To ANC and then South

Early on the morning of the 29th, I left the Kenai with a very dear friend who has given me so much help in so many areas. Gary and Elaine L were going to Delta Junction and offered to drive me to ANC. It really wasn't early, but I was tired and it felt early!! 

We drove through construction and Gary mentioned the same area was under construction in '83!!! Some things never change.

They dropped me off at Julie B's condo and we did a ton of ANC errands, had lunch out, and visited a super pretty lake that I do not remember the name of. I believe it was manmade. It was super neat to see all the persons out fishing for trout. This afternoon, I also got to meet Julie's rabbits and, again, was incredibly thankful for the friendship of this beautiful woman. 

I felt akin to the ducks. Many of them were close to migration, but not quite. My migration would commence the next day, after staying the night with Debbie and Arnold. I tried new foods and realised anew how special friendships forged in 6th grade remain!  

Alaska is a place of beauty and life and maybe someday I'll return. Meanwhile, Oregon is the resting place now for this duck! 

On the lake

 I got out in the kayak this week, so I thought I'd post. As I am typing, I'm looking down at the floating pallets and there is a mommy with what appears to be a single duckling. She had two last night and at least 5 at the time of these photos. The ducks in the pictures, however, are a different family. I hope there are some babies left by the time Jon arrives. He's in or leaving Anchorage about now, so there might be a few. He did say he'd stop along the drive to take pictures. Stay tuned for photos from a NEW camera (he says he needs another battery and I'll have to find out where he can get one of those!). He took some around the house to practice and they turned out very well. Meanwhile, you have to see Alaska through my lens spotted camera!

When the babies are first born and as they grow, the families hang out in what we have always called the nursery. There is a mallard family in the photo below. The lily pads and the sparkling water often makes it harder for predators to find the young ones. But, they don't stay in that area and that is when death strikes. 

 These are golden eye. I'm pretty sure it is a male and a female. They sure made a ton of racket on the lake!!

There was a lovely play of the light reflections on this old tree. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out as well as it might have if I'd taken a video. 

 I was excited to spot the mallard family on the edge of the lake, I was a tad concerned because she didn't like the looks of the kayak and went around me into deeper water.

 Even the babies were checking out that giant odd orange bird floating along!

 The golden eye don't seem to care who is in their way. The mama had safely herded her family around me when the mating pair crashed into their flotilla! Mama was very put out and managed to keep everyone together.

 Later, it was quiet again and I was reading. Then, I heard crashing noise in the wood and looked up from my book to see the young bull! He was entirely unimpressed with my being in the lake. I wished he'd have been braver, a photo of a moose in the lake would have been cool!

 For being so large, they camouflage well.

 The pallets are favorites for the ducks. Grooming seems to be a land thing!

Later, about midnight, I heard splashing from the lake and spied one of the bulls wading past that area. He was moving too fast for me to snap his photo and the mosquitoes were fierce!

 We've had some spectacular sunsets, but I"ve been staying at the house. Too tired to leave that late, but I will once Jonathan arrives. I can't wait for him to experience our long days. He's only been here in July or September. I imagine the guys will probably NOT like having the curtains wide and the windows open a smidge. They aren't used to sleeping in daylight! Friday I had several out to help me with what cleaning, recycling, and tossing what was doubtful! It truly has been a blessed week out north. Looking forward to sharing it with my family. 

Waterfowl

Golden Eye are fairly common. Actually, the one we  see more often were not the Common Golden Eye, but the Barrows. The former has a lot more white on it and is a definite bright spot on the green water. Most of these photos were taken from the house through a window. For some reason the darn things didn't care to have me sit on the hill or on the bench near the water. Silly birds!!! 

We had some serious rain the first week I was in Alaska. It made me laugh to see the Golden Eye pair bobbing along on the rain pummeled water with their heads tucked under their wings! 

 This photo was one of those surprise shots. I had tiptoed outside and was focusing on the male when he noticed me and took off. Both of us were startled and I snapped the shutter in reflex. The picture isn't that great, but I was impressed it even remotely resembled a duck!!

This pair mom would have been thrilled to see. Last year was the first time we spied an American Wigeon male. It came up to feed with the mallards at mom's bowl of cracked corn. This year, there is a pair. The  lady looks a tad like a mallard, but not exactly. They are such a pretty couple!! I think he's still getting his summer feathers. The white on the top of his head isn't quite as white as it will get. 

It will be fun to see who else shows up around here and if any of them hang around! We could be a fly by sort of lake or maybe, just maybe, a few will attempt to raise broods. No matter, wherever the waterfowl eventually stay, that will be where they will build the best nest. 

catch up!!!

A bunch of catch up photos from the last couple of weeks. Lots of odd pictures of this and that and whatever else I might think could catch someone's fancy! Or at least mine. :o) 

I had gone to Kenai for the first go around to get my tooth mended. When I got back to the house, I found Rose had brought me a gift! It made my jaw feel a bit better, too- I love my new black hooded AK sweatshirt. 

 These two photos are a bit of the fixed damage and after--Yup, numbed that whole side! The assistant dentist person said the root had a sort of Betty Boop kick to it and that on a scale of 1-10, it the difficulty was about a 9.5.

 I did feel better by Solstice. So, I went off to the Inlet and watched the sun set in my new sweatshirt!.

While I was waiting, I sat in the car and killed one of the mosquitoes who had joined me.

I've never climbed up the hill overlooking this area. It was VERY steep. Unfortunately, most of the photos I took were washed out a bit. I needed Jonathan! 

And in a blaze, the season changed. 

July is full of blooms! The lilacs in Soldotna started first, but the ones in Kenai and out north are following quickly. 

 Mom's carpal tunnel surgery was in the hospital this time. She came thru with flying colors, as usual.

The rain stopped and the sun came out and with the blooming flowers are lush grasses. Which need cut! So, I did. This is the not steep part... 

Ducks are such amusing bizarre creatures. This is a Goldeneye. She is only supposed to have eggs numbering 4-9. I'm pretty sure she found a few more babies somewhere as they all didn't get in the camera frame! 

 This is the plane I watched on Tony's birthday. It isn't a very good photo, but at least this shot has it right side up! This is just before it went straight into the sky again.

Another fun photo that didn't get focused properly. This lady has only two babies under her wing. She was super brave and while I was reading in the kayak, she and her pair swam past a couple of times. 

Roses, twin flowers, everything is racing to bloom! (I don't have photos of the roses or twin flowers...)