Successful Weekend for Queen JayJay

30 July 2012
10:21 PM

Sunrise at	4:46 AM	in direction	40°	Northeast
Sunset at	11:06 PM	in direction	320°	Northwest

Duration of day: 18 hours, 19 minutes (6 minutes, 56 seconds shorter than yesterday)

Civil twilight

ends at

12:57 AM,

begins at

2:58 AM

I stayed at Alaska Choice Motel for most of the weekend.  The bandwidth is not strong enough for my laptop to zing, but worked great for the Chromebook and iPad using the Motel's wireless.  But, I didn't have the means to upload photos on those two devices and instead lived in a world with limited connectivity.  It was very pleasant, but I did take photos and more on that tomorrow. 

For now, a recap of the weekend is in order.  It was a dog show weekend and I admit, this whole thing - showing dogs - is becoming more comfortable.  In fact, I was comfortable enough to show JayJay twice.  But it didn't matter if I did or someone else; she earned a Select designation for every entry.  I calculated it out and she is now a Grand Champion, unless I really do not understand the point system.  But I think I do - I hope I do because I already had her photo taken with Grand Champion designation in it!

Afterward I worried I miscalculated, but OH WELL.  The point is she is a great little bitch.  She is a tad too long while her neck is not as long as Michelle likes for her Best of Breed candidates, but she is obviously a really, really, good bitch because she just keeps winning - even with my showing her! 

Palmer weather was good.  In fact all of South Central was good weather until this morning.  I stayed in Anchorage at Bev and Terry Marquette's, wonderful and generous people.  I went in to see Mom and it worked out better to take another day off rather than try to drive back home late yesterday. 

So, I returned home today, leaving in constant rain and dithered all the way to the fork in the road as to whether I should take the shortest road home via Parks Highway or the longer scenic route through Glennallen, Copper Basin, and Delta.  I finally chose the later and it was not a mistake.  But as I said, more on that tomorrow.

South Central - Sunny and Warm

27 July 2012
8:35 PM

Sunrise at	4:36 AM	in direction	37°	Northeast
Sunset at	11:16 PM	in direction	322°	Northwest

Duration of day: 18 hours, 40 minutes (6 minutes, 55 seconds shorter than yesterday)

Civil twilight ends at 1:37 AM and begins at 2:29 AM

Officially, civil twilight all day has ended and so has the rainiest July in Anchorage and Fairbanks in many years.  For Anchorage, records have been broken for the amount of rain fall.  It began to clear Wednesday night and yesterday's drive down was lovely.  I caught glimpses of Denali through scattered clouds.  Nearing Talkeetna, I happened to look in the rear view mirror at just the right time and it was a full unobstructed view between the trees.

It has been amazing weather - no rain. I have not been to the Palmer dog shows when it hasn't been cool and rainy.  Our friends from the Pacific Northwest have been commenting on the fact that at 70F, we Alaskans are sweating and commenting on the heat.  I pulled out our blue tarp (how Alaskan of me) to drape it along the back of the crates to provide sufficient shade to keep it cooler while we waited.  I asked our friends if they wanted us to get another tarp for their dogs.  They considered it, but decided it wasn't necessary; after all, the crates were fully vented and it wasn't really hot.

I drove over to visit with Mom yesterday and today.  I took her down to Turnagain Arm today.  She wasn't really ready to go home when we turned back.  She was enjoying being in the car and being with me and seeing things.  I pointed out the volcanoes a couple of times and she commented on the sea birds in the marshes near the mouth of Turnagain Arm.  She noticed the blue sky and the mountains.

The day was so beautiful  that I was out with JayJay several times.  One was a good walk once we got back from Anchorage and then I took her over to the field by the Fairgrounds and let her roam.  I could have walked with her much longer, but there are not many places to take dogs where they won't meet bears, moose, or cars, so the fenced in area near the show grounds was a pretty good choice.  She was ready to come back and sleep afterward.

I will publish photos tomorrow.

More on the Susitna Dam Project

24 July 2012
10:17 PM

Sunrise at	4:25 AM	in direction	34°	Northeast
Sunset at	11:27 PM	in direction	325°	Northwest

Civil Twilight all day

My son, Lorien, taped the program found at the following link regarding the latest development of the Susitna Dam.  He does a good job of keeping a balanced perspective (as befits the profession).  I do not have as balanced a view.  I think I love the planet and what it offers more than the needs of we humans who seem best at destroying and killing things for the sake of our comfort or pleasure.

