Niebrugge Studio January Weather Extremes

This year I’ve tried not to let the winter weather get me down.  During the last three weeks we have experienced record cold way below zero, and the yard was carpeted in a thick crust of wind hardened snow.  Fishermen dotted the lake standing by their vehicles for warmth while dangling bait through holes cut in the ice.  Then, the weather abruptly changed and temperatures rose to +40′s Farenheit and the snow disappeared in record time.  The roads became ice rinks when the air temperature met the solidly frozen pavement and caused countless wrecks.  I’ve been happy to watch from my studio window, cozily tucked inside counting inventory and puttering in the office doing year end organization.  Today is +54 degrees, stong winds, and rain in torrents.  Our lake is a sea of wet ice, no fishermen, no vehicles.  I’m sure if anyone was foolish enough to try to drive on the lake in these conditions, the experience would resemble the Tipsy Tea Cups at Disneyland.  And, the lawn is turning green!  This is January in Alaska, good grief!  This weekend I had plans to continue photographing the gorgeous snow scape in Girdwood, but right now there are Weather Advisories for 80-100mph winds in that region.  In Alaska if you don’t like the weather right now just wait a few moments, the one thing you can count on is that it will change!

Gail Niebrugge, Artist