A Day After ...

Hello Everyone!

We trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  We were thinking of you and are thankful that each of you has blessed our life.

Our Thanksgiving Day was one of snow and snow mixed with rain yet, we had a fantastic time. Although the weather kept us mostly indoors, we did get outside to put the boat up for the winter.

Later, Ernie 'fired' up the sauna so that we could finish our day with a relaxing sauna at 160 degrees F. Very nice!!

Today we had a beautiful sunshine day! Clear sky, no wind, temperature at 32 degrees and a day for us to enjoy the beauty!!  As we were getting ready to leave for our daily walk, we spotted two coyote's over at the mainland at Swan Cove. They were playing and looking towards the cabin.  Later we heard yapping and barking, and from all the yapping noise we could tell there were more than two coyotes at the cove.  As we were returning from our walk we could hear a lot of commotion coming from Swan Cove - seems the coyotes were disturbing the geese, ducks and swans that have not migrated.

Once the ice freezes on the lake, the coyotes may decide to come to the cabin.  So we will need to be very aware of the ice conditions in order not to be surprised by visiting coyotes.  Yes, we do have coyotes in Alaska as well as wolves. Mostly they stay away from man and are very cautious when they pick up the scent of man.

A view of the cabin from our moored boat.

Our windmill that produces our electrical energy. 

A view of our sauna & cabin from up lake.

This rock is covered by lake water during the summer!! If a boater does not know this rock is below the surface, they risk banging up their boat prop.  I named this rock - Whale Rock - because it looks like the nose of a whale.

Me - with the Chugach Mountains in the background. 

Ernie - with the mountains and Skilak Lake in the background.

Ernie's creative shovel work on the deck.

Dealing With The Wind and Rain

Storm abating today

Boat safely moored - finally!

The 'come along'

Waves still hitting the beach

Last night was rather hectic for us!  We had just settled in to begin our dinner meal at 6:30 PM when we heard the winds coming from the Southeast.  As we listened, the winds became stronger and stronger.  Ernie checked our wind meter and told me the winds were clocking-in at 40 mph!  We were surprised because the weather forecast predicted us to have 15-20 mph winds.

We both jumped up,grabbed flashlights and went outside so that we could peer into the night to check our boat.  Although our boat was moored, the winds were beginning to toss our boat sideways towards the rocky beach.  We both rushed back into the cabin and quickly put on our chest waders, rain gear and head lamps.  We grabbed extra ropes and ran to the boat before it went completely sideways.  If the boat went sideways on the beach, the waves could batter and pound our boat and we would be unable to turn it - risking serious damage to the boat and motor.

Once we reached the beach, we were confronted by a strong surf of four foot waves slapping us and our boat. Ernie literally had to yell instructions to me in order for me to hear him above the surf that was pounding.    Besides the wind blowing like mad, we had to deal with 'sideways rain' pelting us.

Finally, in between the swells and the waves, about an hour and a half, we managed to turn the boat and re-secure it to the 'skid'  - Ernie had built a 16 foot 2x4 skid which he attached plastic lexcon material to the bottom -- the skid makes it possible for us to easily pull the boat onto the beach and secure it. This time however due to the strong winds, the surf was lifting the boat and the skid, turning everything around.

Once we had everything secure, we returned to the cabin to change in to dry clothing, finish our meal and relax for the evening. At 10: 30 PM as we were getting ready to retire for the evening, we heard the winds again, this time coming stronger!

Ernie went to check the boat and returned telling me the winds were much stronger and that we'd needed to pull the boat further up out of the water.  So - out we went again to deal with the boat.  This time, Ernie connected the 'come along' to the boat and began cranking the boat up further.  My job was to release ropes from the boat that Ernie had predetermined were key for cranking the boat.

Together, we managed to crank the boat up on the shore by another two feet. We were finally able to get to bed at 1:00 AM.  This morning and throughout the day the storm continued but not at the fierce level it was last evening.

Ernie installing insulation

 Mittens drying

Maggie ate our Arctic Pea bush

Sauna Duck Boards we built from cedar

On a lighter note, with the continued wind and rain today - Ernie worked on the insulation project to give us more insulation for the cabin.  He will cover all the insulation with 2 x 4 grooved pine.  While Ernie worked away, I made two pies, one apple and one pumpkin.

