4 August 2011 This morning, the air seemed fall-like.  Yes, we know it’s coming.  The Fair starts tomorrow, but the near 80 degree temperatures this afternoon remind me of the mixed blessings we have here in Fairbanks during the month of August.  I am happy being with whatever mother nature has in store for us.  Tonight we may see an aurora–who’d think of such a thing in early August?  And guess what, the steam pipe on Third Avenue’s been fixed.  Plus, the street project over by the Morris Thompson Center is done.  Mus mean fall’s right around the corner!  Here at my feet is a riot of color as the flower beds proliferate with foxglove, snapdragon, pansy, and daisy blooms.  Nectar sweet as honey is what it is. Enjoy the summer heat while you can, and embrace the coming fall with exuberance!

 10 July 2011 It’s that time of year again.  Yup, you know what I’m thinkin’ if you’ve been out and about any farther than a mile or so from where you live.  It’s construction time.  Now, right around the corner, Aurora Energy has the broken steam pipe dug up.  You know, I kinda liked the warm steam oozing up from the storm drain by me on Cushman Street.  Made me think of the old steam baths most every day.  Right now, there’s a big hole with bits and pieces of rusted pipe strewn about.  I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

We have a lot coming up in the next few weeks–Golden Days, including the Rubber Duckie Race and the Parade, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Red Green Regatta, Battle of the Bands, just to name a few.  I’m having a blast meeting all our summer visitors and enjoying the fine weather we’re having.  I want to invite you to be out and about, too.  Stroll on downtown–come by the store and have a visit, walk along the river, take some time to enjoying being in Fairbanks.  And have a great July!

 2 June 2011 I’m smiling day and night now.  Monday was the beginning of summer as far as I’m concerned; the store staff spent all day outside with me preparing flower beds and planting and hanging flowers.  I’m pleased as punch at the result.  Plus the sidewalk is clean!  If you haven’t been by this week, be sure to come soon to see the city beautification effort.  The same day our flowers went up, magnificent flower pots were hung on the 301 Cushman building.  Kudos to Brice Inc.’s office manager for taking such a great interest in making the street look beautiful.  And voila, on June 1st the Festival Fairbanks crew came through and planted the city planters and hung baskets from the light poles.  What a sense of summer!  Downtown is a happening place, so come on down.  We’re open until 8 now every night except Sundays when we close at 5.  Those extra hours may be just what you need when you want to come by and shop after work.  I hope to see you soon!

11 May 2011 Well, I just had around 75 or 80 people come by and say hello to me.  They are getting ready to fire up those tour busses and introduce visitors to the Golden Heart City.  I’m pleased as punch to make their acquaintance.  It’s a great job they have, talking with everyone who visits and showing them what’s unique and magical about life here in the Interior. 

I’ve been watching the leaves pop out on the trees across the street.  With a few nights when the temperature stays above freezing, we’ll see a big swing from spring to summer and it’ll happen real fast–right on cue.  Glory be, I can hardly wait!  And the Charity Walk is this Friday at 6pm–a sure sign summer is on its way.  Get your sneakers on, folks, and get in gear.  Stroll around downtown and see what’s happening.

25 March 2011 Because the days are warming, the sun is higher in the sky, and the last of our November ice is beginning to melt away, I reckon that’s the excuse I   give for having such a wild Maple dream the other night.  I dreamed I was upcountry in Vermont, in the Town of Cabot to be exact, when I come upon this powerful amount of steam pouring from atop a sugar house.  I pulled up to take a look.  The sign at the road read Goodrich Sugar House.  I moseyed on in to find a monster of an evaporator.  A fire-eating dragon, glinting stainless steel, with windows to view the sap as it made its way through the boiling process to become pure Vermont Maple Syrup.  That monster consumed 45 gallons of fossil fuel and produced 100 gallons of Maple Syrup in an hour’s time.  Add one more piece of information to the equation, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.  The Goodriches had 43,000 taps on a vacuum system to feed that hungry beast of an evaporator.  Anything of this magnitude has to be a wild dream, kinda like the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was a wild dream awhile back.  Anyway, I just kept right on dreaming.  Suddenly, I  was standing beside Burr Morse at the Morse Farm in East Montpelier.  He was keeping a close eye on his evaporator.  A much smaller operation, his evaporator was fueled by wood chips handily delivered to his shed.  3,000 taps supply his vacuum system.  On the other side of town at the Bragg Farm, the brothers were tromping through the woods hanging buckets and tapping the last of the Maples.  Their Sugar House was filled with split wood, their evaporator ready for action.  These men do it the old time way, waiting for Mother Nature to deliver the recipe for sugaring off.  No sir, they aren’t vacuuming sap out of their trees, nor are they using fossil fuel to fire an evaporator.  There’s not a sweeter smell on earth than when sap is boiled down into the ambers that top waffles and pancakes and provide the sweetness for a great  pot of baked beans.  Flash up to Cummings Road in East Montpelier where Burr’s brother has the sweetest little backyard sugaring operation you ever set your eyes on.  An arch fabricated just so, and a stainless steel evaporator the likes of which I’ve never seen.  Under the bright afternoon sun he was making liquid gold out there in his backyard.  Finally, I woke up and was back on Cushman Street where I belong.  I don’t think I need Freud or anyone else to help me analyze this dream; all I know is that at this time of year, everyone ought to get themselves some pure Vermont Maple Syrup and taste a little gold.  Spring is coming, you better believe it!

