Alpenglow November

Slight alpenglow on the Chugach Mountains across the Matsu Valley. Photo taken around 3PM, November 27th.

 Things are chugging right along as winter grinds into gear.

Ice crystals grow on pretty much everything outdoors this time of year. Winters in our area bring lots of moisture in the air which freezes on everything.

 Overall, this November has been much more mild than last year with temperatures generally staying in the 20°F range. Even though we slipped into the negative double digits at the end of the month, we have used only a fraction of the firewood we did last November when it seemed like half the month was below 0°F. Projects have slowed down significantly as everything gets covered in a blanket of snow. Winter is an important time for us because it gives us a couple of months to recoup from the busy summer and plan ahead for the following year. ​

Chickens staying warm in their coop. The rooster we raised from a chick this summer has matured into some beautiful colors.

 Our chickens have been loving the not-so-cold temperatures combined with their new water heater. Though, we still don’t have an ideal setup for them since we are still using the water cups which have to hang off the edge of the heater, allowing them to freeze when it gets really cold. The coop also has a lot of air drafts which I’m sure they don’t like when they are up on their roosts at night. Overall, they stay cozy and are used to the cold Alaskan winters. We moved the rabbit hutch into their coop so the rabbit and chickens can socialize a bit and stay warm together.

 Pete has been getting things done in the shop when temperatures are reasonable. Having some drywall up on the ceiling and lights installed has made a big difference to the overall feel inside, giving us glimpses of the finished product. During the pig processing and general internal construction of the shop, Pete was working by natural light coming through the door and one shop light on an extension cord. Next, we’ll get insulation above the ceiling and in the walls, after that we’ll be able to install the radiant floor heating components and turn it on. Then we’ll have a heated space to work in! That will be a big milestone as it’s been a goal of ours pretty much since we moved here.

A bacon wrapped ham roast for Thanksgiving dinner

 For our Thanksgiving day feast, we roasted a home-grown ham (wrapped in bacon, of course!) and had all the fixings on the side; mashed sweet potatoes with sweet apple gravy, a corn casserole, popover muffins, and some pumpkin pie for dessert. It took about a week for our small family of three to finish all the leftovers; making many hot ham ‘n’ cheese sandwiches and a large batch of ham-fried rice.

Sun poking through the trees at noon on the last day of November

Ham, gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and a popover - nummy

Showing off some of my latest pieces at the Colony High School Christmas Bazaar in Palmer, AK

 The Saturday following Thanksgiving Wild North attended the Colony High School Christmas Bazaar in Palmer. This was a huge show with vendors spread across nearly the whole high school building. Holiday shoppers could choose from hundreds of Alaskan made goodies, art, decor, clothing & etc in the High School gym, cafeteria, and every hallway. It was great to see such a large crowd come out to support. The students who organize this event every year as a fundraiser did a phenomenal job. I hope to be a vendor again next year!

Crafting with our 3 year old is on another level when we incorporate the laser. Crafting and puzzles helps keep cabin fever at bay on the really cold winter days.

 As winter sets in, we are looking forward to the upcoming holidays. Once into the new year, we’ll start gaining daylight hours back! We currently have about 6 hours between sunrise and sunset, and that will continue to shorten until the end of December. These dark months can seem to drag on and on, but it reminds us not to take simple things like sunshine for granted! I am optimistic that December and hopefully January the daytime temperatures should stay above 10 degrees--I have family cross country skiing on my mind! 

 Take care, everyone, and stay warm! Happy Holidays! Wishing you safe travels if you plan on travelling this season. Thanks for reading!