How I spent most of the lunar eclipse

I faithfully set an alarm for 4 a.m., and DL and I stumbled downstairs in the dark. I went out to the porch, looked at the red moon, and said, "Oooh pretty." Then I recalled that I owned astronomical binoculars, so went inside, grabbed them, and went back out. Looked at the eclipse through them, said, "Ooooh pretty", then passed the binoculars to DL and went back inside. The dogs were luxuriating on the couch:


So I joined them for a bit and cuddled:


Then I went back to bed.

The lunar eclipse is so much more interesting when it's during suppertime.

Misc photos

Do you think Cricket is comfy? I sure hope she is comfy.


The ladies sitting pretty:


And cleaning their fangs!


The deep cold brings ice fog. This was the view from my office yesterday:


Today has cleared up. Here is the view from our stairwell:


I can't decide which framing I like better:


A sunny shot from our porch!


One of our student interns and me, at a test installation of bifacial solar PV panels:


SNUGGLIN'!!!


FUZZY OL' HAIDS!!!

Car Emergency Kit Contents

So after my crazy incident of having to leave my car in an ice storm and walk home, I concluded that I got an 'A' for preparedness and a 'C+' for organization. It was cold and awkward and frustrating, fumbling and rummaging through my giant plastic tote and my duffel bag for my emergency supplies. Also, as I walked home, I realized that if I had farther to walk for help, for example if I were to be stranded in a more remote area than my own neighborhood, I'd want to pack some emergency gear with me, so I wanted to get a real backpack instead of a duffel.

Thermal cycling is not great for plastic; it tends to get brittle and then fracture at the sharp corners or where the fabric bends. So I decided it had to be waxed canvas (which is water-proof). I decided to spring for some very well-made, very expensive American-made Frost River packs. I had been intrigued by these for years. When I lived in California, my day-hiking pack was a military surplus canvas rucksack. It was sturdy as heck and covered some thousands of miles of weekend jaunts with me. But when I moved to Alaska and needed to carry more emergency gear and more cold-weather clothing, I upgraded to a modern nylon pack from REI. A canvas pack of the size I need now weighs over five pounds, which was maybe reasonable in pioneer days, but not today. We have miles to cover!

But for a car emergency pack... sturdiness trumps weight. So I sprung for my long-admired waxed canvas backppack: the Cliff Jacobson Signature Pack, in which to pack all of my "bug-out" equipment:


For my car emergency kit that stays in the car, I chose a bigger waxed canvas pack: the Prairie Boot Bag. It has a separate compartment intended for muddy boots, and that compartment is perfect for quick-access items, such as flares, jumper cables, and rags:


Finally, things that fit so nicely in their cubbyholes in the car, or that I use frequently, stay where they are:


Look how much more tidily everything fits!


I love how accessible the bags are, and how much more ergonomic it is to grab them than it is to grab the giant plastic tote! After all, the last thing I need to have happen in an emergency situation is to throw out my back! My one misgiving is that my emergency warm clothes are in the "stay in car" bag instead of the bug-out bag, but I'm sure on a cold day I won't forget them!

Brrrr!

Starbuck sez, "It's my birfday! I went for a morning run with my sister, then we got rawhides, and now I'm snoozing on the couch. I'm 11, and life is good! I still go for a run, hike, or ski every day, and I still visit my friends at the hospital. My only trouble is a bum shoulder, but my humans help me manage it (with acupuncture, CBD oil, and LOVE). I still have lots of fun!"


Brrrrr it's been cccccoooolld!


We come back from our morning run quite frosty!


Cricket selfie!


Roo selfie!


Fang-cleanin'!


In honor of Roo's birthday, I would like to remind you that she is very soffffffft:


And she has lots of paws:


Look! When she lies down, the white patch on her chest makes a heart. And she likes to hold hands.

NNNNNGGGGGgg..... *wibble*

Scenes from Home

Look! They snuggle!


Snnnnnuggle!


Sous-chef #1 is all ready to do quality control on my veggies!


Roo: Nnnnngggg coooowch... so soffft...
Cricket:Nnnnnnnngggg sister's butt ... so soffft...


It was cold this morning! Brrrrr!


After breakfast, my fuzzies retreated to the couch, but I know they are still excited to go out for an adventure! They jump to life the second I touch my boots!


So a few weeks ago, the ribs from the hippie producer were on sale (free-range, hormone-free, vegetarian-fed, humanely-raised, organically-produced feed, etc, etc) were on sale, so of course I had to get some. I put them into the freezer to await an appropriate day, and this weekend, as temperatures dropped, I decided it was rib time! I had never actually made ribs before. But Irma's instructions were awesome, and they came out perfect--so tender!


Giant plates for a cold day!

Scenes from a short ski

The night after the ice storm, several inches of snow came down. I opted to work from home until we got plowed. I also opted out of the morning run-in-the-dark-by-headlamp in favor of a midday ski instead. :) We were the first to break trail.

Roo was SSSOOOOO happy to see fresh snow that she immediately did a face plant and shoved her face all over in it!


Hitting the trail!


Happy, happy!


Joy, joy!


They are constantly exploring:


The sun only hit the tops of the trees:


They run far ahead when they get a burst of enthusiasm:


Light on the ridge:




Starbuck looking WOLFIE!


Cricket on the move!


Ice drips!

Not a n'ice incident!

Climate change has really sunk its teeth into us in Fairbanks. Last night, it rained while temps were up near 32F/0C; covering the roads with ice. I was on my way home, driving super slowly (usually okay with my Subaru and studded tires). But when I got to our road, I saw lights flashing up ahead. A car was in a ditch, and two cars were standing still behind it, unable to go around it since the road was so slick they could not drive up the slight grade. I stopped in line, threw my car into "park", and while I pondered our predicament, several other cars accumulated behind me, all equally befuddled. Eventually, I put on my ice cleats, came out and began communicating with the other drivers. We put out signal flares to stop further accumulation of stuck cars, and one guy started directing drivers to back slowly back out to the highway. Another young lady and I knocked on the nearest door and found that it was acquaintances of mine! So I asked if the two of us could leave our cars in their driveway for the night. They agreed, and even came out to help, tossing sand into the road.

In the meantime, I had called DL, who had already made it home before the rain had started. He tried to call for help for us--the Troopers, tow trucks. No one would come. The Trooper Dispatcher told him that they would not send anyone out since none of us was hurt. So after I had slowly, slowly moved my car to those nice folks' driveway, I called him back and told him I was walking the last two miles home. He walked up to meet me and we walked home through the icy night, him carrying my work bag, and both of us wearing ice cleats. Who says romance is dead?

Lessons learned:
1) Always keep emergency signal flares in the car (I was one of the heroes of the hour that was able to help block further buildup of cars!).

2) Always keep ice cleats in the car (enabling my walk home... and when are you stuck unable to drive? when it's icy, of course!).

3) Always keep gas in the car. I never let my tank go under 1/4 a tank. That sure paid off.

4) Always keep a good flashlight on your person. My favorite is the classic Maglite. It's American-made, and I got an LED version that lasts years between battery changes. It's in my handbag at all times! It's also come in handy for power outages in buildings.

5) Charge your cell phone every night.

6) Always make friends, be kind, and reach out. Who knew that the kids that used to trick or treat at my house, would have such kind parents who would reach out and help us in a crisis?

Look! A Climate Change outfit! Summer pants, snow boots, short-haired husky!