Sunset 8/9/26

Sunset captured in the Ortiz Mountains in Cerrillos New Mexico.

8/9/26

Nikon D850 24-85mm

Flower Moon

I had been scouting out places to shoot the rising Flower Moon. I decided to go back to the Eveline State Recreation Site, I was hoping to catch the sun rising over the Portlock Glacier, the angle was just a tad off to the left of the glacier. I was able to get a few good pictures of the rising moon and later the eclipse.

This is the sunset from the Eveline Recreation Site.

Flower Moon rising over the Kenai Peninsula

Total Eclipse of the Moon

More Alaskan photography: ALASKA PORTFOLIO

A Good Day for Eagles

 Started the day by packing all of my camera gear in the truck and headed out.

I took a drive out the Sterling Highway toward Anchorage, I turned off on Diamond Ridge Road. I headed up into the hills to seek wildlife. I did not find anything up there. I headed back toward Homer.

Decided that, as long as, I was passing Safeway I would purchase the few items I needed. Grabbed my camera and my canvas camera bag, okay, where is my camera bag. Back on the kitchen floor with my wallet. Drive back home, get camera bag, head back out. 

I stopped at a store to check out their products. Grabbed the camera and go to attach it to my, Cotton Carrier Vest. Left it at home when I took it off to use the bathroom, no, I am not making another trip to the house. Homer Truffle is across the street, need chocolate. Checked out a couple of stores, stopped at Safeway, then headed to the Spit.

I drove out to the end, there was no action. Drove back down the Spit and stopped when I spotted some eagles hanging out. I sat for there for about 2 hours. I was rewarded with some nice shots of a Golden Eagle. This was courtesy, unknowingly, of another photographer who was taking pictures at the water's edge. He got too close to a Golden Eagle and it flew off, headed in my direction. I aimed and held the shutter release until the cache was full. I hung out for awhile longer and then headed home.

Arrived home to find a couple of puddles on the floor. The roll of paper towels has two pieces left on it, text my sister "Where are the paper towels?" She writes back they are in the basement, though at the bottom she states the "garage" not the "basement". That part is not showing on my screen, so I head to the basement. this involves lifting a couple of plywood doors in the floor of the garage and then removing the slats the that keep the the floor secure when walking on the doors. On the way down you have to be careful or you will (ouch) bang your head, which is exactly what I did. Found them in the garage, after texting her they were not in the basement "why didn't I read her full text". Why didn't she delete the reference to the basement before sending the text????? I don't know.

I posted a number of photos to my site you can see them here:

ALASKA PORTFOLIO

Homer Wildlife

Wildlife is everywhere around Homer

LINK TO ALASKA PHOTOGRAPHY

Driving around Homer came across 

this moose on the side of the road.

Grabbing a bite to eat from someones yard.

Bald Eagle flying by the beach.

 

Water is Back

My pump guy came back with all the parts needed to get water back in the house.
After letting the hot water heater heat the water I was able to take a shower and do all the dishes. I am now doing two weeks of laundry.
It also means I can bake again, so a loaf of bread and a batch of brownies.

Had a fabulous sunset the other night. 

Quarantine Day 12-14

French Toast with Bacon for breakfast.

Started the day with a nice breakfast.

Cooler today, just kept the windows open all day. Didn't need the A/C at all.

Worked in the garden timing back some bushes, preparing to work on the dikes I am making.

Okay suddenly it is Tuesday. How time flies.

Saturday and Sunday were just working in the yard, photos and eating.

Sunday I was gathering the things I will need at the gallery, on Monday, I will be moving and rehanging all my photography. 

Went out to the gallery and rehung my work. I have to bring some more pieces down since I have more room.

Started to put together a shopping list for Tuesday. I figure to hit all the store first thing in the morning and get home before the thunder storms.

Went to all the stores on Tuesday and loaded up the freezer, should be good for awhile.

Sunset on August 31st

Quarantine Day 10 & 11

Awoke with a bit of energy this morning. Less smoke in the air, I can actually see Santa Fe, though it is still hazy.

Did the morning chores. I am now making a loaf of bread and a tray of chocolate brownies.

Today was a cooking day, made some wings for lunch and snacking on.

