Bald Lake

Since the temp is now zero, I guess its time for another outing. Leaving in a few hours for the Bald Lake Cabin in the Nancy Lake State Recreational Area a few miles down the road. Will try out the new skis and try to get some decent pictures with the new camera. Ted and Larissa will be joining me and Champ for the night. We intend to dine in style...ciopini (Italian seafood stew) followed the next morning by bacon and eggs. Not the typical camping fare for sure!

Snow Is FALLING

And falling and falling and falling. Supposed to get a foot or more. Since it makes walking easier, and skiing possible, Hip Hip Hooray!

Cabin Fever

Not me, I'm fine. My visit to Texas and the longer days on my return find me in fine mettle. Its the cat who is starting to worry me. He's been outside one time since November. Lately he's taken to following the dog around and slapping him on the nose at every opportunity. Loud slaps too, the kind you hear from another room. This morning he leaped from the kitchen table to the top of my head as I stood with my back to him working on the GPS. It was weird, all of a sudden I had me a cat hat. I admit my choice of headgear runs to the extreme, but this was too much for even me. I had to use both hands to dislodge the freak as I think he planned on staying.

It started to snow this morning and we should be getting a good covering over the next three days. On a related note, Mt Redoubt is threatening to erupt. I've been hearing rumbling all day.

THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD

Words in the hands of a skilled writer are a powerful tool. I was reminded of this fact by a quote from Seth Kantner,the author of Ordinary Wolves. Seth grew up in the far north of Alaska. He was asked if Jack London had influenced his writing. While admitting he did, Seth also points out that contrary to what London wrote, the water tossed out of a cup at 30 below doesn't covert to ice before it hits the ground. In fact it doesn't do that at 70 below, according to his personal experience. However, because Jack London describes this event in his books about the Yukon literally there are entire generations of readers who believe just that.

By the way it is now minus 2.

I'm Back

All too soon my time in Texas came to an end. Landing in Anchorage late Thursday night the cooler temps felt refreshing after the "heat" of Texas. Spent the night in a 40 dollar motel room as I needed to pick up some new skis at REI the next day. Not sure what this says about me but I seem to sleep better in the cheap places. When Max and I travelled to Montana a few years back we stayed in one 24 dollar room in Fort Collins, Colorado. Definitely not the Ritz, but adequate. And you seem to get a more interesting mix of neighbors.

Made it to the cabin by noon on Friday. While I had been forewarned it was still a shock to see the snow melted off the roof and deck and the driveway a solid sheet of ice. Guess I'll have to be extra careful till spring. Great to see the mutts and be back in my own space.

Unfortunately my camping trip was cancelled due to a friends water heater blowing up. Since I didn't find out till late, my sled was already packed. Will try to schedule something later this week or weekend. Got to try out the new skis!

Was mid 20's yesterday so I was surprised this morning to find the temp was sitting smack dab on zero.

Visiting

My visit draws closer to its end. Just spent the night enjoying the good company of my friends Paula and David, and a scrumptious crawfish casserole to boot. Watched as much of the inauguration festivities as I could stomach, no offense intended. Just seems sort of a forced artificial gaiety. Oh well, given the tasks ahead of him the new Prez deserved the break.

Will spend the day packing and getting ready for the trip back to Big Lake. Tonight we have "reservations" at Johnny Carina's for some nice Italian food.

Go Figure

Well, I guess it was bound to happen. After spectacular weather for a week, a cold front moved in last night dropping the temps down into the 40's. More cold weather is expected tomorrow and later in the week. Couple with the end of the severe cold in Alaska, it may actually be colder here in Texas tomorrow than in Big Lake, Alaska. WOW!!!

Spend Monday night at the lakehouse. Seems strange to be back. I had trouble remembering where things were at first but it gradually came back to me. Surprised to find out that I can get an NBC station out of Louisiana now so ABC has some competition at last.

In addition to having colder weather, Texas also surprised me with my first Eagle siting of the new year. Trying out the new camera today I saw a bald eagle battling the strong north winds and a few pesky shore birds. Hopefully, this guy or gal is nesting nearby.

Heat Wave

Hit 80 yesterday. What a change. Have been in shorts since I got here. The weatherman is predicting a cold front by tomorrow with temps expected to drop into the upper 40's. Oh no, what will we do? Bring the dogs and plants inside? Bundle up in our coats and sweaters? Or maybe just continue with the shorts for a few more days.

