Happy Equinox!

Yesterday was the Official Equinox, the first day of fall. It seems that the peak of Fall's beauty used to be before the Equinox, but not this year. Look how pretty it was on top of Murphy Dome last weekend. It was windy as heck! Usually, the wind drops off when you descend from the top of the dome, but it did not. I believe the wind we experienced was the edge of Typhoon Merbok, which brought record winds and flooding to the West Coast of Alaska. The coastal villages are devastated. I've heard of families losing their entire summer fish and berry storage, as well as their fish drying racks, which is heartbreaking. Please help, if you can.

Anyway, I am of the opinion that fun activities should be fun. We aren't military and feel no need to march around when the weather is terrible, so we almost immediately turned around and went back to the car, then drove back down to the Ester Dome Singletrack Trails.

In the sheltered valley on the side of Ester Dome, we had a peaceful, lovely walk.

It's hard to get a photo of them both side by side. When I call them, one comes back first.

Then the other.

It's getting chilly at night. I'm seeing huskyballs again. They almost always match chirality.

Hey Thistle, Hey Thissy, Sweet Thissy, Fuzzy Thissy!

Equinox morning! We still have not frosted.

And yup, there are still leaves on the trees. I went kind of nuts with anti-bird strike devices on this window, because historically this window has been The Worst. No bird strikes this year, so it seems to be working!

This is how threatening Harold, the plastic owl, looks from outside.

This larch on campus is still dark green! Larch are deciduous conifers. Soon, its needles will turn yellow and fall off.

On the Equinox Day (Sept 21), we lit the first fire of the season.

Fall is still occurring! Look how pretty the front yard is!

More fall photos

The peak of fall's beauty is very fast, and it hits different areas at different times. Here is a ridge alongside the Granite Tors Trail. Still green on Aug 31! There was a fire there maybe 6 or so years ago? And you can see the line where it stopped.

But it is definitely fall in the woods behind our house. Look at how brilliant these late-lingering blueberries look in their brilliant red plants! These late blueberries, by the way, are a rare treat and syrupy-sweet.

Our CSA from Calypso Farm continues to be prolific.

This broccoli is astonishing! However, we love broccoli, so this is no problem!

And look at this lettuce!

The trail along the powerline easement through our neighborhood. Not quite fall here, as of Sept 4.

I believe with climate change, it is no longer the rule of thumb to wait until the first frost to pick cranberries. We have not had a frost yet, but these are ripe.

They were low-growing and dusty, so I washed them. Highbush and blueberries seldom require washing.

Our morning runs have been beautiful! I love the quality of light in the falltime. This is the road right in front of our cabin.

Sweet Thistle, Fuzzy Thistle, cute little pawpaws. She actually prefers this dog bed to the couch!

This is Cricket sulking for a hug.

After DL or I hug her, she inverts herself for a bellyrub.

A pretty slough in Chena Lakes Recreational Area.

Chena Lakes is part of a flood control project. In times of excessive rain or water flow, water is diverted from the Chena to prevent flooding. This was in response to catastrophic flooding in 1967, when the Chena was six feet above flood stage and caused catastrohic damage to Fairbanks. On the drive out, we noticed them doing some dam work, so I scoped out a pullout, and on the way home I took a dam photo. I think it turned out dam nice.

Ahhh, now it is officially fall in the 'hood. (taken Sept 11)

But look at these pretty flowers still lingering on campus! It comes from a seed mix you can buy locally. It has many colors of poppies, cosmos, daisies, etc. I'm going to buy some next year for easy beauty!

And I took these photos just two days ago!