Sunhusky's Alaska

A quick, cold Sunday jaunt

2012-01-30T21:13:00.001-09:00

Actually, all things considered, like how cold it's been recently, it wasn't that cold. Maybe zero. Who'd have ever thought the day would come when I'd be considering zero "not that cold"? In any case, the view out the garage window as I was getting in the car. That crack in the window has been there since I bought the place but there is insulating plastic over the window itself.

Hello, Pioneer Peak.

From Idita-Park

After a quick stop for the above photos, headed toward the bank. Honest, it's there somewhere behind this massive snow pile. There are normally parking spaces here but they've long since been covered by the white stuff.

Couldn't resist one more stop at Idita-park and the raven rewarded me by flying by just as I was composing this shot.

Next stop, dropping off some books due soon at the library. Across the parking lot, this is the scene on the side of the Page Museum.

Old Wasilla Townsite

Snow seems to be accumulating on the steps of the Old Post Office. Bet you can guess that they're not open to visitors during the winter, huh, tho' looks like the ramp to the right of the building may be the main entrance.

Wasilla Lake

Oh, goodie, more monster snow piles. This one is the the right as you enter the drive-thru for McDonalds. With me in the car and it backed by the Talkeetnas, almost looks like a mountain itself, huh?

Wow, a two-tailed raven? Nah, just two of 'em, tho' didn't have the zoom lens when I needed it, so never got a good shot of them.

Moose x2

2012-01-27T16:05:00.001-09:00

Jaunt to Eagle River and Back

2012-01-26T17:28:00.000-09:00

No real captions needed as this entry is simply of the scenery passed on the way to, through, and back home from Eagle River. Unlike Wasilla, the wind hasn't blown away its "snow tree" look, so I was loving it. First shot, tho, is on Parks, heading east toward Glenn.

Now we're on Glenn Hwy., so enjoy the ride along with us.

Well, I won't mention names but this pile of snow contains what is the vehicle of a certain retired, unretired, now retired again musher's vehicle.

Believe it or not, Wasilla Lake is behind that wall of snow.

Another moose visitor

2012-01-24T21:36:00.000-09:00

I'm sure by now that anyone visiting here has heard the story of Willow's George Murphy, who is known to many around here as an IAF pilot, too, was attacked by a moose the other day. His wife's efforts to save him, not to mention their dog, has made national and probably international news. Here's a link I hadn't read yet: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/dorothea-muprhy-alaska-moose_n_1224657.html

So, in any case, my usual delight wasn't as evident when another moose made a pit stop in my yard today. I did snap some photos but all through the windows which, given the timing, were reflecting the sun's glare, so not the best. But, for anyone seeking a moose fix, here you go.

It's actually leaving the front of the house here, but tossed this one up first to show how very close it was to the house. In fact, it brushed against it at one point in its efforts to stay out of the deep snow.

It was helping me prune a bush at the corner of the house.

Looking at this one, I'm thinking it's the same one that visited not too long ago.

It's face was mostly glared out by the sun, so went for the cute, hairy hump. Okay, so I entertain easily.

It's headed around the house here to check out the vegetation on the north side of the house. No windows in the north wall, alas, so not sure what it was finding to its liking there or how much it ate. To be honest, as long as it doesn't trample the dogs, me, or someone in the area, it can eat anything on my property it wants.

This is the shot I took right after the first head shot of it right in front of the living room window and my camera. I was expecting it to veer out sooner to go around the spruce tree, hence fuzzy focus when it waited till it was practically at the tree to move away from the house. Understandable since there's even 2+ feet of snow in that area.

Since I'd been watching and it hadn't exited out the driveway, I kept checking out the back door. Ah, ha, there it was. It'd meandered out to the back pasture and I spied its nose through the gate and growth there.

It never moved to where I could get any good shots today but, well, it's focus was on an empty stomach, I'm sure, so munch all you want out there moosie, just stay out of my back yard, okay. The whole back pasture is free game, tho, so eat out there to your heart's content.

Pat's "snow mountain" and views

2012-01-22T14:38:00.000-09:00

The view off Pat's deck the other day. Looking across the flats toward Glenn Hwy. and the Eklutna/Eagle River area.

Blowing snow, pretty much a ground blizzard, me thinks, had you needed to be out there trying to move around in it.

Older shot to remind you what the view across normally looks like.

On the other hand, I really cannot whine too loudly about my driveway. Pat has a mountain of snow over there alongside hers, much of which was a, uh, word that rhymes with witch to move cos it'd drifted overnight and "set."

Got snow, Pat? Fortunately, like me, she also has good neighbors, neighbors with plows and such who are willing to help out as needed. It's the Alaskan way.

And the wind returns and blows all that snow around

2012-01-22T14:11:00.002-09:00

The good news was that I chopped, er, shoveled through the snow mountain and found the steps to the deck again. The bad news is that the wind carried snow has long since pretty much covered them right up again.

Also had another moose visitor, tho' I'm thinking it's the same one from last time. Very nervous and spooked like crazy when I opened the garage door to try for a better photo. It was on the other side of the fence in the lot next door, so felt fairly safe opening the garage door.

Click on this one to enlarge and you'll see some interesting patterns left by the winds in the snow out from. The dark spots are the shadows created by the narrow ridge of snow sorta bottom center. Not sure, but am thinking the sorta concentric circle shapes behind it and somewhat covered by the shadows may have been from the snow being blown but from slightly different directions and at slightly different intensities. Or, maybe I had a snow angel visit, who knows?

Contrasted this one up a bit to show the same features talked about above. My snow angel does good work.

This one, tho', I think, may have been left by the local snow aliens. Just weird. Obviously had to be a clump of snow involved somewhere along the line but it's gone. Tis a mystery to me but an interesting look.

From the driveway, looking south. The bottom edge of the picture, where it seems to sorta shine, is doing exactly that. Solid ice, with the sunlight reflecting off it.

Inside, Zach is on Moose Watch.

Or, maybe not. Maybe a nap sounds better than watching for nervous moose.

More funky snow sculptures. This one was at least started by me, tho'. The clump of snow you see was shoved there by the snow blower, which was a bit overwhelmed, and is still there, creating interesting shadows and patterns on the snow around it.

