The weight of a snowflake

We live in the SE part of Alaska. Often we do not have too bad of winters here, often it may snow a few times during the winter, then the snow melts after a few days or is washed away by rain and warmer temps. That’s a normal winter for us. Well the other day at our house we received over two feet of snow over night, for us, that was a lot. Then I started to think about snow. I’m sure if one did research I’m sure that someone somewhere figured out the weight of a single snowflake. The actual value really isn’t that important for what I feel I need to share today with you. I have seen trees that have had their branches broken off because of the weight of the snow accumulation upon them. I have heard of roofs caving in due to the excess weight of the snow accumulation. Heavy snow falls have caused major accidents and has caused many deaths as well. As I was wondering about a single snow flake,

God spoke to my spirit and shared that just as damaged can be cause by the accumulation of snow, we can harm ourselves as we allow the cares of this world to bring us down, to over tax our lives. Stresses, worries, finances, health concerns, aging parents, family, jobs, car troubles all add to our well being. Little by little they accumulate just like single snowflakes do, they can burden us down until we feel that we have no way out, a place of no escape. DON’T Listen to these LIES, you are of value, as each person is. Talk with someone, a friend, a pastor, a parent, a teacher, a coworker, a family member. Don’t allow the weight of the “snow” in your life to break you,or to pile up and cause you a major avalanche in your well being.

Two minute tour of Ketchikan Alaska

Someone recently asked me to make a short video about Ketchikan Alaska about a minute or two. This is what I came up with. Hope you like it and feel like visiting SE Alaska sometime.

The wildlife experience near Denver

A fun place near Denver is the “Wildlife Experience”. It has a lot of beautiful statues both indoors and out.

There is lots of taxidermy animals as well as interactive things for kids.

We spent several hours here just walking around looking at things.

It’s a great place for photography as well.

The location is: 10035 S Peoria St, Parker CO. To contact them the phone number is (303) 315-9444. The cost I believe was $12 for adults and $8 for kids 3-12. So if your in the area, check it out.

Black Bears

Living in Alaska, on a remote island, in the second largest rain Forrest in the world (I believe), one might expect to see some animals. Well here in Ketchikan, one of those animals is black bears. From spring until fall there are a few locations where you can see bears in the wild, not in a cage or in a zoo. But real live, untrained, sometimes uncaring bears. We have lived here 10 years and it never gets old. We have had them in our front yard, just passing on through several times. Sometimes we just go and watch them fish.

Often about this time you can see mama bear with a cub or two.

if you get a chance to make it to Alaska and see the bears, just remember they are not pets, this isn’t a zoo, they are not trained. Don’t go near them if you have food. A bear will do what a bear will do. Don’t get between mama and her cubs. Enjoy the beauty, thank God that you get a chance to see nature and wild animals, take pictures and memories, just don’t ruin it for those who live here.

Memorial Day

Arlington National Cementary…Most Americans know the name, so few have actually been there. My wife and I went there a few years ago, I had no idea how huge it really was. Me trying to be cheap and save a few bucks decided against the tour (and tour bus) and figured we could walk it. If you ever go TAKE THE BUS ! We walked and walked and walked. It’s not a flat place either, it is all very hilly.

Of course if you do go there you also must stay for the changing of the guard and also President JFK’s memorial, both could bring a tear to one’s eyes.

This Memorial day take a visit to one of our nation’s National cemetaries if you can, if not then find a family that has lost someone while serving in the military and thank them.

My first E-Book

Well after months of work, my first E-Book is complete. It’s called “Steve’s Book of Birds Vol 1” and it contains over 50 types of birds. Some of the birds are from Alaska, some are from our travels to other states; HI, GA, CA, WA and other places.

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There is such a variety of birds, though I’m not a ornithologist (Person who studies birds) I do enjoy taking pictures of them. Hope you enjoy this book also. The book is $3.99 and it’s available on Amazon to download.

Float Planes

Living on an island, one of the modes of transportation is by the float plane. They are all roughly about the same size, yes there are some bigger ones and smaller ones, there are Beavers and Otters and others. Some are noisier then others, some take off quicker then others. The weather and their load determines how quickly they take off and how much distance is required for their landings.