I am waiting for nights to drop below 70 degrees. My plants are strating to bloom again as it cools off. We may not get a frost this year but you never know.

Debbie,

Halo party???

I hear you on SAD.  I find however that I am most energized when in the presence of energy.  For example, cold, drizzly, wet weather really brings me down.  Sunny days, thundershowers, hurricanes, blizzards, all are very energetic and they get me up in a big way.

How long have you lived in AK?  Have you visited anwhere else in the state besides Juneau?

Hi, Eric - Thanks for your earlier email.  I hope you read my response.  70's.  Sounds like summer.

William - Halo party... it's an x-box game my sons and their friends play.  We network several TV's and game consoles together for this.  Four kids play on each TV and when they are networked you have many, many players.  I host these parties for my teens.  They generally last close to 24 hours and my limit is 24 kids.  I feed them homemade spaghetti, chocolate chip cookies and more.  It's a great way to get to know their friends.  It's loud, I don't get much sleep, but it's a blast.  Plus, I know where they are :-)

Our weather in Southeast Alaska probably wouldn't suit you.  I'd suggest a drier part of the state.  Yes, I've travelled around the state.. mostly Southeast, but I've been to the Anchorage area and down the Kenai penninsula.  Every part of the state has something good about it, but this is home.  I moved here when I was 11 or 12.

We beat you by a couple of weeks with our first frost! Finding activities in winter can be a challenge but it sure gives you time to get involved with family and friends. Lots of time to plan for the busy seasons as well. Have a great weekend!

Jon - Time to plan.  That is the operative word.  Honestly, lately I've just been exhausted.  Since it's almost dark at 6PM part of me wants to just hibernate.  I'm not falling into that trap this year.  No way.

Ahhh honey... we have almost the same dilemma here. Just keep baking those cookies and warming your toes. Can you even IMAGINE spending an entire winter in Arizona???  It's like never having a date - no anticipation whatsoever! 

Jennifer - Actually my oldest son was born in Yuma.  110 degrees at 10AM the day he was born in late May.  You can keep that heat.  Besides, I can always put more clothes on.  Not much you can do when it gets that hot!

I actually look forward to winter.  We ice fish, snow mobile, trap, even camp.  My 12 yo son got a real warm sleeping bag last year.  I think I'll get one like it.  He slept outside at minus 20 last year.  

I don't know what you can do down there, but there must be some winter activities outside that you can do?  How about getting out on some snowshoes or something?  Need to do something in the winter or it will wear you down.

Your feet don't have to be cold...maybe some insulated extra-tuffs?  We use bunny boots of course.  Just trying to keep you from getting SAD. 

Marty - I've gotten better about winter.  That's part of what this post was about.  I used to just sit around and read, hardly ever go outside, and I would get SAD pretty bad.  I have to admit, I couldn't live up north.  Last year we did have enough snow for snowshoes but usually Southeast is just wet.  It's a different kind of cold.  I spend a lot of time outside during the summer although this year not quite as much as usual.  We will be doing some huge landscaping projects next year and the planning of those will keep me quite busy as well.  Nothing brightens my mood like a good gardening catalogue.

For once I'm actually excited about my winter projects.  That is a complete turn around from years ago.

Debbie - I hate winter myself. As I have grown older I have learned to really appreciate all the seasons except for winter. The 1st snowfall is great but after that get me to Spring! It was strange looking at your winter picture. I know winter is just around the corner here in Massachusetts...UGH!

Bill - That photo was from last winter.  I didn't want to look at it, but I have forced myself to do so.  I am really trying to concentrate on winter bringing me opportunities.  I hardly ever have time to do the inside things I want to do because I'm always on the go during the summer.  This year I've got so many plans, so many ideas that with any luck, spring will be here soon!

first question.....  Debbie........what is someone who doesn't like winter doing living in Alaska?

....Jennifer.......We are presently starting our 3rd Arizona winter...and let me tell you, as someone who grew up in Saskatchewan and Ontario....  I love never having dates!  We were finally able to start sleeping with the windows open just last night, and today it was actually cool enough to leave the A/C off and the doors open. When I'm feeling homesick for winter (actually hasn't happened yet) - I pop up to Canada for a week or so to visit my parents and siblings.......or head to Colorado to visit our college kids.  One week a year does it for me.  (I will admit however.....  that ONE day of the year is pretty lame with 75 degree weather.....and I'm sure I don't have to tell you what day that is!)

Nancy - I really don't mind winter as much as I am just sad saying goodbye to summer.  I love this area more than this blog shows, really.  Mostly I was just sad my garden season had come to an end.  I have lived in Arizona, Nevada and California and I just couldn't deal with the heat!  It made me literally very sick.

I was just a little whiney yesterday.  My husband and his father are going to Mexico in a few weeks for a fishing tournament.  Sometimes I go, sometimes I don't.  This year I chose to stay home so maybe it's just a little regret that I am not going.  Fake and bake along with excersise and occasional massages will get me through.

This year, I have so many plans during my slow season and over the winter that part of me is actually looking forward to it.  I have a beautiful home that I really haven't been able to spend much time in.  I haven't decorated or even hung a single piece of artwork on the walls.  I have a gym membership that I rarely seem to have time to use.  This winter is about renewal.  It's about making new habits.  It's also about making sure these other projects aren't hanging over my head next summer!

Debbie!  Long time no see!  I remember when I lived in Buffalo New York in Mid November the sky would become so grey!  Today we went out to replenish some fliers at a listing , and I noticed the leaves were starting to fall.  No frost yet however.

Jim - Back at you!  Hello and always nice to have you stop by.  It's almost 10PM and down to 39 degrees and it feels like it will get nippy again but not quite a frost.  Definitely time to start planning next summer's garden and still a little time to plunk a few bulbs in the ground.  I love daffodils!  Strange because I don't really like yellow on anything else.

Sounds as though you have a lot of fun winter projects.

Hopefully putting it in writing will help keep me motivated,