Birthday and What Not-

Jon retrieved all the parts to Steve's birthday present and left dad to assemble it while he went off to work again. Steve said it wasn't too difficult to put together, in spite of having limited directions! Moses managed to hop up into it (he's getting older and it is harder for him to move.), so as thought, the cat is very pleased. Can't you tell? 

Steve likes it, too! I purchased it off of Amazon from Best Choice Products. I ordered the stand and the hammock. Steve said it is still needs some work to make it tighter, but otherwise, I think I chose well! 

Jon also tried it out. (he was after starlings and it didn't work quite as well as he'd hoped)

While out and about, I was in line at Walmart and the lady in front of me was a bit flustered. It appears everyone comes to Kenai and fishes during July. I think she said this is Captain Andy Hillstrand. While at Home Depot, I parked next to a truck with the ornament below on the hood. (The lady inside was sleeping, so I snagged a picture of it) 

I also discovered Tillamook ice cream is reaching out in flavors. I didn't get one, but I was definitely impressed! 

 I purchased suet cuz the young woodpeckers were searching all over for something easy to snack on. This wasn't up for long before a couple landed on the feeder. I think this juvenile was with a parent (on the other side).

This incident actually happened earlier in the day. I didn't want to start out with carnage, though! I was in my room and mom called me to say a big bird was on the pallets with a duck. I ran upstairs and managed to take this one very bad photo before using my binoculars and seeing the duck just might be still alive. I knew it was a grown duck, which means there would be some defenseless babies out there. I ran down to see if I could scare it off. I did. The predator lifted the adult duck like it was a mouse and sailed off into the trees. I am pretty sure it is a goshawk. Unfortunately, most bird books and photos are much better and don't show the topside of the bird. I downloaded a bird app from the Cornell Lab (birding institute), but it wasn't much help. You post the photo and then it chooses a bird. I was told this was an American Crow. When I searched on my own, I read the goshawk has a long tail, is fast, can take down larger prey, and plucks the birds it kills. 

 The pallet and water were covered in feathers. Definitely a plucking situation. I don't know which mom was taken, I'm sure the ducklings are gone now. I've not seen many out there on the water. It has been 24 hours and nature is not kind when it comes to trying to survive.

Steve was going to drive the Mercury to the parade for Caledonian Days. I won't get any photos since Jon is probably driving a different vehicle (the fire truck). Steve was wishing someone could drive the Land Cruiser, but two drivers and 3 rigs means one vehicle gets to stay home! The were planning to take the Mercury to DQ on Friday. If so, it will be the first time for Jon to ride in it! 

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...) 

Photos from Jonathan!

The Mountain ranch-I forgot what day this was. Lots of flowers and I didn't download the one of the goats up there. Yup, goats. A lot of goats that are out wandering around very goat-like. 

Steve took both dad's to June's Old Iron Show in Pendleton. Bill Egbert's Merc and Rod's Toyota. 

Fun, fun, fun!!!!!! 

And his dad's tractor!

 They saw a lot of interesting things, as usual, and both Steve and Jon enjoyed a great deal of conversation about the Toyota and the Mercury.

Not many words, I'll let Jon's pictures tell what they can!!!! 

Life and death out north-

It has been really pretty the last few days. I was super glad I shared that family of green winged teal in the last post, the mom has no one left. The last one was taken out by the loon on Saturday afternoon. The loon who is just here on our lake as a decoy for his own family which is elsewhere! The wigeon is below, he's been seen, but I also learned his mate isn't around. Many of the males tend to leave the mom after incubation. (the teal is another one of those) So, if the brood is all destroyed, unless the female finds a new male, her season of babies is done for the year. 

Below is Miss Kitty. She lives at the North Kenai feed store and is an absolute love! Unless you are a rodent and then you are history. 

This bleached carcass of wood intrigued me. I'm pretty sure this was a 'log' which had washed up nearer Arness dock. Now, it is a cut up root end not as close to the dock! Very cool looking, even with most of it gone. 

It was a gorgeous day out north on Saturday. I had gone to take trash to the dump and out by the pool wisps of fog were coiling in the trees. It was crazy. When  I reached the Spur, on the right towards town the road was obscured. On the left, out north, it was blue skies and sunshine!!!!!! 

 I was amused to see mom's sunflower seeds are growing. I always laugh when I read the seeds are sterile. This one won't get very large (maybe I should pull it up and try to grow it!), but it is growing!

There is a mallard creche on the lake. Or was until Saturday. As mentioned above, the loon has been taking out babies one by one. I went out in the kayak and the loon was on the lake and circling in the sky above were a full grown and an immature eagle. I don't recall which blog it was, but the author mentioned how bittersweet it was to see babies on the lake she lived on. Because she knew most of them would never grow up. I absolutely understand. I know it is the cycle of life, but the last years we've had few babies reach adulthood. 

I have yet to go out on Sunday and see how many she has left in her creche. I'm betting she's down to at least a normal nest size. Thankfully, mallards are ones who brood more than once in a season. We also don't have any golden eye babies yet. Although, to be honest, those moms are terrible! At least the teal and mallards tend to keep their babies to the shallow parts of the lake. The golden eye seem to let their go anywhere they might want to paddle!