I thought you all might like to see how we dry our gloves.  The little hanging rack is actually quite handy.  Also, the little moose has come by and eaten a number of our bushes.  She definitely has poor manners.

I also thought you'd like to see the Duck Boards that we built for the sauna and last but not least - with all the rain and warm weather - there is not much left of my first snow man or is that a snow person?

Take care Everyone and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

All gone!

It's Raining!!

Would you believe it's raining?  Yesterday we went for a walk and it was about 36 degrees, calm with no wind. Later in the evening, it began raining and is continuing to rain today.  The snow has been melting and becoming a might slippery outside.  On our walk yesterday, we came upon a rock on the beach that was encased in ice.  Rather interesting.

We did see Maggie, the little moose yesterday.  She was busy munching on willows.

Today, we are doing inside projects.  I made a 'draft-sand-thing-a-ma-jig' for the entry way into the sauna door to keep the draft out.  Ernie is measuring and cutting Styrofoam insulation to go on the interior cabin walls.  Then, he will finish off the walls with TNG 1x8 pine. I'll post some photos of Ernie's project once he gets the insulation up.

Take care and we'll touch base again.

Hello Everyone!

It's great to be back at the cabin!  The lake has been very calm with no winds. As a result, some areas of the lake are beginning to freeze.  In the first photo - we noticed that 'little islands" of ice go floating by.  I don't know if you can see one of those little islands floating by in the first photo.  We are suppose to have rain today so, I'm sure these little islands will melt away.

Because the lake is warmer than the atmosphere, we also have lots of hoar frost - I thought you all might like to see some spider webs covered in frost - cool looking.  Our sauna window is a work of frost crystals.  Yesterday, Ernie and I constructed "duck bills" for the sauna - those are cedar planks for the sauna floor.  Today Ernie will make dowel cradles to hold the removable dowels that will dry our washed clothes - a rather unique dryer and good use of the sauna heat after we sauna.

In the evening we took a walk on our beach to see the rising moon.  It was absolutely beautiful.  We were hoping to see stars but it was too overcast.

We have not seen the little moose but we discovered that we have another 'pet' - a beautiful white weasel. He or she was running around on our deck.  I was pleased to see the critter - mainly because the eat voles and mice - so in affect, we have a mobile mouse trap.  It's been cold - in the 20's - so I've been putting out bread crumbs for the birds.  We now have birds coming to feed.  Some of the birds we've not seen before - so we keep our bird book handy so that we can identify them.

Well, take care everyone and we'll keep in touch!!

Back At The Cabin

Hello Everyone


We are back blogging after our trip to Anchorage and, a full battery bank. The first four photos were taken the day before we left the cabin to go to Anchorage.  Maggie, the little moose, came up to our window - so we took a close up of her.  The next photo is one of Ernie placing a red reflector on a tree so that we can locate our cabin when it is dark outside.  The other two photos are of us taking a walk around the island.  It was a beautiful day - 36 degrees - and melting.


The other photos are of our return back to the cabin.  The temperatures were at 19 degrees with calm winds.  After we had launched our boat, the ice fog had set in making everything disappear.  Ernie of course was prepared.  He guided us across the lake and back to our cabin using compasses.  The going was safe and slow.  My job was to spot land.  Ernie guided the boat standing up through the canvas bow opening.  It was a bit cold out there, so he wore his face mask.  After we spotted the island, Ernie guided us right to the cabin.  


This was our last trip off the island and away from the cabin.  We will not leave now until late January or early February.  Then, we will go by snow machine.  As you can see from the photos, the lake has not frozen yet.  When we launched our boat from what we call 'the lower landing' - there was a sheet of ice going down the boat launch.  Ernie had to guide the truck, boat and trailer very carefully so that everything did not slide down or off the boat ramp.  


