January 2012

Death: A REAL Alaskan Specialty

So many interesting ways to die in the Last Frontier!
Today my cozy complacent Pacific Northwest world was turned upside down. The temperatures dropped INTO THE TWENTIES. And SNOW fell on the ground! I was scrambling to keep my chickens warm, dressing up to go outside, hanging up damp clothes to dry, and cursing the entire time.
 
Of course, that's life in Alaska the entire winter. Heck, you're lucky if the temperatures get up into the 20s, that's a balmy day! And what do you do? Acclimate, mostly. I know people who have chickens in Alaska, and who don't really do too much extra for them. They might lay down some straw to keep their feet out of the snow, or turn on a heat lamp when the temperatures get below zero. Horses in Alaska don't wear jackets, they just grow extra-thick winter coats. And people don layers and layers of clothing.

The Fur Rondy

As unique as it is unlikely
Even though it has been over twenty years since I moved away from Alaska, when February approaches I always think "Fur Rondy time!" 
 
The official name is "The Fur Rendezvous Festival," but everyone just calls it "Fur Rondy." Mostly because "rendezvous" is a difficult word to spell, but also because it's not easy to decide how to pronounce it. You can pronounce it the right way, the French way, and come off like an effete hoity toity smarty pants. Or you can pronounce it the local way, the American way, and sound like some kinda redneck hick.
 
Or just call it "Rondy." That's safer.