Visiting Alaska

Mike found these tips on staying safe around bears on some National Forest Website. We really enjoyed it and it's matter of fact description of being attacked by a bear. I laugh but really - I'm never going to camp in Alaska because of this.

Identify Yourself
Let the bear know you are human. Talk to the bear in a normal voice. Wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you. If a bear cannot tell what you are, it may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening. You may try to back away slowly diagonally, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground.

Don't Run
You can't outrun a bear. They have been clocked at speeds up to 35 mph, and like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals. Bears often make bluff charges, sometimes to within 10 feet of their adversary, without making contact. Continue waving your arms and talking to the bear. If the bear gets too close, raise your voice and be more aggressive. Bang pots and pans. Use noisemakers. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.

If Attacked
If a bear actually makes contact, surrender! Fall to the ground and play dead. Lie flat on your stomach, or curl up in a ball with your hands behind your neck. Typically, a bear will break off it's attack once it feels the threat has been eliminated. Remain motionless for as long as possible. If you move, and the bear sees or hears you, it may return and renew its attack.In rare instances, particularly with black bears, an attacking bear may perceive a person as food. If the bear continues biting you long after you assume a defensive posture, it likely is a predatory attack. Fight back vigorously.

Essentially - you're dead.

Pioneer Day...

For the holiday we decided to hike up to first falls on the Timpanogas trail. It was much harder than our Texan legs remembered. Strangely though - we met some people from The Woodlands on the way down - small world, eh?

Here are some images:
Andrew & Elijah - Elijah is a little dirty. Don't you love that mist? It felt so good after the hard hike up.
I didn't think I was getting anything special when I took this but when I saw it tonight I loved it.I've always wanted to take one of these...guess it hearkens back to all of the hours spent sitting in dentist offices...
Self Portrait
This is stinging nettle - which I discovered a split second after I took this image when my arm erupted in hot pain. Nice, Megan.
Elijah took this on the way down. I didn't know until tonight that poor Peter had spit up on himself.
And this is tonight - I just love that boy.

Thank goodness for Amy Butler and Corn Wagon Quilt Co.

Today Megan died and went to heaven...


Well, not heaven, but close. I found this fabric store that was so great I really almost had tears in my eyes while I was there. It was full of the most beautiful fabrics - including many Amy Butler patterns and designs(click on that link - you won't be sorry). I was so so happy. So I bought a kit to start a little quilt. At church they are teaching a little basic quilting class and I had been wearily searching through the fabrics at Walmart and wasn't coming up with much. But I really could spend little 10,000 bucks at this store. So, here comes new pillows, a skirt, a quilt, and who knows what else...
p.s. no, this is not my quilt - I will show pictures of mine during the process. the class is next thursday. i think mine will be even cuter!

All hooked up...

I'm here! I have been using the weak internet signals of my neighbor's for the last few weeks until my internet could get hooked up. In other words - I was stealing broadband! Which means I could only really get email. But as of this morning I am hooked up and ready to go! In honor of that I thought I'd post a pic of p. who is now 2 1/2 months and so sweet. he's even sleeping through the night a lot of the time - if only we could now coordinate it with the other boys so we could actually sleep through the night too!