Can't Complain

Spent the day raking the yard in my bikini listening to Radio Paradise.com. Tomorrow I will mow the HUGE backyard wearing steel-toed boots too. Taking advantage of this beautiful weather while unemployed.

My heart goes out to the victims and families in the recent tornado mayhem. May your weather get better too!

Smokey Daze

70 forest fires burning in Alaska; Minto Flats is largest

Soldotna was clouded by smoke from the nearby Tustemena wildfire today causing closure of the Skyview pool.


The sun burned orange and gave off an eerie Mars like glow to earth.

A good rain would do us good. Soon.

Attack of the Icicles

Valdez has been getting their fair share of snow lately. These icicles are thermo coupling (Thermocouple definition) my house!

Sun Going

After a full moon foot of snow.

Daisy Fish

The sun actually came out today for a bit and a few Livingstone Daisies came out to brighten things up a bit. This was a banner year here>>> Blooming Livingstone Daisies.

Won't be canning fish this year. Its okay, thats why I put cases up when I can. They are good for a few years. Not sure; haven't killed anybody yet.

Last year's bounty:

Slammin' Salmon

One of THOSE Days

Shower Power

Nothing like a solar heated water power shower.

Make sure you bring your own towels. And sun.

Kenny Lake Rainbow

Left pouring down rain in Valdez saturday and this was the view heading down the Edgerton Hwy into Kenny Lake. The sun was out and a raindow greeted us.

Had a great time visiting Camp Redington and seeing the awesome museum. Took lots of pics and as usual the weekend ended too fast and it was time to head home to rainy Valdez.

This was the view at the top of Thompson Pass heading down into Valdez tonight.

Fresh Green Snow

On a clear dayyyy, you can see forever.

latest valdez tennis scores

Number of tennis courts - 1

Players _ - zero

Holler Down My Rain Barrel

Valdez has been pounding rain for a week straight with no end in sight. Some seniors are saying its going to rain til it snows.


This rain barrel reminded me of an old song grandma taught us in the 50's.

Playmate on the piano.

Written in 1894 by Philip Wingate

Oh, little playmate.

Come out and play with me

And bring your dollies,three

Climb up your apple tree

Holler down your rain barrel

Slide down your cellar door

And we'll be jolly friends

Forevermore

Oh little playmate

I can not play with you

My dolly's got the flu

Boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

Ain't got no rain barrel

Ain't got no cellar door

But we'll be jolly friends

Forevermore

Oh little playmate

Come out and play with me

I'll bring my dollies, three

Climb up my apple tree

Holler down my rain barrel

Slide down my cellar door

And we'll be jolly friends

Forevermore

King Pond

Supposedly King salmon are returning to this pond where they were released as smolts 5 summers ago.


Silvers are in the port. Big, bright and handsome.

Pinks are done.

Weather is raining and windy. Tourists are loving it.

Ray of Sunshine

One Livingstone Daisy bloomed today.

Denali storm moving in.

Umbrella Sale

Party when it rains.

Thunderbirds Stop Traffic

All traffic was brought to a halt on the Richardson Hwy Tuesday due to loud noise and high gusts. Also known as Eielson Air Force Base - Photos of the Thunderbirds.

Not much to report weather wise in Valdez besides cloudy skies and/or windy rain bursts.

Swan Pond

Sure has gotton green around here.

Lemon Leaf Snapper

Fresh PWS rockfish before baking in a 400 degree oven on a bed of onions topped with butter and lemon leaves.

Sunday and Monday were sunny and windy. I'm going to wait and see what the rest of the week is like before hardening off my Livingstone Daisies.

Let summer and fishing begin!

Venture to the Sunny Side

Lots of fun, sun and wildlife on my trip up north. The six days went by fast so excuse the blurry pictures. This was a spring bear on the Valdez duck flats heading out of town last Friday.

Quite a few crowds of caribou crossing the road on the Richardson Hwy between mile 150-170 on the trip up. Only saw 2 strays on the way back in the early afternoon. More are moving around in the evening when its cooler. So watch out. When there is one there are usually more darting across the road. Also saw a moose, swans, a porcupine and a rabbit.

Gas was 25 cents cheaper a gallon in Fairbanks than here in Valdez. The weather was gorgeous and warm enough to barbq AND eat outside ALL weekend.

As I was passing by Eielson AFB a C-130 was taxiing down the runway and an F-15 landed.

Stopped at the Tazlina lookout over the the Copper River and two eagles were soaring below. Soon the sockeyes and king salmon will be making their way up the Copper River.

Good thing the state extended the deadline for studded tires as it was sleeting rain and snow on Thompson Pass tonight.

Back to dark rainy gloomy Valdez. In a creative writing class I took at PWSCC a fellow student wrote "that to her driving down Thompson Pass into Valdez was like licking the bottom of a stagnant lake." She was from the sunny side.

Purple Haze

The purplish blue haze hovering over Alaska became visible in Valdez today.

Story below.


Haze over Alaska is from Russia

Dog in a wheelchair

Hip Teenagers

Gorgeous day in Valdez by mid-morning. After high wind gusts caused a racket all night. High 40's tomorrow. YES.


Had to stop and take a picture of these two teenagers walking around town. They sure know how to brighten up the world!