Susitna Dam Project


The issues raised in the debate for the Susitna Dam Project are interesting in that the State of Alaska appears to be committed to promoting both ventures.  I find that interesting because I wonder why the State government has become increasingly committed to development and alteration of fragile eco-systems.  It is true the state is huge.  There is no disagreeing with that, but none of the ecosystems here are robust, in my very humble opinion.

The state persisted in allowing Pebble Mine to continue the licensing process and now the dam is also being given the nod to proceed with licensing by the state.  Mines in general, and those mines run by the proposed owners of Pebble Man, in particular, do not have a good track record with maintaining healthy environments.  But the State of Alaska has determined it has the right, superceeding those of native peoples in the region, to sanction its pursuit of licensing.  It has also shown its willingness to file suit against the Federal government to ensure it does not have the same right to disallow the project based on EPA standards.

Susitna Dam is desirable, if the claims are true, because it will power the burgeoning Susitna Valley's population.  That region has seen the fastest growth in the State of Alaska and will continue to grow - whether small towns like Talkeetna want it or not.  The climate is relatively mild; the region is close to Anchorage which means services, consumer goods, and easy access to others parts of the state as well as Outside.  It will grow and the communities are faced with coal power or hydroelectric power to sustain that growth.

What is motivating the state, is the same focus, I would wager - Growth is desirable.  Pebble Mine will encourage a degree of growth and tax revenue for the state.  It will not offer all that many jobs, but it will offer some.  The possible risk of altering salmon population due to the effects of pollution is not considered a problem when weighed against possible economic growth -  that much is clear.

I think those who see the long term effects on the environment could easily lose both battles.  I am a pessimist, but I saw Colorado grow to the point where it was almost unbearable.  And in this state, I have seen the huge pit of the Fort Knox gold mine.  Really, money speaks much louder than the creatures and plant communities of Alaska.  Regarding growth in the South Central borough of Susitna-Matanuska, everyone but those who are comfortable with few services, like living among wildlife more than human neighbors, and prefer wilderness over a mown lawn want what growth brings.  Those moving into the Wasilla region are not necessarily people who came to Alaska to live in the rough as the early settlers did.  They are pulled to the allure of Alaska without the discomfort.

Well!

23 July 2012
7:06 PM

Sunrise at	4:22 AM	in direction	34°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:30 PM	in direction	326°	Northwest

Civil Twilight all day

As an aside from today's topic, our shared well, I expect we will lose the designation of "Civil Twilight all day" in a day or two.  Today, twilight lasts between 11:30 PM tonight and 4:25 AM tomorrow morning.  That is nearly five hours, which is the reaching the outer range of full twilight.  I was up at 2:00 AM this morning.  Although objects were still clearly discernible, it was hard to make out things in the distance through the trees.

Now, regarding our well, it is shared between our house and the neighbors to our east.  The well is on their property and the controls for electricity are on our property.  The Vanesse's, who built this house, had lived in that house for many years and still owned that property at the time they finished this house.  For whatever reason, the wires to that house were cut and the well was powered entirely by this property.   Maybe they did not consider it an undue cost, paying for the electricity, in order to ensure the well was usable by them.  We have a well agreement that goes with the properties stating the agreement as I've described above, with one exception, which is that the cost of electricity was supposedly going to be shared. 

As you might guess, there is no easy to determine how much, out of our entire electrical bill, was the cost for operating the well.  But lately, the pump has been running a great deal more and it is also starting to grind for very long stretches before humming along.  Gary and I decided we wanted to split the electrical feeds so whomever asked for water paid for it themselves.  We would not be paying for both houses.  We had a couple of well drillers come out and look it over and both said one issue was that we did not have a stop valve on our tank.  Since that house was slightly downhill from house, once they used the water in their tank, they would drain our tank as well, causing double duty to fill them up.

The second professional was more thorough.  He went into the house next door and told us that their holding tank was water logged.  All water they used had to be pumped directly from the well.  We don't know how long this has been going on, and I wonder if it has something to do with why, after 25 years, the pump is not doing its job quietly.  Who knows, but the cost of splitting the controls for the electricity is one thing.  The cost of replacing a pump is quite another.

