Be Careful What You Wish for...

You recognize that saying? Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.

Right up front I want you to know I don’t claim to have any “in” with Mother Nature, nor hold any sway over her moods. Nonetheless, strange things do happen. Coincidental things, and I'm not a believer in coincidences.

When I gazed longingly at a thermometer that seemed forever unable to rise above zero, I sighed and said, “I could do with some temperatures in the high twenties,” then stuffed some more wood in the woodstove.

Well, a couple days later I got what I wanted. Twice. Once going up and once again on the way down. The temperature rose into those high twenties I'd wished for, but it kept going.

For six days Mother Nature dumped rainwater on us and sent Chinook battering rams against the side of my house.

I’m pretty sure she didn’t want to quit her tantrum when she did, but when the rainwater reservoir was depleted and the Chinooks had exhausted themselves trying to blow my house down, the temperature started down again.

And down. Now it’s right back between zero and ten above and I’m stuffing wood in the stove again.

But, the cold comes with clear skies and after not seeing sun for all those days, I discovered something I’ve been suspecting for a long time:

I’ll take a photo of darned near anything.

Beginning of a sunset at Trail Lake.

Fog over Turnagain Arm.

Fog and reflections in Turnagain Arm.

Female Dall sheep alongside the highway at Turnagain Arm.

Sunset colors from a parking lot in Anchorage.

Sunset along Turnagain Arm. See that bump on the horizon?

Here it is again. It's Mt. Redoubt, an active volcano on the far side of Cook Inlet.

Night skiing lights at Mt. Alyeska, Girdwood.

Early morning sunrise from my loft.