Trixie's View

Full Moon Poetry

2009-12-30T18:21:00.000-09:00

Full Moon by Robert Hayden

No longer throne of a goddess to whom we pray,
no longer the bubble house of childhood's
tumbling Mother Goose man,

The emphatic moon ascends--
the brilliant challenger of rocket experts,
the white hope of communications men.

Some I love who are dead
were watchers of the moon and knew its lore;
planted seeds, trimmed their hair,

Pierced their ears for gold hoop earrings
as it waxed or waned.
It shines tonight upon their graves.

And burned in the garden of Gethsemane,
its light made holy by the dazzling tears
with which it mingled.

And spread its radiance on the exile's path
of Him who was The Glorious One,
its light made holy by His holiness.

Already a mooted goal and tomorrow perhaps
an arms base, a livid sector,
the full moon dominates the dark.

Wednesday Poetry

2009-12-16T10:36:00.002-09:00

The Snowfall Is So Silent
by Miguel de Unamuno
Translated by Robert Bly

The snowfall is so silent,
so slow,
bit by bit, with delicacy
it settles down on the earth
and covers over the fields.
The silent snow comes down
white and weightless;
snowfall makes no noise,
falls as forgetting falls,
flake after flake.
It covers the fields gently
while frost attacks them
with its sudden flashes of white;
covers everything with its pure
and silent covering;
not one thing on the ground
anywhere escapes it.
And wherever it falls it stays,
content and gay,
for snow does not slip off
as rain does,
but it stays and sinks in.
The flakes are skyflowers,
pale lilies from the clouds,
that wither on earth.
They come down blossoming
but then so quickly
they are gone;
they bloom only on the peak,
above the mountains,
and make the earth feel heavier
when they die inside.
Snow, delicate snow,
that falls with such lightness
on the head,
on the feelings,
come and cover over the sadness
that lies always in my reason.

Wednesday Poetry

2009-12-09T11:41:00.001-09:00

Hardware Sparrows
by R. T. Smith

Out for a deadbolt, light bulbs
and two-by-fours, I find a flock
of sparrows safe from hawks

and weather under the roof
of Lowe's amazing discount
store. They skitter from the racks

of stockpiled posts and hoses
to a spill of winter birdseed
on the concrete floor. How

they know to forage here,
I can't guess, but the automatic
door is close enough,

and we've had a week
of storms. They are, after all,
ubiquitous, though poor,

their only song an irritating
noise, and yet they soar
to offer, amid hardware, rope

and handyman brochures,
some relief, as if a flurry
of notes from Mozart swirled

from seed to ceiling, entreating
us to set aside our evening
chores and take grace where

we find it, saying it is possible,
even in this month of flood,
blackout and frustration,

to float once more on sheer
survival and the shadowy
bliss we exist to explore.

She Has Erupted

2009-03-23T10:46:00.003-08:00

Have you ever wanted to see what a volcanic eruption looks like on a seismograph? Well, if you look closely at the above image, courtesy of the Alaska Volcano Observatory's page on Mt. Redoubt, you can see five discreet eruptions.

So far, we have no ash in Anchorage. Flights out of Anchorage and heading north, at this time, are not happening. As I have said before, ash and jet engines do not mix. Another interesting link to look at, again on the AVO website, is their puff predictor. What a wonderful tool! Please, Bobby Jindal, don't take it away!

I would post actual pictures from my house of the volcano, except after a week of gorgeous, crystal clear weather, Mt. Redoubt choose a perfectly cloudy day to erupt. We will just have to make due with webicorders.

Volcano Un-Erupted

2009-03-16T13:03:00.002-08:00

Sometime the end of January Mt. Redoubt rumbled to life. It had been in state of repose, relative to active volcanoes. It hadn't erupted in many years. The national media picked up on it's activities. The state was at readiness for any issues arriving from an eruption. My workplace had contingency plans in place for routing aircraft due to an ash event.

We maintained this level of vigilance and readiness for over a month. Activity slowly quieted down. Here in Anchorage, we were feeling a bit of relief, but also kind of jilted. It was like getting all dressed and ready for a night on the town, then your date never shows. Oh well. The Alaska Volcano Observatory down graded Mt. Redoubt back to a level yellow last Thursday. No ugly ash for Anchorage.

Yesterday as the family drove to some friends' house, we had a chance to observe Mt. Redoubt. Hmmm....what is that large plume, going about three miles into the air? Ohhhhh....increased activity! We are now back up to an orange level. No one knows when or if Mt. Redoubt will erupt, however, with a level orange, there is a 24 hour watch on all the data and activity associated with this volcano.

Why would we need around the clock surveillance on a seemingly remote volcano? When Mt. Redoubt erupted in 1989 a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 747 with 231 passengers flew through the ash plume. The ash took out all engines on the aircraft. Luckily, after falling for more than two miles the crew was able to restart the engines. Air traffic has only increased into Anchorage in the last twenty years. Ash and jet engines do not mix. So, we are back to wondering if we are going to get an eruption. If we do, I sure hope I don't have to go anywhere.

On another note, I am working with this yarn. What a lovely yarn, it is 80% suri alpaca and 20% silk. Yummy! The only problem is I cannot find anymore of it.

If you have any tips where I can find one more hank of Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Baby Suri Silk, dye lot #83406, let me know!

2009-02-14T10:44:00.002-09:00

Cook Inlet -Turnagain Arm - Portage Valley Timelapse from Dennis Zaki on Vimeo.

Wow! This is such a cool movie from Dennis Zaki. He's a photographer and film maker over at the Alaska Report. Enjoy the water and movement.

Dinner with Lupe

2009-02-11T10:43:00.003-09:00

I am trying to get back on the blogging train. I am deeply sorry and I humbly repent for letting anyone down. Gee, it's just been an extra busy winter. I have been getting Zoey to workouts with a high school team and homeschooling Vivi now, too. Why don't the high school workouts happen at MY house? Hmmmm....

A few weeks ago we had supper with Guadalupe, the godmother of my children. Her wonderful husband, Kelly, was there, too. She gave the girls their Christmas gifts. Vivi's is this fantastic pink hat. She will not be parted from it, now.

Lupe also unleashed her fabulous purple wig for all to enjoy. Needless to say, we had a grand time. And thanks to Lupe for the pictures. I had forgotten my camera.

Long Nights Moon

2008-12-11T16:18:00.003-09:00

Welcome to the Celtic month of the Long Nights Moon! Gather your friends and family around the your hearth or kitchen stove, socialize, share stories and await the return of the sun.

Today I watched this Long Nights Moon rise over False O'Malley Peak, and found myself darn near run over on the raven super highway. Most of Anchorage's ravens were flying off to their roost in the Chugach Mountains. My camera and I were inadequate to catch their daily migration. Most were only ten feet over my head.

The moon was rising almost due north and on the other side of the house at the same time the sun was setting due south. I love this time of year, the stillness and quiet, at least when I can grab it!

Today is also the day in 1531 that the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico. Isn't she beautiful? I will light a candle to her tonight and gather my family around.

Sing the Praises of Charlie's Bakery

2008-12-10T14:06:00.003-09:00

For many years after moving back to Anchorage I mourned for real Chinese food. I wanted to walk into a warm, steamy restaurant and see women pushing carts of char sui bao and ching fun. Alas, all Chinese food in Anchorage that I could find was bastardized and americanized, with gooey sweet and sour. It was all overdone and over the top.

Then, about four years ago a co-worker whose mother is from Taiwan opened a door to happiness for me. Ahhhhh...... Behold the lovely shu mai above and the subtle chicken dish that tastes like there is honey and five spices in the preparation.

And below are nicely sweet, savory and sour crystal dumplings! I treated the girls to lunch at Charlie's on Monday. There are no women pushing carts around like at the fantastic Fook Restaurant in San Francisco, but Charlie's is a slice of heaven in Anchorage.

On Tuesday Vivi had gymnastics. It's not connected to Charlie's in any way, except we all enjoy it.

Just a note, I was not laid-off, I took a voluntary leave of absence for three months so that a more junior agent would *not* get laid off. I am loving every moment of it and find that I have had even LESS time to myself. Sheesh!

How Time Flies...

2008-12-04T16:00:00.003-09:00

One would think that with not working my wage slave job, I would have oodles of time to post. Actually, it has been quite the opposite.

I have been getting Zoey to all kinds of work-outs and range openings. I have been getting her to her play rehearsals. Yes, she is in a play right smack in the middle of the holiday season. She is a character in the Christmas-Yet-To-Come part of "A Christmas Carol." She is LOVING it. Check out the play...

I have been re-connecting with my friends, like Lupe.

I have also been enjoying the view from my house.

And not having to drive in the snow!

What Did You Do Today?

2008-11-04T11:32:00.002-09:00

Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,
All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old,
Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,
Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,
A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,
Chair'd in the adamant of Time.

Walt Whitman

I am amazed at all the early voting, all the long lines, all the folks that spending their free time waiting to cast their ballots. Amen!

Our sleepy little mountain precinct was a buzz with kindergarteners in gym class, but quiet for voters. We went at lunch time, not a huge rush then. The young poll workers assured me that there had been a rush before work and as parents dropped their children off for school. I thanked them. Both girls remarked that these were not the usual cadre of retirees. Things are a changin'. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Zoey was excited to go voting with me, Vivi helped color in the circles. I always take my girls voting with me, but this was the first time they were excited. They can sense the charge in the air.

Lines and Contrast

2008-11-02T17:29:00.002-09:00

Heard in the Hood

2008-10-18T15:58:00.003-08:00

Vivi and I were browning meat for stew today. She opened the sliding glass door to let some smoke out (we have no hood over the stove) and came running back. She was exhilarated and scared at the same time. She heard something, but wasn't sure what it was. So, I stepped out onto the deck to hear a wolf calling.

I have heard wolves here before, but never in daylight. It is amazing. I've been scoping for him, but have yet to get a visual. When Tom comes home from Hatcher's Pass, he and I may walk down there and see if we can see a moose kill or something.

Any Ideas?

2008-10-09T12:34:00.001-08:00

Vivi wants to be Teddy Roosevelt for Halloween. This has been her dream since about April. Any ideas how I can pull this off?

Two Days

2008-10-07T10:32:00.002-08:00

Two days ago my world looked like this, lovely fall in Eagle River Valley.

There were several chickadees on my deck vying for sunflower seeds.

And moose in the yard, browsing.

