Something New

Make a Smilebox photobook

Simply Beautiful and Frosty

This is what I was doing when the Moose wandered into the yard and why I happened to be looking out the window. Anyone living in Alaska knows it has been quite chilly the past few days and we had started to get a frost build up on one of the windows. I was amazed at how pretty the designs in the frost were and I wanted to see if I could get some good pictures of it. So this is what I saw.....

Thought I'd Post a Little Bull........Bull Moose That Is....

I just happened to be looking out the window when this moose came strolling into the backyard. I hurried and grabbed my camera cause I figured he wouldn't be around very long, snapped a couple of pictures and then he just decides to get comfy. He spent a couple of hours napping in our backyard. It's been pretty cold, 6 degrees at the time I was taking the pictures, so I'm sure he was just trying to conserve energy by having a little snooze. He is not a monster by any means but it was fun to get a bull in the backyard. We usually only get cows and calves which is fine by me. It adds to the amazing experience our family is having living in Alaska. We left behind the big city life and drive by shootings and traded it in for wildlife in the yard, fresh clean air, glaciers, volcanoes, salmon runs and the most beautiful scenery no matter where you go. A very good trade and amazing adventure!!

Just a Bunch of "Quackers"

Brandon and I made a trip into Anchorage the end of October to turn in his Eagle Scout paperwork to the Scout office. It was a nice Fall day. We ran a few errands, got some lunch and just enjoyed the day together. I have to take advantage of time with Brandon as we are about half way through his Senior year of High School and next year he'll be off getting his feet wet in the grown up world!!
On the way home we could see a large gathering of ducks on the one remaining open spot in the ice at Potter's Marsh so we pulled over to look. The sun was beginning to go down and the colors of this group of Mallards was incredible! They were very content to soak in the rays of the last remaining daylight before dark set in. It was fun to watch them and snap a few photographs!

Halloween Day 2009

Brandon and I needed a get out of the house day. Brandon had a bit of early "Cabin Fever" because of the shoulder surgery and limitations placed on him, so we threw together a picnic and headed for Tern Lake. It was a very chilly but sunny afternoon and we found lots of frost and the ice was beginning to form around the edge of the Lake and in the Creek. It was a sunny day but the mountain hid the good light. The creek still had some salmon swimming in it but they were not looking very good. Pretty much at the end of their life cycle. There were several Bald Eagles hanging around. I'm sure they were there for the free all you can eat salmon feast. There were signs of bear in the area too. We took a few pictures and had fun enjoying a day in the outdoors of Alaska. Good memories!!

The Bionic Man

Just an update on Brandon, many of you know he has been having trouble with his right shoulder for a few years now and on Tues. Oct. 6th he had surgery to fix it. Basically ended up with repairs to fix a dislocation type injury, fix soft tissue that was getting torn up from his shoulder being too loose and tighten the shoulder joint itself. We found out that the meds you get right before surgery creates uncontrollable giggles and laughing for Brandon. He had been pretty nervous and quite all morning until he got his "loopy" meds and then all he could say was "Whoa, what was that stuff"? and then he would laugh and laugh and laugh. He laughed all the way to surgery.
He is doing good and looking forward to the spring soccer season. By the way the thumbs up was just for show he really felt more like the 2nd picture.......really out of it due a nerve block and lots of pain meds on board.

Beautiful Fall

I have enjoyed our warm and for the most part "sunny" summer and I also have had fun photographing the beautiful colors of fall. Most of the fun was right in my own backyard roaming the woodlands with our little dog Daisy. I found many varieties of wild berries. Some were edible and others were not, but all were eligible for some great pictures and provided a wide array of colors.
The length of the daylight is growing noticeably shorter as the dark of the evening comes sooner each night. The mornings are cool and crisp and occasionally frosty. A warning of the approaching end to fall and signal that winter will soon follow.