Happy Holidays 2011

Happy post-holiday season!! Wasn't it exhausting? Now the days are getting longer and the...well, it's going to take a little more time for them to get warmer, but everyday brings us closer. I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty tired of -25 F and colder.

At any rate, I had a pretty fabulous holiday season. The holidays for me start with Thanksgiving, which was spent with friends at Mette, Max, and Kieran's house. Max kept us warm that day


while Mette made a beautiful, yummy turkey!


There was a ton of food, but Mette's double oven (eat your heart out, Sue) did a great job of keeping everything warm


while Jeremy carved the bird.


That's where the Thanksgiving pictures end. I ate so much delicious food I couldn't move after dinner. It was uncomfortable to sit; it was uncomfortable to stand; it was uncomfortable to lay down; it was uncomfortable to lay down with legs propped up, and it was uncomfortable to take pictures. Sorry. Don't worry though, I recovered eventually.

We all know what comes after Thanksgiving...Christmas!!


I know what you're thinking, but I did not set the Christmas tree up right in front of the door. Well, I did, but it's a door I don't use.

Anyway, you may already know that the town of North Pole is about 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks. I was lucky enough to tag along on Lola's visit to the big house. No, not prison, Santa's house, complete with backyard reindeer. This popular guy is the real deal.


Christmas Day was spent holding a tiny fork near a tiny pot...


talking and laughing with friends


and listening to the Kieran and Lola's Spectacular Christmas Carol Event.


Two parties on Christmas Eve followed by Christmas Day festivities had left me pretty tired, but the holidays were still rolling with Kieran's Birthday on New Year's Eve. No pictures from there because I was using Mette's camera that day, but the construction themed party was a huge hit. Somehow I even managed to stay up for midnight this year. Whew! Now it's just back to work with less parties.

Happy Holidays to all. Best wishes for 2012!

It's Cold, Record Cold

The title says it all...it's cold, record cold. The lowest temperature of the season, -41 F, was recorded this morning.

Click here for the details.

In other headlines: Alaska man charged with attacking snowplow with an ax

Um, no comment.

Subaru Salt Lick

Do I still update this blog? I'll try to do better. Perhaps I should start by taking more pictures!

A few weeks ago I woke up on a Saturday morning and walked down the stairs to find this guy staring at me through a downstairs window.


He had his nose right up near the glass, and I could tell it was cold outside because I could see his breath as he exhaled. As he was walking away, I realized that he was with his mom. They were grazing behind the house for a while, even visiting the fire pit before knocking a flowerpot off the porch railing to chomp down whatever was left growing inside.


Now there's snow on the ground, and they're back to find more food. They woke me the last two mornings by...well, I don't know what they're doing. It sounds like someone is knocking on the side of the house.

Yesterday they were standing next to my car for a while, but I didn't think much of it. I just went about my normal morning routine. Later that same afternoon I noticed a strange pattern on the passenger door of my car where the dirt had been rubbed off. Everything here is frozen, so it wasn't that water splashed on to the car. What could cause such a pattern?


A moose tongue! That's what! It seems they were using my Subaru as a salt lick.

A New Car!!

I suppose the picture says it all, although it doesn't show the highly coveted heated seats!!

I flew down to Anchorage and purchased a 2011 Subaru Impreza that I had negotiated over the internet. The car had 5 miles on the odometer when I picked it up and later that day, ended up in my driveway with 384 miles on the odometer. Not a bad first day...aside from the brand new chip in the windshield I got around mile 200 thanks to a flying rock.

Aurora Watch 2011

The last couple of nights have been a dream for aurora enthusiasts. The lights have been out relatively early (~10pm), and the temperatures have been warm enough to endure standing outside to watch the colors swirling above. There was one problem I found…walking around on my porch in the dark while looking up at the sky instead of where I’m going can wind up being a little painful, but I won’t bore you with those details.

I couldn’t decide on one picture, so I offer several. That’s why you check this thing, right? For the pictures? I’m pretty sure it isn’t for the witty commentary, but if you’re looking to broaden your knowledge base, I may have a little tidbit for you. While looking up at the sky I started wondering what Native Alaskan lore says about the northern lights. I found a few different reports on the internet, all with a similar theme: ancestry. Some say the lights represent the souls of their ancestors, others that they are a bridge for the spirits to use on their way to the heavens, and yet another reports that the lights symbolize torches carried by ancestors who act as guides for people on their way to the after life. Other stories say that the motion of the lights represents the spirits dancing, drumming, and game playing. Whatever the case may be, I think it’s a beautiful idea to reflect on one’s ancestors while enjoying the quiet of the night and the beauty of the lights. Perhaps I’ll try it myself next time.