spring blossoms

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The hyacinth showed it's beauty in full yesterday, aroma filling the air. It's a sweet reminder of the coming spring. Though this will be my first arctic spring and I don't expect crocus and hyacinth to be greeting the mornings, I look forward to the changing landscape the bay which is forever on a clear day will turn to water briefly before the frost returns.

I look forward to the growing season that is offered by the local garden club. The season will be short but intense.

Woot woot! I walked all the way home without my wind pants! Yah! that really is a milestone since the current temp was a balmy -11 with some wind chill posted. Maybe, just maybe my legs were a wee bit numb.....I'll never admit it!

I was outside at lunch today and came in remarking to a co worker that I would love to be sitting in my beach chair suntanning. It was mahvelous outside; all sun, no wind!
Only while I speak these words does it hit me that in reality it is -16C, in the arctic, snow everywhere! Suntanning? Now? Guess you'd have to be a northerner to understand!

Nearly twenty days and nights. That's longer than I expected the sign to last. Just before 3am this morning, that knock at the door had dog barking and me checking the latch. Seems the frustration, or disappointment was more than the caller could take. Can you see the sign in the snow drift? The long weekend had me expecting the bottle runners checking for bootleg and I am sure they will call again tonight.

Sun dog

I've only seen a couple of sun dogs since moving here. Today I ran inside to grab camera! Finally a pic! The secondary suns are a result of the ice crystals in the air reflecting the bright sun. It looks dark in the picture, an optical illusion it is bright enough to wear sunglasses. (As I review the photo I can hear "ting"!)

St. Patrick's Day

Aren't we all Irish on St. Patrick's day?
Allison and I decided to go for a green beer
for St. Paddy's day. Even the musk ox got into
the spirit of the day! The bar was decorated in green
and white balloons and the staff was all greened up with fun hats and ties!

qilak

Qilak translation heaven. This is my Shangra La. Even though the social problems of the community are evident enough they do no taint my love of the landscape, big clear blue sky, brilliant sun and the inescapable feeling that there...over there across the land (tauvani, nunakkut) is forever away.

On Saturday I had my big chance to use my newly acquired however minimal Inuktitut. A visitor from Kimmirut assumed I was Inuk and started chatting with me. Completely lost, all I could stammer is; "I'm sorry..." He looked at me and asked " You Inuk?" No I replied. Hey, had I been on the ball I would have been able (really) to say qallunaangujunga". Literally translated to white I am. No confusion except maybe my bad vocalization of the ng sound that stumps all of us qallunaaq! The out of towner didn't mind and gave me a big smile anyway.

Celebration of the Seal

These are photos from a community event celebrating the importance of seal to the Inuit community. I thought I would try to eat seal but when my opportunity arose, I declined. A man would cut the animal with an axe or hatchet into small pieces, women arrived with their ulu to further cut their portion to edible size. In the pic below you can see the activity.

Above is a traditional qulliq
(kud lik) which holds seal fat (pounded to liquid) and wicked with a grass to provide light and some heat.

Here a woman agreed to have her picture taken as she cleans the fat and flesh off the skin with her ulu (curved blade). She was very quick and did not tear the hide. I was very impressed!

Also the show included free caribou stew, bannock and beverages to purchase. Most stunning were the sealskin fashions, beautifully rendered, creative and original.

The main reason I attended was to hear the throat singers. Until now I confess I didn't get what the fuss was about. The duo performed several pieces loosely titled; The return of the River, The sound of the Saw, and The Wind. Upon hearing each piece I was transported to the thawing river, the increasing rhythm of the water, the low repetitive sound of the saw or the haunting sound of the arctic wind. The music is without instruments or lyrics but none are needed.