Cool cloud formation

I couldn't decide which picture I liked best so I'll post them all.  I'll let you tell me which you like best in the comments.

Saying Good-bye to the Zhdanovs

We all went out to The Brewhouse for Cassandra and Artem's last dinner in Alaska before they head back to Chishmy.  Would you believe they both had prime rib?  Rare (or even medium) meat is unsafe to eat in Russia.

Skiing at Alyeska

We rented a house for two days and went skiing at Alyeska on Tuesday, January 11.  Everybody took lessons.  We learned from our mistake a few years back.  (Sorry, Mike.)  Artem and Michelle stayed on Chairs 3 and 7 and Stan and Cassandra skied the whole mountain.  The sun came out for minutes only but we still had a very fun day. 

 Artem and Cassandra - picture perfect.

The hot tub felt very, very good at the end of the day.

 Sourdough pancakes taste the best the day after skiing.

Out on the Snowmachines

Stan, Artem, and Cassandra went snowmachining one day out to 4 Mile on the Klutina Lake Road (each with their own machine.).  Michelle went along the next day riding along on Stan's machine.  (Now I know what it was like for Cassandra and Emily to be the passenger all those years ago.)  We went out to Hudson Lake.  The temperature was great both days.

New Year's Eve

We had a New Year's Eve bonfire at the shop.  Cassandra and Artem were in charge of getting the wood on the fire (and later setting off the fireworks.)  The temperature warmed up from 40 below zero to above zero which made it a very pleasant evening.  There was a lot of food, good friends, and fireworks.  Happy New Year to all!

 Putting fuel on the fire...

 ...and more fuel...

 ...and even more fuel.

 Stan used a bottle rocket on a wire to light the bonfire.