Sunday Morning

It's a beautiful Sunday morning in the Interior of Alaska.  Beauty, I've learned, comes in different forms here, and your heart will be happier if you learn to appreciate all the beauty Alaska has to offer.  Summer is my favorite season, as the hills, trees, ditches, and mountains come alive.  But early winter or late fall in Alaska has a particular beauty as well.

We got a sprinkling of snow last night.  Not much, but enough to cover the ground.  Our world is slowly turning white.  Hoar frost covers the trees and brings a bulkiness and elegance to ratty old weeds that were previously ugly and brown.  The ground crunches underneath your feet, and you can hear silence every where you go.  The sky is dull and gray, but instead of being depressing it makes the perfect backdrop for the white blanket.  It's a somber feeling, a quiet feeling.

As I sit here sipping tea, made from the berries we picked, cleaned and froze by hand, laced with a bit of fireweed honey, I feel rather content.  The furbabes are snuggled up, napping after a busy morning of breakfast and a little bit of playtime in the yard while their toes adjust to the newly fallen white stuff.  They're happy to be wrapped in warmth from the flames dancing in the stove.

Brent had a touch of the flu yesterday, and I'm happy to report that he is fully recovered.  The sun is rising later, so we were both able to sleep in this morning.  Of course, with later sunrises also comes earlier sunsets, so by 9 p.m. we get awfully drowsy.

Brent is making breakfast, and it sounds like quite a production.  I can see him moving lively and happily in front of the stove, but I do not dare ask what he is cooking.  He likes to surprise me with his sometimes questionable concoctions.  Some day I'll have to tell you about when he blindfolded me in order to get me to eat the dinner that he prepared, early in our married years.

I like winter and all it's ambiance.  Of course that's easy to say since it's early in the year, and not late February.  But for now the world is white, quiet and oh so very pretty.  Of course my urge to drive anywhere is nil.  But my nerve will come with time.

Happy Sunday! Stay warm.

Sunday Stroll

This morning started with a dusting of snow. Brent, Ches and I wandered out to the field to catch our moose on camera, but much to our dismay, they were not there. So we strolled to the back 40 to catch them back there, and those darn things were hiding from us. I'm telling you, they're huge, you wouldn't think they'd be so successful at avoiding the camera.

Other than that we just relaxed. We watched a couple of movies. Burn After Reading should be renamed Poke Your Eyes Out While Watching. Horrid, horrid movie. Just not my thing at all. But I guess it might be just what someone else is looking for. Though I have to say that I will be seriously concerned about their sanity. It just was so...strange.

We also watched the Alvin and The Chipmunks movie. Very cute. Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't riveting, but it did bring back a lot of fun memories from my childhood. And after the two horrible, horrible movies we watched earlier in the weekend. It was great.

After that we drove into town to return the movies and get money for washing laundry. Monday is laundry day in my small, small world. lol. Gas has fallen to $2.69 per gallon. And the temperature managed to reach 10 above. The days are getting longer, which is always good, and the moon is incredibly bright.

I'm looking forward to a good week. How about you?

Have a happy day!

Perfect Sunday Evening & Aurora Borealis

Brent and I decided to walk back along the shelter belt yesterday afternoon. In the midst of watching Ches bob and weave amongst the mini evergreens and the crispy snow, Brent managed to catch this beautiful sunset through the trees.

This is the cleared path where we were walking. The owners cleared this area for a new field and kept the logs for building there new home. It's beautiful to just have peace and quiet and see all the new things there are to see.

The cows were very, very interested in Ches. They followed us all along the fence line. At times they'd kick up their heels to catch her interest. She didn't really care that they were there. But they're cute and we enjoy them.

This photo captures the mountain view from the field' It's amazing how bright and crisp yesterday was. Some days you can barely see the mountain from our front porch.

In other exciting news we had our first Northern Lights experience this morning. It started about 1 a.m. as I was laying restless and sleepless on the couch. It ranged between grays and whites, but it was magnificent. I could watch the lights wax and wane behind a large cloud bank. At 4:45 when Brent got up to go to work, we watched them for a bit from the front porch, and by this point it was spread out across the entire sky. A beautiful sight. I cannot wait for more sightings.

Ches and I had a visitor today. Ches was going a little crazy banana on the couch, so I walked to the living room to see what was up. As I was chatting away with Kristie I noticed a table draped down in my window. A squirrel had decided to come and take a look around to see what he could scavenge up. I shooed him and sent him on his way.

All in all, a perfect Sunday afternoon, and a happy Monday. What a way to start the week!

Stay Warm!

Sunday, Sunday

Good Morning faithful readers!

Today is another overcast day in the Northland. It's cold, but the wind has died down which is great. I thought we might lose the roof a couple times in the last few days. I think our goal for the day is just to lay low and relax.

We'll probably wander out for a walk or two, and perhaps I'll snap some pictures if there is anything exciting out there. Hopefully we'll be able to catch 0ur little Ptarmigan family out and about. Only time will tell.

As you may have noticed our internet at home came on Friday and we have been searching and surfiing and catching up on life. It is definitely something to keep me up to date, and I cannot wait to start job searching now that I'm connected. WOOHOO. My little vacation has been find, but I cannot wait to start using my brain and generating an income. I'm sure Brent will be pretty happy that too.

Later today I'm going to make a big pot of WildRice and Ham soup, and relax, relax, relax.

Have a happy Sunday!