So basically I cooked and stuffed my face all day.

Not much else to do while sitting in self-isolation.

Did do some more trimming in the garden. Working on figuring out why my lawn tractor won't start. Went through all the trouble shooting, will have to call support on Monday.

Smoke continues to clear. We have had some very strong gusts of wind at sunset the last two nights. It has blown over my plants and hammock.

Quarantine Day 9

Sunrise

Did the morning chores. Charging up the batteries for the garden tools so I can do some yard work later.

Added some wood to the hot tub.

My house sitter came by to drop off a few things and pick up a few items. She sure is going to miss the hot tub.

Air is a little clearer today, I can almost see Santa Fe and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Already hot and muggy, am inside with the A/C going.

Received a call from the USPS about the missing package. They told me what I already knew and said they would send it to the next level. Have a feeling that I will never see this package again.

Climbed in the hot tub at sunset and relaxed before going to bed.

 

Quarantine Day 7

This morning's sunrise.

Did the daily watering and threw some wood on the hot tub. It is such a pleasure to get up and climb in a nice hot tub. Watch the birds eating and there is no sound.

Pretty lazy day, smoke is making it hard to do much. 

Did a bit of weeding and triming the plants. Tomatoes are starting to ripen, there are a few ears of corn that are looking good. Hoping to get some good potatoes out of the remaining plants. There are only a few melons and onions, the carrots are looking good.

 

I believe squirrel has moved into the garden, but it is not touching the vegetables, yet.

Hoping these fires will get under control and the smoke will start to dissipate.

I have refilled the hummingbird feeders but not many are coming around.

Until tomorrow, have a good day.

Quarantine Day 6

Sunrise on a cloudy, smokey morning.

Sunflower

Curved Billed Thrasher

Awoke to smokey skies, again. Did my daily watering and feeding the birds. Added some wood the hot tub, climbed in for a morning soak.

Sent in my grocery order, for pickup this morning.

Drove into town to get my groceries, contactless pickup. Then I drove straight home again.

Had a chat with Lisa, Lola escaped again. Barefoot chase down a gravel driveway.

Rest of the day uneventful, lots of smoke in the air, makes it difficult to do much.

I did get to watch the Giants beat the Diamondbacks, again.

 

Quarantine Day 5

Smokey Sunrise

Smoke is very heavy this morning.

Did the usual, watered the plants, started to heat up the hot tub and had breakfast.

Jack joined me for breakfast.

Received a text from Lisa last night she made it home at 9:30 pm her time, 11:30 pm my time. Exhausted by she has arrived and it seems the dogs love their new yard.

Smoked filled the skies all day today. Went in the hot tub before lunch and again after dinner. Hoping it is warm in the morning.

Going back to watch the final innings of the Giants game. Love those cutouts. 

Quarantine Day 4

This mornings sunrise

Very lazy day, had to drag myself out of bed. Sore back, need to reheat the hot tub and climb in.

Fed the birds and did the watering.

Made some breakfast and discovered that my food delivery person forgot the eggs.

Just heard that Lisa made to Alaska at about 9:30am.

Update: Lisa made it to Alaska. She had to get up at 4am to make to the border by 9am. They only give you 24 hours to cross the Yukon. They had made a mistake on her paperwork when she entered, it showed her having to leave the same day she entered. It did not turn out to be an issue.

She went to US customs and sailed right through, the dogs even got a treat for the agents. They reviewed her paperwork and gave her a bunch of paperwork, which she threw on the seat on drove off.

I believe she said that she pulled over around 10 am to feed the dogs, which she hadn't had time to do before. Each dog wears a harness, a leash is attached. the leashes are then secured to a carabiner that is attached to the car. She went to get their food and bowls from the back. As she came around the car she saw and animal int the road, then she thought that it looks like a beagle. She thinks someone else has a beagle out here. Then she looks down and sees that "Houdini" aka "Lola" has once again slipped her harness. 

Lisa calls out to Lola and she turns and starts running back. You can not make a move towards Lola after she is headed to you or she will bolt. Lisa made a slight move when Lola was about 6 feet away. Lola turned, Lisa shouted "LOLA DROP", she did and she peed. Lisa put them in the car and they were not to come out until she got home.

