Not the Normal November

Past Novembers might find us with lots of snow on the ground, chilly temperatures, snow machine trips out in the woods, ice skating on ponds, skiing, enjoying the wintery outdoors or maybe snugly warm inside enjoying the warmth of our house while temperatures hit the -20 mark. But since this year just can't seem to be "normal" why should we think that November would get the memo and return to the normal life?

A few weeks ago we found ourselves preparing for winter. "Finally"  is what we said. Temperatures had dropped to below 0 and we had a little snow on the ground. we were busy picking up toys and tools and anything we didn't want to be buried under the snow that was sure to follow. We were ready for winter. Keith had shoveled the ice skating pond and it was smooth and slick. I had shoveled the stairs and driveway and we had loaded up our wood supply inside. Then it warmed up to 36 degrees and began to rain! All the snow melted then it started to snow again. Our skating pond was in terrible shape. It froze that night and we figured that the pond would NOT be a skating pond this year because when it froze the ice and snow mixed creating a crusty, bumpy kind of ice that would not be good to skate. The roads became a hazard and School was actually canceled due to the icy roads. We did our home school and remained indoors since walking out our front doors we faced a giant hill of ice in our driveway. That day it snowed on top of the ice creating a beautiful picture of white TILL you stepped on it and your feet wiped out underneath you! Then on Saturday, the weather man threw us for another loop and it warmed up to the 40's and rained for a day! Talk about a slushy mess! The pond filled up with a nice inch or so of water on top of the bad ice which made it completely new again! Then that nice it was clear and cold. Everything froze again. Getting to church was a challenge. They grated the roads but our drive way was slick. I should have grabbed the sled and slide all the way across the street. Our pond was looking great! We just needed it to completely freeze and we would be ready to skate.

Our Sunday evening we spent with our neighbors celebrating Martinstag or St. Martin's Day. A German holiday celebrating the kindness of Martin a roman soldier who among many good deeds he did, he gave his cloak to a man who was cold. We made small lanterns and tried to walk the slippery roads singing Martin songs and holding out little light, lighting the world. During our celebration, Keith looked out the window to realize it was SNOWING! AGAIN! Our thought was well that is good because we can at least shovel snow.

Veteran's Day showed us a nice clear day but a winter storm was brewing. Wind began to blow and blew in a front that hit on Wednesday(yesterday) evening. Wednesday was a warm 38 degrees. With such warm weather we got more rain but we were able to make a  quick snowman and enjoy the warm day.

The wind picked up due to the storm and man was it blowing. It caused trees to blow down, Power lines to get tangled with those trees causing a fire on the wires causing power outages. At those moments I am glad for my mom training me to ALWAYS know where the candles and flash lights are, even though the boys were not so sure the darkness was as fun as I was making it out to be. But the lights came back on a while later and we were all OK. The wind blew all night long and was strong enough to blow the roof of one of our friends house. I went to sleep hoping that when I woke up my house would not be landed in OZ. Most flights have been canceled for the last 3 days due to the wind. I definitely would not want to be flying in this weather!  

This morning we got dumped on with snow and now we are back into a wintery wonderland. The weatherman can't seem to make up his mind of what is going on. This is not the NORMAL November that we usually have! I am enjoying the nice warm weather that I can leave the parka in the closet and just go out in a fleece sweater. Kaden is learning weather pretty good. We can practice predicting what the weather is going to be like and he is learning the difference between the different clouds. Our friend Jason said all this change in weather reminds him of living in Michigan. With the pond freezing and melting so much, I don't know if we should go ice skating or go swimming!

Whatever the weather is today or tomorrow, I am trying to enjoy all the twists and turns that we are getting. Now if the water truck would work so we could fill up our tank. It has been broken for a week and due to the bad weather the planes have not been able to deliver the part that is coming. Life in Alaska is never dull, I tell you!  I have a feeling the normal might not be any more. But we will take it as it comes.