Well hello everyone!  And by everyone maybe just one or two people who are die hard fans and actually check this blog out because I have failed you readers.  Much has changed since I last blogged (shocker right?) including my job, living situation, and critters!  Briefly catching up with an old professor from MSU I told him I was still living in the cold north, though back home in the midwest they've had much more impressive winters since I've lived here, and somehow have acquired another dog and 4 chickens.  That's right, I am now a proud owner of four lovely hens.  Now if you had asked me about my chickens a month ago I probably wouldn't have had such positive comments about them but these ladies have finally started to earn their keep and have been laying eggs.  I admit I don't know the first thing about chickens and maybe shouldn't have just up and ordered chicks on a whim but it's been a fun project and the ladies look good.  Between moving and a new coop I'm surprised they're laying at all!  Ironically they started laying during the coldest week we've had this year, go figure.  We decided to get four cold hardy breeds, 3 silver-laced wyandottes and 1 buff orpington that came in the mail as a mistake (so of course I took her!).  I've become quite attached to our buff orpington naming her konan after konan the barbarian (she was HUGE compared to the other chicks) and then there's Beverly.  Bev is loud and in charge and runs the coop.  She actually kind of drives me crazy.  I didn't end up naming the other two.  Maybe one of you readers has name suggestions?

Best friends!  Eh...kind of. 

So I may have let them live in the bathroom a little too long...

The first egg!!

Last February I had the pleasure of volunteering for the Iditarod in the ECG/Blood work program.  For those of you who don't know much about the Iditarod, or "the last great race", this dog sledding race covers 1000 miles of all sorts of terrain from Anchorage to Nome.  In order to prepare for such a feat all the dogs must have their blood drawn and processed as well as have an ECG to make sure their hearts are healthy with no abnormalities that may pose a threat during the actual race.  As a volunteer, my role as a technician assistant was to handle the dogs while getting both blood work and ECG done.  Learning a different handling technique and getting to know more about the race, mushers, and dogs was amazing.  And I have to say, addicting!!  I definitely plan on being involved to some capacity this year and look forward to February!  Here's a link to check out the processing we did for Dallas Seavey: Meet the Champions!

The musher sits at the head of the table to pet and comfort their dogs while they're having their ECG done.

Lisbet Norris and her dog handlers.  I just loved her trailer.

Dallas and Got, his three legged dog!  Check out the link above to hear his story.

Rob Cooke (2015 rookie) and his dogs getting ready to be processed.

This is Sake, a sweet dog on musher Michelle Phillips' team.

Last I blogged we were two weeks out from getting our new puppy, Bear.  We decided to name him Bear to stick with our Alaska theme as well as after my best friend Emily's dog, one of my favorite dogs I've known!  Sure enough, he's lived up to his namesake being a very well behaved and pretty easy puppy.  That being said we won't be getting any more puppies for a long time, talk about work!

First night!

Aly finally warmed up to him.

Bear's favorite thing to snuggle with...Aly's tail

Breakfast stand off

Lady killer

Last spring/summer we went on a couple fun hikes.  One of my favorite's was renting a public use cabin for two nights.  We're hoping to try our hand at winter camping once we get some snow.  

Moose spotted from the front porch

Aly and I went on a little hike at the Alyeska resort

Beautiful view of the arm

Since the last blog we have moved yet again.  Scott and I had been looking for places in Girdwood for a long time and finally a place found us.  It's the top floor of a triplex right in the middle of town, perfect walking distance to pretty much everything.  After a cold winter depending on our wood stove it's been great having consistent running water and a toilet!!  No more frosty outhouse mornings ; )  After going off the Seward highway yet again I decided it was time to end the Anchorage work commute.  Though I absolutely loved working for PET ER and the staff there it was time to save money on gas and focus on a new goal, going back to school!  This fall I started taking a physics lab and organic chemistry/biochemistry course at UAA.  It was definitely a little difficult getting back to the grind but it feels good to be in school again.  Another challenge I recently had was taking the GRE, talk about a pain in the rear.  As for the job front during the summer I took on a weekend gig at Jack Sprat, one of the Girdwood restaurants, as barista during their Saturday and Sunday brunch.  It was fun to try something new and have moved into serving in the fall.  Though learning the menu and wine list has been a little bit of challenge while being in school it's been fun to try something new.  

This baby's a trooper!!  Our neighbor was in disbelief when we pulled her out and she drove off like nothing had happened. 

Quark!  A duck I've cared for a couple times while the owners were out of town.  One of my favorite pics, some people think it's photoshopped!

This last summer we went blueberry picking and made some pancakes...yum : ) 

Homer bonfire

Every summer we are lucky enough to have some friends come and visit.  This summer Scott's family (parents and sister Sarah) and Grandma and Grandpa Schneck made the trip as well as Scott's good college friends KJ and Julie (above)!

Someone's upset they had to be super girl two years in a row...

This fall we made another trip to San Francisco for Sarah and Eric's wedding!!  Here we're at City Hall where they got married.  (Montana, Scott, Pat, and I) 

  

Well, back to the grind for me...two more weeks of school and I'm all done.  Till next time!