Tech Expo, State BPA Conference, and Wintry Scenes

As Winter winds down, there are still some good wintry scenes around town. These pics of a local bear cache on base look more like a painting, but they are just another view I pass by each day.




The eagles are rebuilding their nest. One day, Spot (the bigger of the pair) tore this branch off a nearby tree and tried to carry it away to the nest. The limb was too heavy, and he dropped it here just before it dragged him all the way to the ground.




One of our numerous fly bys. We root for them to go faster, lower and closer.


Moose, visiting for dinner.




Moose are out and about quite a bit now, as food is still a little scarce and they have used up their fat stores through the Winter.  They're starting to get a little grumpy as well.

Don't want to get in their way as that wonder around the house looking for food to browse on.


Don't ask. (My Anchorage commute has just one way in and one way out - so when a truck hits an overpass on that route, it's bridgepocalypse for the whole area - - Landon's trip into Anchorage on Thursday for a BPA conference took him 7 hours and is only 45 miles long).


Landon had quite a successful conference for Business Professionals of America. He placed in 8 events, 2nd in State in Computer Programming, and was elected to be next years State President of BPA. (Now we have to call him Mr. President). He heads to Dallas for Nationals in May.


A rare talkative Landon, letting us know how his weekend went at the conference.


Best part....he got to meet Miss Alaska!!


Grayson participated in our borough's Tech Expo, where he demonstrated a project on stop-motion video he has been working on. He gave an interview to the local paper about his video project.

About 20 minutes after this grumpy moose walked by, the video captured Grayson casually walking out to check on Dino.  We reminded him to check the surroundings before stepping out. Bears are also waking up about this time of year.

Trip to Texas

You know you've been gone from Texas too long when you stop to take a picture of cows! This is the Texas State Longhorn Herd at Palo Duro, one of the three locations for the official state herd.


Not many longhorns in Alaska (probably none), so the boys got their picture with the State Herd.


Broke out the hats for the trip.


Happened to drive by this truck in Floydada. Now, that looks just like my first truck from high school, a 1987 Silverado shortbed with that exact paint scheme and options, even down to the square bed rails and chrome tailgate cap. Hmmm, wonder if its possible that it's still on the road? (I sold it to a dealership in Lubbock in, maybe 1993?)


The boys were introduced to a real jukebox, in Canyon, by our friends Chris and Michelle after a hike through Palo Duro Canyon (more pics from that hike further down in the blog).


Our Church's "Good News" board in Crosbyton. Liked that they had Landon's baptism listed.


Gramps gave the boys a tour of his Sorghum Production Plant in New Deal. Lots of seed varieties.


We always stop at Joe Taylor's Fossil Museum in town on our trips back home.


The boys can give a lesson on each of Joe's displays. Quite a treat to have a museum like that in town.


Being silly.


Wondered if these were the same seats that were in the old movie theater in town years ago?


Giants!


Really liked that there were two molars from mastodons/mammoths side by side on display - one from Crosbyton, and one from Alaska!


Scary realistic.


I had the honor to speak at the Chamber of Commerce banquet while there. Was glad to get the opportunity to visit with everyone. Here Martha Kirk presents a beautiful plaque, made by Ashley Faber, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.


Was pleased to get to visit briefly with Roxanne, my classmate from high school.


We met Chris and his daughter at Palo Duro for a hike. Chris and I were best friends growing up, and get to see each other far too seldom these days. It was a windy day, but didn't detract from the great scenery of Palo Duro.




Landon, Grayson and Chris's daughter, Alyssa, enjoying the view.




Chris and me. We took many hikes like this in Blanco Canyon growing up, so the trip brought back many great memories.






Pride rock?




"On the edge"












The cave was the boys' favorite part of the hike.





















Enjoyed our trip to Texas. Looking forward to next time.