A New Coat of Snow and a Bright Blue Sky

There was supposed to be a full moon and a comet and something else. We got a lovely dusting of snow, instead. It covered my poor dilapidated snow guardians in a lovely layer of fluff! 

It snowed all the next day, too!!!! This is from the 10th. 

I decided not to go back out after my 20 min warming period! It had already covered what I had revealed, but I was COLD! 

On the 11th, Mum decided she wanted to go for a drive. So, we went north. We went to the house briefly and then down to Arness Dock and found this.

 This is a 'Jack Up Drilling Platform' next to Arness Dock. I  asked our friendly neighborhood Production Foreman/Platform Supervisor, Mike, to tell me a bit about these. Following text is fascinating to those who have no clue!

  Platform gets towed to the location of prospective well. Legs are clear up, not touching bottom. Platform floats. When in place, giant jacking mechanisms (think handyman jacks) jack the legs down. When the legs hit bottom , the continue jacking and platform rises out of water. It then becomes the basis for drilling 1 or more wells. If successful, they move the jack-up off location, and construct a production platform, such as the ones in the inlet , and drill more wells and produce. If it is a dry hole, they up and abandon, move off and save the expense of a platform.All our platforms are sited over holes drilled from jack-ups. It is staging there (at the dock). When the ice lets it, it will move to deep water and spud (start a new well!). On most of our platforms, each leg has 8 well bores inside them. The well bores are the well itself. Starts as a large hole in the ground. At predetermined depths, the hole gets casing (pipe) run in and cemented in place. Then, drill a smaller hole out of that and repeat. Usually start out with 30", then 20 ", 17.5" and so forth down to 6 " or so. That inside is the well bore. 8 is so we can have up to 42 wells per facility. To complete, tubing is run to bottom, fixed in place and the casing perforated with explosives, allowing fluid into well bore.32. Depending on number of legs. There are platforms of 1, 3 4 and, 5 legs. This platform has 4 legs, but capacity to only drill 1 well without moving. Once that well is drilled, and a permanent platform is set, a drilling rig or two is(are) set up on board These rigs can be skidded to each of the locations on the atfort and drill the remaining wells. Some will be oil production, some gas, some waterflood, and some, disposal. Cook Inlet Oil is 'Clean sweet crude.'

He shared a lot more with me, but that wasn't when I had paper or messenger!!! Cool stuff!

 Kind of blocks the view of the mountains. At least from the top of the bluff.

 Lots of ice out there in the inlet-

 After we got back to Kenai, I dropped mom off and got her comfy and left to go shopping. With ravens. A lot of them. Love these birds!

 Back at the house, I photographed footprints. These and the two under the birds are from squirrel. I know this because the squirrel was on the snow and I got out and took photos of the prints!

 Later, I got to attend a dinner and THIS was the dessert!!!!!!! The video is on  how to make your own decadent chocolate balls.

Kris' birthday

My last birthday in Alaska was after daddy died. I am pretty sure it was at Eileen's house. I also remember something about pulling a frozen salmon from the Eagle where the neighbor has stashed it. A complete gutted fish. I think it was cuz I wanted salmon for my birthday. This year, Rose of the house of Minnesota Hockey and fish, gave me an outfit she had in her work office. And many more nice things happened. 

 I made a chocolate chip coffee cake from Bisquick.

 Randall, of the Glorious Toys, brought me flowers (they are still looking rather nice, they might need water, though). In the mail that day was a card from Dorothy and then I got one from Leon and Julie.

 Then, it was Jonathan's birthday. I got mail and apple fritters.  AND my friend, Lori, is getting her new book ready to pre-order. (one which features 'Krissy's Brews and Buns'--or something like that!) So, my own birthday went on a bit longer! Hooray!!!!!

 (I had to eat half, so it would fit in the container!!)

I will close out my birthday post with this sage advice from Dr. Suess:

  “And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too!”

Obi Gets to Visit!!!

Obi-Wan Kenobi, the not quite miniature, long haired dachshund, has been staying with the Gattenby family since October 30. Today, Janet took him to get bathed and trimmed and brought him to see mom. Not putting too many words in this particular post. Love doesn't need them. I will say, however, I am sorry for the devil dog eyes! Jon really does take better photos than his mom! 

It was a short, beautiful visit. I'm glad we broke the rules and let Obi visit mom for a short while. (we are not supposed to have pets in the house we are staying in, but I figured a small dog on a leash after a visit to the groomer would be ok!) Thank you so much, Janet!!!!!!!!!

A look around the neighborhood

 Neighborhood has several definitions. The one I am leaning toward in this particular post is "the area surrounding a particular place, person, or object." (I believe this is from Merriman-Webster) I am fortunate to be in Kenai AND North Kenai these last months. There are truly feasts for the soul in this neighborhood! 

African violets and one of mom's amaryllis stalks. This showy red plant has 4 blossoms, the other plant seems to have less. Although, it might have two stems. We are still waiting for it to finally burst out of the pot into bloom.

 Early in the morning, ok! NOT early. It is about 8 or 9, and I get to move snow. I am fortunate the area I need to shovel is small. The optical illusion sidewalk is odd, but we work it. The walk starts out really wide and then at the end, the sidewalk is not quite 2 and a half feet. By the time mom gets her walker to that portion, she's out in the grassy area!

 I was struck by how haunting this scene was. The playground has changed dramatically. The school walls have not. I was positive I heard echoes of whistles and shouts from the 70's as I stood next to the security fence on this snowy afternoon.

 The Scout Park is always one of my favorite places. The snow has been removed from the parking area (and other areas, too, from the looks of this particular mound!) and I thought it was funny how the bank almost obscured the building behind it!

 The snow has NOT been removed from the park itself. I waded thru the glittery powder to the edge of the bluff and back. It was cold and sparkly! I chose to not sit on dad's bench to watch winter on the inlet.

 The Scout in Erik's park is a bit under dressed for the weather today!

I wanted a photo of how much snow we've gotten. This one struck my fancy. The weight of the world atop a newspaper box! 

 Mum's  house was covered with powder, too! She had asked me to feed the birds. I crinkled my nose and decided to wait.

 I need to remember to wade thru to the vinyl structure and knock it free of snow the next time I am out there.

 The drive had not been plowed yet, that guy came on Sunday afternoon.

 However, a good friend came out and SHOVELED a space in the drive for cars.

 Max was put out someone was home and not dropping any bread treats. I did find paw prints on the front step!

 Not too bad, 20 is a nice temp!

 The boys created this lovely little wood shed (Nana's hut??? It isn't quite as posh as Grandpa's--Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!) and it appears no one will be getting anything out of it unless we shovel it clear!

 The tires are pretty much covered, The moose don't seem to mind. Go over is logical when your legs are a million miles long!

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I'll share more of the world I am in today as I'm able to. Getting out isn't as easy as it is in the summer!