We now have snow, actually sticking. We have been plowed twice. On Sunday evening I could not get out of my neighborhood since every ding-dong in the Anchorage bowl with bald tires and no studs decided to come look at the pretty snow. About 9:30p the temperature dropped enough to make driving down a safe adventure. We would not have left, except Zoey had been at a youth group activity. We were three hours late to pick her up. Thank heavens for good friends. As we were driving down we saw about a dozen abandoned vehicles. It was like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, or the rapture or something. The winter driving debut of the new Honda CRV is extremely positive. Not to be overlooked Tom, who had the foresight to get my snow tires on on Saturday. YIPPY!

So, with all this winter weather, what is a gal to do? Why, make suet dough for the birds. I also made a fantastic beef stew for us people, but I didn't get any pictures of it.

Guesses?

2008-09-28T14:59:00.004-08:00

While I worked in a grey warehouse on Saturday, my dear husband and children got to see this guy (or gal) across the street on the phone wires. Any guesses who this is?

He also got to see a Northern Shrike pick up and fly away with a vole from around the swingset. I am so very jealous.

Autumn

2008-09-25T12:02:00.002-08:00

Autumn is definitely here. The snow is coming down the mountains, the leaves are turning and falling. As a family we have been chasing belugas, following the tides on Turnagain Arm. Things may finally be slowing to a dull roar, or at least finding some equilibrium. We are finding our routines for school work and work-work. Ahhh....

Of course, these tenuous habits can be easily subverted. Say, when both the children get strep. There has been just a wee bit more sleeping and popsicle eating than usual.

Vivi reached a milestone on Tuesday evening. She lost her first tooth. She was shocked and amazed. Even today she will walk up to me, smile and ask if I see anything different. Oh how I love her heart!

She and I and Tom went for a drive on Sunday. We spotted Trumpeter Swans, Bald Eagles, Common Snipe, Beluga Whales and Red Salmon. Vivi even showed off her great upper body strength and control. Sheesh!

Six, Six, We are Six

2008-09-08T11:44:00.003-08:00

September 5th was Vivi's big day. The birthday girl requested breakfast in bed and so Zoey and I accomodated her. She had granola with milk, strawberries, and orange juice.

Zoey and I baked a cake and in the evening we all headed over to Pepere's house. We like him involved in all the family celebrations.

Vivi enjoyed opening her loot, playing with her new Littlest Pet Shop sets. She really likes her super light weight, super small, and super pink binoculars! She is stoked about those.

Vivi's godmother, Sarah, stopped by for a quick birthday hug, kiss and a little cake. She recited the poem from below for Vivi. She is so thoughtful and sweet. I think we will keep Sarah!

When I was One,
I had just begun.

When I was Two,
I was nearly new.

When I was Three,
I was hardly Me.

When I was Four,
I was not much more.

When I was Five,
I was just alive.

But now I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

By A. A. Milne

Grammie had me get a new gymnastics suit for Vivi. I found a perfect pink, sparkly one. She wears it quite a lot! She loves her new gymnastics identity.

Arriving in our mailbox on her birthday, as if planned, is a lovely set of gifts from Susan. I was so touched.

Susan made bracelets for Vivi, Zoey, and me. She also gifted me my very first pair of hoop earrings! I love, love, love them. Thank you.

Aren't they lovely? Vivi's bracelet even has the most fantastic butterfly fimo beads. What a great find in bead land. She is sleeping in it.

The Last Day of Five

2008-09-04T11:48:00.002-08:00

Nope, I am not ready for tomorrow. I am not ready with a birthday cake, I have nothing wrapped, I even have to work. Mostly, though, I am not ready for this little spark, this amazing kid, this mysterious imagination to be six. Nope, not ready. Sigh....

Gifts

2008-08-24T20:30:00.003-08:00

What more could a girl ask for on her birthday than to have a bear on the knoll?

Thursday Zoey, Vivi and I watched this fellow for quite a few minutes. He is about 1/2 mile away on Cranberry Hill.

He was foraging for berries and grubs. The blueberries are late, as is everything else. Even the bees think this summer has been too cool.

After work the sky put on a great show. The shimmering water is Lake Hood and Lake Spenard; the busiest float plane airport in the world.

Au Revoir, My Zoom-a-room

2008-08-19T10:23:00.002-08:00

It was lovely Saturday night when I left work. I started my Subaru and made my customary phone call home. Since we live a ways from town, I always call before I come home to see if we need anything from the market. Tom had reached his limit on the kitchen sink and had ripped it out. He asked if I could stop at Freddie's and pick up a few parts. We also needed milk.

I drove the few miles from the airport to the market, everything seemed fine. I did notice a little steam coming from the grill, but it had rained earlier. When I got to the parking lot and turned to get into my spot, the car acted funny. It made loud, metallic clunking sounds and it seemed like I was driving over big river rocks, like a hesitation and then a go. I went in and did my shopping.

When I got back, there was some fluid on the ground. Hmmmmm.... I fired her up, tried to back out and the sounds and feelings from before were there and bigger. I pulled back into the spot. The car parked in front of me was leaving, too. I let her back out then I tried to pull through, thinking maybe it was limited to backing. No doing. I did not feel safe driving home. Thank heavens for cell phones. I called Tom and waited about twenty minutes for him to arrive. I was very grateful to have a little knitting tucked in my work bag.

Tom and I walked around the car. We found a big puddle of transmission fluid, cherry red and slick. Yuck. He jumped in, made it halfway around the parking lot without incident. I was thinking "Oh, great, it will only act funny for me, with no witnesses. Grand!" Finally, it started clunking for him, too. We took anything of value out of her and left the Subaru for the night.

We knew we were going to get a new (or new to us) vehicle this year, we just were hoping to do it on our terms. The Subaru was on it's second engine. This second engine had leaked oil from the get go, one cylinder was down to half compression. However, we had never had any transmission issues at all.

Sunday we went back to the scene of the crime. Tom drove the Subaru to the shop. They are hopefully going to buy it. They told us when last we were in that they would like to purchase it. That will give us a bit of a down on the next one. There we pulled everything out of it. Of course, I had a load to go to the ASPCA thrift store. Zoey and I talked about all her memories from the Zoom-a-room. We got that car when she was two and for a long time that is what she called it, her Zoom-a-room. She also had great fantasies about it being a lander/explorer like on Lost in Space.

Vivi cried, she is not as good with change as Zoey. She had all her stickers on her window. She was rather upset.

To bribe Vivi we drove along Turnagain Arm, looked for belugas, had burgers and IPA at Chair Five in Girdwood. Sigh...

Now we are down to one car, waiting for the first paycheck of the school year, limping by. If I promised to mail anything to anyone, or do some favor or chore, it may be a little while longer. Sorry!

I am just really grateful that the Zoom-a-room had the grace to kick the bucket in a parking lot in the fall with no children. It could have been much more awkward with stressed out children, loads of snow, below zero temperatures. Thanks for the timing, Zoom-a-room.

Puffin On Through

2008-08-14T21:00:00.003-08:00

It has been such a crazy busy six weeks.

Zoey was in theatre camp and played Titania in a Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Vivi was in gymnastics camp and got invited onto the competition team.

My car is dying a slow, painful and expensive death.

Our fridge quit for about a week. It healed up once Tom figured out the problem.

The powers that be at work decided that we needed a re-model and to change some practices in the middle of our busiest season and while understaffed. Also, there are some serious power struggles going on there, they do not effect my job except that all the managers are trying to put their stamp on something and look highly effective.

We are tying the record for coolest and cloudiest summer since 1915.

Let's just say some wine has been going down at our house.

I did have the last week off and we were going to go to Portland, but Kasotochi Volcano out along the Aleutians decided to send up some ash. Many, many flights to and from the lower 48 were cancelled. So, we just stayed put. Darn! I could have used the nice summery 80F+ degrees Oregon had to offer.

We did go to the SeaLife Center in Seward. The girls were thoroughly engaged. They had different speeds and desires, so Tom took Vivi to all the mammals and Zoey and I stayed in the aviary. It was near closing time and there were no cruise ships in port, so it was quiet. We had the place to ourselves. Zoey made friends with a tufted puffin named Dorrie.

How Dirty is Dirty?

2008-07-07T16:04:00.003-08:00

Yesterday we went on a bike ride along the shores of Eklutna Lake. It was a bit damp with some showers for about the first two miles of the trail, but then it dried up. The sky was overcast, but there was no wind. We had a gorgeous reflection of the mountains on the turquoise lake.

We rode with another family, friends of Zoey's from Mighty Bikes. Besides having a fabulous daughter named Hannah who is Zoey's age, they have a nine year old daughter who can ride! She was great. Her name is Zoe, too. I didn't bring my camera on the ride, it was too bulky, so no pictures along the way.

Vivi rode on her sticked together bike and won the Dirtiest Biker Ever contest. Doesn't she look fantastic? A lovely patina of glacial silt can do wonders for the skin.

Tom is my hero for riding nineteen miles to the airstrip and back with a trail-a-bike and Vivi. We all rode the nineteen miles, just the rest of us did not have the add bonus bike and biker.

Believe it or not, all the clothes have come out sparkling! I was exceedingly doubtful when I started the washer, but have been pleasantly surprised.

This just in...our comrade-in-arms Gerry passed along these last three shots. We ALL enjoyed the ride.

I love how Vivi looks transcendent here. Despite all the mud she really enjoyed her ride. Thanks for the photos, Gerry and Kathy.

Twig Wishes You A Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-04T13:32:00.003-08:00

Here in Alaska we have a little zoo. They have interesting Arctic and boreal animals including Amur tigers and snow leopards. The zoo has a very folksy feel, with little split rail fences, gorgeous flowers and a lovely woodland setting.

They even have several kinds of birds, all injured and flightless now. There are two ravens who are a hoot to watch. One raven loves twigs, so Tom and Zoey will place twigs in a place where this raven can snag them. They have named the raven Twig. Here is Twig talking to us. Sorry for the guy who comes up mid-way through and needs to talk, too.

Really, She Does Make Noise!

2008-07-03T00:33:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the technical glitch on the last try. This is the musk ox momma calling to her cute baby. When I heard her at the zoo, my back was turned and I could not believe until I actually saw her make this noise that it was the musk ox. Check her out, I am sure you will be amazed.

Momma Musk Ox

2008-07-02T12:04:00.004-08:00

Have you ever heard a mother musk ox call to her baby? We got treated to this display when we visited the zoo on Monday.

Mammals, Mammals Everywhere

2008-06-30T14:54:00.002-08:00

It has been a cooler June here in the north. Our temperatures have been mostly at or below average. The skies have been grey and damp, some wind. I have not been walking or birding much. My life has been busy with kid activities, work, extra stuff (like a building remodel at work), doctor's appointments, and car trouble. Yuck!

