For Bubble and others who may be interested; from the sanctuary.

"Ice age conditions 10,000 to 70,000 years ago shaped the land we know today as Creamer's Field. Despite its frozen condition, there's life in the frozen wetlands. Snow covers the ground from October to April providing a layer of insulation. Beneath this blanket many small animals over winter. Thick coats of fur or feathers protect animals above ground.

Suddenly there's water in the wetlands! As spring temperatures rise, snow melts, run off water floods the wetlands, creating a seasonal pond. The permafrost frozen soil beneath the pond acts as a seal holding the water. Plants and animals flourish in this watery world.

By mid June, the frozen ground thaws and the water seeps into the earth. The dry surface hides a moist rich soil below. Rapidly growing vegetation provides food and cover for wildlife."

Note that some of these ponds do not exist in a very dry season or if there is little snow and some of these "ponds" may cover an acre or so.

There are three public trails, one is the wetlands, one is through a Boreal forest and one is through the back of the farmer's fields, creating a different view of the public viewing areas that are normally viewed from the lot just off the sanctuary road in.

If you would like to see my photos from yesterday of the Alaska Range and of the wildlife sanctuary, you may click on the following link.

https://goo.gl/photos/jgXRnpKt5UEHRRnP6

To see the photos in more detail in a larger size, click on the first one and follow the right prompts. Since I was so far from the mountains, geese, swans, etc. full size is better and will not overwhelm your viewing.

Patricia, nice pictures of the Sanctuary.  Looks like it was a nice day for your visit.  Especially liked the one with the goose sitting on top of the car.  Lots of very interesting scenes. Lots of some interesting shaped trees, also.   You did a great job.

Thanks for sharing your visit.

Joy

Oh, PATRICIA, thank you SO much.  The pictures are marvelous, as are your descriptions.

We here in Chesapeake country are a resting place for wild fowl heading north for the summer and south for the winter.  James Michener wrote about this in his book, "CHESAPEAKE."  He got a lot of stuff wrong in that book, but then he was not from here.  He had a method to writing his books that involved moving to that part of the country or the world for weeks or months and gathering all the information he could on 3x5 file cards with the help of research assistants.  Then he would block out the book and fill in the stuff that tied the local information together.  I have heard natives from other places say he got a lot wrong in their books, too.  But he was accurate about the thousands upon thousands of geese and other critters that use Maryland as a seasonal motel while migrating, especially our flat Eastern Shore.  You pronounce that "Easton Show."

PATRICIA, I would dearly love to walk down that path between the birches!

I'm very happy that those who saw the photos enjoyed them. I think having a sanctuary with available grain is one reason why you don't see the geese around town and they are also protected against man and dogs.

The land is full of gullies and tussocks and that area is almost the same as it was all those thousands of years ago BECAUSE it has not been developed! The trees are like that because underneath, the ground has frozen, melted refroze and melted again so many times that they cannot set down a good root system and that is why so many have fallen or  leaned so much. You have to look at the boreal forest as a moment in time.

On the Alaska Range, I'm sorry I don't have a lens to bring them closer but some of the mountains are large enough to show up. I was unhappy to see the photo I had of 3 or4 helicopters buzzing around the mountains came out blurry and had to be discarded. Its the same way with the geese, several photographers had these huge lens that needed their own tripods but I do not have the money for that.

Good morning from the Isle of Man.

Kelly

Patricia, thank you so much for sharing that beautiful place (very different from Jack's lovely one!) and also for the detailed description you gave.  It was a very interesting read.
It would be a dream to be able to visit.  It also would be a good place for doing some painting. Oh... imagine!

Hi everyone on a cloudy with a 60% chance of rain this afternoon and we are headed to the low 80's also.  Yesterday turned out to be a bit quieter than I had anticipated as at coffee I found out that our Wisdom group had been cancelled because the Pastor had been called out of town.  I came home and hooked up the garden hoses and watered the flowers and bushes in front and then hooked up the back hose and watered the plants we have purchased for the containers, which I need to get planted today. 

The housekeeper is due this morning and it has been almost three weeks since she was here as she came early last time to clean before my sister and BIL arrived.  Likely we will go out to eat a late lunch and may go to Ruby Tuesday's as they are having buy one salad bar and get the other free since today is Earth Day.  Otherwise it should be a quiet day at home.

The UPS truck was just here and delivered my new laser printer and also some new equipment from Comcast.  So I have a couple of things to do I had planned on doing.  It keeps life interesting since we don't know what each day may bring.

Beverly, I don't think in all my life experiences I have run across a smaller graduating class (except perhaps earlier classes in my high school.  I grew up in a rural area of NW Missouri and there were other small high schools around that may have had similar small classes but if so I never heard of it.  When I went to college I was apprehensive as to whether I could compete or not but found I had no problem and did very well in college. 

MaryTx, while there were disadvantages in going to such a small school as I did there were also many advantages like being on the school newspaper and annual staff, being in plays and other activities.  If it hadn't been for those things I would have been pretty bored in high school.  My wife went to a school like yours where you could be lost int he crowd without much difficulty. 

MaryPage, going to a private school was a great opportunity for you and obviously gave you a sound base for your education.

Patricia, it sounds like you are having great progress on your weight program.  Keep up the good work.  Interesting information on Creamer's Field. Beautiful pictures that bring back some memories of the two years we lived in Alaska.  I liked the one with the goose on top of the car and also the birds surrounding the photographers.  That is a very nice photo essay to go with the description you shared with us.

Good morning Joy and Bubble and anyone else I did not address this morning.  Good afternoon Kelly. 

Hi Larry
Good day to you.

kelly

I really enjoyed your photos, Angel.  As Joy said, that goose sitting on the car was great!  Good photography work.

