24-7 Daylight

[Katie]

Waaaay back in the good ol' days I used to live in the Yukon, the Canadian territory alongside Alaska. One of the greatest things I loved there was the never ending sun in the summer. It got a bit dusky between 11 pm and 2 am, then full daylight again.

It is coming up to the longest day of the year, and my youngest daughter just posted on Facebook about experiencing the same thing, but she's in Russia with her work right now. It brought back such great memories of canoeing in the middle of the night, just because I could

I told her to enjoy it while she can, because in the winter it is just the opposite...almost 24-7 darkness. That was the part I didn't enjoy, except for the fantastic show of Northern Lights. The sky was lit up with huge waves of colour, and if you got away from civilization (not hard up there) you could hear them make a snap, crackle, pop sound, like big static electricity.

Anyone else besides our two Alaska & Yukon friends been able to enjoy this?

Or what is the most unique thing you've experienced where you live?

[ajj1001]

... being nestled in the midst of a bowl of mountains Manchester has the dubious honour of being the catarrh capital of the country, unique but not desirable.

[Katie]

of being the catarrh capital of the country

Even if I don't understand what that means, it doesn't sound pleasant!

[ajj1001]

Even if I don't understand what that means, it doesn't sound pleasant!

the damp conditions exacerbates the production of it (and if you don't know what catarrh is don't google it, you are best off never knowing)

[Katie]

LOL, I'll take your advice for now, but my curiosity may get the best of me before too long

It sounds beautiful there though, if that helps make up for the other 'thing' .

[Cindylou]

Yes, I was wondering what "that" was too! lol Katie, a number of years back, when my oldest brother was still alive, my hubby and I went to visit him in Juneau Alaska. It was our first trip to Alaska. Well, as luck would have it, our very first night there, after my brother got us all settled in to our Bed and Breakfast accomodations, he called us frantically as he was heading back to his apartment. The Northern Lights were doing their thing outside, he said, get out there! Well, in the short 5 minutes after he had left, I had already brushed my teeth, thrown my pajama's on, and was snuggled under the covers in bed, so tuckered out after the long day of travel. I waved my husband on, saying I'll catch them tomorrow night (yeah, right) so he sauntered off alone into the darkness to witness one of God's spectacular fireworks! He kept wandering down the road in awe of what he was seeing until it dawned on him that, yikes, he was in Alaska, and there are bears around here! After that thought, he turned on his heels, and hi-tailed it back to our little place! haha I never did get to see The Northern Lights while we were there, unfortunately, but since we have acquired our sweet cabin way up in northern Minnesota 5 summers ago, I have witnessed some of the most spectacular light shows! Usually, sometime on a summer night, after the mosquitoes have gone to bed, Rick and I will take our pillows, walk down to the water, and just lay on the dock, looking upward for whatever may be happening that night in the skies. What a difference it makes, getting away from all the city lights, pretty darn close to "pure blackness," and being able to see our Almighty God at work!

[Cindylou]

I accidentally posted my reply twice. Sorry!

[Katie]

No worries.....it is worth repeating

Mosquitoes go to bed where you live????? Sounds like paradise...although maybe I give up too early ;-) We can't go outside after 7 here without getting swarmed, and tonight was just awful. I left the horses out a bit later than usual because it was so nice, but they were lathered up with trying to escape the nasty things. I'm praying for the cool fall weather already!

Your spot at the lake sounds fabulous, and I'm very envious. I think a trip is in order

I can't believe you didn't go out in your jammies to see the lights in Alaska! With that famous spirit you keep showing us?! I saw lots more lights when living a bit further south but never as good as that night.

It's funny...living in the north, I got so used to seeing bear in my back yard that I never really worried about them. Cougar were another issue though. I did get a little nervous while on a walk one day when I realized I was underneath a tree with a mommy bear and two cubs...not a safe spot at all. Just kept whistling and walking quickly in the other direction....

[Cindylou]

No worries.....it is worth repeating

Mosquitoes go to bed where you live????? Sounds like paradise...although maybe I give up too early ;-) We can't go outside after 7 here without getting swarmed, and tonight was just awful. I left the horses out a bit later than usual because it was so nice, but they were lathered up with trying to escape the nasty things. I'm praying for the cool fall weather already!

Your spot at the lake sounds fabulous, and I'm very envious. I think a trip is in order

I can't believe you didn't go out in your jammies to see the lights in Alaska! With that famous spirit you keep showing us?! I saw lots more lights when living a bit further south but never as good as that night.

It's funny...living in the north, I got so used to seeing bear in my back yard that I never really worried about them. Cougar were another issue though. I did get a little nervous while on a walk one day when I realized I was underneath a tree with a mommy bear and two cubs...not a safe spot at all. Just kept whistling and walking quickly in the other direction....

Wow, now that would have just scared me silly, being so close to a mama bear and her two cubs! My brother did tell me though, that whistling or wearing a whistle around one's neck, or carrying some bells, were all good ideas while out hiking in bear country, so as not to surprise any bears! One day while we were visiting him, he suggested we check out the Mendenhall Glacier while he was working that day. Well, we did, but no sooner than we got out of our vehicle to begin our hike, we read a posting hammered on a pole to all the visitor's of the park, that a mama bear and her cubs had been spotted in very close proximity to the area and to proceed with one's hiking with caution and care. Yeah, forget that! I immediately marched back to the car, jumped in and slammed the door....one Mendenhall Glacier checked off my list! haha Hubby couldn't believe what a wuss I was!

Well, speaking of the cabin, it has been a wonderful experience over these last 5 years, no doubt, but I am afraid to think that our days owning it are indeed numbered. These last few years of the recession have really hit my husband's business hard. Very hard. It's the main reason why we sold our other home and downsized last year, sold cars, etc. And we have just been hanging onto the cabin with a wing and a prayer. I am our financial bill payer and budgeter of the family and I am just not seeing the numbers add up right to hold onto it. My hubby, on the other hand, has his head in the sand, and does not want to hear the hard facts, unfortunately. He absolutely closes down when I try and broach the subject. Anyone else ever deal with stubborn spouses like this, over familial financial issues? It's no fun being the dooms-dayer, that's for sure, but somebody has to take on that unpopular role, you know? So, I have just been praying for wisdom in how to handle this with him, and also praying that the Lord would open his mind up to hear. CL

[Katie]

What about moving up there permanently? The down sides to that idea sound like they would be greatly overcome by all the good things....I'm sticking my head in the sand too...sorry! Seriously...that cabin is your soul-saver....out of the way, yes, but you talk of it so often. A snowplow, a four wheel drive and lots of firewood would get you through the winter

I'm truly sorry that you are facing this decision...it would be a heartbreaker to both of you.

I treat mosquitoes like you do bears If there are more than half a dozen trying to take my blood, I'm outta there! Bears, snakes, bull moose...whatever LOL, the things that send us spinning!