perspicacious.org

[center- above the ice fog- January, 2 (upper left). snow in February, 3. Mexico in March, 4. ready for summer in April, 5. hello, baby leaves, in May, 6. caribou south of Denali National Park, also May, 7. Fairbanks solstice festival in June, 8. wildfire smoke billowing in from the west in July, 9. farmers' market in August, 10. creamer's field fall walk in September, 11. October sunset– no snow yet!, 12. what I did on Sunday in November, 13. happy solstice in December

I know I've said it lots of times before, but life in Alaska really makes the change of seasons so much more anticipated and meaningful. 2009 was a good year in many ways, but I look forward to change in 2010. Which brings us to a very important question– Two thousand ten? Or twenty ten? I am inclined to go with the latter, but R disagrees.

This impressive amount of stuff all fit under my kitchen sink, which I consider pretty miraculous. The pile of stuff graced the middle of my floor for about 2 weeks, while we waited for the time and money to call a plumber. The hose from our dishwasher was leaking under the sink, and the dishwasher was draining through the air vent into the sink, which was dangerous and gross.

Also, the garbage disposal quit on us. Luckily, it didn't need replacing because the plumber pushed the reset button under the unit. Oh, that makes sense. There is so much I don't know about home repairs. R is better than me, but between the two of us we don't really know a whole lot.

Where does one learn this stuff? Is it intuitive? Do you just look things up online as they happen and then make the best of it? Do tell.

We had a wonderfully uneventful Christmas around here. We had the traditional Christmas Eve appetizers and opened stockings. We hung out at R's brother's house on Christmas morning with many kids and much chaos. We've been appreciating the return of the light.

I like Christmas in adulthood very much. We've spent today watching movies and playing board games, and it feels just right. I think in the back of my mind I've always felt that Christmas traditions require children, but now I don't think that's true. Traditions can be made anytime, with anyone. I'm liking ours, especially the easy, comfortable ones. And I've been making lots of lattes, which is good, too.

anyone lived in a pretty how town

-ee cummings

Around the sun we go again. Enjoy it!