I’ve been single parenting it for two weeks now. Having lived in a community with a high military population as well as North Slope—oil and gas working families, I’ve sat through many a conversation (quietly) between people temporarily single parenting. Having always had a present working partner, I merely nodded empathetically and stayed guiltily mum.... Continue Reading →
When Wild is Too Wild
For the past few poor snow years we’ve become wild ice chasers, listening anxiously for word-of-mouth news on lakes, sloughs, ponds and marshes that have frozen solid (enough) and are clear (enough) of snow to skate. This year though, has been a glorious snow year. Don’t get me wrong, we love the snow—winter is what... Continue Reading →
Four Inches of Ice
I have settled on a few, weighty conclusions this heavy year, and one is that belief is a recurring choice. As a species, a nation, a community and as a family, we have been shown just how little control we exert on the world as it has pushed us back into our humble place of... Continue Reading →
Moonscape Madness
January can be tough. We always have a cold snap—which is brutally beautiful, and means it takes more effort to get out with kids. School has resumed, which in our household means bickering afternoons and scheduled weeks. We always seem to have less family time even when we plan for sports that everyone can do... Continue Reading →
Walking on Winter Water
In October and November, it is cold, it is brown, it is dead, it is dull and we wait. We wait for the cold to overcome this tail end of fall when the leaves have blown away and the branches scrape the overcast sky. We wait for snow and ice, and hope that the ice... Continue Reading →
Shades of Blue: Eklutna Lake
While we often plan for exciting excursions, many of our exploits occur spontaneously because we are responding to the chances nature offers up. On New Year's Day this year, a lake near our home had an incredible thawing and freezing cycle create 11 miles of smooth-as-glass ice--a true potential playground (if discovered). Eureka! What a... Continue Reading →