April 6th: Glorious, sunny day. It is currently 20 degrees and we still have three feet of accumulated snow on the ground. The roads are now clear and it was a red-letter day this past Monday because we were able to remove the snow tires. We are reveling in the almost daily snowfall because it signals warmer weather. Currently, Kenai is a muddy, slushy mess and we have officially started the period known locally as "the break-up" or as I refer to it : "the melt-down" which more accurately describes my recent mental-state.
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| Snow bank outside library. |
Temperatures jump above freezing for several hours each day melting the accumulated snow and turning the 6 ft.- high snow banks into horrific ice sculptures; exposing the road kill, empty beer cans, and dog poop that has lain frozen for the past 4-5 months. The locals say it "smells like Spring" but I say it smells like something else! Rubber boots are a necessity and there is no one who isn't sporting at least a spot of mud somewhere on their attire. The automobiles are caked with layers of muck that cannot be remedied with a simple car wash. RV's have begun to appear; staking their claim on the prime parking spots (i.e. the Elks Lodge) in anticipation of the upcoming fishing season. These signs offer hope that the winter is coming to an end and a beautiful summer is just around the corner. We have fishing trips planned for the next four months as well as some requisite "tourist" excursions. Our summer looks to be filled with lots of fun with family and friends.
With almost twelve hours of daylight, I'm beginning to feel like myself again and I'm taking stock of what I did to survive my first Alaskan winter. There are a lot of things I will do differently on the next go-around but for this first year my goal was just to get through it. At times, to be honest, even that was questionable! Winter 2010-2011 will be remembered for:
- studded tires
- 6 cords of firewood
- Kindle for Mac
- snow boots and cleated shoes
- having to plug my car in when it is parked outside
- hours and hours of genealogy research
- 2 weeks down south
- 2 weeks with the kids here
- prescription Vitamin D
- fleece, fleece, fleece
- moose EVERYWHERE
- trips to Anchorage and Homer even on black ice
- painting numerous rooms whether they needed it or not
- crack-shack coffee
- daily thanksgiving for a heated garage
- humidifier 24/7
- amaryllis, paperwhites, tulips, and daffodils
- Netflix, Netflix, Netflix
- girlfriends checking in with me every day
- daily phone call from Mom
- Gold Bond Ultimate skin therapy
- chapstick in every pocket and every drawer and every car
- Wii, Wii, Wii
- 'the Walmarts', God's cure for cabin fever.
If we are here next winter, I'm revising my plan. I've decided to pack my bags and head South until the breakup. Everyone who grew up in areas with months of heat and humidity says the same thing: "You'll never get used to it. The best thing to do is to leave." ...and most do!
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| Last August looking across Cook Inlet to Mt. Redoubt |
On our next trip South, Joe and I will be exploring the possibility of setting up the 5th wheel for 2-3 months next winter as a place we can visit when the darkness and cold begins to close in. Meanwhile, I'll enjoy knowing that summer is just around the corner and the summers here are spectacular! I can't wait to share it all!
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