Lack of ranting and raving.

There seems  so much left to do and accomplish and when you put it in perspective of  our remaining Northern time; we really don’t have all that much.  I only realized yesterday while I was reading Newbies-in-Nunavut's Blog (Everyone give a big ‘hello’ to one of Nunavut’s newest bloggers, Lori – who will be taking over my little niche here in Kugaaruk).  She has her countdown listed at ~38 days, which means considering that she wrote her blog yesterday and we are only staying a day or two after they arrive – it only gives us ~40 days to get everything packed, bought and organized….Why am I not freaking out!  I was laying in bed last night,  going over our t0-do list and it is extensive.  The last time I had a list this large was my Northern-shopping list.  Somehow I’ve developed some kind of weird mechanical-calming affect over this huge task ahead of us.  I like to be prepared and organized, and while we are to a point – I should be pulling out my hair, ranting and raving about purchasing a house, truck, furniture, appliances and….well everything else; but I’m not.

Oh well, maybe I should stop ranting and raving over something I’m not ranting and raving about.

May 2-4 weekend has come and gone; and while the rest of Canada seemingly spent the last three days basking in sun and the water from nearby pools and beaches – I was bundled up against the chill that has been prominent in our air lately.  This weather almost reminds me of early winter in the East – damp and cold. ( I guess I better not complain to loud then)

I have officially finished packing for our HHT – it is easy to pack for warmth and sunshine when you have neither here in Kug.         Should be a whirlwind couple of days – lucky for us, pending on our decision – one of the hotels (lol pretty much the only hotel) in the area we are staying at has a Tim Horton’s directly across the street….  I somewhat doubt they have the Coldstone Creamery attached yet; but for now Coffee that I don’t make myself is all I need.

One year older

Today I turn a year older, and as I look at the clock I’ve been officially 32 for almost 2-hours.  Do I feel older..look older… ‘No’ on both accounts.   Last year, I felt the need to hide for the day – this year not so much.  I was scared to see/hear what last year held for me – and actually a few bad things did happen that warranted the “bad feelings”.  This year, there are so many changes happened that I’m not sure what I feel at this moment, but at this second I’m feeling hopeful for the unknown. 

Happy 32nd Birthday to ME! 

Trials Tribulations and TREES?

My so-called peaceful life in the North has been rocked into submission.  We are vamping up our Southern mentality hoping to kick start it into gear.  There is so much to do between now and July 3rd *give or take a day*.  The HHT is all but planned; just waiting on the most important aspect – the relief member to even out the odds here in Kugaaruk.  We spoke to our Relocation guys and have everything set in line with them – the best thing is that they do most of the work for us; they have a list of required Realtors, Home Inspectors (MIKE HOLMES PLEASE!) and Lawyers – so not knowing any of them ( luckily we are moving to a very “small” town – where everyone knows everyone and everyone’s business), we will pick the few that other Members have used before in the past.   I love small town chatter (or call it gossip).  Speaking of which, we are very thankful to have let Hughie’s parents know about our impending move prior to letting the cat out of the bag to the rest of the world.  Hughie’s mom ran into two random (old family connections) friends at a conference in Antigonish – who mentioned off handed that they had heard through the grape-line that Hughie' was heading to Bridgetown to work…That could have been an interesting conversation.  So now all we do is wait – wait for the final word to go on our HHT..and then buy a house…Wow, holy crap – I’ m going to be a home owner…Scary concept – I figure if my brother (who is 7 years younger than I) can purchase a house at the snap of his fingers and make a crazy awesome financial decision, that I can too!  Not sure it will be so finger-snapping though. 

On a totally related topic, I still make my bed in Kugaaruk (which, is still not made) so it wouldn’t be a northern blog if I didn’t bring up the fact that spring has arrived.  To the local observer just passing by the town or looking at the photo’s I post you may think I’m a bit crazy – but when the snow starts to melt to the point of falling through where you didn’t fall through a week ago; and the snow melting and forming ice in the evening..you know Spring has arrived – there even is mud in some places. 

