Hank!

Hank! Full speed ahead post ptarmigan hunt.

I had no intention of keeping him. In fact, when I left this little puppy in the village last May, I only half expected him to be around when I returned. Here in the village dogs are left to their own devices. They aren't toted around in small handbags or fed special diets. They aren't trimmed, groomed or even brushed and they certainly aren't put in kennels. Alaska is their dog park and nobody is spayed or neutered. These are the reasons I didn't intend to keep Hank with me.

Well, he ended up on my porch about two weeks ago and despite my best effort to ignore him, he hasn't left. He greets me as I open the door every morning and follows me to school. He runs with me every evening and never looses sight of me, except when tormenting small game. He's a great little companion.

Like I said, I wasn't going to keep him, but with his unwavering loyalty, he's won me over. Again.

Yeah, I'm a sucker.

In other adorable news...Friday was dress-up day for the kids. This quintessential 4th grade boy put on his Sunday best: sweat pants, gym shoes, a clip-on tie and an incorrectly buttoned shirt. He hurried in, glowing with enthusiasm asking, "Did I win a prize?" He didn't but I think he won my heart.