We have a delightful and active new addition to our family by the name of Shadeaux (shadow). We chose a French spelling for her name to go with her as she is a frisky, all black toy poodle. We drove sixty-five miles one way to get her last Sunday through inches of new fallen snow over the icy road. The gloominess of the past couple weeks has changed dramatically.

We all miss Muppet terribly and he left such a void. My husband decided that we did need another dog to love, not as a replacement for Muppet because he can't be replaced, but a little female full of life. So, she is here and keeping all of us very busy. Miss Katie Cat, however, is not pleased with her arrival and hisses at her whenever she is near. I am certain that won’t last for long and that Katie will eventually decide to become friends. Gizmo, one of my African Grey parrots, saw her on my lap and said "Muppet, Muppet" as Muppet is his only word for Dog. Gizmo and the other birds are very content with Shadeaux. Miss Katie is the only one who is very concerned.

We had our Crime Stoppers Christmas party tonight. We had a lovely time and all the foods were so good. I know there were some foods that are absolute avoids and with those I had just a sliver. The beneficials (and there were some) I ate in abundance. Now, well satisfied, I am home for the evening. Also, I will be the new chairman for the coming year, so there is a bit more added to my plate.

Today, December 21, 2006 is the shortest day of the year. Tomorrow the daylight will slowly begin to increase again. Sunrise was at 10:12 a.m. and sunset was at 3:53 p.m. for a total of 5 hours 41 minutes, 22 seconds. Tomorrow’s daylight will increase by a couple seconds over today’s daylight amount. Yesterday’s state high temperature was at Metlakatla and Annette Island. The low temperature for yesterday was -31 at Mag North Pole. Much of the state has been experiencing a large blizzard with lots of snowfall.

The sky is fairly clear tonight and the aurora forecast calls for active northern lights. The forecast never gives an idea of when we might see the aurora borealis and most of the time I miss it. However, some of the photos I have seen recently have shown them to be very bright and active. I love to watch them dance across the sky. Unfortunately, they often do that around 2 or so in the morning when I am fast asleep.

In just a few days it will once again be Christmas. On Christmas Eve the kids come home for the evening for munchies and opening presents. It is the one time during the year when we all or most get together. This is a MOST year as Dawn and her family will not be down from Anchorage. So tomorrow my husband, our new baby puppy, and I will travel to Anchorage to take presents up to them and return with gifts from them for the rest of the family. We did have to wait for a break in the weather to make this trip. We have had to make too many bad weather trips in the past and just didn’t want to do that again now. The roads are still not good, but not as bad as they could be either. At least the whiteout conditions have gone and that should make the trip much more pleasant.

I am continuing to make and drink the green smoothies. I really like the way I feel after drinking all the easily digested blend of fruits and greens. It not only tastes really good, but I enjoy the energy I receive and know that it is doing my body good. It is a very refreshing drink.

Well, I am really tired tonight. The puppy isn’t sleeping well all night yet. She is just eight weeks old. Soon she will get into our nightly sleep habit, too, and then we will all sleep a bit better. So, until next time…………………..