Making a house a home

and a touch of Christmas to boot!

Our house is definitely starting to feel like 'home'. We asked for and received some new couches from the company 'he' works for. Combined with the pieces that were here, and our special pieces we brought all the way from Ontario, we are all comfy cozy!

One thing we chose *not* to bring with us was Christmas decorations. We kinda figured we'd likely be going home for Christmas and didn't really need them. Well, it all comes down to 'need' vs. 'want' and I definitely wanted some decorations.


So I headed down to the Northern to pick through their lot of decorations and came home with some vibrant blue and green balls and a gold snowflake tablecloth. The balls I hung from fishing line in the windows and from the chandelier.


It's not quite like Christmas at home, but it is a touch of Christmas.


Seventeen days til we come home, but who's counting?

Walking in a winter wonderland

So last night, after actually seeing the Leafs win a game (between us not getting 'Ontario' channels and the Leafs not winning much, it might be only the second win we've been able to see all season) 'he' and I decided to venture outside with Squire for a night time walk.

As an interesting aside, tonight while I sit and write this, a walk isn't possible, because of a warning of wolves in our backyard, right between our house and his office!

We went for a nice meandering walk, all bundled up in warm parkies and snowpants and hats and mits. And Squire sported her new boots, which made all the local puppies laugh at her.

We posed for some night time pictures, but us humans had a difficult time keeping our eyes open during the flash. There isn't a decent one of the two of us, but Squire managed to look only quasi demonic, and my eyes are at least open in this one:

And I had to do some creative photoshoping, but wanted you to be able to check out the frost on the ends of my hair and eyelashes!

And now a solemn moment of gratitude

With below-minus-twenty temperatures fairly common by now in the early winter, it seems an appropriate time to initiate a solemn discussion about something heretofore unfairly neglected. You may have heard occasional references to it, but it has not received nearly the attention it deserves. It is the backbone, the foundation, the quintessential thing about which all our Baker Lake adventures spin.

It is my parka. I heart my parka.

What’s this, you say? A mere coat is worthy of such adoration?

Well, let me tell you.

I don’t know about you, but I hate spending money. Hate. Going forward I won’t use that letter in the middle of a sentence involving money because it always deserves to be capitilized. Hate spending money.

HOWEVER...we spent a small fortune on these parkas and let it be known: worth every penny. Underline that. Twice.

My parka saved my sanity on the snowstorm day (which some locals may agree was a blizzard, but most will say was just a half-assed storm, I’m reserving my judgement.) but to be honest, that’s not the really cool thing about it.

Its got this fun wire running through the hood that allows you to shape it into a tunnel to peek out of during a windy day…but, no, that’s not the really awesome thing.

Its apparently filled with goose down, and I praise the birds that presumably sacrificed themselves to make my life more comfortable every day. But that’s not the best part either.

The coolest part?

I don’t know about your parka, but mine has these amazing pockets in front that can hold books. Books! And not just softcovers, either. I can comfortably pack two new, large hardcover novels into my coat pockets in the supreme confidence that they shall arrive at my destination safe and sound, ready for me to delve into and forget the mundane universe around me. Suck on that, old coat.

So there you have it. By now, everyone reading this must be realizing they should move to Baker Lake so they can have an excuse to own a parka just like mine. I fully endorse this plan. Because I heart my parka.

Survival of the Blizzard and Vaccinations

Well, as far as arctic blizzards go, we were a little bit disappointed! While we were late for work, we did both make it to work. Planes didn't make it in or out until late in the day, and school was cancelled all day. However, I've been assured that this was just a warm up, and that we can expect better in the near future.

The day after the blizzard, while areas were still digging out from all the snow drifts, we bundled up after dinner and went down to the community hall here in town for our H1N1 vaccines. We figured that one medivac experience was enough.

We survived the vaccines too, although we're both feeling a bit achy in our H1N1 arm (up here we got our seasonal flu vaccine at the same time, just in the other arm). We took full advantage of the day off for Rememberance Day to rest up.

For the days ahead we're looking forward to our next food-mail order. We called the airport today only to find out that the trip in had been cancelled...so no foodmail tonight! Fortunately we're well stocked for most stuff and not desperate for anything yet (except eggs...help!).

Keeping our fingers crossed for a delivery tomorrow!

Nice Weather!

Well, back home anyway.... We were watching CP24 (old habits die hard) and saw that back in Ontario you are expecting a beautiful day tomorrow. Plus 18! (he he, while proofreading this, I'm struck that already it's 'plus 18' to me. As if I must make the destinction.)

It made me wonder what we should expect weatherwise, so I went online to find out, and this is what greated me:

Weather Warning: Blizzard Warning for Baker Lake.

Yup. Uh huh!

Goes on to say:

Blizzard warning: Baker Lake Issued at 8:26 PM CST SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2009

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON MONDAY. THIS IS A WARNING THAT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE IMMINENT OR OCCURRING IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS.

A SLOW MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE KIVALLIQ IS EXPECTED TO GIVE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO THE BAKER LAKE AREA ON MONDAY. FRESH SNOW FROM THE SYSTEM WILL COMBINE WITH STRONG EASTERLY WINDS OF 40 GUSTING TO 60 KM/H REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES BEGINNING EARLY IN THE MORNING. THESE CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE MORNING WITH IMPROVEMENT NEAR NOON WHEN WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH.

**

Okay, thanks Environment Canada. So, is it weird that I'm actually looking forward to seeing an actual blizzard?? We'll let you know how we make out!

Weekly Specials

I wanted to do a quick post on the weekly specials at the Northern, the grocery store here in town.



These are comprised over a couple weeks, but should give you a decent idea of why we do things like foodmail and sealifts!







We're taking orders and can bring home these amazing deals at Christmas when we come! Who wants some Campbells Tomato Soup at the low low price of $5.49/can?! Why order take out when you can get Kraft Delissio Pizza's for $23.99??