Catch Up- August

Was rather startled by these moose. I was reading outside and heard something in the woods and spied this one. 

The bugs over their bodies was rather gicky!!! 

Then, I noticed there was a mom with twins! At least, I am pretty sure there were only two. 

This one looks like a young bull. 

Later, I went out on the lake and revisited my favorite tree spirit who was still standing. 

There were so many reflections in the still waters. Still waters that restore the soul. 

Near the end of August, I was able to visit a friend who lives on a side of the inlet I rarely visit. I love how this Mountain can be seen from everywhere! 

Back out north for more sunsets. These are from different evenings. 

The house in Nikiski with a smidge of the garage and a glimpse of the shed. 

These were unknown ashes. The gold ring inside made me certain they were not dad's or the cat's. I figured they could be scattered near Arness Dock anyway. It is a good place to hang out, dead or alive! 

These two young men helped load up furniture to take to Janet's. Of course, it happened to be one of the first days of serious rain in weeks!!! I was entirely grateful for their help. 

 

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! 

First week in June-so far!

It isn't surprising to see a ship at anchor down Salamatof, but it isn't often  you get to watch it leave. 

It was pretty breezy on this sunny day, the gulls were everywhere. There was beach fishing for halibut, but nothing else, yet. I was pretty impressed with this capture of the gull landing. The sun was in my eyes, so I didn't see much more than birds. I hoped for something nice, but wasn't sure I'd get anything! 

 You can see how windy it was from the curled feathers on this ones back.

 Later in the evening, I decided to hop down to Arness Dock for the sunset. Yet, the sunset wasn't as nice as I'd hoped. The clouds, however, were fascinating! Like sky etching from a Master author.

 The inlet was grey, fog was at the base of the mountains, above were some fluffy looking edging, then the above that some stretched out bits of cloud. Eerie and interesting.

 I'm truly enjoying these late daylight hours. I took this lake reflection from the house at about 1030 pm one night. The mosquitoes are pretty intense, but hoping the dragonflies that are starting to appear will take a few of those out! There are babies on the lake now, also an immature eagle. So, not many will likely grow up. As my friend Elaine has said, "I wish all the predators would eat fish and berries!"

 Our lupine are quickly reaching maturity, soon the fireweed will follow. Jon is arriving on Saturday afternoon and Steve will come up the next Saturday. They will miss the crazy red season hoopla, which might have been their goal! Now, all we need is Tony!!

A busy Saturday!!!

Redoubt plume of steam-

Attended the Relay for Life in Soldotna. 

 Survivor Garden. Each petal or leaf has a name or message on it for survivors of cancers.

 There was a pancake meal served by the local Lions. This little girl was fully enjoying the leftovers!

 Reading of mom's name during the luminary ceremony. This relay was an afternoon one, so the bags didn't have lights in them. It was too windy anyway!

The older bull is starting to look a bit more like a  moose. There is a younger one in the area as well. 

 Porcupine!!!

 Sunset down by Arness Dock.