Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

The lake loon had me awake at 4 a.m. this morning. Not the usual loon song but the Tremolo of alarm....(The tremolo has been described as "insane laughter"; it is 8 to 10 notes voiced rapidly which vary in frequency and intensity. This alarm call usually indicates agitation or fear, often caused by disturbance from people, a predator or even another loon. This is also the only call that loons make in flight.) 

Usually there is an eagle about or a person too close by but looking out the window I didn't see anything that would alarm the loon. Just a hoot'n about being Independence Day I guess. 

The other noise in the background this morning was the low pitch rumbling hum...finally I asked "lil Brother what is was as I hear it every day at different times...kinda eerie when you don't know what is making the noise as it is not something one would associate with the quiet of Alaska. Identified as the Tesoro plant over on the highway that lets off once a day.

It is 50 degree and really windy...of course on this side of the lake it is always windy!

Finally yesterday afternoon I managed to get a hold of the surveyor fellow to find the property pins!! yayyyyy!! huge step in the next phase of getting something accomplished on the land! He will call me back and set up a date and time for this coming week to mark the pins for me. He need a day to get all the property division survey maps, parcel identity paper etc.

My cell phone does not work here at the homestead cabin so I talked with Dan an set up a time each day that he and I both will have to drive somewhere to phone each other. We got cell phones so that we would not have to pay long distance bills but this is a pain. oh well...so be it. Every day I wish he were here with me...just to share in the beauty of the land/scenery and just every day happenings. Sharing space with family is not the same! 

As I took tons of photo's while in Homer and fishing out of Whiskey Gulch I will share some others with you.

this is the Tesoro refinery I mentioned...for a mile of two on either side of the plant are road signs "no stopping or parkinging" hummm like it is top secret place!

Another beautiful mountain view!

One of the fledgling! both are larger than mom and dad eagle!

The Seafarer's Memorial on Homer Spit

This is actually someones home on the side of the road into Homer! Around it lies remnants of Haunted House pieces!! Interesting...

Well I am not sure what today will bring..there is a parade in town but don't think I'll go as I hear the town is just jam packed with people. Think I'll just enjoy the cold windy day on the lake.

went wandering to find Halibut

Yes I haven't been on the computer for a couple of days.... I went a wandering..... woke up with feet just a twitch'n to go an do something...spent the day Wed June 30 brush cutting trails into the property....things are so much easier to cut here in Alaska! not like back home with all the hard wood and rocks to watch out for. 

After several hours it started to rain...fortunately the trees covered me enough that I could keep cutting. I finally ran into an area next to the neighbors property where years ago they had pushed trees etc onto our property in the process of clearing theirs....had to stop

I turned around to find my SIL/'lil brother standing there....they decided I had been cutting long enough and needed to be stopped. They were amazed how many hours I had been running the brush cutter.

Later that afternoon Bob called!! yayyy!! Bob, is like a brother to me....he, myself and another girl drove to Alaska together in '81. I was suppose to be gone only 2 weeks on that trip but ended up staying in Alaska for 3 months...I fell in love with Alaska. 

Every time I phoned my husband I would say "sell the house, quit your job and fly up here, I wanna live here" No go on that one. 

So anyway..Bob says...."wanna go fishing?" "YES!! were do I meet you??"  as the feet were just a itch'n to go an do something, the next day off I go to find Whiskey Gulch I headed out early even though Bob, friends and family were not to arrive at Whisky Gulch until 3 to 5 p.m. I went into Homers and shot pictures, wandered around town and went onto the spit...wow has it changed since 1981!!!
Bob's sister and husband... friends of my husband and I back home in MA are up so they were there. So wonderful to see them.

Great time camping (slept in my little Ford Focus!) and fishing. We were out for 12 hours fishing after staying up most all night...2 hours of sleep on on the boat we went...
I caught 3 chicken Halibut. Looking forward to going out again. It was so beautiful sitting on the water, hum of the engines idling and such a spectacular sight with the fog/cloud shrouding the snow capped mountains across the water. Such a different perspective from the water 12 miles out.

