Nature in Fairbanks

What gorgeous couple of weeks we've had here. We've been treated to lots of sunshine and the birds and flowers are thriving.

My friend Mae and I stopped for take-out dinner last week and took it to Creamer's Field, where we watched sandhill cranes. One pair treated us to an increasingly flamboyant display of wing-flapping and hopping into the air. They started out by appearing to ignore each other. Then one flapped its wings. The second one followed and soon they were both flapping and the second one was hopping off the ground. I have tried for years to catch some of this, and been largely unsuccessful. I was delighted with the results last week.

 

This weekend we picked up my new dining table and chairs, then went to Chena's for lunch. I love eating there, especially on the deck next to the river. As always, the food was good. We watched a couple of ducks float lazily on the river, and I shot some photos of their beautiful hanging planters. The wild roses are blooming all over town and are beautiful, giving drivers a shot of bright pink as they pass.

 

A reflection from the fence railing fades out the left side of the photo, but I was happy to see the duck's feet visible in the water.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer is busting out all over town. I love it. Happy June everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long slow spring in Interior Alaska

Spring was a long time coming this year. A little tease in April gave me false hope we'd leap into spring, but the warm temperatures left us and were replaced by cooler air and snow. We even had a ground-covering of the white stuff May 18!

My friend Mae and I visited Creamer's Field frequently, saw lots of birds, but the snow remained.



 

 

Mae and I decided to take our annual train trip to Denali National Park May 15-16. Since Alaska Railroad did not offer their usual 1/2-price + hotel room, we opted to go with Princess Tours (who did offer a special fare and hotel). The railroad depot was locked up tight when we got there, and the train consisted of an engine and two Holland America cars. We were certainly not crowded as we frequently are.

 

The cars were very nice. The comfortable seats were on the 2nd tier of a double-decker car, with dining on the first level. Huge windows were on both sides of the car. I'm not sure there were other Alaskans on the car on the ride down, aside from the tour guide from Anchorage. She did not know her facts, and made a number of factual errors while telling the tour group "all about Alaska." At one point, I had to speak up and correct one of them. I don't like doing that, but she was clearly turned around - had us going backwards. It would have been better if she had simply read the book she is supplied by the company. The food was better than the typical food we eat on the train, but still not great.

 

Most of the people on the train were staying at the McKinley Chalet. Mae and I stayed at the Princess, where we were greeted by the lobby staff and told we were the first guests of the season. I did see more people arriving later that day, so we were not the only ones.

 

The weather at Denali was really not good. It was cool - 40s and 50s in the afternoon - with a brisk wind. There was still a good bit of snow on the ground. To make things more interesting, I had a flare-up of an abdominal condition that plagues me every few years and was in considerable pain. So in view of the weather and my problem, we spent a lot of time in our room, reading our Nooks and watching television.

 

We did a little shopping and I picked up some pashmina shawls that I liked. The food at the Princess King Salmon Restaurant did not disappointment. I enjoyed a chicken breast with a berry sauce that was delicious. I've got to come up with a similar sauce here at home.

 

We didn't even go into the park this trip because we discovered the park buses were not even running and we didn't want to spend a lot of money on the tours offered at the hotel. We've done those tours before, so it was nothing new for us.

 

We did, however, see a lot of wildlife from the train - several moose, one with a calf; swans; sandhill cranes; Dall sheep; ducks and geese, as well as magnificent scenery. Waterfalls on the side of the hills were still frozen and the Nenana River below us had only a small channel open. 

 

Mt. McKinley was out on a clear blue sky (no clouds at all) and visible for a good while on the ride to the park. So we got to see the mountain - always a delight and always awesome.

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed the trip, relaxed and talked with some nice visitors from the Lower 48. All in all, it was a good trip.

 

Every Memorial Day weekend I go to the dog show with Mae and our friend Cindy. Another friend from Anchorage, Nancy, breeds and shows golden retrievers. She usually makes the trip to Fairbanks and this year was no exception. She brought a female who just came along for the ride, and Logan, a male who needed just one more win for his championship. Here are a few photos of Logan and Nancy in the ring. Logan is the one in front here.

