"To be VERY cold!" = irriliq" in Inupiaq Eskimo

It's been well below -50 oF but it's warming up!

What did mama buffalo say when her youngest went off to college?
"Bison."
http://www.free-kids-games.com/

A diet rich in berries may boost levels of good cholesterol and improve blood pressure, signifying its potential benefits for heart health, according to a new study from Finland, reported NutraIngredients.com. Full Story

http://www.usda.gov/2008/02/0036.xml
STATEMENT BY AGRICULTURE SECRETARY ED SCHAFER AND U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN C. SCHWAB REGARDING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION ON RECENTLY PROPOSED FARM BILL AMENDMENTS

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Interest Rate Summary
Rates valid from 2/08/08 to 2/08/08
Loan Programs
30 Year Factor ........... 15 Year Factor
Rural Housing *5.625 .005757 5.250 .008039
Rural Non-Owner Occupied * 5.625 .005757 5.250 .008039
Tax-Exempt FTHB (TEP) and Veteran Tax-Exempt (VTEP) 5.500 .005678 5.125 .007973
Veterans Mortgage (VMP) 5.500 .005678 5.125 .007973
Taxable 5.875 .005915 5.500 .008171
Non-conforming 6.125 .006076 5.750 .008304
Taxable First-Time Homebuyer 5.750 .005836 5.375 .008105

Got a recent email from a former Delta resident: I asked her if it was okay to put as an entry & she said yes.
Former 1971 Delta Graduate Tracy Taylor:
"Ruby,
I graduated in 1971.
I'm Tracy Hempstead, used to be Tracy Taylor.
I check the Delta NewsWeb often, and chuckled this morning
when I saw your post for summer flowers.
I'm in Virginia now, and it's entirely too warm. It was in the 70's
yesterday, which is completely stupid for January.
I miss 50 below and ice fog. I even miss buffalo!
You know the saying....'you can take the person out of Alaska,
but you cannot take Alaska out of the person'. it is so very true.
Your blog pictures are great. I really enjoy your postings..
Someday I intend to bring my husband to Alaska, and treck
around the Delta that looks entirely different than it used to, I am told.
And I am seriously considering bringing him "home" in late
January or early February.
He'll see better Northern Lights than he EVER saw in Vermont,
where he was raised. (he thinks he knows all about cold, coming
from Vermont.....)
Have a wonderful day, bundle up well!

"yes, you can add what I wrote to your blog.
thanks for the quick answer!
I'm sitting in my office watching red wing blackbirds and robins
in the yard. since my office is at my house, I watch deer a lot
also....especially when they're eating all my plants. they really
like to do that. This in February. It should be cold, but, no, we
have birds and green grass. There are plusses to a real winter.
Buffalo....I remember buffalo from as long as I remember
anything. are they still as unpreictable and stubborn as they
used to be, or have you guys bred some of that out of them?
what I really hated was driving down the road (in the dark, of course)
and seeing legs and glowing eyes in the headlight beams....
another buffalo planted in the middle of the road. all you could
do was slow down, hope they moved (50/50 chance), and start
watching for a nice place to go in the ditch. I'm glad you've found
something productive to do with them!
yes, I remember Keasters, I think they were a couple years ahead
of me. Cummings....Jimmie was in my class, and Fetts, I think
Dale was a year ahead of me. Bobbie Green was in my class,
is he still up there also?"
Tracy