However, in the last two weeks the bigger mammals have been coming around. We have had several moose visiting.

This young male has been frequently our house in the mornings. He looks like this might be his first year on his own. Many moose have liked to hang out around the swing set. One bull a few years ago liked to walk between the swings and get them moving with his antlers. He would walk through and then turn around and watch them move. When the swings slowed down, he would do it again.

This bigger, older bull has been a visitor in the evenings.

And just in the last week have we had a fury black friend attempt to get into our new garbage can. So far the new and improved bear-proof garbage can is holding.

On a more serious note, a friend and team-mate of Zoey was attacked by a grizzly bear on Sunday morning. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts.

Northern Sunset

2008-06-26T12:23:00.003-08:00

I know I post a good many sunset shots. It is one of the best benefits of living where I do. I love watching the sky and it's changes. After a day spent in a grey, dusty, contentious warehouse during fish season I need to see the sky change.

Last night after work, the sky put on a real show. Watch how the sun plays with the sky. Being passed the solstice the sun will begin to see a wee bit farther south every evening. Nothing stops the inexorable march to the winter solstice. Right now the sun is still setting to the west northwest.

In this last shot you can see the shape of Mt. Foraker in the shadow on the clouds as the sun sets behind the second highest peak in the Alaska range.

Thanks for the great show, Mother Nature, I sure needed it.

What to do when summer is chilly

2008-06-25T10:23:00.002-08:00

My friend, Kristy, needs some serious knitting help. She is going to an orphanage in Ukraine and wants to take a hat for each child. Since our spring has been chilly, I have had the time to knit ten hats. I used Patons SWS. It has a lovely feel and sheen, with a great deal of color choices. It is a blend of wool and soy, it can felt and holds up nicely.

My kids have been the testers and models for the hats. Through their input, I decided to line these with a little fleece. Now, they are extra warm and comfy. I think this will be a good hat for the Ukrainian winters.

I also got to use my long dormant Russian language skills to make a nifty tag for each hat. Now, I just have to get them in the mail to Kristy. If anyone else out there has the time or inclination, I would happily supply an easy, easy pattern.

Solstice

2008-06-21T00:06:00.002-08:00

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be:
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckles live their savours:
I must go seek some dewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.
Farewell, thou lob of spirits; I'll be gone:
Our queen and all our elves come here anon.

A Midsummer's Night Dream Act II William Shakespeare

Damn Fine Dad

2008-06-15T15:57:00.004-08:00

I like when you take me skiing
And I like when you bring home cherries to eat
I hug you a lot
Because you are so sweet

by Vivi

Happy Father's Day to all the dads I know. I am so impressed with the fathers in my life. Tom is fantastic with his girls and his ski team kids. He is such a good role model, parent, mentor. He spends so much time with his girls, he loves them so much. He is teaching them to be good kids, women, stewards of nature, citizens, athletes. Wow! And he learned it all from his dad, Pepere. Thank you for giving me my beautiful girls.

Isn't this the sweetest picture of a daddy with his girl. That is a baby Zoey, my Moon Faced Girl.

A Pilgrimage, Of Sorts

2008-06-08T16:52:00.005-08:00

One afternoon this winter Zoey's Godmother, Sarah, innocently asked Zoey if she had read any of the Twilight books. That was the beginning of an obsessive reading jag. I had to buy two books still in hard cover! For a tween! Zoey cannot stop talking about these books and she has read them each three or four times.

My week of vacation came and we had no plans. Tom and I looked at weather all up and down the west coast. It seemed to be uniformly 50 to 60F with clouds and rain. So, we headed to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington since it is always 55F and rainy. We treated Zoey to a pilgrimage of the Twilight settings. This is the story of a vampire, a werewolf and the human girl they both love. It is definite chick lit. I have to put away my inner lit crit so I do not dampen Zoey's enjoyment.

Our first stop for the Twilight tour was Port Angeles. We dined where the characters Edward and Bella dined. Having had scads of mediocre Italian food in my life, I was skeptical, but game to eat at Bella Italia in Port Angeles. Boy, was I surprised! There was a decent kids menu which Vivi enjoyed. We had the calamari as an appetizer and it was so tender and sublime. Yum! Their wine list was extensive and varied. Tom highly recommends the Camaraderie Cellars merlot he had. It was divine on the palate.

Then it was off to Forks. It is the main setting for the novels. It is a typical logging town, surrounding by amazing scenery. Small, friendly, damp, damp, damp. We saw many houses that could have been Bella's. This was the one that stuck in my mind.

Forks is a small, easily navigable town. We had no problem finding the high school. It is ambling and varied in it's paint and architecture. There seemed to be at least three main entrances.

Zoey got a real kick out of walking where these fictional characters once walked. She enjoyed gaining new insights into the landscape. She was putting together how landscape can influence plot. I think she learned a great deal. She has some girlfriends who are now quite envious. All for a trip to Forks.

We even spotted a Forks Police Department patrol car.

Next we went to the Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park. What a spectacular place. Again, Zoey gathered valuable information. She remarked on how this forest matched her conception of place in the books. Stephenie Meyer choose this area for its cloud cover and its rain. Her vampires could easily hide here as there are very few sunny days.

There were monsters for everyone. Vivi got to hang a bit with Bigfoot. She has been fascinated with the idea of Bigfoot for over a year now, so seeing a chainsaw sculpture along the way was thrilling.

We ended our pilgrimage with a walk on First Beach in La Push. Bella cements her friendship with Jacob, the werewolf, here. In the second book Bella also dives off one of these haystacks into the ocean. Bella spends many hours contemplating her life among the monsters here.

We all enjoyed our visit to the Olympic Peninsula. Tom wants to go back and base us out of the Sol Duc Hot Springs. Then have he and Zoey hike over to the Hoh Rainforest. I think that would be pretty nifty. Although, I think I need a trip to sunny Oregon first.

The Gear Purchase

2008-05-31T14:10:00.005-08:00

When Tom and I married we got a very nice set of packable sleeping bags as a wedding gift. These are some seriously warm bags. Sleeping in my sleeping bag had become increasingly uncomfortable. This was one seriously narrow bag, I even thought that BEFORE I had two children and a sedentary job.

We were going camping at the yurt last week and I could not bear the thought of sleeping in that restrictive bag. Tom took pity on me and suggested we look for a new bag. I had not even thought of that. I guess I just assumed all packable bags were super narrow so that they would be extra light.

Off we went to several gear stores. We looked at loads of lovely bags, some good up to -25F. Yikes! I don't want to camp in that weather. These bags all had nice features and fabulous names like the Meadow bag, the Chrysalis, Mirror Pond, the Aleutian. What do you think the name of the bag that fit me was called? Any guesses? Any?

The Bighorn! I kid you not! Sheesh! I think the marketing folks at The North Face may want to take a look at that one. It was heaven to sleep in. Ahhh...

Hormones

2008-05-31T10:22:00.002-08:00

For the first time I can remember we have Redpolls hanging around into the spring. They are lovely, lively birds in winter, flocking up in large groups. The spring is all about couples. This little man is in his courting suit, all decked out. The change in color is very startling and noticeable. I will try to get some better pictures in the next while.

Extreme Spring Makeover

2008-05-22T19:33:00.002-08:00

Can you guess what I did today? Above is a before shot.

And here is an after! And I even managed to have a fantastic Fairweather IPA at the Bear Tooth with Tom. He was celebrating his last day of the school year with kids in the classroom. Yippy!

Zoey and Vivi are really enjoying the lovely weather and the forced time outdoors.

Sunset Theatre

2008-05-21T12:03:00.002-08:00

The sunset theatre is open and ready for business.

The sun is marching ever north this time of year; it sets in the northwest, rises in the northeast. It is up for over eighteen hours everyday. Sunsets are long, drawn out and glorious.

Sunday evening was particulary spectacular.

Our big drift is succumbing to the warmth.

So is the snow loaded up in parts of the yard.

And the Copper River reds are running, so I am smoking fish. Yeehaw!

Grow, Grow, Grow!

2008-05-18T20:26:00.002-08:00

Vivi has been having a big brain burst lately. She has been constantly busy, constantly questing. She has taken on the task of reading through writing. I am fascinated by this approach.

Zoey learned to read at a phenomenal rate, mostly through whole word recognition. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with the physical act of writing. She preferred to find other ways to express herself and her ideas.

Vivi is all about the writing. She loves the process, she wants to learn new numbers and letters all the time. She writes constantly. She even enjoys the little dotted tracing pages.

Her constant need for food has doubled recently, craving protein all the time. She is leaving me exhausted! She is an amazing little person, with a unique and highly developed perspective.

Vivi and I made her a bank this week out of an oatmeal box. We did some groovy decoupage. She really stuck with this project, throwing herself into it. She has also put together a Little People megalopolis. There has been a giant imagination game ongoing for days now.

It was a busy week even without Vivi's growing brain; there was the end of school picnic for Zoey's school, the new construction project at work that took many hours of meetings on my days off, and the blustery, nasty weather kept us inside. I will have more to share in the next few days as there is now sunlight and new birds. Also mammals!

Mother of the Year

2008-05-11T19:49:00.002-08:00

Look, two of my favorite mothers. That's my mom, Mother Mary, on the left. My sister, Liz, is on the right. These are some incredible moms. They have raised some of my most favorite people. They have done it some trying circumstances. Mary is even working on her second generation of mothering. Thanks for taking such good care of the kids in your life. Thanks, Mom, for helping me, teaching me, loving me and my children. I love you.

Side Effect?

2008-05-07T14:06:00.004-08:00

A troubling development at the homestead -- the Sparkly Red Heart Pox. I wonder which one of last week's vaccines has this as a side effect? Hmmm....

Terny

2008-05-07T10:56:00.003-08:00

Yesterday was a rather raw, breezy day. The girls and I had heard of all sorts of lovely things happening at Potter's Marsh. We headed over there to find it was very, very terny. There were hundreds of Arctic Terns. We also saw a few Canvas-backs, Red-necked Grebes, and a few Canadian Geese.

We even spotted a pair hanging out. I'm not sure if they were still courting or if they had made it to the nesting phase.

As we were leaving we even saw a Muskrat. I had never seen one there before. Pretty cool.

I also finished some baby hats. My friend, Janarose, is having a boy next month. I thought he might need a few stylish chapeaus.

