A Couple of Off Days

 Thursday I was back in the store, nothing really exciting to report.

Friday, went to the Spit to wander through the shops, went through the first section, let’s say one of us couldn’t continue to walk. As the parking was impossible down there we left and hit a few galleries, in town, had lunch and went home.

Attempted to go out again today, not much luck again. We came home watched the last part of a movie, we had started the night before.

I, also spent time preparing for tomorrow, packing supplies, snacks and cleaning my camera. should have some good pictures to share.

I did take a few picture with my #iPhone12promax as we drove around.

Riders on the beach in Anchor Point

We also went by the Farmer’s Market in Homer

Sister Leaves and the Siblings will Play

 Took my sister and her friend to the Homer Airport this morning. BYE BYE.

House now ours for the next week. My other, sister and I, went to a few of the places that I went to last time I was her to look for wildlife and the beautiful scenery.

Went to the Spit to see the baby seagulls and spotted an otter swimming around the harbor entrance. The seagull fledglings we saw were behind a fence, I couldn’t get a very good picture, but I will be back.

Drove out on Olsen Mountain Road to the end, fireweeds for miles. We were fortunate, the sun came out for a bit.

After, we ran some errands. It seems that she has only one key to one of the cars at home and she brought it with her. Had to mail it back.

Went to the grocery store, good luck finding anything, grab what is on the shelves and then decide what to make. Might have to go hunting and foraging for food.

Came home and mowed the yard, ate and now just relaxing.

This a picture of the Spit, Homer Airport and Beluga Lake from Skyline Road.

First Day back in Homer

 Must have been very tired last night. Finally went to bed at midnight and slept until 6. New Mexico would be 2am to 8am. I hardly ever sleep past 5am regardless of the time I go to bed. I guess all that traveling caught up with me.

Dragged myself out of bed into a hot shower and that woke me up a bit. Still feeling a bit tired.

My sister leaves tomorrow, so I will be babysitting the dogs and working at the store for a few days.

We ran some errands to prepare for her departure.

We were hoping for a few rays of sun to be able to veins the Fireweeds, unfortunately the clouds were not being very cooperative. We did walk through, Eveline State Recreation Site, and viewed the Fireweeds. We will attempt to return when the sun is shining.

Here are a few images I captures with my iPhone12ProMax.

Just arose from a from a two hour nap, past out for the afternoon after our walk. Now everyone else is asleep. So, I,  will sit in the sunny, okay partly sunny, window to warm up.

Had a nice dinner of Alaskan salmon and a salad. going after some details with my sister before she leaves. Then time for bed, still light out.

San Jose

 Made it to San Jose and was picked up by a friend and taken to my sister’s house in Los Altos.

A few delays along the way, we arrived about an hour later than scheduled.

Here are a few shots from our flight.

Clouds after take off

Clouds

Hoover Dam Las Vegas

Very low water level

Rio Grande River going through Albuquerque 

Albuquerque Airport

I40 I25 Cloverleaf Albuquerque

Thought we were coming up on some cooling fog as we came closer to our destination. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the Santa Rita fire.

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

Morning in Homer

Sunrise in Fitz Creek Alaska

Moose grazing in the backyard
Fitz Creek, Alaska

 

Went out early this morning looking for wildlife.

Took this dawn photo at the Homer Spit.

I was working at the store for a few days, then came home to watch the Warriors get eliminated from the playoffs. It has been raining on and off for the past few days, hoping to see some sun a little later today. Plan on going out to check out some more store around town.

I had planned to try a cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll Saturday in Homer, unfortunately, I went to get some cash and discovered my wallet was left at the house. I came home and made some breakfast, when I go out later I will attempt to get one for a snack.

Out and About Around Homer

I have been out and about the last few days, visiting the galleries and various stores in Homer.

There were a gaggle of geese at the wetlands, I waited for them to take off, after circling around Kachemak Bay, they came back and landed.

Now that Beluga Lake has thawed the Seaplanes have started their flights for the season.

Homer Harbor at the spit on a clear day.

The, Time Bandit, has moved from its mooring and looks like it may be preparing to depart.

Hiking the Calvin and Coyle Trail I came across these fungi growing out of a downed tree.

The weather the past two days has been gorgeous, sunny and warm.

ALASKA PORTFOLIO

Bishop's Beach

Canada Geese on the move.

Canada Geese

Landing at wetlands at Bishop's Beach

Seaplane taking off from the Beluga Lake

Heart of the Homer Harbor

(iPhone12ProMax)

Time Bandit

at the Homer Harbor.

Calvin and Coyle Trail

fungus on a tree

 

Morning is Coming Early

Up at 5am, fed the dogs and let them out.

Threw my camera equipment in the truck and headed to the Spit for the sunrise. I arrived as the sun was creating the mountains across Kachemak Bay. The clouds were only allowing a small amount of light to come through.

From the Homer Spit across Kachemak Bay.

There are more pictures in the ALASKA PORTFOLIO

I went to a few spots looking for migrating birds, though I did spot two Sandhill Cranes, they were too distant to photography.

