Down Goes the Sun

Puppy Dog Watching the Sun Set

This is for my dad who I'm sure is wondering why I don't post more pictures of dogs...

Tuktuit

I went "Caribou Hunting" for the first time today armed with only my camera, parka and a thermos of probably now frozen black coffee. I'd never actually seen one before so it was pretty cool. They were lighter than I expected and I only got pictures of the females - we did see some males but that was after my battery died.

Winter on the Barrens

My grandfather spent a number of years working up north around Yellowknife and I grew up enjoying stories about his trips on the Barrens. I really just pressed the button on the camera - the barrens can take credit for the rest of this picture. I was pretty impressed with my camera. I spent over 4 and a half hours outside (I'm also impressed that I held up as well as I did) and the battery didn't die until I was nearly back to town. Sadly that was when I found about 9 caribou all together. I did manage to get it to warm up while I was at the short, however I only got a few shots of the sunset before it died again.

City of Jewels

I love all the bright colours against the snow. The sun was bright today - which really brought them out. This is actually part of a panaramic shot that I took (thus why the picture doesn't seem to be of anything). I'd like the point out the windowy building in the front right corner. This is the Nunamiut Lodge - a place we sometimes go for lunch and one of at least 3 hotels in town. The restaurant is actually in the Solarium - so you can sit and enjoy the view.

A Fine Winter's Day

Here is a shot of Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School taken from the ice on the lake. The Brown and Tan striped building is the local RCMP detachment and no, for my southern friends, Benton Fraser is not currently stationed here. The red building I believe is part of the Arena - although I think in real life its more of a maroon colour. You can see the snow fence in the distance. For reference purposes it is actually 30 ft tall.

Moonlight over Baker Lake

Something about the sky made the moon look kind of nifty.

Just another mosaic Monday

Okay.. more silhouette sunrises - the sun is rising earlier every morning... by May 19th... twillight will be the darkest we get.

Perspective

Its strange how two people can look at the same picture and see entirely different things and even stranger how you yourself can see a picture entirely differently simply by changing the lighting, walking nearer or farther away, squinting your eyes - its just proof that every image we see is as much how we interpret as it is what is actually in front of our eyes and what colour filters we are wearing at the time. The wind today warrented wearing my rose-tinted down hill ski goggles which left our snowy world strangely pink and the blizzard kept it soft edged enough that I was surprised when I got home that I was actually still wearing my glasses, unfogged under my goggles. We have actually been at 0 km visibility all afternoon - it isn't so much the wind (coming from the SE) but the 5 cm of snow that is coming with it...... 5 cm is a lot of snow for here for this time of the year... we are slowly getting closer to the normal amount of snow on the ground for this time of the year, but still below the average.

Still, my observations regarding typical weather of course has its own bias... the length of time that the average has been calculated for is 30 years... not forever.... and weather is notably unpredictable - Still the temperature has risen from -37 to -21 C and once we took steps to keep the draft from the front door in the mudway - the house is cosy and the houses accross the street faint outlines.

Beaufort Calm

It was cold... so cold that the batteries on my outdoor temperature gage ceased relaying the outdoor temperature to me inside.... but it was also so calm that the smoke (well, we are all on oil furnaces - so I"m not sure percisely what the grey plumes rising from our chimney's are - not wood smoke obviously, but anyways....) was rising straight up into the morning sky.... mmmmm

U2 is thrumming on my computer... some days are better than others... and some mornings are simply breath-taking.

I missed getting a beautiful sunset the other day, but today the sky was too fun of 5 cm of snow to really make it possible to see the sun.

This.. I will have to drag my paints out for....

Sunrise, so early in the morn

Although we've never experienced 24 hours of darkness as many of the communities north of us do - we did get down to about 4-5 hours of daylight; meaning that the sun rose about the beginning of second period and set at the beginning of 6th period. Now the sun is up by the beginning of the day and sets just after the final bell. This will hopefully increase the chances for me to take pictures.

The weekend was a busy one. We had a small bridal shower for one of my coworkers. I think the best part was playing games. Its been a long time since I've been to a party with "party-games". However, the food was a close second. B made some of her amazing muffins and there were dips and veggies and several too yummy desserts. I tried my hand at deviled eggs... For my first attempt they worked out not bad, although - really... for the record, honey mustard is more than half mustard - so my substitute left my deviled eggs a touch on the sweet side despite my efforts to temper the sweetness with lemon juice, more mustard, pepper and garlic.