Vaccinations

2008-05-03T11:14:00.002-08:00

On Wednesday I took the girls to the public health clinic here in town for some vaccinations. Vivi needed to finish up all the early childhood vaccines and Zoey for a tetanus booster and the HPV vaccine. We got there just as they opened for the afternoon. There was one little girl and her mother ahead of us. They were in and out in about fifteen minutes. Then it was our turn.

We went in the little office with the nurse. She explained all about the diseases we were preventing, the possible side effects. She had to see if Vivi was done with one or not. The nurse had to set up in little plastic trays all the vials and syringes. It took some time. There was a bit of build up.

Zoey went first, to set a good example for Vivi. And because Vivi insisted. Zoey was calm. She did shout "Owww!" on the HPV. She said it stung like crazy. While we were finishing up with Zoey the second nurse came in.

Vivi's turn came. She began screaming! "I won't get a shot! Momma, don't let them give me a shot! Don't let them hurt me! Momma, Momma, noooooo!" She climbed me like a monkey. She was screaming in my ear. I was mortified and laughing at the same time. I was trying to soothe her, too. It was so surreal.

I sat in a chair with Vivi clinging to me, face planted in my chest, arms around my neck. One nurse held her arm, the other did the deed. She was screaming. Until the needle went in. Then she was silent. She pulled her head back and looked me in the eye. Surprise written in her face. It was only a little pinch. For the next two vaccines she was much more calm. She thanked the nurses when we were done.

As we left, the waiting room was filled with about a dozen folks. All of them smirking. They heard everything.

May Day

2008-05-01T11:32:00.002-08:00

This is for Nina and her bank of poppy promise.

Poppies
Mary Oliver

The poppies send up their
orange flares; swaying
in the wind, their congregations
are a levitation

of bright dust, of thin
and lacy leaves.
There isn't a place
in this world that doesn't

sooner or later drown
in the indigos of darkness,
but now, for a while,
the roughage

shines like a miracle
as it floats above everything
with its yellow hair.
Of course nothing stops the cold,

black, curved blade
from hooking forward—
of course
loss is the great lesson.

But I also say this: that light
is an invitation
to happiness,
and that happiness,

when it's done right,
is a kind of holiness,
palpable and redemptive.
Inside the bright fields,

touched by their rough and spongy gold,
I am washed and washed
in the river
of earthly delight—

and what are you going to do—
what can you do
about it—
deep, blue night?

Happy Place! Happy Place! Quick!

2008-04-26T10:58:00.003-08:00

How does one deal with another two feet of heavy, wet snow? Or that the winds will be kicking up and drifting the snow, making life difficult tonight? How does one cleanse from loads of irregular operations at work since the state had trouble plowing the runway? Hmmmm.....

How about a retreat into a happy place? Like the Columbia River on a gorgeous summer day?

Perhaps Pawley's Island in South Carolina with warm water and happy kiddos?

Or a gorgeous sunset at Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina? Do you hear all the birds? The egrets, herons, ibises, painted buntings and prothonotary warblers? Can you smell the humidity and fecundity of the tide lands? Ahhhh....that's better.

Siberia Is Burning!

2008-04-23T22:44:00.004-08:00

All of Siberia is on fire and we are rubbing our eyes! Spring can bring a little low level haze to the Anchorage bowl; dust blows off the nearby Matanuska and Knik glaciers, the grime from accumulated road pucky. This is different.

The satellite image above, courtesy of the NASA's Earth Observatory, shows the direction the smoke is heading -- east, to Alaska. There is also a decent story at the BBC regarding the fires. Seems like there is nothing in the US press.

This was the sunset view out our sliding glass door tonight. Lovely color, terrible visibility.

Here is a view of the skyline of Anchorage from up in my neighborhood. This was taken on a nice February day. We had had some north winds, kicking up the usual grime.

This is a shot of the skyline this evening. I can hardly see town! YIKES!

Here is photo from March of a sunset, looking across Cook Inlet to the volcanoes. I am holding our visitor, Flat Jetty. See how clear the mountains seventy or more miles away are?

This shot was taken this afternoon from the same spot. Yuck!

Although it is uber-hazy, we did enjoy a lovely family walk out to the pass. Vivi chose her outfit with care. Zoey looks like she should somewhere warmer.

We played with the electro-magnetic field under the powerlines a bit. I reached to move Zoey's hair out of her eyes. I shocked her! She thought I was shooing a bug because there was a buzzing. So, she touched me back. My skin vibrated. At first we thought it was because we were wearing earrings. Nope, Tom and Vivi buzzed, too. I restrained myself from asking a nice stranger if we could touch his neck, but I thought about it.

We took a few pictures of the family. It was a lovely evening.

It has been so very warm the last few days, that the snow is rotten. As we were walking along, Vivi vanished! She post-holed up to her shoulders just inches off the trail. Daddy did a little post-holing, too. Eventually they both got free.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-22T11:54:00.004-08:00

Psalm 104:10-30

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.

They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:

wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.

The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.

The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.

You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.

The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.

Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.

How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.

There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.

When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.

When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.

When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.

Morning Poem

by Mary Oliver

Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange

sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again

and fasten themselves to the high branches ---
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands

of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails

for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it

the thorn
that is heavier than lead ---
if it's all you can do
to keep on trudging ---

there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted ---

each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,

whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.

Whole Lotta Meltin' Going On

2008-04-20T11:32:00.002-08:00

Finally, it is beginning to melt. I won't say more than that for fear of jinxing it all. As you can see yesterday there was mud, lots of mud. Everyone tromped mud into the house. Even the fish tank managed to get mud on it.

We were able to sit outside comfortably in the sun.

Vivi played all over the place. She relished the chance to be outside without a coat and hat and mittens. She even occasionally walked on the snow with no boots on to track down Henry. This resulted in many fine faces.

Our afternoon gave us seven species in the yard. We really enjoyed watching the Redpolls jockey and squabble. The Black-Capped Chickadees chased each other around. The Magpies came in for an occasional visit. There were Ravens way up talking and playing in thermals. The Boreal Chickadees and the Grey Jays competed for suet. It was a raucous and noisy yard. However, at one point it went absolutely still as two Bald Eagles silently glided over head, about twenty feet above. Even Mad Squirrel quit yapping.

Kickin' It Old School

2008-04-17T09:38:00.004-08:00

We had a wee bit of a ground blizzard for tax day. The Redpolls were in a feeding frenzy. I had relented and bought seed for them, realizing that any bears silly enough to be out of their dens were staying at a lower elevation. Tom and I were thinking this is a great deal like springs when we were kids, before climate change.

During the night the a north wind picked up and the temperature dropped. Sorry for the blurry photo, the camera did not want to focus on the anemometer. And yes, the readout below shows that it is +12F outside and 55F inside, on the north wall. The rest of the house was a decent 65F.

There was so much new snow over the last week. This snow had not moved anywhere. It sure moved with that north wind. It erased the driveway. Tom missed a day of work to unstick his truck. He had run afoul of the snow gods and got very, very stuck. At least it was my day off, so we got to spend some time together.

Take a look at how the wind can act as an artist, an architect, and mover.

First of the Season

2008-04-12T20:47:00.003-08:00

Friday on my way to work, I was a little early. I stopped at the Airport Park to roll down the windows, breathe a little fresh air, and soak in some sunshine before I stepped into the grey warehouse. I noticed the tide in Cook Inlet was a bit high and on the way out. I was looking at the ice floes booking along, when I noticed a few of the ice floes were rhythmically surfacing to breathe. YIPPY!!!! My first Belugas of the season. They are hard to see here, Zoey and I have spotted at least three. The easiest one to spot happens at about 31 seconds in, about halfway up the screen on the right. Enjoy!

Another Foot of Snow

2008-04-09T16:09:00.003-08:00

It seems there is a great deal of moisture streaming up from Hawaii. This coupled with a Siberian high, keeping us cold, is making lots of snow. Sigh...

I am in denial. I am drinking Frangelico in my coffee, trying to dull the pain. I am usually not so morose about the snow, but two feet in a few April days is enough to drive anyone to hang out with a monk.

Now, how many magpies can you see? Look closely. This was a very unusual grouping. We normally see about three or four at a time. Not today.

The boreals were earnest in their pursuit of the suet. I am just glad I could help.

As for the redpolls, they were frenetic. They are eating so very much that they have me in a quandary. It is just about time to take down the feeds as our friend and brother,Ursus Americanus , will be making an appearance soon. I was trying not to buy anymore seed. I don't want any excess hanging around tempting the bears. Now, I may have to buy some to placate my redpolls.

Henry was very, very engaged. He only smacked the window about six times.

Geez!

2008-04-06T10:23:00.003-08:00

Any guesses on what the best way to ensure that a foot of snow falls? Hmmm...any guesses? Any at all? Just scroll down...

One need only bring out the bicycles.

Some Spring Skiing

2008-04-02T18:52:00.004-08:00

Tom took the girls to Fairbanks this last weekend to see the USSA Distance Nationals. This is a series of races with many of the best nordic skiers in the country. It was a great opportunity to see excellent racing, great form, and watch a national event staged. Vivi instantly made friends with Laura Valaas and Liz Stephens. These skiers won most of the women's events this weekend.

For the Fairbanks Ski for Women they asked Tom if they could ski with Vivi on the one kilometer race. They kept pace with Vivi, kept her focused, and cheered her on. They even had a photo finish! Vivi had a blast and I think Liz and Laura did, too. For an account from Laura's perspective, check out her blog.

Zoey and her posse had a great time, too. And they all helped raise money for the women's shelter in Fairbanks. Great job, girls.

And, all photos courtesy Tom Grenier.

Vivi Conquers Ohio!

2008-04-01T17:02:00.004-08:00

Three weeks ago Vivi and I flew into Columbus for a quick tour of Southern Ohio. We had so many folks we wanted to see, a few things we really wanted to do. As our plane dipped under the cloud layer and I could see the ground, my eyes must have bugged out. The ground was WHITE! Snow, lots of snow. Now what had I just left in Alaska? Hmmm....

When we got to my mom's home I was surprised by all the activity on her little pond. She lives in a lovely neighborhood with a man-made pond that is stocked. So, it is a jumping little scene. I really loved the look of the heron contrasted with the snow.

I even managed to get a life bird within the first two hours in Ohio. There were Ring Necked Ducks on her pond. Not too exotic for you, but I had not seen one. It was so cool. About six or seven individual hung around the entire time I was there. There was also a Belted Kingfisher, but I never caught a photo of it. I have lots of bare limbs where the darned thing was a few seconds before.

