The other side of the cannery--

I grew up with fish. In nets, on fishing lines, or in the canneries, we knew our fish. I actually spent all my time in the egg room instead of being on the line gutting, but I never gave much thought to the boats out in the inlet.  Boats that were tied to the tides and the power of the sea. This weekend the tides are very low and my friends, the Caraway's, were headed across the Inlet. Well, Tim and Kayla were. They were going over with some others and their dog. Kelly was staying back with Titus, for the time being. (this tide photo is from Nikiski--they left from Kasilof)

 The boat they were headed across in is the Ellamar and both of the skiffs were full of stuff for a several week stay  (ok, they'll be back in late August or there abouts).

They left from the Kasilof River and I got to watch them leave from the dock near this cannery. I had a GREAT time! 

 Tim and I chatted a few times via cell phone while he was on the boat and I was on shore. And we waved and I sent hugs across for Kayla and Tim-Kayla showed me she was taking one of the graduation presents I had made for her. It was fun to be so close and yet so very far away from each other.

 While they were loading the Ellamar with the stuff from the skiffs, I got to watch the dock hands move docks around and was impressed with their skill (they really did look like they knew what they were doing!) and their language. It wasn't too bad, it amused me. I can see how people would want to read or see stories about our  Alaskan fisher folk.

 Finally, they were ready to go. The Ellamar was unhooked (that is probably not the proper nautical term) from the buoy she was hitched to and Kayla and Tim waved goodbye!

 This quiet little spot will be hopping in just a short while. The camping area down by the mouth of the Kasilof already has many people set up for the duration and I am told more will be showing up.

It was neat to see fishing from this side of the cannery. I'd like to watch them weigh and unload their catches, but I assure you I would not wear my Sunday dress clothes! I must admit, I did feel a tad odd in my skirt and short sleeved shirt--I was also cold, since I had left my jacket in the car. But, I wouldn't have changed any part of  my afternoon, it was wonderful!

Seward Part 1

Visiting Seward, Alaska you first notice the mountains. This particular one is, I believe, Mount Marathon

and it is a pretty famous mountain! 

 The next thing you notice is the water and then the glaciers tucked into the mountains. It is an incredible spot to visit. There are many things you can see on  The Kenai Fjords and if you scroll down the link, it will take you some more amazing photos (not by this photographer) and read tons of information on the area.

 The boat we were on got rather intimate (the ranger's words, not mine!) with the rock cliff. You can see water drops landing in the water in front of the bow~nearby is a tiny ledge. It would have been a great spot for a photo op...if you could have jumped off the boat and reached it!

 King's Crown or Rosewood. A very tenacious succulent that appears to grow almost anywhere. Including a rock cliff.

 I had to take a photo of this place...not unlike almost everyone else on the boat. On the one hand, it is really cool...on the other hand, ships pass by it daily with folks who happen to have cameras.

 This was our very first whale of the day. A whale of a joke! It is actually a rock, Mary's Rock. Named after Capt. Mary who hit this rock twice..once with a fishing boat and once with a tour boat!

 You can watch birds from a boat or in the  Sea Life Center.

 Sea Lions lounging on the rocks~

Seward Part 2

Here be whales!!!!! A transitional pod of Orca!! More commonly known as killer whales are beautiful and deadly ocean creatures.

 Bear Glacier--part of the Harding Ice field, named after President Harding when he and his wife visited Alaska and Seward.

 This photo is a puzzle. I saw a lady in this design on the rocks, can you???? If you click on it to make it larger, it may be easier to see her face, hair and bent knees in boots. Pretty cool, huh???

    These are humpback whale. A mommy and her calf.

Our boat was larger, but this little boat with not very many people on it got a GREAT view of the humpbacks.

I love sitting up near the captains, they have the best view!!

Nancy and Kristen~

Many Hands (and paws)

This septic job isn't done yet, but it has been a lot larger than anyone anticipated. 

 I had hoped to get the lakeside tidy and tree removal was the first step. Rosebushes are the next things to lose their spot on the path to water!

 Help came in many forms. A small dog, a four wheeler with a winch, a smart manager,and a lot of elbow grease!

 Then, we tackled the doors. They were a pain to take out, but they were almost worse to replace! Houses in the 70's were not much at all like houses today.

 The main door was finally installed and is almost complete (some paint and a bit of filler does as much for a door frame as it does for some gals!).

 Here we are before the outside was painted. It is a pretty nifty set up, if I do say so, myself!!!

Still lots left to do, but it will give me something to do when I come back next summer!

Stormy Seas and the Setting Sun

These photo groups were taken one day apart. The wind storm was on a Saturday and this sunset was on Sunday. The storm was so strong gusts were registered in the 100mph range. People lost power for several hours and many trees came crashing down. But, it did make for an amazing surf!

Sunday evening, the sky was incredible. The fiery hues melted into lavenders rather quickly, but it did give us a promise for sunshine on Tuesday. 

 The fog on the lakes (fog, not smoke!) herald a cold night, and it was! It even snowed up in Anchorage area~but not on the Kenai. We just had chilly night temps.

Flute section sightings!

I may have said this before, but it constantly confronts me. Some things are exactly the same and yet, they are totally different. Such as looking out from the new football stands onto the brand new field. Same spot, different view! 

 And walking into the school through this door from the 'student' parking lot looks exactly the same..but it wasn't. I don't recall pretty greenery near the doors!

 This room, however, WAS exactly the same. I was helping to put away a drum set from a jazz/swing dance program I attended and walked in this room and almost dropped the cymbals I was carrying! I had to take two photos and if I could put them together in a panorama shot, I would. I really expected Jeff H. to be acting up with the trombone section and others to be adding their two cents from the percussion area---

 It was fun listening to the KCHS Jazz band and remembering being a part of regular band ages ago in a time far away! (The fundraiser also included the Peninsula Jazz Band--which was stellar!)

Birds and Flowers and Trees

This is one of my sister's roosters. He is a really pretty creature-and it appears songbirds are not the only ones who love sunflower seeds! 

 This is Janet's oldest chicken, Cecilia. She has ridden on bicycles, gone down the slide, swung on swings, and is a rockin' hen!

 Janet has an apple tree and this year there are blossoms!

 I caught this little guy on the feeder at Mum's, isn't he adorable!?!

 On a walk with Janet, we found a spiderweb covered in water drops that needed to be recorded.

 Lupine!

 Mum's lake-Spring has come to the Kenai!