Today, a small army of volunteers tackled a storage area in need of love and organization with most impressive results. Many heartfelt thanks to all of you - should you happen to read this blog. Finally, I've got my second sock started - I'm having trouble keeping the striping the same and I've had a few folks jokingly suggest that they might steal them - I guess thats a pretty high compliment. I'm hoping that my knitting will eventually lead to more people learning to knit, although so far I haven't actually taught anyone how. I'm going to - at some point in the future - start a knitting club for after-school. I'm slowly working on building up the necessary supplies. As for the sock, I hope to spend a bit of time each day on on it... leading to completion sometime next weekend and I'm going to try to come up with a way to keep track of my stripes - unknitting is painful.

The Moon and Venus at Sunset

Just a second picture of the sunset.

Women of the Sky, chatting

Well, everyone else posted one... so I thought "me too, me too"

Happy Milestone Blog

I forgot to mention that I hit the 25,000 hit mark... granted that I'm guilty of probably at least 30-40 % of those hits and granted that I installed the hit counter originally on my old blog somewhat after I started the blog - so the number is kind of meaningless in some ways .... still.. its makes for a cool milestone. So - "so long and thanks for all the" hits.

Jennith

The World Spins On

This is one of my "blizzard" pictures. I just liked it, even though I don't know why it came out the way it did. The weather actually hasn't been bad... or its the same and I've simply gotten used to it. I'm noticing the cold less and less.

I am guilty of reading the newspaper again... and yes... the stupid comments that people make on it and as usual... it has merely left me feeling that there isn't so much hope for our species as I hoped there would be. But I'm sure that there are lots of good people out there with more dignity than to make ignorant comments on news items that seem to serve no other purpose but to give the writer a chance to say something inflamatory anonymously... I do have to give Ignatieff credit for insisting on reading and discussing the budget before giving his opinion... imagine that - a politician thinking before doing something. Even if they already have their minds made up, they at least have the sense to pretend to make an informed decision... the other two parties are guilty of being blatently and shamelessly irresponsible. If they want to vote down the budget, they should have at least pretended to consider its contents first... better still- they could have actually considered the contents first. But most of the comments have next to nothing to do with the article. Its just a convient place to bash the opponents to their favoured political party. Sigh.

I played Badminton for the first time in nearly 20 years on Sunday and was surprised in two ways... First, it turns out that some part of my brain still remembers how to play - so as long as I don't think, I seem to do okay. Second.. its 3 days later and I still ache... who knew that something as tame looking as badminton would be such intense exercise...

I may be somewhat more sparse in my posting in the next few weeks/months as I'm going to have to save up all my inclination to write and funnel it into finishing my thesis. I'm so close to done and my choices are write it now and enjoy a summer of visiting people from coast to coast or... spend my summer tethered to my computer, inside and miserable. Then again.. it might just drive me to post more... I guess we'll see... wish me luck though.

Trillium Socks

After being very excited about all the new knitty projects... I decided to do one that I've had in my head for nearly a year. It is also important that I get my two-handed knitting down pat so that I can start my sweater kit that I've had nearly a year.... So far I'm very happy with them... I'll keep you posted so to speak on their progress...

The pattern is from Sock Hop, by Joseph Madl. Its based on the trillium sweater pattern that was designed by Philospher's Wool.

Ikea Okay

The first time I saw this material in their online catalouge I knew I needed to have it for curtains. Its is as bright and cheerful as you could hope for - but its even cooler with the sun shining through it.

B's Building in a Blizzard

I warned you that these pictures were going to be a little bit bland.... :D

Get my drift

This is our garbage box... fortunately we normally use the one closer to the road that we share with our neighbours. I love the way that the snow makes such interesting drifts.

Treerific

One of the few things I miss in the north is trees... one of the somewhat little known facts about me is that I complete 4/5 of a degree in forest engineering before switching to civil, so I could fit all the civil electives I wanted to take into my schedule. I guess it is just as well, my knowledge of forestry is largely useless up here, but my knowledge of municipal infrastructure and construction actually fits quite nicely into our science curriculum here. Still, I do love forests - and trees - in all seasons. This is a particularly special tree. Anyone who spent any serious time at this place would recognize this birch, most with fondness. There is a folk tale that this birch has magic invisible bungy cords that it sets in the hearts of anyone who spends much time near it... they may leave this place for a while, but the bungy cords will always pull them back. I have to admit to being one of the trees victems, although its more of a comforting tug..... its hard to begrudge a longing for such a beautiful place.

Fortunately for me, in my new home, my second favourite ecosystem, after the boreal and maple beech forests is.... the bog. So, I'm not feeling too deprived. It is certainly beautiful here, but I may have to have people send me videos of walking through the forest in the fall every few years with an envelop of aspen leaves just for effect and I really hope I manage to visit this tree at least for a bit of an afternoon or maybe Friday night campfire.

