Sprucing up the Lake Front

I started this project on Saturday night, after we watched the Mariners win over Tampa Bay--they didn't win again, but they are still fun to watch. Anyway, after we got home from church, I dinked around a little bit and then decided to go and get INTO the lake to remove the weeds I could. As you can tell, I managed to wade thru moss and whatever the heck these plants are til I finally got to the 'old' lake bed. Just beyond the weeds, from where I am standing, you finally hit rocks and sandy bottom. It is amazing how high the lakes  have gotten over the years. And it is more interesting to note how much lower the lake is this year than last. 

 Obie barked and chased the weeds I threw and had a grand old time. I think both of us old dogs are pretty tired. I have cuts all over my hands and am sort of sore from bending over and pulling these things up.

This is a photo of the weeds I pulled They have roots off of their main stem and a root ball in the mossy bed below. I'll keep an eye on them to see if they get flowers. I kind of want to know what they are! 

 In my cleaning I found what mom and I think might be part of a dock or something from eons past. I set it up straight and liked the look of it. I'll eventually remove it, but for now it adds a bit of rustic appeal to the shoreline.

 Here it is all tidy and clean. I like how a kayak can go thru weeds and brush, but I kind of wanted to see if we could swim in the lake this year. We can, we just need to wade thru the fibrous floor til we get to the rocks beyond. The ducks seem to appreciate the clearing I've made. We had one family basking on the little platform most of the evening. Until an eagle came to visit.

 You can't see him very well, but  when I got my camera all organised, the bird was at the top of the spruce tree on the left. Waiting for a webbed snack. It did dive and there was a whole lotta splashing and water, but it appears he missed. Those mama ducks are pretty fierce about protecting their young. It started in a tree right above the cleared lake area and ended up in a tree rather close to the house, but he was very camouflaged by the branches before it took off for the perch high above the lake. I was very glad no one got eaten this evening. Mum said she  has already buried one duckling carcass after the eagle tore out the heart and chest cavity. Sometimes you forget this magnificent national bird is one of the top birds of prey and a scavenger.

Rainy Days Out North

Mittens is almost always willing to be photographed, as cats are. 

 Woke up to pouring rain and wind. It lasted most of the day, so we hung around the house.

 Later, however, it calmed down again. I decided to trek outside after we watched the Mariners lose by one to Tampa Bay. I didn't like where this particular willow was, but I liked how it looked. So, I photographed it before uprooting it! (making the path down to the lake easier-I need to work on all those darn rosebushes next)

 This is from the far end of the lake (it is about 10pm or so). You can see mum's house in yellow and the neighbor's float in reddish orange. I overheard them discussing sleeping out there this summer. I may ask if I can do that one night as well! I'll need to tie up the kayak, though. Early morning swims are not very warm!

The lily pads are so pretty as they emerge from the lake. I can see hard balls of yellow buds following behind!

 The lake was so calm after today's storm, I found I could photograph mum's house upside down!

 There was fun stuff all around the lake. Sometime, when I have nothing else to share, I'll post those odd things. This one was too cool to keep back. I like the fall of the old grasses against the greens of the new.

 And, to round out this set of pictures, Mittens, again! (I took it the same day as the first one--Wednesday.)

Around the House

After I got the frame for mum's green house put up, I had to remove the debris from the area where it was going to live. This is PART of a root from a wild rosebush. Yes, they are lovely flowers, but they are a pain to have in the yard. They are pokey and they are invasive and no one likes to eat them. (most critters prefer the garden stuff over wild roses in summer)

 Here is the green house all done--for the most part It has some air leaks, but we'll work on those!

 Mum's birds are always starving!!!!!

 The juveniles are just as greedy as the grown ups! (camp robber or grey jay)

 There are a lot of different kinds of dragonflies out. Little black ones, the tiny colored sewing needles, and the itty bitty ones that look like clouds of bugs-only they are the good bugs!

 Lupine are starting to bloom!!!!!

 Just another sign marking the road my sister and I used to walk on to catch the bus. The road has changed a bit, but most of it is like I remember.

 I loved how the sun shone on the birch bark!!! I took more photos of this than I am sharing here!

 And I found my first Alaskan heart rock-haven't been to the inlet yet, but you can find hearts on the Pipeline road, too!

