Summer Weekend in Fairbanks

7 July 2012
10:30 AM

Sunset at 12:23 AM in direction 339° North-northwest
Sunrise at 3:29 AM in direction 21° North-northeast

Civil Twilight all day

Lots of fun activities are on the agenda for this weekend.  Soon, I will be picking up a ticket for the local branch of AAUW's annual fundraising event - the Fairbanks Home Tour.  Every year about four people open up their homes to show how Alaskans live.  The variety of home is usually a very interesting mix of old and new.  One year, the tour included Alaska Heritage House B & B, a home that is an historic landmark but in use as a bed and breakfast.  The furnishings fit the period; even the kitchen, although modern, had the right choice of appliances and sinks to feel as a home built in 1916 in Alaska.  Of all the years I have taken the tour, every year but one since 2006, this is still my favorite.  The upstairs has one kitchen suite and 3 other bedrooms, the main floor has 2 bedrooms, and the basement has two separate suites with kitchens and living areas.

Other years we visited home lacking in distinction indoors, but with amazing gardens.  Last year, two superb energy efficient homes were on the tour with clear descriptions of the insulating and energy conservation features of each.  At times, an older home, that has grown and adapted to the times is on the tour, giving us a view of Early Fairbanks building techniques and settlers who have remained here through the years, improving their homes without losing the essential feel of life on the Frontier.  Each home on the tour has unique qualities as shown by the article describing each of this year's homes in the News Miner:  AAUW House Tour on Saturday.

Later tonight, Gary is co-hosting a dance party for the Vitality Center.  Gary has gone to Susan as a part of his cancer healing and she was open to Gary's suggestion that they have a dance party at her facility, an former church of a Mormon sect.  He spent much of yesterday setting up and will continue his work on that today while I tour homes.

Then tomorrow, I am hoping we can make a trip to Two Rivers to see SP Kennel pups and adults.  Of course, a visit with Mr. Cutter is in order as we prepare him for coming home with us.  I hope our girls are ready for this!