Knitting Up a Snow Storm

It's been snowing all weekend. Yesterday morning we woke up to fourteen inches of freshly fallen powder. It's the most snow we've had in one shot since we arrived in Fairbanks. Usually it snows an inch here, or a couple of inches there. And as the temperature never goes above freezing, the snow accumulates. But 14 inches in one night? This was a big snowfall! Lee actually had to shovel the walkway to the outhouse (we usually just pack it down). The snow is up to my mid thighs as I walk to the bathroom.

I'm off yesterday and today - I don't work during parent-teacher conferences. So I'm catching up on some much needed cleaning and knitting. I have a basket in the living room dedicated to knitting projects that NEED to be completed, as in, I was supposed to give these as Christmas gifts. So I am knitting on this snowy day. All weekend I've been knitting, and have successfully finished three projects. It feels good to get these done. It's like I am spring cleaning. Having unfinished things weighs on you, even unfinished knitting projects. I can't wait to finish these so I can start some new things without the guilt!

Ribbed socks for Lee - Now his toes are toasty!

Once summer comes, I won't have time to knit. I'll be hiking and canoeing and gardening in the midnight sun (I've started day-dreaming already). No time for wool (well, maybe from 1 am to 2 am). So I'd better not linger here too long. Back to the needles I go!

Watchin' the Birds

When it's chilly outside, and the snow is falling, I look forward to the quiet of curling up on the couch with a mug of tea and watching the birds flock to the feeders out my window. My dad loved to watch the birds, as did his father. I love it too. Back in NH, we had the usual cadre of tufted titmice, nuthatches, cardinals, chickadees, juncos, blue jays and sparrows. At our home in Dover, we were sometimes treated with a visit from a pair of blue birds.

I miss the pleasure of watching all the different birds fly in and out over the course of the day. While Alaska is known for its great variety of bird species, most of them migrate in the winter. So our feeder only gets visited by the brave chickadees (black-capped, boreal, and chestnut) and redpolls. While I am grateful for their visits, I do miss the variety.



Well, a few days back Lee and I were watching the redpolls come to the feeder. They tend to eat off the ground and only steal a seed quickly from the feeder. But that morning they were resting, so Lee was getting some pictures. All of a sudden, this pair of amazing colored, odd-beaked birds flew in. I can't tell you how excited we were! Such nerds, we ran for the Alaska Bird Book to try to identify them. They are, as it turns out, a pair of white-winged crossbills. And from all accounts, somewhat rare to see. They usually stay in the tops of trees, eating cones, and you know they're around by their song. I'm not sure what brought them down to our window, but we sure are happy they decided to stop by!



The male was so funny. He kept trying to figure out the feeder, flying around trying to land. He was a little too big, so when he finally did manage to stay on, he couldn't get the seed. I love this picture Lee shot. The crossbill was watching the redpoll, trying to figure out how he did that!



And of course this picture is spectacular. It was at least 20 below outside. I love that you can see her breath, and the definition in his wings and beak. But the magic of the snow falling in the sun behind them is just perfect. It really was that kind of morning.

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun

Yesterday morning, Lee and I woke up at 8:30 and dim light was shining in the window. Hallelujah! Sitting on the couch this morning, it was shining in my eyes. Even sitting at the computer now I can feel it on my face. It even almost feels warm... almost. It is -25 out. But there is hope. We are leaving darkness. In two months, most of the snow will be gone (yikes! that doesn't sound as hopeful as I thought it would!) and real warmth from the almost 24 hours of sunlight will be here. Then I can start growing monstrous cabbages!

One thing is for certain in Alaska. When the sun returns, it comes back fast and furious. We are already at 8 hours of sunlight, and by next week, we will have almost 9 hours!! This is an amazing difference from the 3 hours we had at the solstice. I can't wait for the Spring Equinox!