The Ever Elusive Aurora Borealis

I have had very little luck photographing the northern lights since I've come up here... I have a few excuses, like well its the deepest solar minimum of my lifetime and really there hasn't been that much activity. It probably also doesn't help that we are a bit north of the optimum viewing latitude. Its cold.... I'm not out and about at night that often or I don't have my camera, my tripod is heavy and my camera doesn't seem to be that great for shots in the dark. So, here is the best I have gotten this year... but I'll keep trying. Those of you in Iqaluit it looks like you guys have had scads. I'm jealous.

Those of you wondering about the sights I'm using to track the lights here are the links...

http://www.spaceweather.com

http://www.spaceweather.ca

http://www.solarcycle24.com

http://spaceweather.ca/generated_plots/forstackr.png

http://portal.cssdp.ca:8080/ssdp/static_content/ssdp/rt_oval/index.html

Precursor to a Purse(-like object)

This is my insomnia insprired knitting. It should end up being a small handbag once I'm done, I'm not sure what I'll do to put it together.. I've never knitted a bag before... I'll keep you posted. I really like the way the colours worked out... Yeah for Noro!!

Other news... there are a record 71 sunspots on the sun... which for those not following the sun for the last year and a half has been blank as often as not and this replaces teh record of 51 spots that was new in the last few days. The far side of the sun also seems like its got spots too.... and there have been flares and so I'm still hoping to see a good display of the northern lights.

I made stew for supper (and tomorrow's breakfast, lunch and dinner and the next day and you get the idea.) I need to make up a salad. I have the requisite ingredients... but I've done a fair bit of chopping already today... so maybe tomorrow night. I also need to come up with something to do with a bunch of Potatoes.

I am also now in Possession of Robin Hobb's new book "Dragon Keeper", but I've put it out of site and out of mind. I'm hoping that my will lasts until the weekend at least, and preferably until PI week. I can sometimes put books down, but Robin Hobb isn't one of those kinds of authors and my sleep schedule has been bad enough this week.

So... watch for the northern lights... and be merry.

Sunrise Silhouette

Apparently... 7:30 am is already too late to get a good sunrise shot. Here is the school this morning.... its looks a bit like some kind of monster with 1 one glowing eye and some pretty sharp teeth.

Fireweed Fluff

Well, obviously this photo was taken some months ago. It does match the sweater that I'm wearing - if that gives me an reason for picking it for today.

I've been keeping my eyes on my array of norther lights webpages. Tonight has potential and tomorrow has a bit more as aparently a CME (Coronol Mass Ejection) is headed our way and we are entering a recurrent coronal hole solar wind. The lights were out tonight, but not bright enough to even bother trying to photograph them. I did find this cool site though that actually shows the readings for Baker Lake hour by hour + a 6 hour forecast.

Otherwise, its been a useful day, even after having a tough time sleeping last night (due to unusually gurgly pipes and too much thinking). I shut my brain down with a bit of nocturnal knitting and I have a neat scarf started. Its a diagonal stripe pattern using two different colourways of Noro Kureyon - oooh... knitting nerd tonight. (I seem to be leaking lots of lingo between knitting and the northern lights). I'll post a picture in a day or two probably unless I get some outside shots before that. Its supposed to be fairly warm this week, so maybe I'll go far walk at some point and try and get some more pictures. I'm actually leaning towards making it into a handbag. I don't know that I have enough yarn to get a scarf the length I like out of it, but I think there might be enough for a bag.

My other creative project for the weekend was a cranberry cake with lemon icing that turned out delicious, if I do say so myself and while I'm congratulating myself - I think the more impressive feat is that I've only had 2 pieces today. Its wicked heated up with a scoop of vanillia frozen yogurt. I should go make stew, but at this point, I think I'll leave it for tomorrow in favour of wading through the last things on my to-do list.

I still haven't had a chance to play my new killer bunnies expansions yet, but I did finally get to breakin my Crokinole board after having it 7 months. I also tried out Fjords - a two player tile based strategy game. We only played one round, but I think its going to be a favourite.

