Moods that take me and erase me

Angela and I busted out the cross country skis today and did a 4-mile loop on the UAF Ski Trails.  They need a bit more snow but weren't bad and with the sun out it felt warmer than 10F.  I left my skis up north on accident so I busted out some old wooden relics from the shed, complete with bamboo poles that were about to shatter.  I froze the crap out of my toes since the shoes were too small but otherwise it was a good time.  I'm off to Playitagain Sports next week to gear up...

The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead when the skies of November turn gloomy.

According to a wise weather source (Jillian), this is the coldest October in many years.  It was -12F at the cabana this morning and it felt about perfect.This pimped out Toyota was in a Fairbanks parking lot, looks like an early 80's model with chrome wheels and enough fog lights for a concert.

Mazzy enjoys quiet mornings, below zero, with a light snow.  She's a Sagittarius boys, spade, with a penchant for heavy petting.

Here's me mushing with Jillian yesterday morning, and by mushing I mean I sat on the back of the 4-wheeler while the dogs pulled us and she steered.  It was a delightful morning, not much above zero, and the dogs loved it.  Jillian just bought an anorak EXACTLY like mine so she looked fabulous.

Here's Jillian talking to her broker on the cell phone while she mushes.  There were probably about 3 minutes in the hour when she wasn't yelling "Sell you bastards, I said sell!"  I wouldn't have minded but my Ipod wasn't working so I had nothing to block out the noise.  

Here's a pic from the front of the team, I think we had about 20 dogs out.  There was nobody else on the trails except for one lonely raven who followed us for awhile.  Pretty sweet to lose yourself in empty wilderness off the back porch and still be 5 minutes from Walmart.  Fairbanks rocks.

Would you, could you, in a box?

The Vet who didn't vet, a cautionary tale.  You have been warned.

Take time with a wounded hand, 'cause it likes to heal

Well I built a little shelf for my sweetie and I didn't cut off any appendages and she's happy with it so that equals raving success in my book.I did it in exactly one sheet of plywood which Home Despot mistakenly sold me for $6.
It was built to match  Angela's girlie little boxes and bins  of somesuch.
I don't mind putting down fake wood flooring but furniture should be real and able to take a beating.  Now on to the damn kitchen...

In beneath the cover of another perfect wonder

It's dumping mad snow here this morning and ba da bop bee da,  I'm lovin' it.

I've got Pandora set to Christmas tunes, the cabin is cozy, and I'm about to start building some furniture.  Before I do, the week in review:

I saw these in Walmart the other day; slippers you clean the floor with.  Pretty good idea but not as good as my Dog Booties You Clean the Floor With™.

Since Angela and I don't step in enough dog poop on a regular basis we went and helped launch Jillian's team the other day.  Definitely got the winter trail blood flowing as we watched 20 dogs rocket Jillian and Sam out of their yard.  Yeeeehawww!

Then I went to my buddy Greg's and helped him move some material for a tear drop trailer he's building.  It's going to be sweet and I secretly hope he decides he needs a bigger one when he's done and he sells this one to me at cost.  Dare to dream.  Its a gorgeous little thing, 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall and will be sheeted in aluminum with a pop-up kitchen on the back.

And finally, the new skating pond.  It is a gem that Jillian pointed out to me and then Andrew and I tested last night (with shovels and some AK IPA of course).  The ice is a bit rough but there are no holes and we'll pump some water over the top when it stops snowing and the temps drop again.  The plan is for Tuesday night Blades of Fury- Fairbanks style.  That means beer, bonfires, dogs, skates, sticks and maybe even a net or two if we can motivate sufficiently.

Sweet, sweet winter.

You Can't Hide Those Lyin' Eyes

I have posted this picture of Max from this summer to prove that the only thing in common with pit  bulls and Sarah Palin is a propensity to attack things they shouldn't.  

But this pit bull doesn't lie, although he does beg, fart and steal couch space...

There's Something in the Way She Moves

Fairbanks is increasingly Fairbanks-looking in the last few days and by this I mean lots of fluffy, dry, sparkling snow, cars in the ditch and trolls at the transfer station.  Gotta luvit.  I believe the transitioning days of rain are done and the snow we have now is here to stay.  I sure hope so any way.Here's a quick cell pic I took as we rocketed past the Igloo on the way back to Fairbanks.  Igloo is a surprisingly welcome sight because it means you're halfway home, of course the fact that you're ONLY halfway is sometimes alarming.  But in this image, with fresh snow, the Igloo looks charming and if there was a dog team out front I think there's a hell of a stock image to be made here.  I've never actually been inside...
Here's Mazzy admiring a heavy snowfall from the protection of the pickup.
Self portrait with thermometer and snowflakes.
Angela poked her head out and saw her shadow which means we will have 6 more months of winter...
Self portrait with router.  The stairs are almost completely trimmed in and I have almost completely lost my mind.  Coincidence?  I think not, now if I can just upload Pandora to my ear protection I will reach enlightenment and can finally listen to Neil Diamond AND the table saw at the same time.  

Seeds of Change

Fairbanks got another inch of snow last night and this is a very good sign.  I put the feeders out and the Chickadees are stocking up.  Normally they don't hit it hard for another month, I predict an interior winter with over 100 inches of snow and minimal -40F.  You heard it here first and I'm purposefully not buying a shovel now so the big snow will come for sure...

She hit the floor, next thing you know...

Alrighty, finally a little visual progress.  This week the plywood cabin floor disappeared under a pretty picture of hardwood flooring from the lovely people at Ikea.  Angela and I schlepped these boxes all the way from San Francisco and now here they are.  Next stop- new kitchen counter top and cabinets.

Not so wide open spaces.

Here the monitor was suspended off the staircase so I could slide the flooring underneath.

As each bit was finished I re-appropriated tools and crap so I would have more room to work in.

Bam.

It may just be a picture of wood, but I happen to like pictures...