Hello Winter

Yes of course, winter has been here for a while now.  It’s been a pretty good one so far.  We did have a blizzard that knocked out thousands of people’s power for a week or so.  I think it was pretty interesting that the city opened up a warming center at the high school (because a lot of our stoves burn heating fuel but are powered with electricity) but after a few days they closed it because it just was not being used.  Fairbanks helps its own.  We all have friends we can go stay with if not generators or battery back ups.  We are down to 4 hours of sunlight a day.  Of course, we have twilight on either side of that so it makes for some hours long sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise 10:25, sunset 2:55.

Length of Day, 4 hours and 29 minutes.

Of course, all this darkness leaves more time for aurora hunting.

As you all have read, I had plans to retire the “Rust Princess”.  She was old and tired though still going like gangbusters.  After keeping my eyes open all summer for a fitting replacement, may I present, “The Princess”.  Yes, she is a princess with all the bells and whistles.  Why have I been here almost 10 years and only now getting auto start and heated seats?!!  Never again!

Our Halloween was extremely warm.  This is the first time since we’ve been here that it wasn’t around -20 or colder on Halloween.  Also, we normally have between 6 and 9″ of snow by then and we had none on the ground until that evening.  The trick or treaters loved it!

 I’m working on masks.

Olivia has joined the jr. roller derby league here.  She is really enjoying it but frankly, I think I have as much fun as she does.  It’s great because it really focuses on team work as well as strong women.  She has wonderful, friendly but badass role models.  I’m grateful we finally found her something to put her heart into.

With winter comes mushing season.  Here are a few pictures from the Bunny Boots and Bids Yukon Quest Fundraiser and Winetasting, where the mushers served hors d’oeuvers dressed in tuxedos.

 

Me and Allen Moore, winner of last year’s Quest.

Two favorites, Brent Sass of Wild and Free Mushing and Mike Ellis of Team Tsuga.

   

Rookie (to the Quest) musher Matt Hall and friends Amanda and Robert.  Keep your eyes on Matt folks, I do believe you will be seeing much more of him.  I go visit Matt’s mom and dad (Wayne and Scarlett) every year as part of my “Fowl Adventures”.

We had 9 people in our little cabin for Thanksgiving.  We also had 9 pies so it worked out really well lol.

 

Now on to Christmas preparation.  We got the tree set up and the cat got her present of playing with the boxes.  We are cat sitting for a friend and the cats were fighting over the boxes.  It was pretty funny.  Guess I’m easily amused.

I guess that’s all for now.  I think I will have a Solstice party to celebrate our upcoming 10th Anniversary in Alaska.  What do you think?