i love ice!!

 winter brings with it the ice.  up here we have ice for months and it is rarely dull, though today it all turned to slush.  these are two different days on the ice.  it changes all through the winter and i will still find ice in ways that totally stun me.  it's so unexpected.  for me nature helps me to believe there is a higher power out there.  one that was dedicated to creating this place with an amazing amount of diversity.  i love diversity in all things, humans and creatures.  i believe our creator did as well.  if you wish to show absolute respect for the creator you must first show respect for all the creations and creatures.  we are created differently but we must treat each other equally. 

 building each other up instead of building walls and laws that make life even more painful to those who are suffering. 

 my niece posted these photo's above.  these are the before the fire and after the fire photo's.  she had suspected that their house was gone in the Paradise fire (or called campfire fire, because it's near a creek with that name i believe).  they now have this which makes their loss feel more real I'm sure. i just ache for them and their community.  a friend who lives in the area said it would be easier to point out what survived this fire than to try to point to all that was lost.  it was devastating...they didn't just lose their home, which would be devastating enough, they also lost the community they lived in, their school, their church, their work, their friends and neighbors...all scattered.  i think the lives lost at this point is nearly 30, but how many never made it out at all and were lost in their homes/cars. 

 it was difficult to concentrate at work this stretch i found.  i am so grateful they all got out and are together.  so grateful that they have friends who immediately opened their home and welcomed them in on no doubt their worst day.  i am so grateful my sister and also her son live nearby and have been able to stop by to provide comfort, laughter, food and basics to entertain and comfort my nieces kids.

 these are of the hoar frost on the bogs out on the Monday walk last week.  will look very different this week, and then next week when it all freezes up again it will change again. 

 i sent some money to the gofundme her brother set up, i stopped and picked up some Alaska themed stuff for the kids. I'll have to put a package together this week.  to not overwhelm them with stuff that they have no home to put my sisters son has kindly opened his home to receive packages for them and store them until they are in a more stable living situation.

 i have just tried to text her and keep that open and available for her.

 finished my three nights.  ER-ICU-ER.

 long feathery hoar frost....so fragile and beautiful

 the kitchen is coming along.  still have a ways to go.  i did a coat of paint to the ceiling and walls.  he's hoping to start putting up a few cabinets tomorrow maybe?  still slow moving project.  he does good work so I'm in no hurry if i can continue to work with him, which he seems happy to do.

 i almost felt guilty working on my kitchen tonight knowing she was without a home.  silly i know, but i think we all fear loss of our homes by fire...also i do just feel so helpless, there just are no words you can say to take away the pain really, no money or things you can give to those who have lost everything to a fire....it's a loss, it's final and it's a thing that for all their years their lives will now be divided into "before the fire" and "after the fire".  they will no doubt for years have a thought of this item or that item only to immediately remember it was lost in the fire.

 they are strong and they will be okay i know, but it's going to be something they will move through for some time.  my heart really does break for them and for those in their community who also suffered a catastrophic loss.

 these shots i liked because of the angle, gives you more of an idea of how large these feathery hoar frost feathers are.

 our iitoo always disappoints with his total and absolute lack of ability to be anything but an ass in these situations.  he is petty and vindictive and spite filled and hate filled.  folks can look the other way all they want, but eventually, i think even the most hard core trump fans will have to see the truth of what a small person he is....how absolutely self absorbed he is...most aren't ready to see it yet.

 not sure why they hang on.  hope he's change, hope they can look away long enough for all the items get checked off on their agenda list.  i can't save them from that day, the day of realization, the day they accept they showed any support for this weak person who is so far out of his league being POTUS.

 they want to convince themselves that all would have been worse under HRC or maybe they can't possibly admit that maybe it wouldn't have been as bad.  that maybe, just maybe, they believed conspiracy theories that were mostly based on lies.

 i keep looking at wall colors.  not really critical at the moment since most of the kitchen walls will be covered by cabinets and/or tile.  i think Christmas finish is much more likely. it's almost Thanksgiving.

 miss cooking and have found myself watching cooking shows

 this area will be boggy tomorrow. we will have to alter the walk around it this week. maybe just do the big loop.  probably a good day to wear cleats.

 i really should just paint the ceiling in the main living area as well. i think i have enough paint...I'll wait until the main kitchen is bit more back together.  then i can work on painting the main areas again.  haven't done it since soon after i moved in.  it's all due for a bright coat. 

 someone had been out there ice skating on the ponds. 

 today was Veterans Day. i guess our fragile POTUS cancelled on a visit to a memorial because of inclement weather....not many wars are stopped for bad weather.  way to disrespect those he claims over and over to support...despite the fact that he likes the toys of war more than the souls of war. 

 MT gets a shot of her cute pups..

 ice on the creek at the Campbell Airstrip trail system

 moving ice makes for even more fun ice formations.

 hoping the bears have made their way into dens.  i doubt they are gone though. 

 the creek from the bridge there. 

 a side pond frozen over. 

 looked pretty but i didn't walk out there.  seemed too soon.  haven't heard of anyone falling through yet. 

 there have been folks ice fishing on University Lake this week.  i would have felt that was still too sketchy.

 this part of the trail had clearly had an ice jam break open.  cleats needed.  we turned around at this point.

 on the way back we walked closer to the creek. 

 lots of little waterfalls.

 all the things he cannot do...but still claims he will to cheers from his ever worsening racist base it seems.  they are out there, being fueled by the lack of a voice on the right screaming out against a POTUS who fuels hatred through racism every chance he gets. if you do not denounce racism, it rapidly grows.  it's so easy for many in any society to believe that all the bad in their lives is caused by "those people".  always easier than looking at themselves and admitting that perhaps they don't have all they want in life because of their own failings.

 always love those big cottonwoods...

 I'm sure i have a to do list for tomorrow.  for sure look at these wall colors. i have way too many sample paints.  hoping to use them on the cabinets i throw up in the garage and shed next Spring. 

 hoping also to find colors that will become the new colors in the main living area.

 liked the orange lichen on the base of this tree.

 and of course, the pups.  highly photographed.

thankful for: A.  those who serve and the families that support them and too often must endure the loss of loved ones, may we avoid war when ever possible. B. my brave niece and her family.  may they recover from this loss, may their kids find a way through.  please take care of them....C.  ice in all it's forms.....night.