...when the volcano blows

Ash from Mt. Redoubt falling in our backyard.

Snow writing in ash: "Mt. Redoubt 3/28/09"

Footsteps in ash covered snow.

Ash collects in the crease of a tarp.

It finally happened! After several months of anticipation, ash from Mt. Redoubt has dusted Nikiski with a very light layer of the granular stuff. The ash came from an eruption that occurred about 3:30 PM today. Around 4:30 PM we were looking outside our living room window when we saw a dark cloud coming our direction. Not long after that I could hear the tinkling sound of small granular pieces of ash hitting the window. It didn't take long until everything had a light covering of Mt. Redoubt's finest contents. The entire landscape slowly took on a brown/grey hue. It was kind of neat. We immediately put Jimmy Buffet in the CD player and listened to the song called Volcano. Jimmy may not know where he's going when it happens, but I'm staying in my living room...when the volcano blows.