Surf's up! Well, sorta looks like it. The perpetual, seemingly neverending winds have created a wave look in the yard.

For those on Facebook wondering why I'm obsessing about moving snow that drifts up in front of the garage door, this is why. This is just to the south of the garage and shows what uncleared snow looks like when allowed to pile up. Hard to tell from the pix but it's deeper than knee high. How do I know? Cos I went through the crust the other day and found out. Sadly, my boots were only mid-calf high. Ha

And speaking of drifts....my driveway. Click on the pix. Normally the right edge of the driveway would be coming back in a relatively straight line from where you see the right side of the gate. Right now, tho', it's a hillside of snow that the wind has dropped there in a drift that came darn close to making the driveway impassable without some intervention. As it turned out, I was able to drive through it but much more wind or snow and I'm snowed in, literally, until I call my friendly neighborhood plow guy to move it. The problem with drifting snow is that it tends to "set," turning what might appear a pretty, soft, fluffy pile of snow into a mound of concrete, so to speak. Very hard to move with just the snow blower and I've already discovered that I'm pretty worthless with a shovel, not that a shovel would make a dent in this, either. My sympathy to those in places like Cordova and Valdez dealing with mountains of this kinda stuff.

Looking out toward the same general area, tho' more at the top side of the driveway. All that snow sorta center is where driveway should be. I've moved it several times, more than I care to remember, but it keeps coming back. Sigh.

A wider view of the wave look in the yard.

Now comes the cold (again)

2012-01-14T16:48:00.000-09:00

All dog trucks are obviously not at Copper Basin cos followed this one out Parks Hwy. briefly today. No clue who it was other than "not Karen".

I don't really think it was this warm in most places but, like my house, this marquee seems to sit in a perennially warmer than everywhere else spot along Parks.

That's a snow pile in front of the trees, not a little hill.

The sun was at just the right angle to light up the icicles at the end of the house.

Snow Moose!!!

2012-01-13T17:32:00.001-09:00

I plopped down today around 2:40 to take a nap, laughingly telling the dogs that they were in charge of a 3:30 wake up call for me. Well, much to my astonishment, they started barking like they meant it at 3:25. Kinda mumbling that they were early, I got up anyway cos their bark wasn't the usual "We're bored. Come entertain us" bark. I'm very glad I did as my eyes eventually found this visitor in the back.

"You taking MY picture?"

It was a bit jumpy, so didn't try to go out on the deck for any closer pix, but snapped away from all the back windows of the house for a bit as its hunger won out over its nervousness.

Oh, those ears....

The dogs had settled into just being entertained following me from one window to the other but, I swear, it was almost like Moosie knew we were watching.

"Are you one of those Mooseratzzi I hear about?"

Just an FYI, that chain link fence you see is 5' high.

Peek-a-boo Moose

Moose nose.... seriously, I got one of moose butt, too, but spared you. Ha

Again, hunger wins over being watchful.

It was at this point that the dogs got bored following me around and started barking from the back, sliding glass door again and Moosie heard them.

Trying to figure out where the barking it's hearing is coming from.

Love that snow nose.

At this point, nerves won out over hunger and tho' I didn't know it at the time, it's on its way outta there.

The scary part for me was to discover that it exited THROUGH the back yard, not over the back pasture fence like most usually do, cos I caught this shot of it crossing the front yard and heading for the gate. I'm going to have to be extra careful about letting the dogs out if they seem to think they see or sense something out there since, sigh, this moose may be back and be using the backyard as a passageway to the more delicious back pasture.

Snowpocalypse???

2012-01-10T14:23:00.002-09:00

Here's how the dogs are handling what some folks in the media, local, national and even international, are calling Alaska's Snowpocalypse. Ginger seems to really favor this position while.....

...when Zach has possession of the couch, he tends to just flop.

The snow atop the cache is uneven cos the winds are doing their magic but look how high it is under the cache on the water pipe.

In a burst of insanity, I decided to go down the hill while the going was good, stop at the bank and then Chevron to fill up a gas can. This is the view at the intersection of Holiday and Briar.

But, hmm, looking down the hill, do you notice anything missing? You would barely know there was a mountain around by today's view.

Great. ATM not working, but some mostly blowing snow photos. You can't see the snow blowing here for the snow falling, however. I'm between the Wells Fargo Bank, where I was afraid I was going to get stuck in the drive-thru lane, and Picalino's in that strip of shops there.

Coming around behind the bank, looking in the general direction of home, which would be toward the top right of the hill.

Brenda, either Waneta's been real busy or the wind is doing a good job removing the snow from the truck.

Oh, a mountain peeked out!!!

Back home, needed to move a few small branches that were down in the driveway. Took this of the snow lining the driveway, contrasting it up so you can see the layers. The bottom layer is about 10" and the top one about the same, with maybe 4" in-between, and this is snow that has sorta compacted. Can't even blame the depth on the plowing cos it's pretty much this deep or worse all over the yard.

This is my view to the right as I pull out of the gate. No, I can't see past the snow when I'm in the car, so a bit hairy, especially since the road itself is down to about 1.5 lanes wide.

The spruce tree is somehow managing to hang onto the snow on its bottom branches while the winds have stripped the upper ones of snow.

The pile of snow accumulating from the driveway plowing is now officially higher than my head at most points. At the tallest peak, it's probably over 7' tall.

The smaller pile to the left of the mountain of snow from the driveway, looking over it and the fence into the backyard.

And Even More Snow

2012-01-08T20:35:00.000-09:00

Looking out the front window this morning. The snow piled on the fence edging is actually higher than the fence.... and it was snowing all day.

This little cache marks not only my "Cache Flower Bed" but where the water pipe is. While I certainly don't qualify as an ol' timer yet, in all the years I've lived here, I've never seen the snow this high there.

Out back, sigh, the steps to the deck are playing hide and seek again.

I think I was in Kathy's Suite looking out for this one. Note the ribbons of snow, so to speak, lining the top of the chain link fence at the rear of the backyard.

No lie, I can normally walk right under this branch without even bending.

Out the kitchen window.

