Treena's Travels

This blog was set up to journal my experience of living in Nunavut and keep friends and family up to date on these happenings. It's a wonderful place, this hideaway in the north, and I'm loving my time here. An unforgettable place with unforgettable people. I'm lucky to be here.

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Location: Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Temp: -30
Sunrise: 9:37 a.m.
Sunset: 2:48 p.m.

Well, the week has been a pretty interesting one. I ended up puppy-sitting for a friend Sunday to Wednesday and what a pup he was. I'd conveniently forgotten what it was like to have a non-potty-trained dog around. Sheesh! Heading outside in cold weather every hour on the hour... good times! ;-) Anyhow, Oliver was pretty much a pouting grump for the whole three days but what can ya do?




Awwww...


Oliver couldn't get far enough away from the little guy





Frisky and maybe a wee bit big for his britches!

Other than that, my neighbour Chad and some co-workers have nets set up out on the ice for fish and it's been good feeding ever since they set them up. Yum!!

Here's a picture of one of the first ones he brought home. Hee hee, it's almost as big as Tania!



And here's a picture of a fish that I gutted and is currently wrapped up in my freezer waiting to be eaten. It's kind of a gross pic though so be warned. The neat thing of it all is that there were two fish in it's belly when I cleaned it. So cool to see these fairly sizable fish in my fish! This was only my second fish to gut but let me tell ya, it's a walk in the park compared to butchering chickens. Now THAT's a disgusting job! :-)



Well, it's hard to believe that Saturday is already December. We're gearing up at school for the Christmas concert which the kids are really excited about, and it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! I'm getting into the holiday mood which is nice and I'm really looking forward to Christmas and my family's trip to Vegas. Should be a good time; different for a Christmas break, but still a really good time. But, until Christmas gets here I am going to pass the time with skating. Got myself a pair of really comfy skates and once I get them sharpened this weekend look out! No seriously, look out. I'm a lousy skater (especially with figure skates and that blasted toe pick!) but it'll be good to get out and have some fun. Hee hee... now to find some hockey pads so I don't end up breaking something!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Temp: -24
Windchill: -37
Sunrise: 9:25 a.m.
Sunset: 2:57 p.m.

Well, this week was pretty good; Thursday afternoon and Friday we had parent teacher interviews so it was slow at school, which was kind of nice. Friday night was pretty miserable outside so I just hung out at home and watched 'Disturbia'. What a good movie! It wasn't predictable which was refreshing. Good times.

Saturday was pretty low key and then Sat night it was off to some friends for supper. This morning I had everyone over for brunch for Edna's birthday which was nice. And tonight, I am puppy-sitting. Actually, I'm puppy-sitting for three days; he's a real cutie but it has definitely curbed the impulse to get a playmate for Oliver. Nope, I'm a one dog kinda gal that's for sure.

Other than that, not too much new here in Baker Lake. Oh, well there was an awful accident this weekend. A couple walking along the road were struck by a drunk driver and the man had to be medi-vacced out and I understand that it's a bit touch and go. Here's hoping he pulls through ok.

Well, no pictures to post tonight as I'm off to bed and hopefully it won't be a long night with the wee one up and down over and over. We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Temp: -25
Windchill: -35
Sunrise: 8:56 a.m.
Sunset: 3:22 p.m.
Moonrise: 2:46 p.m.

Pretty chilly

Well, this has been a great week I have to say. It started out with a Deaf consultant (from Manitoba) coming to the school for a visit and it was sure a great experience. It felt good to be signing with an adult again and to get feedback on my work. It was great, and I am exhausted; my arms feel like they're going to fall off and I've slept like a log because of it every night. It put some spice back in the career which is definitely a good thing.

