December Happenings (part II)

Continuation of December 2017 . . .

This is the 12/29 storm that has rolled into the village.  This grab was from 6:00 a.m. today. I for one love a good storm and we are to have this storm for a good part of today then warming, rain (UGH WHAT??), possible flooding and well . . . the joys of winter on the northern coast of Alaska!

This is where we live and this is a recent photo from about a week ago. Unalakleet river to the left and slough we cross for skiing. Norton Sound and the Bering Sea to the right.

One of my favorite events is the yearly lighting of the community Christmas Tree!

Here we are loving our Christmas Holiday . . .

Trail work . . . moving the pallets to build the drifts we will be grooming later.

Sadie warming up at the end of a ski.  Tally rarely gets cold feet but Sadie does and I carry this pad for myself to sit or stand on as well for Sadie.

Skiing in freezing fog/mist and covered in ice.  I could not be happier.

Can you say "Time to frog and start over!"

See snow actual snow is yes falling!

Another beach sea ice WOW moment!

Almond flour orange poppy seed scone with homemade marmalade!

My girl hoping for a treat!

Tea time trail break a must!

Heading in from a tundra ski.

I just love frost, snow, winter . . .

A wonderful recent discover of tea we can get with our Full Circle Farm Weekly organic food order.

Window decorations . . .

One of the other special village Christmas events.  This is Ladies Night at the Garage.  The Garage is one of our two stores.  They open it up in the evening one night for ladies and one night for men for Christmas shopping.  I love the event and we try our best not to miss out on a village shopping spree.

What a ski groomer's yard looks like!  Pallets getting hauled out for ski trails, grooming equipment . . . I love it!

We use the pallets to build drifts and them move them up onto of the drifts.  This helps us to maintain the trails with our high winds and sometimes flooding.  Only a physics teacher would come up with this bit of trail engineering.

Christmas Day Ski on the Dragon's Back.  This snow fence makes it possible to have a ski program in the absolute worst cross-country ski conditions on the face of the earth!

Merry Christmas to all we got our wish snow and good health!

Two of my loves!

Thought provoking thought. I will leave you with this . . . please do all you can to help protect our natural world as we go into 2017!

December Happenings (Part I)

December is a busy time for just about everyone I would say!  Either you work retail, or you need to put on a Christmas event for family or friends or gosh the list goes on . . .  I feel the need to bring you all up to date on my December.  It is time to wrap up the year and look forward to 2017!

Early December I spent being miserable as there was no real snow to speak of and the skiing was not the best.  Followed by trying to get ski gear out to kids, finishing up the semester, and arriving at my Christmas HOLIDAY--- of FREEDOM!

Since this is my Blog I am going to go with a bit of a photo essay post! My goal is to get caught up and current before heading into 2017!

Early Dec. saw wonderful sea ice which I was fascinated by.  The girls and I spent a lot of time walking on the beach. It was a very  cold ride on the 4-wheeler to get out on the tundra. How could anyone pass up this amazing jumbled up sea ice!

The girls and I out for a ski on the tundra on the small ponds that will soon be covered in far more snow than this.  This is desperation skiing!

More sea ice this is about 4 to 5 feet high.  It is pushed up onto the beach from winds, tides, and waves.

Just loving being out in the cold!

My Ms. Sadie--my buddy!

Little Ms. Tally my other constant companion.

The ice was just stunning.  I just could not get enough of this stark beauty!

Sunset over Norton Sound part of the Bering Sea.

I melt down chocolate bars and add coconut oil to the mixture plus sliced almonds some dried fruit and let it all cool.  I will cut this up and use it for my ski snack.

A wonderful little set up of tea from my dear friend Lynn!

My wool hand knitted Long Johns!  I have found these to be the warmest things I own.  When the temps drop to below zero I will be skiing in these tights from now on.   PDS DK weight yarn.

More will come on this sweater . . . my current Lopi design knitted with Shetland Chunky and Unspun Icelandic Wool (which I have fallen in love with)!

A project that came out too large . . . before felting.

Saying goodbye to fall as we move to the solstice!

Sea Ice

Yesterday, after work I took the dogs down to the beach. They needed to romp around a bit as all week it has been -20ºF.  The "Girls" have spent far too much time inside during this cold snap. I put their jackets on and no booties as they just needed to get out for a run.  The sea ice on the beach is all piled up and stacked like giant rock candy.  The ice chunks are very clean.  The sun was setting and I didn't have my camera which I normally do---dang it!  I watched the best part then ran home to grab my camera.  This body of water is called Norton Sound which is part of the Bering Sea. I will certainly get down there tonight with the big Nikon to get some photos.  There is sea ice literally as far as you can see up and down the beach it is amazing!  The beauty is just stunning . . . Mother Nature at her best!

Where you can see the steam that is from open water/lead.  Overflow is water that is coming up onto the ice through a crack. This warm sea water is causing all this steam as it hits the colder air.

Sadie sporting her Ruffwear jacket.  Our dogs prefer this model as they seem to like the full leg movement.  This jacket covers their backs and chests but not completely.  They always seem warm as can be in their Quinzee. Under those jackets is a wonderful place to warm my hands too!

This morning we have a nice roasty toasty +7ºF!  It really feels nice and warm out there today!  I hope it warms up and the snow gods arrive to make this ski coach very happy!