From the Overlook

A week into official "Spring" and the vista from the overlook at the top of the bluff still speaks of winter.

Spring Equinox

More snow today. Only about an inch or so accumulation but enough to freshen the ground cover.

Spring comes slowly in Alaska.

I stopped on my way into town this morning to take this picture at the overlook.

Pheasant

Our solitary pheasant is showing his breeding colors and crowing from the top of the wood pile but so far we have seen no sign to prove that he isn't the only living pheasant on Bluff Point.

We call him our "chicken" and he hangs around all winter taking advantage of the sunflower seeds we put out. One year I thought I would treat him to some chicken "scratch" feed but he turned his beak up at it.

he just prefers the sunflower seeds.

Cross-Tracks

Signs of the pheasant on our back deck this morning.

Looks like he was confused...

It's Been A Long Winter

The marquee at the local theater made me smile.

Leather Underwear!

Late Winter Morning

February is traditionally a "big snow" month but we are ending the month with little net gain.

The month started cold and clear, then, after my surgery, morphed into a couple days of snow and then rain-and-snow mixed.

Lately, it has been mild and feeling like Spring.

Snowfall

February is normally a "big snow" month for us here on the Kenai Peninsula but so far the month has been clear and cold.

Until today.

Snow has been falling all day--fine flakes that are easily sculpted by the wind into sinuous shapes.



The wind that piles drifts around the doors has stripped the trees of their seasonal flocking, leaving them looking spring-time bare.



The drift along the outside of the house contrasts with the comfortable green of the houseplants safe inside.