A visitor

We had a visitor drop in yesterday afternoon. For about ten minutes we were able to watch her hunting mice under the snow (she caught two!) and then she cached them, so we know she’ll be back.

Preparations for Winter

So way up here, north of the 60th parallel, preparations have been made for winter — a family vacation to warmer parts is in order, skookum outdoor clothing with high density insulation is in the closet, snow tires are on the vehicles and the icing on the cake? Fleece sheeting on the beds!Let me just tell you that if you live in a climate where it dips below freezing you have not lived proper and true until you have slept in fleece sheets.

Oh. My.

They are divine with a capital D.

Do you have some sort of seasonal (or not) item that you just love or can’t live without?

Hockey for the Cure - Memory Marshall

Sometimes words cannot express what is in your heart. Memory was the daughter of my dear friend, Marty Jimmy and though Memory is gone, she leaves behind this legacy to help cure cancer. In just one weekend, her family and friends raised nearly $175 000 in her name. Amazing.

Rest in peace, Memory.

The Oilers Have Arrived

Well, the rookies have. And the coaching staff. I’m really hoping I’ll get to see coach, Craig MacTavish. He was my favorite Oiler back in the 80’s.We’re going to watch the practice on Sunday morning. You can bet the whole family will be dudded up in our jerseys, though sadly mine is now somewhat archaic with the trade of Captain, Jason Smith #21 to Philadelphia. It was a sad, sad day for me when that happened. Almost as sad as when we lost Game Seven.

However, a fresh new season awaits and while Fernando Pisani is out indefinitely, I’m anxious to hear if Ethan Moreau is back in this year’s line up.

The Official Blurb:

The Edmonton Oilers open their 2007-08 season next week as they travel north to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories for Rookie Camp. A total of 38 players (25 forwards, 10 defenceman and three goaltenders) will go through the paces on the ice at the Shorty Brown MultiPlex from Friday, September 7th to Sunday, September 9th.

Staff Writer Edmonton Oilers Aug 31, 2007, 3:21 PM EDT

GO OILERS!

Fishing Derby

To successfully attend your first Fishing Derby…

1. Dress in only 3 layers and leave your mittens at home. The weather in the north does not change FAST. You won’t lose feeling in your hands the first ten minutes out. Honest. 3 layers is enough.

2. Next be sure to pack no food in your boat so that you and everyone else is miserable when DH, the fisher king, decides to skip coming in for lunch so that he can eke out every last moment of the derby.

3. DO nearly lose the prize winning fish as DH brings it to the boat and you scoop with the net. It makes for very terse words and strained expressions which I’m sure you’ll be able to laugh about. In a few years.

4. Be certain to not fish. Your job is to keep everyone else happy and untangle hooks from children’s hair and clothing and speak through clenched teeth as situations require (see 3).

LOL. We had lots of fun at the fishing derby and came home with many prizes, but it was a chilly day. We’ve eaten all our fish for supper last night and they were tasty. NWT pike is a treat.

And more firsts!

We saw a mother black bear and her cubs on shore while we were fishing. They were rooting around and digging up the ground.

AND

I’ve forgotten to mention that two weeks ago I saw my first NWT aurora borealis. Can you imagine? The northern lights in August. I was amazed.

Brand New Camera

So a bit ago, DH was out quadding and took my camera with him in case he saw…

A. a bear,
B. a wolf,
C. a caribou or
D. all of the above.The camera worked once after all that jostling and then the little screen in the back went kaput. You know the screen…the “Mom, Mom! Let me see what I look like!” screen? That one-NOT WORKING.

Well, I’m not blaming him (much), but it’s really hard to look through the viewfinder and take a little picture when you’re accustomed to the big picture.

So, I admit that’s a really lousy reason to buy a new camera. Why not just get it fixed, right?

Well, we’re going to, but in the meantime DH has inherited it and I’m getting a new one. One that works underwater, so that when we visit BELIZE this Christmas I can video the fish we’ll be snorkeling with when we’re not busy kayaking or canoeing through the jungles or climbing up the Mayan temples.

So, I’m getting a new camera. How cool is that?