Friday Fun

We watched many persons performing this evening at the Encore Dance Academy's Spring recital. There was talent from the tiny littles spinning and toeing to tunes like 'Somewhere Out There' to the 'Minuet in G' by Bach. Miss Gattenby performed in a pleather jacket and magnifying glass to 'Private Eye.' However, the kidlets who danced and bossed their fellow performers as the audience clapped to 'Old Time Rock and Roll', brought down the house. The second half was just as much fun and the dance to Misty Mountain was incredible! 

 After the recital, Mum and I wandered over to the Sports Center in Soldotna to walk a couple of laps for this year's Relay for Life.

Each team had something fun to offer and The Kenai Youth Facility was no exception. They may have broken the mold for fun do it yourself games. It appears the idea originated with Alanna, but Rose and others helped to create it. Yup, 'Potty Plinko', play the game and help to 'Wipe Out Cancer'!!!!!

  

You stand behind the purple game board, on a step stool, and drop a ping pong ball over the top. It rolls thru the empty toilet paper tubes and almost always falls into a cup at the bottom. It was a huge hit! 

 I was glad we arrived in time to hear the roll call of those who have gone on and those who are still with us. It was hard to hear Mr. DeVito's name read, I am so sorry his fight is over. Yet, I am glad  his body is now at peace. I will never forget how he worked to forge a decent human being from that gawky bookish 6th grade girl.

 Rose and I are sporting top of the line recyclable necklaces with the team's logo on them. To 'Wipe out Cancer,' is one of my dreams as well.

Alaska-Homer outing

I am so sorry this took longer than I thought it would. It appears the blog didn't recognize me and considered me suspicious. However, I'm in now! Hooray. We will see for how long.....

After getting to the Kenai, my first 'outing' was a fast trip to Homer, Alaska. It was pretty chilly. The sunshine was lovely, but the wind had a definite bite to it.  

 However, it didn't seem to deter the fisherfolk. This man got the best catch of the day! Sea Stars on a double hook.

 It was a little hazy across the Inlet. I think the birds floating on the surface of the tide are common murre, but am not entirely sure!

 The best bookstore in Homer is 'The Homer Boookstore'. It has an ocean theme to it as well as these cute log and stick people reading out front.

 I liked how the octopus was reflected in the bathroom mirror, but I am not too sure about the grin I think I see on the face. Octopus are interesting creatures.

 Later in the evening, we stopped to visit Dad's bench in the Erik Hansen Scout Park. We don't have his name on it yet, but we will! The last picture is the view straight out from the bench. I think dad would like it.

A bloomin spring has sprung!

As many of you know, I read. I adore books, and I devour them. My reading habits began with the Doctor and I never stopped! I've had these flowers in my garden for several years and never paid much attention to their final stage. I was thrilled to realise they resemble Truffula Trees. They only come in white. Jon and I did add food coloring to a vase, but they remain white. So, all my Theeds will be cream colored. I don't care, I'd wear it anyway! 

 I love to bring cut flowers inside. Lately, I've been setting iris in my kitchen window with my spider plants. Oddly, I also have jumping spiders in the window. There are often two, although, I must admit one will generally get squished. This spider startled me when I saw it climb over the edge of an iris petal.

 THIS spider startled me and DIED when it jumped off the iris on to my camera! I reckon it didn't like the reflection in the lens and became aggressive. I felt bad, but not too bad!

 I have one small patch of white iris. This year, this is the only stalk that grew and bloomed. It has so many blooms it fell over! I propped it up for the photo and seriously thought about bringing it inside. Except for a few things. 1-it is really TALL, 2-spiders, and 3-I'm leaving in a couple of days and don't really want the guys to have to toss out too many dead flowers!

 Last year, I left at the end of April and few things had bloomed. This year, at the end of May, EVERYTHING has taken off and bloomed. Iris, my Spice Bush (it has two flowers!), the roses (which smell heavenly), and my poppies. It appears I only have orange ones. I really hoped for some white or pink, but orange is fun.

 I love the stages captured here! They are so pretty when they unfurl.

 I'll miss the Lamb's Ear (end of the poppy row) and the cosmos (if  they grow), but I'm very thankful for all the lovelies I have gotten to enjoy this fast and early spring.