A bit of proof: 

Yes, that is both the oil-truck & front end loader stuck in the soft wet snow; a month or even three weeks ago you could walk on top of it like it was pavement.  Needless to say this picture has a happy story, both were removed safely.

I don’t know how much I will blog over the coming weeks – things are going to be moving quite fast once we get the okay to head out on our HHT – but I have decided to keep a blog going even when I move to the land of apple cider and pie, it helps to voice my concerns and it is a easy way for my friends and family from across Canada to keep up with my day to day rambling.  Maybe my new blog will be called “Trials Tribulations and TREES”

Home

"Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,

So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

  Excerpt from “Home” by Daughtry

It is OFFICIAL – Hughie and I are moving back to the land of the “Bluenose” and we can’t be more excited about it.  We are moving to Bridgetown/Middleton Nova Scotia also known as Annapolis Valley. (See arrow on Map) I am looking forward to sitting out on my deck (yes my new house has to have a deck ) and drinking my morning coffee and finishing off my day with a glass of white as I watch the sunset on my newest chapter.  We are hoping to purchase a house on a lake or possibly the Bay of Fundy.  We have lots to chose from, as it seems to be a buyers market right now.

There is still lots to do before we are ready to leave; although with our replacement coming in July we best place a fire under our butts. 

I’m sure once I get settled in my new life that I will have time reflect on my last 18 months and realize it wasn’t so bad – don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate the north – I have some very fond and not so fond memories, I’m just hoping that once I get back down south I’ll be able to recall only the good and let the bad memories float down the Bay of Fundy on a raft.

However, the only thought I have right now is what country will I buy my first bottle of wine from (I’m thinking a Chardonnay from Australia).

*Anyone that wants to attend a Kitchen party, at any time just give me a shout – the beer will be cold and East Coast Music loud.

The bullet has been bit.

I can’t believe how quiet things have been over the last couple of weeks.  I don’t know what I was expecting, but after being away for a month you almost forget what your life is truly like living in the North, all you know is that you want to get back to your little niche in the North and relax after dealing with the hassle and bustle of your vacation alter ego.   I have been slowly organizing my life, as I said in my last blog – I can’t believe the stuff I’ve accumulated over the last 18 months – while some of it is worthy of keeping, most is sellable.  We are still waiting on “official” word with regards to our impending transfer out of the north so I’m keeping rather mum on that whole topic. 

One thing that I forgot from last year is how fast we are turning into the land of the 24-hour sun.  The sun sets now at approximately 9pm and rises at 2am.  I’m hoping that the clouds stay away long enough so I can get outside tonight and capture the rise of the big orange sphere rising over our mountains. 

Mothers day is upon us, as is the commercials for greeting cards and flowers.  I’m lucky enough to have my Mom as my best friend; and know plenty other Moms that have the same relationship with their daughters.  For all of them and all the Mom’s out there “Happy Mother’s Day

I finally bit the bullet and purchased myself and my hubby new pots-n-pans.  We have been using the same pots since 1999 – during the time we spent in Fredericton.  I happen to think these pots are fantastic; I’m not sure if I should use them or just place them on the mantel for display.  I’ve ordered them from Paderno and got a fantastic deal:  They were regular 799.99 on sale for 279.99 – and since the Frying pans were on sale as well, I had to order one– regular $99.99 on for $24.99.  Paderno has some crazy deals, but you just have to keep your eye out every so often to catch them.  I saved approximately $595.00.

http://www.paderno.com

lol I also purchased a Colander – aka Strainer – the last one I purchased was a plastic white one from the dollar store back in 1999.  Yikes! – Paderno also has one big sale (correct me if I’m wrong) per year; last year it was in November where all their products on there website are on-sale.  I did some Christmas shopping last year during that time; and I believe I only paid $10.00 for shipping.  (They determine the shipping costs on the weight).  For my purchase I just made I paid under $50.00 for shipping, which isn’t bad considering what I ordered.    I’m not sure if they ship up North, as I ship all my products to my family back east – eventually, if need be, they will make there way up North via Canada Post at a cheaper rate than Purolator. 

