All the squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch want to wish all my female friends a Happy Valentines Day. May all your hearts wishes come true.

Sometimes I swear they know if they come to the window I’ll bring them out pecans to eat. This little girl comes up to the window and looks at me, and I can just see it in her face. Don’t anyone ever try to tell me they are not smart little creatures.

It’s been a long cold spell in the interior and the great Tanana Valley. I thought yesterday that we were slowly working our way out of the deep cold, but upon awakening this morning. The thermometer on the front porch read a cool -50 F. It’s a deep biting cold that works it’s way into everything. No matter what one does, it just makes it hard to do. Whether it be the drive into work or the grocery store. It affects equipment and cars and you. Everyone is bundled up and in the ice fog that comes with this deep cold, we all look like the Pillsbury doughboy in shape or the Michelin man. Nonetheless the little squirrels here on the Permafrost Ranch come to the feeders for something to eat. It doesn’t seem to slow them down, and as I watch them through the window from the warmth of my office it never ceases to amaze me that they survive in these temps.