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Jean McDermott is a freelance writer and professional muscian.
One of our favorite places to visit is the Large Animal Research Station (LARS) rum by the University of Alaska here in Fairbanks. I thought you might want to see what these animals move like, which gives you a better idea of the animals than looking at still pictures.
The idea was to shoot video of the animals. If you turn up the sound you'll get a bit of the informal lecture the docent was giving, and you might hear Ole, my son, ask a question or two.
The docent asked the crowd if anyone knew the difference between reindeer and caribou. I replied that they both taste the same (and are very yummy). Another lady said, "Reindeer can fly, of course!"
Around the summer solstice the sun just dips below the horizon and then pops right back up again. Around midnight or so it goes from daylight to a light twilight. Just as you are saying to yourself, "Gee, I guess I could go to bed now," the sky gets light again.
My son and daughter-in-law were visiting and very much enjoying the sky. I love sleeping with the sound of hermit thrushes calling all night. Note our middle-of-the-night wacky dress!