Saxifrage and sunsets

From Big Sky and Big Water to tiny blossoms, this is the harsh wind blown land of north. The saxifrage is in bloom and the willows have gone to seed. The fire poker, stubbornly, slowly rises up through the hard ground. Slowly the season advances. The days are so long now it is difficult to tell sunset from sunrise. Too many times I awaken at an absurd hour in a panic that I have missed the start of the work day. In truth it may be 3 or 4 am and I settle back under the blankets for the alarm.

The above photo was taken moments ago at 9pm. The sunlight seems to skip and dance across the ice and snowy hilltops and off into the distance.

I did have to go to work this morning and was surprised to see that the snow that fell last night had actually stayed! But I was relieved to see the sunshine had its way with the snow and it was gone by the time work had ended.

As we were walking along the hillside a fragrant aroma reached up...underfoot was a generous patch of Labrador Tea, fragrant twigs resembling tiny spruce fragments. The entire plant can be brewed into a tea, I have heard it can be difficult on ones tummy but will try when the plant is best chosen during its season. Update to come!

Down on my tummy...

Today we walked the hillside and the difference in the foliage in that short time was remarkable.
I found the common name of the wee tubular flower; Bearberry. The Bearberry photo (on top) shows three stages of the flower. The berry is edible and both leaf and fruit has traditionally been used as flavouring or medicinally.

The Arctic Willow shown below grows twig like branches that spread across the ground instead of vertically.

My neighbour is very knowledgeable in the many types of moss and flora that prospers here and is helping me learn the various types and their bloom periods. She has cautioned me that the difference in one day can mean missing the bloom.

The most remarkable of the mosses is Jewel moss; it's bright orange patches dress up the rocks. Today she told me that August here is autumn for the plants and in that month the hill will be deeply red with autumn colour.

Of course Caesar is happy with each outing and soon resumes his comatose state once inside for the night. The rough terrain will help prepare his feet for the coming cold season. I hope he doesn't suffer again like he did this year. Ever enthusiastic to be outside but not sure which of his feet should be off the ground or by the look on his face how he could possibly get all four feet off the cold simultaneously.

I have still not been able to capture a good picture of the snow bunting, but I hope to this season. One of the guys at work told me about the various types of mammals on the green belt tundra up the hill. I hope for a less windy day so that I may make the trip up the hill and of course a hike out to Apex along the shoreline. The summer is short everywhere but more noticeably here, missing out on a fine day would be a lost opportunity. This summer I also hope to get out to Sylvie Grinnell park, perhaps camp but definitely fish the char from the river. Thankfully the days are long and the desperation to head out and back before dark just doesn't enter my mind.

the birds and the beez

This morning while walking the dog, I heard an unearthly racket, a clucking and chortling even some cawing. Sure enough over there, a single raven. He (I assume) was quite busy arranging and re arranging an old small caribou or seal bone on the hillside. Once he was satisfied, he (cover your ears kids) mounted it! The purring and clucking resumed. Time and again he would rearrange his props and settle into place. He was so absorbed in his task that he didn't even notice the big dog. Lonely Raven just lookin' for some lovin'. In contrast, down near the shoreline the pretty little snow buntings were cheerfully singing for their mates and dancing through the air.

For the gardeners in the group the tiniest flowers are beginning to bloom. I am amazed at how quickly they sprout up and produce their wee blossoms. A loonie is in the picture to present the perspective on it's size. My neighbour can identify many of the arctic blooms and we are planning on photographing many of them as they come into season.
Also on our walk tonight we spotted some quartz, seen here with loonie. Maybe quartz isn't so exciting (I was never able to find any in my backyard) but my daughter, like me, likes shiny things so I've added the photo!

random stuff

This photo of the graveyard is brightly lit by the early evening sun. It looks desolate and lonely, the still frozen sea shore, puddles very simple grave markers but somehow the way the sun hits it makes it an even lonelier place of rest.


I tried to get a picture of them before they departed but my voice distracted Caesar and he wouldn't move. So I slowly backed up into the apartment until Caesar understood he was not to wait around for me. Finally Alan and he were able to head off down the slope.

Sun dog with jet.

Sunday Walkies

Today was a beautiful, mild day so Caesar and I went down to the edge of the beach. Not too beachy yet; the ice is cracking and the continuing flow of melt water beneath the snow feeds the thawing ice surface. It's tricky walking since one doesn't know how deep the snow is and does know how soft it is. A couple of times Caesar sank up to his belly in the snow and I up to my knees. The other unknown is what lies beneath the surface, often water flow, I lucked out once or twice and found terra firma beneath the slush! I was soaked! Once we got to the shore, we negotiated our way over and around the big rocks and boulders (at least they were dry!)

My walk today took me down beside the hill (upper picture to the seashore).
As we wound our way around the rocks and ice we could hear the excited sound of the dog team as they got ready for their run out onto the ice.
This photo of the dogs appears small, if you click on it to open in another window the perspective of the ice is clear. Quite by chance I was able to get the old way of dog team and the new way with snowmobile! You can see how hard the dogs are working since the snow is slushy underfoot.

Much to my surprise I came across a small group of wee black flies! I mean it's only been above zero for less than a week! Wow those are some sturdy flies!

After returning home I pulled out the camp chairs and sat on the walkway at my front door. Just a perfect afternoon for mellowing out under the arctic sky.

saturday

I strolled downtown with my camera at the ready. In a stark reality of the mud and gray skies, Iqaluit showed off it's nasty messy side. Everywhere garbage is tossed; washing machines, mattresses, wrappers cans, bottles, paint cans..the list goes on.
I took this picture of the bins near a new construction site on route to the museum. The other photos were taken inside the museum. The exhibit was rich and varied.
This is a whale head skull, which I didn't dare touch. Downstairs they had a beautifully carved whale bone. Both sides were carved with images depicting Inuit lore and lifestyle.