The owners of the house next door have accepted an offer to purchase the property, which means we need to firm up any aspect of the agreement that we want to change.  Our well drilling expert told us we should share the cost of the installion of new controls and new wiring, but they need to pay for the cost of replacing the water logged holding tank as it is in their home and clearly within their purvey.  He also said that the only time one of us would pay for the other's electrical draw of water is if we happened to use it at the same time.  Whomever triggered the control first would pay for both.  Statistically, it should even out since that is a rare occurrence.  I would agree, there are very few times I am using the water at the time I hear the pump go on and I imagine it is the same or them. 

Amazing how close our lives can be, how similar we are, and yet the rhythm of water use is unique.  I guess electricity, in general, is not like that.  We all tend to turn on lights and heat around the same time in the evening, but demand for water is based on cleaning habits and needs instead of external factors, like daylight and outside temperature.

He has not given me any clue as to the cost for separating the controls so we each pay for our own water use.  But he did tell me how much the pump installation is likely to cost.  He says on average, it will cost $3000 which we will need to split, of course. 

YIKES!

The Annual Chena River, Red Green Regatta

22 July 2012
2:55 PM

Sunrise at	4:18 AM	in direction	33°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:34 PM	in direction	327°	North-northwest

The man himself

Gary and I went down and joined the crowds watching the Red-Green Regatta on the Chena River today.  Silliness, clever floats, good cheer, happy participants, and happy spectators celebrated the wonder of our short (by Alaskan standards), but well-loved river.  And we are fortunate to have the Red Green in attendance, since building these floats requires the use of copious amounts of duct tape.

The rain lifted and the temperature at the river was perfect.

Some floats had clearly defined themes.  Others were simply lashed together however and with whatever to make it down the river in one piece.  Water guns, spray hoses, buckets, paddles, and water ballons sailed between boats and spectators alike.  By the end of the water parade, I don't recall seeing anyone dry, except for the solitary man floating peacefully on his small antlered raft, standing and pushing along as if he were ski poling.

As with most things in the Interior, even though it was great turn out all along the river, it was not crowded.  If you get claustrophobic in crowds, come to Fairbanks.  The population and mood of the crowd is just right!  Hope you enjoy the slide show of some of the entries.

Red Green Regatta Slideshow

Shortcoings of Vinyl Windows in Sub-Zero Temperatures

21 July 2012
12:44 PM

Sunrise at	4:15 AM	in direction	32°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:37 PM	in direction	327°	North-northwest

Civil Twilight all day

Vendors sell a lot of vinyl windows here in Alaska.  I find that interesting since in Colorado I was warned to not buy them.  Colorado's temperature fluctuations are not as extreme as here, but the window contractor I spoke with felt most certainly they would not withstand the temperature swings in that environment.  In Colorado, wide fluctuations are daily.  He suggested aluminum or steel clad wood for that region.

But, vinyl is warmer than plain metal, less expensive, and is readily available.  Most new houses are fitted with vinyl windows here in Fairbanks.  Yet, we have already replaced one large pane of glass in one of the windows in our living room.  Our living room ceiling extends to the top floor, open to a loft in one section of it.  Along the front wall, which faces south east, are four very large windows.  The two at floor level are 5' x 6'.  And now, condensation is forming in two more of our windows.  One window is a very large quadrilateral, shaped to fit the slope of the roof in the top story.  This is not an easy window to replace as we need a lift to reach it.  The window is heavy, complicating the removal and replacement from a lift platform.

The other is near where I am sitting right now.  As the condensation forms, mold forms with it and various colors begin to appear in between the panes.  As well as the formation of condensation, the vinyl windows do not close tightly after a few years.  Due to the expansion and contraction with our very wide temperature range between summer and winter, the weight of the window causes warpage.  We do not have a tight seal when the two windows are closed.  We no longer open them since we have several atrium doors that can be opened in summer, but I find the fact that we can't use the windows annoying.

So, I am in the market for new living room windows, at least.  I will consider replacing the top windows at some future point, but for now, simply removing these and getting fiberglass frames that are fully insulated around the frame and open inward will be an improvement.  I don't want the expense.  Who would?  But I also don't want the condensation, cold air leaks, and ultimate failures for opening and closing them.

There's always something.

Moose in the Yard

20 July 2012
.. next day

Sunrise at	4:08 AM
Sunset at	11:44 PM

Civil Twilight all day

Extended family and dear friend, Vera, was over dinner last night.  We had a lovely visit, sitting and watching the rain, the trees, eating, talking.  It had all the ingredients needed for a relaxing evening.


