Northern Lights and Southern Moons

The moon has been spectacular this month. Though I wasn’t fortunate enough to see the moon eclipse, I understand that it was a wonder to behold. I’m not the only fascinated with the winter sky. My friend, Donna Claus, who lives in the wilderness in Alaska wrote to tell me of her nocturnal adventures. I’ve posted parts of her letter here. Though this woman and I share many interests and passions – gardening, family, quilting – our world’s could not be more different. I know you’ll enjoy Donna’s letter – her life is fascinating and she’s a good writer!

Nov. 3
I have no idea what awakened me last night.  It could have been one of the dogs curled around our bed.  The window is still open to the cold air  and the dogs hear what is going on outside, graciously keeping me posted. Lately there have been wolves talking in the night.  The dogs get agitated.  Their cousins are calling.  In the night I go out with them just in case their cousins are close by trying to lure them to dinner. 

 Interestingly, I heard no wolves when we emerged from our cocoon of warmth into the chilly Alaska night.  I was head down heading out, trying to get my parka hood up over my hair.  I don’t put on clothes but simply put my parka on and it needs to cover well.  I do that so I don’t fully awaken but the nylon down parka shell is cold wherever it touches so  I am fully awakened by a thousand tiny needles of cold anyway.  Evie, Bander and Mally are at my feet. They are big dogs,  bent on protecting me from……   the Northern Lights.  On a scale of 1- 10 they were probably 7 this night, which still overwhelms me.  I have witnessed their majesty so often and in so many degrees of greatness that it is hard to get higher than 7, so my bar is high for them.  

Finally the dogs bound off to do their thing and I stand with my hood thrown back to simply to stand still and gaze  in awe.  It is the official start of my winter, that first night when the lights make me stop and stare.  They went on for hours which is unusual.  I sat in a lawn chair and simply absorbed them while periodically going in for hot tea or to do a chore in the glorious peaceful deep of the night.  

There was no need for a flashlight or headlamp.  There were no clouds and the moon is almost new so it gives off little light as it skids across the lower quarter of the sky, The Milky Way glows, like trillions of tiny white winter decoration lights. I can see the space station, planets blinking red to green to white, and right over Orions Belt, a dancing purple Aurora.  Then it speeds away, gaining life and soon the entire sky is filled with curtains of dancing light.  Some people say you can hear them.  I don’t know if you officially can, but it is sure easy to imagine that you can!!!!!

We have a bit of snow on the ground so it reflects the night sky up helping me to dance around, yelling and waving my hands delighted to be alive.  There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing the canvas of the sky painted with the moving lights of winter.