Christmas Time

The simple and best things in life are free.


May we all find Peace and Happiness this Holiday Season

A New Christmas Poem For Any Season Never Forget...

YOU ALL HAVE AND DO MATTER TO ME AND ALWAYS IN MY HEART IF I KNOW OR KNEW YOU BUT I KNOW YOU ALL...




I HOPE ALL WHO READ THIS ENJOY AND NEVER FORGET THIS POEM NO MATTER WHAT SEASON..

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps - I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts...
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said, "Its really all right."
"I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
He sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram will always remember."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now, it is my turn - and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another;
Or, lay down my life with my sister and brother...
Who stand at the front - against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do; at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret...

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget...

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled...
Is payment enough; and with that - we will trust,
That we mattered to you, as you mattered to us."

Computer Ink Tie Dye

May not seem to hard to believe but I was surprised when I stumble upon just another art form from a unlikely source. One afternoon I was cleaning my printer in cartridges with a solution and was using parer towels folded up to blot the excess ink away "What a mess!" After doing so I had looked at the colors and unfolded the towels they were beautiful, brought me back to the day. If I would of know what I was creating the paper towels would of been white and not had patterns on them. Need less to say I dried them, ironed them and saved them... From now on I will use white cotton material to blot ink. A quilt perhaps? Never know with me with my wondering artist imagination.

This Post

This post has no photos only my words, my heart. I have had the pleasure of knowing and know people in my life that have brought me joy and devotion. I can never express my feelings they are just there in my mind and soul it is carried threw with who I believe I am and only those who have know me can understand. God Bless us all threw out our life's. P.S. THANK YOU

Snow Day

November 15th 2007 the snow is here to stay. I took these four photos of Reb waiting for us to go on a wheeler ride. The afternoon was breath taking the sun was warm and the skies clear.

The Bitch "I Think Not"

This was sent to me and I had to post it for it is just truly another part of who I am...... I could not of said it better.



When I stand up for
myself and my beliefs,
they call me a
bitch.

When I stand up for
those I love,
they call me a
bitch.

When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts
or do things my own way, they call me a
bitch.

Being a bitch
means I won't
compromise what's
in my heart.

It means I live my life
MY way.
It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to
tolerate injustice and
speak against it, I am
defined as a
bitch.

The same thing happens when I take time for
myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish.


It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.

I am outspoken,
opinionated and determined. I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So try to stomp on me,
try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me.
You won't succeed.

And if that makes me a bitch ,
so be it.
I embrace the title and
am proud to bear it.


B - Babe
I - In
T - Total
C - Control of
H - Herself

B = Beautiful
I = Intelligent
T = Talented
C = Charming
H = Hell of a Woman

B = Beautiful
I = Individual
T = That
C = Can
H = Handle anything

The Things I Think Of

Yesterday as the sun was shinning through the window one of my crystals created a long rainbow through the living room. So I had taken the time to create a photo.

Puffins

Acrylic Painting small and simple but I enjoyed painting it

Kenai Kings the Best Fishing in the World

The Daul Ram

I had painted this picture from a Photo I had taken of what once the largest Daul Ram on Turnagain Arm "One Eye" Two years later someone shot him from the road as He was grazing on the cliffs. It is a sad day when thoughless people will take the beauty and mangifiance of a Icon for the horns then to leave the body and his large curls broken from the fall.

As Years Go By

Being able to sit and play on the lawn with 5 young Kits while Mom and Dad watched from different directions making sure I was no threat was a wonderful and life time experience.

As they grew and moved on to their new locations to start families of their own Mom and Dad stayed along with what I called, "My Little Boy Scruffy" After the first year Scuffy's parent both became injured from traps and were not around very often so I became his best friend and Mom.




From morning to night Scufffy was always there. It was always a challenge to keep him from trying to take my catch of the day. More than once I would have to run up from the creek and play Tug of War with him. After I would catch one Silver I would take it up and lay it on the lawn out front my door. The term "Sly as a Fox" So true--
He would wait for the first fish caught watching me from the brush then wait until I walked back down to the creek. He would sneak up and grab it and try to run before I made it back up. It became our game. He always knew he had the left overs!




When the deep snow would come he never went far from home. I would sit on the bench out side my window in the evenings and we would share the night.

The Moose

I enjoy the morning hours relaxing and creating my art work. I can not think of any form of art I do not enjoy, it is my peace of mind.

Fishing for Silvers

No sooner as my line hit the water of the Knik River
I landed the first Silver of the morning

One of the three was hooked as I was reeling in within
2 foot of my legs knee deep, shocked me!




The rewards of a beautiful relaxing day

Happy Halloween

Apricot Almond Cookies

My daughter Natalie and I were stocking up on baking needs for the Holiday Season and were discussing putting a new twist on old favorites. She suggested I make some cookies with dried apricots. So that I did...and added slivered almonds. This Sugar Cookie recipe even though with the ingredients sounds like they would be very sweet, but they are not.

If you like more of a almond taste use almond extract, I did both.

WOOD HAULING DAY

The sun warmed up a bit took till afternoon so now time to haul wood. All has it's place the large shed off the deck across the lawn full of wood for when it gets really cold, new 20X6X6 shed on corner of prop trey almost full...So I needed to bring over the wood cut 3 years ago stacked on pallets to the deck, will burn great..
A least I didn't handle it 2 times in one day------took me 3 years!!!



