Spring and summer and autumn went.

We are happily settled into our winter home. We got here four days ago, and worked hard with our boss to finish closing up the property. He left yesterday, and so of course the first thing we did was take the boat and go fishing; when I say 'we' what I really mean is 'Taylor convinced me to go with him.' But it turned out fun because he caught four salmon in as many casts. Moma also enjoyed herself, because fishing combines her two favorite activities- staring at animals and being in a boat:

It is really great being all by ourselves out here. Exploring an area is so much better when there aren't any other people around; it's more like how things should be, if that makes any sense at all:

Taylor is content to be with just his wifey and his puppy (and I know what you are wanting to say to us, 'Have you seen "The Shining?"' And I know what I would answer outloud, with an ingratiating laugh, 'Oh no, and I'm not going to!' And I know what I would be thinking in my head, 'Please, people, come on- solitude does not make a person a psycho, so grow an imagination and grow up.' I'm not angry, just bewildered that people associate wanting to be alone with being mentally deranged).

The weather has been particularly fine these last few days, perfect for some crazy wild guitar strumming:
Finally, this morning's sunrise. Between where we are now and those mountains 75 miles away (you can see them in this photo if you look closely) is where we spend our summer months. It's kindof great to know that we almost see where we spend the other half of our year:

Beneath My Teeth Lies Old Roast Beef.

I have always had weak teeth. And it doesn't help that my two favorite food groups are bread and candy. So I am having a lovely root canal done tomorrow, and then getting a SILVER TOOTH on Monday, and then we're flying out to our winter gig on Wednesday! I am a little excited about getting to sport a SILVER TOOTH for the winter, even though the only people who are going to see it are Taylor and the occasional pilot. Eventually, I am going to expand the metal in my mouth to look like this Cool Dude:

We shut down the lodge today, and the saddest part was leaving all the flowers in full bloom. Actually, the very saddest part was having to tear them out and chuck them on the compost pile. But dolling myself up with them before all the carnage made it a little better. And at least the compost pile is pretty:

Whoo Hoo!

Taylor and I are going to be caretaking a lodge this winter, and we flew out there for a couple of days last week to give it a looksie. So great! was the decision made by us, and I got so excited I had to dance a little jig (in private). Here's the view from the lake:
We're going to be out there for 8 months, in lovely solitude. Our main job will be reporting the weather to the National Weather Service 12 times a day (because we're at the base of a mountain pass and the pilots need to know what the deal is), a job for which I am getting certified as an Official Weather Reporter (or somesuch title). We also have to shovel all the roofs, and keep a landing strip plowed on the lake once it freezes. I know many of you are thinking that we've really gone nutters now, but this is something that we've wanted to do for a long time, and if you haven't figured it out by now- Taylor and I are both hermits at heart.
There's loads of bears out there too, like this little fella, who can't catch a fish if his life depended on it (which it does, incidentally):
The lodge we're at is on Big River Lake, but there are loads of little lakes around it, some connected by a channel and some by a short hike. We kayaked to Weasel Lake on some off time while we were out there, and saw not only these loons, but brown and black bears, beavers, and a seal! A seal in the lake that followed us around and around, like a dog.
A plane is going to fly out there once a month or once every couple of months to resupply us, and also bring us any mail you tenderhearts might have sent us. Here's our address for September 25th- May 15th:
Taylor and Adalie Beckley
c/o Within the Wild
2463 Cottonwood Street
Anchorage, AK 99508
We're going to have internet access as well, so I can still post pictures of THE GREATEST WINTER EVER! (I am dancing another little jig at the moment)