However, at one point, the dogs were anything but relaxed.  I let them out when they asked, listening with half an ear for anything unusual in their voices.  Almost immediately I noticed there was definitely something going on .. They were bezerk, in fact.  


When I hear that, it may come to no good, so out I went and spied a moose cow eating near the open grass on the northwest side of the house - under 50 feet from the fenced yard.  We have moose come by at intervals, and although I expect them to give alarm, this seemed over the top.  But what troubled me was her focus on my determined defenders.  Maybe she was new to the area because she was not complacent about them like others have been.  


And, the fence keeps the dogs in, but it is not built to keep an angry moose out.  So, I called them.  Aria, little brat that she is, ignored me.  JayJay, however, associates treats and lots of praise with "come" and promptly came to me.  She didn't want to let go of it, but I brought her in and then coaxed Aria to do the same.


The moose went back to eating.  The dogs continued their cacophony clustered by the bedroom atrium door.  I joined them to take a look to see if she had wandered closer.  Well, now.  Their intensity made more sense.  There were two moose, one a young buck with antlers just forming, but no less statuesque.  Wow, those males are tall!  


Still, the dogs were inside and for the moment, they were assured there was no threat and munched happily on the fireweed and other good things.  They munched their way along the easement for the power lines that runs along the back of the property, between our house and the houses facing a different road.


Moose have an interesting eating pattern.  They do not decimate any one area, but eat the tops of plants as they move.  Each cluster of plants has plenty left for another feeding.

The female - taking some interest in that human over there while munching

Are they brother and sister from the mother that roamed through here in years past? Are they young mates?  No idea, but they are young and hopefully they will stray farther away from the roads soon. 

Rain and More Rain

19 May 2012
... next day

The rains of late summer, often setting in during August, are upon us.  The rain has been frequent enough, and heavy enough to prompt me to review my foot wear.  For running agility outdoors, I need water proof shoes.  For daily walks, I need water proof shoes.  For working in the yard for any reason (mowing, weeding, wood preparation for winter), I need water proof shoes.

I had a good solid pair of Gortex treated, light-weight hiking boots, that I needed to relinquish after foot surgery, but I am motivated to consider their replacement.  I spent nearly two hours out in grass working with Aria for agility in my regular shoes, Keen Brand, and came home with shoes and part of my socks soaked.  Luckily, my feet did not get cold and there is no sign of a cold coming on.

The up side is that I figure this is preparation for retiring to the Pacific North West.

"You Are So Blessed"

18 July 2012
6:50 PM

Sunrise at	4:05 AM	in direction	30°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:47 PM	in direction	330°	North-northwest

Civil Twilight all day

I posted a photo on Facebook that prompted my Colorado friend, Dawnetta Winters, to assure me of my blessed state.  Assuring me of my graceful existence within the universe of omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscient was a blessing in itself.  Yes, I am blessed.

My tendency is to enumerate blessings as if they are possessions which I can gather up and place in strategic spots around my home to give otherwise dark corners a spark of color and light.  The hazard in that approach to gratitude - for me - is the moment I begin to list blessings, duality steps in and those aspects of life that may not be as wonderful provide an unbidden and unwanted contrast.  But they are there just the same.  Life is not wholly wonderful and not wholly terrible.

Yet, I am blessed.  There is no doubt of that in my being.  I am blessed and Alaska, I think, illustrates my relationship with a state of grace perfectly.  I accept the portions of life here in order to glory in what is beyond compare.  I accept long winters in order to glory in spring, summer, and fall and pristine snow the rest of the year.  I accept deep cold in order to chase views of auroras in winter.  I accept living with dark days so I can witness the special qualities of light at this latitude.  I accept life with mosquitoes so I can smell the wildflowers and poplar trees in early spring and summer (some days the aroma is so heady my sense of smell can barely gather it all in).  I accept that there are only four major roads in all of Alaska because where those roads take me are like nothing anywhere else in the U.S.  I accept the lack of urbanity in Fairbanks because quite frankly, who needs it?

And .. here is the photo that prompted Dawnetta to offer a song of praise ...

A nearby field

... and another that I had overlooked on my camera.  It is one of those views, easily seen along the road between Anchorage and Fairbanks that fills me with gratitude, overflowing gratitude, that I have the opportunity to live here.