The true heart of the trip was all the folks I managed to see. I had a fantastic evening with a bevy of bloggirls! Susan and her gorgeous daughter, Isabelle came. The little girls enjoyed dressing up in all my mother's scarves and hats. Being an excellent Grammie, she has quite the selection and is generous in sharing them. Nina and Kathi were also there. What a delight to share experiences and put that truly personal touch on a friendship that has grown over the miles with common interests. I hope I get to connect with all these women again. Thanks to Mother Mary for the great hostessing. She can throw a party.

We even got one nice day of weather to go to the Cincinnati Zoo. It is Vivi's favorite place in the whole wide world (not counting her pink house). We spent many hours wandering around there, looking at all the critters. Vivi was fascinated with the Red Panda. She really wanted to take it home.

On Saturday March 15th, my nephew was home from college for a mere three hours. Vivi and I figured he could not continue his spring break with out some big hugs from his little cousin. First, we hugged Auntie Liz. Auntie Liz rocks Vivi's world. She loves her Auntie Liz.

Then Vivi put a big squeeze on her cousin, Maggie. Maggie graciously played Barbies for a little while with Vivi. Maggie's stock shot up on that move.

Then she snuggled Nick. He has always been so sweet and loving with my kids. I was so pleased to see all these folks.

And there is more to come, because after we were at Auntie Liz's house we drove all the way to Marietta! Yeehaw!

Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Happy Ostara!

2008-03-24T10:20:00.003-08:00

Whew....it was a fantastic trip to Ohio. It was so full and so fun! I have so much to share, but first I had to work, get Vivi healthy after throwing up on me about 3 hours outside of Anchorage, help put on a biathlon race, do the whole Easter rhumba, complete with fabulous feast. Above is my friend and confidant, Sarah, with her squeeze, Brian. Pretty sweet, huh?

I made twice-cooked mashed potatoes. These are a favorite of the kiddos. The adults do not seem to mind them either. I also made a really good brown sugar and mustard glazed ham and a green bean casserole. It was all really tasty. Nothing too exotic, but all yummy.

Tomorrow I should be able to sit down and share my trip. In the mean time, enjoy the spring.

Off to the Northwest Territories

2008-03-09T12:39:00.003-08:00

This last week has been so very busy! On top of the usual stuff like work and school, there were several training sessions with two national team coaches from the US Biathlon Association. And then there were all the preparations for Arctic Winter Games...

I had to get Zoey ready for a week away, a week full of competition, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and new experiences. There was the laundry to do, the packing, the thinking through the week, the planning for the cold. Gee, it takes soooo much room to pack for cold weather trips!

That would be enough, right? Well, I happen to live with the head coach for the nordic ski team, heading to the same games. Now, I did not have to do the work he did, I did not have to field nineteen million calls, do all the last minute details. I did not have to pack the gross ton of gear it takes to run a ski team; wax benches, forms, wax boxes, wax irons, waxes, brushes, and more! I just had to live with all this going on.

Yesterday was spent mostly getting Zoey ready to go to the airport, standing around in the airport, going home and getting Tom ready to go to the airport, driving again to the airport. Yikes! Nope, they were on different flights. Sigh....

All of this is worth it for that smile, that look, that anticipation, trepidation and openess I see in this one photo of Zoey. Bless, you my baby, I hope it lives up to your expectations. And now it is me and Vivi. She misses her sissy and her pappa. I hope Ohio takes her mind off things.

Mobbed

2008-03-05T21:37:00.002-09:00

We have had a few days of the Chinook winds blowing through. It is bringing a big, warm front from Hawaii, up through the Gulf of Alaska. It blew steady in the 50 mph range through the night. The morning was rather calm. We had at least fifty redpolls at the feeders. They were frenzied. I think they were loading up for tonight as it is again blowing about 50 mph.

We also had three boreal chickadees at the suet. One was quite territorial, bossing everyone around. The four regular black-caps held back most of the time the bossy boreal was there.

Tomorrow I will be out running Zoey between class and a workshop with coaches from the national biathlon team. She is so excited. I hope they give her good advice to take away with her.

Storm after Storm

2008-03-02T18:00:00.005-09:00

Coastal Alaska has been having a pretty harsh winter. They have been getting storm after storm with loads of snow accumulation. When not getting hit with a storm, they have been having some pretty cold temperatures. My friend, Steve, in Yakutat says that locals have been feeding the resident eagles because they are having a tough time. This has made some statewide news outlets, such as APRN. This is an interesting little article from the radio.

Freezer burned moose meat seems to be a favorite. How many eagles do you count?

The Alaska Raptor Center has been having an unusually busy winter, as has Bird Treatment and Learning Center. These eagles are not getting the press that the fish slimed eagles of Kodiak have, but may have worse odds. If you feel like helping out, I am sure these worthy avian centers won't turn you away.

Thanks for passing along the gorgeous photos and interesting information, Steve.

Welcome March, Welcome Change

2008-03-01T10:17:00.006-09:00

March

Slayer of the winter, art thou here again?
O welcome, thou that's bring'st the summer nigh!
The bitter wind makes not thy victory vain,
Nor will we mock thee for thy faint blue sky.
Welcome, O March! whose kindly days and dry
Make April ready for the throstle's song,
Thou first redresser of the winter's wrong!

Yea, welcome March! and though I die ere June,
Yet for the hope of life I give thee praise,
Striving to swell the burden of the tune
That even now I hear thy brown birds raise,
Unmindful of the past or coming days;
Who sing: 'Oh joy! a new year is begun:
What happiness to look upon the sun!'

Ah, what begetteth all this storm of bliss
But death himself, who crying solemnly,
E'en from the heart of sweet Forgetfulness,
Bids us 'Rejoice, lest pleasureless ye die,
Within a little time must ye go by.
Stretch forth your open hands, and while ye live
Take all the gifts that Death and Life may give.'

William Morris

MARCH
by Emily Dickinson

Dear March, come in!
How glad I am!
I looked for you before.
Put down your hat-
You must have walked-
How out of breath you are!
Dear March, how are you?
And the rest?
Did you leave Nature well?
Oh, March, come right upstairs with me,
I have so much to tell.

Clicking the Sticks

2008-02-27T23:20:00.002-09:00

To combat cabin fever and house dysfunction I have been clicking the sticks big time. It has been a truly productive time since the beginning of the year, with me taking on some knitting techniques I had been reluctant to try. Above is a shawl for someone's sister (can't mention her name just yet). I am a small projects knitter for several reasons. I like to throw the knitting in the bag, have it fit nicely, and knit where ever I am. This shawl was big for me. I tend to lose interest in big projects, with so much in my daily life being left undone, it is satisfying to have small, accomplishable projects.

Here is a detail of the edge. I really liked the edging on this, it really finished this piece nicely.

Next is a cap for the same sister. It is done in a super soft baby alpaca. With Zoey modeling it, it looks huge. I think for an adult it will be a nice fit. At least I hope.

Next are these spiffy half mitts. I love this pattern! I do not think I have ever knit anything so popular. I have been wanting to do this pattern for a year now, and just have never had the right yarn, the right time, the right needles. My co-workers in our little worker's paradise warehouse are asking for these.

And this is a faux crochet hat. I love the look of crocheted hats, but my crochet skills are seriously lacking. So, I came across this little gem. It knits up fast once you are over the moss stitch banding.

And here is Vivi in a headband I made for her to run in a costume race when she was three. She was completely jealous of me using Zoey as a hat model, so I had to appease her somehow.

Ten Hours

2008-02-26T19:01:00.002-09:00

Prepare for blinding light bouncing off snow. Got your shades? We were hanging with Cojo this weekend. The state cross country meet was over on Saturday. Sunday dawned all gorgeous and bright. Zoey had a date with her godmother.

Tom and I got to hang out in the morning, leisurely drink some coffee. We then decided to amble over to the eponymously named Powerline Pass. Vivi and Cojo were ecstatic to be out.

Everyone seemed to rejoice in the feel of some serious sunshine on our skin. Oh, it did wonders for my outlook.

We walked back on the flower trail. That was fabulous. I walk this trail all the time in summer. It is always full of wild geraniums, chocolate lilies, wood violets. Now it is all under at least six feet of snow. It is such a different perspective. Being that much higher really alters the view.

All too soon we had to walk back home. I had to go to work, Tom had to meet Zoey for a range opening. The real world was beginning to intrude. I did go to work with an altered mindset. I took that walk with me into my grey warehouse.

I think the willows are enjoying the increasing daylight. We passed ten hours of the sun above the horizon today! YIPPY!

This Boreal Chickadee has a fantastic view, he has the sunset on the highest peak in North America.

February Funk

2008-02-20T16:18:00.004-09:00

Now wind torments the field,
turning the white surface back
on itself, back and back on itself,
like an animal licking a wound.

Nothing but white--the air, the light;
only one brown milkweed pod
bobbing in the gully, smallest
brown boat on the immense tide.

A single green sprouting thing
would restore me. . . .

Then think of the tall delphinium,
swaying, or the bee when it comes
to the tongue of the burgundy lily.

Jane Kenyon

February is flying fast. I cannot seem to get anything done. My house is a mess, my road is too narrow with wet, heavy snow. Work is a grind, not enough work in winter, too many bosses, too much TSA. All I want to do is knit and spin and hang out with my family.

I am longing to walk in a conservatory or some serious greenhouse. I need to smell things growing. I want to smell wet dirt. I am hoping Ohio will bring me a peek at the next season when I go next month. I am not dreaming tropical vacation, I am thinking of just seeing something sprouting. I am dreaming of not having to hunt around for a lost mitten, snow pants, warm socks.

On the up side, the chickadees have come back. All the chickadees (with the exception of one black capped chickadee) left us for about six weeks. The suet dough was languishing. Now we have about six black capped that visit us every day and about three boreal chickadees. Two of the black caps have deformed beaks. One has a long, curving top bill. The other has a beak like tweezers.

Tropical

2008-02-19T23:16:00.003-09:00

Nowcast as of 6:00 PM AST on February 19, 2008

Now
High Wind Warning remains in effect until 5 am AST Wednesday along Turnagain Arm and the hillside... Winds have started to increase along the hillside and turnagain. Southeast winds gusting 69 to 76 mph have been observed along the Upper Hillside and Turnagain Arm. A peak wind of 86 to 94 mph was recorded in Bear Valley this evening. Elsewhere...winds around town and Eagle River will see southeast winds gusting 40 to near 60 mph with the strongest being near the outlet of valleys.
Forecast for Anchorage Hide
Updated: 6:30 PM AST on February 19, 2008
High Wind Warning remains in effect until 5 am AST Wednesday along Turnagain Arm and the hillside...
Strong wind this evening through early Wednesday morning for the rest of Anchorage...
nt_snow
Tonight
Rain tapering off to scattered showers. Showers mixing with snow after midnight. No snow accumulation. Lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s. Turnagain Arm and along higher elevations...southeast wind 60 to 90 mph. Elsewhere...southeast wind 15 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 60 mph...strongest near channeled terrain.

