Getting Familiar with the Locals

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?

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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.