Temp: -20
Windchill: -26
Sunrise: 8:59 a.m.
Sunset: 5:16 p.m.

Well, here we are at Wednesday, October 29th and even I'm surprised at how cold we got today. -20 right now with a -26 windchill and it feels like it! This morning walking to work there were big beautiful fluffy snowflakes and it was very mild out. By lunch it was still really nice but by 4:00 it was down right crisp outside!

Winter in the background - she are here!



So tonight we went off to play badminton at the school but not before deciding 10 mins before to play fetch with Oliver. Big mistake! I bent down to grab the ball from the floor and he jumped up and cracked me in the face with his very big, very hard head. And shazam! I saw stars, tears rolled down my face and blood started flowin'. But, it only took a few minutes to get stopped and off I went. Now fingers crossed I don't end up having to explain black eyes tomorrow at work! So, in response, I have something in store for the little guy.

Payback's a .........



The gentle lil ladybug from next door and the butterfly who stings like a bee!



Sable after she got into Tania's pastels - with a little help from Chad :-)



And other than that we're crazy busy at school helping kids make Halloween costumes and get ready for the big parade in the gym on Friday. Should be a great time. And Friday night there's a sppoooooky party at one of the teachers house. I'm really pumped about it because they apparently deck their house out to the max for Halloween. Can't wait!!

Temp: -3
Sunrise: 8:43 a.m.
Sunset: 5:33 p.m.

The last couple of days have been pretty blustery and snowy and it's left me feeling very festive and inclined to get ready for Christmas. Although I can't wait to get my decorations up, I am going to force myself to not put anything up until November 15th. And not a minute later! :-)

With the wind and the snow came the most amazing waves on the lake, which is normally pretty placid and tame. We took the dogs down to check it out and get a few pictures. If blogger actually lets me I will try and load them.







Other than that, our class was busy baking and getting ready for the flea market and bake sale this week. We had a great time and hopefully the sale tomorrow will go well and we can raise some money for the school and for the elders centre.

Temp: -3
Sunrise: 8:37 a.m.
Sunset: 5:40 p.m.
Big fluffy snowflakes falling and Winter Storm Watch issued

Well, the past week has been an interesting one. We've had a few days at school where the kids have been pretty chaotic. Not sure if it's the change in weather or what but it's been a wee bit tiring I have to say. But, amongst all the chaos, I celebrated my birthday on Sunday. Todd and Jenesta had a brunch for me and the whole gang was there which was really nice. And on Monday I got a card from the class which made me chuckle. One of the kids wrote that I was a 'great ASL teacher - good job!' and another girl wrote 'Happy birthday. You have the best hair.' Well, ya know, what more could a gal ask for? :-) Too funny.

And, sadly, we had a tragedy in the community late Friday night. A wonderful lady named Alice, who was a friend of mine, was killed in an ATV accident. She took a corner too fast and was thrown from her honda and killed. It's devastating and has shaken a lot of people. The funeral was this morning; the church was packed and it was a nice service. Afterwards, I caught a ride up to the cemetery for the burial. I've been to several funerals before but not to the cemetery for a burial. It was very cold up there as it is on the top of a hill and completely exposed. And although I was terribly cold, having not dressed properly, I have to say it was a very unique and peaceful experience. The casket was set on the ground and everyone gathered around. The minister said a prayer and then called for the men to form a line to a pile of large rocks about 20 feet away. One by one they passed the rocks up the line and gently laid them around the casket until they were piled to the top. Then several pails of gravel were also handed up and carefully spread over the top until it could no longer be seen. Then another prayer was offered and family and friends laid flowers and wreaths on top. It was so touching; I was very moved by how many people were there and the amount of love that everyone has for Alice. I think the thing that moved me the most though was to see her teenage son holding up the cross at the head of the casket while everyone worked around him to place the rocks so carefully. He stood there, his forehead resting against the cross, just standing there so still. I will never forget that image. My heart absolutely broke for him. So, needless to say, the last few days have been sobering.

On to a different topic now; the school is organizing a fundraising flea market this weekend to be held at the community hall. The kids in our class will be baking goodies tomorrow in preparation for it. I think it will be a lot of fun and such a good experience for the kids. That is if we have school tomorrow afternoon. I see on the weather website that it's calling for a lot of snow and we have a winter storm watch. It would be pretty wicked to have a blizzard now as we've had a wonderful fall and still have hardly any snow to speak of. Would be very cool for Mother Nature to wow us with a gooder to start the season off right!

Temp: 0
Sunrise: 8:18 a.m.
Sunset: 6:01 p.m.

Well here we are once again with the weekend upon us. It was a nice short week thanks to Monday off and Tuesday no kids due to PD. The weather is cooling off now; it's supposed to bottom out at -10 tomorrow with a high of -1. I can't get over the fact that we don't have snow yet. My first year here we were already ice fishing by this time! Well, some people were. Not me because I was too chicken. Heck, the lake froze overnight (as it always does) and people were walking on it the next day. This little girl can't swim so not gonna happen for me but good on those brave enough to do it.

And speaking of ice fishing... Todd took it upon himself to build an awesome new ice shack to drag out on the ice for fishing. Let me tell ya, this thing rocks! Hee hee, and it leaves me feeling a bit homesick as it's painted red and looks like a barn. All it would take is the scent of cow poop and it would totally feel like back home! :-) Anyway, it's blinged out with a window, benches, shelf and sturdy door. Oh there are gonna be some good times in this ole fella for sure. Can't wait!

Temp: -1
Sunrise: 8:09 a.m.
Sunset: 6:11 p.m.

Well, the Thanksgiving weekend is nearly over and I have to say it's been very relaxing. I haven't gotten much accomplished but sometimes ya just need that kinda weekend. Batteries are fully recharged and I'm ready to rock for the coming week. And, tomorrow we have no kids at school because of teachers inservice so it's a nice way to ease into the week.

As for the weather, it's been a bit windy and chilly the last few days but still no snow to speak of. Frost yes, snow no. It feels odd actually not having snow yet. A while back someone was telling me that the elders were calling for an early and cold winter but she ain't here yet. It's nice actually. Although I wouldn't mind getting out of town and on the land before it hits. But I certainly notice that it's getting dark quite quickly. The days are getting shorter and I find myself yawning and feeling ready for bed by 7:30 because it's so dark out. Sure nice for sleeping though.

Last night we all went over to Todd and Jenesta's place for Thanksgiving and it was so nice. Everybody has been so busy lately that we haven't all gotten together in a long time. We had a fantastic spread of turkey and all the fixin's and then watched a movie. Kind of cliche I know but I found myself thinking that I'm sure thankful for my friends; both in the north and wherever else they may be.

Anyway, here are some pics that I've taken recently. Not great ones but just some sights around town.

This is the barge that got stuck here last fall and froze in. They got it out when the ice broke, anchored it out in the bay and she broke loose, floating around until wedging herself onto the far shore where she'd been stuck for a few weeks.



And this is the tug that thought it could! She tried and tried and finally got the barge out and hauled her off but it took a few days of trying. This shot was taken near the RCMP - love the little inukshuk they have set up there.



This is a barge that was docked and piled high. I'd been waiting for my barge order to get in as it was quite late. This barge was stuck at the dock for a couple days while the crane was having repairs done to it. The barge with my groceries is way off in the distance to the left.



Baker Lake is definitely a boating town!





And there she be! Finally got this delivered on Wednesday night while I was at badminton. Exciting stuff!!



Oli checking out the goods. While he didn't get into anything, he was certainly interested in the box of dog biscuits under my pickles!