Winter Memories

Winter is ever-so-slowly melting away in Alaska, and the first green shoots are beginning to emerge through the snow. By this time of year, I'm always so glad to finally get a glimpse of spring, but at the same time I'm a little sad to see another winter end. Last night I spent some time reminiscing as I looked through pictures of our winter on the homestead. I didn't get to all the pictures I had in mind, so I'm just going to post what I have for now, and then I'll try to post the rest tonight. If you are looking at this today (Monday), then I hope you'll come back tomorrow for the rest.

These pictures are a reminder to me of how God has blessed our family. It also reminds me that I need to be more thankful. Now, on to the pictures. I'll try to keep the gab to a minimum. I would appreciate you leaving a comment and telling me which picture you like best. I think I'm going to change the one at the top.

Zeke, Jed and our dog heading home after snowshoeing.


Sunset over the beaver pond a little ways from our cabin.


This looks like ice feathers to me. The picture was taken at the spring where we get our water.


View of The Alaska Range from the lake.


Chuck and our dog, Bear are checking to make sure there is no overflow on the "airstrip". Chuck packs the snow with the snow machine to make it easier to land, and then he marks it with spruce branches. Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker can be seen on clear days.


We have a plane load of fuel flown in each year for the generator, snow machine, four-wheeler and chainsaw. We have a few small solar panels and a wind generator, but we still have to burn gas to have enough electricity to power the satellite internet modem and laptop. We use oil lamps for lighting.




Since we have no indoor plumbing, we haul water from a spring near our cabin.


Chuck was knocking a hole in the ice to check the thickness so we'll know if it's safe to be on the lake with the snow machine or for planes to land. This past winter the lake began to freeze up with about 6" of ice before we got any snow. Most years we only get an inch or so of ice, and then we get LOTS of snow. The snow usually insulates the lake, which makes it take a long time before the ice gets thick enough to land a plane.


Full moon over the pond and creek near our cabin.


This is another picture of The Alaska Range. This one was taken from a ridge about two miles from our cabin. The lake is just about in the middle of the picture down in the trees. We're at the edge of the foothills of the Alaska Range.


This was taking from our porch during an early snow.


I'll add more winter memories tonight. I sure hope you'll come back, visit and tell me which one should go at the top for my new blog picture.