Sandy, such a cute picture

Patricia, thanks for post, that is really what you call a bend in the river.

Jack, the photos are great, i was on that S. drive about 40 years ago and it was foggy.

FlaJean, loved all those decorations.  They use to decorate like that here, but no more.  I use to have about 40 children, this year I had one, although I made up 20 candy bags.

Thanks, Gloria! So many people would ask me about the rivers, mountains, and valleys that I decided to show a few photos of what the Arctic is really like. However, so few commented.

I am still cleaning & doing laundry from the RV..... Big job putting a king size bed back together with fitted mattress cover, sheets & a comforter that came with a duvet that is a nightmare trying to put on.  I washed the comforter as well as everything else & decided I'm not going to put that duvet on after this.  Tight squeeze in the RV bedroom, should have put it together in the house.  Will finish tomorrow.  Cats are not good travelers... I feel sorry for them because they need more exercise. 

Patricia, don't know if I commented on the photos.... they are beautiful but what I really enjoy seeing are the ones you took on your walks ... that wild life area & remember a long lane into woods.  Do you get out as much as you used to (I think you retired?)

Jean, people are so active every where you live!!!  I only saw one house with decorations in our neighborhood.  One house down on the corner had some of those big inflatables up one day but I didn't see them again.  The wind must be awful trying to keep them in place.  Great decorations & so original in your area.

Jack, are the leaves falling at Oglebay?  Some trees here are almost bare... same at the lake in MO.  Other trees have nearly all their leaves but just a dull brown.  The Cleveland pear tree in my back yard is as green as early summer but the one in front (north side) has a few red leaves & already dropped quite a few.  Oglebay sure isn't as bright colors as other years but still prettier than anything I've seen around here.  Did you pull up other years of Coopers Rocks to compare colors?  I thought one year it was brilliant.  Still a gorgeous place with the walks & rails & that special tree.

Shirley, I retired, November 2014. I had taken a bad fall on black ice in February 2014 that made it hard for me to walk very long or far and is now one of the reasons I wear a life line button for falls.

Here are 12 photos from Creamers Field, the bird and wildlife sanctuary, a 2,200 acre site.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

Wildflowers


[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

The next two photos, of the same pond, show how it comes up in spring time, but seeps back into the ground by the end of June.


[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

This statue symbolizing the first family was created by the same artist who created the Vietnam Wall. The copper plates surrounding the fountain are listing family members of the first three hundred settlers in 1903 when the city was incorporated.

[attachimg=1]

And finally, a last look at the western Chena River. A last view of summer.


[attachimg=1]

Beautiful, Angel.  I wish I could experience it too.  I  would even go there and paint...

I believe I saw that fountain sculpture in downtown Fairbanks a few years ago---a beautiful city and area.

Patricia a beautiful group of photos.

Shirley many of the trees have lost their leaves.  My little Cleveland Pear is also still green and holding on.

Patricia, 

Gorgeous pictures Patricia.....
I could swear that I saw a two headed Duck !! 
(giggle)

Beautiful photos, Patricia! 

Patricia, I, too, will have to agree with everyone else's comments on your beautiful pictures.

The fountain statue of the First Family must really be something to see in person.  Very unusual. 

All the pictures are beautiful, but I particularly like the one of the bench sitting among the (maybe Birch) trees.  Looks like the ideal place to just sit and admire the surrounding area.  A beautiful place to be alone with your thoughts.

Thanks for sharing.

Joy

That is a lovely graphic on the Home Page from Ginny Ann.  Several years ago I was just learning how to do those graphics in the Graphics forum competition when suddenly it was gone.  It was fun.  The Birthday cards done by the "Birthday" forum are always so pretty and unusual.

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. I love that sanctuary even though you are only allowed in a small area. There are what I call "watchtowers" for wont of a better word, scattered about so you may climb up and use the telescope to  see more or photograph further. When I lived by there, I often was roaming about with my camera and yes there were several painters about with their portable easels and supplies. I would get bad headaches from stress and a simple walk among the birches and water would soon have that disappearing.

[attachimg=1]

Many of the birches and the ground are at odd angles due to area permafrost which is another thing to hold for future generations of this overdeveloped world we live in. The staff puts out donated barley for the birds in spring and early summer.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]

A quiet winter moment.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=1]