~ Heat Wave ~

Most people, including myself usually describe special circumstances or situations that need a reference point with dramatic exaggerations of the truth. Today my descriptions of the weather and other events are extreme and wild enough that exaggerating in any fashion is almost impossible.

Its New Years day, (Happy New Year to all) and it began last night with the warming climate from the negative double digits to a startling twenty above and snow falling in more of a ice dust than flake. As the Night wore on, the temperature progressively warmed to produce flakes the size of quarters but only for a moment before the wind started. Between a very poor choice of movie to start and finish, there were drifts of twelve inches of new snow and by morning there would be over thirty inch drifts.

Restless was at best how my night was, trembling and shaking violently, the cabin was feeling like it had eaten a bit of bad Chinese food. The wind was gale force, and by definition:

A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots (63–87 km/h, 17.5–24.2 m/s or 39–54 miles/hour) of sustained surface winds.^[1] Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are expected.

I first awoke to the leaking of the window seal above my head, drip,drip,drip,drip..... between three and four drops per second, it was no time to put the pillow over my head and ignore the potential flooding situation.
drip,drip,drip,drip.... at the foot of my bed, in the wood stove room over my work bench.... it was a ship that had been tossed in the rocks or more likely for me, hit an iceberg and started taking on water.

Trees bent in half, but only in one direction as these gusts came to try and take me away. I thought a time or two that whoever had built the cabin must have secured it down to the foundation quite well and for that I am thankful. If I had my bed sheets fashioned to my chair, paragliding would have been an event to remember.
My boat had been tossed and beaten against the ice and rocks, sending it down river the length of my anchor rope which was tight enough to now practice slacklining.
Waves pounded the bank, washing up rocks and debris, making it impossible to find clean water for drinking. Windows shaking and vibrating, massive sheets (tonnage) of snow scaling the roof and smashing the ground below. The cabin has been anything but quiet.

The good news? Its a heat wave of  41 degrees !!!! the snow is slush, the ice is water, and everything is a sore sight to see.
I have been asked two questions consistently and numerous times, the first being have I seen the movie called The Shining and the second is do I ever get warm? Well I can say yes to the first and no to the second, however I have been comfortable in the sauna, truly warm from head to toe....no.
This warm spell might change things, but it won't last for long...
 Prior to the tremendous display of mother natures huffing and puffing to blow my home over.....

The fox who answers to  nothing but whistles and smooching noises.... has been quite happy with my feeding him in exchange for a quick picture or few.

I am also pleased to say that my oar has been replaced and I was able to get back on the water for some fishing. Doing so from the bank was fruitless and actually more painful than anything. I have fell flat on my face a dozen times trying to walk over the ice, climbing up the slippery slopes and causing nothing but ugly bruises on my legs and arms. So back in the boat, the first five casts, four fish were caught. I kept two for the fox who is more than spoiled and probably the most doted upon in Alaska. I could argue that I'm not soft on him, just fattening him up for a nice pelt, however I don't plan on losing my only semi constant friend. It is a pure give and no take relationship, but that is alright.

The ice had continued to be very spectacular with daily decreasing temperatures, forming a new artwork collection called:   Negative Twelve ~

So begins a new year, new resolutions and new dreams. Warm tropical destinations is on my mind today, but cleaning up the mess of last year both inside and outside is the chore for the days to come.
Salmon is on the menu, but I'll change the cous cous or quinoa to rice. I could use a donut, maple bar.