Just right of the barn/shed, note the ribbons of snow atop the pipes making up part of the chainlink gate.

I'm thinking it's a really good thing no one is living in Hazy's ol' dog house now. At the rate it's going, it may wind up buried.

I might note that tho' I spent a huge part of the day moving snow today, trying to find the deck, the dogs got bored with me and would go out with me, sorta shrug when they saw I was doing boring ol' shoveling, and return to the house. I obviously wore Ginger out.

Snow dogs

2012-01-04T21:42:00.001-09:00

I'm glad Zach know where the steps are cos I'm increasing having trouble finding them with all the snow we've had.

Ginger has figured out that I always wander around to double check that the gate is securely shut.

She also seems to have taken up snow excavation, most likely in pursuit of the vols that tunnel under the snow.

As a result, it makes Ginny the perfect snow face to model the "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" poster.

About 2 seconds before this shot, Zach had his butt in the air and his head and front paws down in the snow, sorta snorkeling, I guess. I'd had my back to him taking some shots of Gin and turned around just in time to go, "What the....?" and miss the shot. Sigh

Gee, Zach, think you could look any more snow dog'ish?

Fortunately for Zach and my carpet, he demos how quickly a couple good shakes can eliminate most of the snow.

In the meantime, Ginger has had her fill of the cold and is heading inside. Thinking she had a point, Zach and I followed closely behind her.

Baby It's Cold Outside -- Sunset

2012-01-04T17:02:00.000-09:00

As usual, I spent way too much time having to convince myself to get up and go put my boots and parka back on and missed the beginning of a really nice sunset, but still caught some good shots anyway.

Just shooting between branches to see what I'd get. Kinda liked this one cos of the lines and curves the trees created against the pink/gold sky.

This one was looking almost directly south from my driveway.

Meandered out to the end of the driveway to take a look at the Talkeetnas and was glad I had. Very lovely in its pink/gold tones.

Probably taken from about the same spot the previous picture was shot, but looking the other way, this time over a neighbor's house at the glow on the trees.

And straight down Holiday to the south, a pretty cool sky, too.

There was a bit of a pink glow backing the house, so made for a cool shot.

Standing in the driveway looking across the fence into the back yard.

Even the front spruce tree was decked out in some pink and gold.

From the back deck, pink and gold everywhere.

I really liked this one. Looked sorta like a photo you'd see illustrating a fantasy story inviting you to crawl through an opening to explore a fairy tale world.

A balmy -24 degrees!!!

2012-01-01T13:42:00.000-09:00

Actually, it didn't get quite as cold as -24 here, more like a balmy -17, but cold is cold.

Sure pretty when the sun comes out on all the snow covered trees, tho'.

Snow Monster? No clue. Just a weird blob of snow out in the front yard.

Looking out the driveway. That pile of snow you can see just below center is probably about 3' tall and what's left by the plow. Extends back 2-4' in width, too. All this translates to the roads getting ever narrower as winter progresses.

More of Zach and Ginger

2011-12-30T16:06:00.000-09:00

Remember, Zach's the blonde, Gin is the redhead.

Christmas Snow

2011-12-25T19:14:00.000-09:00

On the windshield....

Driving down the road....

After the sunshine came the snow, lots of it

2011-12-23T12:28:00.000-09:00

Gads, even the dog house has icicles from the freeze/melt cycles being so wonky.

Out the kitchen window.

Whoa, Sunshine!!!

2011-12-21T20:01:00.000-09:00

To fully understand how excited many of us were to see sunlight today, check back a few entries and then look at this picture. Took it last night around midnight while waiting on the dogs to come back inside from "last call" for potty break.

Ginger even brought some of the snow back with her. How nice of her to share, right?

Needless to say, I wasn't real optimistic about today being a pretty day but, whoa, saw a few slivers of sunshine not long after a neighbor had cleared the driveway for me. The roads had already been plowed so I decided, oh, what the heck, I'm going somewhere where I can see the sunshine better. The rest of these, to various degrees, came from that quest for sunshine.

Old Wasilla schoolhouse from the library's parking lot.

Back home, checking out how low the sun was on the horizon at around 1:30 p.m. Today was the Solstice, tho', so we start gaining time from now till June. Yeah!

Blue skies, snow, snow trees, and icicles off the roof.... yeah, just another winter day in Alaska. The icicles, btw, aren't from heat escaping, thank goodness, they're from what has been a perpetual warm up/freeze cycle that leaves everything sliding off my metal roof. I knocked the icicles down right after taking this, btw. Not good things to have hanging over you when you're walking in or out.

More randomness

2011-12-19T11:15:00.000-09:00

Some of the cards sent to Rosemary.

Ginger and Zach want in....NOW!!!

Zach's Nap

2011-12-19T11:10:00.000-09:00

Even under the best of circumstances, I tend to be an insomniac. Is it any wonder I feel a sense of awe and jealousy at how easy Mr. Zacher, aka Zacharooey, Zackers, etc, can just plop down and go to sleep.

Ginger and Zach Visit

2011-12-13T17:30:00.001-09:00

For those who've known me awhile, the furry red-head below may look familiar. She should. When I first moved up here, Rosemary was kind enough to let me camp out in her guest room for, well, a long time. Ginger, the red-head below, was one of the dogs that welcomed not just me but my two dogs, so she's been like part of the family for many years. Zach, the Golden, was around but was with Sarah at the time, so tho' I knew him in passing, I'm just getting to know him now as they visit for the holidays. As many know, Rosemary has been in the hospital. Our friend Sarah had the dogs but not only needed to deal with family matters unexpectedly, but her Papilion Karma was invited to show at the Eukanuba show in Orlando, FL, just before Christmas, so I became step-dog-sitter unexpectedly. Having been without a dog in the house since Foxy passed two years ago, getting the house dog ready again was done in a flurry, but it's been fun having them. I won't caption the pix as they're mostly for Rosemary to browse if she wants and can, but enjoy my furry holiday visitors below. Again, Ginger is the red one, Zach the blonde.