We knew things would be slippery, so we had brought sand and gravel to make the process safe.  Once we had the boat in the water, Ernie had to put the boat motor in the down position for half and hour to allow the motor to come up to lake temperature.  Since the surrounding air temperature was about 19 degrees.  After the motor was warm, Ernie started the motor and let it warm up.  Because the lake temperature is warmer than the air, 'steam' was coming off the lake - creating ice fog.  The ice fog was not thick until we got away from the mainland then, it got thick.  That is when Ernie relied on his compasses to get us home.  


He used two compasses - one is mounted in the boat and the other is a hand-held.  Ernie used both to ensure that we were on course.  My job was to spot land and make sure we did not cross our boat wake.  If we crossed our own boat wake - that would mean we were going in a circle and getting lost.  


We are home now and looking forward to our first Thanksgiving at the cabin.  It is very still and quiet at the cabin - almost like all of Nature is sleeping.  We've not seen the rabbits or Maggie - just tracks and 'droppings' - but it's been rather cold.  This morning, the lake is thick with ice fog and its 20 degrees out with no winds.


Take care everyone and love to each!!

Snow or Not to Snow?

Hi All:


We finally had a snow fall!  However, it's been rather mild so most of it has melted away. We thought you would enjoy some of our winter scenes - it's so quiet and beautiful.  I could not resist making a snowman.


The lake has not begun to freeze yet - perhaps in few weeks.  In the meantime, we take walks around the island.  The snow is not 'good' for skiing yet - it's too wet.


Maggie, the little moose has been hanging out for the past couple of days.  She is looking well and growing.  So she must be able to find sufficient food.  I did learn that the Kenai Wolf pack does come to the island once the lake is frozen - so I'm still wondering if Maggie will make it.  From my understanding, there are about 7 or 8 wolf packs with approximately 80 - 90 wolves that range through the Kenai Peninsula - not sure of those pack numbers how many actually range through this area.  We'll see.


Ernie and Kirby brought the log splitter over to our cabin.  Kirby has a cabin on the island as well - he will leave the island before the lake freezes.  The log splitter will be used to split the logs we cut from the dead falls. The log splitter will be a great help when it comes to reducing the size of  logs that need to fit into the wood stoves -- in the cabin and sauna. 


Take care everyone -

A view 'up lake'

The Sea Runner

Our cabin

What is snow without a Snowman?

Pint in the snow

Maggie's foot print

Island walks

One of our walking trails

Maggie

Maggie is growing

Waiting for Winter

Hi Everyone!


I've not posted any news because we are 'off the grind' and our battery power was getting low - so we were conserving energy.  We had no wind to turn our windmill or sun to collect in our solar panels - so I was waiting for wind or sun.


Below - are photo's we took. The snow has melted and was replaced with new snow - which is also melting. We did manage to capture a stray frozen puddle on the beach - surrounded by rocks.  Other than that, the lake has not frozen - it's been kinda warm I'd say.  Today, it was 36* with a light wind blowing.


We also had an eagle come to visit - perhaps you can see a brown speck in the photo - Also, today Maggie finally came to the cabin to find food.  I'd not seen her for awhile and was wondering if she swam off the island. So, it looks like she was only hanging out at the other side of the island. 


This weekend - we go to daylight savings time - which means we will 'get' one more hour of darkness - as some of you know - we are loosing approximately nine minutes of daylight everyday - until we will only have about three hours of daylight a day.  This 'time decrease march' will continue until December 21st -- then, we will slowly begin to regain daylight. Since we will not get much sun - thus, vitamin D - we are taking a supplement per our doctor's suggestion.


Ernie has been working on the workshop extension - he seems to enjoy working on the inside - laying a second floor - which he will paint then, build shelves and a work bench.  


We took a sauna the other day - the sauna is in one of the photo's below - it's the light pine colored one.  Our sauna serves as our bath house and clothes dryer.  While in the sauna, we could hear the Trumpeter Swans flying - I learned the swans winter across the lake from us - in a cove - appropriately named "Swan Cove" - the birds are very large and must have a six or seven foot wing span - they are amazing to see flying.  When I see one - I always think of the "Ugly Ducking" story - because the swans' look like the ugly ducking when young.


Well - take care everyone - and I'll keep you posted on our happenings.  Love to All.

Freezing Puddles

An Eagle's Visit

Our Humble Abode

Snow Is Coming -- Maybe