A Last Sunset of 2017

These were taken on Dec 29, I'm just getting around to posting them. It was really cold out, the platforms out in the inlet seemed super close (I was told what makes this happen, but now I've forgotten....), and it was another one of those stunning Alaskan sunsets. I went to a beach I have only visited a couple of times. It's out north between the pool and the docks. There are a lot of photos-I thought my batteries died cuz of the cold. It was also cuz I took over 40 photographs! I'll let them speak for themselves. 

Snow and Birds!

The snow from earlier this month is mostly gone, thankfully we got a bit more. Not nearly enough, but some. The temps as we walk into the Winter Solstice here in North Kenai are about the same as Athena's. It is 22 with a real feel of 11. Needless to say, it is cold out there!!! Yesterday (Wednesday), I went out to get the paper (which was on the ground!!) and played with the birds. 

 I was only able to get one chickadee to land in my hand. I got pretty chilled waiting for the birds to decide I was ok. They also had another full feeder behind me and some seeds on the ground, so they did have other options!

I was fascinated by the woodpeckers above me. The smaller kind, I think they are Downy, were flitting all over the place! 

 They were moving almost as fast as the chickadees. Photos of trees and branches are pretty common when trying to photograph birds.

 This is a cool shot, the birds were fluffing the snow off the branches!

 Am not entirely sure what they were doing with the frozen branch after the snow was brushed off, but they seemed pretty busy!

I wanted to spend more time outside, but I weenied out. It took ages for my fingers to thaw once I got back to my basement abode!

New Snow!

The forecast predicted snow, but the two sites I follow were a bit different in their predictions. One said we'd get about 3 inches. The other said about inch and then it would turn to sleet off and on. They were both right! We got more than an inch, we did get ice pellets and freezing rain on top of fluffy stuff, and the precipitation has been off and on all day. 

I finally figured I'd better sweep and then shovel things off after 8 am. 

 It was not really productive as the snow was falling as fast as I moved it off the sidewalk! 

 In the afternoon we got some lovely fluffy greeting card flakes. Mum asked if I could capture them with my camera. Since I'd not gone outside to shovel paths in the snow and I didn't have on my boots, the photos I got were not as pretty as they might be.

 Mum went to the shop and made me realise I needed to get out of my books and into the snow!

So, after 330, I went out. It was starting to get dark. When you are reading, you forget things like weather and chores and darkness! Poor Obi was wading and appreciated the paths I finally made. 

 As I was moving the snow, I realised it was heavy. I wondered what kind of snow balls it would make and eventually created Fritz. He has a nose made of curled metal (a part of a plant hanger thing that came down when mum fell on it a while back), birch leaf eyes and mouth, and a bird seed 'scarf'. He is also about 5 feet tall or so. I recycled part of the first snowman for this one's middle section (it was falling over anyway!) and fished the arms out from where they were buried by the fresh snow.

 I hope Fritz lasts thru the night, we're supposed to get more rain and snow. I'd like to photograph him in daylight!

Out and About in mid December

Dashed out to mum's house on the 11th. The sun was setting behind me and the moon was rising in front. I finally stopped around 'Two Fish Lake' to snap a couple of photos. By the time I got to mom's darkness had descended. The neighbor's were clearing patches of the lake prior to skating. Lights were bobbing back and forth as they worked! 

 On the 12th, I had a chance to do some more errands. As I took a 'wrong turn' because I was looking at the sunset, I decided I should stop. School was getting out and kids were everywhere. Except at the bar! Where I parked briefly and captured the sun tangled in frosted branches.

 Selfies are not my forte. I think I need to work on them. Recently, read an advertisement for an inexpensive smart phone. It suggested it could take 'amazing selfies'. I laughed and wondered if it was something needing looked into.