Thank You All For Stopping by in 2017! Happy & Healthy 2018 To All!

My Miss Sadie who I just love to ends of the earth! She is my buddy who can be by my side or on a village walkabout--ugh!  Sadie has made me a better person. 

Little Miss Tally who loves her guy so much!  She is a dear who is always ready "To Go!"

Skiing is what I love to do . . . nothing is better than gliding on snow on Nordic gear with my Ninja Turtle Dog, my husband and a bunch of ski team kids! 

My dear husband who is nothing but a treat to spend time with and loves to groom ski trails!

Christian with the girls working on ski trails.

Wishing all of you who stop by for a visit now and then a wonderful 2018!  Good health to you all and may you get to spend quality outdoor time with all those people and animals you hold near and dear to your hearts.

Our living room with worn out dogs and drying dog booties which are all the rage for 2018 interior home design!

Wool . . . Knitting Update!

Mittens! Who doesn't love a great pair of hand-knit mittens? I just knitted up a wonderful pair of mittens from this book: Norwegian Mittens and Gloves, by Annemor Sundbø.  I added my own twist to the thumbs as I love a hidden message.  I used Bartlett Sport weight yarn in a rich blue called "Corn Flower" and "Light Sheep Gray."  Bartlett yarns would be described by many as "rustic." I use the Spanish word "ganas" meaning balls however to me it means tough, workhorse yarn that once blocked blooms into a great "hand" a term us knitters of 100% wool get!  This is a yarn that will stand the test of time. It has a great price point for the quantity and quality of yarn you receive.  I have been knitting with this yarn in a variety of weights over the years and it is a favorite of mine.

Mitten #1 on needles and chart highlighted to keep me on track.

I did added two rounds after the ribbing for a bit more length.

Mitten #1 off needles and the fit is perfect.

Mitten #2 on needles with the dark nights/days as we head into the Solstice.

Mittens are done and looking forward to thumbs.

Palm sides and this is when I thought, "I don't really want to knit that palm pattern any more time for a secret personal tough message!"

Done!  Ends need to be woven in and mittens are off for a nice warm wool wash bath!

Approaching Winter Solstice

http://www.stemjobs.com/winter-solstice/

As our days grow darker and darker, I get more and more excited for December 21st to arrive!  I am a fan of weather, seasons and the rhythms of life.  Who knows why, it is just something I like and look forward to each year, each season . . . I swear I am a Druid at heart!  (Catholic conservative mother would just die!)

Out here we celebrate the Solstice with a bonfire, hot chocolate, hot cider and a ski with about 40-50 kids all with headlamps on! I will do a follow-up post with photos of this year's event.

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/55DrO

This photo I have used for the Winter Solstice before on the blog. I like the mittens, pine trees covered in snow, and the glow of sunshine to come!
(This illustration was originally created for The Atlantic Magazine’s Gallery section, published in the middle of the horrible winter of 2011.) http://yukoart.com/blog/happy-winter-solstice/

Happy & Merry Winter Solstice to all!

Weather!

I love weather and I am not sure if there is a name for people like me who really enjoy the weather!  We have a Davis Weather station at our place which works great.  If you want to follow our weather out here on the edge of Norton Sound, which is off the Bering Sea well click on this: KAKUNALA5. This is the current storm warning which I had a good laugh about:

Winter Storm Watch

Issued: 1:11 PM AKST Dec. 16, 2017 – National Weather Service

... Winter Storm Watch in effect from Monday morning through
Tuesday morning... 

* what... heavy snow and blowing snow possible. Travel will be very
  difficult to impossible. Tree branches could fall as well. Total
  snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible.

* Where... eastern Norton Sound and Nulato Hills.

* When... from Monday morning through Tuesday morning.

* Additional details... winds gusting as high as 50 mph will 
  cause areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Precautionary/preparedness actions... 

A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. 

_____________________________

The part I highlighted in red is what is making me laugh . . . what tree branches?  In the village we have a few trees but doubtful any branches would fall and cause any issues at all!  My other favorite weather tid bit is when they say winds will be breezy at 35 mph really is that breezy?  I guess it does depend on your point of reference.  We have yet to have below zero weather this winter but I am sure it will arrive before long! 

A Native Breed & In My Boots: Shepherding in the Lake District

Two wonderfully relaxing reads!

I stumbled upon a wonderful twitter feed this year by Andrea Meanwell AKA RuslandShepherdess@ruslandvalley.  My discovery of this shepherdess led me to her books.  Yes, I am a huge fan of James Herriot, farmers, and shepherds/shepherdesses. I enjoy reading about other peoples lives and how they interact with their surroundings.  I do not romanticise farming or being a shepherd as something that is quaint and cozy. I worked with horses growing up and on an apple orchard, I know what hard farm work is all about.  I have nothing but respect for the stewards of the land who truly care for their land and plan to pass it on to future generations.  Finding these two great reads was a huge treat for me!  Reading right up my alley: cozy & quaint, relaxing, a door into someone else's world nothing but a treat for me! 

Meanwell's first book A Native Breed was interesting as she got us, her readers, up to speed on how she ended up raising sheep.  A journey of sorts to how she landed on her land.  I could have read this book in one sitting but I rather savored it nightly as a pleasant read before falling to sleep.  A Native Breed is a treasure!  I  will reread this book anytime I want to walk the fells with Andrea.

Andrea's second book an equally great read, In My Boots A Year on a Lake District Farm takes us on a year-long journey. This book opened my eyes to the harsher realities of raising sheep. As Andrea tries to make a living from endless hours of hard work.  I just wanted to cry at some of the auction prices they received for their sheep.

I would highly recommend both of Andrea Meanwell's books.  I would suggest they go well with a nice cup of tea and knitting---100% real wool of course!

Andrea Meanwell's work can be purchased at the following onsite locations:

Hefted Andrea's Etsy shop

HayLoft Publishing In My Boots

Hayloft Publishing A Native Breed