Venturing out into a largely white-on-white world

2011-12-13T14:18:00.000-09:00

Since I haven't been out since the last big storm, one that slammed Anchorage and the Eagle River area far worse than it did us, thought I might as well get my rear in gear and go to the post office with camera in hand. You'd think by now that I'd have learned that winter isn't prime mailing season for eBay, wouldn't you? In any case, this was the scene across from the end of my very icy driveway.

Snow, snow, everywhere snow

The historic Wasilla Depot, which now houses the Chamber of Commerce.

Spruce trees heavy with snow along Nelson.

Pioneer Peak

The snow piled in front is just an example of the many, many piles of snow you'll see around this time of year, many of which will be with us until, oh, maybe April or May.

Stopped long enough coming up the hill ... love those studded tires ... to shoot my house across the front corner of the neighbor's house and through my chain link fence. Ah, home sweet home.

See what looks like water on the road? That's ice and, in fact, the road is more ice than pavement. The ice is reflecting the car's headlights or you wouldn't really even see it, which makes it all the more dangerous.

Sigh, the days are getting reallly short this time of year.

Snow and ice

2011-12-13T14:05:00.000-09:00

That branch hanging down to the ground is one that I can normally walk under without any real problem (I'm 5'10", too), so shows you the weight of the snow.

I was busy doing something else and didn't really get out to catch the lovely sunset, but these will give you a hint of the "pretty" that Mother Nature sent to make up for the storm she slammed us with.

The difference some wind and warmth make

2011-12-08T11:51:00.000-09:00

My original intent when I came up with the "Before and After" idea for this post was to put both the before and after shots in one post. Well, reality bites and no time, but here are some pix Pat snapped from her deck after out great warm-up and the wind the other day, the same warm-up that took most of the snow with it. Scroll down in my blog for some of my more recent shots from her deck and you can see the difference. Those are the Chugach Mts. across the way, btw, and it was all pretty much a white world before the warm-up.

Blue Marble

2011-12-03T20:00:00.000-09:00

http://www.bluemarbles.org/ seems to be where the idea started.

It quickly spread, even to Wasilla, Alaska. Check out the link below for more info on what the Mat-Su Carbon Crew's objectives are and some of the activities involved, including those elusive Blue Marbles. I'll explain the significance of the marble later.
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/matsu-carbon-crew.html

You'll be seeing photos of what mine, known simply as Blue, is up to as I get time. I may not be a student at the college, but I still care about our world and, besides, it's going to be fun. And, if you're on Facebook, here's the profile/bio of the group.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle, grow more food locally, use more renewable energy for electricity and heating, make products, create jobs.
Individuals can make a big difference. Creating awareness of the Peaceful Green Revolution

Carbon is the backbone of ALL life on Earth because carbon bonds easily with other elements to form complex molecules.

We are a group of Mat-Su College students focusing on the creation of green jobs, renewable energy, reducing, reusing, and recycling resources to build stronger more sustainable communities.

Some scenic randomness

2011-11-30T14:54:00.001-09:00

I've been snapping rather randomly and without much thought the last few days, so thought I'd better share before I got too far behind. This and the next shot are from the sunset a couple days ago. Love how the colors, usually some shade of pink or even blue, color the whole landscape.

I also continue to be amazed at how the colors so often seem to layer themselves in the sky, one atop the other with relatively visible color separation lines.

I couldn't quite work myself into getting dressed to go chase the sunset for a better angle, but even the everyday view of my backyard was touched by alpenglow, that touch of pink from the skies.

This is what can happen if you have a metal roof. In this case, this is the old schoolhouse at the Ol' Wasilla Townsite.

And, I obviously haven't been paying enough attention (or going to the library often enough) because they seem to have made the old schoolbell its own little bell tower just outside the schoolhouse. Pretty cool and I'll try for better pix later.

I'm happy to say this is not my drain pipe but, yeah, just as pipes freeze here, so do drains.

Just another day, another view in Wasilla. :)

Back home and looking south along Holiday down toward the Chugach Mts.

Hadn't been to Lake Lucille in awhile, so snagged this shot the other day just in case it was getting jealous of all the photo attention I've been giving Wasilla Lake.

A common sight in Alaska, snow covered cars.

Speaking of Wasilla Lake.....

More snow?

2011-11-25T14:12:00.000-09:00

No sooner did the layers of snow on the fence start to disappear when....

....more snow began to fall. Here's the neighbor's dogs on its way home after checking to see if the birds had knocked any of their bread onto the ground.

The Denali Restaurant is a good place to eat. Just out of town a bit, up Parks past the turn to the Sports Complex.

The view off Pat's deck the morning after Thanksgiving. You'd never know there was a mountain over there, let alone a whole range of 'em.

The birds were out to eat.

Not the best shot, through not only a dirty windshield (I stopped to shoot this, honest) but falling snow.

It's been cold...

2011-11-25T14:06:00.000-09:00

Heat wave!!!

Deep Freeze?

2011-11-15T16:28:00.001-09:00

The weather forecast today is calling for temps into negative numbers this evening with winds kicking up and creating a wind chill of some -30 degrees. Oh, joy, Kansas, here we come again, albeit a frozen Kansas. In any case, decided I'd probably better restock my library book stack while the going was good (only....only?.... +7'ish degrees) and snapped some pix as I meandered about.

Sigh. Stupid birds. They were bouncing around like crazy in the tree and around it.... until I stopped and raised the camera. Taken on the way to the library.

From my car in the library's parking lot. I'm in the car, holding the camera parallel to the ground to give you a sense of how big the snow piles have already gotten here. That's Old Wasilla Township to the rear, the ol' Capital Building/Cabin, far right.

And, of course, just in case I get blown away by the wind, needed one last McD's fries fix. Saw this as I went through the drive-through. This isn't water, btw. It's frozen in motion and will stay that way till the first good warm up, which could be, oh, March?

You've got to admit, McD's has a nice view. Taken while eating my fries. Ha

This will become an increasingly common sight around here as winter progresses. Clearing the streets so we can continue to get around up here without a dog team. Mush, you Camry, mush!

