Short and Busy Visit to Alaska

 I normally don't care for graffiti, but this was really cute.

Blogger is being wonky!!! Pic of the boys and dad's bench. Jon and Tony built mom a new (albeit smaller) wood box and a hut for wood. They needed Steve's help to get it together!

Jon putting Papa and friends in the lake. Most of the ashes are my dad's (Bill) and then there is the cat, Midnight, and one of mom and dad's friends (Jerry Lawhorn). 

Randall Pippin shared a short prayer (it was super cold this morning!) and a bit about Joseph being Jesus' step dad. It was beautiful!!! 

 We didn't get to do too much while the guys were here. We visited the beach twice at night (once was Arness Dock, another time was down by the Tesoro docks, and then the last night we got to see the sun set at Capt Cook State Park. It was also cold all three nights!

 Steve and the boys took the car to ANC. We had Jon set up the tripod to take a family photo. But, I opened the door to the Merc and all the pictures show a window on me!!!! Mom had some teeth out on Tuesday, so she doesn't look as good as normal.

 As the guys put some special things in the truck they rented to haul the trailer with the car, they got some things put back in the basement. It isn't quite finished yet, so we have to wait.......Here they are putting mum's organ back.

Wasn't able to take pix when they left in the dark. But, they head back to the states on Saturday. 

A Blue and Gold Morning

The temps around 7:30 am was about 38, but it did get much colder last night. The frosted leaves, the calm lake, and the crisp air convinced me to go out this morning. I'll go out again, later. When it is less nippy!!!

 Ice on the bottom of a kayak helps it slide better on the ground! I was also pleased to see how much higher the lake was after all the rain we've had. This is a good thing!

 I wish I cold show you just how stunning an Alaskan September blue really is. My photography can't capture it properly.

 Not really of the lake, but I did like it!

The tire swing photo here is a close up version I posted on my FB page. Today was a lucky photographing day. I was pretty impressed!!! 

   And will close this Autumn lake series with
itty lupine leaves covered in frost and water drops!

Before the Autumn Rains

Lots of colors in hidden places. 

 These, I believe, are elegant goldenrod.They change from the ground up and remind me of flames.

 Looking down the lake, framed in spruce and birch.

 More colorful stumps-this one has a figure inside it!!!!!!

 Mum's dog, Obiwan, is waiting by the door. He likes to be outside, but much prefers in. Because his food dish is there.

 Fireweed fluff on the bluff! I love the flowers that grow outside the limits of Erik's park.

 Lord of Sea and Sky-this hymn is one I think of when I gaze out on the mouth of the Kenai.

 Love the clouds above the Inlet last Friday (September 11).

Northern Fall

Water drops on changing fireweed. 

 Berries amid turning leaves.

 When it rains, these birch leaves drip gold and green.

 Diamonds in the Marsh Cinquefoil greens (and reds).

 Stunning autumn display!

 Lake friends, they are not quite mature enough to leave yet.

 The sky was hiding in the lake!

You can see how much water is gone. When you go back to posts from the end of May and compare to this one, the lake is ridiculously low. I stepped out into about an inch of water and a LOT of muck. Sunk up many inches, thank goodness for boots!!!!!

 The baleful glare of frogs!

Before Fall Dropped

Mt Spurr from the overlook near Arness Dock. 

 I knew the temps were going to drop, so I took one last 'summer' outing on the lake. Shorts, tank top, and bare tootsies. Many leaves were already switching to their autumn finery, but you could tell they weren't serious about it yet.

 A majority of the lily pads had already gone from green to gold to wrinkled and brown. Their season is a short one.

 My toes were NOT impressed with the temps (one of my feet dropped into the lake and was quickly rescued!!). You can see they are fuzzy and pale! (OK, the fuzzy is cuz they are out of focus, but it could be because they wanted to be warm!)

Random Shots on the Pipeline Road

Fireweed in fall turns a bright red. Spires of crimson leaves with white smoky seed heads atop. These still are not quite 'topped' out yet. 

 Red is an autumn color. The rose hips are turning brilliant and shine in the sunshine like Rudolf's nose.

 I laughed when I saw these sitting all snug on the path. Green growth in grass, a dying leaf, a plain pebble, and a fallen pine cone. All tiny and all a part of life.

 This piece of rubbish did NOT make me laugh. It caused me to reflect on how fast technology comes and goes. When Tony did his Eagle Project on the Wilson River, they found an old tv. Huge and useless and a part of the trash that causes so much trouble in our world. Today, televisions are thinner and full of more kinds of garbage that ruin our environment. And yet, nature attempts to take it over and swallow it bit by bit.

 This is the edge of a pit. It might someday be a spot for a house, but at the moment it is a hole of gravel. I took this photo because a little more than a week ago, I sat just about where the edge of the sun is and read at about the same time this photo was taken. Except it was full sun for several hours. How fast does the sun move as the days grow short! (I believe this was about 430pm)

 Looking up into the sun filled branches of a birch.

 One of the best things about walking on a gravel road are the treasures you can find. I walk on this same road almost every day. I often look at my feet because I am a bit of a clutz and trip over the oddest things. Yet, the best things can be found on the ground! These next photos are of tiny agates that dust does NOT stick to. The first stone I held for about 2 minutes before remembering I had my camera and could photograph it in the gravel. The others are exactly where they were before I scooped them up and popped them in my pocket. I have found several of these and they seem to jump out of the grey landscape and I can't leave them all alone to shine by themselves!

I hope  you enjoyed walking with me along the Pipeline Road!! Later, we'll visit the lake again.