So... thats all for now. I think this is hopefully the start of a more frequent blogging trend. I've kind of let it die the last few months. Its always hard when I'm not taking many outdoor pictures - because I always feel like I'm cheating when I pull out pics from months ago, but the day light is getting longer and longer and the sun seems definitely to be showing signs of life after a year and half of being nearly spotless.

Cheers,

J

Its a beautiful day in the arctic

I was shocked when I checked the weather and discovered that it was -32 C. It feels way warmer - although the fact that its calm surely helps. Its been both a lazy and productive Saturday so far. I'm making chicken/cabbage/carrot/corn/green onion soup (if I had chives to keep the "C" theme going I would have used them. I should commence some working out shortly as soon as I get a bit of soup into me and stop reading the news.

This is the hat that I finished on the ride home from Rankin. I'm not sure about the decrease in the top, but I do really like the garter stitch look. (The pattern for the hat was inspired by this pattern: http://mustaavillaa.blogspot.com/2008/02/three-reasons-to-love-garter-stripe.html

There should be northern lights tonight - well at least there is a 35% chance according to www.spaceweather.com.

My plans are to make a cranberry cake - I think. and work on some stuff for my bio and env. sci courses. I spent two hours reorganizing the back room... I'm sure I could spend a week and not have it perfect, but its a lot more to my liking. Okay... I guess I'm going to have to bounce off as the music says its time to get back into the groove. A week away from home has killed my momentum of getting fit, but I think I'll be back on track after this weekend. I'm going to try.

Stranded and Stranded

Here is my latest stranded colourwork knitting project completed while (ironically) I was stranded in Rankin Inlet. You'll note their great similarity to my last project. Why did I do it twice... well the first pair was a little to big. These ones are just right. The tree pattern was borrowed from the generous

http://ifihadaboat.xanga.com/

I'm glad to be home in Baker Lake. I was even glad to go back to work. I, oddly enough, acutally really like my job and frankly its a lot less work to acutally do my job than try to write instructions for someone else to fill in in my place.

On the cool side, I did get in an awesome visit with some friends in Rankin playing Carcasonne, Settlers of Catan, Killer Bunnies, Ticket to Ride and a few games of Canasta (still the best card game in the world in my head). I think my Killer Bunnies expansions have made it up here too. I also got to meet Page Burt. This is exciting for anyone, as she happens to be a pretty cool person. But I'm not just anyone, I'm a plant field guide junkie - and she is the author of Barren Land Beauties - one of the few available field guides for Nunavut and one of the few people I know who understand my dream to one day own the Lichens of North America book.

I really need to take some time to update the links on my blog. Oh - and my blog is going to have to move URL's (again for those of you who remember me back when my url was bogblogjp.blogspot.com) Blogspot is discontinuing remote blog hosting, so I need to return to blogspot by March 26th, 2010 - obviously, I'll try to beat the deadline - to allow for the disaster that occured when I first moved away from blogspot (requiring me to manually tell it where to find my picture for 300 + posts - that was a joy). Wish me an easy move - and watch for updates. There is a silver lining - this should allow me to use some of Bloggers fancy new page tools - so it'll be easier to play with the format of my blog and add things like word clouds and change the banner without having to email files to my brother.

Back to cleaning, reading and exercising for me though...

There is no place like home, no place like home, no place like home

The three shots above were taken from the plane as we left Baker Lake on Monday night (a week ago). It was a lovely flight and I was graced by the presence of northern lights. You really can't beat seeing the northern lights from a plane. I was also lucky to get a nice view of town, although, taking pictures through the window of a plane is always tricky. I like the way they look so twinkly. It was actually pretty windy (not compared to today, obviously) which I think is what makes the lights look the way they do.

I am dilligently coming up with new and exciting lessons on blizzards for my Gr. 12 science students - possibly to be taught in my absense if I'm unable to get back to Baker tomorrow before the school reopens. Currently, they are supposed to clear up by tomorrow, while the blizzard is expected to rage on here for another little while.