Coming home. Had just stopped at the mailbox but had to stop again for this lovely view. Looking generally south, thus across not just Wasilla and Parks Hwy. down the hill a bit, but across Lake Lucille and over to the Chugach Mt. in the distance.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T11:11:00.005-09:00

I'm not sure when I started the habit, but I've found myself heading out to take a photo of our flag on special days relating to the military and those who serve to keep us free. This shot at Idita-Park is doubly special as I took it at 11:11 on 11-11-11, tho' obviously had to tweak the posting time here to indicate that.

Random Scenics

2011-11-11T10:49:00.001-09:00

I love my spruce trees!

Snow clinging to one of my birch trees alongside the driveway.

Hmm, Christmas card? View off my hill across Parks Highway, Lake Lucille, and to the distant Chugach Mountains.

Looking down Briar to the east across downtown Wasilla, such as it is.

From the parking lot at Idita-Park

Whoa, who took such a big bite outta the spruce tree?

I believe I'll title this photo "The Leaning Tree"

For those who live in the south, here's a little hint of what we run into if we park outside when it's snowing. Not mine, phew, but in the Carrs parking lot.

Blue Marble (more on this soon) needs to visit here with me on a day when I've got on boots with high enough tops to walk through the snow over to this recycled train car.

And more snow....and Wasilla Lake

2011-11-08T17:00:00.000-09:00

The driveway was cleared yesterday down to the pavement so there was obviously some more snow overnight.

Betty, your spruce tree is guardian of the winter snow pile from the driveway plowing.

License plate? This is Alaska, we don't need to be able to read no stinking license plate.

Back to one of my favorite photo spots of late, the Pizza Hut parking lot above Wasilla Lake. Loved the low cloud just sorta sitting there on the mountains.

Close up view

The building stretching across part of the lower right of the pix is Fred Meyers.

The snow and cold are beginning to create interesting patterns in even the most mundane things, like this weed.

I guess the ice must be pretty solid tho' seems just a tad early to me to be out there making patterns in the snow with your snow machine. Ha

Hard to tell already where the shoreline ends and the lake begins.

More snowfall yesterday and last night

2011-11-07T15:36:00.000-09:00

Was too lazy, not to mention it was cold out there, to open the door to take a pix of the snow when it started coming down again fairly seriously last night, so wound up with a nice reflection of my camera and hand in addition to snowflakes.

Even with the snow, the birds are still out and about, begging handouts.

No, the snow really wasn't this deep, at least from my human perspective. I sat the camera on the floor of the garage at the edge and got this shot of what the driveway looked like from the camera's very low angle, however.

Boots on the ground, er, in the snow.

Lots of snow clumped up on Betty's spruce tree.

From Betty's spruce tree, looking east out through the pasture gate.

Never really thought about it but guess you'd need a snow shovel for a picnic right now, huh?

At the end of the driveway, checking the snow piled up on the fence.

The view from the end of the driveway back to the house. Probably looking sorta NE since this isn't a direct shot. The window, left, is my bedroom window that some of yesterday's shots were taken from.

Just outside the fence by the driveway, artsy clumps of snow and berries.

Looking toward the Talkeetna Mts. from the middle of the road right in front of the driveway. They hadn't plowed yet and, in fact, as I type, still haven't. My plow guy did my driveway soon after this jaunt, tho', bless him. I told him he was my hero today cos the snow blower was being cranky.

My hands (bad me, I'd wandered out without gloves) were finally getting cold, so one last shot of the spruce trees to the right of the driveway as you enter (the rear one is "Betty's Spruce Tree") as I headed back to the warmth of the house.

First Serious Snowfall

2011-11-06T13:00:00.000-09:00

Although it's been snowing all around us, we got our first serious, ie 3-4", snowfall overnight. View from "Kathy's Suite" into the backyard.

This was what it looked like at about 8:30, sorta the fuzzy combo of snow and more overcast than daylight yet. This is the view out the other guest bedroom, btw, looking out and down on Lone Cub Drive at the bottom of the hill.

Contrasted these up a bit to make the snow against the trees more visible.

Continuing my "in-the-house" photo jaunt, this one's out my bedroom window, looking generally SW toward the neighbor's prow house. The driveway is in there somewhere.

Spruce branches as seen from my bedroom window.

Out Kathy's window again, showing the spruce tree in the backyard. Love my spruce trees!

And that's the tour for now. If it lightens up a bit outside and I'm feeling ambitious, maybe I'll get my butt outside and take a few shots.

Halloween Snow

2011-10-31T13:29:00.000-08:00

Actually, the snow has been here since yesterday but more is in the forecast. This is the view of the backyard out the backdoor onto the deck. Not as impressive as it looks, tho', cos maybe 1/4-1/3" max at this point.

I didn't get a last mow done, so the grass is even a bit taller than normal, adding to the look of someone having dropped a massive box of salt on the yard and it scattering around for that salt-and-grass look.

Pioneer Peak today from Lone Cub. Yes, that's snow on the road.

Love this view across Wasilla Lake.

Picnic, anyone?

Mt. View From Palmer

2011-10-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

I guess the title of this entry is a bit deceptive as they're more like photos on the way too and from Palmer, including this one taken very near my house of Pioneer Peak from Lone Cub Drive.

Hard to believe that it hasn't been that long ago that the snow was barely sticking to the tippity, toppity peaks of the mountains.

The view going towards Palmer is always great, even with all those dang poles.

This one and the next were taken from the parking lot of Raven Hall at the Fairgrounds. Had stopped there to cruise through the Christmas Gift Bazaar but couldn't resist a couple shots of the mountains from that close. From this area of Palmer, you almost feel like you could reach out and touch the mountains.

Heading home.

Monday Snow on the Mts.

2011-10-17T23:13:00.000-08:00

After a couple rainy, cloudy days, I can't say I was surprised to see the snow this low on the Talkeetna Mts. when I stopped at my mailbox while heading out to do some errands.

Curiosity made me back track, tho', to check out this view from the end of Holiday looking down toward the distant mountains.

Haven't been up to Home Depot in awhile for pix, so glad the mountains and snow didn't disappoint across Wasilla Lake from the parking lot at the Depot.

A bit closer view of that white stuff.

Loved the tree limb on the right.

Looking down more toward the Chugach Mts..... dang, honest, there are huge mountains hiding in those clouds.