 

 

 
 



 

 

There were a number of breeds, but not as many as in the past. But I love watching them. Logan got his win so they went home happy.

 

 

 

 

 

Mae and I usually enjoy Mother's Day dinner at the Alaska Salmon Bake with our friend Cindy. This year, however, the Salmon Bake wasn't open because the water lines were still freezing at night and they couldn't turn on the water. We finally got there May 26. They've switched from halibut to cod (because the cost of halibut skyrocketed a couple of years ago), so it wasn't quite as good as we'd like, but the cod was good, and the company was great.

 

After dinner, we headed over to the greenhouse to buy plants for the year. I didn't even plant last year because I was sick on Memorial Day weekend and the next week was in Arizona with my sisters. All I had was one lonely marigold my granddaughter Maddy brought down to plant. So this year I got zucchini, summer squash, parsley, chives, asters, dahlias and chrysanthemums. They are all in the dirt now and I'm hopeful for a bumper crop.

 

I'd say we've got a good start to the summer season. Looking forward to enjoying my porch (without mosquitos) and watching the birds at the feeders. Already the new ones are coming around and are voracious. I had dark-eyed juncos and redpolls here while I was planting late yesterday afternoon. I can hear them chirping now, so I think I'll close and go enjoy them.

 

Have a safe and happy summer.

Miscellany

The past two months have flown by. Work has been pretty busy and I've been inside a lot in my spare time working on genealogy.

About the February-March time frame I am tired of winter. I don't want to see snow any more. I'm ready for breakup. Part of the problem ice and my fear of falling. As the days get longer the surface snow melts during the day and refreezes at night, leaving nice shiny icy spots. I'm not the most graceful person on dry pavement, let alone on ice. Add to that my bad back, and I prefer not to do a lot of walking.

The last week of March was pretty eventful. My friend Cindy had not been feeling well. When she saw the doctor for a routine checkup, she ended up having surgery the same day. She went home that night and is doing well now. I had to work that evening, but met our friend Mae at the hospital to check on Cindy. When I got home I had a message from my sister informing me our sister Lora had lost her long battle with cancer.

Lora was 11 months younger than I am. We played together, fought together, shared a bedroom and bed for a number of years. We shared secrets and dreams. She was a tomboy, afraid of nothing. I was a bookworm, terrified of spiders and loathing bugs in general. She was athletic, I was a klutz (still am - see second paragraph). She was a majorette in the band. I can still see her in her blue and gold uniform with knee-length pleated skirt and long-sleeved, high-neck jacket, twirling her baton, throwing it into the air and catching it easily, resuming the twirling. Her fight with cancer lasted 4 or 5 years, and was a tough battle for her. The last few months, she was either in pain or heavily drugged to mask the pain. I will be forever grateful that I was able to spend a little time with her last June. Two other sisters, Luci and Leah, and I met in Phoenix and drove to Yuma to visit Lora and her husband Howard. We were there after the effects of chemo had worn off and before she started radiation, so she was able to go out with us, show her favorite spots in Yuma and talk and laugh. I miss our weekly phone calls and our laughs together. Rest in peace Lora, I love you and will miss you.

March gave us a week or so of really nice temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Then it snowed. Then it got cold again. Our daylight hours are increasing daily and I'm so ready for winter to end. I took a couple of days off this week to relax and use up some time I will lose if I don't take it. Yesterday and today, with temperatures close to 14-15 below, I took my camera out to play early in the morning. I went to Creamer's Field where the waterfowl stop off on their northern migration. They seeded the field April 5, but it snowed on the 6th, so the grain is all covered again. The newspaper reported that 3 Canada geese were here, but they must have left, as no one has reported them since the April 6 (and 7 and 8) snowfalls. However, I love Creamer's even when the birds aren't there. I had the place to myself, it was quiet and peaceful. I took several shots of the scenery and relished the serenity and scenery.

 

 

This icicle was standing up in the snow. I guess as snow melted from the trees, it created this. I was fascinated by it.