Tonight I spent some time at the school volunteering at the Math Camp that was arranged by several of the staff. It offered the grade five students an opportunity to stay the night at the school with staff and do math activities, play games, and watch a movie late into the night. I only stayed a few hours but it was a fantastic time. The kids were great and so well behaved. It was obvious that they really appreciated the night and couldn't have been more excited. I don't know what the decibel level was but it was right up there! :-) Heh heh, gotta wonder if anyone is going to get any sleep in that gym tonight. But, a big kudos to the organizers who did a fantastic job!! Very nice. And to top off the night, I had a chance to see the comet (Holmes is the name I think) that is out and about. It was a beautiful orange and way off on the horizon but pretty cool just the same.

Other than that, I'm sleeping in tomorrow and heaven help the person that wakes me up! And, I may actually decorate for Christmas this weekend depending on how festive I feel. Only six weeks to go until Christmas! Can't believe it...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Temp: -25
Windchill: -36
Sunrise: 8:40 a.m.
Sunset: 3:37 p.m.
Sunny

The guys went hunting about a month ago and got a caribou. It was a beautiful pelt and here it is being cleaned.





The last little while it has been birthday central here at the 12 plex. I decorated Chad's door on his big day.



In September we had a few good snowstorms; here's a pic of our school after the fact.



Oliver in his new favorite position: people watching and protecting the digs in comfort. What a life....

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Temp: -20
Windchill: -31
Sunrise: 8:36 a.m.
Sunset: 3:40 p.m.
Was a sunny and beautiful day it was!


3:30 p.m. Sunset over the playground at school. Gettin' dark early now.

Well, it's been a long time since writing. Unfortunately, I had to send my computer out for repairs yet again! Ahh well. With any luck it's fixed and good.

I'm trying to think what's been going on in the last few weeks. They've really flown by that's for sure! In the middle of October two boys went out hunting on a Monday after school and didn't return home. The weather was really cooling off by then and the nights getting quite chilly so everyone was, of course, really concerned. The Rangers were called in the next day for search and rescue but it was difficult for them as there was also a mother and son who'd gone out hunting on the Sunday night in Arviat and hadn't returned so the Rangers were doing double duty between the two communities. But, thankfully, all were found on Wednesday and everyone is safe and sound.

The lake froze over finally about two weeks ago and true to form people were out on it fishing within a couple days. Yikes! I am wayyy too chicken for that! The guys went ice fishing this afternoon and said it's about 14 inches thick now so tomorrow I will venture out to check it out. The weather was pretty cold this week (I was out on recess duty on Tuesday and the windchill was -40) but today was beautiful and tomorrow looks to be the same.

Here are a few pics of the whole barge process. Blogger wasn't allowing uploading of pics for awhile so I'm putting up a bunch of random shots from the last little while.


The barge that brought in the groceries


Some of the pallets that needed to be delivered


Woohoo! There she be!


Here it comes




Gettin' stocked up

Here's a picture of the one barge that's still in the bay, frozen in. Apparently an ice breaker is going to come and get it out at some point.



And as far as Halloween went, it was a lot of fun with the kids. I was a scarecrow; not so original and I had to borrow pretty much everything to pull it together but it was fun and the kids liked it.



For the treats to hand out, Tania and I had the brainy idea to make popcorn for the kids this year. First, we decorated 200 brown bags.



Then, we made popcorn to stuff those 200 brown bags. Sheesh! What a process THAT was!! :-) But, it was fun and gave us some laughs while doing it. And, my floor stayed squeaky clean because it turns out that Oliver LOVES popcorn. Good times..


Working two popcorn poppers at once... pretty talented! ;-)


And this is what 200 bags of popcorn and two very tired girls look like!

Thankfully the weather cooperated with the little ones for Halloween because on the 29th we had our first blizzard day!! It was a really nice surprise because we didn't have much loose snow to speak of and when I went to bed it was clear as could be. Love surprises like that (when I'm not trying to catch a flight out)!

Other than that, it's hard to believe how fast time is going this year. We're already nearly half way through November! Crazy... Although Monday didn't feel like time was passing quickly because I had the flu. So, like a good girl I went for my flu shot yesterday and, other than a pretty good headache from it, I should be good to go for the year. Fingers crossed because the flu and colds have been pretty rampant already.