Off we go, into the white white yonder.

Lexie with bear on head. I had so much dog fur from dropping Griffen off, I had to change clothes. It was sad to say bye to cats, dog, and Mom and Dad.

post or pre Pizzacato cheese.

Dont' forget to come pick us up?

Thursday morning.

Barbara heads off to the marsh to make a living. Lexie and I head back to bed as soon as she's out the door.

Later that morning, after breakfast, Lexie and I check out the collections at Fred's office while he has a meeting.

Some of the field samples show that Fred has been at work.

Yikes!

No flip-flops here! Lexie was so excited about snow, when Uncle Fred told her to walk over there, she did! After a crying jag, she smiled for the camera. She was pretty stressed out about really cold stuff all around her legs unexpectantly.

Lesson one: Tennis shoes and sweat pants don't work for Alaska snow.

Now! Better, snow suit and snow boots.

Are we ready...?

For Alaska. There they go. If Lexie had her way, every day would start off with a walk with Fred in the snow. She could not get enough of Fred-snow walks the entire time we were there.

I can only dream that my backyard wold look like this.

smile.

Day one...

Hatcher is part Great Dane, part Huskie, all bear.

Lexie discovers that weight dispersion works wonders.

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Well, actually, this raven spoke much and, plentiful. I wish I had put the video on the camera to catch it, but I didn't. Wonerful birds. I didn't get any shot of the many Magpies we enjoyed.

Who knew water could wait?

Little people on the bottom left are Fred and Lexie.

One of the many beautiful iced water falls on Seward highway. We also saw avalanche chutes, coyote, bald eagles, Dall sheep, and the most awe-inspiring views.

Ice falls.

A few inches thick, you can still hear the water seeping behind the ice.

I just can't capture on film the beauty of these ice falls.

Hunter!!!

One of the first nights there, Lexie has become "Hunter". She speaks in mono-words. She hunt Coyote. Kill for family food. This is house. You come with me. I find you warm place. We hunt together. Follow my tracks. (laugh, laugh, giggle, giggle) Look! Stick good. Hands cold. Need toilet.

Lexie tracks.

Day two.

On the first day, Lexie, Fred, and Hatcher took me for a walk through the Aspens and snow. The next day, Fred, Lex, and Hatcher went on another walk, and I caught them on film from the window upstairs at the house.

I LOVE this picture!!!

Snow girl struggles to take off her gear.

Hmmm. Girl down!!!

25 miles of fun.

Surprisingly, these dogs are about Griffen sized, but leaner. Not so much Huskie as fast. These dogs LOVE to run. It was a great treat to see them in action.

They are so vociferous. Well,... they bark, and jump, and chomp at the bit... of time they have to wait until they can RUN!

Fur, fur, fur...

The dogs can hardly contain themselves, they are so excited to run.

Toto, we're not in Portland anymore...

I am no longer a furaphobic.

Fred finds that the easiest way to transport Lexie is shoulders.