. Buzzing and biting until one jumps up and looks for any and all available weapons to end the constant attacks. I have even resorted to chemical sprays with a poison gas attacks at times to eliminate them. Outside is another matter, like most Alaskans, summer means the season of mosquito repellant perfume. DEET, oh the sweet smell of DEET. Any and every Alaskan who spends time outside smells like DEET. DEET is the active ingredient in most bug repellents the works the best. I like mine strong enough to melt rubber or plastic. Only then do I think it's strong enough to keep the hungry hordes of blood suckers from draining me dry.

I'm telling the world it's mine

This one is for all the people in the world that feel like screaming from the rooftops. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.

Life, in the fast lane

Here on the Permafrost Ranch. Life is in the slow lane, as I sit here at the computer. While I listen to the light rain on the roof and the news on the television. I stop to sip from my second cup of hot coffee in typing this blog. I feel that the rest of the world is racing to get somewhere. With the speed of light I'm watching the race. Connected by a copper cable with bits of data over the wire, and over the air waves. I've become that little old bearded fellow in the older car in the far right lane. It's not that I'm not trying to get somewhere just like all the others zipping by me on that highway of life. It's just that I'm in no hurry to get there. Nonetheless, I'm connected at the speed of light, watching the world spin by. Yet out my window, right outside my little squirrels live at a pace more my speed. So, I snap the picture, capturing time as it stands perfectly still.

Reflections of CD's Past

Check out this mess:

Memorial Day

In memory of...

Saturday Morning at the Oasis

I think I'll slip on down to the oasis. Water is a luxury for the little ones here on the ranch.

Small Blessings

Small blessings come in many forms. Here is one that happens here on the Permafrost Ranch. We are deep into the greenup of the boreal forest. The bird calls and long hours of light makes for summer time heaven in the far north reaches of the woods

Light Rain

Just a light rain falling this morning. Squirrels are out and about.

Yummy1

Do you think he likes that.

Sunset Dinner at the Permafrost Ranch

It's a drop dead beautiful evening here on the Permafrost Ranch. Here is a little friend having a late supper on the feeder. He's telling me, wow. This is good eating.

It's A Beautiful Day

Back on this day in 1970, I got out of the US Army. A good friend of mine, Larry D, and Larry if your reading this blog. I just wanted to Thank You for the gift you gave me then. It's the Album "It's a Beautiful Day" by the group of the same name. I listen to it every year on this date.

UstreamTV

http://www.ustream.tv/blog/2008/05/13/caption-contests-number-th-th-three/

Stop in quickly and leave a comment.

Sunshine Morning

Summer time and the living is easy here on the Permafrost Ranch.

Returning Wild Ducks 08

Every year the past few years I've had a family of wild Green Head ducks return to the yard to feed. Here is a shot of the drake walking in the yard earlier today.

Flyer at the feeder

Caught this little one on the feeder last night.

Squirrel Cam Movie

Harbinger of Summer

I know for a fact that summer has arrived here in the far north boreal forest when I see them in my yard. One of the first travelers arrive to raise up the next generation. The American Robin

Alert, Danger Will Robinson

My hare is worried about the next door neighbors dog running through the woods trying to get him. He's always on the lookout. Our dogs tend to ignore the bunnies after teaching them not to chase them over the years. The dog from next door isn't so well mannered.

Head in the snow

I've heard of the large bird called ostriches that stick their heads in the sand, but have you ever heard of hares who stick their head in the snow?

Santa Live

Here is Santa, with his UstreamTV cap and t-shirt.

Inconsiderate Neighbors

I have a next door neighbor, who's one of the most inconsiderate neighbors I've ever had living next door to me. Over the years, there has been a succession of people that have moved into this home. Since the builder sold it and moved away. To begin with, he moved several old vehicles in and put them over on my property bordering his. Ignoring property lines and cluttering up that side of his property. But recently, he's gotten into the habit of firing off fireworks late at night or early in the morning. Last night at 2 AM he fires off a couple of large aerial fireworks. I found out this is one method he uses to call his wayward dog. He's trained the dog to come at the sound of aerial fireworks. We do have a leash law but he ignores that and the dog runs free all over the neighborhood. This isn't just a one time thing, it's quite often. Loud booms are not conducive to sleeping at that time of the morning. Being it's now 8:00 AM and he's sleeping now. Maybe I should return the favor a few times. Do you think he would get the hint. This isn't the only problems I've had with this fellow. Over the last few years the list of his inconsiderate behaviours would make for another long blog post, these run from driving on my lawn to firing paint balls at my belongings from his yard.

