I am not a morning person. Never have been and probably never will be. But I have friends who are the opposite, who enjoy getting up at the crack of dawn to read the news or run their dogs or watch the sun rise. But me? Get me up before 7am, and I’m ‘bout as useful as a screendoor on a submarine.

This morning in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, the sun rose at 6:35am. I remember those early mornings of warm sunlight pouring in my bedroom windows. And unless there was a fresh box of Krispy Kremes on the kitchen counter, I had no interest in getting out of bed until the last possible moment.

When I was considering moving to Alaska, the naysayers cautioned me about the extremes, that the whole state is pitch black dark in the winter and 24 hours of sunlight in the summer. I was pleased to discover this isn’t the case for most of Alaska, especially in Juneau.

I've got to admit though, in the winter it’s tough driving to work in the dark – but spectacular sunrises make it all worth it. When it’s not raining sideways or socked in with ice fog, the most awe-inspiring sunrises can be seen on the horizon. This morning, the sun didn’t rise until 8:19am, and these shots were snapped about two hours later. What a blessing it is to live here and see this glorious view on occasion!

Juneau was hoppin’ this weekend at the Annual Public Market at Centennial Hall and the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. Touted as “the best Christmas shopping in Alaska,” this Thanksgiving weekend tradition welcomed over 170 vendors and thousands of shoppers.

One of my favorite non-shopping activities at the market is the chance to get up close and personal with education birds from the Juneau Raptor Center. Blueberry (aptly named for his deep blue eyes) is an adult raven who was rescued as a chick with a fractured left leg. Being a sucker for blue eyed wildlife, I was instantly captivated by this beautiful bird.

With so many talented vendors and creative handicrafts at every glance, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re running around like a blind dog in a meat house. Here are some of my favorite finds at this year’s market.

I am positively SWOONING over these adorable hand-crocheted baby “XTRATUF” booties. Every Alaskan should have a cuddly cozy pair of these at home. Kindly contact Genny at genevieve.elle [at] gmail.com to get your hands on her one-of-a-kind creations.

Haines resident, Genny Szymanski, shows off her cheeky take
on the Alaska sneaker. — Haines resident, Genny Szymanski, shows off her cheeky take on the Alaska sneaker.

And nothing says “The South” like Mardi Gras and John Deere aprons. These kitchenwares are handmade right here in Juneau and are reversible and can be ordered in a variety of prints and styles. Check out Kathy’s colorful inventory at Sew Passionate.

Alaska Pure Sea Salt Co. features handmade sea salt from the Gulf of Alaska, and boy are they a big hit! I’m a fan of their wild blueberry sea salt, and this year I was surprised to discover two new additions to their line up: the Fresh Lemon and Lime Flake and the Spicy Hot Pepper Flake. I couldn’t resist purchasing the lemon and lime infused salt for rimming margaritas during my next visit to Alabama. Yummo!

I was thrilled to see the Howling Wolf Furs booth in Juneau. These designs are some of the best out there! I went head-over-heels for a pair of their beaver and lynx mukluks, and words do not describe the warmth of these boots – a must have for strutting around town or snowmachining in -30 degree winter.