Saturday, May 9, 2009

northern spring


At work this week a co worker was griping about the snow that has continued for nearly a week. Off and on, a little snow shower occurs daily. I reminded her this is spring! This is the arctic!
This got me thinking....you know it's spring in the arctic when (and please feel free to add to the list).
1. the snow buntings and geese return
2. when the dog is off the roof (snow drift steps melt away)
3. there is more daylight than darkness
4. the temperature sans windchill is warmer than -20.
5. the tidal waters seep up on the frozen bay.
6. the pavement appears
7. the potholes appear
8. grading the road doesn't fix the potholes
9. the plow is now used to grade the roads
10. kamiik become impractical in the mud
11. sunglasses a must even on a cloudy day (owie that's bright!)
12 ice crystal replaced with tiny snowflakes
13 the ravens take up their spring dance in the skies.

More ideas of spring things. ... click comments to see what spring means to other northerners!

8 comments:

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

Dust!!!!

Love the dog on the roof!!

Anonymous said...

Priceless picture!

Unknown said...

you know it is spring when::

people start planning their sea lift order
the beer runs out at the Storehouse
too risky for skidoos and too icey for boats
bags of top soil appear in some stores
children are not at school or at school and falling asleep
you see a kite flying

Ed Maruyama said...

Hey Shelley! cool blog... :)

curtain / blinds... otherwise you'll wake up around 3am or won't fall asleep by 2am... :)

Toonik Tyme

ATVs!

Regards,
Ed

Anonymous said...

How about the promise of the Arctic flowers etc....to come?
The pictures you took last year were amazing as well as beautiful! More please!
Oh, and is there a smell of spring in the North?
If so, what does it smell like?

Lisa

Shelley said...

Thanks everyone, seems I missed a few springthings.


Lisa...flowers are a long way off yet, smell of spring; fresh cool air.

Jaime said...

I've been wanting to take a photo of that dog!! Love it!! I crack up everytime I see it up there. So spring means no more doggy on the roof.

Jaime

***** said...

Everybody has to have their gripes.