Forest fires have been burning in every direction, the closest just 20 miles away. We've been in no danger except visibility many days being less than a block. The picture is taken one block away from the hiway intersection near our cabin. There are cars driving with their headlights on that can't be seen. I saw many pedestrians in Fairbanks wearing respiratory masks. I kept the kids inside for a few days when outdoor activities in Fairbanks were called off and pollution and dense smoke warnings were put out, much to their dismay. Steve says he got used to the smoke. We were blessed with an offer from an aquaintance for a place to stay about 40 miles away if the smoke got too bad or the fires too near. I'm happy to report that rain and cooler weather has diminished some of the fires and the smoke, for the most part, has cleared.
We met up with a homeschool group and went on a fieldtrip to Calypso organic farm. It was good to see what can grow in this climate. We all loved seeing the farm animals...ahhh Iowa, how you're missed. The day was unusually clear and hot!
If it grows at Calypso it's either edible or has a medicinal purpose.
Calypso Farm is on the side of a mountain and so beautiful! Many things grow giant-size in Alaska because of all the sunshine.
We got to see the farm animals, hike in the Boreal Forest, tour the gardens and taste all kinds of veggies and flowers. Here the kids are picking and eating chamomille and drinking tea made with the flowers. We all loved this place!
The Tanana Valley State Fair has been going on here for the past week. The kids danced with the Dance For Fun group and afterwards went on rides and basically we ate our way through the fair. All of the usual State Fair food could be had. Crab Legs and Halibut was some we hadn't seen at a fair before.
The Dance for fun group is made up of all ages. All the kids have enjoyed learning country dance with this very fun group of people. Steve and I are and will remain spectators.
Dancin fun!
Yummmmmmm! Elephant ear!
Maggie decided to get the giant bag of cotton candy but she had help eating it!
This Elephant Ear's bigger than Sarah's head! Moriah and I were behind the camera eating deep-fried cheese curds :~) John had a huge plate of curly fries with so much hot sauce he got to eat them by himself.
Sarah said I could say that she loved Smokey The Bear, but that would be a lie. She posed for just for me.
The girls have been building this fort out in the woods for the past couple of weeks. I wasn't allowed to see it until a couple days ago. I was blown away with what they built from what was found in the forest. The ladder can even hold me! Amazing. You rock girls!!
Something educational for those who don't know--This is a midden. Our squirrel family lives here in the winter. During the summer they sit in the trees above eating pinecone and dropping the inedible parts on the forest floor. Then they make tunnels and a home beneath to live in. We saw a huge midden at Calypso Farm that had built up every year. There, maybe you learned something new?
While most of you are sweating in 90+ degree heat, we have had two frosts this week, the furnace started running the 10th, trees are starting to turn, and the down compforters are on the beds. It has been rainy (typical of August here) and in the
50's with many mornings in the low 30's. Even before it cooled off I could feel winter breathing down my neck. We were told that if you blink here you will miss Spring and Fall. We're hoping and praying for another warm spell.
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