Life in Fairbanks -- January through March

Fairbanks has had a cold and snowy winter. The month of February was the second-snowiest February since records began in 1904. We also had the second largest number of days 40 degrees below zero or colder this year.

My life has changed considerably since adopting Savannah and, as many friends have noted, I have been spending much less time on the internet. I will try to cover the highlights of life in the frozen north from January through March in this post. These include dog walks in Goldstream Valley, the Fairbanks dog park, the North American Open Sled Dog Championships, and the International Ice Art Competition.

From a walk just before sunrise on January 24th.

The sun rose at 10:01 on the 24th and set at 4:06. We usually set out at dawn which, strangely enough, occurs well after 9:00 am. It is a beautiful time of day.

This section of one of the trails we use I think of as "the cathedral". The spruce are tall and thin with some forming arches covered in snow.

We walk in ALL weather -- here Savannah leads the way in a snowstorm.

A snapshot from the Fairbanks dog park. We go everyday and know most all of the dogs (and people).

Savannah investigating another dog's ball. She doesn't really get the concept of "fetch", but when she gets the ball she likes to play "keep away".

Here she is playing with Elroy -- an impressive great dane.

It is difficult to think of Savannah in Florida. I can't even imagine her adjusting to summer in Fairbanks.

This is our neighbor, Neptune -- a newfoundland puppy that is now much bigger than Savannah. Neptune is a tornado!

... and here is Wallace -- her favorite friend.

One of my friends at the dog park calls Savannah "the African queen".

Coming home from a walk.

The cabin in early March.

Red polls that have come to investigate the bird feeder.

A boreal chickadee

A black-capped chickadee.

Another creature that likes black oil sunflower seeds.

The North American Open Sled Dog Championships March 18th - 20th

It starts and finishes on 2nd Street - Fairbanks main street

One of the dogs that didn't get to participate. He looks very sad, doesn't he?

The World Ice Art Championships were held February 21st to March 25th.

It is impossible to capture the magnitude and delicacy of these sculptures -- you really have to see them.

Although this one didn't win, it was my favorite.

I am currently in Florida and will be here until the end of the month. We are planning a trip to the Everglades and have been up the Nature Coast. I will try to do a post before I go back to Fairbanks.

Much love to you all!