This is my first time experiencing travel difficulties due to weather or a 4 day blizzard for that matter. I guess the good news is that there is a utilidor in Rankin which means that water shouldn't be an issue here, which I'm sure it is back home.

I've done some good stash busting having knit a pair of mittens and a hat and I'm currently, row by row, working on a second hat, which will hopefully fit me. So far, I like the style, I'll post pictures soon.

Cheers,

J

Northwest Impediments to Passage

So... I did make it to Rankin, but now it seems that getting out is going to remain a challange. So far, 3 flights in a row to Baker have been canceled and no one has sounded all that optimistic about there being a chance to escape tonight - still - a girl can hope.

Being stuck here is hardly terrible. I'm staying at the Nanuq Lodge which is quite pleasant and the owners have been very kind and helpful and supportive. I do also have some friends here, whom I don't get to see often, and I've enjoy playing Killer Bunnies, Carcasonne, Ticket to Ride, and Canasta - but I have work that I'd like to do - not to mention that I'm pretty sure that my supper that I forgot to eat as I rushed out the door Monday is still in the microwave and is most definitely starting to mould. I guess I can hope that nuking it for 90 seconds followed by sealing it in the microwave will hopefully have eradicated the spores that would lead to mould, however, that is likely optimistic about the resilance of mould and the seal on my microwave.

But - such is the nature of blizzards - they blow until they are done blowing and you can't land a plane on a runway that you can't see - at least not without expensive technology that we do not have up here.

So I'm plodding away at knitting, trying to make up sub-plans for Monday without having access to text books and any other materials and figuring that this would be a good time to get some jobs done, like blogging.

The weather prognosis seems slightly more hopeful. They've removed the word windy from Monday's forcast. There are about 9 hours before my flight is due to leave... so I think I can still hope. *Finger's Crossed*

J

Hockey For Haiti

haiti1, originally uploaded by jennith peart.

We may be small, and we may live in the frigid middle of the tundra - but that doesn't mean that our hearts are small or cold. The student council with the help of several enthusiastic staff members, community members, local businesses, the Anglican Church Youth Group and the community in general worked together to put on a number of fund raisers to support the people in Haiti.

The grande finale - depicted here - was a staff vs. student council "boot hockey" game where the student's pretty much crushed us. However, we raised a good bit of money and had a good bit of entertainment.

I'm testing using Flickr as a source for blogging - since I seemed to have gotten sucked into upgrading my account. I guess I'll find out if it was worth it. I do actually use Flickr a lot for my Ravelry stuff, so all in all, it does solve a few problems there - I suspect that I'll continue to use Picasa as my main blogging platform, since this online bit is a pain even with the new and improved Qiniq speeds. They are noticeably better, but why make your life complicated.

Tall Trees that Reach the Sky

The fact that I feel the need to start every blog entry I write lately with a reassurance that I'm still alive does not bode well for my efforts as a blogger in general. Still, I have other concerns that rank first and the last 2 weeks are part of the busier season of teaching. Now that the marks are in, I can briefly gasp and find a few minutes to actually put a post up on my blog or even finish the mitten that I started 3 weeks ago. Now, I just have to knit another one.

The voting phase of the Nunies (aka Nunavut Blog Awards) is over. (I think) The results arn't officially up - but they should be up here sometime soon. I guess I'll have to write more and better if I want to be a contender for next year.

Aside from knitting and working and occasionally sleeping, fretting about my thesis and neglecting my guitar and failing to blog or take photographs, I have a few odd thoughts and stories in my head, but I should have typed them a few hours ago when they were fresh, now I'm going to have to dig them up.

The northern lights were out last night (apparently a good show for those of us not occupied with finishing a mitten and watching the last episode of the second season of Heroes). The K value reached 5 which is pretty decent for recent history. In general, the sun is starting to seem like its thinking of ramping up to a solar maximum after tormenting me for the last year and a half with endless blankness, punctuated with a few teasing sunspot clusters. Still, it could be teasing now - but sunspot 1040 or 1041 produced a few M class flares (The first of Solar Cycle 24). I also found a new site for monitering auroral activity.

