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.

COLDER

Minus 29.4. Its always that last point four that makes it feel cold.

Coping ..or not

Coldest temps of the year so far. Since taking the picture its dropped another 9/10ths of a degree so minus 22.9. The paper was full of hints about tricks to cope with the cold temperatures. Naturally the one that caught my eye said that eating spicy food would help ward off the chills. Good enough for me so I ditched the oatmeal and dined on huevos rancheros, refried frijoles and flour tortillas. Aye caramba.

HIGHLANDS PEARL OF THE SAN JACINTO

Just thought I'd share this picture. Thanks Doc and Terry, we now have a flag worthy of our adventures. Guess the bullshit flag is officially retired.