Hi.  Zeb the Duck here and I am so surprised and embarrassed.  You all know my Alaska uncle and my Alaska cousin.  Today I got a letter and pictures from them and I learned my Alaska cousin has a name.  I never knew that.  The name is Eider and Eider is also a large sea duck that live and breeds in the Arctic.  Eiders can fly at speeds up to 70 mph.  I learned that from Wikipedia.  My cousin, Eider, is a true Alaskan!

Eider and family went to Chatanika Lodge, about 28 miles from Fairbanks.  These are some of the photos we received.   The entrance to the lodge has real moose antlers and much natural fur.

Entrance to Chatanika Lodge

The eagles are carved from wood.   Here Eider is sitting on a rail made of spruce.

Eider on spruce rail with bumps

The bumps on the cedar are all natural.   These carved wooden bears are inviting on this winter day.

Eider on snowy bears

Eider is sitting on a snow bank and looks cold.

Eider on snow bank. Brrr

Take him inside Alaska uncle!

Inside the lodge is a small restaurant.

Eider on lamp shade near bear skin

There are a lot of old Alaskan art and artifacts.  Here is Eider on a doll.

Eider on antique doll

Eider is sitting on old sewing machine by a Harley Davidson motorcycle lamp.

Eider on sewing machine by Harley lamp

They visited Chatanika Lodge during Christmas, so we can see some decorations.

Looking at snowy outdoors

This time Eider is sitting on a bear trap.

Eider. You are on a bear trap!

Be careful cousin!  This is my cousin Cindy holding Eider by a dall sheep.

Cindy holding Eider near dall sheep

Dall sheep are known for their curled horns.  The horns grow in the spring and summer and then in fall and winter the growth slows and stops.  The growth pattern forms rings, called annuli, and the age of the dall sheep is determined from the horns.

In March Chatanika Lodge holds Chatanika Days festival.  One of the events is outhouse races.  Teams build outhouses, a person must be in outhouse and the teams race down a course.  This is the original outhouse entered by the lodge for the outhouse races.

Ready for outhouse races

Be careful Eider.

This looks like a great place.  To see more visit www.chatanikalodgeak.com  Thanks for sending pictures Eider.