Sitting here in the dining room watching the trail, snow and trees hoping for a moose to wonder by. I am excited that it is still daylight and 6:23pm! Our hopes of an early spring were dashed this week when a blizzard rolled in on Thursday. A few more days (weeks?) of winter is not the end of the world but I can feel that "break up" is on the way.
February is always a crazy month in the land of dark. It is the time when we have settled into the routine of living life in the dark just to have light slowly creeping back. By now we are getting more than 5 minutes more of daylight each day...about 40+ minutes more each week. And trust me when I say it is a crazy, crazy time!!! My error this month was taking a class for re-certification credit during this crazy month! Yikes...The class was called The Rage Within - uhm...what was I thinking?
This winter has been a fun one...not too much skiing but I have been enjoying Ice Fishing. The joy of fishing year round is awesome. Last time out I hauled in a nice 22 inch trout (Arctic Char)! We don't generally eat trout but had to have this one. Not bad but not our favorite. In the future they will return to the water for another day.
I did get to spend a few days at the begin of February in Seattle visiting with my Mom, Aunt Jan and Uncle Rich. We had a blast! See you all same time next year :-)
I also traveled last weekend to Fairbanks with the Robotics team to compete with our "little bot". It was a great experience to let my inner geek come out to play. In March I will be traveling with a larger Robotics team with the "big bot" to Hawaii for a four day competition.
Finally - Fur Rondy began yesterday and we braved the cold to check out the Snow Carvings and the Fireworks. Fur Rondy is the celebration that leads up to the Iditarod next weekend. It is all about the Fur Traders. For reference, fireworks in the first picture were at 6:45p and it was about 24 degrees with a bit of wind. We all had toe warmers in our shoes and hand warmers in our gloves. Gotta love winter.
Hope this finds you all well!
A few pictures of the last couple of months - sorry they are in reverse order of the events.
Fireworks for the Fur Rondy Celebration (Mary, Lynette and Kathryn)
Mary and Kathryn waiting patiently in the cold while Lynette and I take pictures
Snow Carving - doesn't look finished...6:30p and getting dark
Carvers were working on this - this picture is from behind but I wanted to get the full effect of the boat on the halibut. This was the best one we say although there were some close seconds.
This yearling greeted me in the neighbor's driveway when I came home from work one day last week. The moose have been out and about in droves lately. We have one mom who takes walks on the trail every afternoon.
22 inch Arctic Char!
Ice Fishing Heaven
The boys enjoying a "winter pug party"
First Tech Challenge - Robotics Competition, Fairbanks AK
The "game" was two on two basketball
Mom and Jan
We were out for a hike! Amazing to have NO snow in Seattle at the beginning of February.
Even saw trees in bloom!
We were out for a hike! Amazing to have NO snow in Seattle at the beginning of February.
Even saw trees in bloom!
