Resting in Palmer

We are here in Palmer kicked back and resting.  Yesterday we went to a farmers market, we found some tomatoes that looked really good and bought a couple.  Today went to the used book store and stocked up on books.  I read a lot at night while  Barb is doing beading or knitting. 

I fixed halibut on the grill the other night, and Diane fixed a great mango salsa to go with it.  Tonight we had lasagna, Diane’s recipe.   We take turns fixing dinner.  Lunches and breakfast are on our own.  Some times we eat out when we find a good restaurant or we are busy during the day and don’t have time to cook.

I was looking back at pictures I had taken and not used in the blog.  Here are some of the musk ox.  These were taken at the university in Fairbanks.  The lines through the pictures are the fence, it was a double fence about 4 feet apart, I could not get away from it.  The hair of the musk ox is gathered and yarn  called qiviut is made from it.  It is very soft and used to make sweaters, stoles, scarves and other things.  I don’t know how they collect the hair, I would not want to be the guy trying to curry comb the hair from one.  The musk ox runs wild in northern Alaska on the tundra, I have read that a limited few hunting license  are issued each year.  License for a bull is $500.00. I don’t think I’ll try for one.  I have not figured out which is which.

Tomorrow we are meeting with Barb’s cousin Tina who lives here in Palmer.  We finally caught up with her as they have been in Texas visiting her daughter when we first came thru Palmer.  We are having lunch together and catching up on each others families. 

Fall is approaching up here.  I have seen leaves starting to turn yellow.  The nights are getting longer. We have 19 hours and 23 minutes of daylight today.  Tomorrow there will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds less daylight.  I hope to see the northern lights before we leave.