Living with Bears

          In Alaska humans are not the highest on the food chain. Lets just say when I was growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio I didn't worry about leaving my trash can outside or looking around for wild life when out with my children. In Alaska this is a normal day to day event. On post (post=military installation at which a body of troops is stationed) I have found that the bears are the ones we are having issues with. Online each neighborhood on post has a group or page. On these groups or pages you are able to communicate with your neighbors. At least once a week one of these neighborhoods post photos or warnings about bears are in the area. Its comes in handy when you making plans about taking your children to the park or when to put your trash can out.

       I refuse to open a dumpster. Bears are very smart. They are able to open the sliding side of a trash can and climb in or open the top. With that being said who knows when you go to the dumpster if a bear is in it or not.That is the reality of living in Alaska. 





What you don't believe me ? Okay okay!! Here are some photos!! These are from last week.

              Photo by Paula Watkins. A momma and her baby.

 

         Photo by: Paula Watkins 

Is it just me or does it look like momma bear is yelling at the baby bear? 

 

                         Photo by:Jonraquelcodyevan Miller

 

    Photo by:Jonraquelcodyevan Miller

 

 

Photo by:Jolene May

Photo by: Ericka Chavez

Imagine looking out your window to see THAT! I am happy to report, I have only seen bears from my car.

 

 This was taken at Cottonwood park. Right down the street from me. There have been at least a dozen stories of people walking or running into this bear. Lets just say I don't plan on taking my girls to this park anytime soon. Yes, there is a park for children located near this bears den. 

This would be a bear on the side of the highway.Yes,its was by our exit... notice how I was missing it!

Tim on the other hand has been VERY close to bears. In fact,we are about to have a bear rug in our house.

When you are fishing for salmon it's VERY likely you will see a bear. When you fish it's very important to have a gun. Remember we are NOT! the highest on the food chain.Notice in the water the red...those are salmon. Pretty cool right? 
*The momma bear was no harmed in this photo*In case you thought the bear below was the same one. 

                                        Tim first bear. 
     


I stumbled across this VERY cool live camera at Brooke falls. The salmon are running(meaning coming in from the ocean to spawn). It shows the bears chasing and feasting on the salmon. This is an event people travel from all over the world to witness. With technology we get to watch it at any time. 

http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

The Bear Paw Festival Parade!

`       This weekend I took the girls to a parade in Eagle   River,Ak.Mr. Mountain man(my husband) went fishing. Can't wait to see what he caught! Hopefully our freezer will be packed FULL of shrimp and halibut after this season. 

            Daisy loves to wear sunglasses.  Isn't she ADORABLE!! 

It was a beautiful day! We parked at the Starbucks. I grabbed a venti coffee and the girls had a blueberry scone.

Daisy spotted the popcorn on the way up to the register. She tugged on my shirt..."Mommy may I have a bag of popcorn,please." Even know I cringe at the price, she won me over with her politeness. 

 I LOVE this dress on Brooke! She loved the parade. Every time I looked at her, she was clapping and dancing. Even when the fire trucks and police made their sirens go off, she just kept going. 
               

                       Parade + Candy = Brooke first sucker. 

                 

So focused! She behaved very well. Even shared her candy with a little girl, that was to afraid ,to run in the pile of children scrambling for the candy on the ground. Proud mommy. 

 A semi. I believe, this is a only in Alaska would they have a old semi, be in a parade.

Summer in Alaska

In May 2011 our family made the long journey to Alaska from Fort Campbell,Kentucky. At that time we moved in a house in Wasilla,Alaska. Yes, this is the home of Sarah Palin. When we arrived we were dressed in jeans and hoodies. I can remember driving with my husband by Wasilla lake and shocked that families are in their bathing suits in 60-70 degrees!! Fast forward two years later we are THOSE people!! 

Look at how young Daisy and Lila are!! I was pregnant with Brooke at this time. Behind Lila is one of my FAVORITE mountain peaks in Alaska. It is named the Matanuska Peak.

What is summers like in Alaska ? I would have to say its changes daily!  Our first summer in 2011 it was PERFECT! Perfect temperature! Summer  of 2012 it RAINED the whole summer!! Few hot days! 2013 summer started out with the latest snow fall on record in May. In June we hit temperature around 95-100 degrees! This is Alaska. I have learned over time to not listen to the weather man.Its 50/50 on if the weather man is right or not. Instead I look out the window.

In the summer my husband is in heaven. Every weekend and break he is either fishing or hunting. This is his passion and is mine. I go when I can. 

The best way to show you how our family summers go is with photos! 

Last summer we owned chickens.I loved every minute of having them.

Our summer isn't over yet!!! More photos to come!