The Alaska Range singing its own praises

Agility Run Through

17 July 2012
8:40 PM

Sunrise at	4:01 AM	in direction	29°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:50 PM	in direction	331°	North-northwest

Civil Twilight all day

Canine Agility competition is a big deal here in Fairbanks.  The folks who have been training dogs and competing with them for years tell me it is addictive.  Aria, my middle doberman, and I have been in classes for three years.  We took Fundamentals I in the the fall of 2009.  Then, due to attempting to breed Aria for the last time, we did not take Fundamentals II in the spring.  I don't think that was a bad thing.  It seemed to me that both Aria and I needed to mature in our approach.

We were admitted to complete Fundamentals II in the spring of 2010 and then began Novice training fall of 2010. For reasons entirely out of my control, our section of Novice II was not continued in the spring of 2012.  Our instructor was kind enough to offer us a make up class this summer and we are completing that course now.

Over this summer, I have developed a stronger commitment to working with Aria.  Seeing progress has helped, but also not having so many distractions at home has increased my ability to make it to class on time and pay attention without feeling overwhelmed.  Tonight was a break through evening for us because we went up to a friend's house where the Tanana Valley Kennel Club offers "run throughs" on Tuesday evening.

The procedure is to be there with your dog set up in a crate promptly at 5:30, 6:30, or 7:30.  You walk the course at that time and then take turns running your dog through a full course.  We muffed it a few times on the first run, but did very well on the second run.  I have noticed that both she and I do better after a little warm up and I am wondering how I will get around that for actual trials.  You have only one trial a day with no warm up and either you qualify or you don't.  I think you can have two mistakes (or retries) to qualify if you are novice, but we missed four obstacles on our first run and only one on our second.  But there won't be a second run through at a trial.  There are four days of trials, but only one shot at qualifying each day.

So, the reason for the going to the run through practice sessions is becoming very clear in my mind.  It prepares both of us for getting out there and getting it right the first time.  I will enroll JayJay in Fundamentals this fall, so I will be doing Intermediate with Aria one day a week and Fundamentals with Aria one day a week.

I am actually looking forward to it.

Yellow Bloom, Yellow Leaf

16 July 2011
10:32 PM

Sunrise at	3:58 AM	in direction	28°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:53 PM	in direction	331°	North-northwest

Civil Twilight all day

Hinting at August rains and autumn in the Interior

I woke up to dark, wet skies with the clouds hanging in low to the ground.  August rains are in the offing and the days are definitely past their zenith, already.  Today I looked out the bathroom window and noticed a yellow leaf on the Birch tree closest to the house in that direction.  I did a quick survey and sure enough a single leaf had turned yellow on several of the trees.  It's strange that way, how the birch trees signal shifts in light and temperature and what it means to the tree as a whole.  One day the whole tree is green, the next a single solitary leaf, somewhere among many green ones goes yellow.  It's not a sickly yellow, either, like you'd expect from a plant that is not doing well and needs to prune lower leaves in order to grow new ones.  It's simply a leaf on a twig that has committed to letting go.

The flag bearers

On the other hand, the three tomato plants are just getting going.  I am already thinking about how I will bring the plants in for warmth soon.  I have considered locations in the garage where I can pack the base of the pots in paper and hang good solid lights over head.  The other plants on the deck will bloom happily until the first killing frost, but the delicate tomato - that well-loved, but hard to grow plant that we use in absolutely everything - likes its feet warm and steady temperatures. We talked about a green house early in the year, but each year only a few things are finished and other things took priority.

Like me - ever hopeful for the chance to be fruitful

Certainly there will be other warm days, but not as warm as June and solstice.  There is still plenty of sun, but it is lowering in the sky and the rays are shifting to the southern angle.  The tomatoes will not bear fruit without some help.

The birch trees, however, will do just fine without my meddling.

Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival

15 July 2012
1: 20 PM

Sunset at	12:00 Midnight	in direction	333°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:54 AM	in direction	27°	North-northeast
Sunset at	11:57 PM	in direction	332°	North-northwest

Civil Twilight all day

Before I launch into today's topic about life in the Interior, notice an interesting shift in the sunset/sunrise times today.  The sunset was at precisely midnight this morning and it will set again before midnight.  We are up to nearly 4 hours of twilight and are losing 6.5 minutes a day now.  Within the next month, we will see the end of civil twilight through the whole day.