I don’t know how I will ever assimilate back into the land of shopping in malls; when I can easily sit on my computer in my jammies with my coffee sitting behind me and shop with ease and relaxation.  I don’t have to worry about someone stealing my size or bumping into my coffee – all I worry about is whether or not Sekaya will try to steal my coffee when I’m off in search of the hubby’s visa number.  I do look forward to shopping at stores where shipping fees are astronomical.  My favorite store LUSH has crushed me lately making me order my products expedite therefore paying a arm and a leg for shipping fees.  Thankfully and hopefully wherever I move will either have a store within driving/walking/jogging distance or at least cheap shipping via Canada post again. 

I’ll take my leave now, but I wanted to pass along my favorite Mother’s quote. 

“Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. ~William Makepeace Thackeray

Windows are cracked….open

Things have been relatively slow here, which explains the lack of updates lately.  I have been spending quite a bit of my time organizing my life (aka house) and walking the dogs.  The sun is too beautiful to stay indoors for long.  As my facebook status says today, I have opened my windows.  The snow has finally melted off my windows and now they are free and clear.  The air smells so fresh and crisp (Sewage truck doesn’t come around this end of town until tomorrow) and I can almost see my house shake off the winter blues that it has been holding on to.

On a completely different topic, It is funny how you almost forget you are in the North until odd little things happens to you:

1.  I walk both Chakotay & Sekaya separately for my benefit and for their own – it gives them some time apart and I don’ t have to look like I have rubber arms being pulled in two directions.  There is a little girl who lives just down the street to me, who has taken to Chakotay (no surprise) and Sekaya (very surprising) however, that isn’t the odd little thing.  She was playing with Sekaya (throwing her snow – but not getting too close) and she stopped looked me up and down a couple of times and then said “Where are your boots” – now I was wearing my North Face hikers – I was about to answer her, when I noticed for the first time she was NOT wearing mittens.

2.  I was outside yesterday morning with Chakotay, while he was doing his morning constitutional I had a local lady come up to me and ask if I saw her missing dog.  When I inquired when her dog went missing she said “I didn’t notice”….  So did her dog go missing two weeks ago or two minutes ago, needless to say I didn’t see her dog.  I wonder if she “didn’t notice” when her dog returned… or if he did?

On another note, it is Hockey Playoffs – which means in my household hockey is on the television 7 days a week no matter which team is playing.  However, with our team being the Vancouver Canucks we have been glued to the television for the last 12 days.  Last night was nerve wracking to say the least but the Canucks were victorious – once again jumping all over the Kings in the 3rd period.  The Kings played a heck of a game, and we will definitely see them in the Playoffs next season, Drew Doughty isn’t going anywhere.

Sekaya my little puppy is no longer a little puppy, she turned 3 on Friday.  I didn’t do an official post about her birthday because in all honesty it only seems like yesterday I posted about her 2nd birthday.  Although with owning two huskies comes BLOWING..hair blowing that is.  Yellowknife has exacerbated the hair blowing – last year it didn’t start until the end of May.  I have been dodging hair tumbleweeds all weekend as they filter down the hall.  So I guess I am back to vacuuming twice daily to keep up with the hair.  I look forward to the future where I will have a huge fenced in back yard,where they can shed to their hearts content.

This n That Vacation Photos

 

Caribou Coffee, Mall of America - Minnesota

Caribou Coffee - Minnesota

Team Jackets - Timmins

Mine shaft – Timmins

 

Dressed up as “Bluenosers” – Timmins

New nose ring – Winnipeg, Manitoba

Chubbs – Markham, Ontario