Autumn Beauty

Autumn is my most favorite season!  The colors are outstanding and vivid! I couldn't help but share just a "few" of my glimpses of this incredible beauty.

Rainbows, Hiking, and Trailers (normal stuff, you know!)

 It seems to be raining a lot lately.  I hadn't noticed as much, but our Pastor who moved here from central California noticed!  With all the rain come spectacular rainbows!  There have been many lately, and most don't last too long.  One morning I went for a walk with Rowdy in the drizzle and saw the most brilliant full rainbow with a half double, similar to the one above.  If it never rains, you never see all this beauty!

 On a much more clear day, Pat and I took a familiar hike up Skyline Trail.  It's a mile trek up to a saddle and another 1/3 up to the top of the peak.  The fall colors weren't in full change like they are now, but Skyline is always a beautiful place to be.  It was such a clear day, we could see Denali off in the distance!  (We are pretty sure)

 Rowdy had a fantastic time on the hike!  He gets a little arthritic, but with a bit of assistance in the pill form, you'd never know it!  It keeps him out and active, and now with Bella gone, it's nice to keep him with us!

Now to the summer project finale: Pat's 16' trailer.  It has been carefully crafted and meticulously made to do whatever we need it to do.  And it's pretty!

 Note the inset eye-bolts for sturdy strapping, yet not in the way of the load.

Getting Outside

July has been substantially warmer and sunnier than June.  This has led me, specifically, to want to be outside more and more!  This has served Pat well, as I am up for going fishing more!  

Now, I must share with you how our fishing trips tend to go:

We head out all excited and geared up.  We cast and cast, and it seems as though Pat's casts return more often with larger fish.  I, on the other hand, tend to pick up the "self-releasing" bait sized fish.  I hate to complain as we usually release our catches anyway and mine just tend to speed up this process, but it would be nice to actually bring in a fish of measurable size.  

 This trip started out similarly, though Pat wasn't catching anything either.  We did ruffle the feathers of a couple clutches of resident ducks.  They must have had serious success in egg-laying/hatching because there were a LOT of babies!!
And just when we decided to finish our drift and then head in, I felt a tug on the line.  I checked to make sure it wasn't just water weeds, and excitedly exclaimed to Pat that I had a fish on!  To my surprise, he said he had one on too!  It was a very nice double!

 This is when I began to really have fun!!  Since Pat only brought one paddle, he kept trying to keep us in the "hole" and I just kept catching fish!  I think the night ended with me catching about 5, with one of those a very large self-releaser!  Pat's was the largest of the evening, being about 18" and mine were around 16" and smaller.  It was one of the best fishing trips I've been on in a long time!

 This tree is a hallmark of the Fuller Lakes Trail!  We took a beautiful day to go out and get a hike in this year - just for fun, not hunting!!  Rowdy loves the change of pace of hikes, and really, so do we!  It gives a change of perspective, a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us.  We are so thankful to be here, even  with possible changes ahead!

So beautiful!  Pat let me lead the way up and he led the way back down.  I was able to keep the pace up enough to feel it a little the next day, which made it even better!

Excessive June Photos!

O.K., here goes:  June in one post! I have a lofty goal!  

 June included a visit from Mom.  One of our "must-do's" is to go to Homer.  On the way down, we just had to stop and check out this Bald Eagle in it's nest.  Pretty cool.  On our way home, we stopped in Ninilchik (nin-IL'-chick) to visit the old Russian Orthodox Church.  I was sad it was closed, but the surrounding cemetery was fascinating.

We took Mom out one evening to go camping.  We drove to a campground, but then began to walk down a trail to another spot.  We walked about a half mile, much to Mom's confusion, and came upon this cabin.  Then we surprised her and told her THIS was our spot!!  Pat went back, loaded up the boat that was at the camp, and loaded all our gear to bring back.  Mom and Pat went out fishing that evening!  I don't think they had any bites, but it was a lovely evening for cast-practice!

 Then we had s'mores!  Yummy!

It was a little breezy outside so used the "inside fire" to roast the marshmallows!

 We did take a nice hike along the lakeside trail.  Rowdy loved it, and it was a lovely hike!

 Mom and I also went out to the beach.  It was a pretty blustery day, and high tide, so we didn't spend all day there but just enough to get some fresh salt air, pick up a few pretty rocks, and get our feet wet!!

(only one of us was wearing water-proof foot-wear!)

 While Mom and I were having fun, Pat was working hard.  The fence section above is the "security fence" that he had to install.  That panel is the entirety of the fence in that area.  Pretty secure, huh?!

 The 2nd weekend of June was the Kenai River Festival in Soldotna.  Teakell Design had a booth and we had an enjoyable time at the festival.  We also did pretty well in sales and orders.  It was well worth our time and investment.

 The River Festival was literally right beside the Kenai River (naturally), so Mom took a quick pic of the world famous waters!

 Just the other day, this robin adolescent perched itself on my deck and seemed to be demanding something from me.  Unfortunately, I do not speak chirp and was unable to assist it at this time.

On June 21st, the Summer Solstice, Pat helped a buddy out by playing drums in his band.  The Free Beer Band played last, and though that's not an ideal time slot (around midnight here), we were able to sit through the bands before us! (insert mass amounts of sarcasm here)  The Funny River Backwoods Group was the band just before Pat's and the name is very applicable.  Sadly, they sounded like a 5th grade band that just learned to play their fiddle, mandolin, guitar and washboard.  Oh, and they were all flying pretty high!  Anywho...Pat's group did pretty well and the few people who were still left enjoyed some nice parting music!

 Joy is fresh cherry tomatoes!

Did we mention, our house is still for sale?  All the fabulous activities could be yours!