We're into another of my favorite seasons here in Alaska. I think this officially means that they are all favorites! I could do without the cottonwood trees starting to leaf out (they bother me now, not when they produce cotton), but other than that, this is truly another amazing season! The first week that my parents were here we didn't see any moose. I think it was because the snow was finally gone and they were out roaming around eating. Now that they are getting ready to have their young, they are back in camp where the bears won't follow. We've been seeing them daily again; sometimes a little too close for comfort! ;)
The other day my parents were out working on getting a garden plot ready while I was back in the house getting gloves for everyone. I heard a yell and looked out just in time to see a moose go charging through our yard, right between my mom near the greenhouse and my dad near the chicken coop! My dad wasn't too flustered but at one point the moose was running straight toward my mom! Guess her heart is still good, because she didn't have a heart attack! ;) It was a youngster fortunately, not too big in reality, though I'm pretty sure it looked about 10' tall to my mom. We sort of expected the naughty dogs to be close behind, but they were no where to be seen. Sort of makes you wonder why that moose was in such a hurry. Other than that close encounter, most of their wildlife interactions have been as we generally like it, with plenty of distance and/or enclosure in between them and it.
Andrei had to have his nose fixed yesterday which meant getting up at the crack of dawn for the two hour drive in. The afternoon before the surgery my parents got the idea that since we needed to be in Anchorage early anyway, they ought to try to catch the morning train to Denali. We got on the phone and within a half hour had them booked for the next morning. They got to Denali at about 4 pm after a leisurely ride with numerous sightings of Denali (apparently not as easy to see as one might imagine, it is usually hiding behind some clouds). They also got to see more moose, a baby bear and caribou. We were thrilled that they had such great weather and a great time! They'll head back today and Rodney will pick them up in Wasilla.
They've had a decent opportunity to view the wildlife. We've had sheep (or goats) hanging about the camp on the hills above our house and along the hills on the way to the school (which we've driven many times picking up kids) so they've had a number of opportunities to watch them. There have also been ducks galore on the lake in front of our house in addition to many western birds which have had us heading to the Audubon books to identify them. We've had a pair of Goldeneye ducks, some Pintails, Mallards of course and Shovelers. There have been others but we haven't been able to identify all of them yet. Who needs to raise ducks when so many of them come in and do the job themselves! ;) None of the work - all of the enjoyment this way! There are pretty little blue butterflies that hang around a damp spot on the lower hiking path. They flitter like little fluorescent fairies around your ankles. I can't even begin to list all the song birds we are seeing and hearing! The new-to-us, ever-changing flora and fauna are a constant source of wonder and amazement!
We're into our 24 hrs of daylight now which is certainly interesting. It doesn't bother me, but the kids and Ellie are having trouble sleeping. Then again, today marks the end of school for the year so I'm sure that is part of the excitement these days. Sergei got up at 6:30 yesterday and rushed Oksana out to the school bus so that they wouldn't miss it. They were an hour early. Ellie has been more than her normal anxious and annoying, keeping us up many nights with her whining. It may be just the daylight, but blood tests show some abnormal liver functioning (may be making her more anxious) so she's on some medication for that and some other possibilities. We'll see how that goes. For now she's sleeping with Andrei who isn't sleeping much either. They can keep each other company while they toss and turn.
We'll be back in NY in about a week. It is hard to imagine that it is coming that quickly! We'll be at Middlesex Baptist with intense jet-lag and red-eye-lag on May 30 and may be in East Palmyra at my parent's church (CRC) the next Sunday, June 6, if everything works out. My brother and nephew are coming from Florida and my sister may be coming from Calgary so that is going to be a BUSY week! Not sure if I mentioned or not, but a friend brought a new trailer up from Georgia for us so I need to pack our remaining "stuff" into that while we are in NY. Then we need to figure out how to get it up here! Ideally we'd like to buy a Suburban in the lower 48 and have someone drive that up, but we have some other options if that doesn't come together. Interestingly enough, there are a number of people willing to drive if we provide the vehicle and gas! I'd love to do it again too someday if there's no schedule, no anxious dog and no crabby teens involved! We'll plan on that when the kids are in college, or out of the house or something.
Speaking of wildlife... The last day of school means crazy dressing, plus the nose cast. Maggie would like to sign his cast, but I didn't want to set a precedent at school so she'll have to wait until tonight.
Mama and last year's baby swam across the lake yesterday - as you can see, no more ice. Eider has also discovered that and is wet pretty much constantly now.
A pair of Pintails earlier in the week when there was still a little ice.
Goldeneyes that same day.
Apologies in advance for any errors! Rodney normally proofreads but he's gone for the day and I'm too impatient to wait for him to get home late in the evening to read this before I post it!
"Our" mountain in the evening light:
Lion's Head:
Sheep mommies with their babies:
The garden area so far - we still need to go another layer higher with fencing to keep out moose and then the south side will have fish netting (thanks, Brian and Lori Lee!)
Ellie got too hot while we were working on the garden. It DOES get hot up here, especially when you are out in the sun! I'd REALLY appreciate prayer while we are in NY! It is HOT right now - like 90 hot! I will be MISERABLE if it stays that hot! I'll be miserable if it is 80 but... Yeah.
Dad on my motorcycle. Still don't have a picture of me on it yet. He's better on it than I am!