Statement as of 3:59 PM AST on February 19, 2008

... High Wind Warning remains in effect until 5 am AST Wednesday
along Turnagain Arm and the hillside...

A High Wind Warning remains in effect until 5 am AST Wednesday along
Turnagain Arm and the hillside.

Low pressure moving across the Gulf will bring dangerous winds to
Turnagain Arm and the hillside through tonight. Southeast winds 50
to 70 mph with gusts to 90 mph along Turnagain Arm and the
hillside will persist through the overnight hours. Winds will
begin to slowly diminish early Wednesday morning and then quickly
fall Wednesday afternoon.

A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. People are urged to secure loose objects that could
be blown around or damaged by the wind.

Above is the classic forecast for a Pineapple Express. We are getting a low direct from Hawaii. Thanks, guys! Our temperatures are now in the high thirties and low forties. The wind is moving snow that was so wet and warm. We normally have fluffy, dry snow not Sierra Cement. The light, cold, fluffy stuff is easier to drive through. So far the highest gust here in Glen Alps has been 62 Mph. My gut feeling is that this will not develop into the winds they are predicting. At least I hope.

The M.D.A.D.

2008-02-15T10:30:00.004-09:00

I am wearing a new hat these days. In addition to being a worker bee at my job 30 hours a week, I homeschool Zoey and Vivi, I taxi Zoey to her range openings, her ski practices, I am the mommy and the chief cook and bottle washer. And now I am the assistant coach.

Tom has taken on the task of coaching Zoey in biathlon. Right now there is no biathlon coaching happening in Anchorage. These kids have a fantastic range, nice adult volunteers who help them out, but no real program. We are trying to fix that, but in the meantime, we are doing what we can. Tom coaches nordic skiing. He loves to preach the gospel of skiing to kids. He loves to work with kids on the snow and help them succeed. We know nothing of coaching biathlon. Zoey really wants to be a biathlete, not just a skier who shoots. There is a big difference.

Tom has come up with a strength and interval work out that we can do at home. It targets her upper body so that she can control her rifle. It gets her heart rate up so that she can learn to control her breathing. It involves dry firing so she can practice sighting, breathing, shooting. It is fun to do. It also involves me, I am the timer, the motivator and the model (ha, ha). I have never before had to teach someone how to do a push up. It has been an interesting road. Tom has dubbed it the M.D.A.D. which stands for My Dad is A Dork. Zoey loves it. Her control and breathing are getting way better.

The best thing about all of this is that Tom is so excited to share the experience of Arctic Winter Games with Zoey. He is so proud. And he should be.

2008-02-13T15:50:00.001-09:00

The snowshoe hares belong to the tracks.

I think they make the most interesting tracks. And they LOVE the suet dough.

Racy Sunday

2008-02-13T14:12:00.003-09:00

Zoey had another biathlon race on Sunday. While the cold snap was starting to lighten up here at 2300 ft, it was still snapping right along at sea level where the race was held. The temperature was legal, but chilly with a breeze at +1f. This was a race with penalty loops, not just time added on. It was a tough race, but really excellent experience for Yellowknife. That place was having highs of -35F last week. YIKES!

Zoey had a strong cheering section. Her godmother, Sarah, boyfriend Brian, and Auntie Jane all came out. They deserve medals, it was chilly.

Then Zoey's best friend, Megan, came with her dad and brother, Ian, to add to the crowd. I was impressed.

The head coach for Arctic Winter Games did a little meet and greet with all the parents and athletes afterward. He is an Olympian, Todd Boonstra. He is now teaching physical education out in Galena. He brought about seven athletes with him from Galena for the weekend. None of them complained about the cold. Look at this boy's hat and mittens. Are they not beautiful?

Vivi had a good time, she is so social. She kept running up and hugging the course marshall, Teresa Neeno. Thank heavens we know her! Her daughter, Jasmine is a really good biathlete and is so sweet to Vivi. It was a blast to watch them together.

It felt good to get home where it was about +12F. If you look closely at the above photo you can see the temperature inversion creating a gorgeous fata morgana with the volcanoes across the inlet.

Brrrrrrrr...

2008-02-08T10:58:00.000-09:00

Squint really hard and you can see that my spiffy after-market thermometer reads -19F. Yup, that is correct. That was the temperature in Eagle River when I took my girls to Pepere's. It has been getting highs at the house of -2F for about a week. Hot water bottles are a must to go to bed.

Can you id what is making this super highway in my yard. They like the suet dough, too.

Here is the white wine-sicle. Yummm...

The girls with Cojo at the Burtner's yesterday. Judy's wood stove was the center of activity....or inactivity.

You Make My Day

2008-02-06T15:05:00.002-09:00

My cheeks are pink, and I am stammering at the mike, the orchestra is starting up and the super model is about to escort me off the stage. Okay, I would like to thank my lovely friend, Loribird, for gifting me with a "You Make My Day Award."

I would also like to add a few folks to the list. These folks never fail to make me feel less alone, teach me something, bring a smile to my face:

Susan at Susan Gets Native -- Susan is a riot, she is smart, and a smart a#%!

Tom at Mon@rch's Nature Blog -- What photographs! And he offers painless education!

Liza Lee at The Egret's Nest -- Birdy, crafty, busy and funny.

Laura at Somewhere in New Jersey -- This is one of the most polished blogs. Her writing is always thoughtful and considered.

Mary at Mary's View -- She has made me laugh and cry.

Julie at Julie Zickefoose -- Can I be Julie when I grow up?

John at Prairie Ice -- Another amazing nature journalist.

I need to award three young bloggers, their work is fresh.

Phoebe at this.random.life -- She is so funny and a keen observer.

Helena at Adventures of Bird Girl -- she is going places. Take a look.

Zoey at Zoey's Birding Blog -- What can I say, I love this child.

I read more than these blogs, when I have time. I know I have left off so many interesting reads. Feel free to pass this award on, no hard and fast rules. And enjoy checking out some favorite reads.

A Big Day

2008-01-31T10:15:00.000-09:00

Check out the Super Reader above. Vivi's brain has decided it is time to read. YIPPY! And thanks to Miss Happy, Zoey's sponsor teacher, for recommending the Bob Books.

I picked up the first set of the Bob Books, brought them home and read one to Vivi. Then it was time to run to the very cold range opening. Vivi rode in the car with her box of books in her lap. When we got to Kincaid Park, Zoey popped out to warm up and zero her rifle. Vivi and I took our time getting all our cold gear on. Vivi wanted me to read her a book. Instead, she read it to me! These are wonderful tools. Within ten minutes of laying her hands on these books, she was reading the first one by herself. Amazing!

Not to be overshadowed, Zoey cleaned all her targets in the prone position without a stand! She earned a sushi dinner for that one. Good job, Zoey.

While driving to I Luv Sushi, Vivi was talking about her brand new accomplishment. I asked her how it feels to be a full blown reader. She replied "Great, I am glad I don't have a reading problem anymore."

Zoey filmed her this morning before she had had her hair combed, I know she looks a little rough. That was the first thing she wanted to do this morning, read her book all by herself!

January Light

2008-01-29T19:41:00.000-09:00

I began my day in the driveway, checking on the bird feeders, listening to the ravens leave their roost, watching the redpolls wake and send out scouts. I love when I can do this. Many days it is too windy, sometimes too cold for this. I even scouted under the power pole for owl pellets. I would really like to find one for Vivi to take apart. She would really enjoy this. Zoey and I did it about this age. She was amazed at how close we came to putting a whole vole together. I found none this morning, darn! I enjoyed the slow progress of the waning half moon while I was out.

The day then turned to piano homework, math lessons, and leaving the mountain for town. Zoey had writing class and both girls had piano. I was reluctant to leave. The town was shrouded in a layer of clouds and fog that started at about 1500 feet and went nearly to the ground. I knew it would be grey and dark in town.

I am sure to most January light is too lean, too watery with too few hours. For me, here in Alaska it is hope. When it is out it is pink, pink, pink. And it is reflected everywhere. In January, you begin to feel the light extending. Every day you gain three or four minutes. It adds up and you truly notice it.

The interplay between the crystalline structure of super cold snow and hoar frost crystals is something I never tire of. These photos are all un-enhanced, not filtered. They are the real deal. The light is just saturated with color.

Soon, too soon, the sunsets.

Cold Snap

2008-01-27T10:30:00.000-09:00

Finch on the shovel
Redpoll awaiting her turn
Cold January

Enjoy, Liza!

2008-01-17T16:56:00.000-09:00

It seems the ravens' flight path home has shifted. We seem to be right on the path. Today we even had a thermal right over the house. It was so cool!

2008-01-16T12:22:00.000-09:00

The night before last we had a bit of wind. Do you see the drifting under the feeder? The wind and snow eddies right in front of our door. When Tom opened the door yesterday morning, the drift at his feet was up to his thigh.

The wind embedded the snow in every empty space in this feeder. I had to clean it out and load it back up.

The wind also scattered seed from the more exposed feeder. The Redpolls seemed to really like the ground feeding instead of waiting in line.

The wind seemend to make the birds more frenetic and active. I think it even doubled their numbers!

The seed even scattered to the end of the driveway, and the Redpolls found it.

Coming home from piano lessons we got to see about forty ravens playing in a thermal on their way to the night roost. This is just a look at them flying away.

The Big Race

2008-01-15T19:18:00.000-09:00

Sunday was the big day. It was very cold, a legal race by about a few degrees. It was about +1F at the new biathlon range at Kincaid Park. Zoey was the youngest and smallest competitor at the Arctic Winter Games qualifier. There she is in bib #76, waiting for her turn to go ski 1k, shoot, ski 1k about four times.

She was so nervous and cold before her start. She nearly cried. My heart was in my throat. If I could have willed that child to race her hardest, shoot well and qualify, I would have. She went out as hard as she could on the super slow snow. Nothing like really cold snow to have very grabby crystals.

The organization of the race was "folksy" by Tom's standards. He is trying not to pipe up too much about it, as that could lead to more responsibility at the time of year when he needs it least. He is helping with the timing. Thank heavens he has loads of experience doing it.

