Carvings and alterations!

I've been asked to post some pictures of my most recent carving acquisitions so here are the large polar bear and the large muskox.  I put a toonie next to them so you have an idea of their relative size.  Both carvings are by the same artist,  Leo Kamookak. This is the first time I've seen him carve a bear in the black stone.  There are hints of green throughout.   

 Now that the extreme cold has arrived here in Gjoa, I've had to make an alteration to my super parka.  I love Canada Goose.  Up here, it's practically the uniform.  They make quality products and charge prices that match.  My Mystique parka was perfect...until I had to walk into the wind at -50... Then, my parka hood was almost useless. As purchased, my parka's hood came with wire in the ruff.  The wire works to control how close the hood fits around your face.  HOWEVER, the wire is useless when walking into the wind and IT SUCKS when walking into the FREEZING COLD wind.  I had to take a skate lace, cut it in half and hand sew it onto my hood using sinew in order to fasten it under my chin. TA DA! Cheap fix on an expensive purchase.  Knowing me, I'm sure you've already guessed that I wrote Canada Goose a letter suggesting that they make these alterations.  I will let you know what the result of the letter is :)  If this whole teaching thing doesn't pan out, I should just freelance writing letters of complaint...
I'm still fighting with the formatting on this blog...maybe that can be my next letter...

Darkness really isn't so bad... Nigel's boots have reflectors

As I was putting Nigel's boots on I realized that I didn't post a picture!  He doesn't love them but he doesn't actively protest against them. His hind paws seem to be most sensitive to the cold so every so often I only put the boots on his back paws just to demonstrate to him how useful the booties can be.  It's hilarious to watch because in the house he flops his feet around like someone walking in flippers but as soon as we get outside he scampers around like a puppy; completely oblivious to the boots.

The northern lights were faint tonight and the picture that follows was taken with a much better camera on Qikiqtarjuaq.  But we've seen wonderful lights like these here in Gjoa Haven.  It's exciting because the sun is at its high point in the 11 year cycle which means bigger, better, more awesome lights than have been seen in this last decade... too bad I don't have the SLR or skill to take more pictures.

Polar Bears don't eat berries

I spent a few days in Yellowknife on my way back to Gjoa.  It was strangely easy travelling without 6 extra large bags and a dog crate. So easy I almost missed my flight in Edmonton because I was so not worried that I got sucked into the book I was reading and stopped listening to the announcements :s

Tammy met me at the airport and was equally frustrated in my defense for the lack of food provided on the Air  Canada flight.  Lack of food was actually the title of chapter 4 in my complaint letter.

 Yellowknife was actually quite warm hovering under -20 and I walked down to the main street from Rat Lake.  New Years day, the only thing open was Shoppers Drug Mart (of course!) so I took off my coat (because I was sweating) and spent an hour wandering around the makeup department. The only things I picked up were a box of Kleenex, a bridal mag (yay Melanie!) and some huge raisin oatmeal breakfast cookies (yay me! hahaha).   

I treated Tammy to dinner at The Explorer Hotel.  That's where we met my new friend, Big P.  I got a bit of cut-eye from the desk staff while we were taking these photos but once they realized I wasn't going to climb the bear all was right with the world once more.
Gail, Heather, Tammy and I closed the restaurant with hilarious stories and dessert.  Thanks for the great night ladies! I highly recommend the elk steak medium rare.