Spring is in the air

Caribou herd in Denali National Park 

After a long cold winter spring has finally sprung, or at least what we Alaskans call spring anyway. It is no longer getting below freezing at night and the after noon highs are reaching as high as +60f, most of the snow has melted, and the resulting mud is drying up. The grass on south facing slopes is threatening to turn green and the geese are back.
This time of year the dogs are all enjoying a much deserved break basking in the sun, chewing on bones, and playing in the mud. I am taking advantage of this nice weather to do a little traveling and also some cleaning around the house as more and more snow melts I keep finding more and more straw to rake and items that were lost in the snow to pick up. Last weekend Robert and I headed south to Denali National Park to drive the 30 miles of park road that is currently open to public traffic. It was a magnificently gorgeous day, we saw a ton of beautiful scenery and even some caribou.
Robert's parents are currently in town visiting us, it is great to have them here and we are really enjoying their company, this is the first time since we've been married that they have been able to come see us. Today we visited the large animal research station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and got to see some brand new baby reindeer, one was still learning how to stand up and walk. It was so much fun to watch the little baby on its wobbly legs.