a stranger in our midst

While enjoying the fine weather, I heard the unmistakable call of a southern songbird. The elusive fellow sat on a rock long enough for a blurry portrait. Sparrow!

What are you doing here? Though I haven't lived in the north long, this is the first time I've heard it's distinctive call.

Kamik looking devilishly wolfish. We're on edgy terms since she has been behaving badly. I cannot fault her behaviour too much, since she's had to deal with the neighbour who decided to stone her while I was at work one afternoon. She definitely isn't timid. Alan sorted things out.


Wet feet are worth the time out on the squishy tundra, Kamik had a good run, finding pools of water and scraps of bone while Alan and I, ever in awe, took in the vistas.

I will never tire of the big land, and sky.

Always glad to find a new treasure, we came across this tiny plant on our hike. It's blossoms no bigger than my pinky fingernail but grows in a thick cluster.
If anyone can identify this plant, please let me know, it is a low growing early bloomer.

good bye night sky

snowmobiles making their way home across the bay.

For those of you below the arctic; we now say farewell to the night sky. Today the forecast states the sun sets at 10:11pm and will rise at 02:52am. In reality; it doesn't get dark, dusky yes but starry and moon-y darkness-no.


moon low on the horizon

Most evenings we are rewarded with a view of the moon sliding across our window. We hope to never take it for granted. For many years I would look up in the early morning as my only opportunity to see the night sky on my way to work.

For many years living in Toronto, I was unable to see the stars and moon, it was depressing for me. Now I have the honour of seeing big sky, big moons and. the milky way as the seasons permit. Every time I step outside there is something to surprise me in the sky; aurora borealis, mares tail clouds, mackerel sky, sunsets that linger for hours and, the unbelievable visibility at nearly 50 kilometres.

busy times

Things have been rather hectic lately. Alan had surgery and was away returning in time for me to go to Ontario. I took advantage of the business trip to mix in some pleasure; taking in the great weather and catching up with fam and friends.

Having a mild winter brought a mild spring for the motherland and the pictures were taken during my brief visit. Some days were "cold" around 2C other days were "nice" around 16C. Typical Ontario spring weather. We got it all; rain, snow and sun....and a wind reminiscent of Iqaluit!


Trumpeter Swans during mating rituals. My sister got a video of them swimming to one end of their pond then flying back over the water, ensuring their wings hit the water. It makes for an incredible sight and noise!


Red Trillium


Taking the goslings for a swim, they seem to bob on the water like ping pong balls.

Tree Swallow feeding the nest.


Springwater Park takes only injured or orphaned animals. This black bear talked to us...making little bear grunts.

Self Portrait Shadow


Spring trees remind me of paintbrushes, reaching for the sky.

sun wind and snow

From tiny snow drift (below) to large masterpieces; all winter I marvel at the beauty of the snowdrift. Pristine white, glistening yet dangerously deceiving to the eye.


As northerners know, flat light is the worst; leading to snow-blindness, disorientation and increasing the risk of getting stuck. Even walking can be dicey trying to navigate the invisi-drifts.

Last week, thrilled that I had found a shortcut, I mean it looked like a road, I proceeded to navigate the truck between houses. Upon discovering that the shortcut was actually a snowmobile path through the playground and not really a road, I decided to turn around and take the real road. Too late. Truck sunk. Dressed for dinner at a friends and not for digging, I made my way to her house.

and sheepishly sought the help of the men attending. Not a great introduction. Fortunately with skillful rocking to and fro the visitor was able to un-stick the truck without the arduous task of digging.




Today's blog is an homage to the snowdrift. Like many things northern, the snow drift is schizophrenic; alternating between tempting beauty and dangerous deceit.

doodling and stumbling

My Frobisher Bay

One evening a friend installed Stumble on my computer. Life changed that night. Simultaneously I curse and thank him. While it takes me to interesting places, it also takes me late into the night. With Alan still away recovering from his surgery, I clearly have too much time on my hands.I stumbled upon a creative website and before I knew it the clock was hinting bedtime. It was 3am.
While not earth shatteringly beautiful; here are a couple of my doodles.Right Red Bird

The fact is I'm left handed. Equally comfortable using the mouse with righty or lefty generally I use the mouse with my right hand and this is mouse work.
Not too bad for wrong handed painting.


Circles through space

I've spared the patient reader from the truly terrible attempts and take times like this to enjoy a little anonymity.

some Mondays are just Moan-days

As far as Monday goes, this one really wasn't good. The day started with an early call from work. Literally one foot stepping out of the shower, towel in hand, and that set the tone for the day.

Experience should dictate that when the mercury hovers around -37 everything will be cold. But no, somehow this escaped me this morning. With bare hand I grab the metal snow brush and grimaced through the task dusting the morning snow. The truck barely started. After a grueling 10 minutes of praying, turning the key, pumping the gas and at last she rolled over, sputtered and went again. Whew! Still my fingers are not gloved and are properly frost nipped. Off to work. Firstly to deal with the reason for the call and discover what they need, we can deliver.

Now it's so cold that we decided to close the department door to preserve as much heat as possible and I stubbornly keep my sealskin kamik on, usually I change into work shoes, but that's too risky today.

After some thought I considered that perhaps the problem with the truck was the block heater. I called the mechanic and he gently suggested I check the power cord (replaced it-check) the breaker panel (flipped it-check), the outlet (tested in the fall-check). He was kind enough to squeeze the vehicle in at lunch for me.
Before departing Alan's voice in my foggy head reminds me to pour the gasline antifreeze into the tank. ONCE again, no mittens. The thing with gasline antifreeze is it doesn't freeze, it just gets very cold, in this case -37C. Just picking up the bottle hurts. Sure enough the nozzle doesn't reach far enough to penetrate the valve. Out come the handy car keys and I pour, drain, pour drain, sometimes simultaneously resulting in me pouring cold antifreeze over my cold fingers. BAH!
After what seemed like an hour, the bottle was emptied. My fingers were in excruciating pain but the truck was idling and the task was completed.
Lost mittens during lunch. Yeah I do own several pairs, I just carry them around in my pocket in case I need them...
Kind cab driver hunts me down behind locked departmental doors to return mittens.

Verdict- block heater okay.

Today I called the airline to book a prepaid ticket which I purchased on a seat sale. Up-charge, guesses? Sit down, here it comes $600! Flying out anyway, stinkers!

On preparing dinner; lift pan to put into preheated oven. Something falls off near the element. A small fire ignites a package of peanut butter on which I had inadvertently placed the pan. Peanut butter, plastic and that foily stuff is alight! Oh brother, turn off the oven, get off the phone, extinguish small flames, scoop liquefying peanut butter onto tin foil and mop up the rest.
8pm dinner is finally in the oven.

On detailing my day to Alan, he suggested there is an unmarked switch in the storage room which sends power to the outlet for the vehicle. Ooops better go check ~~~it is set to "off".

Hoping Tuesday starts off on a gentler and drier foot!