I have been in Alaska now for just under two months, and at last I am documenting my life. I want my friends and family to see all we are up to, and hear our news, however exciting or mundane it may be. I will take some steps back to cover my life as Mrs. Hull, but for now I want to share these beautiful peonies. Fairbanks has the perfect climate for peonies and since they have a later blooming season than the lower 48 (that's what Alaskans call the rest of the country...that's their nice way of referring to the "others") the gorgeous blooms are in high demand around the world. The sun made a glorious entrance today after weeks of rain, it seems, so I left my newly obtained fabric that is eagerly awaiting to be made into living room curtains, and prepared to take myself on an outing. My sweetie gave me a CamelBak backpack the other day, so I filled it with the icy cold water that comes from the well, gathered my pencil box, a large drawing pad, and a camp chair, and headed for the Georgeson Botanical Gardens. After three hours and a sunburn, I produced my first drawing in a long time.