Temp: -25
Windchill: -44
Wind gusts: to 71 km/hr
Sunrise: 8:03 a.m.
Sunset: 6:06 p.m.
Blizzard

I have to say that this past weekend has been a great weekend even though we were in the midst of yet another blizzard. Friday night was spent playing a couple games and watching movies with friends and Saturday night we all decided to go visit the igloos after dark for tea. It was amazing. The ride out was pretty chilly but once we got inside it was nice and toasty. But, before we got to go inside the boys had to dig out the entryway because of the last blizzard that snowed it all in. Once we were settled inside we had tea and hot chocolate, visited and played some inuit games. But the most amazing part of the night was when Tania and I rode back in the box of the komatiq, flat on our backs just gazing up at the stars and the northern lights. I felt like a little kid again. It was the most peaceful and amazing feeling to have all that darkness surrounding us, set off only by the stars, and highlighted with dancing streaks of pale green across the sky. I hope I never forget that feeling; what a fantastic experience.

And Sunday the crew went down to the hotel for a delightful brunch. The walk there was very mild (woohoo! no snowpants required!!) with just a slight gusting wind. Slowly snowflakes began to fall, the wind picked up and BAM! By 2:30 we were in blizzard mode! It tapered off by morning though so that's good.

Anyway, here are a few pics of our little 'ole tea party







And Tuesday night (which was last night but this posting was started on the weekend, hence the date) was the annual Science Fair at the high school. It was so great to see so many families come out and check out all the projects. The kids were some excited to show off what they put together for their parents and 4 groups got picked to go to Arviat to present there in the finals this weekend. It will be interesting to see if any of our kids makes the cut to go to the Nationals.

Temp: -39
Windchill: -60
Winds; 50 km/hr
Sunrise: 7:21 a.m.
Sunset: 5:51 p.m.
Blizzard

No more apt words were ever spoken as the words from Scent of a Woman to describe our weather today. 'Hoo-ahh!' She be cold today. Down right chilly. Heh heh and the cable is still out, planes haven't gotten in since Saturday and don't look to be getting in until at least Wed night but likely Thursday. Unfortunate for the teachers who are still stuck down in Winnipeg and over in Yellowknife from having gone out for PI week. Also unfortunate for the cable repair people waiting on an itsy bitsy part to be flown in to rectify the cable dilemma. :-) Ahh well, it could always be worse. Heh heh, touch wood we still have heat and water.

So, tonight was spent having tea with the neighbours and then watching a movie with a friend. We watched the Robin Williams Live DVD that he made for HBO and it's saucy but absolutely hilarious! Good times. Now off to bed to see if we get a call in the morning...

Oh, but first, if anyone is looking for the blow by blow on how to build an igloo, go to the website www.wildernessrhythms.com where my friend Chad has a website and has developed a really cool section on how an igloo is built and why. Very informative and nicely laid out.

Temp: -34
Windchill: -52
Sunrise: 7:28 a.m.
Sunset: 5:44 p.m.

Well, I'm back in Baker after having had a week off for PI week (professional improvement) and although it's good to be back, it was sure nice being in Alberta with some warmer weather. Temperatures there were between +4 and -15 so it was down right balmy! It was great being near the family again too and catching up with everyone. I got back on Friday, which as it turns out was a good plan, because we've got a mild blizzard happening right now and the planes have been cancelled for today (catching a few teachers who went out by surprise and stuck in a hotel in Winnipeg). It's not too bad though and visibility is fairly decent. And, I think just having had the break made a real difference for me. I feel refreshed and ready to get back at it!

Yesterday we got out of town with the gang and went out to see the igloos that some of the teachers learned how to build on their PI week. We made a small addition to one of them and tossed around the idea of sleeping in them sometime in the not too distant future which would be a lot of fun. I really hope we get to do it. I didn't realize until recently that I hadn't actually been out on the land in months before this so it's no wonder I'd been having a bit of cabin fever lately. The cold weather just made it no fun to go anywhere so it was great to have a reasonable day to get out. Very cool.


Me, Ivan, Jenesta and Edna


Chad laying down the first row of the addition


Cutting my first block


There she be!


My neighbour Chris and I while I'm sawing a block


Trying to get a picture with Oliver, ever the distracted one. :-)


Tania lookin' frosty


Todd takin' a breather from cutting blocks

And for the past couple of weeks the town has been having cable difficulties and for a few days now everyone is doing without TV completely. Man, you sure don't realize how much TV you watch until you don't have it. I've been scrubbing walls, cleaning radiators and just basically doing spring cleaning. Been a down right productive weekend I have to say!

All in all it's been a great week and my batteries are recharged and ready to go. Good times....