"SPOTS" found.....{sort of}

Hi everyone, I received a call a couple of hours ago from a guy who traps in the area where me and Spots had our encounter. While he was checking his traps, he came across Spots collar which had my phone number. He told me that,  where he found the collar there looked like there was a fight of some sort, some blood but, not a lot. He gave me his analysis of what may have happened there from the tracks he discovered. I am not going to go into it because, it is to emotional for me. I will give myself the appropriate time to take all this in but, I don't think I will get another dog. There has been way to many bad things happening and I just can't deal with them. I hope you understand. Thank you all for your support.

                                        R.I.P.

                                     "SPOTS"

Spots is missing

and I feel responsible. I haven't posted in awhile because, of Spots missing. Last Sunday, I took Spots up to a place by Hatcher's Pass. Took some snacks and my camera to get some great photos. About 20 minutes after leaving the truck we went into the woods to find a place by a big creek to just hang out. 5 minutes in we were charged by a black bear, I unleashed Spots and he went into action as that is what he was bred to do. I ran back to the truck and got my 12 gauge shotgun and went back. There was no sign of the bear or Spots. I called for him constantly but, no reply. I spent about 3 hours looking for him and nothing. I called 4 friends and we have been going back to look for him every day except, for today. I think I am afraid of what I might find. I keep telling myself, he is still chasing the bear but, I think I know the outcome. I decided to wait a couple of days and go back this weekend and I may spend a couple of days camping in case he got lost and he comes back.

Right now, I am an emotional wreck and blame only me. I have an appt. with my Mental Health specialist on Monday. Please put Spots in your prayers. What I do know is, Spots is a HERO and saved my life. I hope you all understand my feelings right now. Thank you, John

Is blogging worth it?

Hi everyone, is blogging worth it? In the beginning it was and it was a lot of fun and I had a lot of friends but, seems they have dwindled a lot. I do have a handful that have stayed with me through my good times and my bad times which were plenty. Recently, I started getting my second wind and a change in my lifestyle and made a blog about that change and I only got 5 people to read my blog and enjoy it.

Right now, I have been doing a lot of stuff but, I have not shared what I am doing because, I feel people are bored with my life and don't enjoy my blog. So, I am seriously thinking about ending it and starting a YouTube channel. So, I will do one more blog possibly two and then try Youtube. No! I am not feeling sorry for myself, I just wasn't myself because of medical issues and they are now resolving themselves and refreshing me.

So! in the next day or two, I will put out, possibly two more blogs and research YouTube and decide. I was looking back and at one time I had over 100 people signed up and they are still signed up but, at this time, I only get 5 or 6 people visiting my blogs.

I do appreciate those of you who have stuck with me and read and commented still. Well, that's all I have to say and I for one am glad to have gotten it off my chest. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Memorial Day....."REMEMBER"

TAPS

Raymond Lee Cork Jr

Edward Stephen O'Brien

Gave the ultimate sacrifice serving our country Dec. 4, 1967

My shipmates and two best friends who I will never forget

                         U.S.S. Ozbourn DD 846

Big changes coming and BIG NEWS

 Hi everyone, good to be on the mend and life is getting better. I am going to be making lots of changes in my surroundings and my personal life. I have decided to start getting back to my old ways and will finish up the cabin work here and finish the ground work as well.
 
 I have a few projects I need to get done here in the town cabin. So I will be working hard every day and will post as much as I can to keep everyone who stuck with me and hopefully new friends. I don't think you will be disappointed. I've sort of had an awakening and it's pretty much due to watching YouTube.

 I have spent much time watching people on YouTube doing what I have done years ago up until I retired. I actually think that my retirement played a big part in my life of being the outdoor person I was. I don't mind telling you that, I miss those days so much that, watching these YouTube channels kinda got me teary eyed at times.

 When things start happening, you will noticed the big change and I'm pretty sure you will approve. The days have been beautiful here, nice and Sunny and cool making it pleasant to work in. I have the inside of the cabin pretty much done and I think you will like it. This is another thing that has awoken me. The cabin is becoming the cozy little cabin I want.

 I am going to start a garden again which I have missed greatly. I had always looked forward to harvesting what I had grown to put on my table. Oh yeah! I plan to do more cooking and baking as well. I just want the old My Alaska Way of Living to return. Now, I know this is a lot to do but, there is a very good reason for doing this.

