Whale Watching

Yesterday as I was sitting upstairs looking out on the gloomy day that it was. I saw several boats gathered out on the water.  Normally when boats are gathered, there is a pod of whales, or the people on different boats were having a swimming competition.  Just teasing.  Anyways, as I was looking out the window pondering on who was swimming the fastest :)  I saw a tail.  A very very large tail.  It was the whales!  We ran down to the beach and spotted them about 20-30 feet of the shore, it was amazing! 

It's raining cats and dogs outside, and I'm at home sitting in the recliner typing.  My sister on the other hand is working hard on her job...outside scrubbing skiffs, fish tables, and fueling boats.  (What few boats are out an about in this weather)  Mom is making a smoothie for an early dinner, and I just finished sweeping and doing laundry.

We started school last week, and it's going great.  I'm doing quite a few online classes such as, math, writing, photography, and science.  I'm so excited about this photography class!  There isn't very much happening here same old things.  Have a great evening, and my Ketchikan friends stay dry!

Things I Love #1

My Canon T2i.

Oregon Trip "11 pt. 1

Herring Cove Bear Watch

Hello to all my blogger friends!  Do you remember me?  I'm the one girl who fails to keep her blog up.   Since I haven't posted since June, these posts are going to be short and sweet. : D  Here goes...

Sunday, the third, we traversed out to Herring Cove to watch the bears.  We met our dear friends the Savages there, and proceeded to join the group that was there with their cameras.  My camera has never felt so little in its whole short life.  Enough said.  We waited and waited until finally we spotted a bear out in the marsh.  As the cameras where clicking away, S told us to look quietly to the side.  Our gazes left the first bear and slowly roamed up the hill behind us.  There munching quietly on some grass was a mother bear and her cub.  I was a little nervous.  There was a bear behind us and a bear in front of us.  To my relief and others frustration the bear on the hill turned and walked into the bush.

The spot we were at was getting to crowded so we decided to move.  We wandered down the road, and found another clearing.  This spotwas amazing compared to the other one.  As Mrs. Savage, and I were busily snapping pictures, Bailey, who is nine,  stepped forward onto the ground.  Well, at least she thought it was the ground.  A gasp went up as she fell headlong into the bushes.  The first thing that popped out of her mouth was, "Momma, I met a slug."  As Mr.Savage pulled her up we were glad to see that the only thing wrong was dirty clothes. 

Here are a few of my raw, unedited, photos.

Grandma's 60th birthday!

The Gang!

When I asked them to do a "silly face" they both leaned the same way!

No, the kite did not get stuck. 

Perseverance hike!

Best Buds :)

The Girls.

Sisters

"I'm taller!"

Meg and I

1, 2...

3!



These past few days have been absolutely beautiful!  I read the thermometer, and I almost fainted.  69 degrees!  Grandma and I worked outside for about an hour this afternoon edging the lawn, pulling/yanking  weeds, raking the moss that wouldn't be raked, and swatting pesky mosquitoes.  The mosquitoes must have sprouted right when the sun came out.  Bug spray won't drive them away, and if you swat one, five more fly into your eyes, ears, and mouth (extra protein). 

Sunday night we ate dinner out at Ward Lake with the Hamlins.  While we were building the fire some of our other friends were out on the lake kayaking, and they paddled over to say "Hi."  After dinner, we hiked around the lake.  When we got back the fire hadn't died, and a few pieces of wood later and it was blazing brightly.  I was taking pictures with my camera of  4 year old Lyndie and she climbed up into a tree and called, "It's okay, you can take a picture of me," 

Monday morning was Kendall's first day of work.  Her job is within walking distance, but for the first morning mom drove her over.  I didn't take any pictures of her, but I took some of the docks!  Have a beautiful evening everyone.

We were blessed with blue skies again, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time spent outdoors.  This afternoon we took advantage of the sunshine and spent the day cleaning out the inside of our truck.  I also had time to take snapshots of a few various types of my grandma's array of flowers.  Yesterday was the P.E. picnic.  What started out as a game of capture the flag soon became a squirt gun fight.  We were all drenched, and laughing too hard to talk.  Unfortunately I left my camera in the car, fortunately it didn't get wet! 

Imagine packing your grocceries up those stairs.

                                               

Wordless Wednesday

It's done!  Finito...finished.  Let the sun shine.  We've spent the past two evening weeding and planting veggies and potatoes.  First we weeded the boxes that haven't been touched in two or three years.  Then we added Steer manure and organic compost.  Finally last night we planted two boxes of potatoes, a box filled with Swiss Chard, tomatoes, green peppers, and salad nasturtiums.  Kendall, formerly known as Kat, planted carrots and is waiting for the herbs she ordered.  I planted pansies, and nasturtiums. 

Monday morning at 9:30 a group of homeschoolers and private school students met at Ward Lake proper.  We spent all day learning about orienteering, botany, wildlife, and fisheries/aquatic insects.  The orienteering class was the BEST!  We reviewed navigating with a compass, and they taught us how to count our pace.  After that came the fun part, a course using our pace, and a compass.  During wildlife class Hannah somehow acquired the wardrobe of a beaver! 

On Wednesday our cousins, Joanna and Carrie, drove over to our house to practice for the Pioneer home.  Then later in the evening we went over to Gr*vi* to help my Uncle transplant an apple tree.  Transplanting a tree here includes welding a cage, hanging chicken wire, and a backhoe.

Thursday was the last day official day of P.E.  Next week, we meet for a picnic.

Whale watching???

The almost completed "house"

Say Cheese!

Uncle Brian trying to escape the camera. :)

Bags of gravel...not the most comfortable seat.

Kendall and I on the barge

Loading the barge, and learning the correct hand signals.

Mrs.Sw*da giving us instructions.

The "beaver"

My Beautiful Sister

Black and White plus a different setting.