I circled around and came home via Knik Goose Bay Road. This is the view as I headed in toward town. And, yes, for those who fret, I pulled over and stopped to take this and the next shots.

Sunset

2011-10-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

October Sneaks Up On Me

2011-10-08T18:12:00.001-08:00

The backyard as seen out a window a couple days ago. This is the same spot that hosted the riot or reds with fireweed not all that long ago.

Okay, Woody, knock off the pecking on the tub house and shed and go find a dead tree to peck on!

There are even some flowers hanging in there.

Pioneer Peak on, I think, Wednesday

Another view of the same thing, the snow creeping ever downward on Pioneer.

You see the darndest things sometimes at Walmarts, like this thrill seeker sailing above the parking lot.

Bye, bye reds, it was nice while it lasted. Same spot out front where the recent dramatic red leaves and fireweed pix was taken. Do note, too, that the leaves are already long gone enough to be giving me a pretty good view of the Talkeetnas from inside (yes, I took this from inside, through the front window) without having to crane my neck or meander out to the end of the driveway for a view.

Another Trip to Anchorage Photos

2011-09-30T18:09:00.000-08:00

The first few were taken on the way outta Wasilla along Parks Highway.

I was really loving the play of the clouds on the mountains.

Even the clouds themselves were pretty cool looking.

Closing in on Glenn Highway

The leaves were noticeably thinner and the colors less intense.

This one looks like a "coming home" shot. Obviously wasn't shooting much on the way into the big city.

Low tide, I'd say. Ha

Cloud cover over the Talkeetnas.

And, home again, home again, well, almost, as we pass one of my favorite eating places, the Trout House, aka Windbreak. Other than the Millennium Hotel, where I was staying my very first trip up here, I had my first meal "out" here in 2000, so it's always held a special place in my history and heart.

Idita-Park Views and Nearby

2011-09-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

Passed the Mug-Shot Saloon on the way up Parks Hwy. to the gas station on the way home and couldn't resist stopping for a picture.

Although it has seemed at times as if it's raining leaves, we've still got lots of color. this is in Idita-Park, as are those that follow, or at least views from there.

Artsy moment, Shadows of Fall on Stone? Ha

Wasilla Lake Views of the Day

2011-09-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Uh, diving duck butt

Fall's Last Gasp - Random Shots

2011-09-26T15:00:00.000-08:00

As I type, it's mid-afternoon Monday. This view was taken late afternoon on Saturday. The temps are dropping, there was frost last night and it's possible we'll see temps in the 20s tonight! Yes, I'd say Fall is fleeting and winter is on the way, but am enjoying every last drop of fall colors while I can.

These reds cling to the top of the front fence. The opening, left, is where the driveway entrance is located. There's actually a gate, too, but I rarely close it.

The fireweed, front, is on my side of the chainlink fence, the gorgeous red leaves beyond.

Most of the leaves in this pix are now on the ground.

Fireweed, gone to fluff

More fireweed

Hey, how about tossing me some bread crumbs?

I'm not even quite sure where I took this one. Pretty, anyway.

These blue bells were the last hold outs in my yard, here shown beginning to be overwhelmed by the falling leaves.

I'd tossed out some stale popcorn that was quickly being scarfed up by my feathered friends.

The ferns on the north side of the house are fading fast.

They've since cleared 'em out, but these lovelies were till hanging in there at the library's flower beds about a week ago.

Fall Reds in the Yard

2011-09-22T16:35:00.002-08:00

At first it's subtle, the reds start creeping into the yellow displays that tend to dominate here, like this one just above Wasilla Lake.

Then, as the fireweed begins it's morph from flower to firey weed, the reds begin to color our landscape.

These two shots, this one and the next, were taken through my front window but still do a good job of capturing the lovely colors that surround us during a good Fall in Alaska.

The little snowflake decal, btw, is on the window in an effort to keep the birds from whamming into it. It works....sorta. Anyway, the red toward the bottom is mostly fireweed on my side of the chain link fence while the red leaves are in a neighbors yard. I've really got to break down and ask them what kind of trees these are one of these days.

Scenic Glenn Highway

2011-09-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

Had to go into the big city, ie Anchorage, yesterday, so snapped a few pix on the way home. The leaves are changing colors and falling like crazy, so fall, or maybe even winter is very much in the air and it's beautiful.

Hatcher Pass, A Mental Break Kinda Jaunt

2011-09-09T19:34:00.003-08:00

See the next blog entry for more pix of Summit Lake area,

Hatcher Pass - Summit Lake

2011-09-09T19:27:00.002-08:00

Fireweed Fading to Fluff

2011-09-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been awhile since I've updated this blog, huh? I'll try to do a new, more meaningful, photo-heavy post later, but check out the difference in the fireweed from this post and the posts below. Pretty flowering is gone, leaving the fluff, tho' not particularly heavy in these two shots, both taken this morning.

Little Red Wagon

2011-08-16T15:51:00.001-08:00

For more on this way cool, unique vehicle, see this YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTnHIUNBjJc

How very, very cool is this? I'd read about it in the newspaper and seen video clips but this was my first live sighting of the car. The YouTube video linked above tells the story of its creation.

According to the video, the steering wheel is actually made from the wheel of a real Radio Flyer.

The handle sticks up eight feet!

TGIF

2011-08-05T19:34:00.000-08:00

There was some chatter on both Facebook and Twitter today that termination dust, ie the first snows of the season as seen on the mountain peaks, was already being seen on the mountains here and there. I meandered out to the road to take a look up toward the Talkeetnas (too many tree leaves to see 'em from the house in the summer) and didn't see anything. Not that I'm complaining. Love this place and do delight in the beauty of our winters but, well, love the summers better.

The fireweed alongside the road seems to agree with me, not yet having bloomed to the top. According to lore, when the last buds have bloomed at the top, it's the end of summer here.

This one was out behind the house, near the barn. I think the rains we've been having must have done a number on it cos it was sagging down but, please note, still reaching for the skies. You go, little fireweed!

This one's out front and I have no clue what it is but there's more of it this year than last, so guess it's moving in.