Many eagles on the beach. 
Found my way to Faith's (freezengirl) house, she is a poster on the City Data Alaska forum.....great fun person...look forward to seeing more of her and hopefully her husband when he comes off the slope.

lots more to fill all you in on but got things to do so I will post some pic's from the trip down to Whiskey Gulch and Homer.

the road to Homer

 

eyeballing me and my camera

Whisky Gulch where we camped, what a steep hill to get down to the beach!

overlooking Homer Spit stopped to phone my sweetie and take pictures..sure wish Dan was sharing this trip with me!

baby eagle

 Old Russian Church with mountains in background

Camp kitchen on Whiskey Gulch 

 

Heading out to sea for Halibut fishing on Roberts boat, not so sure Dan would have done well on this part of the trip.....last time I had him on a boat which was years ago he didn't fair well...well then again we had drank a case of really fine champagne between 4 of us!! duhhh glad we've grown up from those days of party'n!!

 filleting the Halibut

 Long day of fishing ...12 hours

 Some of the crew had a great beach fire for us upon arrival back

 anyone wishing to see more photos...you can go to 
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=mb&sk=messages#!/album.php?aid=2068047&id=1419110053

Mornings here are overcast gray regardless of rain. It gets really sunny about 2-3 in the afternoon then it is gorgeous right up until about 1 a.m. with bright sunshine! lov'n it. It stays around 51-56 degree but today by 2 p.m. it has hit 62, beautiful, dry weather. Even with the rain yesterday my joints don't ache like they do back home with dampness/rain. Sweet!

I am frustrated that not much is coming together in regards to the land project. But it has only been a little over a week....just gotta go with the flow. Should have just done another road trip. Instead I got the ATM card things squared away...oh yeah...as we opened an account about a year ago I never activated the ATM card. I thought once here I'd take care of it...well...I looked everywhere for the original pin and code they had sent....couldn't find it. I knew I had put it somewhere as to find it easily....hahha...couldn't find it sooo..into the bank I go...as she is asking for verification of account I took out the check book and low and behold there was the paper nicely folded and tucked into the back of the checkbook...duhhhh...somewhere in the packing I was organized after all..just didn't remember...

did some grocery shopping for the few things we needed at the cabin and just wandered around driving side road and what not.

I did get to meet up with another fellow from City Data who has so graciously offered to take me with him and his wife for a float down the Kenai river soon! yahoo! this should be great fun...he says every trip he and his wife have made they see as many as 10 bears....fingers crossed that soon I will have pictures of bears to share.

I finally got the phone number of the surveyor who did the original surveys of the land around the lake. Go figure...it came from a fellow from City Data as he and I have been PM'n each other for about a year off and on. Seems the two go to the same church...so I phoned at 10 a.m. this morning and left a message asking him to phone and what for. Haven't heard back. First off I am told NOT to phone people early morning here as no one moves before 10 or 11 a.m.! things get done at night when the day is the best. 

Sure wish Dan was with me to take road trips with...we have so much fun together just riding around exploring places. I also miss that he drives and I just have to pop outta the vehicle to take pictures. So much quicker with a driver!! 

I did go an extend my time for the rental car an got the same price with unlimited mileage....yeahh! might even venture to Anchorage! Have to make the Homer trip first for lunch with a someone. Might do that this week.

Still in awe of the beauty of the scenery. Today the ocean air was really noticeable. Something about the clean fresh air here and add the ocean into the mix and it is heaven. 
Arrived back from my touring around and friends of my SIL/brother stopped over...really great people...they have bought land and built on the big island of Hawaii...saw pictures and wow....hey Dan...Alaska in the summer...Hawaii in the winter?? they paid $17,000 for 3.5 acres!!! land is going cheap right now!!!

  While riding around I saw a moose limping across the road in a bunch of house so I drove down for a closer look. As you can see the moose has two hoofs that are seriously overgrown so she is walking fun...appears to be an old moose at that...