Biathlon is a truly demanding sport. The saying goes that it requires you to go from a rabbit to a rock in about five seconds. A competitor has to pace themselves so that they ski hard in the right part of the course, try to rest a bit on the way into the range so they can get a handle on their heart rate. Organize their poles, clips, and gun to shoot. Breathe in just the right way so their shooting is as accurate as possible. Then put your poles back on and ski another loop.

I am not sure I could pull it off. I am amazed that my daughter wanted to try it, has stuck with it, and LOVED it.

She raced well for being the smallest one out there. She outshot one girl and qualified for Team Alaska for Arctic Winter Games by one second. Yes, one second. What a nail-biting squeaker. Whoooo....I am not sure I can handle her competing in this sport. When I look at that beaming face above, I think I can.

Vivi was a trooper with a great attitude. She even made a friend. He pushed her and puppy around the bunker while we waited for results. The family scene in the biathlon community is really great.

The day was absolutely gorgeous. I got to realize that once I was not so focused on the out come of the race.

Getting Familiar with the Locals

2008-01-12T12:29:00.000-09:00

During this past week we have received over a foot of the fluffiest, lightest, driest snow I have even seen. It has also been cold, cold, cold. Not Fairbanks cold, but still pretty chilly. Maybe because of the weather the Redpolls have really flocked together and hit the feeders hard. The thistle bag has regularly had twenty and twenty-one birds on it, with several other vying for a spot or waiting their turn.

Zoey was the first to try to become a bit more familiar with the Redpolls.

It did not take long for these birds to trust her. She was so still.

Vivi wanted to try too. I love these shots of her. She is being more still and patient than any other five year old I know.

I think she kind of looks like Julia Stiles in these shots.

Finally, the payoff. She was so excited.

I think this will be an experience she will never forget. The only downside, is now she wants to do this all the time.

I even managed to get five eating out of my hand at once. It was truly amazing to have two birds wrangling over position right in front of my face. To be among them, and hear them, and have them pretty much ignore me was amazing. I dreamed about it.

Why Kong?

2008-01-09T11:48:00.000-09:00

Remember Cojo and her Kong?

Remember how it got hung up in the power lines across the street this summer?

We were mobbed by over 200 Redpolls this morning. They were everywhere. I do wonder why the kong became such a prized perch?

Isn't that strange? Any ideas?

Epiphany

2008-01-08T11:33:00.001-09:00

For Epiphany we took down the tree. Aurora had done a fantastic job making our little world bright. She was a piece of the natural world integrated into our home. She reminded us of the green of spring. She smelled great. Henry loved her for a while.

She is now residing near the bird feeders. The Redpolls think she is fantastic.

We are settling into the routine of the new year nicely. I have a week off. I have a few plans for some homey chores. Mostly, I want to start the schooling off on the right foot. We have a few weeks before Zoey's science and writing classes start back up. Today we are back to piano lessons.

Vivi is an artist in every medium she comes across.

Yesterday it was hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes and a tortilla.

We made a new batch of suet dough. It was missing about two ounces of lard, thanks to Finn. What a sneak. Is nothing safe in this house?

Yesterday had the most diffuse and lovely sunset through a snow squall.

It feels good to be moving forward again.

Redpoll-palooza

2008-01-05T19:38:00.000-09:00

The best Christmas gift I got this year was the return of the Redpolls. Zoey and I had been waiting for them since early November. We were sure they would be there any day. We loaded up feeders for them. We hung suet. And we waited. And we waited. And we waited. We would be teased by two, three and four of these lovely little birds, but not the numbers of last winter. I began to wonder whether I was just exaggerating my memories of last winter.

Finally, I think right before Christmas it got cold enough in the interior of Alaska for the Redpolls to want to leave. It was mighty chilly in Fort Yukon, Galena, Minchumina and McGrath.

While getting water in the kettle for coffee Christmas morning, I watched three Redpolls land, then three more, then six more until there were at least forty. YIPPY! They arrived in time with their beautiful red berets on, looking wonderfully festive. Oh, I was ecstatic.

This video is for Bill of the Birds. He is looking for Redpolls at his feeder in Whipple, Ohio. I hope he finds some.

Also, just arrived today is a leucistic redpoll. I have not seen this one before. We will all be keeping an eye out for her (I'm calling it a her). Hopefully, I'll get a picture that is more suitable for posting. I realize this one looks perfect for Monster Quest, what with the blurry, image. I just wanted to leave you all guessing!

The Tall Tale of a Pole

2008-01-05T18:34:00.000-09:00

The power poles in my neighborhood are reaching the end of their usable life, of so Chugach Electric tells us. They make noise that they are going to bury them. I have always thought that would be a great idea.

I know the power lines muck up my view, I know they detract from the ambiance of the place. I know I curse them when I am trying to get a clear shot of Sleeping Lady, or north out the sliding glass door. When I look out my bedroom window I see that blasted pole. It gets between me and Mt. Susitna and Mt. Spurr. However,
I am beginning to re-think this assessment.

I know that were the poles to go my property value would increase. My view would be un-muddied. All these things I know.

I also know that for ten different early, early mornings this month I have been woken up by a Great Horned Owl sitting atop that power pole. I have found numerous owl pellets underneath that pole. I have also been serenaded by a lovely raven more days than I can count, just hanging up there, surveying the scene.

When Chugach Electric decides what to do with the power poles, I will adapt. Heck, they may just opt for new ones. I have decided that I won't curse the power poles anymore and be grateful for the other views I get from the top of the pole.

Forty-Nine Years!

2008-01-03T11:47:00.000-09:00

Yippy! Forty-nine years for the forty-ninth state! Believe it or not this is big deal up here. So, if you run across any Alaskans today, congratulate them on this momentous act. Many folks fought long and hard for this place to be fully recognized as a state and fully admitted to the Union.

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue -
Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams;
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
Over land and sea a beacon bright.
Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.

Alaska's Flag Song Written by Marie Drake
Composed by Elinor Dusenbury

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T11:25:00.000-09:00

Happy New Year!

I am just about ready to start being a steady blogger again. I promise I will tell you a little about this last month soon. The holidays have been wonderful and action-packed. I have had no time to write here. My apologies to all my friends and family. I will post loads of photos and give a little narrative shortly.

Raven Morning

2007-12-21T09:37:00.000-09:00

Last night we had some winds, so we took our most vulnerable feeder in the house. We've already lost one and no one in town sells the kind I like anymore, so we are a bit protective. I had Zoey take it back out this morning before the sun came up. I watched her at the window and she stopped, I could tell she was listening. She came running in, yelling "Momma, Momma, Momma, come outside, quick!" Hmmmm...too frozen for bears.

When I got out there, I was greated with the most ancient sounds. We were surrounded by ravens. Ravens right above us, ravens flying to the right, ravens flying to the left. Ravens talking, talking, talking. Zoey and I were enchanted. They have such an amazing range of vocalizations. Living along the raven flyway is amazing.

The above video is a poor reproduction. I think I now have a new obsession. I am going to have to learn how to record these sounds so that you all can share this. Anyone know how to do that? Anyone know what equipment is needed?

Oh Downy Boy

2007-12-15T14:04:00.000-09:00

Sorry for the ambient noise in the background. The water noise is the fish tank needing a re-charge. Our downy boy has been the only regular at the feeder this week. I am not sure where the chickadees are. Neither the boreals nor the black-caps have been visiting since the wind. Hmmmm.....

YWCA Women of Achievement

2007-12-12T17:33:00.001-09:00

The girls and I had a lovely luncheon at the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage. We got to attend the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards. My friend, Lupe, was being inducted as a Women of Achievement. I was so honored to be invited to attend! Vivi felt like such a grown-up. Lupe has made sure that Zoey is a Woman of Achievement in training. Lupe is the girls godmother and is such a great role model to them both, and an incredible mentor to Zoey. And thank you to Lupe's husband, Kelly, for the photo. All mine were blurry.

Very Lovely!

2007-12-12T17:25:00.001-09:00

WOW! My blogging friend, Kristy, sent these to me this week. Two pairs of beautiful hand-made earrings and fun stitch markers. I guess I need to knit something that requires markers. That may have to wait until after Christmas. Thank you, Kristy! If you have time you should check out Kristy's site and wish her luck. She had surgery on her ankle on Tuesday.

I am finishing up a little something for Kristy, but I cannot show it as there just might be other folks out there who will receive something similar. Hee hee!

Aurora

2007-12-11T12:45:00.000-09:00

On Friday night the wind blew. It blew in a wet, warm storm from Hawaii. Our top gust was 85mph. We lost power with that one. It was okay, we were wrapping up and getting ready for bed anyway. When we woke the power was still out. I am impressed that our old house kept the heat to about 53F. Tom brought out the camp stove to heat water for tea. He even pounded coffee beans in the mortar and pestle to make coffee before I got up. He is a keeper. He was also motivated. I had a rare Saturday off work. We were driving to the Chugach National Forest to get our Christmas tree. The rest that follows is a little photo essay of our Saturday tree excursion.

And yes, it is now Henry's favorite place in the house. He is soooo happy we have brought a tree in from the outdoors. I think we will have to reserve a space for him even when the gifts get put under the tree. Oh, and the title of the post is the name the girls gave the tree.

Farewell

2007-12-06T15:02:00.001-09:00

Judy Geraghty
October 24, 1963 - December 2, 2007

I can say that I've lived here in honor and danger
But I'm just an animal and cannot explain a life
Down this chain of days I wished to stay among my people
Relation now means nothing, having chosen so defined

And if death should smell my breathing
As it pass beneath my window
Let it lead me trembling, trembling
I own every bell that tolls me

Neko Case off her album Fox Confessor Brings The Flood

Raven Sunsets

2007-12-05T14:20:00.000-09:00

We are nearing the winter solstice, the time when the sun slowly returns to the earth. Or so it seems this far north. This is a day I really look forward to, I love to watch the days grow longer. When we were house hunting, I had to picture what the house would look like in the middle of December. I needed a house that could be bathed in whatever available light there was. I did not want a dark house.

Right now the length of the day is 5 hours and 55 mins. That is from sunrise until sunset. I have included a little blue button below the blogroll that says what time the sun is rising and setting here in Anchorage. Since the twilight times get so extended this far north, we have visible daylight for about seven and half hours. That means we get a slow, forty-five minute dawn and sunset. Those times can be lovely; full of pinks and reds and golds on the clouds and mountains. The sunsets nearly due south, there is very little west about it.

