December in Kenai, Alaska

Darkness prevails.  Being New Englanders, we expected the winter darkness to descend upon the land in the late afternoon.  Much to our surprise, the night does not turn into day until 10:30 a.m.  This might be my only chance to quip that I rise at the crack of dawn.  :)   The sun seems always to be on the horizon and never overhead--a phenomenon every bit as bizarre as 20-hours of summer daylight.

The view from our window now appears as a snow globe.

Eagles are SO big when you look at them 

eye-to-eye.

We just don't get tired of watching our backyard visitors.  It is even becoming commonplace to pass them in the driveway, in town, strolling the plowed bike trail, in the church yard and beside the grocery store. :)

How cold is it when bubbles freeze you ask?

At -10 degrees bubbles go poof and turn into snowflakes.

-25 degrees

25 degrees BELOW zero is the temperature at which bubbles freeze!!!

What a find!!!  A new Christmas tree ornament.

When I am not in a state of semi-hibernation, cross stitching a wedding gift passes the time.

Adrienne sent a jigsaw puzzle to amuse us.

Oh God, let me get through this winter so I can wear my flip-flops again!!!  My toes are strangling in these boots.  Nightingale is in his glory prancing around in his circa 1985 green wool pants .

Trout Lake

November 4, 2012
I'm thinking hibernation...Ronna is thinking a 3-day adventure before winter arrives in force--a 6-mile hike to a Forest Service cabin on Trout Lake from the Resurrection Trail in Cooper Landing.

Before I knew what happened, we were on the trail.  Six miles felt like a long way to me!

It was a beautiful, clear day.  The surrounding mountains had a dusting of snow and the trail showed evidence of those who came before us--brown bear, wolves, moose and rabbits.

That charming little cabin on the lake was a welcome sight!

There was firewood to cut...

      and water to dip.

             



    It is hard to find adequate words to describe
the beauty all around us.

   A huge bonfire!

We feel fortunate indeed to be spending the winter in the company of this generous and giving family of Martins in Kenai, Alaska.  My hero Ronna carried her pack and pulled mine in a sled on the trek out.  I strolled like a lady of leisure.  :-)  She is quite a woman!

Juneau Falls

What a GREAT start to the winter!

  Time to hibernate! 

  

The Point of No Return

October 2013
Fall has arrived in Alaska.  Our fellow Workampers left for the lower 48 weeks ago.  The Big Horn is closed up and safely stored in a cozy, heated facility for the winter.  WE'RE DOING IT--WE'RE STAYING IN ALASKA FOR THE WINTER!  We're Mainiacs, we're tough, we know what winter is all about.  What an adventure we'll have.  We're ready!

Our winter home:  The Wendler Tower, far left, upstairs--complete with a turret.

The view of Mt. Spur from our kitchen window .

The leaves turned yellow overnight...  There is a chill in the air.

One more hike down to the Kenai River before it gets too cold...it starts to spit snow.  Toad broke a piece of ice from the pond when we passed through the barnyard.  

Oh gosh,  look, snow...already.  We need to order our puffy coats...and boots...and flannel sheets.  Wait! We're not ready!

Daytrip - Homer

 It is hard to keep your eyes on the road driving to Homer.  There is just so much beautiful scenery!

A curtain of fog is quickly coming down on Mt. Redoubt

The Homer Spit juts +/-3 miles out into the bay.  Shops, restaurants and fishing charter businesses line both sides of the narrow strip of land.  Cute, cute, cute.

A favorite watering hole.

At the very end of the Spit lies the Land's End Restaurant where we had lunch before heading home.

At Home at the Diamond M Ranch

Home sweet home...site 43 in the South Park at the Diamond M Ranch Resort.  This is one of the precious few days warm enough for t-shirts and shorts.  It is hard to know if it is 10 a.m. or 10 p.m....the day just goes on and on--roughly 20 hrs. of daylight.  It is a strange and marvelous gift of nature.  However,  some people need to put blackout shades in their windows to sleep.  Surprise, surprise, it doesn't bother me in the least!! :)

Dark or light, some things do not change!

Caribou roam the Kenai Peninsula during the summer months.

Arctic Lupine dots the landscape.

 Summer sunsets paint the sky!

Everywhere you look, the scenery is breathtaking.

Seldovia/Halibut Cove

Sept. 2012
John and Delores, Ronna's mom and dad, graciously offered us an opportunity to visit Seldovia and Halibut Cove for kayaking, hiking and blueberry picking.

Here's the group and our rides!

The Bed and Breakfast on Seldovia finally appears 1.5 hrs. after leaving the Port of Homer.  John is a great navigator on the open ocean.

We were assigned the "mountain goat" room.

A sea otter snoozing in the harbor.

A beautiful island!  Thank goodness we all brought food because it is Wednesday...the only grocery store and restaurant are CLOSED.

Hiking fun!

On to Halibut Cove via Gull Island...smelly.

Halibut Cove is picture postcard perfect complete with quaint shops, art galleries, coffee shops and lodging all located on the boardwalk that surrounds the cove.  As the season has come to an end, everything is deserted.  We had the whole place to ourselves.

It's time to go home!

The icing on the cake!!  Two young bulls browsing by the road on the drive back  to the Diamond M.  This is too much fun!!