We've finally been hit full force by the blizzard. Visibility is definately below 0.2 km, but the weather station isn't updating environment Canada, so I can't give any accurate information save that the outdoor temperature is currently -27.6 C. I'll try and take some pictures, but I fear that they will look...um... rather bland. I think there will be some neat snow drifts once the sun comes out on the weekend.

On one final note, thank you to everyone who gave me your vote of confidence for best New Nunavut Blog. I am pleased to announce that I came in second in my Catagory. Congratulations to the winner, Cindy, Matt and their Furry Friends. Congratulations also to TownieBastard for winning in the Best Post Catagory. The Best Blog contest ended in a tie resulting in a run-off vote between TownieBastard and Port Town Ghosts.

Well... I suppose I could post just one more picture

This really is my last post before the Voting for the Nunies 2008 is over.... Its just so bright and summery and even though the "Blizzard of Dire Warnings" is late in arriving, the warning has if anything become more dire than before and contains an unusual amount of information about the meteorological conditions they believe will cause a multiday blizzard - I guess I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I should be glad that my mail snuck into the north before the conditions made it impossible to land....

As a final aside, to this aside, Kara mentioned that there is somewhere in the Yukon where you can buy Fireweed Honey... doesn't that sound amazingly good.

I'm Not Fuzzy, Really!

Ah.... I just finished writing a post. It was a good post - I even read it over and editted it... and then it disappeared into the neverworld of nowhereness when I pressed publish post. It was mostly a lot of rambling about my sleeping bag upgrade - so I guess you are all saved because I don't have time to rewrite it.

This is my last post before the virtual polls for the Nunies close in 2 hours. Vote for the blog you truely believe is best!

In the meantime.. Enjoy the arctic plant above. I don't know what it is.... but it was one of the first pictures I took when I arrived in August.

Winds of Change

I felt the dire weather warning of "Persistent Blizzard" required me to post up something bright and happy and cheery. So take this picture of summer - ye olde nasty blizzard! Actually, I'm still hoping to experience a full-fledged-visibility-reduced-to-zero kind of blizzard and with the recent snow fall, we finally have something for the winds to pick up and blow around up here.

When I first arrived here I was charmed by the abundance of Fireweed literally painting swaths of town in warm shades of purple. Today I was charmed by weather so balmy I nearly could have walked to the store without my coat - well, I certainly did not need a full fledged parka at any rate. This will change quickly as the snows set in an the winds pick up - assuming that they don't chance their minds and do something entirely contrary to weather predictions. But, its nearly a given that that it will get cold again. The mean temperatures for Jan., Feb., and March are all just slightly below -30 C - but it quickly warms up to more pleasant winter temperatures come April and by May its nice.... I've heard so many things about how amazing the spring is here. I do remember April in Repulse Bay and I do remember being amazed by the 2 am sunrises and 11:30 pm sunsets.

So much living to do and not enough hours in the day to live it all at once.... so for now I will go back to enjoying my rare and costly treat of a can of diet coke and just enjoy all the looking forward there is to do.

Final Hours to Vote for the Nunies

The Nunies are coming to a close, with polls shutting down tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 20th, 2008 near midnight - Eastern Standard time.)

There are 3 polls - Best Blog, Best New Blog, and Best Post 2008. You can vote for them at Nunavut Blogs or at The House and Other Arctic Musings.

The Bog Blog of the Tundra has been nominated for Best New Blog. But I think that all of the nominees, especially some of the posts, are worth investigating.

The Scope of my Horo

Almost anything you could wish for is available now, apart, perhaps, from the opportunity to do what you think you most want to do. Don't be fed up when so much else of a positive nature is offered.

What I most want to do is go outside and play and take pictures... definitely not in the cards today... but maybe there is hope for the things that I don't want to do getting done soon. I guess the upshot is that even if I've been working all weekend, I really have little call to complain. I have an amazing job and I live in an amazing community and really after I get all this stuff done and squared away - it'll be smooth sailing. I just need to get over this hill.

I don't know how the guy at the paper manages to create such creepily accurate horoscopes. Maybe there is something to this science of interpreting the stars...

Winter Wings

I was randomly visiting some old pictures and I found this [chickadee] Red Breasted Nut Hatch from Erb Settlement.......

Update: I have to admit my embarrassment to have mislabeled this bird. While my repertoire of birds that I can recognize is somewhat limited, both chickadee and red breasted nuthatch are included in it. I didn't really look too closely at the bird, I sort of recalled (from 2005) watching a chickadee, however, we visited the camp often enough that year that the chickadee must be another time and picture...

Thank you for the correction Clare.

