Fine Alaskan having a grand old time...

Mr. B. and I spent a fabulous day cruising around Glacier Bay courtesy of the M/V Malaspina this past Friday. Our intinerary included a 7:00 am visit at Margerie Glacier. We stayed there for about three hours which allowed us to see some sea lions, glacier calving and a beautiful sunrise.

Mr. B. and I are getting on a ferry this evening to go to Glacier Bay. We will be cruising around all day on Saturday aboard the M/V Malaspina and be back at port in Juneau at about 6am. Click here for information about Glacier Bay National Park Check back for pictures from our trip.

Named after a fantastic song by Jimi Hendrix, Izabella is growing quite fond of her new digs. She and Marge are getting closer, but not to close. And Izabella has not been running and hiding as much when she hears a loud noice. Also we can tell she's happy because she has been kneading each of us with her paws .

Welcome Izzy, a super cute tortoiseshell, to our family! Although Marge is in a tizzy over Izzy, the one-year old female seems very happy in her new home. Photo courtesy of G.H.S.

Mr. B. and I are adopting another cat later today! I just received the phone call saying that we were approved. Although Marge is going to be getting a new friend, she has been really fiesty this morning. This little "Cleocatra" has been begging, hissing, swatting, talking back and attacking the garbage can. Although she has been cuddling a bit more than usual too. It is obvious she has been listening to the talks Tim and I have had with her about the arrival of the new cat. She is not happy now but in the future I am sure there will be good times had by all. There will be plenty photos of each cat in the futu re but today is all Marge. Photos courtesy of Lucy Daigle

I remember when the glacier used to be a lot bigger (wider and more massive view from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center ). There's quite a bit more exposed rock now (top left & bottom right) from when I arrived in Juneau 2 years ago.

Following the "Wizard of Oz" theme of the previous post, don't pay any attention to the man *in the guard railing* as seen in Cope Park.

As seen on Roadsideamerica , Reliable Sheet Metal is the first to remind us that "We're not in Kansas anymore."

The common raven (Corvus corax) is a member of a family of birds known as the Corvidae, which includes jays, crows, and magpies. The raven is a permanent resident in Alaska, nesting from the Seward Peninsula and the Brooks Range throughout the mainland, south to Kodiak Island, throughout the Aleutian Chain and along the coast and mountains of Southeast Alaska. Ravens have large, stout bills, shaggy throat feathers, and wedge-shaped tails, visible best when in flight. The raven can produce an amazing assortment of sounds. One study in Alaska showed ravens have more than 30 distinct vocalizations. The Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, BellaBella, and Kwakiutl all viewed the raven as the creator of the world and bringer of daylight.

An immature eagle (above). As bald eagles age, their eyes and beak gradually turn yellow. The white hood and tail feathers grow in sometime in their fourth year

April 1, 2006, night at Peterson Lake cabin