A Little More Kissmoose

Loot from Mom's neck of the woods. I think the hot cocoa is from my niece. She must have retained something about her auntie living in Alaska where it's cold. Bless her little soul; I love hot cocoa.

Guess who made out like fat cats? There was a whole seperate box just for the pets.

This new toy came complete with a human to operate it.

We were even graced with a rare appearance from the great white Frog. He opted for playing with the belled tiger toy that the Bear did not enjoy. Turns out he likes toys with bells. He likes playing with them all night long while the dogs are kenneled and the humans are trying to sleep. Bless his furry little soul!

Someday this will seem like a bad dream

So, it was -27 on the way to work this morning. I have had the parts for my truck since the weekend but can't seem to make myself get outside and put them on when I get home at night. I heard a rumor that it is going to warm up to +15 in the next week. That will feel tropical.

I finally took up an offer extended by a very generous friend of mine here in town and went to the gym on Monday. I ran on the gerbil wheel and feel a little less like climbing the walls. I haven't run so close to so many people since college. There were four rows of machines in the room I was in, and at least a dozen tvs on the wall. It was an odd experience. I'm headed back for another dose this weekend and I think I'll stick to the pool. And maybe the sauna. Perhaps some weight machines. Or maybe I will continue to get up early each morning and do yoga at home like I did this morning.

On another random note, I cooked dinner last night. I used this recipie: http://www.alisonslunch.com/index.php/site/print-recipe/indian_diced_potatoes_with_greens/ and we'll be eating leftovers for several days. It was a little time consuming, like an hour and a half, but it is yummy. And it gave Smokey time to change the right blinker light on his truck. And I got to use my new-to-me square cast iron skillet. And Smokey cleaned it when I was done. Yippee!! Don't laugh, you try living in this cold and see what straws you grasp for a little joy!

I think I could get used to this whole one job thing. My kitchen is clean, my laundry is getting put away, my floor has been de-furred, and my cats are getting spoiled. And it's been less than a week. If it doesn't warm up soon I'll have the whole place clean, sorted, and tidy with several books read and sweaters knit. Maybe I'll see if they make ski wax for temps this low......

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Merry Kissmoose

Okay, so she's not a moose, but Percy is one of the bestest Christmas presents ever. Smokey and I each had a few gifts to unwrap each, but the box from Mom is yet to arrive. Come to think of it, I haven't checked the mail in a few days......






Smokey got this handmade mastadon ivory sheefish hook from me, one of many gifts I picked up this summer in remote northern villages. His work gave him a nice fat bonus check and a raise, along with homemade fudge and a dinner at a fancy restaurant. Mine gave me a suitcase. Hmmmm...

Smokey gave me a new paddle jacket. We then went and made like Jesus and walked on water. We had a little help in that the lake was frozen and we had snowshoes on. The paddle jacket worked well for snowshoeing. Someday soon my boat will be fixed and I can idle my time away figuring out how to paddle in such cold weather. Or I could go snowboarding.

Percy and I took turns wearing the antlers. Tatonka could not behave long enough with them on to have his picture taken. I let Percy wear them while I was baking cookies. She shares well. What did you all do to celebrate?

PS: Today is my mom's birthday. Let's all call her and sing happy birthday. It's been a long year for her. I'm working the closing shift at the restaurant and I'm at least an hour behind you all, so I'll still be celebrating long after you all go to bed.

Fun with Avalanches

Looking back at this weekend I can't believe I thought this was cold. Well, maybe I can, but only because I spent most of Saturday watching demonstrations and shivering myself warm. Nothing like spending the day outside in 10 below to make you appreciate how quickly things can go bad here. Sunday was a day for scenarios and snowshoeing (unless you had skis). My team was dispatched to be a probe line crew.

Luckily there was a need for a sled to be transported from the parking lot to a team near the team we were asigned to probe with. Looking at this some of you may be wondering at my word choice (luckily). Let me attempt to explain. Probe lines are not so time sensitive. It takes a while to get to this stage and they are most effective when done very methodically (so I've been told). Therefore, they move slowly. Recall the temperature? Ten below is cold for doing things slowly. Hauling your butt back down the hill and up again with a sled is a more desirable way to spend your time in that it keeps you warm. Luckily the other woman on my team knew this and volunteered us immediately when the need arose. Bless her equally warm soul! I pulled the sled up the hill and she pulled it down. After a team of 8 or so widened the trail. That's okay, I had more calories to burn anyway.

Thanksgiving Fun

Ah, Thanksgiving, home on the range. I snapped shots of these same critters when I was here in September and sent them to Smokey. They were gracious enough to show themselves mid-day on Thansgiving as we made the epic journey from the Far Frozen North to the Range. We hadn't really slept in 30 or so hours at this point.

We did more than wildlife viewing on this trip, we also built gingerbread houses. This is my 'niece', Meshayla, and this is our second year building a gingerbread house together at Grandma's house. She's very good at being patient while the 'glue' dries enough so we can decorate. And she loves telling me where to put the 'glue' for the candy.

'Glue' directing includes placement and shapes. Sometimes shapes are squares, triangles, and circles. Other times they are baby bunny rabbits.

We consumed copious amounts of good food, napped, read books, and relaxed. Mom and I quilted. She made this for my sister and I made the same pattern for her with different fabric. Smokey and I went over the hill and visited Dad and his wife's branch of my family. I do not have the pictures from this trip. I'll post them if I can find them.

We next visited Smokey's brother in central OR and then I went to P-town and picked up some more stuff for shipping. Our trip ended in Seattle where I introduced Smokey to Kerry Park. This is actually sunset, taken with the flash.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

Guess who is home? The wonder truck did not make it home for Chirstmas, but she did make it home before New Year's. I know the parking job is horrible, but I tried to hide that with my photo angle. I finally gave up on calling and visiting the tow office and just started hanging out at the yard. I finally caught a driver there on Friday, but he couldn't get it done before I had to be at work. Saturday his uncle got her out just before I had to be at work, so I was late, but everyone was very understanding. We towed her down the street to a mega toy store parking lot which was empty since it was after Christmas. I came back for her after my shift (at midnight) and she wouldn't start. We eventually went and procured gas and starter fluid. There were flames involved, but they were reasonable and no one got hurt. Did I mention that it was four below? And the accelerator was frozen in the wide open position, so it had to be manually manipulated so the engine didn't blow up. Yup, that's my girl, she's pissed off. We pushed her into her parking spot sometime after 2 am. I had to work again at 8. I haven't started her again since it was 17 below this morning and we were very thankful that Smokey's truck started. Today's objective: obtain external heaters for both rigs.

More postings with pictures later today and all week.