Mittens? check!

I finally finished knitting my convertible mittens!  They are super warm and perfect for stream trips where finger tips are sometimes necessary.  Plus if I ever get the urge to take my ipod outside, I can still work the touch screen without taking my gloves off.

 

Here is the pattern I used to make them. 

I just though I would post this since I was working on them for most of my Christmas vacation.

It still isn't old yet

Bertha is back! I saw her the other day while driving home with BOTH of her calves. I am so happy they are still alive and together.

They were hanging out beside my window today while I ate lunch.

Just one baby with her today, though. The other one must be off in a neighbor's yard finding his own food.

I love seeing these guys hanging out around my house.

Just a little weekend trip...

I made it back to AK safe and sound, and my first few days at work flew by.  I started off on the first day with a class visit and spent the rest of the week in the office. 

Last weekend, Heather invited me to come on an overnight trip with her family to a cabin on the wildlife refuge.  We had a ton of fun! The cabin was about a mile away from the road on the other side of Dolly Varden Lake, so we packed up some sleds and set out across the lake (it was totally frozen).  One huffing and puffing trip later, we made it to the cabin where we roasted hot dogs for lunch, played in the snow, made s'mores, ate a delicious dinner cooked over the wood burning stove, and spent the rest of the night playing cards and farkel.  Heather and her family had never played before, but now they are hooked.  Fortunately, the wood burning stove kept the cabin warm all night, and we woke up the next morning, ate breakfast, packed up and left. 

Heather, Shaun, and Wyatt at the cabin:

Dolly Varden Lake/our trail:

Inside our cabin:

 (more pictures here)

It was a great way to come back to Alaska.  We were really lucky that the daylight hours were totally bright and clear, and it never got too cold (in fact, I think it was warmer here than in Tennessee).  Everybody had a great time, and we all took a moment during the sun set Saturday night to remember how amazing it is to be living in Alaska!