Another activity around sunset is watching the ravens roost. Anchorage's ravens roost in the Chugach Range, somewhere close behind my house. I can stand at the end of the driveway at sunset and watch twenty to fifty ravens in groups of four or five wing their way east. Many will come from the dropoff below my lot, and skim just a few feet above my head. Sometimes they are talking to each other and sometimes I only hear the deep drafts of their wingbeats.

Sick Haus

2007-11-30T13:45:00.000-09:00

It is a good thing that the Arctic Winter Games qualifier for biathlon was cancelled due to no snow this weekend. Zoey has an infection in both ears and irritated lungs. Vivi has a horrible infection in her throat. The same goes for Tom. He has no voice. It makes controlling a classroom difficult. As of this morning I am the only family member not on an anti-biotic. Sigh...I am exhausted.

I think between the three week long plague and the fender-bender doctor's visits, I may just write off November. I am ready for everyone to be healthy and happy and popping right along. It would be a nice change from hacking and sneezing and crankiness.

Dawn's Rose Fingers

2007-11-29T16:48:00.000-09:00

"Dawn's rose fingers touched the sky."

Homer's Odyssey

The sun takes a great deal of time to rise this time of year. It infuses the eastern sky with a cool pink glow. I love to watch it kiss the tops of Denali and Foraker to the north. The alpenglow then shimmies down the mountains as sun rises higher in the sky. I love to stand at the sliding glass door with a cup of tea in my hand and watch this lovely display. Yesterday was perfect for this activity.

Add on about 9:13p...
If you want a more interesting angle on the sunrises, go look at Dave's site.

Rather Moosey

2007-11-24T16:01:00.000-09:00

Look across the street with me. What is that among the hemlock and the alder? I think I see two moose.

Is that a third moose? Gee, one looks like he has grown just one paddle. I wonder how that feels? Does he have a constant crook in his neck?

The next day I heard something on the front stoop.

A baby moose! Are you going to ring the bell?

She was browsing our old hanging baskets with her momma.

I have been thinking of Meggie this last week. We have had so many moose hanging around our neighborhood. Mind you my moose photos are not nearly as nice as Dave's, they are very local.

Star of the Internets

2007-11-21T17:48:00.000-09:00

My beautiful little mansquito kitty cat, Henry is a star of the internets! He can really work his shrug. Check out all these kitties in hand knits, it is hysterical. If you are in need of pick-me-up, or a giggle, or a break from the trytophan haze, dip into the Flickr gallery. It is so worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends who check in and keep up with my weird schedule through this here website. I hope you all find some contentment and hospitality this weekend.

Smokin'

2007-11-15T17:18:00.000-09:00

It's been a while since I posted a volcano shot. So, here is Mt. Iliamna backlit this afternoon, a nice coda on a busy, busy day. We were lucky enough to catch this lovely sunset from the end of the drive way as we came home. It was letting off a little steam. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory there is no change in that status of Mt. Iliamna.

Now I am off to make White Lightning Chili. Yum!

Boreal Goodness

2007-11-14T13:29:00.000-09:00

For your enjoyment. I had one really tenacious Boreal Chickadee at the suet feeder yesterday. The winds blew in a small front that is now bringing us a little snow. Enjoy. Disclaimer: On my computer this video is NOT sideways. I have tried five times to get this thing to upload correctly. Apparently, Blogger thinks this is correct. Who am I to argue. So, tilt you head. If that hurts, tilt you monitor. Sorry folks.

My sister has been in town from Bellbrook, Ohio. She is thinking of moving back up. I am encouraging her. It would be great to have her around. My girls just adore her. She is looking at want-ads, websites of employers and real estate. Keep your fingers crossed.

I am making my plan for next week so I am not running around like a crazy lady. I have guests coming for Thanksgiving. I need a plan! I will still, at some point, be a crazy lady, but my plan should minimize that. I also like to do surgical strike shopping, get in, get out; preferrably with very few other folks in the store, usually about ten o'clock at night, on my way home from work, with no children.

This is all on top of fixing myself. We were rear-ended on Sunday. Oh joy! Tell me what parent allows their seventeen-year-old kid to drive a bunch of his friends 2200 feet up a mountain to illegally snowboard on private property during the first snowstorm of the year? And bonus, he did not have studs on his tires. Sheesh! The accident could have been worse. He hit us while we were stopped at an intersection, we were not pushed into traffic. Zoey and I are the only ones sore. It really could have been worse. And I will feel better when I can get a full night's sleep.

Big, Fat Fluffies

2007-11-11T10:56:00.000-09:00

Finally, I think the weather pattern may be changing. We are getting big, fat fluffies. Maybe we will be getting them most of the week. Yippy! This makes Tom and Zoey very happy. I even like it, too. Vivi will get to hone her newly emerging nordic ski skills. And everyone in town will finally get their winter driving chops back. I am so glad I do not have to go to work today.

Happy Veteran's Day! Happy Armistice Day!

Not Quite Freezing

2007-11-10T21:05:00.000-09:00

It has been not quite freezing in town. We have been having a very warm October and November. Up here it has been cold enough to keep the snow on the ground, but not cold enough for the snow and ice to form sticky crystals. The upstart is that our road is super slick. If it were only my neighbors driving on it, we would have minimal problems. However, we have the most popular trail head in all of Alaska just below us. So, three times this fall the road has been closed by the Anchorage police department due to flatlanders trying to drive on plastic ice without studs. Two of those times I have had to be at work. Today was one of those days. I got to watch the guy ahead of me turn two and a half times around and then bumper off the sides of the road until he was at the bottom. While he was doing this the gentleman behind me was trying not to hit me as his car was sliding down out of his control. All this because they wanted to play in the snow but did not want to monkey with their tires. I did not have a single problem. Sigh.... Once the rest of Anchorage gets some snow the problems will abate, as then nearly everyone will have their studs on. Either that or the temperatures will dip and the make up of the ice and snow will change.

And thanks for all the concern regarding the winds. We regularly ride out winds that high and higher. We are good for a storm each year where the winds gust to 100mph. We have always been just fine.

Flip Side

2007-11-08T16:55:00.000-09:00

If birds could be awarded medals, this one would get a medal for bravery. He is feeding on the suet feeder that was knocked down by the wind. There was very little action at the feeders today. I hope all these little guys have safe harbour in the hemlocks.

I have shown you so many pictures of gorgeous sunsets and alpenglow, lovely snowfalls, and many critters. This is the flip side.

To live at 2200 feet above sea level and above Anchorage there is a price to pay. For all the gorgeous sunsets we put up with extremes in weather. Right now we have a big front coming at us from the Gulf of Alaska. It is warm and wet and strong. It hits Prince William Sound and gets funneled through the mountain passes. The above picture is from the corner of our lot, looking up the road. It is beginning to drift in. Normally you would see Flattop Mountain and up Rabbit Valley. This photo is unretouched, no photoshopping. It is VERY hard to capture a picture of wind.

This photo was taken from nearly the same spot as the lovely sunset of two days ago. Yes, that is the same view.

The weather service folks tell us to expect some gusts to 80mph this evening. This is actually not too bad a storm.

November Sky

2007-11-06T16:37:00.000-09:00

Like most photographs this one does not even begin to capture the beauty that met me when I saw the inlet. I came around the corner to my home, arriving from classes and piano lessons, and shopping. The girls were quiet and nappy, I was worn out and needing some quiet time. We all gasped. There was golden light imbuing the clouds, playing on all the waves below. Breathe in, breathe out. Yes, even with all the grey the light is gorgeous.

Spooky! Spooky!

2007-11-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

Which is spookier and scarier? Hmmmm.....

A troll and a witch?

A pirate tween?

Or a kitty in a sweater? Wearing it all day? Mwaahhaaaa!!!!

Is this the Left Bank?

2007-10-31T10:38:00.000-08:00

It seems that all my cool sightings lately come on Tuesdays, after piano lessons. Yesterday when I was unloading the groceries I looked out the window and saw about eleven birds on the powerline. They were watching all the action at the suet feeders. I do not normally see a flock of birds on our lines. I looked closely and realized they were Bohemian waxwings. Hot damn! Yes indeedy! I have never seen them at my house. Thanks for the visit, please come back anytime!

2007-10-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

Zoey received her new biathlon rifle yesterday. She and her dad tinkered with it until 12:30AM. Hopefully, Zoey will now make her goal of earning a spot on the Alaska team for the 2008 Arctic Winter Games. Cross your fingers!

Full Moon Yurt

2007-10-29T09:44:00.000-08:00

Eagle River Nature Center

We have a had a reservation for the Rapids Camp Yurt at the Eagle River Nature Center for about two months. We have been so looking forward to camping out there in the fall, with a full moon. The kids have been calling it the Yurt of Terror since it was so close to Halloween. When I woke up on Saturday morning this is what was on the front page of the paper and my task that morning was to pack up for our reservation at the Yurt. Hmmmm.....

Our friends Joe and Sarissa were coming, too, so a plan formulated among the outdoorsmen and we decided to go, but go making lots of noise and taking a mobile bear re-education program with us. We also knew we had Coho the Wonder Dog tagging along. I had all confidence we would be just fine.

We counted no less than six signs with about this same wording in the two miles it took to hike out to the yurt.

We spent the evening near the river. The men pumped water.

The girls spazzed out. They had fun with the little eddies of the river being in various states of freezing. Here they had managed to pry a piece about an inch thick out and have some fun with it.

They also tested the strength of the ice, no one fell in, but it did come very close. After holding the ice the girls were ready for a fire.

The next morning it was time to hike out.

In the morning before we hiked out Vivi had found some beautiful fur on several trees right at about her eye level. The kids were trying to guess what critter left it (Science Chimp, you would be sooo proud). They were sticking to wild animals. The color was right for several locals, and with the bear attack first in our minds the kids were convinced it was brown bear. Once I got my hands on it, I was pretty sure it was llama or alpaca.

When we ran into these folks. They cleared up a mystery for us. It was from this handsome llama named Skilly.

There were loads of high bush cranberries left on the bushes, some watermelon berries, and rosehips all revealed by the leaves leaving. I tried to get a shot of this gorgeous bunch of cranberries with ice rime on them, but the camera would not cooperate.

Fall was revealing sights not seen with all the foliage of summer.

Vivi spotted this juvenile bald eagle checking out the slow, late salmon in the beaver lake.

Isn't she lovely?

As we neared the visitor's center we ran into the witch of the hollow tree and her intrepid bear cub assistant. Vivi was awed! They were setting up for their annual Haunted Trail party.