Even a few of the Columbines are hanging in there. Go figure tho', this is one of the ones growing in the cracks of the front sidewalk. Right up next to the garage wall.

And I'm betting the birds are glad to see the berries.

Visiting Joe Sr.

2011-08-04T18:42:00.002-08:00

For some reason the Coke machine just jumps out at me, but liked this view otherwise. I hustled over to HQ today to recapture an angle/shot of the Joe Redington Sr. statue that has gone missing with the crash and death of my ol' external drive. Need it to recreate the original document for Backstage iditarod. The statue always captures my mind, tho', even in passing, and, no surprise, camera lens.

All those who helped finance the erection of this statue. It remains one of my regrets that I didn't discover the Iditarod soon enough to get to meet Joe Redington Sr. in person.

This view gave me a smile as I noticed that Feets' tail is surely wagging.

View from the driveway, Joe's arm about Feets.

A bit dark as the clouds were rolling in, but probably my favorite shot of the day. As many times as I've seen this statue and photographed it, the incredible detail in it always impresses me.

Clouds, flowers, mountains and a hungry squirrel

2011-07-31T18:47:00.000-08:00

Random Flowers on a Warm (for Alaska) Day

2011-07-22T17:03:00.002-08:00

Getting a Flower Fix in Palmer

2011-07-20T16:47:00.036-08:00

Yes, I know this isn't a flower but this statue of Balto, made possible by the 2nd-3rd grade classes of Butte Elem. in 1997-98, stands guard at the parking lot of the Palmer Visitor Center where their flower garden is on display every summer. The rest of the pix are just random shots, pretty much in the order I took them as I wandered about.

Oddly enough, since it was in this garden that I discovered spoonflowers last year, I didn't see one, but this one is surely a cousin to my Spoony. It was in the display around the sign outside the center.

I am so loving this flower, tho' don't think it'd fit into my landscaping (okay, Mother Nature's random landscaping that I just don't mow down). It sorta grows up a wire frame they've stretched up the sides of the gateway into the garden. Think vine. Very delicate and showy.

No clue what this is and couldn't find any ID'er, but the color is fairly accurate. I think I looked briefly at some of it at the plant place in Eagle River the day I bought Spoony, tho' obviously I didn't file away the name for future reference.

Oh, pretty yellow flowers abound....

Not the greatest shot but I love foxglove. Maybe it'll be my gardening adventure next summer, who knows. I haven't managed to kill Spoony yet.

Oh, man, these smelled soooooo good.

You'd think by now that as much as I love these flowers that I'd remember their name but, sigh, I don't.

You know, I think I could live with a front yard full of this. The clover would blend right in and I'd never know when summer gives way to winter, right?

I'm not quite sure I want one of these Walking Onions -- never heard of 'em until today -- in my yard, but they sure make for an interesting looking flower.

Here's another one I liked but couldn't find a name for. Not lupine, at least the sort of lupine I'm familiar with.

An otherwise so-so photo that's here simply cos it's the only one I managed to get a half-way decent shot of even one of those darn bees buzzing around over there in.

More orange than red in real life.

These remind me lots of what I've been calling bluebells around here tho', well, obviously not blue. White bells?

The sunflowers were just too, too cool. The looked so perfect in spots that I just had to touch 'em to make sure they were real!

Found the sorta tan color of these interesting.

They'd put together some interesting colors in flower beds.

A not very successful attempt to be arty, "Raindrops on Cabbage".

Hanging above the gateway into the garden was this beautiful basket of flowers. Some folks were posing with it as we arrived. That's the Visitor's Center to the rear.

wishing now that I'd gotten a better close-up shot of this one. Love the markings.

You've heard of "Pretty in Pink"? Well, here's "Pretty in Yellow".

Another wild looking plant that grabbed my attention.

Pointy Mellow Yellow? No clue....

Had a soft, lacey look

A hanging basket outside a side door into the Visitor Center.

Just in case taking in all the flowers gives us the yen to travel, there's a big sign with multiple sides showing the various distances to places many of us can only dream of visiting.

Then again, the road home beckons....

Lunch Date?

2011-07-11T12:23:00.003-08:00

Hadn't checked my mailbox in days and days, so decided to venture out into the real world briefly yesterday to do that, then headed down for lunch at McD's. This handsome fella joined me.

Sunshine on my shoulder....

2011-07-09T21:14:00.013-08:00

Rose Barlow Columbine

The day started out sorta overcast and dreary, so it was a delight to have the sun push through mid-afternoon and shine on not just my shoulder as I wandered through the yard, but lots of "pretties". After last summer, which was largely dreary and cold, we've learned to appreciate this sorta day.

Clover, which makes the front yard smell absolutely divine.

These are in the back yard fighting for space with the fireweed, which seems on a mission this year to take over the back yard....heck, the whole yard. Of course, sucker that I am, my mowing chore is kinda getting smaller and smaller every year as I tend to mow around the pretty stuff, like fireweed, so the border just sorta creeps inward.

I remember looking up this one last year but for the life of me can't remember its name. Oh, well, it's interesting.

Part of the fireweed army, tho' most of it hasn't even started to bloom yet.

I'm told this may be a tamarak tree. It's the one that provides most of the cones that I take pix of over the seasons.

Some globe flowers, aka "pretty yellow flowers" are still hanging in there tough and sharing space with the bachelor buttons which may be in competition with the fireweed for the yard next year at the rate they're going.

Video: Quick Stop at the Little Su on Independence Day

2011-07-05T14:08:00.003-08:00

Video: Hatcher/Independence Mine Waterfall

2011-07-05T13:55:00.002-08:00

Taken from the little bridge that goes to the Assay Office. A look at the Independence Mine area as well as the waterfall there.

4th of July at Hatcher Pass/Independence Mine

2011-07-04T18:33:00.039-08:00

I can't seem to make myself drive past the Little Su viewing platform.

Nor can I ever resist stopping for the "first view" of the lodge and mine area.

From the parking lot up at Independence Mine

Up on the level with the gift shop, right, looking back down toward the Valley.

Looking left from the general area of the gift shop.

Oh, okay, one last peek down toward the Valley.