Jo Scott who is giving up her life in Alaska to move to New York City where she can embrace the cultural life in her retirement, founded the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in the 1980s.  The following introduction to its history is posted on its website  ( Summer Arts Festival History):

Jo Ryman Scott, Fairbanks, and Edward Madden, Boston, founded the Festival in April 1980 with the one-week Jazz Festival '80. It was funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (proposal written by Theodore DeCorso, Professor of Music, UAF; Jean Mackin and Jo Scott) and a Guarantorship from the Kiwanis Club of Fairbanks.


After that Festival, classical musicians asked to be included. In 1981, Scott and Madden successfully produced Jazz to Classics, the first two-week summer Festival.


In 1982, the name was changed to the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival because dance, opera, theatre, musical theatre and visual arts enthusiasts asked that those areas of study be added.  Since that time, many disciplines have been added to the Festival, based on requests from registrants. 

The festival has grown in scope so that many artists and attendees fly into Fairbanks from throughout the world.  My husband, Gary, is working when events are in Davis Concert Hall, so I took a look at the events calendar for this year .. not including classes and rehearsals.  Events are held at the Blue Loon, Silver Gulch, College Coffee House, McCafferty's Coffee House, Salcha Elementary - just to name a few off-site locations.  Things will be going on across the entire region for two weeks.

I mentioned before that Fairbanks had an especially rich artistic bent.  This festival has contributed to that inclination solidly for over 30 years.  Fairbanks, a small city on the northern frontier, really does have a great deal to offer.

Salmon for Dinner - Copper River Red

14 July 2012
8:30 PM

Sunset at	12:03 AM	in direction	334°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:51 AM	in direction	26°	North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

A very big benefit of living in Alaska is the subsistence permits residents are allowed for fishing and hunting.  I am not as fond of moose, although my children think it is tops.  However, anytime they want to put salmon on the table for us, that is just fine.  In the past, I have gone over to help prepare the fish for freezing after the fishing trip to Copper Basin provides us with our winter haul, but this year Gary did the honors.  He told me that the guys had it down to assembly line precision, and I know that must be so because he was not over there all that long, but we have enough fish, as does Lorien and the fisherman and his wife - Jamie and my daughter, Teresa.

Tonight was the first night I thawed some to cook a meal.  Gary spent the day volunteering for Fairbanks Resource Agency - the senior support services where my mother stayed during the day for nearly four years before we were able to place her at the Anchorage Pioneer Home.  One of their fund raisers is a yard sale.  We donated a lot of my Mom's things and then Gary set up his music system and kept things lively and comfortable with the music playing.

But after standing and working the sounds all day, he needed something extra and that extra bit of love came in the form of some very wonderful, very tasty, very red, Copper Red Salmon.  I pan simmered it in olive oil and basil spices.  Yum!

Birch Seed Clusters forming - Garden Slow to Bloom

13 July 2012
4:10 PM

Sunset at 12:06 AM in direction 334° North-northwest
Sunrise at 3:48 AM in direction 26 °North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

Earlier this year I described the properties of birch trees as I experienced them:  The Texture (and Abundance) of Birch Seeds.  At one time, I thought we had birch seeds on our deck all year.  That shows how the mind can over-generalize because, if that were so in the past, it certainly did not happen this year.  But the seed pods are forming right now.  They are still very green, and not as long or fat as they will become, but forming.

And for whatever reason, my front garden still is not in full bloom, nor are the plants on the pots on the deck in any hurry.  I bought some very healthy nasturtiums from a local green house, and the foliage is outstanding.  But I still see just a few starts of buds.  I also bought less healthy appearing plants, but hardier since they were started out doors.  Although the foliage is not thick or lush on those plants, I have deep orange blooms on those somewhat scraggly plants.

Pansies I bought from the same greenhouse as the first nasturtiums are blooming very nicely, but the marigolds are lack luster.  I have hardly any pansies or johnny jump-ups in my front garden and the foliasge from the columbines has fairly eclipsed other areas where blooms might be lingering.  I have too much shade in my yard.  There is no way to get around it.

Today Gary and I talked over plans for a raised garden, and then raising the level of the lawn behind it. It will provide a nice long row of shrubs and flowers, but to get any real beauty, I am going to have to sacrifice some trees, birch trees.

But the seed pods are forming right now.