Today, our community is running a number of events to raise money for Haiti. Including a teacher-student game of boot hockey. Its pretty exciting the amount of effort and energy people are putting into all of the events.

I'm hoping to have more time to play board and card games in the near future. I played (and lost badly) a game of canasta for the first time in a long time online and I'm waiting with great anticipation for the expansion for my Killer Bunnies game to arrive. Robin Hobb's newest book is also on sale this week - so I'm looking forward to reading it at some point in the near future. My other bit of excitiment is that I finally replaced the horrible deskchair that I had here. So, hopefully, I won't be driven away from my computer by discomfort. The new chair is much better and makes working here much nicer. Perhaps this change will translate into future blog enteries on a more regular basis. I've missed out taking pictures of some beautiful sunrises and sun sets the last little while. Its amazing how much longer the days are already. Its still light out at the end of the school day and almost light out on my walk to work.

I'll try and get some pictures soon.

Cheers, and I'd better actually put up this post which has been 2 or 3 days in the making before my computer crashes and I have to start over from scratch.

J

The Nunies

The Nunnies are in the voting stage. These are awards for the best Nunavut Blogs. There are some really worthwhile blogs to read. For more information: click here.

Wild Clouds

I must admit that I miss trees on the tundra

Trees are good creatures.... they are graceful and beautiful and an intergal part of any ecosystem they belong in. I just like them. The tundra is wicked and beautiful and amazing in the spring and fall... but a little piece of me really enjoys trees when I'm down south.

Refueling a Speeding Skiing Jackalope

Skiing is hungry work! Jack had an amazing first ski, but definitely thought snacks were a great part of the exercise.

Boxing Day

In a brief moment of serenity, Robbie and Jack open presents. Sadly, Robbie seemed unnaturally attracted to his brother's gift, even though his sang and flashed lights. Children :D

Oblivious Woodpecker

This guy was pretty intent on his meal as I stood taking dozens of pictures as his head to bob up and down. I got closer and closer, we fell over on our skis and I let out a startles yelp and then got even closer and he didn't seem to notice us at all.

Skating on the Bowness

:D Fun stuff :D

Olympic Mittens

These are the wickedest mittens ever :D .... Thanks Gramma and Granpa!!

Smiling Christmas Nephews

Merry Christmas everyone. I've been lucky to spend Christmas with my Alberta family and see little folk enjoy their gifts. Light Sabres were probably the biggest hits.... and the greatest cause of tears.

I hope that everyone else had a wonderful chirstmas too.

Off to the Races

My volunteer stint as a first aider for the Olympic Cross Country Selection Trials is over... but here is a cool shot of the finish line (a bit before the start obviously). It was a lot of fun and I think I met at least 100 people, all of whom were pretty nice and interesting and many of whom were very curious about life in Baker Lake. It was also pretty neat to watch really talented folk ski and I've finally caught a touch of the Olympic spirit. I have a pretty bad track record for following the Olympics. The summer, I was usually at camp in the the winter I don't tend to have much access to TV. Probably, this year I won't see much of the Olympics.... lacking a television, but its hard to say.

I'm currently being educated about the recent Stanley Cup history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I should probably listen, as there might be a quiz later.

Sunrise

It wasn't even 10 am yet when the sun came sliding up from behind this mountains. The downside... I have a cold... and I feel like whining about it. Although really, it isn't that bad of a cold. Speaking of cold, the current local temperature is -30 C (sounds like home, brrrr), so I don't know that we'll rush outside today. It is supposed to warm up, with above 0 C temperatures by Saturday.

The sun is trying to shine

The sun is actually trying to shine, although this is another picture from Saturday morning. I promise, promise to get my camera out and about hopefully since I've been pretty slack since August.