Oh, yeah, looks warm and inviting, doesn't it?

Bunkhouse

General over-view of the rather chaotic ruins of Independence Mine itself.

Uh, a fixer uppper?

This is the path you walk up to take a gander at the ruins and waterfall coming down from the mine area.

Old equipment and tools are everywhere.

This big piece is an iron of sorts, apparantly used to press bags....for gold???

Some folks walking up the trail to where there is an ol' mine shaft (no, you can't go far into it) and a killer view.

Remains of one building, still standing, and another one sorta fallen in on itself.

The assay offices

A stream passes under the walkway to the Assay Offices and you will occasionally even find folks panning it for gold today.

I'm not quite sure what this was called, but it appeared to be something they used to blast their way through rock in the search for that elusive vein of gold.

I bet we can all figure out what they stored in here!

Inadvertant self-portrait, that's me reflecting in the glass with the window behind my head, snapped while taking a photo of the map of the mine area.

Mine ruins. The tracks left are directly in front of the mine shaft that is now sealed off just behind it.

One of these days, alas, I'm sure the tracks will collapse in on themselves but they're very cool to see nowadays.

Another shot of the Mat-Su Valley below.

One of the rangers said that this peak was the area that the first gold find was made.

Back in the good ol' days, all supplies, food and mine equipment, had to be brought into the area via sleds and carts similar to these.

The road sorta meandering up the hill to right-center is this end of Willow-Fishhook Road, which you can follow all the way out to Parks Highway and, well, Willow. It's Wasilla-Fishhook that I drive to get there from this side.

Just another view of some of the buildings that still stand at Independence Mine.

I've headed home in this one but stopped to take the cameras off from around my neck just past the turn to Willow-Fishhook. Left it to others to explore for today and am about to wind my way down, down, down....

Just a random shot taken on the drive back down to the Valley.

The white in the lower left is probably the Gold Mint Mine area parking lot.

Not real plain in this shot but the clouds were rollling in at this point.

But, oh, still time for one last shot of some pretty flowers! Had a lovely day, well, aside from the blizzard of cottonwood fluff that attacked me.

Lazy Afternoon at Lake Lucille

2011-06-29T19:55:00.018-08:00

My Frontyard

2011-06-29T19:01:00.002-08:00

Fireweed

The Midnight Hour

2011-06-26T16:18:00.002-08:00

Just happened to look out the window at midnight Friday evening and this is what I saw. Gotta love the midnight hour here, huh?

Iditarod Picnic pix

2011-06-25T16:40:00.001-08:00

If you're here looking for pix from the Iditarod's summer picnic, they're on the Backstage Iditarod blog at http://backstage-iditarod.blogspot.com

One very happy robin

2011-06-22T16:20:00.001-08:00

I mowed today and I'm pretty sure this robin was posing to thank me for kicking up a snack or two for it.

Birds, buds, butterflies and bees

2011-06-22T16:10:00.008-08:00

This robin was quite happy to see me mowing as it kicks up a snack for it!

Columbine buds, slowly emerging

Love my "pretty yellow flowers," aka globe flowers.

Went out to take pix of some wild roses along my street and wound up stalking a butterfly with the camera.

The bees were a little too fast for the long lens that I had on the camera but still had fun stalking them.

The Romance of Trains

2011-06-21T11:31:00.004-08:00

I never thought much about trains until I moved to Alaska. In fact, I'd never been on one. Yet, trains are just a fact of life here. I can hear one as I type, heading to places unknown. The sound of that distant whistle still has the power to conjure up the romantic in me, making me ponder the many stories on the train and wonder where it's going and who's going with it. At night, in bed in that pleasant land halfway between sleep and wake, I hear the trains and find myself giving a sleepy smile.

Now, true, I might not be as fond of that lovely sound if I lived closer to the tracks; but I'm just close enough and far enough away that it's a pleasant, non-intruding sound, one that takes me back to days of yore. Wouldn't it be fun to be able to just hop a train and follow it to adventure and sights unseen? I saw my first bore tide from a train, my second bear in the wild from a train, and some of the wildest, most wonderful scenery imagineable from the windows of a train. Yep, I wanna go ride the rails again.

The fact that there's something about the sound of a train whistle even today that sends me scrambling for my camera, even during mundane, everyday pit stops speaks volumes. Here's one barely captured as it cruises past me as I eat my snack in the McDonald's parking lot in Wasilla. Even then, car wheels beneath me, a full tank of (very expensive) gas, and time to kill, I could help thinking how cool it would be to be on that train.

Hail Storm!!!

2011-06-15T17:32:00.007-08:00

Well, I'm impressed. We had not only a pretty impressive hard rain (for Alaska), but Mother Nature tossed in some hail just for amusement's sake.

The rhubarb was practicing fielding fly balls with the hail, I guess.

While, indoors, Spoony the Spoon Flower, quite happy to be safe inside, was watching the hail collect on the deck.

It's a Grand Ol' Flag

2011-06-14T15:07:00.001-08:00

Taking a walk along Wasilla Lake

2011-06-13T15:22:00.008-08:00

Birthday Flower Power

2011-06-11T19:59:00.008-08:00

A relaxed kinda Memorial Day

2011-05-31T12:16:00.023-08:00

Even the dragonflies were checking out the view on the deck!

Hmm, glacier dust anyone? Sigh.

Dixon was doing his sun-dog impersonation.

Not a bad view for lunch, huh?

Flowers are beginning to burst out.

Squirrely dropped in for a snack, too.

Apple blossoms! Did you know apple trees grow in Alaska? I didn't until relatively recently.

More pretties....

Wild roses, which grow everywhere! Love it!

Oh, I know what this one is! Must be cousins to my globe flowers in my front yard. Love these "pretty yellow flowers".

Spoon-flower, getting a nice start.

And, finally, made a stop at Aurora Cemetery here in Wasilla on the way home. This simple, stark photo kinda reminds me what it's all about.

Quick Jaunt to Lake Lucille

2011-05-25T17:25:00.009-08:00

Wednesday Odds'n'Ends

2011-05-19T16:41:00.011-08:00

Squill, first flower of the season for me. But, hey, the columbine is trying!