Prime Fireweed time

12 July 2012
8:48 PM

Sunset at	12:09 AM	in direction	335°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:44 AM	in direction	25°	North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

Field of Fireweed with a stand of lighter hued flowers

The fireweed has been especially beautiful this week.  Flowers form a bud cone at the top of a single stalk.  They start blooming near the bottom and progress to the top.  As the lower flowers turn to seed, they become cottony.  I just read today that Alaskans and Canadians say it's time to leave when the fireweed turns to cotton because the snow will fall in about six weeks.  My analytical mind asks, "Does that mean as soon as the buds at the bottom turn to cotton or the majority of buds are no longer flowering?"  But, my memory is that most of the plant has turned sometime in September and Snow does not settle in until the second to third week of October.   We will see.

RV We Home Yet? was one of my sources for that bit of information about fireweed as a weather vane, but there is also an absolutely wonderful view of a hillside that is recovering from burn, a rich carpet of the blooms.  One year we drove to Circle City, to the Yukon River.  We passed large tracts of hillsides that had burned a few years before and they were as beautiful and just plain awe-inspiring as the photo in this RV traveler's blog.

Fireweed are strong settlers after fire or other disturbances.  The field I photographed today has not been disturbed for several years and you can see that the flowers are now interspersed with grass.  There were years when it was nearly all purple this time of year.  As more grasses and trees grow, the flower gives way to other species in the progression.  We have fireweed plants in our yard that grow each year, but there is not enough light for them to bloom.  They are already in too much shade.  At some point in the progression of species, they no longer sprout at all, but the seeds can remain dormant for long, long periods - as seen by their ready return after fire. 

By the photo, I am happy to say that winter is not yet in the wings for its entrance this year.

Right of the Individual vs Community Consciousness

11 July 2012
8:16 PM

Sunset at	12:12 AM	in direction	336°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:41 AM	in direction	24°	North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

Hardy Perennial Rose

Tammie Wilson and people who think like her are a mystery to me.  Takes all kinds; everyone's entitled to their opinion; vive la difference - and all that - but I still don't get why some Alaskans want the rest of us to breath their filth, drive past their junk, and work hard to avoid paying any sort of state or community support at all in any way.  As stated in today's News Miner, "Tammie Wilson is leading an effort to collect signatures for an initiative that would bar the borough from regulating and limiting the sale or operation of any heating appliances, including wood stoves, and from issuing fines related to their use."

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Wilson initiative could reignite air quality battle

People who are far more willing to rationalize and explain the behavior will remind me that those that come to Alaska are often running away from what they considered overly controlled lives in the Lower 48.  They will tell me that the income level is low in the state and people can not afford to invest in long term environmentally sound solutions.  Some will shrug, saying that's the way it is up here - they just don't care and don't want to change the way they do things.

While it's true that people are not paid as well here and the cost of living is high, there are always jobs that can't be filled.  Many protestors are those that don't work, by choice.  They scrounge, do small jobs, and live a bare bones life - out of choice.  That includes not bothering to replace a polluting wood stove with a clean burner.  The borough is offering a trade in policy.  You can bring a wood stove that does not meet EPA standards in, and they will pay for the replacement.  I advertised our EPA compliant stove because we want one that burns for longer hours as we work during the day and aren't here to tend to it.  I listed it at $900, an amount most likely replaced entirely by the borough.  I have had only one call.  So, it is not just a matter of money.

I don't get it.

I've heard some people I've come in contact with refer to other regions of the country as "police states".  One person deemed by home state, California, as a police state.  I had no idea what he was talking about, really.  Yes, there are more people and yes there are more laws governing how they interact as a result.  But if I were to compare my family in California, many of whom are in the same income category as those who live in leaky, cold cabins and mobile homes with poor heating devices here in Alaska, I would have to say my family members are far more comfortable in all ways - not just because of the weather.  Their lives are more free and they have more power with respect to demanding what they need from the state because they pay taxes - everyone pays taxes, not just land owners.

Like I said, I don't get it.

But most of all, I don't get why others think they have the right to pollute my life just because they don't care about breathing smoke particulates.  One apartment owner bought an old wood burning furnace and is using it to heat his entire apartment complex in winter.  Do you know how much smoke/wood particulate that must put out?  I have watched the entire valley near McGrath Road fill with smoke from one home owner off of Farmer's Loop who also uses a wood furnace to heat.  Yet those who live in proximity, some of who are asthma patients, have no recourse because the borough can't even pass a law that says neighbors can report excessive smoke and if not corrected, the offender "may" be fined.

Honestly, I don't get it.  I just don't understand that type of thinking.