 

 

The mammoths and the giant jaguar were in front of the farmhouse at Creamer's Field. It looks as though mama mammoth had a pretty rough winter.

 

 

 

 

 

I always love sunrise at Creamer's Field, no matter what time of year it is. Breakup will be here soon, I'm sure. Happy spring everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Major milestone met

I met a major milestone today - I paid off my mortgage. What a great feeling it was to walk out of the bank knowing I'll never have to make another house payment.

This was a long time coming. We were within five or six years of paying it off when we were divorced. Since the house came to me, I had to refinance. Thus began another long series of years of house payments.

When we first came to Fairbanks we lived on the Army post. At some point, about two years in, we decided to look for a house. We chose a realtor, a very nice woman named, I believe, Jan. That was the early summer of 1980.

We looked at several houses, but none really struck a chord for us. One Saturday we saw a house on the west side of town and were on our way to Badger Road to see another. As we drove down the highway, I mentioned that I liked the yellow house we were passing. The realtor told me that was the third house we were to see that day.

The Badger Road house was a trailer that had been framed in by wood. It was very dark and reminded me of my grandmother's parlor - a room we were only allowed in on Christmas. It was dark with African violets and old-fashioned furnishings.

So it was on to the little yellow house. I was captivated from the minute I walked in. The living/dining area was a large open area. The living room portion had bookshelves that lined one wall. Under the shelves was a wall-long counter (all the same wood) with cabinets underneath. Lots of storage for our books and other items.

The second bedroom had a built-in bed for our daughter with an enclosed area above that could also be used as a bunk if we removed the sliding doors. Since we had just one child, it was more storage.

Although small, the kitchen was efficient and had a nice little breakfast bar.

We closed on the house and I have been comfortable here ever since. There are so many memories, of birthdays, Christmases, great times and friends.

Two summers we filled the bed of the pickup truck with water and made a "redneck swimming pool" of it, inviting friends over for a barbecue. The kids loved it.

We've hosted friends for Thanksgiving dinners and for a couple of years, my niece and her family when they were assigned to Eielson AFB. We've had pets - Ralph the lab-shepherd mix, Peto the beagle, Ginger the cockapoo, Butch and Spike the cats, a turtle, and finally Paco the poodle mix and now Buddy the terrier mix.

 

 

It has a large back yard and a shady front yard with a white picket fence (is THAT a cliché?). There was a huge spruce and one birch tree in the front, and we added another birch to it. In the past few years I've added a ramp to aid my mobility and the year after that a porch.

It's a great feeling to get those payments over and done. I love the house as much today as I did when we bought it.

Paying off the mortgage was a major goal toward my retirement. Now that's done I have just a couple more goals to meet and I will be able to enjoy this place all day, every day.

 

 



2013

Thus far 2013 has not been high on my list of "likes."

If it wasn't 40 below or colder, or dumping 14 inches of snow and then smaller amounts, I was under the weather with strep, back or knee problems.

The bright point so far - my new camera. Because of the cold and my various ailments (I've GOT to stop sounding like an old infirm woman), I haven 't had a lot of chances to test it out.

But I did manage to get a couple of shots that I was happy with and am looking forward to better weather to get out with it.

One morning, just after I got it, the moon was bright and high in the sky. It was a nice morning and I thought I'd try the new, improved lens.

      I was amazed at the detail it captured. I may have gotten even better shots if I had simply used a tripod.

 

 

Saturday my friend Mae and I decided to drive to North Pole. She wanted to look for something at Santa Claus House and we opted to stay there long enough for lunch at the Pagoda. Lunch was very good, as usual, though we were disappointed with the chicken wings we got to go for supper.

 

I got a few shots of Santa Claus House and the reindeer that were in the pen. Two of them were rubbing their antlers on trees, then snuffling the tree trunks. I would love to get some shots of them without two fences getting in the way, but I understand why those fences are there.

 

The reindeer are very tame and the presence of people doesn't faze them at all.

 



 

 

 

I love the murals on the sides of SC House, and it smells like Christmas inside all year round.

Here's hoping 2013 will now begin improving - better weather, better health and great times with the camera.

