...seeds are sprouting

My youngest daughter is in Girl Scouts...well, she's a Daisy to be exact. She sells cookies and she has a green thumb. The activity for their last troop meeting involved making a potted plant out of an old hot chocolate canister. Very clever. And, it's already growing! As you can see the snow in the background of this photo remains knee deep, but inside the sunflower and daisy seeds are sprouting.

...snowtrax

Lots of things make tracks in the snow including: squirrels, moose, and cross country skiers. Here are a few of the tracks I saw from inside my house this past weekend. I would probably have seen even more if I had gone outside. Maybe next weekend. For now enjoy these...snowtrax.

...a perfect afternoon for a ski

The weather is beautiful outside this afternoon. Twenty-four degrees and sunny skies. The kind of day that makes you think Spring is just around the corner. We know that can't be true but it's still...a perfect afternoon for a ski.

...a little something to remind you of summer

So...I'm looking through some photos I took with my new camera last September and I come across some shots of float planes. Of course, that made me think of summer and going on fishing trips for silver salmon on the Kustatan River. Well, I thought to myself, it would be kind of nice to put something like that on my blog right smack dab in the middle of winter. You know, to help lift the burden of cabin fever and all. So, here it is...a little something to remind you of summer.

...camera safari

My youngest daughter is an aspiring photographer. She likes to take pictures almost every single day. She uses one of my old digital cameras and is becoming very good at operating all the controls. She likes to shoot in Aperture Priority mode so she can control the depth of field. We often go outside if the weather is conducive and walk around our neighborhood snapping photos as we go. It's great fun and we call it going on a...camera safari.

...the best part of winter

February can present some beautiful days after several months of mid winter grey and darkness. Just like this past weekend. Here is Mack the Golden Retriever leading two skiers through the snow. Yep, the shadows of the trees are still long, but winter is beginning to release its grip and in just two months everything will begin to melt. Until then we will enjoy the skis, snowshoes, and lengthening daylight. After all, we are entering...the best part of winter.

...a room with a view

This moose is having a picnic in our backyard.

Last Saturday morning I looked out the back window to see this moose in our backyard. A cow and calf have been in our neighborhood for the past few weeks and they have become regular visitors. It's always good to see them. But, the best part is, we are able to watch them from the warmth and comfort of our living room. We definitely have...a room with a view.

...talk about bokeh

So, here's a photo of my new lens. It's a beast! I'll save the particulars except to say it really creates the bokeh (subject is in focus and background is blurry). I hope I can make to Anchorage for the start of the Iditarod this year so I can use it to get some photos of sled dogs, mushers, and fur hats. I've used it around the house a bit and it takes sharp, clear pics...and talk about bokeh!

...when it snows

Last Tuesday we had a very nice blizzard roar through our part of Alaska. Kind of fun really. Here are some photos of what it looks like...when it snows.