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Our cove on the lake is full of nesting birds; two Rednecked Grebe nests (one is floating about 50 feet from shore), several Mallard Duck nests some with babies along the shore, next to our dock a feisty Bonapart gull regularly attacks guarding a nest somewhere in the woods, and a Magpie nest in the tall lone spruce tree. This does not include the Tree Swallow nests that have been built inside three nesting boxes that we mounted on trees earlier this spring. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game provided a sign cautioning lake users of the nesting area, and we built a contraption to hold the sign that floats in the water on the outside of the cove. It seems to be working, boats slow down when approaching and wake is kept to a minimum.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The ducklings have hatched! Now the biggest threat is predators.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Often, during the evening, Common Loons appear swimming close to the shore in our cove. They are beautiful to watch, preening and fluffing their feathers and cruising back and forth. One day three arrived at the same time and talked to each other in a soft cooing Loon language. What I love most is their haunting melodic call that can be heard far away throughout the night.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

A stubborn soul, who refused to give up on the quest to be the first boat to circle the island, used the hull of his boat as an ice breaker and plowed his way through until he was stuck here, only scant yards from making the loop. After much scraping and banging he was able to manuver himself free and retreated, failing to execute the circle. Later during the evening of May 3 someone finally achieved the goal, a parade of boats commenced cycling round and round the island through the narrow path in the ice until they could no longer see in the dark. With the ritual accomplished there is no question that Spring is here, trees and lawns should be green within a week or so. Let the fishing and fun begin!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The entire east end of the lake is thawed now, the ice pack is congested across from us at the west end and down the south/west finger. The dark land mass above our dock on the left, is an island. An annual ritual and rite of passage into Spring is to be the first boat to circle the island. Boats have been buzzing back and forth all day trying to break through the last bit of stubborn ice that clings to the north shore of the island, thwarting all attempts to complete the loop. As I work outside in the yard, is is strangely comforting and exciting to hear familiar whine of jet motors again.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The main ice pack is growing smaller and is way out across the lake as you see in this photo, this morning the cove was clear. At this point the edge of the pack is breaking up into smaller chunks that drift around. Later in the day the wind blew and filled our cove with these smaller sheets of rotting ice. Soon the main pack will breakup and the thick, heavy masses will move back and forth across the lake with the direction of the wind sometimes damaging docks from the force of the ice. We are pretty much at the mercy of nature until the lake is ice free.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Break up of the ice on the lake was going along quite well until last night, the temperatures dipped to 28º and at noon today a thin crust of ice still remains on the water along the shore. The waterfowl avoid landing on the ice, even if it is thin. So, today it is pretty quiet on the lake. Last night before the water froze we saw our friend, the muskrat, cruising the shoreline.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The ice is thawing rapidly now, a pair of Mallard ducks showed up this morning and will probably build a nest in the cove as they did last year, and several Trumpeter Swan flew low over the dock. We hear the sounds of Canada Geese as they circle above in large goups seeking a field to rest and feed before they continue the journey to their summer nesting grounds. This is one of my favorite times of the year in Alaska!

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan Artist

A little more water is showing along the shore by April 19. It would be extremely foolhardy to try to walk on the lake ice now, so far I’ve only seen a couple of dogs out there, and a moose.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

The winter of 2006-07 in Palmer, Alaska, was bitterly cold and windy. We had several periods of hurricane force winds, trees blew down, shingles blew off the roof of our new home, and the 4″x4″ support posts for the fences snapped off at the base! March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb. April has been wonderful, warm and sunny. Our lake froze 3′ deep and it is exciting to watch the ice melt and breakup begin. Water began showing along the shore by our dock on April 17.

More tomorrow.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Our lake cove seems to have an unprecedented growth of weeds this year. It seems like they grew overnight. We didn’t use the boat for a couple of weeks and the first time we were ready to go out again we were amazed to see thick mossy weeds in the water around dock. This is problematic for the boat motor because the jet will suck them into intake manifold and the engine will shut down. To avoid this problem recent boat trips begin and end by rowing through the vegetation barrier. (more…)

To navigate a canoe without changing the paddle from side to side, one must master the “J” stroke. Both my husband and I are quickly learning how to perform this stroke efficiently, in coordination with each other. The “J” stroke keeps the canoe on a straight path, and allows the canoeist to be in charge of direction. (more…)

The weather is incredibly beautiful, early morning finds the lake flat calm and empty except for waterfowl quietly resting and feeding. This is the time of the day we enjoy paddling the canoe. We have the lake to ourselves and the scenery is gorgeous. Snow covered mountains reflect like a mirror on the surface of the calm water, the only ripples are created by the canoe as it cuts a path, gliding seamlessly toward the opposite shore. This is indeed a time to think, to exert, and to bask in the beauty of nature. (more…)