MEMA AND THE GIRLS



Took time out to ride over to my daughters and load up my two angles for a ride threw the snow... Was a quick trip in the house threw their shoes and coats on and off we went. I love to surprise them no plans just show up and go--------

First True Day of Winter

It is always so pure and clean the fist day of snow. The late morning skies are a painting on canvas that draws you out side to take in all the beauty.

The Mouth of the Kenai River

Saturday afternoon on October 20th we drove to the beach on the wheeler in search for the perfect piece of driftwood, the air crisp and the sun warm.
Took the ride out to the head waters while Reb ran threw the small breaking waves as far as our journey took us. Happy and content Reb loaded up. Heading up the hill from the beach threw a friends property and home then across the road and threw the woods we went.

Today Sunday we will journey there again. Must take the time to enjoy the sunny afternoons while the temperature hits above freezing.

Harleys Harleys & Harleys

Last days of Alaska Sun shared with Larry the mascot from Bikerworlds on his visit to Alaska with me.

Knik River Painting

As I sit here this chili morning with the fire crackling and the glow filling the room I found myself going threw art work and photos.
This painting I did was a few years ago. It still at this time is not completed it and maybe that it is the way this one should remain. A remembrance of all things in life are forever changing including what I painted before my eyes at that time.



I do not have it in my possession at the time and one day it may be returned.

They Will Eat them Up

A DECEDENT STRAWBERRIE PIE

Nothing better than picked Raspberrys..
I had processed them in different ways

from freezing, jam, pies & Raspberry Liquor!

All a part of Alaskan Ways

Just a reminder

All photos are my layouts

with the dishes I am creating

Hot Smokey Sweet Green Chilies

To Much Vanilla Ice cream...

The last of the last can be the best when sharing.

Can never deprive him of what is good

and a little taste is good

Contentment

Simple things in life are the best

True love and Dedication

Monday evening at 8 pm on Sept. 17th

he really thinks he owns the world

And even though he does and doesnt he

owns me..

BUT THEN AGAIN, NO ONE OWNS ANYONE

LOVE IS WHAT IT IS

The Rains Came

Sept 12th 2007

The rewards of a wet day stacking wood under cover

a

WARM FIRE

And my Wild Child not missing

one deep water hole to lay and play in

All dry and content until his friend Amy showed up at the door.

Sept 11,2007

Free Spirited

One of my pleasures is seeing my companion Reb

be as free as the wind

As wild as he is within, His instincts, His heritage His calling in life

I try not to deny him

Faithful and Devoted to each other

we are

My Boy and I

"Herbert"

I had the pleasure to have this young Bull

be a part of my life

From watching His first steps

to the passing of His Mom

A whistle or the calling of his name

he would run threw the creek and come to my

welcoming

This is not a wise thing to do but he had stole my heart

and showed me trust

The Watering Hole

Three years ago created a Watering Hole out side the front door

for the passing by of many Moose

On Sept 3rd 2007 took the time to

take a few pictures before Mom was more interested in me!

No luck with a Big Bull Stopping by as of yet...

New Greenhouse

The Greenhouse came a bit to late this year

But still has life and the warmth within

and brings peace

to all my thoughts

Eggplant Salsa

After having at hand so many wonder fresh veggies at the start of Sept.

I processed them in different Culinary flavors

And Salsa was one

After making my salsa I had to give it a photo shoot

for a cook book I am working on

A picture is worth a 1000 words

Fireweed Jelly

Fruits of my Labor

Fireweed tells a story for those in Alaska

Summer is close when the first blooms appears

and

Winter is upon us as the last bloom

drops from the top.

Fireweed makes a beautiful Fuchsia colored Jelly

The smell and taste are beyond compare

She Wolf

Hunting is a way of life.

Sept 6th 2007

It is not always necessary there are the times

just to watch and enjoy the splendor of the Wild

and let them remain that way.

She is a dead Wolf need not show any other pics to offened

anyone

Within the Valley

While the Fireweed lines the plush green valley the mountains

surround and hold you in their arms

Mt. Redoubt Kenai

She lays silent for the time while her sister on either side speak in low voices

Her time will come again to voice her power

I am compelled to take many photos of her for she is out my door

and I see her beauty differently each day

The Child The Cub

While out hunting on Aug. 23rd 2007

I could not help to think this Bear Cub in the clouds was but a youth not ready to achieve his man hood but still was granted his reward

In times past "the old ways" when a youth is to become a man he goes on his quest to posses his own identity in life and death. The hunt and victory gives him the powers of which he is to become.

I felt protected and safe under his watchful presence as I to was on a quest

REB & I

To share the company with my devoted companion brings joy into my life

The Moose and I

We watch each other closely but with the silence and peace I feel he has no fear.

A young bull who will have a lot to show with his magnifence growing rack.

Alaska my Home

There is not a day goes by without my mind wondering in the majest beauty that surrounds me.

To leave home without a camera is a sin...

Around ever conner I can find peace from within. It is what calms me when life can be to much to bear, my escape, my soul, my being.