Bullock’s Bistro

Oh, fish and chips will never be the same again!Last night (actually days ago now) we had the enlightening experience of eating at one of Yellowknife’s more famous eateries, Bullocks’ Bistro.

Basically, it’s a two person team catering to a shackfull of enthusiastic patrons. From the cooler you help yourself to whatever brew you choose. Take your pick of fish (whitefish, arctic char or trout), decide whether it’s grilled, pan fried in butter or deep fried and voila! You can watch it being cooked in the “open” kitchen by the chef. When it’s done, it’s plopped in front of you with a generous serving of “real” fries, a salad and a scrumptious dressing. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.

While you wait for your meal there’s no shortage of reading material…one only has to look at the walls plastered with sentiments and signatures of former patrons or read the multitudinous and motley display of bumper stickers and signs.

“Jesus loves you, but the rest of us think you’re a butthole” was a particular favorite with DD2. I’m not sure what to make of that, but it was fun to see her giggle.

It’s a neat little place and the food is terrific. We’ll definitely go back once our wallet recovers!

My Darling Mom

Donna Elaine

November 10, 1950 - June 26, 2007

To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.

~Thomas Campbell,
“Hallowed Ground”

My darling mom passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday from breast cancer. I was able to be with her and I am so thankful for the opportunity of this past month. I feel as if I’ve been given a miracle to have spent these days with her.

I remind each and everyone of you to take good care and to perform monthly breast exams. Your families love and need you.

A little prevention is a lot of cure.

North of the 60th Parallel

At the visitor information centre just beyond this sign they sell “Bug Gear” to help visitors ward off the incessant black flies and mosquitoes.Upon fingering a white suit vented with a very fine mesh (”tight and white” is the way to go to avoid bites), I was heartily regaled with impressive stories of the black fly’s tenacity in exsanguination.

I watched the storyteller with a critical eye, keen for embellishment, but could find none in her countenance. She was deadly serious when she said we each needed one of these if we were venturing out onto the tundra or heading into the backwoods. Obviously she felt it her duty to warn us ahead of time.

Perfect.

I thought everyone was exaggerating when they said the bugs were bad. That they were doing that thing where residents take an odd sense of pride in bragging about how bad they’ve got it in an attempt to awe the tourists with their bravery.

Apparently not.

Apparently I’ve moved myself and my delicately skinned babies to Black Fly Utopia where the insects shall feast upon us like…well, let’s just say they won’t have the opportunity.

Let’s just let it be known that I’m a good mother and that I’ll be shelling out the big bucks for the suits and that you can well imagine the Pater Family trooping around Yellowknife and vicinity running their errands much like a wayward HazMat team.

That is if we’re not trampled by the buffalo first.

Oh yeah, that’s right.

Buffalo.

Everywhere.

In the ditch.

On the road.

In the car with you if they like.

All the way from Fort Providence north to Yellowknife - 236 km of big, brown road hazard with attitude.

And let it be known that they don’t move for the vehicles…the vehicles move for them.

I’m told they don’t come into town, but that the caribou do…which I’m looking forward to. It’ll be winter by then and the HazMat suits will have been stowed and exchanged for the snowsuits, so that we can lay on the rocks in our backyard and watch the aurora borealis.

LOL. I don’t know if my skin will ever see sun again. I’m hoping so!

I can’t tell you yet if all of our goods have arrived safe and sound, because we don’t move into our house until Friday. Fingers crossed that all is well, though and that the buffalo haven’t messed with the moving truck!

Catch up

Wow. Where does one start? I guess with what caused my lengthy absence in the first place, the renovations…which are now DONE!

Can you see me grinning? All our hard work paid off and the first people through made us an offer and (fingers crossed) the conditions will be removed in a few days and then we’ll be off to Yellowknife to look for our new home (more crossed fingers).Now even though things are calm here on the house front, I’ll still be absent from the blogosphere as I’m away visiting my mom. She’s in palliative care now and so the little ladies and I are pretty much sticking like glue these days. We’re getting in lots of visiting and chatting and hugs and whatnot, so things are as well as can be expected.In the meantime, I’ll drop in as I pop home for visits with BH (taking a page from Toni’s book in which she refers to hers as “beloved husband”) and know that I’m thinking of you all and missing you.