The other night when I was taking a picture of the Hook at sunset I took a selfie. I turned and saw my shadow, the camera and tripod surrounded by the Hook on the wall behind me.

Working at the Store

Spent the past few days at the toy store, haven't been out much beyond that.

I did leave early today to go to Bishop's Beach for a walk, as there was a very low tide this morning.

Bishop's Beach Low Tide
Homer Alaska

After I was relieved from work I headed out to the Spit. It was very windy and though I drove to my favorite spots nothing was happening. I did catch this beach walker, walking the Spit, looking across Kachemak Bay.

I then went to the, Coal Point Fish Market, and bought some scallops and salmon.

I came back to the house and finalized the configuration of the iMac, then sent my order off to Apple. They will get back to me in a week or so to confirm it. It should arrive about the time I return home.

ALASKA PORTFOLIO

Sunshine and Blue Skies

 Sunday was a total bust, cold, rain alternating with snow. I curled up and watched TV, read and ate chocolate.

Today, Monday, I awoke to sunny, blue skies and twenty-seven degrees with a bit of wind. Loaded, ALL, of my camera equipment in the truck with high hopes of spotting some wildlife.

Threw the trash in the back of the truck and headed to the dump, a good place for scavengers and foragers. I guess this was not their day to frequent the dump. Drove back to the scenic overlook, where I had passed a few Eagles soaring. They had scattered, probably to the dump.

I went back through town and drove out to the Homer Spit. Drove past numerous Eagles soaring down the beach. Of course, they were where I was unable to pull over to the side of the road.

I parked at the end of the Spit and walked around for a bit. The sun was hot, but the wind was finding its way through every layer of clothing. I was able to catch an Eagle posing and a shot from Land's End across Kachemak Bay. From, May 5-9 they will have the 29th annual Shorebird Festival. Looking forward to that and the return of the Sandhill Cranes, some flying in from New Mexico.

I ordered a sandwich from, Mike's, and went to pick it up. I went part way out the Spit to a picnic area, the closest I could park to the Eagles I saw earlier. They never came close to me.

I was debating whether to check out some of the shops in town, decided not to.

I drove down East End Road looking for wildlife, it was not my day. Took a couple of scenic shots and drove home.

Now, I am going to rest a bit and then watch the NCAA Final game. I will be rooting for Gonzaga.

Click here for More Picture of Alaska.

East End Road

iPhone12promax

East End Road

iPhone12promax

Homer Harbor on the Homer Spit

iPhone12promax

A Day at the Toy Store

Before we get to the toy store, there is a bit to catch up on.

A Snow Day for Bea

Bea loves to lay in the snow

here she is with her Top Hat.

After she comes in she loves to snuggle

nothing like a cold wet dog in your lap.

Today I awoke at 5:18am to this view out my window.

I grabbed my iPhone12promax, ran down the stairs

and out onto the porch to grab this. 18 degrees and I

have on light thermals and sandals, I am climbing up

on the seat around the porch sliding on the ice.

Worth it.

The clouds were scattered this morning 

so we had a little pink in the sky at dawn.

I climbed back in bed, Bea and Lola

climbed on to warm me up.

Now on to the toy store.

My sister, Lisa and her, friend Ken, started a toy store, The Captain's Toy Chest, in Homer three years ago. Ken had been running the store until my sister moved up here last August. (the adventures of that trip are recorded below)

Although, my sister retired she is still doing some contract work. This involves a two month trip tagging sharks at sea. While she is away I will be taking her place at the store. This will involve my working the store on her days, Wednesday and Thursday, today was my first day of training on her computer/register system. We also spend time going over all the stocking procedures. Quite a number of customers came in so I got pretty familiar with the system. Tomorrow, I get my second and last training day, next week I get thrown to the Sharks.

Lisa asked my to bring some of my maze books for her to sell and we sold one, YEA. If you want one get there soon. If you come in on, Wednesday or Thursday, I will be happy to sign your copy, though that could reduce the value of it.

Bea accompanied us to the store and barked at every person that did not enter the store.

Display of my books with some colored pens or crayons

you can use to work the mazes.

Heart to Heart Mazes

Each maze contains two Hearts, find the Hearts,

then travel the path from one Heart to the other.

Use a different color each time you hit a dead end.

A few years ago I bought a pair of North Face boots for the winters in New Mexico. Since, the winters haven't been bad, they have been hanging in the back of my closet. I may have worn them a half dozen times at most. I remembered them and dug them out for this trip. I have been wearing them since Saturday, when I left on this trip.

At the store today I looked down and both of the boots have come apart, that sucked.

The good thing is that I saw that a company in town posted on Facebook, yesterday, that they had been cleaning the backroom and had found a bunch of muck/boat work boots that they were clearing out for twenty dollars a pair. I was going to go looking for some for the muddy season here and the price was great.

I got a pair of high slip on boots with steel toes. Perfect for cleaning the backyard of the winter of frozen dog poop. I believe my sister planned this all along so that she wouldn't have to do it. (Any kids in town who want to make some money shoveling a winters worth of poop, hit me up after the snow melts. Just don't tell her.)