Some Amazing Alaskan Sunsets!!

Anchorage has had some spectacular sunsets lately!!!

So I thought I would share a few with you.  Our sun sets right

now around 4:00 in the afternoon.  When I see a hint

of clear sky I ready myself for some spectacular 

evening sunsets.

Sometimes I race to the inlet so I can take it all in.  It only lasts 

minutes, so it really is a mad dash.

The colors can be very intense and beautiful.

I especially love the pink sunsets, although I find them all

 breathtaking!! 

I stopped to take the photo below at a nearby clearing in the outskirts of town.

While I was parked, a man in the car next to me got out and played

taps on his bugle...what a wonderful way to end the day!!

The sunsets are amazing and the sunrises can be just as spectacular.  

The bottom photo was taken Christmas morning from my living room window.

I love standing in the glow of this lovely evening and morning light!

I can't wait for the next one!  Just when you think you have seen the best sunset

ever, another one comes and steals the show!!

Cozy Moose Mitten Walk

I'm always happy to pull out my cozy moose mittens.  I bought these in 

Whitehorse Canada many years ago.  They are definitely the warmest mittens 

I own and I am very grateful for them when I go for walks in the winter months.

As I headed down our driveway I walked past these wonderful alder pine cones.

They are only about a half inch in length.  They would make great 

miniature Christmas decorations for a little doll house.

We had a light dusting of snow last night.  These twisted roots 

are dusted with snow, but the ground

underneath was left clean of snow.  

The days are very short right now, and darkness approaches 

early in the afternoon around four o'clock.

When I'm out on my walks I always look for spots of color.

I came across this beautiful birch tree.  I love

the color and textures on this tree!!

The lake is now completely frozen, but I could 

hear the water hitting the ice. 

Every once in awhile I could also hear really loud bangs as the 

ice contracts and expands.

High above the lake shore were beautiful icicle formations.

Everything has a light dusting of snow, even the lichen on the trees.

It's a overcast day, but still beautiful.

On my way back to the house, I stopped at one of

my favorite benches.  This bench belongs to a neighbor.

I love the color of this bench, I think its beautiful!!!

It's a very worn bench with lots of lichen growing on it and

it has the color I'm craving during these long dark winter days.

It's great to get back to a warm house where I can dream of summer roses and get 

back to the holiday cookies.