Fields of Cotton Grass

Forget socks ---- tonight is a tea night. Just put the kettle on. I guess I could crack and turn the heat on - but its 9 C outside, however the humidity is 94 % and I guess its really the damp cool Toronto-esque winter feel that is getting to me or the lack (still) of socks. I was once told at camp that the secret to being warm was having warm dry feet, and if you could achieve that the rest of you would normally be okay. I can't think of any special biology reason why warm feet are so important to a general feeling of warmth, but whoever told me this, and lent a shivering 20-something version of myself warm, dry, fleece socks and dry boots, was a saviour.

I've been slowly, a few rows a day, been working on a new pair of socks. They will of course be conducive to warm dry feet - after that I think I'm going to tackle a blanket project. I have a fair collection of cascade yarn (soft and not too itchy, but not durable enough for socks) that I think would do well as a blanket. I haven't decided if I'll stick to something plain, try out entrelac or do something with a bit of lace or cable. I figure it needs to be simple enough to be picked up and put down for months at a time to have a chance of ever getting finished...

and I ramble...

Sunset in Baker Lake

I've been an awful blogger. This summer it was largely an intentional plan to de-technology my life and just spend my time doing real things like hiking, biking, swimming, walking and visiting with family. Furthermore, after taking over 5000 pictures in Norway, I really didn't have as much drive to take photos - and I was rather sick of lugging around 5 lbs of camera wherever I went.

Its funny, this place feels more like home everytime I come back. I appreciate knowing the staff at the northern and the airport. I appreciate my classroom and its actually nice to see my students again. Its good to be busy again, at least some times. Its nice to have a sense of purpose, although I find myself pining just a bit for the crisp morning air in Canmore on my morning ride to the pool, keeping alert for possible encounters with Ms. Elk and her wee'un. I miss the pool too, the rhythem of swimming lengths, with the only things to think about being breathing, counting laps and trying to keep my strokes neat and efficient. I guess its hard not to miss vacation, but lucky for me, I actually enjoy my work. We've been trying to walk more, but, the weather this time of year has a tendency to produce kind of grim rain about 50 % of the time (thus the lack of northern light sightings since I've been here).

Its been busy, and I expect I'll continue to blog only sporadically between now and the end of October... after that, the weather may encourage blogging.

Its actually quite cool today. It caught me off gaurd to find the chill penetrating a long sleeved shirt and a lightly lined softshell on the way to work and on that note I'm going to go find some socks because my feet are the coldest part of me.

Beauty in Norway

Just looking back through my trip pictures I stumbled accross this gem of a special day of hiking in all weather in the small village of Balestrand. Looking out on the Sognfjord and the snow dappled mountains.

In the background, if you can believe in July, I'm having a conversation about hockey players... :D Only a few more months until its Hockey Night in Canada and the Toronto Maple Leafs surprise everyone by winning the Stanley Cup.

Its a beautiful evening in Canada too.