This is what my backyard looks like at the moment:


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I discovered a new store today: Home Grown Market. It's in that little strip-mall district on the corner of Airport and University, behind the strip mall with Quizno's and Subway. They carry locally grown meat and produce, sort of like the farmer's market but year-round. I picked up a fresh head of locally greenhouse-grown lettuce (FRESH PRODUCE, ( Read more... )

Lucky the fossil-hunting dog did himself proud today ( Read more... )

The aurora has been absolutely gorgeous the last few nights. Well, not last night, because there were clouds (and this morning it was snowing, aargh). But prior to that, it's been simply staggering -- some of the most impressive displays that I've ever seen. It was so bright on Monday night that it was actually casting light, making the ground ( Read more... )

When I was a kid, we used to joke that we wished the groundhog would see his shadow, so we'd ONLY get six more weeks of winter ( Read more... )

Yesterday it snowed lightly, and it's been kind of misting snow all day; there are a couple of inches on the ground. I think this is probably the "big one" ... the one that's going to stick and not melt off. Last glimpse of ground until spring. Well, it's not like I can complain at this point -- this is almost a month later than our usual big ( Read more... )

We've reached that time of year when the Arctic nights are very lovely and just a bit strange. I went out walking just now, after 11 p.m. It was still broad daylight, with virgas drifting to the west and the sky to the north slowly purpling into something like sunset. The air was cool and damp and rich with the smell of the trees -- the sweetness ( Read more... )

I noticed driving to work today that the trees on south-facing hillsides are breaking out in their first, faint flush of green. I want to say to them, "No, little trees! It's Fairbanks! It's only May 4th! It'll be snowing by the end of the week! Your poor wee buds will freeze!" But they won't listen. Trees. Can't tell 'em anything ( Read more... )

Today we ushered in spring with the semi-annual mucking-out of the chicken coop. Naturally certain members of the household wished to lend a hand.

Dog: oooOOOOOooo! Can I help?

Me: Nope, got it covered, thanks.

Dog: But I can really be useful! See! And, wow, this stuff smells *awesome*.

Me: OH GOD! I HAVE TO LIVE WITH YOU!

Dog: ... dude, have you tried ( Read more... )