Getting Colder....

Greetings Everyone!

Our temperatures are dropping at nigt to the mid-teens.  However, our daytime temperature yesterday reached 33 degrees F!  I took advantage of the good weather to haul water and do a load of washing - since yesterday was our sauna day.

The ice lake continues to freeze as temperatures drop at night and we've had no winds.  As a result, the waterfowl that is still here is now gathering in open waters that are close to our cabin.  We are seeing more of the Trumpeter Swans swimming close.  The swans are very graceful as they swim by the cabin -- I do hope to get a good photo!

With the cold weather at night, we've been hearing the coyotes yapping and the owls hooting.  A unique combination of sounds.  Last night after our sauna -and we were in route from the sauna to the cabin, the sky was so very clear with millions of stars surrounding the Big Dipper - then, the coyotes started their yapping.  Seems they are over somewhere behind Swan Cove.

Yesterday we decided to take a walk across the island and took a different route through the pines - and it was rather cold walking through the pines because of all the shadows and little sunlight.  Although it was a might cooler walking the route, it will make a good cross country ski trail.  We've not been able to effectively ski on the beach. The snow on the beach - around the island, is very crunchy with numerous rocks exposed. It's interesting walking on beach snow - it sounds like someone is munching on a crisp Ginger Snap cookie!  Hopefully, we'll get some new snow fall soon to cover the rocks and make better skiing.

We received a couple of questions from Followers:  The first wanted to know if the fuel we use is only for heating - this was in referenced to us pumping heating fuel.  Answer:  Yes, that fuel is only used for heating - it's a diesel grade fuel specifically for heating.  We also use diesel fuel to run a large generator to keep our solar batteries charged when there is no sun or wind to store energy. We use propane for cooking and for our refrigerator.

The second question from a Follower:  If you use heating fuel why do you also have a wood stove?  Answer:  We have the wood stove as a back-up.  Meaning, if for some reason our fuel pump failed or we used a lot of heating fuel due to cold weather, we'd have another source of heat.  Also, if our heating stove cannot keep up with keeping the cabin warm, we can use the wood stove as our heat source because the wood stove puts out a lot of heat. We also know the capabilities of our wood stove - it was once in our home in Anchorage.  We took it out and brought it with us.

The third question from a Follower: Doesn't it bother you not to have much daylight?  Answer: Not really. We are down to 5 hours and 56 minutes of daylight now - so we do get some daylight when it's not too cloudy.  Both Ernie and I have lived in Alaska for some 30 years - so we've gotten used to it.  We do like counting the days to Winter Solstice and then, after Winter Solstice watching the hours of daylight being gained back and then, some.

Me - hauling water.  Although we can pump water, I enjoy  the weight bearing exercise.  I generally make two trips. Ernie would rather I not haul water -- but he knows I'm having fun 'working out.'.  

Ernie took a picture of me during my curtain making project.  As you can see, we have a large picture window with sunlight coming though.  Our cabin has a southern exposure.  If you look closely at the picture window, you will see drapes hanging so that we can close off the window at night - I didn't make them.  The drapes are custom made with a thick insulated backing -- I purchased them at a thrift store in Anchorage for $14.00 -- a lucky find..

Ernie's project of putting up pine planks.  He has finished one wall and is working on another -- but will need to complete the finish work in the spring -  he needs some building materials that we don't have on hand.  I'm making a curtain for the little window.

I thought the blue sky was rather unique  yesterday during a very sunshiny day.  But it was much cooler walking through the pines and they blocked out most of the sunshine.

Take Care Everyone!!