The Winter Solstice - December 21

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year.  Those of us in Anchorage saw not quite  5-1/2 hours of daylight.  The further north you go, the daylight hours decrease.  Fairbanks’ sunrise yesterday was at 10:50am and sunset was 2:41pm, only 3 hours and 42 minutes of sun.  Barrow**, the northern most town in Alaska, had their last sunset on November 18 and won’t see a sunrise again until January 23, 2023.  That’s 67 days of darkness.  

Now days will begin lengthening.  On March 22, the Spring Equinox, Anchorage will be gaining 6 minutes of sunlight a day.  That is the equivalent of a daylight savings time change every two weeks.   By the Summer Solstice, Anchorage will see 19 hours between sunrise and sunset.  Barrow will be enjoying over 80 days of uninterrupted sunlight.  I guess that’s enjoyable.

The solstice yesterday was at 12:47pm.  It’s the moment when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun.  A fun fact about the Winter Solstice is that’s the day people cast the longest shadows of the year.  Sal and I went out at 1:00 and played around with our shadows.  I’ve read shadows are 50 to 60 feet long.  We didn’t measure ours, but we sure had fun and laughed at the results.

** Barrow now is actually the city of Utqiagvik.  The name was changed per a city referendum in 2016.  The change supports the use of the Inupiaq language and is part of the decolonization process.  The name refers to a place for gathering wild roots.  

Kincaid Park: Solstice Tree Tour (12-18-2022)

Winter solstice is when the Sun travels the shortest path through the sky.  It is the day with the least daylight and the longest night.  This year it happens on Wednesday, 12-21.  Total daylight in Anchorage on Wednesday will be 5 hours 27 minutes and 5 seconds.

Several Winter Solstice events are scheduled around  the Anchorage area.  I went to the Solstice Tree Tour in Kincaid Park .  Local businesses sponsor trees along the 2.5 kilometer Mize Loop trail.  There were all kind of give aways from food ( candy, cookies, make your own s'mores),  to small toys (frisbees, stickers, light sticks) and safety items (click on reflectors).

People walked or skied.  Many adults pulled small children on sleds.

Trees were creatively decorated with items representative of their business or organization. 

Yeti Dogs was there.  I met the owner in August when John was here for a visit.  I enjoyed being able to congratulate him in person for making the ADN  Best of Alaska  Top 100.  Yeti Dogs is #1 in the Food Truck category.

The most wonderful thing happened when we were getting ready to leave.  I met Seymour the Moose! He was so nice and welcoming!

Me with Seymour!

Congrats Yeti Dogs!

And the trees:

Sal

Alaska Christmas: White Christmas Sing Along (Saturday 12-17-2022)

 A month ago BB learned that sing along showings of the movie White Christmas would be held at the Bear Tooth TheatrePub this weekend.  The proceeds from the  sing along benefit the Anchorage Opera and Anchorage Opera Overture Council.We have been looking forward to attending since we learned about it.

One of my  Christmas traditions is to watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve while wrapping Christmas presents.  This year presents had to be in the mail to Virginia by the first week December.  This sing along provided an excellent substitute for my Christmas Eve tradition.

Bear Tooth Theatre and Pub is associated with Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzaria.  Moose's Tooth is a favorite of ours.  We especially like the Aloha Escape pizza (Canadian bacon, pineapple, mozzarella, provolone, marinara).  For lunch we had a medium half Aloha Escape/half beef and onion pizza, a maple and bacon salad (bacon! Brussel sprouts, greens) and a glass of raspberry wheat beer.  Food and a movie, always a fun combination.

Do you wonder if we really sang along?  Yes, we did!  BB and I especially enjoyed singing the Sisters song (for obvious reasons!).  The crowd sang loud and clear when I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas played.

The scene on the train to Vermont when they sing about snow caused a lot of laughs.  Here is how BB described it in her post:

Saturday Sal and I went to Bear Tooth Theater for a sing-a-long with the movie White Christmas.  Early on there is a song that contains the lyrics, “I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow.”  There was a lot of laughter in the theater at that; many a path has been cleared here in the last couple weeks.

Us at the movie: 

Sal

Eagle River Nature Center: Volunteer Winter Solstice Celebration (12-16-2022)

Eagle River Nature Center (ERNC) staff held a Winter Solstice Walk Friday (12-16) evening as a thank you to the Center's volunteers.  I've volunteered at ERNC three times so far.  I was very excited to receive the invitation.   The invitation said we could bring family and friends, so BB and I made plans to go.

It was magical!

The Solstice Walk was the Friday after the three major snowstorms.  We had concern about getting there as the last update on the 12-mile road to the Center was that it hadn't been plowed.  Yikes!

However, we really wanted to go so we pretended we were long time Alaskans, got in the car and headed for Eagle River.

Slow and steady got us there on time, even with an extra stop at Walmart to pick up snacks for the refreshment table.  The Glenn Highway was plowed and while I didn't feel confident driving 65 or 70mph I did get up to 55 (well, maybe only for a little while!).  The road to the Center, Eagle River Road, looked like it was plowed after the second storm but not the third.  Towards the end of the road there was one decent lane.  There wasn't much traffic and when we did meet a car coming from the other direction I slowed down and made them go around me!