Camo

This picture sure brings out the natural camouflage of these snowshoe hares.

Spring Time in Alaska

Enjoying the warmth of a bright spring sun:

Just a Reminder

This is just a reminder for all those who read the blog and for new readers who stumble upon the Great Alaskan Red Squirrel Cams blog. I do have a flickr page that you may or may not be interested in. Many of the same pictures I put on the blog are of course on flickr. Nonetheless, it's a conveinant place to see all of them at once.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alaskansquirrelcam/

Charles's Weather

Charles is online and showing off his weather, here is a screen capture. He's rubbing it in my nose. Can't say as I blame, him though. it's very nice at his place.

Sunshine Morning

This little one was taking advantage of a beautiful morning breakfast in the sunshine yesterday. I feel myself like sitting in the sunshine, maybe because I'm feeling kind of down this morning, but there is no sunshine. Weather is cloudy and over cast, cool grey and 35 degrees at 6:00 AM

Gwichin Poster

Stop the exploration of one of the last great unspoiled wilderness left in the world. This is a picture of the poster of the Porcupine Caribou Calving grounds on the North Slope of Alaska.

Northern Lights

Some of the neatest time lapse shots of the Northern Lights

Winter won't Leave 2

This little squirrel complained to me this morning. Where is spring he was saying.

Old Fairbanks 9

Here is the other page of the booklets sponsors. It's very interesting reading... Remember to click on the picture to open a larger picture on a new page.

Old Fairbanks 8

Here is the Sponsor page of the booklet for Fairbanks. It's a very neat read for those who live here or are interested in Fairbanks history.

Old Fairbanks 7

Okay, here is the last picture page from the booklet:

Old Fairbanks 6

Here is another one from the booklet. I'm sure many will recognize these places.

Old Fairbanks 5

Here is another...I think these are amazing photos of old time Fairbanks. Part of my youth was spent on the streets of Fairbanks right before statehood and right after. If I could turn the clock back in time it would be to those days.

Old Fairbanks 4

Ok, all you old time Fairbanks residents. How many of these do you recognize from the booklet.

Snow Shoe Hare wish.

I'm thinking this hare wishes he was a bit whiter. It sure stood out against that white snow.

Me, myself and I

A lot of water under the bridge since this kid was on the old Red Flyer sled.

Old time Fairbanks 3

Here is some more from that booklet. Ok, all you old time Alaskans out there reading this blog, how many of you recognize these building and remember them. How many are still standing.

Oh, man is this some good stuff Papa

This little squirrel got a good chunk of yummy out of that bowl.

Old time Fairbanks 2

Here is the next page from the booklet:

Old time Fairbanks

This is from a visitors booklet that is dated in the early 1940s Shortly after the war I believe. But what caught my attention and the reason for posting this was the Creamers Dairy pictures. Since it's spring time and the birds have arrived back at the sanctuary for this spring and it's on the television news

Can you believe this snow

This is just what this little guy was telling me out on the feeder. "Can you believe this snow"

Spring Time in Alaska

Isn't it a hoot:

Older Couple

I don't know the names, or the date this picture was taken. Nonetheless, I know them in a sense. I see my own Grand Parents in this picture or at least they looked a lot like them. I sure many of you reading this blog and seeing this picture who are of the right age will also see the resemblance to their own relatives. I think it's a awesome picture... The kind that just stirs ones mind, thinking back to our ancestors and the life they led.

My first Red Squirrel

This is a photo of my mother, in 1958 with Squeeks my first Red Squirrel. My step-dad brought him home when some tree clearing knocked down the nest.

Spring Hare Color Change

It's a sure sign of spring when the hares change color.

Tin Type Photos

Here is another Tin Type photo from my collection:

1919 Travel Picture

Here is another one of those Travel Pictures from 1919 Great Northern Railroad