Yesterday...awoke to rain, gray skies and antsy...just could not sit around another day doing not much of anything so....road trip!!! I love to drive....I headed out for Seward. As I entered Soldotna I did stop a one shop that was open (most are closed on a Sunday) typical tourist trinkets so I didn't buy anything. I did pull into Fred Myers as my allergies were so bad that the sinus headache was becoming almost unbearable. Grabbed a fruit/cheese cup, piece of chicken, mini loaf of artisan bread and allergy meds and I was on my way.

Most everything was misted and clouded in but I still took pictures. 

The way back was clearer but not much. The one road out of Kenai to get to the cross road which takes you to either Anchorage or Seward is a 2 lane road...not some super highway like Rt 91. There is not much in between the tiny hamlets which are a cluster of buildings, houses, and such. Beautiful ride though. 

Sure wish my snooky was with me. We have done lots of traveling together and I really missed having him in the seat next to me. I did mutter a Danerism (lot of you will know what that it) I caught myself saying..."it looks like it might clear" then just as when Dan says it...it started raining harder! go figure! hahaha

Noticed quite a few trails posted for hikers...if the weather is a bit better the next time I will stop and hike out one of them....I only had my light rain jacket with me...foolish me...I looked at a nice full length rain poncho at a second hand store not once but twice, each time I went in thinking do I really need this, well it's only $4.00 but $4.00 if four dollars! so I passed...my SIL/brother keep telling me offer less and they'll take it...maybe today I'll go back an get it. It is big and long enough to cover my camera gear backpack and my legs.

Arriving in Seward there was a big cruise ship moored so the town despite the rain was full of people in all sorts of styles of rain gear. I parked in front of the Seward Aquarium but decided to see if I had cell service as I missed the phone call from my hubby last night (I was out and about). By the time I got into the aquarium I had only 2 1/2 hours before closing...not enough time to see everything so I will go back. Gotta love having those old military discharge papers!! Got a discount on the admission fee! yayyyyy!

The "highway" out of the Kenai 

 

yes there is still snow in the ravines and fairly close to the road as you will see in other pictures

this is what it looked like on the way to Seward about 10:a.m.

Same place on the way back at about 6:30 p.m.

splish-splash a puffin taken a bath!

Cruise ship docked in Seward

Seward main street looking up from the Sea Life Aquarium

Headed out of Seward to Kenai

Fisherman in the Russian River..the color of the river water is the most magnificent adventurin color really doesn't show in this picture but does in the next one

There are not a lot of places to pull over to take pictures anywhere along this trip. Most all the parking areas are filled to the max with RV's and cars/trucks of the fisherman.I pulled over to take this shot and a couple others an sure enough here come the blue/red flashing lights! Crapweasel...real nice guy, as I came around the car with cameras in hand he smiled an said "no problem, long as your not gonna go fishing an leave it there" Nope I said just taken a coupla shots! and off he went and so did I. Note to self....do not park in "no parking" marked areas where fisherman are as there are police everywhere just waiting!!

the beautiful color of the water of the Russian River

the russian river fisherman

the dark object at the bottom of photo is the roof of the car I am driving...just to show you that the snow is quite close

Headed home on the "highway" toward Soldotna

It take about 2 1/2 - 3 hours to drive over to Seward from Nikiski about 125 miles. Great trip! Took lots more pictures and will post them in album on Face Book at some point. Got things to get done today. I realized several times that I was having the usual worrying thoughts about heading home before it got dark! then would remind myself that IT DOESN"T GET DARK here at this time of year...another yayyyyy....I could drive all night long an still see everything! well that is if this old body will hold up to no sleep! ha not likely! so until another day....snooky wish you were here and had done the trip with me...no one to turn to an say...ouhhh ....awhhhh..look at that! People look at ya funny when your talk'n to yourself!

