Uff da.  It seems that I've been slacking on the blogging business.  Truth is with a cold, dreary summer and an uneventful hunting season, there just wasn't much to blog about.  We've been managing to keep busy with work, some playing and preparing for all the changes that will eventually come our way.

 Bolio Lake (above) is now covered in a thin layer of ice.  Soon we'll be able to walk out, drive out and fish on it's frozen surface.  The entire countryside has a fresh layer of white, and we managed to score some large, fluffy flakes, which are a rare here.

With the changing of the seasons comes the loss of light.  In true Alaska form, this October 1st sunset left us loving fall, loving the return of the moon and stars, and the auroras, of course.  They've been active so far this year, and if it kills me I'm going to figure out how to capture them on my camera.  I will, I will, I will.

 The rush of autumn is gone.  The air has grown cold, in the last few days dipping as low as -20 degrees over night.  The cords are being carried, our winter packs are thrown in, and the early nights and late mornings are upon us.

Sunrise: 9:36am

Sunset: 5:17pm

Our new wood stove has been such a welcome addition that I cannot even explain how much more efficient, cleaner and easy to use it is.  We no longer have to keep piles of wood stacked in side the house, which means less debris and bugs.  Thank goodness.  

I'm sure the animals have loved the slow move into winter and the warmer-than-usual temps.  I'm not complaining either.  The dark, wet summer has left a sour taste in my mouth, and I admit, I've had a bad attitude about the onset of winter.  Now that it's here, it's not as bad as I imagined.

I can't believe it's already.  We've decided to do a little something different for Thanksgiving this year.  Since it's non-traditional and we're away from family, we're heading to Fairbanks to stay in a hotel, all four of us.  Then Brent and I are going to sneak away to a movie, and we'll end the night enjoying a part of our past.  PIZZA DELIVERY!!!!  Ha!  The little things.  We have so much to be thankful for.  Our family, friends, good jobs, warm home, health and happiness.  

November is National Adoption Awareness Month.  Please keep all birth mothers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.  Hopefully soon we'll be welcoming a child into our home and hearts, as well as, his/her birthparents and family. 


Hoping you find much to be thankful for in your world. 


Love, Karla 

Batten Down the Hatches, Boys!

Well, it's been a while.  And while something tells me that I should feel guilty, I'm not.  I do this for fun, the blogging.  In the mean time, I 'm living.  That means, I share when I have time.  And since we've been trying to soak up every bit of autumn splendor, I haven't had much time for blogging.

The above photo is of Brent and Cash hunting at Castner Glacier.  It's a lovely hike, and I'm sorry that I didn't let Brent drag me out there sooner.  Anytime I hear the word hike, I cringe and dig my heels into the ground.  It's reminiscent of days spent hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  He's drag me around every mountain at least 3 times.  I like to wander, watching the skies change above, not him.  He's more of a get there, get back kind of person.  Not so at Castner, it was such a nice, easy walk.  Easy pace.  Watching Cash and Ches dash in and out of the woods, the water and the dirt.  

This is Brent with the Alaska Range in the background.  This was before the "s" word fell and coated the mountain tops with fresh white powder.  He's standing on top of the world, showing me where he should have shot a moose.  No such luck for these newbies.  It was incredibly warm and while he saw a few cows with calves, no bulls.  Hmph.

Once you reach the peak on which Brent was standing you come down to view the glacier.  Not really what you picture a glacier to look like is it?  But it's awesome.  How absolutely unique to think that you can stand on a glacier.  It's pretty cool and I'm glad I saw.  I'm also looking forward to doing that hike again.  Really soon.

I prefer to be behind the camera, but this is me, holding the bear protection, while Brent snaps a photo.  It was such a nice day.

This is a lovely Soapberry bush.  A favorite food of bears, or so I read somewhere.  Of course, I stumbled upon this knowledge after I left the area, and it made me extra thankful that we had the bear protection along. Something stronger than mace x 100.  Ha!  Alas, we did not see a bear.  I think they're hiding from me.

Fall comes early in the Interior of Alaska.  Sometimes you have to be careful to blink or you will miss it.  This is a photo of the changing colors in early September, on Triple H Road, near our home.  Now the leafy trees are bare, and withered and decaying leaves litter the ground.  I should feel melancholy about it I suppose, but it's lovely to see more sunlight peaking through the tall trees.  And I will admit while winter is long here, it's particularly pretty.  

Lately we've been enjoying unseasonably warm temps.  We got our first sprinkling of snow on Sept. 26th, and much to my delight it didn't stick around.  The days are warm, hovering in the 40's and low 50's, and the nights are crisp.  Each morning we wake to a covering of glittery frost and the warmth of the wood stove.

I have missed the warmth that wraps around you like a soft, fuzzy blanket, except when the nights are warm and it becomes a sauna in here.  I have not missed the headaches that come with puffs of smoke escaping the door and blasting me in the face when I go to reload it.  The humidifier hums in the background, and lets little chugs here and there.

Brent had a nice birthday, I think.  I made him a fairly large dinner, since we so rarely eat out here.  His requests were simple, and I let him choose his guest list.  Since our home is smallish, okay, it's just plain small, we had 4 dinner guests, and 4 additional dogs.  Yes, it was mass chaos in the house of Kings...6 dogs, 6 people.  5 square feet.  I made him salmon cakes and grilled oysters with chili-lime salsa for starters, for dinner we had roast grouse, braised brisket, au gratin potatoes and roasted acorn squash with maple/orange glaze.  We had some slightly over done bread, which is pretty much the norm for me, and for dessert his beloved German chocolate cake.  Straight from home in Minnesota.  Provided by my mom.  :)  I'm not much of a baker, so it was a perfect compromise.  :)  He had a great day with great friends!

I must go, both dogs are alerting to something in the yard.  Knowing Cash it's just a leaf drifting across the driveway...but since Chessa is alert, I think it might be worth the look.

Happy day to you all!!!