Day Seven, 1/7/2011

The license plate number of the car in this photo that I took through my windshield at the intersection of University Avenue and Airport Way this afternoon has been blurred out. Partially to protect the innocent, but mostly to keep my ass from being sued. I think the frame around the plate says it all about the surrealism of our existence here.

Day Eight, 1/8/2011

It was a slightly chillier but still gorgeous day. The sky was bright blue and the fresh snow on the trees that fell during the night was stunning against it.

Back at home, Matt took out the four-wheeler and plowed the snow in the driveway, a chore we saw our next-door neighbor taking care of earlier today. The plows that can be added to the wench on the front of a four-wheeler are perfect for snow removal of driveways and access roads, and are common and well used around here. 

Day Nine, 1/9/2011

Today was a day for getting caught up before another week begins. I did the laundry and grocery shopping, and finished putting the rest of the Christmas decorations away.

The girls and I did a little exploring on the way to the Commissary. The church parking lots were all packed of course, it being a Sunday. In North Pole we practically have a church on every corner. There are all of the usual denominations, as well as an Asian church, a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and a large Mormon contingent.

It’s been said by some Fairbanksans that if you live in North Pole, you must either be a redneck or a religious fanatic. This sweeping stereotypical statement is obviously born of ignorance, but the most surprising thing to me is that this attitude comes mostly from those who proudly claim to be liberal and open-minded. Go figure.

On the way home I was driving behind an AKDOT gravel truck (50 feet behind, like the warning says). After we get fresh snow, you’ll see these guys out dropping gravel at the intersections, which keeps folks from sliding out in to oncoming traffic. It also keeps our windshields cracked, but I supposed the tradeoff is not having the rest of our vehicles and our bodies cracked!

Day Ten, 1/10/2011

It was back to work today, and then at home wondering what to cook for dinner. Nothing unique to the Interior there. I decided to make salmon cakes, and that’s fairly common across the country as well. It’s a recipe I had occasionally growing up in the south for dinner, made from canned salmon from the grocery store. A little salt and pepper, a sleeve of crackers and some eggs to bind and you’ve got a tasty and fairly healthy dish. The difference now is that I get to make these particular salmon cakes from yesterday’s leftover grilled salmon, which was made from Copper River salmon that we caught ourselves last summer and have stored in the freezer.

What a treat! This is some of the most sought after salmon in the world, served in sushi joints in Japan, and five star restaurants everywhere. You can’t find any better. It’s 100 percent wild and delicious. 

Day 11, 1/11/2011

I was feeling a bit under the weather today, so I stayed home in case I had the bug that’s been going around lately. Better safe than sorry, and it’s bad enough feeling sick yourself without sharing the wealth with others.

As I was convalescing in my living room, I saw a cow moose and her two calves run across our front yard, and was able to get a couple photos out of our second story window.

This is something we see a lot of around here. In the summer, instead of having deer come in the yard and help themselves to our garden, we have moose eating the cabbages.  It drives the dogs crazy, they bark through the window but it doesn’t really bother the moose. They are used to seeing dogs, and the truth is, in a confrontation, the moose wouldn’t have a lot to worry about.

A pack of wolves is another story, though. We did have a string of wolf sightings last year around the fringes of North Pole and Fairbanks, and even some attacks on dogs. So far this year, they have been keeping their distance. It’s a good thing for them, for the majority of Alaskan citizens are well armed, and won’t hesitate to shoot in defense of life and property, and that includes their pets.

Day 12, 1/12/2011

As I’m home again today, attempting to feign a semblance of productivity in my weakened state by folding clothes, Static the cat is determined to hinder my progress. Or maybe this is actually his way of trying to help???

Day 13, 1/13/2011

From a vantage point atop Lakloey Hill, the sun sets behind the Alaska Range.

The Alaska mountain range is over 150 miles south of Fairbanks, and is home to this continent’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley, also known as Denali. On a beautiful cold evening like this, you can see the range clearly even from this far away.