Jim's New World » winter

Happy New Year 2010

Jim — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:58:13 +0000

I was invited to spend New Year’s Eve at Big Beaver Lake. I was a bit reluctant to go at first, but sure glad I did. It was a great way to bring in the new year with some really great people. Russ and Linda were perfect hosts. Evan and his friends supplied the pyrotechnics. The food was good, and had a really fun time.

It was a beautiful crisp night, dipping down close to -10F / -23C. The blue moon was out, turning the night into day. All around the lake revelers had their huge bonfires, and the requisite fireworks to bring the new year in with a bang.

Didn’t get to bed until 03:00. Up at around 08:30… Linda fixed a hearty breakfast for all, and then it was time to relax, watch a little football, and then suit up for the ritual clean-up duty of the fireworks debris on the lake. The firepit was still holding plenty of hot coals, and a log or two brought the flames back to life. We made a quick pass of the area, and retrieved all the trash. All in all, a small price to pay for the fun of the new year’s eve revelry.

Soon it was time to go, and head back to town. I wished my hosts all the best, and many thanks for a wonderful time. Hey, I’m already looking forward to next year…

Out with the old… in 30 seconds. (Just think if this was in your house… Be careful with the trees getting too dry.)

Fireworks on the lake

Hope all have a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!

Moose out front…

Jim — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:23:20 +0000

I saw the tracks in the front yard and had wondered if the camera captured it. Thanks to the webcams, Mom finally caught a critter.

Dad took the few seconds of raw video and created this…

[See post to watch Flash video]

It’s that time of year…

Jim — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:16:56 +0000

Was raining “down below” this evening. As I climbed the hill toward home, the drops were mixed with some big, wet, sloppy snowflakes. The temp is now showing 34F / 1.1C. It won’t be long; I guess, since the rain / drizzle is still falling, we might see some white stuff on the ground in the morning. They are calling for an inch (2.5cm) by the morning. It certainly will make for an “exciting” drive, that being the case, when everyone learns how to drive in the snow again.

The weather in Anchorage is changing…

Jim — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:36:24 +0000

Ok, I haven’t posted in a while, since I have been all consumed with reading on the Kindle. (The current book is “Paranoia” by Joseph Finder.) But, not so busy to notice the changing seasons.

Fall is definitely here. There is a noticeable chill in the air. The leaves are changing (and a majority are on the ground already), and there is snow on the mountains this morning.

Autumn doesn’t last long in Alaska. It’s fleeting, this year being no different. This year however, we are rushing from what has been a beautiful spring (with endless blue skies) and summer (long, warm days) headlong into a dark winter. Time will tell if the temps are ‘normal’, but darkness is certain. Even now, we lose five minutes a day, and the darkness is creeping in.

Guess I better get the tires restudded, make another pass on the grass (and the leaves) with the mower, and enjoy the last bits of sunshine.

Looking east while driving along Abbott.