16 February 2011 On the first few nights of the Yukon Quest the skies were crystal clear.  Here in Fairbanks the Alaska Range was in full view at sunset and Denali posed large in the distance.  In the dark of night the northern lights raced across the sky while the dogs and mushers raced toward Fairbanks.  So much can change in 10 days!  I always worry when the race heads this way–the alternate years when the race begins in the Yukon Territory.  Somehow I can never get Eagle Summit out of my mind, and I worry about teams being tired and sleep deprived when they mount that steep trail.  The temperatures can be bitter, too.  Well this year proved no exception.  Congratulations to Rookie Dallas Seavey who is this year’s race winner!  Now I’m just sending good thoughts to the rest of the teams who need to make it safely through the shoot down here on the Chena.

Just as things change on the Quest trail in 10 days, things change inside the store, too!  New products are arriving almost daily now.  Spring displays are popping up sure as the days are getting longer and the sun is warmer.  Come by and check out what’s new.

 1 February 2011 There’s been alot of discussion recently about air quality and regulations.  The issue is complicated, to be sure.  Some people side on keeping warm no matter what, other people side on what they think is best for the environment.  Regulations don’t come easy, especially with a citizenry that values independence and the Alaskan spirit.  I’m not too political, although I have my opinions you can bet on that.  Right now, I’m just making an observation.  You remember my fabulous Snow Princess outfit I wore    during the holidays?  I loved every minute of the wearing of it and loved to see the smiles on folks’ faces as they passed by.  Well, my hair was festooned out with the white sparkly stuff I’m wearing now.  But as December rolled on, my hair turned grayer and grayer.  No, my dears, it wasn’t because I’m aging.  My gray hair was caused by pollution–no doubt about it.  So, when I got my January makeover, my hair was reset.  Yipee!  Unfortunately, our lungs don’t get the opportunity to reset.  Remember my hair the next time you see haze over the city or hear that the particulate levels are high.  Think about your lungs.  Figure it out for all of us, please.

 11 December 2010  Just when you think the temperature will dive to relentless depths and drive you inside to the fire with cocoa and a good book, lo and behold, mother nature surprises us.  So today, at a balmy -10, I’m outside on the street as usual performing Snow Princess duties.  And whatta know, down at Big Ray’s those Big Dogs are pulling!  Love it, I just love it.  And here at the store we’re in a holiday frenzy as folks shop for perfect gifts.  And do we ever have them–lovely glass cheese trays by Fairbanksan Sarah Holm, handcrafted jewelry by dozens of artists, holiday trays for serving up appetizers  to your friends, grab and go gourmet food, and much, much more.  If you’re looking for useful, practical, artful and fun–come on down.

 28 November 2010  I’m stuffed with thanksgiving.  I don’t mean the food, I mean with all I am thankful for.  I’m most thankful that the dreadful November rainstorm with its accumulation of ice is behind us.  I’m a sturdy gal and can buck up to any cold weather.  Give me that over the rain any day!  Now I’m turning my thoughts to Christmas and Winter Solstice.  As you can see if you come by the store, my outside decorations are now up.  And my chamber is filled with the shimmer of snowflakes.  I’m just loving my dress and coiffure designed especially for me.   If you haven’t been by, you need to have a look see at my Snow Princess dress.  It’s awesome, and sooooo me!  Also, you’ll need to take a look inside the store at the holiday ornaments staff put out during the icy time.  There are great new bird ornaments, lots more unique glass icicles, and much more.  See you soon!

 9 November 2010 I’m jazzed way up!  This afternoon I was standing out here letting the snow mount up on my cape when my tailor came by for a fitting.  Yup, ya know when ya work on the street like I do, that fitting had to take place  right in front of God and everyone flying by on Cushman!  It was like trying on clothes in Filene’s Bargain Basement in ol’ Beantown.  But most Fairbanks gals don’t know about that.  What’s all the hype?  Well, I’m getting ready for Holiday and my dress this year will be one of the finest I’ve ever donned to wish all of you Merry Merry.  Stay tuned!  It should be ready for me for Open House this weekend.

And speaking of tailor made, we have offerings that are tailor made for everyone on your holiday list.  Every hour the store changes as staff set displays for holiday.  Come by often for a visit to see what’s happening.