Chena Lakes Rec Area
Still no snow! Today we had sunshine and reached the high 40s. It was a gorgeous day; much more autumn than winter, despite the bare trees.
We had local elections on Tuesday, so I was up and out of the house fairly early. It was a very misty and foggy morning, so I packed my camera and Sedona. After voting, I drove to Chena Lakes Rec Area. I hoped that there would be fog laying low over the lakes, but by the time I got there, it was blowing off.
I leashed up Sedona and we took a short walk on the flood plain. The morning was peaceful and quiet, except for a trio of ravens that seemed to be playing a game of tag with each other. They’d take turns chasing each other and squawking, doing aerial acrobatics above us. They made Sedona a little crazy, but I enjoyed watching them play.
If a raven flies close overhead, and you listen carefully, you can hear their wings squeak. Steve pointed this out to me several years ago when we were hiking in the woods and had ravens fly over us very low. I later read that any large bird can make this sound in flight. It’s the sound of their flight feathers rubbing against one another, when the air is forced down by their wings.
The ravens playing over the flood plain dipped down to within 20 feet of my head. I listened and the squeak was there. I love ravens. They are such intelligent birds, with an amazing vocabulary. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stood in my front yard ‘conversing’ with them. Of course I have no idea what they are saying, but most times they do respond to my laughable imitation of raven talk.
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When Sedona goes with me on errands and walks, she rides in the back of my car. I drive a Caliber, and the back seats fold down, giving me a pretty good size hatchback area. I put her back there for a couple of reasons: it’s larger, it’s safer, and she’s shedding like crazy. I have plastic and a cover back there to protect the rugs and upholstery.
She knows that she is supposed to ride in the back, and she rarely tries to get in the front seats. The only time she might try to climb into the front of the car is if I’ve gone to Sams Club and there are big boxes in the back (she hates boxes).
On the way back from Chena Lakes, I stopped several times to take photos. When I stopped to take the last photo above (of the slough), I had to walk a couple dozen yards to the water’s edge. I said to Sedona “mommy will be right back” (I talk to my dog all the time).
When I came over the small hill and my car came into view, I saw this:
Did she think I couldn’t see her sitting in the front seat, as she peeked out the window at me? Of course I had to grab a photo. Every time I look at this, I can’t help but smile. I love hanging out with my fur-daughter!
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FOLLOW UP: DAN
A recent comment reminded me that I never finished the story about Dan and his family. Dan was the man who stopped to help us when we broke down on the way to Valdez. As you recall, they had driven up from Wyoming and were living in a camper parked on the side of the road. He and his family drove the highways everyday looking for work. When last I wrote about Dan, Steve had run into him at the RV place, while winterizing our camper, and Dan gave him a copy of his resume. Dan is a welder by trade, but is skilled in many other fields.
When Steve went to work a few days later, with Dan’s resume in hand, he decided to check the job listings for Fort Knox. At the top of the list was an opening for a WELDER! A little while later, the supervisor for that department happened to come by the office (he rarely comes by). Steve hand delivered Dan’s resume to him. The application period lasted 7 days, so it would be several more days before they started going through resumes and setting up interviews. Steve called Dan later that evening and let him know that he had placed his resume right in the supervisor’s hands.
About a week after that, Steve went into work and was looking over a roster with the names of people who were there for a mandatory mine safety class (required for all employees of Fort Knox, as well as contractors who work on the property), and saw Dan’s name. He went into the lobby, and there he was.
It turns out that Dan didn’t get hired for the welding job at Fort Knox, but did get hired as a welder by a contractor who works on Fort Knox.
Although Steve didn’t really have a hand in Dan’s finding employment, we both just feel that everything fell into place so neatly, that our meeting on that lonely stretch of highway was just meant to be. Call it God’s blessing, call it karma, call it coincidence… there is a reason everything happened as it did.
Steve hasn’t seen Dan in a few weeks, but he’s still working on the mine site. The next time he runs into him, he’s going to find out if Dan and his family have found a place to live. I hope so, with winter imminent.
Until next time…
What wonderful news to hear that Dan found a job! I certainly believe everything happens for a reason. Also, I love the new banner at the top of your Blog page. Great pictures, as always! Hope you’re soaking up the decent weather, as I’m sure snow will be there before we know it!
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I am so thrilled for Dan and his family. I hope they are settled in a home somewhere, and all is going well for them. I’d like to get in touch with Tammy and see how she and the kids are. I think I’ll get Dan’s number from Steve and do that.
This weather has been awesome. My friends in Montana told me yesterday that it’s snowing there. I’m happy it’s been holding off for us.
Take care,
Susan
[Reply]
Comment by Sue - Michigan — October 9, 2009 @ 3:57 am
Thank you once again for the photos. As I was looking at them, I couldn’t help but think that, although the trees are bare of their leaves, there’s still a certain beauty in that dark barren look. After all, it’s still a creation of God. I love all things Alaskan and find beauty in all of it. I’m so happy that Dan has finally found employment, and I, too, believe that all things happen for a reason. Thanks for all your writing, Susan.
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I love all the seasons, as each one has such incredible beauty. Although the trees are mostly bare, I love the carpet of leaves on the ground. And the way the air feels. And the silence when I’m alone in the woods. While I’m glad the snow hasn’t come yet, I know that I will find the beauty in that too. Thank you, Marylyn.
[Reply]
Comment by Marylyn Jessup — October 9, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Thank You Susan for letting everyone know about Dan and his family Really wonderful that you guys could help someone that helped you I believe it was to be
Also Happy that Dan has a pretty good job Those kind
of worker is hard to find that has that kind of skill
About the weather down here in Texas is in that later
fall weather Down in the very low 50s Suppose to drop
down in the high 40 by tonight I guess I’m not quite
ready for that yet
Take care
Love You Both John and Shirley
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 10:45 am
We’re glad to know that Dan found employment. I hope that he and his family are settling in nicely.
We might reach 60F tomorrow, John! That’s unheard of for October, but we’re not complaining!
Have a nice weekend!
Love,
Susan
[Reply]
Comment by John & Shirley Strauser — October 9, 2009 @ 10:40 am
Great to hear about Dan!! Wow! Arctic Cam says it 57 degrees in Fairbanks. Unbelievable! Enjoy it. We always got really warm weather before a big snow storm in Maryland and in Masschusetts. We called it the calm before the storm. I know if I was there I would be enjoying that weather. Hope you get out this weekend and enjoy it.
I’m gonna have rain. Severe storm coming through right now so gotta go.
[Reply]
Comment by Tammy Kauffman — October 9, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
Hi Susan,
Even though we have still have leaves on the trees here, we did have snow flakes falling yesterday. It will be a cold week ahead, but if the sun stays out, it will be pretty. We are hoping next weekend to take the car and camera out to get some pictures of the leaves turning in the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin.
Every time I go on your blog, I get this little pain in my chest that makes me wish I was in Alaska again. Half of me wants to move up there tomorrow, and we could, being retired, but the other half wants me to stay here with my kids and grandkids. Please keep up your blog so I can live the life of Alaska through you:-) I adore the pictures and descriptions of the drives you take.
Take care,
Linda from Wisconsin
[Reply]
Comment by Linda Kauffman — October 11, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
Hi Susan
I really got a big smile out of that picture that you took of Sedona pecking out the front window when you
were coming back to the car He looked like he did something wrong for being in the front seat That sure was a cute one
Love from John and Shirley
[Reply]
Comment by John & Shirley Strauser — October 12, 2009 @ 2:29 pm