Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

The past week or so has been so busy for me. I’ve had to write myself lists, and then go down them -checking off items as I complete them. I feel like I’m suffering from some sort of Attention Deficit Disorder (I refuse to blame it on “old age”!) because I get started on a task, and then I get distracted, and find myself doing something else. This just leads to partially completed projects and tasks, and feeling even more unfocused.  But tomorrow is the day I plan to pare down that list… as long as I don’t get sidetracked.

It hasn’t been all work and no play though. I’ve been taking the time, while out running errands, to stop and enjoy the winter scenery - snapping photos along the way.  It’s been forever since I posted photos, as I’ve been so preoccupied with the calendar, and just haven’t taken the time to share. I’m going to play “catch up” in this entry.

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Last Sunday, my friend Lisa and I went to see the movie “The Secret Life of Bees” with Dakota Fanning & Queen Latifah. The movie is based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd. I haven’t read the book, and didn’t know what the movie was going to be about, so I went into it merely hoping to be entertained. It was a heartwarming movie for the most part, but there were several scenes which made us both get teary eyed.

After the movie, we stopped to have lunch (enchiladas - yum), before driving over to Pioneer Park to see the “Spooky Train” in action. The Spooky Train is a better known as Engine #1.

Engine #1 was the FIRST steam Locomotive in the Alaskan Interior, arriving in the Tanana Valley more than 100 years ago (July 4, 1905). On July 17, 1905, local dignitaries drove the golden spike, linking the first trackage of the Railroad, between Chena and Fairbanks. Engine #1 was retired in the mid 1920s. “Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad” began restoring it in 1992 and had the little Loco back together, under Steam, in 1999, 100 years after it was first constructed and delivered to coal mines in the Yukon Territory, near Dawson. Today it can be found in the Museum as well as occasionally puffing around the track at Pioneer Park.

They were giving free train rides to children (and their parents) who came to Pioneer Park in costume. While we hoped to see some cute little ones all dressed up for Halloween, we also knew that since it was so cold, the costumes would be hidden by parkas and winter coats.  So, despite the fact that there are no “cute kid” photos, I did take a couple photos of the train.

I felt it was only fitting to convert the following two photos to black & white:

Kids and their parents ride the “Spooky Train”.

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(Click to enlarge thumbnails) After our visit to Pioneer Park, I drove toward the airport, and down to the river’s edge to take photos. Lisa spied two red foxes running on the frozen river and alerted me. When they saw me, they went running off in separate directions. I managed to get my lenses swapped out and take a few photos before they got too far away. It was so wonderful to see them, bounding down the frozen river, with their thick beautiful tails flying behind them.

From the Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series:

The red fox is usually recognized by its reddish coat, its white- tipped tail, and black “stockings,” although the species does have many color variations. The outside of the ears may be black-tipped, while the inside is usually white. The white tip on the tail will distinguish this fox from other species, regardless of its color phase.

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On Tuesday, Steve was off from work, and the plan was to go to the polling place and vote early so we wouldn’t have to wait in long lines on the 4th. When we got there, there was only one person ahead of us in line, and when we left there were three or four men waiting. I’m so glad we opted to do it now.

After voting, we went to The Bakery for breakfast before heading out to run errands. After placing our order, we skimmed the newspaper.

I was saddened to see the obituary for PFC Cody Eggleston, the second of our Fort Wainwright Stryker Brigade soldiers to be killed since deploying only a month ago. PFC Eggleston died from injuries he sustained in a mortar attack - an attack in which SPC Heath K. Pickard was killed instantly. Nine other soldiers were also injured. In Tuesday’s newspaper, I read about Cody’s sense of humor and love for life and family, but when I got to the last several paragraphs, I had to put the paper aside and wipe my eyes:

…The year before he was deployed was pivotal for Cody. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Karie Alford. Cody and Karie were married on June 7, 2008, in a quaint ceremony at the Chena Hot Springs Ice Hotel. His best buddy, Spc. Allen Brannon, served as his best man…

…His family is touched and comforted by the compassionate care his wife provided him until the end…

…Knowing Cody’s body was too weak to fight any more, she requested one last “date night.” She assisted the nurses in bathing him and helped dress him in the hospital’s finest dark navy blue gown. She put on the dress that Cody loved, and laid down next to him and fell asleep in her handsome husband’s arms. Cody passed away a short time later…

So very, very sad that they didn’t have a chance to grow old together.

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Every day I peruse the Fairbanks Garage Sale Yahoo Group to see if there is anything interesting listed. The night before last, I saw a listing for an almost new washer/dryer set (purchased in March). The family selling it is military, and she’s deploying. Her husband and their kids are going back to the Lower 48, while she’s gone - and he won’t need it. They didn’t want to have to store the washer/dryer, so they decided to sell them. We went to look at them, and put them through a short cycle to make sure they worked, and they do. (Here’s a photo of the set from the GE website)

The set was $2200 new, and they were selling both for half that - a bargain. The set that Steve and I have been using is 16 years old. They still work, but the washer has to be put through a second spin cycle to get all the water out of the clothes. Our dryer takes longer because the clothes are still too wet. Not very efficient in today’s world of energy saver appliances.  We’re going to put our old set on Fairbanks Freecycle. Perhaps someone who doesn’t have a washer and dryer will want it. I’d think a working set is better than having to make trips to the laundromat.

We’re both excited about doing laundry now. Somehow I don’t think it will last.

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While out and about, Steve parked his truck a few spots down from another truck, which had a very interested group of ravens hanging out on it. We knew this could only be because of one of two things: garbage or groceries.  Ravens are notorious for finding any speck of food in existence. And when they do, they call their friends. Most people know not to leave foodstuff unattended. Perhaps the owner of this truck is new to AK. Or maybe he thought the stuff would be safe.

We watched the ravens for about a minute and then saw one of the larger birds pull a plastic bag out of the truck bed and toss it on the ground. Small bite-size sausages appeared to be inside the bag - although not for long! The ravens took care of emptying that bag and were in search of a second bag.  I took a few photos, since I had my camera with me.

This guy came in for a landing a little too fast for icy conditions! I bet he had some snow stuffed in places he wished he didn’t!

We decided to cut through Fort Wainwright to go home, and drive to the top of Birch Hill. Here’s the view from the top of the ski hill:

Frosted trees, and the airstrip on Wainwright. The sun gave off a pink cast:

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I had to run into Fairbanks today to drop something off, so I took Sedona with me for company. Whenever I take her, she expects a stop at Creamers Field for a walk. And because I love her - and enjoy the fresh air - I take her.

It was cold - about 5F - and partly cloudy. The skies were a pretty shade of blue, even though they were streaked with clouds. After our walk, I drove along the river and stopped at the pedestrian bridge near Pioneer Park for some photos of the river.  Every day, the scenery seems to change. The river is already frozen in many places, but the portion of the river near Pioneer Park doesn’t totally freeze because of the hot wastewater pumped into the river from the power plant upriver. The warmth of the water can cause steam, which in turn results in some beautiful frost.

Here are the photos I took today (sorry there’s so many):

Creamers Field

Creamers Barn

Tanana Valley Railroad Station - Pioneer Park

Chena River

Pedestrian Bridge, Chena River

Picnic Anyone?

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Hard to believe that November is almost here. The past months seem to have flown by!  Soon it will be Thanksgiving…. and then Christmas… and then 2009.

And then HAWAII! Warm sun and sandy beaches are going to be so needed by then.

Until next time…