Celebrating the day of enough daylight

Well, hello friends! I'm breaking my blog hibernation with the announcement that today is the first day sunrise and sunset will again coincide with the start and end of my work day- 7:22 a.m. and 5:02 p.m. respectively. So hooray (!), I can finally see the light- at least when I get home from the office, that is. Which basically means, things are only looking up from here until mid-October (when again, the lack of daylight will probably make me think it's time to hibernate or take a vacation).

Die-hards SUP-ing in 15 degree temps at Eagle Beach Recreation Area in Juneau ~ February 2015

Lately, I’ve definitely had spring on my mind.

I've been back in Alaska without leaving at all since the beginning of January, and though I wouldn't have minded a warm-weather vacation during that time span, it hasn't been that bad to be wintering in Southeast Alaska. Some days it's been cold, yet beautiful.
Other times it's been a lesson in patience.

Well, what doesn't kill us... right?

Because of our sailboat and because we have family and friends living in various places across the country, we've made a small hobby out of paying attention to what the weather is doing. With the exception of a few particular weeks, Juneau has experienced higher average temperatures than most states east of the Sierras.



It seems like the critters here are also anticipating an early spring. With warmer temperatures and milder weather in the last week or so the sea birds near my home have been more active, as well as the ravens and bald eagles. Pine siskins have also appeared, their flocks swirling among the Sitka spruce and Western hemlock with daring acrobatics. Who needs a groundhog when you have pine siskins? Their high-pitched chirps are a joyous chorus that sounds like springtime to me.

I *promise* to return very soon and not hibernate for another six weeks like a certain aforementioned large rodent...

In the meantime, stay warm and think spring, friends!