Lap Dog

10 July 2012
8:10 PM

Sunset at	12:15 AM	in direction	337°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:38 AM	in direction	23°	North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

Aria in Gary's lap with JayJay looking at me from behind

Dobermans, when bred from stable lines and raised well, are among the most affectionate, loyal, and sweetest dogs there are.  All dogs breeds, mutts included, can become aggressive.  Since dobermans were bred as protective animals, breeders in the US tend to select parents who interact well with humans to ensure they will not flip a switch and behave in unexpected ways.  

I have worked with four breeders.  The first had an unexpected breeding and we brought home a male from that litter.  Later she told me she wished it had not happened as those dogs were more aggressive and unpredictable than any others she had.  Our first dog was more difficult and I spent most of his life being sure he did not get into trouble.  He could be unpredictable with everyone but me.  But with me, I could not ask for a better dog.  I lived alone during that time and I never, ever worried about my safety in the city.

The other three breeders provided me with stable, clear-thinking, and easily directed dogs - although just as protective in nature.  And one of them, sweet Aria, aka Champion Monarch's Passion is my favorite lapdog.  All three of our dogs are cuddlers of the highest order.  Especially in winter, they love to snuggle up under one of the washable throws we keep just for that purpose.  Mira Bai likes placing her head over my feet.  Aria likes curling up next to me with the curve of her back touching me.  JayJay likes stretching her full length along my body to maximize how much of her touches me.

But Aria is our only lapdog.

The Bare Bones of a Bicycle

9 July 2012
8:08 PM

Sunset at	12:18 AM	in direction	337°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:35 AM	in direction	23°	North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

I know I have been harping on the apparent abundance of creativity in End-of-the-Roaders, like those living in Fairbanks.  I may even sound boastful to some, but those who endure the cold and winter and thrive doing it need some accolades, don't you think?  On the other hand, I guess I could be easily impressed by the ingenuity I see around me.

A skeleton with treadlocks

And maybe I am too readily in awe of the unusual people I meet here.  I could be just bolstering my decision to move up here in the first place by rationalizing about the unique approaches to living, art, and physical challenges I see around me.  There are tough and tenacious people all over the planet, even if they don't race walk 100 miles in under 36 hours despite combined elevations climbs of 12,000 feet.  There are clever artists who produce works of art, music, and theatre - even if they don't actually think to make use of every piece of junk they find to do it.

Bringing the bike in for repair at Beaver Sports

But, I admit it. I find a bike riding a bike especially entertaining. Appreciating the skill in taking busted metal and making it into a rib cage, boney arms and legs, dreadlocks and a skull are moments well spent in my book.  Somehow, I don't imagine this would be as likely to appear at Pike's Fish Market in Seattle or the Downtown Mall in Colorado.  For one thing, it is a whole lot harder to get your hands on quality pieces of junk in those locations.  Here, people openly store it in their yards - so much easier that way.

Skillfully riding atop the concrete barricades

Progress in Honoring My New Year's Resolution

8 July 2012
9:13 PM

Sunset at	12:21 AM	in direction	338°	North-northwest
Sunrise at	3:32 AM	in direction	22°	North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

Early summer garden

 I set out to write about Alaskan living in the Interior at the first of the year.  My goal was to write each day and I have not met that target.  Today, July 8th, I should have 191 entries and this is my 154th.  Somehow I let nearly 40 days slip away without saying anything about life here.  Sometimes I did not have an internet connection, such as when I was in Anchorage at the end of June and stayed in a budget hotel.  My hotel room had no microwave, no coffee maker, no A/C and needless to say, no internet.  In Anchorage for summer rates - even at the Alaskan resident rate - I was paying $150/night with bed tax included.  So that was three days without any attempt to write.

There have been other reasons for other days, of course.  I found it far easier to honor the commitment while it was winter.  We don't travel as much in winter, so I am not as likely to be somewhere where I can't post anything.  But, I can't over look that during the summer, outdoor activities have taken precedence over a daily journal of life here.  And too, while aspects of my life here are still different from what I experienced elsewhere, life is more relaxing.  I wonder how much the creative drive we experience in the far north is a response to being just a little uncomfortable.

Right now, I can't bear to think about winter.  I know by the end of July, I will already be seeing some signs that fall is coming.  By the end of August, it will be far cooler here than anywhere else I have lived and the understory will be turning red and leaves turning gold.  By September, if we get a warm sunny day instead of rain, we will be very happy.  By October we are expecting the first snow to fall that lasts until break up the following spring.

This is the time be outside making the most of days , not focused inward.