We arrived to a winter wonderland.  There were lights in trees and the walks and paths were lined with ice lanterns.  (Water is put in jars/pails/buckets and left to freeze until there is a frozen outer shell of ice.  The remaining water is poured out and a candle placed in the middle).  Staff and volunteers gathered in the Visitor Center.  Volunteers of the Year were announced and everyone was thanked for helping out at the Center.  Then it was time for socializing and refreshments before going out to walk the ice lantern lit, 3/4-mile long Rodak Nature Trail.

It was cold, near zero temps.  The trail had been packed; however, after just getting 40 inches of snow the walking wasn't the easiest.  Here is how the Center staff described it in an email early Friday morning: 

The Rodak trail has been packed but is still on the softer side.  Walking with just boots should be fine, however snowshoes might make it easier for some.   We have a few pairs if you'd like to use them.

It was amazing.  The light from the lanterns reflected off the snow-covered trees.  The sky was clear and the stars bright.  Beautiful.

The ERNC Visitor Center:

Back Deck of ERNC Visitor Center:

We dressed WARM!

On the Trail:

Ice Lanterns:

Sal

 

Our historic snow

Saturday Sal and I went to Bear Tooth Theater for a sing-a-long with the movie White Christmas.  Early on there is a song that contains the lyrics, “I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow.”  There was a lot of laughter in the theater at that; many a path has been cleared here in the last couple weeks.

Anchorage is on pace for the snowiest December on record.  Another half inch this month and the December 1955 record will be surpassed.  We had three major snowstorms and a couple of minor flurries between December 6 and 15, with the back-to-back storms dumping 41 inches of snow here.  All this on top of the rainy summer has made 2022 the wettest year on record.

Our apartment complex has been great.  Snowplows come through and staff shovel the sidewalks often before I’m even out of bed. 

The city streets and sidewalks were cleared pretty well after the first 12 inches fell December 6-7, but 16 inches 5 days later then 9 inches 3 days after that has been a challenge for Anchorage workers.  Sal and I were out Wednesday right as the last storm was starting.  The pavement was mostly ok, but while plowing had been done, clean-up is the second step in the process and there hasn’t been time or equipment for that.  The snow doesn’t melt, so it doesn’t go away by itself.  Between the first and second storms, we saw large dump trucks with snow piled in, but we haven’t seen much of that lately.  I don’t know where the snow is eventually dumped, but it is taken away somewhere.  Now you see very large piles of snow in parking lots and by sides of streets.  Traffic lanes are narrower because there is nowhere to push the snow.  

But we haven’t had to deal with it too much, only enjoy it, and it is beautiful.  We saw kids playing ice hockey today on a tennis court.  We saw people walking with snowshoes.  And a man downtown was carrying his ski’s probably to one of the trails here that are groomed for skiing once the snow comes.  Kids in our apartment complex were sledding down a pile of snow. Trees are spectacular, like outdoor Christmas trees and lacy veils.  And the mountains are now completely covered in snow.

We are having no problems handling the cold weather or short days.  There are some winter solstice events going on now, celebrating the return of the light, so we made it through the worst of that.  It will get colder, we know.  Cold, dry air comes down in January and February from the NORTH POLE!!   Brrrr!!  Doesn’t that sound cold! Bet it will feel cold, too.  But it’s -4 here now, and we handle that ok, so we’ll see.

Alaska Christmas: Palmer Colony Christmas (12-10-2022)

Palmer, AK is located 42 miles northeast of Anchorage in the Matanuska valley.   A population of 6,040 as of July 2022 makes Palmer the 9th largest city in Alaska.  In 1935 Palmer was the site of an unusual experiment in American history, the Matanuska Valley Colony.  Here is how the city describes it:

In 1935, under President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration established the Matanuska Colony.  From the drought-starved Midwest, 203 families traveled by train and ship to reach the fledgling colony.  Their housing was in a tent city for that first Alaskan summer.  Each family drew lots of individual 40-acre tracts and a farming adventure began.  Back in 1935, those original Valley Colonists already knew this fertile valley could produce a rich agrarian heritage, making Palmer the only Alaskan community to develop an agricultural lifestyle. 

Palmer hosts Colony Christmas every year on the second weekend in December.  A review of the schedule showed numerous events taking place over three days; a gingerbread house contest, ornament making, photos with Santa and reindeer, multiple arts and crafts shows and more.  We decided to arrive in Palmer early Saturday afternoon and take in the arts and crafts show at the Depot, the lighting of the water tower, parade and fireworks.

First stop in Palmer was lunch at the Palmer Alehouse.  Turns out it was in the midst of the parade staging area, which meant streets were closed off.  However, I again channeled my Dad and wandered around until we were within 2 blocks of the restaurant.  This put us right by Palmer Depot, ground zero for the activities we wanted to attend.  With help from BB, I found the perfect parking spot in the Depot parking lot.  We walked to the Alehouse and had cheeseburgers and fries for lunch.