Awoke to a rainy morning, a nice gentle rain at 3:30 a.m. up at 5 a.m. The loons were quiet this 
morning.... even the Tern was quiet. Kinda eerie silence as I gazed over the lake. Very peaceful 
and soul rejuvenating. It feels "right" like "home."

A great morning for a quiet meditation time. I needed to meditate. 
Yesterday was very stressful and I awoke with my usual mental place that things are not getting 
done and in place quickly enough.....hahaha silly me...I then remind myself that I have only been 
here really 5 days to accomplish things.  That's just me being me and then remind myself that
things get done at a slower pace here in Alaska.
I really wish my "snooky" was here with me to enjoy the beauty of the lake. In 32+ years together
we 
pretty much have done everything major in our lives as a team. This time though he is back 
home 
overseeing the finishing of the kitchen renovation and other projects to be done for the house to 
go 
up for sale this winter. So here I am trying to put everything in place for, hopefully the move come spring. 
 All the things that goes through ones mind with this major of a move in our lives is mind boggling
at times.
After the day from hell in the DMV yesterday...long story...got there at 2:05 and never got out of 
there until 4:20 registering the motor home...under staffed....jumped calling out numbers so I was 
by-passed twice until I finally said something. Reminder to next time go by myself as others have 
little to no patience which just added to the stress of the situation. 
we headed out yard sale touring again this morning.....how much stuff can you fit in a Ford 
Focus little car??? well I found out...3 people and a whole lotta stuff....'lil brother laughed an said 
we should have taken a picture before unloading the car as it was a sight to see!! he bought a 
bundle of flooring that was sticking out of the trunk. Good thing the seat back folded down from 
the trunk to the interior...small bungees off my camera bag came in handy to hold the trunk 
closed. The flooring was the first purchase and from there we filled the car full....yes I did squeeze a 5 gal can of gas in there to start brush cutting when the weather clears some. We also 
did grocery shopping. 
On the way back one mountain was 
clear for a change...according to 'lil brother it is not often out. So we pulled over and I squeezed 
out of the piles of stuff to take a couple of pictures. Oh I did get a shot of momma moose and 
baby in one of the neighbors yards on our side of the lake yesterday! Wish you were here to see
all this with me Dan!
 

Momma moose and baby...the "thing" on her neck appears to be shedding hair

I am just now feeling better, jet lag gone and blood sugar under control
again. Not fun having "foggy" brain.
Have been doing lots of running around. L.Brother/wife are big into
garage sales and what deals we have found!! He has been scoffing tools
and I have been searching for items for the motor home and things in
general. The one biggy that he scored on and I had to pay store price
for…a gas grill! As I have invited people for a BBQ get together at the
end of
July a grill is needed, so I bought one. Two days later an ad for a tag
sale said brand new gas grill. He bought the next model up from mine for
$40, brand new, had to be assembled!! Mine’s staying in the box to see
if I can find a deal too! Found a great square deep cooler for $10! Am
finding most everything thing is for sale, just ask.
The undergrowth, plants, and particularly the soil is so different that
cutting down undergrowth with a machete or ax is not possible. I tried!
Power tools are necessary. My big purchase (from a store, no garage
sale deal) was a brush cutter to start cutting trails into the property. I did however get my 10% military discount…..Yayyy! Below are pictures of
the dreaded Devil's Club plant. This plant is about waist high and just
covered with sharp thornes as thin as what we call nettles. Once in your
skin, they itch like heck and fester. Fun and they are everywhere!
Things work a tad different here, message has been relayed to Jessie regarding
hiring him to finding the property pins. …Jessie did the surveying of all the
properties around here years ago. He retired but….is still working full time!
Once the pins are authenticated Joey will push dirt around for me, driveway
and clearing. So hard to see where and how the house should be situated on
the property until it is somewhat cleared. My sense of direction and internal
compass is off up here! Glad I have a good compass with me as I am about 30
degrees off. Which is a lot when your out in the middle of the trees up here!

Loon on Georgine Lake

 Devils Club

Flowering Devils Club