Catch up from the north

I hadn't realised how far behind I was in keeping pictures of the north on the blog. This first one is probably a sunset. I'm not sure, since I forgot to update the time portion on my camera! I believe it is the 9th. Probably. 

 On the 13th (Steve's Bday), I went to the beach with my friend, Christy. The oddest thing we saw was a waterbird paddling along straight on the edge of the shoreline.

 I love Cook Inlet sunsets!

 The gulls were strutting on the beach late, too. We were there well after 1030 pm.

 On the 16th, one of our friends came to help load up yard debris. It was wonderful to get rid of stuff lying around outside!

 I've not seen much larger than a duck. The moose that was in the yard with a friend was photographed, but it was too dark for good pictures. The golden eye are my favorite ducks, but the teen mallards are hilarious. They are definitely not very coordinated yet! This was on July 18, I think. When two bumped into each other while rootling around in the muck, I had to laugh!

 Eventually their mom took them off into the lily pads where they were camouflaged from most predators.

 Lots of flowers are racing to bloom. Mom's got a thorny rosebush in front that is thick with blossoms. And some odd cute little red flowered grass.

 The fireweed isn't very tall this summer. These blooms are also racing to the top. In less than a week the spent blossoms are more than halfway up the stalk!

The 20th, the three golden eye young were on this side of the lake hanging out on the pallets and tires I'd put down there for a 'docking area'. They are getting so big! That evening, my sister's family came to visit to relocate grandma's piano. Janice came out earlier to get stuff for a Hospice sale.

Kari visits Mondays to help take away boxes of things and Grant came down to look at what he'll need to collect the juke boxes. The house  is slowly starting to empty! 

 The golden eye don't seem to hang out together often.  I'm not sure how many there are now. These photos were on July 22 and only two were in proximity of the camera.

The last few days the neighbors have had kids and dogs on the lake no matter what the weather or temps. It is nice to see young people out playing in the water. Although, I've not seen many ducks, but they must be around. They are too little to fly yet! I did spy a couple of  babies the 24th.

Saturday, the 25th, we got a torrential Minnesota like downpour here. The dimples on the lake were huge and I fully expected hail. Mrs. C, from across the way, was hoping for thunder. Neither one happened.

 The sun eventually returned and the mama golden eye took two young into the pads. I'm not sure where she was keeping them. She was somewhere else! I do hope there are still three, I really hope at least one grows up to fly away. Not that I've ever seen it happen here on this lake, but it could.

I will try to be more consistent in posts from the north!