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

Return to sender

I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m sitting in my kitchen writing a blog – 30 days flew by.  I know this sounds weird, but it feels good to be home.   Living out of your suitcase for 30 days, even when you place your clothes into an available closet or dresser, is not fun after the initial excitement wears off. 

This vacation was fantastic, although, we did lose a couple days due to flying, whether it was the flight from St. Lucia where we were stuck in the Toronto airport for 7 hours (3-hours of that was us carting around our luggage..blah!) and then sitting in the Edmonton airport yesterday for 6 hours.  However, I will admit those hours did fly by with the help of alcohol and Starbucks/Second Cup coffee.  I also broke my “sleeping in a airport virginity”.  I dozed a time or two in airports, but yesterday after only 1.5 hour of sleep the night before I crashed on a bench for 90 minutes and snoozed quite comfortably. 

I won’t bother with an official play-by-play of this vacation but I will give a few highlighted points for those who read this blog and not the updates I place on Facebook.  (No particular order)

- Hair foils, waxing, manicure & pedicure.  I have fallen in love with the Oasis Mineral Spa in Winnipeg as well as Cedar Springs Spa in Timmins, Ontario.

- Seeing the Manitoba Moose as well as the Minnesota Wild lose…brutal luck but the beer was cold and crisp.

- Palomino Club in Winnipeg…what a spot.

-Sourpuss (Raspberry & Green Apple)

-Manitoba winning the Championship, and knowing the only team they lost to in round-robin was NWT/NU! (Sorry Gary)

-Hospitality Suite with the added bonus of $2.00 drinks.

-Quarry Physiotherapy; Gimli, Manitoba

-Meeting the most charismatic cat, Chubbs.

-Ikea with Andrew & Laura.

-Mall of America – Nordstrom's, Victoria Secret, Yankee Candle.

-Wearing boots that are NOT Sorels

-Toronto Eaton Centre

-Winnipeg Polo Park

-The North Face store in Minnesota

-Bubbles replica

-I know I did the official blog post but..LADERA, ST. Lucia.

-Caribou Coffee, Starbucks, Second Cup & Tim Horton's.

-Seeing my dogs for the first time after vacation.

I can go on and on about this vacation, it was just that good – but then if I did that I should have just wrote a “play by play”.  I’m glad to be home even with all the vacation laundry that has to be completed.  They are calling for some nice “seasonal” weather over the next couple of days, so I’m looking forward to hanging outside with my pups taking in the fresh crisp arctic air.  Our time is coming to a close and I want to take advantage of every nice day that I can.  (No we don’t know where we are going…lol).

Ladera, St. Lucia

I find myself sitting in the Sheraton lobby drinking a Sleeman’s Honey Brown waiting patiently for our next flight to Timmins, Ontario.  Our vacation is half over, yet we still have 8 days ahead of us that will be filled with curling and hospitality suites.   I’m looking forward to unpacking my luggage and having some non-wrinkled clothes.  I am still in awe at how well this vacation is going – I know that may jinx us, but I’m willing to take that chance. I am however, starting to miss my fur-kids – it always seems to be about this time, when I have a moment to sit back and reflect on the last 20 days.  We have been purchasing them little “treats” along the way so their homecoming will be as exciting for them as it is for us.

**Addendum:  I’m currently sitting in Timmins Ontario watching Mtl vs Tor on HNIC, during our last night of CPCA curling.  I started this post a week ago, I feel the need to complete the Ladera post prior to finalizing the rest of vacation.

Enough with the jibber jabber, I know you are all wondering how my big week-long all inclusive vacation to Ladera was.  The easiest and best way to  organize my thoughts is to rate all the major points on a scale from 1-10 (10 being FANTASTIC and 1 being CRAPTASTIC)

Travel -  Ladera is a 45 minute drive from the airport [twisty & turns, so if you are prone to nausea from car-sickness take a gravol] – if you choose a package with Ladera most will cover the taxi fare – if not expect to pay approximately 80 (USD).  Our taxi driver was fantastic and stopped along the way to allow us to take pictures of the Pitons from afar as well as other notable items.  (I’ll post a few pictures once we arrive back in Kugaaruk).   The taxi driver, Edmund who drove us back to the airport was equally as attentive and we had a great chat about deep-sea fishing and fish.  (8.5/10)

Check In – Hughie was so out to lunch in awe over Ladera and the beauty of our resort that I handled the check in – that and he did/does enough paperwork while he is working so he didn’t need the added “stress” of more paperwork.  They offered us cool facecloth spritzed with rose water & fruit punch (without the rum – the added rum part came later and it was DELICIOUS). 

Resort -  As you will see from the photo’s the resort maintains an open feeling with all rooms having a open wall to the outdoors *as you see in the photo below #1.  We were complimentary updated to a two-bedroom villa.  (We had booked a one bedroom villa)

 

Every room has there own plunge pool* as you see in the photo below .  The pool was so warm at nights that it seemed like a giant bathtub; we even had to to turn off our waterfall on occasion just so the water would cool down slightly.  I spent many hours in our pool; nothing is more refreshing that coming in from the beach and jumping into your own pool

Overall the staff went out of their way to help us, they were always asking if we needed anything, and that included keeping our fridge full of Piton beer and diet-cokes; and had no problems keeping the “lovely ladies” in my hands – I fell in love with coconut milk!

 

The best thing, was when we woke up in the morning we awoke to this. (Picture - Gros Piton)

This is what we went to sleep to every night.(Picture - Petit Piton)

We didn’t take advantage of a lot of “off-resort” festivities or tours; we were quite happy staring at our Pitons and drink refreshing beverages; however, we did manage to take a “Sunset Tour” and “Dolphin & Whale watching tour”.  The sunset tour was fantastic, the beers were cold and the Skipper was quite knowledgeable about his Island.  Unfortunately the Dolphin tour didn’t leave me with the same kind of euphoria.  We did not see one Dolphin or whale, just flying fish. 

Some photo’s from the Sunset Tour:

I could spend hours posting pictures of our resort, Ladera and St. Lucia..but I’m due at the hospitality suite soon.  I promise to update more frequently and tell all about the CPCA-Timmins when I get back to Kugaaruk.