Which she had intended to spend another night in a hotel, as it was a long drive to Homer. Remember those papers she threw on the seat, she read them. Basically it said that you will go straight to the place where you will quarantine , do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. No gas station stops, No bathroom stops, No food stops, DO NOT LEAVE YOU VEHICLE "PERIOD". GMAFB

Waiting to hear if she gotten home, she figured around 8:30pm.

So, now you get hear about what I ate today.....

Quarantine Day 2

Sunrise through the smoke.

Cerrillos, New Mexico

Today, I got up and went out to water and check all the mouse and rat traps. The traps had not been checked in awhile, found two petrified squirrels and one snake.

I have refilled the hot tub and will fire it up later for a good soaking.

Came in and made myself some french toast for breakfast.

Contacted my friend, Sammy, sent her a grocery list, since I am in quarantine and can't go out. She will deliver to me tomorrow. 

My hand hurts like hell, so I will probably sit inside with the air conditioner on. The skies are filled with smoke from fires in Arizona, Colorado and one that started here yesterday. 

Lazy day walked around the yard. Searched through my current food situation and mad lunch from potatoes, from the garden, onion, sliced hot dog, brussel sprouts, with garlic sliced, fresh ground pepper.

Sat and watched a movie. When I needed a snack, I made some chocolate chip cookies.

The sun sets on Day 2 of my quarantine.

Lisa made it from Fort St. John to Muncho Lake.

Quarantine Day 1

 As you may know my trip was cut short at the Canadian border.

This morning I awoke and loaded the first of three loads of laundry. Because I am solar I have to wait for the sun to hit the panels before starting the machine.

Went out to my garden, checked that the holding tank, I have well water, was full and then started to turn on the drip system. Found a leak where the bunnies had chewed one of the lines, so I had to fix that.

Went to the vegetable garden and found it was overrun with goat heads. So I got my gloves on and my weeding tool and started to pull them up. The gloves didn't work so well, as I got a huge blister that took off a layer or two of skin.

The pile of weeds and my blister.

I switched the drip system and started to drain my hot tub, so I could clean it and refill it. It was full of algae so I had to scrub it and am leaving it empty to dry out overnight. Tomorrow I will refill it and leave it cool since it is so hot out.

Switched to the last drip line, turned on the well pump to refill the tank so I could do the laundry.

Went in and started the first load.

I started to go through my camera equipment and discovered I had left my camera on the floor of my friend's car. He had picked me up in a BMW, which would not make up my dirt road. We went to his house and switched over to his jeep. Being late and exhausted, I grabbed my three bags and left the camera. Sent him a text and asked for him to take it out of the car and I would drop by later to get it.

I know, I broke quarantine, but I had to go get my mail which is four mile down the hill. My house sitter had told me her key wasn't working. I used her key and it opened right up. I also picked up my camera.

By this time it was very hot, I was still doing laundry and cannot run the A/C at the same time. The limitations of my solar system.

I made a loaf of bread as I was out.

Finally, had time to sit and write yesterday's, trials and tribulations.

The sun has set and I am going to veg out in front of the TV.

FUBAR

I had a good nights sleep, Lisa not so much, the dogs wandered around and jumped on and off the bed.

We got moving, checked out and went to get some supplies at Walmart in case they would not let us stop in Canada. We were only a couple hours from the border.

We were driving down the road and came across an Antelope stopped in the road, stopped to take a few pictures. If any turn out I will post them later.

We were getting excited about crossing into Canada for the next half of our drive. 

We pulled up to the border station and gave them the paper work, we were asked to park the car and come inside. There they again went through all of the paperwork, asked a bunch of questions.

THEN THEY DENIED ME ENTRY.

I was denied entry because I was considered a tourist and they are not allowing tourists in. My sister has a home she is moving to, as well as, a business in Alaska, so she was allowed to transit Canada.

So, then we had to turn around and Lisa drove me to the Great Falls Airport, where I caught a flight to Denver and then back home to New Mexico.

Waiting, in Denver, for my connecting flight to Albuquerque.

Lisa then had to drive back to the border. They had a shift change and they went through the whole routine again.