Meanderings of the Mind while Marking

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/images/OOMfaceshotBIG.jpg
I just wanted to post up this link for anyone who'd like to learn how to knit Muskox Slippers

I've got the tunes going to keep me running in overdrive and I'm finding myself in a total Sarah McLaughlin mood tonight. I have a very small and odd selection of music here - a bunch of Bare Naked Ladies and Arrogant Worms mixed with various old mix CD's, 2 new exercise mixes and the 2nd Volume of the Due South Soundtrack.... Nothing like going from Carrot Juice is Murder (Arrogant Worms) to Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) to a dance mix of Clocks(Coldplay) to Ice Cream (Sarah McLaughlin). The Sarah McLaughlin songs make me think wistfully of my new guitar which I've only had time to take out twice. I just have too many neglected hobbies.... like the watercolours that I haven't even taken out once since I've gotten here. I stumbled across the above picture the other day and doesn't it just beg to be painted in water colours? (Sunday Creek - August 2006 - Algonquin Park)

I am camping in Algonquin this summer. I don't care how busy I am.... it'll be over two years since I've camped there (the last time I spent overnight in Algonquin was in April 2007 - we camped at Grand Lake (Archay Campground) - but I think I need to do some serious hiking - well I guess I could give up Algonquin in exchange for a 5 day trip through the Cloche Mountains, although chances are that its too late to book any interior sites and too early for me to know when I'm free.... ah well, one bridge at a time.... and its clear that if I spent less time rambling along on my blog I might have more time to paint, knit and play guitar... but alas... I enjoy blogging too....

Well, we're onto Finger 11 I think..... or Daughtry maybe... and I hear a faint clamour from that desk over there - "mark me, mark me, mark me..."

Tagged - 6th Pic Meme

I was tagged by Kennie of Tales of the Arctic along with 5 others. I was to take the 6th picture in the 6th file folder in whatever folder my photos were in.

Of course, the way my photos are organized... I seem to only have 4 folders in a lot of directories. So I went to Picasa where I deal with all my photos put them in order by name and took the 6th picture from the sixth folder.

Here is a picture of me taken on Halloween in 2004 by my roomate. I was a half-elven Ranger, for all of you D and D folk out there.... Wait a second... that looks shockingly like the costume that I wore for Halloween this year, and last year and the year before that.... Actually, I've been a half-Elven Ranger for the last 8 Halloweens, in 2000 I was a backpacker, and I worked the 4 proceeding Halloweens as Student Security or a First Responder and my first year at Lakehead I went as genetically defective smurf because I'd had a midterm lab exam on Halloween and they were nearly out of blue face paint when I got back to my residence. I wonder what I did with my smurf hat......

The Cloak I'm wearing in the picture is kind of special. I bought it on a spontaneous road trip to an SCA event in Maine. I had been thinking about going, but not really planning on it when I discovered a paper I really wanted to read for a project I was working on at work was in the Orono Library of the University of Maine.... so, armed with that excuse I convinced my boss to let me have Friday afternoon off if I'd work Sunday afternoon in Maine.... and so at lunch I raced home, threw a random assortment of camping gear into the trunk of the dragonfly - a much beloved and long deceased 1993 Grand Am in Teal and I was off. I stopped in Houlten to buy food (easier than trying to get fruit or meat over the border) and drove south on the I-95 past Mount Katadyn (everyone should go visit there if they love amazing, beautiful, rustic, challenging hiking), past Orono, past Augusta in a rain storm so intense that I couldn't see enough past the end of my car to pull over and stop for fear that someone would hit me from behind, and to a campground located somewhere in hilly, green country that is nearly as breath-taking as Mount Katadyn. I was immediately directed to the part of the campground where the Fredericton people had set up and immediately people just made me feel included. I didn't know anyone before I got there and I never had much chance to take part in the SCA once I got back... but I had an amazing time. I met a zillion people eager to show off their Armour or their hand sewn costumes or their latest bit of craftwork. I watched archery, I learned some calligraphy and some sewing skills. I spent a weekend camping in a skirt and a blouse. At night, a new friend and I wandered from camp fire to camp fire (or from kingdom to kingdom) and listened to folk play instruments both historical and more recent, sometimes singing, sometimes just learning about where people were from or hearing stories about other events. Extremely cool... Perhaps one day I'll make it to Penstock.

And that ends the tale of the 6th picture in the 6th folder... here are the official instructions to be modified as needed depending on how you house your pictures.

Here are the 'rules'

1. Go to your documents. (or if you are a mac user, go to your pictures folder)
2. Go to your 6th folder.
3. Go to your 6th picture.
4. Blog about it.
5. Tag 6 others to do the same.

I shall tag Shelley of the Big Move, Treena of Treena's Travels, Lizard of Lizard Knits, Geoff of Araska, Colin of Grog, and Gabriel of What a Life?.