Living in Alaska - Life in the Last Frontier

I’ll start with my Gratitude Entries…

November 19th: The sun is shining brightly and touching only the tops of the trees. The trees are covered with frost and snow. Below the sunlight, the trees are gray and white, but at the top, the frost is a pale gold. It’s absolutely stunning! Today I am thankful that, every day, mother nature creates a new painting for me outside my sliding glass doors. I am also thankful for a heated home, as the temperature outside hovers at -22F.

November 20th: Today I am thankful that there is laughter in my life. This morning, Steve and I had a laugh while he made breakfast. Then we watched a short video that a friend linked to - about a cat and a printer, and we both laughed again.  Then Airborne climbed up on the windowsill and stretched out really tall to reach the hanging plant there, but lost her footing and fell. She scared herself and went tearing up the stairs meowing deeply. Again… laughter. It’s a good sound, and it feels good too. Laughter is the best medicine. A day that starts off with laughter is bound to be a good day.

November 21st: Today I am thankful for early morning silence. I almost always get up before Steve does (when he’s not working), and it’s not always due to insomnia. I have always been an early riser. The alone time I have before the rest of the house gets up is precious to me. When my boys were little, I’d set my alarm to give myself an extra 30 minutes in the morning before they got up for school. I’d have a cup of coffee or tea, and read the paper. When they’d come bustling into the kitchen, I could meet them with a smile. When I was working, I’d get up 30 minutes before I had to for the same reason. I found I was more awake and ready to face the day with that extra time to myself in the morning. As I write this, the house is quiet and dark - except for the desk lamp next to me. I can smell the coffee brewing. While savoring a cup, I’ll read the paper - online. (I’m not going out to the paper box in this cold! *grin*) Good morning, world. Today is a new day, and I’m going to make it the best I can.

November 22nd: Today I am thankful for catching up with family. Steve spent quite a bit of time on the phone with his sister, Elaine (who we only get to talk to a couple of times a year). Now he’s on the phone with his half-sister Julie - who he hasn’t talked to in about 18 years! A couple of months ago, we were watching the show “The Locator“, and Steve told me he wished he could find his half sister and brothers - as he hasn’t talked to any of them in almost two decades. So I got to sleuthing on the internet (thank you, Google!) and - armed with a little bit of information about his sister’s career - I found an email address for her! She was out of work recuperating from surgery, and emailed us back yesterday. And as I type this, he is talking to her on the phone! I’m glad they were able to re-connect, and I hope they’ll stay in touch with each other.

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Steve is off for seven days - as of yesterday.  We love this part of his job and schedule. He’s got to go back to work on Thanksgiving evening (4pm), so we’re having Thanksgiving on Wednesday instead. It’s just the two of us this year. I do wish my kids were closer, as I’d love to have them at the dinner table.

A few days ago, after getting out of the shower, I saw that the temperature outside was about -20F. I decided to go outside with my wet hair, so I could take photos of frozen hair to share with you. (See what I do to keep my blog entertaining?) I didn’t stay out for too long - about 5 minutes - and the photos I took aren’t the most artistic. It’s hard to hold a camera out and take self-photos while your hair is frozen like straw and your face is freezing off!

Here’s a photo of the beautiful frosted trees taken that same morning, which led to my gratitude entry that day:

Thursday, I had to run a few quick errands and managed to talk Steve into driving me. As we made our way to the post office in North Pole, the sun was an orange ball in the sky and a sun pillar was extending from the top and bottom. I had my camera with me (of course) so we continued down the road to Chena Lakes Rec Area.

We drove to the top of the berm to get a clear view of the sunset. The sky was a beautiful orange on the horizon. You can see the Richardson Highway off in the distance. This is the direct route from Fairbanks to Valdez:

The view from the park road, with the trees backlit by the sun:

A good view of the sun pillar between trees. Sun pillars form when sunlight reflects off the surfaces of falling ice crystals associated with thin, high-level clouds.

In the opposite direction, the sky is still blue with late afternoon light. It was a surprise to both of us to see three moose grazing in the flood plain:

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Last night, Steve and I attended an Alaska Living Group Meet-Up at the Badger Den Bar & Grill here in North Pole. It’s only about 1/2 mile from our house, so we didn’t have to drive too far - which was very nice. Some of the “regulars” were in attendance: Gip & Carmen, Sassy, Jim the pilot; but we also got to see Charles & Moe for the first time in probably years. We’ve all kept up with each other via the group, but haven’t spent any time together. It was so good seeing them both, and I hope that we can get together again.  We also met two more members of the group: Jim and his wife Arlene. Jim and Arlene came to AK at the same time we did - in June 2003 - but will be leaving here next summer to relocate to the Lower 48.  We had a great time chatting and eating, and indulging in a few drinks, and I look forward to our next meet-up.

In the event I don’t write here before Thanksgiving, I want to take the time to wish all of my American readers a beautiful day. Whether you’re celebrating with one or many, take a moment to give thanks for all the blessings in your life.

I found this poem online and it says pretty much what I’d like to…

I’m Thankful for You

Thanksgiving is the appointed time
for focusing on the good in our lives.
In each of our days,
we can find small blessings,
but too often we overlook them,
choosing instead to spend our time
paying attention to problems.
We give our energy
to those who cause us trouble
instead of those who bring peace.
Starting now,
let’s be on the lookout
for the bits of pleasure in each hour,
and appreciate the people who
bring love and light to everyone
who is blessed to know them.
You are one of those people.
On Thanksgiving,
I’m thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!

By Joanna Fuchs

Until next time…