I had a bagel for breakfast. It was really good. I don't eat them very often which makes them a really nice treat. Exciting enough to even mention on my poor neglected blog. I have to thank the travel gods for a very smooth trip, including being able to leave early from Winnipeg. I did forget to bring some movies with me, but I guess they'll be waiting for whenever I have time to watch them. In the meantime, I'm finally getting around to watching Firefly, which I think has been on my list of things to do since I was working security at UNB. (There is nothing like working a security shift in partners for getting excellent book, movie and tv recommendations. I have done some knitting and I'm about to start on another pair of socks (purples and greens in Knitpicks "wool of the andes" on my brand new mini addi turbo cable needle.) I'm looking forward to testing out the cable needle - as its really improved my hats and hopefully it'll get the corner lines out of my socks. Harder to keep your count and decreases straight, but worth trying.

My flight was my first Westjet experience and I have to admit that I was impressed with their service. The ladies at the ticket counter made it really pleasant to switch up my ticket. Once again, I had the pleasure of a full patdown at the Winnipeg airport. I think I've only managed to avoid it on one flight through there. I'm just unlucky, since its random. I don't think I look sketchy - and I'm a teacher for goodness sake and friendly. They are pretty professional, but I still hate it, even if it means better security and a safer flight.

The head stewardess on the westjet flight was a riot singing to us about hippopotami and and pretty much managing to make the safety lecture into a somewhat manic, but very amusing stand-up routine. I wonder if they have drama auditions as part of their hiring process. I knit and chatted with a RCMP officer next to me. There are some pretty cool folk who are part of the RCMP. I may have to switch careers one day. Although, I don't know if I have the temperment for policing anything more than unruly university drunks and hormone-infused adolescents. But, the uniforms are decent and I'd like to learn how to ride a horse.

Anywho, I'd better finish this up and get my butt outside to take some more pictures so I can make up a little on vacation for months of really few posts. I just figure there isn't much to be said regarding the making of biology quizzes and and the marking of tests.

Cheers,

J

Winter Mountains.

I have never seen the mountains in winter and I have to admit that the festive decoration of snow makes them even more photogenic. I'd better go make myself useful....

Early Morning Mountains

It seems that my vacation has started with some early morning volunteering.... but definitely worth it for the photo opportunities. Although, having been my first time watching Cross Country Ski Racing, I have to admit that it was kind of cool to watch.

Frosty Moonlit Plants

I am still alive... just busy. I did not make it to Iqaluit. Their was a blizzard that lasted just long enough for both companies flying to Iqaluit to cancel their flights, meaning that I would not have arrived until Wednesday night. This is worth noting: There are 2 jets that fly from Rankin to Iqaluit - they both leave Rankin Inlet on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the early afternoon. If they cancel, they don't rebook the next day.. you have to wait until the next flight - which may be extra sucky if they cancel your flight on Friday, as you'd have to wait until Monday. Now.. I know I'm not a transportation scheduling specialist, but wouldn't it make sense for one company to offer Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday flights and one MWF? I probably still would have gotten to go to my really cool meeting if there had been a flight on Tuesday. By the time I got back to Baker Lake, the blizzard had cleared in Iqaluit and the weather was bad in Yellowknife instead. I did get to meet with 2 people from STAR in the Rankin airport while we waited to get unstranded. They got to Iqaluit Tuesday noon by engaging in a wild marathon flight. I did get to participate via conference call, which was very cool, but not quite the same as visiting the capital. and being part of the entire week of meetings. But, such is the life of anyone living in a remote community dependent on planes for travel in the winter. I can only hope the universe is kinder to me in two weeks when I attempt to travel by plane again. The good thing in that case is that the route is much better served, in that there are multiple flights per day.

The moon is just past full and we've had some fog and snow and so the plants are all decked out in frost. In a completely unrelated direction, I was thinking about posting about how I wished I knew where I could get one of those rubber circles that you use to help you open jars as I was getting poor traction on a pickle jar and sore hands. I glanced towards the pile of hats and mitts by the front door and saw my moose-hide mitts.... hmmm... I grabbed one and tried it on the jar and hooray!!!, I was able to open the jar easily....

Anyways, hopefully I'll get some more pictures of the crisp clear winter days this weekend - now that it is seasonably wintery here in Nunavut.

Cheers,

Jennith