2024 and So Much More!

It’s been in the negative double digit temperatures for most of the year so far, but we’re already making plans for summer!

A very snowy scene at the Little Susitna River that runs through Hatcher Pass.

With a low of -29° January has been a bit chilly! Fortunately a few warm days here and there have allowed us to get out and have some fun skiing and sledding. The weather has been somewhat of a roller coaster this winter, occasionally warming up above average temperatures, and sometimes doing the opposite.

All the ladies are thriving in their first winter in the new coop.

As a new year surprise our chickens started laying eggs again in the middle of the month! Typically they have quit laying for the entire winter and don’t start again until spring. Maybe it’s a sign they are happy with their new home and having light for more than just a few hours each day. Speaking of light, it’s about a month past the solstice and our days are getting noticeably longer – it’s quite delightful to enjoy sunsets in the evening, rather than in the afternoon. ​

We have kept busy even on the coldest of days thanks to our new workshop. Organization has become a priority as we tire of digging through the pile of tools to find what we need. However, now that we’ve had a chance to use the space a bit we have a pretty good idea of where we would like things to be and how we want everything set up. We started making our own cabinets using our CNC machine and are excited to have them finished and filled with tools and supplies. This is sort of a practice run for making our own cabinets. It's one of those things that's sort of intimidating to think about at first, but after you get going it's not so bad. We're pretty happy with how the first one turned out, hopefully the rest also turn out!​

Pete did have to take a break from making cabinets to put together a Murphy Bed so my Mother-In-Law would have a place to sleep when she came to visit for a few days. Fortunately, her flight was delayed by 24 hours, giving us just enough time to finish it up before she arrived! Haha, sometimes things just work out that way. The Murphy Bed was our first time doing any sort of built-in furniture and we’re very happy with how it turned out. Though, it’s probably near the limit of the size of thing we can make in our current limited space. ​

Murphy bed folded up.

Murphy bed deployed, ready for some z's to be had.

Spot the moose!

These cold days have also got us looking forward to warmer temperatures, and that means planning to do lots of gardening as we try to maximize the usage of our new grow tunnel. We’ve already ordered several seeds, mostly new things we’ve never grown before here in Alaska. This year we’re going to try experimenting with more of a hydroponic type of a setup and see it that improves our yields. Our theory is that even if we have a nice covered tunnel to protect plants from the cold night time temperatures, the soil is still pretty cold for most of the summer. We’re wondering if growing above ground will get the roots warmer and produce more growth. It will be an interesting experiment and we’re excited to find out!

Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet

We baked LOTS of loaves of bread this month. It's a great indoor activity to get us through these frigid temperatures!

I spy the moon through the trees!

Bear and I snuggling by the warm fire.

Had to check out the Overboard Bloody Mary at the local Tug Bar and Goosebay Inn. Highly recommend!

Pete leading the way on a trail we skied in sub zero temps. Clearly we had a bad case of cabin fever!

Moose sightings are common during this time of year in January & February. --Looking for food.

Moose kisses up and down the sides of my vehicle. It's a salty popsicle for them!

Wild North Design has been busy with custom orders in January as I head into my 7th year of business. I love seeing the progress! Thank you to everyone who has supported and challenged me over the years. I've also been working on building inventory for upcoming shows this year. Stay tuned for more details on the in-person shows! Below are some custom pieces completed this month. 

Custom spoons for a shop.

Beautifully expanded set of moose, elk, and bear wall hanging decor.

For a loved one's family wall.

For a princess named Snow.