Good Morning from another sunny Interior!

Again, I thank you for your enjoyable comments on my descriptions and photos! Speaking of painters, they are everywhere you go here. When I was wondering along the back trails I would often stumble along a painter with their stool and portable easel. One I suddenly noticed when he waved from some further bushes.I asked if I was in his way, to which he replied; "No problem, if you are, I'll just paint you in!"

In the phone book's yellow pages, there are eleven just for professional photographers and probably that many or more for painters. Those using photography or painting as a hobby are probably twice that.

Hi angel
From a sunny Isle of Man

kelly

Hello, Kelly, it is 9:13 in the morning here, how are you faring?

Hi angel
As I post the message it is Saturday 00.27am, but the S&F clock says Friday 7.22pm.

kelly

My day has been all topsy turvy and haven't been able to do a thing for fear I'd miss a phone call.  Granddaughter Kathryn went in hospital last night to be induced, as baby was a week late arriving.  It has been, though, a whole month of false alarm, after false alarm, after false alarm, and I was quite worn out before the process was finally REALLY started.

But it was still slow.  My 26th great grandbaby was born at 9:58 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2016.  7lbs 6oz and 19½".  No name announced, but she is a sweet little girl.

Congratulations MaryPage! Quite a large family you've got there

Congrats MaryPage, 26 great grands! How many grands do you have?

I feel really poor with only one, but he is a smart cutie. Had his 4th birthday last week end and told me: "Nonna, now I am not a small kid anymore, I am almost big and I want to come and sleep with you.  "  What a charmer he can be.

Hi Mary Page
Congratulations to you, Granddaughter and baby.

And all your family.

Kelly

Hi everyone on an overcast day but sun is suppose to be on the way.  I have a few things I want to accomplish today like taking one of my New Guinea Impatiens back to Lowe's for a replacement or my money back.  It is looking very sickly and not doing well in comparison with the other two I purchased and have treated exactly the same way.  However, I will call before going there to be certain they do guarantee their plants.  We also want to go to the nursery nearby as they are suppose to get a new supply of herbs and other plants today.  I also hope to get all of the plants in the ground today as it shouldn't take very long.  After the housekeeper left yesterday Pat and I went to Ruby Tuesday's for the two for one salad bars and had a good lunch.  I did get my new laser printer installed in my office and now need to get it installed on Pat's laptop and the computer upstairs.  We did have a little rain yesterday afternoon but am going to have to turn on the sprinkler system for watering on Monday.

Patricia, if the painter had put you in his painting and then he became famous you might just be the next Mona Lisa.    Alaska would be a nice place in which to paint.  I do remember how clear the air was up there and then the frost on the fences and other places that sparkled like diamonds. 

MaryPage, congratulations on your 26th great grand baby.  Glad that ordeal is over for your granddaughter. 

Bubble, children at 4 years old are great and can be so entertaining.  You don't spoil him do you?

Good afternoon Kelly.  Hope you have had a nice day.

Congratulations Mary Page.  Don't envy your birthday list.....

larryhanna, Aviv is so spoiled by his parents that I try to be more strict with him, so he learns there are some rules that need to be followed. But over all he is a good boy with a wide heart.

You're right about that, Hal!  I spend a lot of time (and money) sending cards and checks.  Rarely send presents anymore, unless it is a book sent from on line or a gift certificate.  I am just too old to go out shopping, so I don't.  Chip loves to regale folks with a tall tale about how many cards go out from here and how they send a special postal truck to collect them all.  I never miss a birthday.

Bubble, I have thirteen (13) granddaughters, and not one single grandson.  I JUST counted up, and believe it or not the 26 great grands are evenly divided:  13 boys and 13 girls.  Makes me start to wonder what is going on with that number 13!

Well, I got a good night's sleep last night, finally, and am raring to go.  Slept in until NINE this dark and drizzly morning!

13 means that you are blessed

THAT I am, and I know it!

We have a good friend who we have known for at least 35 years.  Served with him in the Air Force.  They had three children same age as our children.  And the way things have worked out they have not one grandchild.   We have 8 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren.

MaryPage, how exciting for you! A new great grand baby! It must be nice for you to have so much family as I know you treasure each and every one!

Hal, you also have a large family and I know that you and yours are close from past posts! You are very lucky!

Larry if that painter had painted me in it would have been Mona Oops as the clothes I was in especially for the rough terrain and the clean but not polished look I was sporting would not have given his work an appeal!

Our weather has cooled down a bit yesterday and today.  Imagine we will be back up into the high 80's tho by Monday.

Shirley has been trying to log into S & F but having trouble  I can understand her problem cuz it took me over a week of trying 3 times a day.  Perseverance.  LOL

Kathryn has called to tell me her perfect little daughter is to be Ava Mason, and her last name.  My daughter Debi also gave Kathryn the middle name Mason, which is my maiden name.  I am pleased because it ties her to our Virginia ancestry

Congratulations Mom on your new
Great Grand Daughter Ava ....   

In case I didnt' mention it, 
my First Grand Daughter "Fifi", is being
induced next Wednesday.    She is pretty
well grown up for a fetus,  and already
weighs Seven and a half pounds.       

Mom has a bit of high BP,  so  they are
getting things going on Weds.   
(Unless Fifi decides to come earlier)  ...   

There hasn't been a baby in my family
for 13 years.   (Since Maren and Katie)
So we are all looking forward to it.     

I want "Fifi" to call me "GG", 
(for Great Gramma) ...  Now that is what
I want ....   not necessarily what will
happen.    ( But I can hope!) 

Have a good weekend,  everyone!
Sandy