           BIG NEWS
Are you ready for this? Are you sitting down, Are you biting your finger nails? OK! OK! My big news is the reason I have decided to put all this work into the cabin. Next Winter, I plan to move out to my remote cabin and start working on it more making it bigger and better but, not to much bigger, lol. Start doing some clearing out there and I have been building a walkway and dock for my lake and I plan on building a few out buildings as well. I am toying with the idea of moving out there and use the town cabin for when I come to town.

 Why this change you ask? I'm 72 years old and the fact is, after 70 you are never to sure how much longer you have and whatever that number for me is. I want to enjoy the time I have left doing exactly what I love to do. Quite frankly, living on the road system isn't all that it's cracked up to be, LOL. No offense, it's me. This is what I did most of my life living in remote areas and enjoying Nature and Wildlife without any interruptions.

 Geeze, I can feel a tear in my eyes already thinking about it. It's time to man up and stop feeling sorry for myself and heal myself naturally. Living out there and keeping busy mentally and physically is the answer. I hope this will bring a little more excitement into your world to watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, LOL. OK! That was a little nutty. I'm running out of things to say for now but, stay tuned  for more. Take care and stay safe.

Breakup 2020

Hi folks, it's that time of the year when everything becomes wet and dirty and things start turning up I couldn't find. We have been having some sunny days but, now it is raining and has for 2 days. can't get nothing done when it rains. I did get some work in though. Tonight's dinner was ground Moose and sweet peppers, it was pretty good.

Here are some shots around the cabin where the snow is melting and I did some shoveling.

It's really ugly dirty out there. You can see my Ford Ranger peeking through.

                My trailer coming out of a deep sleep

The generator shed and outhouse had accumulated 6 ft. on the roofs, tells you how well I built them

This was the small sun tent I had bought and forgot to take down the 1st night of the big snowfall.

as you can see, got the 6x6 shoveled out although, needs more shoveling to drive it out.

Well, I did get my new empty living room furnished, I bought a Leather Boy Couch and recliner in a nice light brown leather for a $150. I think that is a good deal.

The couch and chair are very comfortable but, the chair I really like. It has these little wings by the top so, when I fall asleep, my head doesn't end up on my shoulders and I don't get a headache. LOL

That's it for now, I will be doing more work inside on the walls. I for got, I also painted the floor and rearranged the carpet and took out the vinyl. You can see the carpet above.

            I hope you enjoy, take care and see ya soon.

It's about time, EH? Part 3 finally

Ok, well, I decided to save the best for last and I know you will enjoy this. I wanted to show the outside.

                              Moose poop outside my back door.

                       I've always wanted a back door for emergencies

                           This is how my living room looks like now

                            It's pretty messy and bare at the moment.

My plan for the living room area is to pull all the nails and screws, patch the holes, wash the walls and repaint. I am looking at a different color, just haven't chose one yet. I also, plan on pulling up the old vinyl and the carpet and either paint the floor and lay down a center rug or something else. Once this is all done, I will buy newer furniture for a rustic look. Ideas are welcomed.

Ok, now for the big surprise and I know this will knock your socks off. I drove to Palmer to pick something off of Craigslist and came home with more than I bargained for.

                                                   TA DA!

                                               Meet "SPOTS"

Yes, he is a Karelian Bear dog, 1 1/2 years old. While I was at this persons house, they asked if I would be interested in a young dog, I said, maybe. Well they opened the inside door to the garage and it was very dark in there and I heard this noise coming at me and it was this dog. He bypassed the people and straight for me. They said his name was Beam and it was their sons dog but, the son ended up incarcerated for a very long time and the family didn't want the dog. I figured, I was rescuing him and brought him home with me. I changed his name to "SPOTS" because, of his spots.

                That's a dish towel I tied in a knot and it's his  favorite toy.

Spots is quite intelligent, I've had him a couple of months now and he has learned to heal, sit, shake, lay down, come and go.

He likes this snow pile by the solar panels so, he can keep an eye out for Moose and rabbits out back.

And this spot out front to watch the road for vehicles and other animals.

I guess this will do it for now, hope you enjoy. Today it is Sunny, windy and about 36 degrees, perfect. Everyone, please stay safe out there and practice safe distancing. Take care