I want to start this entry by sending out a Happy Birthday wish to my brother Steve. His wife (my SIL Diane) is throwing a picnic/BBQ tomorrow in celebration, and I wish that Steve and I could attend. I love you, bro! Have a great day!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately. While we've had the occasional rain, we're having what's called a Pineapple Express. According to Wikipedia: The Pineapple Express is a Pacific Ocean subtropical jet stream that brings warm moist air from Hawaii (where pineapples are grown) to the U.S. West Coast states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia. I don't care what the explanation is; I just know we're enjoying this! As I type this entry, it's sunny and 72F. Absolutely gorgeous weather for an August day.

Steve and I filled a tray with sunflower seeds and placed it on the deck so that our cat Airborne could watch "Bird TV". The chickadees have always been a friendly bunch, and allow me to get close to them when I fill the bird feeder or suet cage. I wondered if they'd be as friendly if we went out on the deck while they were swooping in for some seeds. Steve decided to see how they'd react to him.

He went out on the deck and sat next to the tray of seeds. The chickadees didn't seem to have a problem with his presence, and continued to fly around him - although none of them would actually land near - or on - the seed tray. I told him to just stay there and let them get more used to him. Soon, a few began landing in the tray, grabbing a seed, and taking off again.

He scooped up a handful of seeds and extended his palm above the tray. I grabbed my camera just in case. Only a few minutes later, a brave chickadee came down from the sky, perched on his hand and picked up a seed. And I caught it with my camera! What a wonderful thing!

Since then (and because I'm so jealous!), I've sat on the back deck so the birds can get used to me. Although I haven't had a chickadee land in my hand yet, they don't hesitate to fly around my head and land in the tray to eat. I love it!

I spent a few hours gathering some of my wildlife photos, and putting together another slideshow which I titled "Wildlife of Alaska". It was difficult for me to choose music to go behind the photos, so I decided to just use some tranquil new age type compositions. You can view it here by clicking on the little *PLAY* button beneath the video, or view it at YouTube by clicking the larger *PLAY* button in the center of the video.

The video is a little more than 10 minutes in length, so you may have to wait a little while for it to load completely. If you're on dialup, I apologize.

I enjoyed sorting through the photos and choosing those that I wanted to share in this presentation. I can remember where I took each of the photos, and the memories bring me joy.

The sunflowers in my yard are still growing - and growing quickly. There still aren't any blooms, but the flower buds are huge and are spreading wider with each passing day. I look forward to the day that I have huge yellow flowers in my yard. I hope they come before our first frost. I specifically took a photo of the plants showing the squirrel superhighway, and the way it travels up the center of the rows of plants. At the far end of the path, is a large mound of dirt, and some dead tree stumps (in the wood line), where I believe the squirrel may have its nest. There's even a sunflower plant growing next to that mound. I drew an arrow on the photo showing that plant in the wood line.

Steve and I didn't win the Denali Road Lottery this year. We're very disappointed, as we hoped to have the same awesome experience we had last year. For those who aren't familiar, the Denali Road Lottery is held the second weekend in September (this year it's the 15, 16, 17, 18) and it's a weekend when the park is open to private vehicles. During the tourist season, you can only go past mile 15 in a shuttle bus. In order to limit the impact on the park, during the lottery weekend only 400 vehicles per day are allowed to drive into the park. To be considered, you have to send in a $10 fee per application. You're allowed to enter for as many people who are in your household. The passes are transferable, so I could have entered for my kids at their WI address to better my odds, but didn't. Mid September is prime time for both autumn splendor and wildlife activity. We saw many bears, caribou, wolves, sheep, etc. last year and I took some awesome photographs. We are disappointed not to have been chosen this year, but we still hope to drive into the park to mile 30 after it closes for the season. Not as nice as going to Wonder Lake, but better than nothing. I'm glad we live only two hours from the park. Better luck next year for us!

Steve had his follow-up appointment since having his shoulder surgery. He's healing very nicely, and the doctor was impressed with the range of motion he already has. Steve's still taking it easy, and there are certain movements that hurt, but all in all, it was a successful surgery. He has a physical therapy appointment a week from Monday, at which time he will learn the exercises he should do to speed healing and range of motion. Hopefully, he'll be back to feeling himself in no time.

This month marks a year since I was home to Philadelphia and at my mother's hospital bedside. The year has passed so quickly. It's hard to believe that Mom has been gone for almost a year. I have two friends who read me who lost their mothers around this time last year too. I am thinking of you both and sending you hugs across cyberspace.