Bethel in February...

Here is a link to a video showing the views from our backyard, some visiting friends,
and a pal's dog-yard. (music by Lowen and Navarro) A taste of Bethel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0LMfxl0t-4

Alaskan Wildlife!

Caught this rare moment when two snow-bears took a brief

peek out from their winter lair.... somebody call National Geographic!

Yupik Elder

This gentlemen is an Elder in the Yupik community, and lives near us. Nearly everyday,

no matter how cold, I see him out on the frozen pond behind our house. He brings a sled, shovel, axe, and sometimes his dog... and chops blocks of ice to take back home. He says he and his wife don't care for the city water, and that this water is good and healthy for them. Yesterday it was more than 30 below with wind chill, and I was out for a (short!) ski... and there he was again.

I always stop and chat.... today I brought my camera and took this photo. (That's a great seal-skin cap he is wearing)

Brrrrrrrr......

20 below this morning, and with the windchill it drops to 50 to 60 degrees below zero....

no skiing today!

Here is a picture of a lovely "Raven Angel" I found yesterday......

More school-kid pics

Something a little more cheerful to help me forget about our Property woes..... :)

You win some.... you lose some.....

So I came home yesterday and happened to be online....
I often check the hometown newspaper to see what's going on back in Vermont.
This is the headline that greeted my eyes:

Montpelier property management firm, under probe by police, had extensive problems

as you may have guessed.... the property firm in question is indeed one
"Parkside Properties"... the very same folks managing our home while we are away.
They have closed up shop and are under investigation by the State's Attorne General's Office, the Police Department, and the FBI.

We haven't recieved our checks yet for December or January, and now I am beginning to understand why they wouldn't return my emails or calls.

All told, between us and our tenants, we are out about $5k. Not so nice.....

Read the full article at:
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080130/NEWS01/801300350

Arizona Photo Collage...

Playing with this new software... here are some pics from our Xmas holiday in Tucson.

Click to enlarge... enjoy!