Snow Sun Whiplash

This is May 18 in my yard.  You can see I was pulling out pots and surveying the windows for greenhouse construction ideas and that the solar lights on the fence are working.  Almost overnight it became summer.  May was winter and June is summer.  And an amazing one so far.  The greenhouse is only partially constructed - I'll take some 'during' pictures and put them up later - but it has been many consecutive days of unbelievable sun and warmth.  It's really hard to be inside at all and to sleep with all the fabulous sunshine.  So mostly I don't.  I'm excited that the construction forman told me this morning they are indeed done with disturbing the garden beds in the driveway and that a landscape crew will be along in a couple weeks to deal with top soil and seeding the trench they filled in yesterday.  Now I can move a bunch of plants outside that were starting to take over my living room. 

Organized 'Run'

I have become not a fan of organized races in the last couple years.  I attribute this to living on a frequently used trail for such activities and to being very involved in a little project I call MSES.  Last Saturday I hit the trails in town for a 5 mile (no, that wasn't a 5 K like I thought it was when I signed up) walk with some of my co-workers.  One of them is pregnant and had to take frequent potty breaks, leaving me with her (very sweet) daughter and her sister (also a co-worker).  It was a great excuse to get my flamingo (hat) out for some fresh air and to stitch up a wrap tutu, complete with pink feathers in the bottom layer. 

Otherwise I have been doing a lot of enjoying the sunshine, mostly in the yard, but also via some lake kayaking and general dog swimming, trail riding, dog training (complete with bears and moose), running, and one epic roller blade.  As soon as my skin grows back I intend to return to the roller blading.  Mostly because I got a new street sports helmet that looks like a watermelon.

The greenhouse is slowly taking shape and the potting bench looks awesome.  No matter how many plants I transfer outside to beds my interior shelves don't get any emptier because something always needs to be up-potted.  I was very happy to see the electricians for the power project on our street outside this morning.  Even though it means I have to move my truck tonight.  It will also mean (eventually) being able to plant the planter I know they have to dig up. 

Vent cover

I found that I had a new vent cover installed some time yesterday.  It really keeps fur from blowing all over my bathroom.  There is even some kind of hidden control that automatically removes it when the fan is off. Very convenient. 

Snow!

It has been a winter of challenging weather so far this year, mostly alternating between super cold and icy and raining and icy.  Today it is finally snowing again.  I maintain that my coconut cupcakes made for a friend's birthday party last night brought it on.  Coconut...snow...coconut...snow....

The dogs share my optimism.  They have been cooped up for several days or restricted to short on leash walks on icy streets.

Of course, now there will be soft fluffy snow covering that ice....

I'm sure that  will only slow us down a little.  Welcome snow!!  We have missed you.

Autumn...check...

Everyone I know has been super busy this autumn, including me.  I spent most of autumn in the middle of nowhere.  And it was beautiful.  And because this is Alaska, it was sunny and clear and cold, and then it snowed. 

Thankfully I have some awesome co-workers and I am the boss lady, so it was not so bad.  It did totally sum up my life by occuring during the marathon I was training for. 

Only a few weeks later and we have snow for the third time, I think, in Anchortown.  Glad I got sunshine here and in PDX for a few days before winter set in.  It's good weather for thesis work at least.

Nugget's Baby Shower

The Other One reads the English Major's boyfriend a bedtime story.  He actually falls asleep.

Murphy's Law is still in effect....if you buy an umbrella it won't rain. It was so hot the day before that a couple people warned me.  So I brought no pants or jacket, only dresses, shorts/tanks tops, and flip flops.  It was overcast for my whole visit.

Only two people hyperventillated blowing up the ballons; I'm calling that a success! Outdoor living has such a different realization here than in Alaska.

These cheesy smiles are what it's all about.  Oh, and nugget too, it's all about the nugget!  What I really wish I had is a picture of the after party - we tested one of Nugget's presents with the help of a toddler.  It involved about 8 adults playing indoor dodge ball with fleece cubes.  Oh yeah, that is a way to get your workout and party in at the same time!

Spring Adventures 2012

 Where I come from June is the start of summer, so I must be having summer now and April and May were Spring, which you can see clearly in these photos.  While I don't get out much I did take a short road trip up to see my land.  I haven't been up there in a couple years so it was nice to remember what I am paying for every month.

 The dogs had a lovely time.  The snow was deep and unexpectedly punchy.  See the wet knee of my jeans?  Every few steps of surface walking you would suddenly plunge up to your thigh in snow.  I'm not even really sure my foot was even on the ground then.

I bought a new blanket for my bed.  Not very exciting, I know, but the cats loved it and it easily navigates my washing machine every week. 

 A couple weeks ago I headed down to Seward with a couple friends for the weekend.  I was very determined to get my sea kayak in the water as I sat out the last two summers.  I had to clean the cobwebs and dust off when I lowered it off the rafters!  Hoping to get down there again soon, maybe even this weekend!  The paddling was lovely....in the snow...no, I'm not kidding.  The cats had a great time at the cabin, Frog slept the weekend away, trying out a new location every few hours, while Bear preferred to stay in the cat bed by the heater.  Rough life.

 I also made another trip up to Kotzebue for a workshop.  This shot is from the air at departure.  Lots of daylight, and lots of ice still.

 Lots of daylight and 40,000 feet means you get to see Denali on the evening jet home.

 From the hotel room....no, that's not Russia.

The very fancy hotel room that makes you feel like you aren't in Kotzebue.  That's about it for my spring, with the exception of lots of bike rides, yoga, running, dog training, and thesis writing.  I guess I technically got out twice in my lake kayak too.  Both times were short paddles, but the second was longer.  And the dogs weren't quite as hypothermic.