By the way, an article in the Huston Chronicle today discussed the global warming crisis. Looks like it might be more myth than crisis. I guess its one of those things that only time will tell.

While I am enjoying my stay down south I still find myself checking on the weather back in Alaska. I will not say I miss 40 below but there is something about the cold that makes the mundane exciting. I find there is a sort of still beauty that exists in the extreme cold, especially on clear moonlit nights. I will be more didligent in trying to capture this on film when I go back.

Sunshine, Blessed Sunshine

Tuesday's rainy overcast skies gave way to a glorious sun filled Wednesday. After knocking around town with Dad, I spent the afternoon sunning by my brother's pool. Just me and Old Red, an adopted Tomcat, soaking up the vitamin d like a couple of Miami Beach schmucks.

By the way, thanks Ted. Hearing that its still miserably cold in Anchorage makes my sunshine even better!

YEE HAW

After spending most of Sunday night in the Anchorage airport, I finally made it to Texas Monday afternoon. Temps are a balmy 50ish. A drastic change from 40 below.

Glad to see family and friends after being away for six months. Not sure my youngest nephew appreciated the reindeer sausage I brought. Maybe it was more my "implication" that Santa's fleet of sled pullers was no more.

Congrats to McCoy and the rest of Mack's boys on their win over Ohio State. A very entertaining game.

FINALLY

Looks like we finally bottomed out...at least for awhile. After staying at or near the minus 30 mark all day, last night's temperature only reached 34 below. Predictions are for the severe cold to hang around for a few more days and then warm up slightly by weeks end.

Spent the day getting ready for my departure. House is clean, sheets are fresh, wood is stockpiled, and I am ready to go!

Whose in Charge of the Weather

Whoever it is, they need to do something. For the third day in a row, we hit the lowest temperature of the season...36 below zero. That is a personal record for me as last year bottomed out at 35 below.

Spent about 30 minutes outside last night tracking the moose family that showed up yesterday. Thirty minutes seems to be my limit as my nose and cheeks lose feeling by then. I think we found where they bedded down. Both dogs were highly excited by the scent. Lucky for me the stars were out and I didn't need my headlamp to see as the battery died on me. I've been using rechargeables for the past year and they are subject to fast discharge in the extreme cold weather.

According to the forecasters the cold weather is here to stay for at least another week. Its so cold they will likely have to cancel the World Championships cross country ski races today. If its minus five or colder the governing body mandates no race. The cold weather even postponed the Statehood Celebration planned for the Matsu Valley but the ones in Anchorage (mostly indoors) will go on as scheduled. There is a little light at the end of the tunnel as TROPICAL temps of 10 - 15 above zero are predicted for the end of next week. Hopefully, I will be restocking my vitamin d in Texas by then.

They're back!

Well its a chilly minus 32 here at the cabin. That is cold even for those of us born wearing fur coats. Still, a girl has got to eat to maintain her figure, and that's what this one is doing on the road outside my place. With the dogs inside this moose and another were browsing through the yard this morning dining on willow. If this is the same mother/child pair from last year, Jr has really packed on the pounds as he is nearly the same size.

Later we saw a whole family of moose ( or is it meese) strolling through the neighbors yard. Included among this group was one youngster who has yet to celebrate his first birthday. I am always amazed at how graceful these beasts are.

Winter Stuff

There's lots of things about winter you never learn living in Texas. Last night as I walked the dogs, I was again struck by how much the severe cold amplifies sound. The dog walking on snow was clearly audible making a kind of sqrunch squench sound. Traffic a few miles away on the Parks Highway sounds as if its barreling down my isolated back road. And of course, last night was the 1st so the sounds of fireworks echoed long and loud throughout the night

Touching bare metal with an exposed finger is another learnt no no. Just holding the back storm door open for the dogs to enter is not wise when the thermometer says minus 31.8. Same goes for putting your tongue on a splitting wedge, which Bear did today. Luckily, by the time Jessica hurried him to my door, the wedge dropped off.

AFLAC

Thirty below to start the new year. A little cold to be swimming in your water bucket, but that is just what Mother Goose decided to do last night. Best I can tell, she got in it right after her owners put in fresh drinking water about 5 yesterday evening. About ten last night I was walking the dogs and decided for no reason to check on the geese and ducks next door. Thats when I found the goose popscicle. Wound up bringing the bucket and goose inside and put her in the tub. Took about an hour of running warm water on her to get Goosie de-iced. Champ thought the whole process strange indeed.