Arriba

time passing by. 

rapidly. 

full force. 

bring it on home

Himalaya Hill 

most of the days pass too fast

1st stop : water from the spring in Fox
at thirty below zero you do your best not to get wet.
standing in an ice filled room with a line of characters from dry cabins,
waiting my turn for the coveted Fox water.

there are a few roads signs that stick out on the way home. 

this picture marks the end of easily obtained electricity. 

after this house, its generators, candles and head lamps. 

the last of the christmas lights. 

minnie is my co.pilot 

she loves to eat biscuits 

upon arriving home the coals are still hot in the wood stove

perfect for throwing more logs on the fire

next to the heat of the wood stove, my copilot sleeps effortlessly

Breakfast time on Himalaya Hill

more logs on the fire

then a temp check.
30 below has not ceased. 

we call this : cold SNAP !

Alaskans - i know what you are thinking, it's light outside.
well it is sunday and i can eat breakfast
at 11 AM if i please 

next pit stop :  the outhouse 

if you don't know what an outhouse is:

the bathroom.  that has no water. 

plus side : never have to clean a toilet.

down side : it's 30 below.

best seat in the house is  

the view from my throne.

our lives are filled with ice these days.

Freedom Fighter

Freedom is no longer with us. 

She left last night in the dark. 

She departed quiet into the night.

Alienated Squared

As my head hits the pillow and the pillow hits the bed in our quiet cabin, it feels almost too quiet.
My thoughts, all on their own, decide to turn toward UFO's and skinny grey beings from other planets.

My thoughts tell me, "this would be the perfect place for them to visit, all alone in a cabin in Alaska"
now the thoughts begin conjuring up images of flying saucers hovering above the trees.
The fear creeps in slowly as I tell my child like self to count sheep and stuff down the drama -
My face slowly slides under the blanket, like so many times before. As though the blanket is my shield.

The blanket effect has proven to continually protect me with it's magic - a trustworthy notion,
never once has it failed against monsters, UFO's or other figments of my imagination.
I surrender to sleep, as the night becomes day I awake with dreams I can't remember.
I open my eyes. Not only acknowledging but admiring the calm that was previously daunting.
Powder fresh snow on the ground, the wood stove warm.

All child like fear gone and replaced with being an adult again, imagination in check.
I put my head lamp and boots on to make the long trek to the outhouse with a stop by the wood pile.
Noticing the stars above me and the snow beneath.

I feel foolish, as adults do, when admitting that my child self still occasionally gets to drive the car -  sometimes in the most ridiculous of ways.

Moments of Change

cross the bridge.
it's passing you by. cross it or die.
the now is forever gone with each moment.
true freedom: is to know what is on the other side




caption: alaska-canadian highway bridge- north to the future

Lost Freckles

mosquito screens give you freckles if you stand

close enough or so i was told as a child. 

in the winter it gives perspective of what once was, a life that feels so far, a memory once had.

a buzzing in my ear. a love lost. a bag packed. a trip taken. a summer forgotten. 

wherever i go. here i am. putting my pants on, one leg at a time.

Bettles Air Bratt