After lunch we headed back to the car to put on our winter gear.  Temps were in the single digits and the ground had 10 inches or more of snow from the big snowstorm earlier in the week.  We put toe warmers in our boots, picked up our heaviest gloves and hats and headed for the arts and crafts show in the Palmer Depot,

First thing we saw at the Depot was a Christmas tree raffle to benefit Mat-Su Special Santa Programs.  BB and I participated but didn't win.   We browsed the vendors and then went out to locate where we should go to view the parade.  

Right outside the Depot we see Santa!  And Reindeer!  They let us pet the reindeer.

We visited some nearby shops, one of which was a bookstore.  BB noticed a book I might like, an early Kate Shugak novel by author Dana Stabenow.  I hadn't been able to get this one at the Henrico or Anchorage libraries.  Purchase it I did!  I recommend the Kate Shugak series if you are looking for a new read.

Then back to the Depot to warm up.  We wanted to start parade watching as warm as we could be!

We found a spot in front of the Depot with a clear view of the water tower and the parade.  The water tower lit up promptly at 5:00 and then the parade began!  The parade lasted for almost an hour.  We saw decorated fire trucks, ambulances, dump trucks and pickup trucks.   Several Santas and Rudolphs were in the parade.  Also a group of horses and riders in holiday costumes, a group of festive cyclists on decorated fat bikes and more.  No marching bands though, we figured it was too cold for them.

Fireworks started at 6:00.  And were awesome!  

You know I like moose!

The Christmas Trees for the Raffle.  Gift cards, hats/gloves, and other items were used to decorate them.

I wanted to win the Gnome for the Holidays tree...

We got to pet a reindeer!

Along the sidewalk where we watched the parade.

The Water Tower:

Parade Scenes:

Fireworks!

This was a GREAT Day!

Sal

Alaska Christmas: Rilke Schule Christkindlmarkt (12-10-2020)

 

Rilke Schule (German School) is an Anchorage School District Charter School serving students in grades K-8.  It is an immersion school; students learn to speak German fluently and learn the heritage, cultural norms and customs of German speaking countries.

The school holds a Christkindlmarkt every year.  Here is the school's description of the market:

The 2022 Christkindlmarkt is a one-of-a-kind German holiday market featuring handcrafted decorations and gifts imported directly from Germany. Hosted by parents and friends of Rilke Schule German School of Arts & Sciences. Local artisans, woodcrafters, clay artists, painters, and many more will host booths throughout the building. Live music, tasty treats, warm beverages, and reindeer photo opportunities help create a true German market feel. We are very happy to be back in person at RILKE SCHULE!

We have German ancestors if you go back a few hundred years, I took German in school and we are into craft fairs.  We had to go!

And so did lots of others!  We could tell it would be crowded even before we entered the parking lot.  A line of cars ahead of us headed towards the school.  We saw signs for an overflow parking lot.   I almost headed for it; however, I channeled my Dad, went in the school's main lot and parked in a spot one row away from and in front of the main door.  Dad would have been proud!

A large crowd inside but not so large that we couldn't check out the vendors.  We've begun to recognize vendors from other fairs.  However, there are always so many vendors at these things that we don't feel like we only see the same vendors over and over again.   True to the school's mission, there were holiday decorations imported from Germany as well as German inspired decorations, paintings and cards.

An added bonus was hearing the tubas play.  We missed the Tuba Christmas event on  December 3rd so this was a happy surprise.

The School:

Christkindlmarkt poster

BB shopping - the monster in the painting is the Alaskan Yeti:

Tubas!

Don't see earthquake drill signs in Virginia schools!

Sal

Alaska Christmas: Woofmas Hour (12-09-2022)

 

When a dog lover (me!) learns about an event called Woofmas Hour, you know she has to attend!  BB and I had this on our calendar from the day we received the announcement.  

Highlands Management Team did a wonderful job decorating the Club House for the event.  A Holiday themed backdrop was available for pictures, poinsettias and wreaths were by the fireplace, a Christmas Tree was near the refreshment table and a snowman graced the refrigerator.  

Whoever was in charge of refreshments knew what the guests of honor would enjoy.  Homemade dog biscuits and puppuchinos!  (Whipped cream with a dog treat garnish in case you didn't know).  Cookies were available for the human guests to enjoy.

BB and I enjoyed meeting other residents and their fur babies.  Asked why we didn't bring our fur baby BB replied that she had a cat not a dog and that Grey was happier staying at home.  

Us in front of the Holiday backdrop

And by the fireplace

I thought the snowman on the refrigerator was cute!

The Refreshment Table

We enjoyed meeting and talking with other residents and their puppies.

Sal

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

 And it is snowing!  It's been snowing non-stop since yesterday morning.

Anchorage Schools are closed.  Haircut appointments BB and I had today were re-scheduled by the salon.  I didn't expect things to close here due to snow.  These articles in today's paper (from the online version; the snow prevented our paper version from being delivered this morning) point out that this isn't a normal snow for Anchorage:

More than a foot of snow reported in parts of Anchorage, with more to come.

Anchorage sees snowiest December day in more than 2 decades

BB and I were going to run errands today after our hair appointments.  Discretion being the better part of valor, we will stay home today.

Pictures taken this morning from our front door and balcony:

Sal