at home...

Chilling out on the porch yesterday with a cup of green tea while the boys kept playing in the snow. I got snow in my boot playing with them and they can keep going for a couple hours out there if it's warm enough. I had to trade my wet boots for slippers but it was so nice I just sat out there and watched them play. We have to take advantage when the weather is good because it can change fast. I also love my new mug. It was a score of a trade at the rummage sale in Trapper Creek last week. Happy Winter to you all...

Sleepy Snowy Talkeetna

I went for a quiet downtown walk this morning in our sleepy, snowy little town. Ahhh the quiet...

The Real Iditarod Start

March is Iditarod month here in Alaska. We go to the Re-start in Willow on the free shuttle bus each year. It's about 40 minutes South of Talkeetna out on Willow lake. Here we are with some friends on the bus. The musher in the photo is 4 time (in a row, going for a record 5th win) Lance Mackey. He comes from a mushing family and is a cancer survivor. We like him, he seems like the kind of guy you could sit and enjoy a beer with, just a laid back Alaskan. I love the shot of Jax and friend Shelby walking together arm & arm. Hawken fell asleep on my shoulders watching the dog mushing action and was pulled back to the shuttle in the sled that I'm glad I brought... The teams are now on their way to Nome on the North coast of our great state. It's a long, cold, crazy trail they are following out there. We have a couple Talkeetna locals in the race as well as my old boss from Steamboat Springs who is a rookie this year. He owns the dog sled tour company I was working for when I found out I was pregnant with Jaxon. It was a fun job, for a season, and I realized pretty quick I didn't want to be a musher. My kicksled with one dog is plenty for me... To follow the race check them out on the web at http://www.iditarod.com/

Ying-Yang Pups

A ski on the lake part 2

Wow some rare alone time was nice, can you hear the peaceful silence. It was a little windy but a beautiful day for sure!

A ski on the lake...

A nice ski on the lake today with both the sun and the moon...

Boys & Pups

Cute, cute & more cute...

a walk with the dogs...

I took the dogs on a quick walk to the swamp today. It's a little cold and windy out but clear and beautiful. I wasn't sure if Luna would leave the puppies but she did and seemed to enjoy the break. Denali was out and peeking over the trees at me when I got down to the swamp. Yesterday morning it was about -20 below in our area, Brrr... We watched the Eclipse from home the other night, it was awsome, we could see it from our windows which was nice since it was chilly out and the show was from about 9-11pm up here. Then last night for solstice Jax & I were at a friend's bonfire party. The moon was full and bright, there was a table of food and cookies and we were with good people, good friends. HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE TO YOU ALL!!!

Many degrees below zero...

Yes it's a little chilly at 8:30 on a February morning here in Alaska but sometimes a mom has to seize the opportunity and this was mine. I had just dropped Jaxon off at school because once a week or so the extra 30-45 minutes of sleep we can get by not making the bus is more valuable to me, this was one of those mornings. I was already in downtown Talkeetna and it was amazingly light out already, or working on it we are gaining 6 minutes a day now, so I headed down to the river trail. My car was telling me it was a toasty -8 degrees below zero out, that was in the parking lot the trail at the river was a little colder still. The view looked like a painting on the horizon as it often does here. To my left was the half moon still bright in the dimly lit sky and straight across the mighty frozen Susitna & Chulitna Rivers was the alpenglow lighting the mountain range that includes Denali, Hunter and Foraker. Quite a sight, you almost forget your cheeks and toes are numb while your staring at it. Then the creaks and thunderous sounds from the river ice startle and intrigue you at the same time. The chunks of ice break off the shelf splashing into the water. These are the sounds of break up, but it's February and this isn't normal to hear now. It must be due to the warm winter we have had, warm in relation to Alaska that is. Summer last year was also quite warm, and I wouldn't mind another one like it. Even though the view is breathtaking it's not a long walk because it's cold out. I didn't have my camera or I would happily share with you what I was lucky enough to see that morning, and alot of other days too. We are blessed everyday to live where we do. On my way home the car thermometer got up to 3 above in one spot but then it plummeted to -12 and then -15 below out at my house only 5 miles from the river walk, weird. Warm thoughts from cold temps. Love from Alaska to all of you!