The other night lights in Fairbanks

I love the northern lights. I love watching them dance and wave across the sky. They remind me of when I was 10 years old and my dad got us all out of bed and took us outside in our pajamas and coats and slippers to see what is now referred to as "the great red aurora of 1958." It was my first auroral display and it was incredibly beautiful. I'm so glad now my dad had a strong love of nature and a great wish to share it with us. I don't see an aurora now that I don't think of him, and wonder if it's Dad waving to me from Heaven. Unfortunately, I don't have a DSLR camera and it's very difficult to photogaph the lights with what I do have.

So last night I went out with my friends Mae and Cindy and we visited the other night lights in Fairbanks. While there were not as many as in some past years, we did see some very pretty displays.

It's always fun to see these. Some people go all out, others keep it simple. One family had everything from a nativity scene (complete with palm trees) to Santa and Frosty. One family lights up their huge house every year. The little log cabin above has an American flag on the left side of the cabin.

It was a good night with good friends.

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family and happy holidays to those who celebrate in another way.

Tis the Season

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope it was a good one.

My friend Mae and I went to Pike's Landing for their big buffet. It was very nice, as always. This year, though, the turkey was a little dry as was the ham. The beef roast was perfect, however, and the gravy was phenominal and flavorful. And the creme brulee (as well as the rest of the 16' dessert table) never disappoints me.

I took most of the week off and made good use of it. Since I LOVE Thanksgiving leftovers, I cooked a turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes and corn. I do not like sweet potatoes, so that is never on my menu. And I've been enjoying the turkey all week.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. We would gather at my grandparents' house, along with my Dad's brother and sister and their families. We kids would watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while the men went duck hunting and the women cooked dinner. To this day, I watch that parade - it's part of the magic of Thanksgiving. Since I wasn't able to be with my family in person, I phoned and talked with many of them. I have such wonderful memories of those Thanksgivings past.

I did break one of my own rules - I put up my Christmas tree before I ate Thanksgiving dinner. I did not turn on the lights though. I usually put it up the day after the big dinner, but because of the MRI, I knew I wouldn't want to do it Friday. It is now lit and already has some gifts under it.

Friday, instead of shopping (I refuse to go out on Black Friday - there are animals in those stores), I had an MRI on my back. I have been seriously considering lumbar surgery, as the pain in my back is getting stronger and is there all the time, even when I'm sitting or lying down. I have not made the actual decision yet, but I'm getting closer. When the tech was talking with me and going over paperwork prior to the MRI, she asked what music I wanted to listen to. Even through the Valium haze, I remembered that one of our local radio stations plays Christmas music from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas day. So I requested that and it made the procedure a bit more bearable. I was on the table for about 30 minutes and the last 10 were miserable. Both my back and leg hurt and I had to work hard not to move them to relieve the pain. Sitting up was very painful, but by the time I got home the Valium insisted that I sleep. After a few hours of good, deep sleep, I felt much better.

I have been really good about shopping this year. I hate crowded stores and rude shoppers, and in spite of the fact that this season brings out the best in most people, it also brings out the worst in others. I have only one package left to mail and cards to do yet, but plenty of time. I have only a couple of people to purchase gifts for and am feeling that this year may be stressless - I can only hope.

I love listening to the Christmas music and watching the wonderful sappy movies. I will watch "The Gathering," a made-for-tv movie we saw years ago and I finally found on DVD last year. It stars Ed Asner and Maureen Stapleton and I cry most of the way through it. I also watch "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street," (the original with Natalie Wood) "White Christmas" and "Holiday Inn."

At this time of year, I think of my family even more than usual. I think all of us are feeling the loss of our dad during this holiday season, But staying in touch with frequent phone calls and Facebook and our family website really helps me feel closer to them.

May your holiday season be filled with love and sentimental movies, with great food and great friends, with wonderful classic music and good feelings about everything. It's memories of this time of year that I bring back to mind each November and December - the scents of cookies baking, the noise and excitement of kids and the secrecy of hidden gifts. And most of all - the love that seems to be all over the place.