I got hold of my friend and he came down and picked me up at the airport. As we are driving back to Cerrillos he tells me his partner had bought some cheap clay pipes for when people come over (covid). He then told me mine was in the glove box loaded if I desired. So nice to have good friends.

My trip has ended. I told Alex and Lisa that the maze I was drawing for the trip will turn black at the Canadian border and won't actually work because I never got to Alaska.

Prong Horn Antelope

Getting Closer

Last word is that the truck is on the way and should arrive on Sunday evening. 

Trying to pack all the odds and ends. 

I mailed a bunch of stuff to my house that Lisa has given to me. This includes all of her "vinyl" 45's and 33 1/3 from the seventies and eighties. these should be a good addition to all of mine.

Yeah, my lens was ready, I went to pick it up. Stopped by Best Buy to pickup a new iPad mini for Lisa.

Had a great last Chinese dinner from Lisa's favorite restaurant. Loads of leftovers that need to be gone before we are.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 

Wakefield, Rhode Island 

Sturgeon Moon

Leatherback Turtle on East Matunuck State Beach

Wakefield Rhode Island 

Started the day at the pond, not much of a sunrise and no wildlife.

Rick came by and we went back to the Bluebird Cafe for breakfast. Great service and food.

We then went in search of shorts, everyone seems to be running low on stock. Drove out to the beach and chatted.

Went to visit another friend, while the house was being shown.

I was dropped off at Sheila's house, she and I went to East Matunuck State Beach to see the moon rising.

Came across this Leatherback Turtle in the surf, looks like it was killed by a boat propeller.

The truck is somewhere in Montana on its way here.

Documenting our Adventure

Went out to the pond to take some pictures of the sunrise, I was not disappointed.

Alex, the videographer, who is doing a documentary on my sister, met me out there. He has been filming a piece about my sister, Lisa, for a potential series on women scientists. I was interviewed for this a few years ago.

He, now, wants to incorporate my mazes into the documentary, so he came out and filmed me starting a maze, which I will continue to draw as we drive to Alaska.

He will, also, be setting up a camera on the truck to film us on our trip. Lisa and I will be filming using our cameras, this will also be used.

This could be very interesting.

When I got back to the house, Lisa, was preparing blueberry crepes for breakfast. We were joined by our friend, Kate. They were very good.

More packing, fixing the house and preparing for our adventure.

Good News

Went to Worden Pond for the sunrise, this morning, very foggy. Mommy duck was out with her brood and they moved very close. I was able to grab some good pictures.

Hot again and tempers flared, a bit of a blowout with my sister. We resolved the issue.

Rick, picked me up, we went to Hope Valley to have lunch and mailed a package at UPS.

I had bought a charger for my camera batteries and it did not work, so back it goes.

Ordered an inverter for the car, instead. While mailing my package, Rick, turned off the car and when he tried to start it, it was dead. Asked a Lady if we could get a jump, she kindly helped us and in a few minutes we were on our way.

The truck is fixed and is leaving and on its way here. They are driving 24/7 and should arrive on Wednesday. So, now final packing and arrangement are being made. We now HAVE to get a covid test before we leave, change in the requirements to enter Alaska. Ugh, not looking forward to that. 

So, yes, we are headed for Alaska, my sister, her three dogs and myself in a truck for 12-16 days of driving. We will drive across the top of the US until Montana and then a straight drive through Canada to Alaska. 

Missed a Day

On, Tuesday, I went up to Warwick to take my camera in for a new focusing screen, a cleaning and tune-up. I, also, left my macro lens to have them repair the Auto-Focus. Mid State Camera is a great place if you need repairs, very knowledgable and friendly. 

By the time I was back home they called with an estimate on the lens repair and that my camera would be ready in an hour. Quick and efficient, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Prices are very reasonable and they ship anywhere in the country. I will be using them again.

So, I drove back up and got my camera. Feel so NAKED without it. (inside joke) With all the running around I didn't post yesterday.

Picked up a new faucet for the kitchen and installed it. Just a few minor adjustments to make it work.

A couple of more electrical parts to replace and the house should pass any inspection.

Went to Worden Pond for the sunrise, here are some shots I got.

Still no word on the truck and now Alaska is changing their Covid requirements, effective on the 11th of August. We are waiting to see what we will need to enter the state.