Iqaluit Christmas Lights

1st Place

Each year the city holds a Christmas light competition. 

2nd Place

Tinah, Lisa and I drove around on judging night checking out the houses. 

4th Place

The entries were not listing anywhere so we tried to hit every street and I took some photos of our favourites.

6th Place

The results were posted on facebook this week, we learn a lot from facebook up here :-)

Winter Solstice

On December 21, 2011 the sun rose over Iqaluit at 0922, it will set at 1342 this afternoon. This photo was taken at 12 noon. It had been snowing all morning and the clouds were just starting to clear enough to make out the sun. I am happy to note that the ice looks to be reaching further out to sea.

Hello Ron

This morning we decided to check the snow cover. I was not feeling bold enough to drive my sled and Blaine's sporty little number doesn't take passengers so we headed out along the beach on my sled. We left the dogs at home to reduce the number of variables that could stress me out and we made it as far as the FOL (the military Forward Operating Location just the other side of the airport) before deciding to turn back due to lack of snow. Back home we took pity on the puppies and decided to take them to the beach for a run. Blaine drove Sage down on the sled and I walked Johnny.

About half way down, just by the kids' playground Johnny and I were surprised to see a big black dog running at us. Sage had evidently decided to leave her master and come looking for the weaker members of her pack. We continued towards the beach when Sage spotted a man in a black Canada Goose parka and, failing to notice that 90% of the population look the same all winter, assumed that must be daddy so she kept running off with me yelling at her to come back. Finally the excitement was too much and she bolted across the road and went bounding up to the unsuspecting pedestrian. 

Embarrassed, I apologized profusely. The happily unscathed gent said "you must be Emma, I'm Ron" I just said hello and carried on in search of Blaine. My brain must have been affected by the cold or perhaps the petrol fumes from my sled as I utterly failed to make a very simple connection until about 5 minutes later... Ron is, I assume, my fellow blogger Ron Wassink and I missed an opportunity to congratulate him in person on his awesome photography and commitment to this odd form of communication. Please accept this public apology for my rudeness!

Christmas Craft Fair

On Saturday December 3 we went to the Innuksuk High School craft fair. I was so busy shopping that I didn't take any photos of the three rooms packed with tables overflowing with goodies. Items for sale included:

Photos of local wildlife and scenery

Carvings by local artists

Lots of sealskin mittens and kamiks

Christmas tree decorations

Cakes, cookies and bannock (but no hot dogs)

Handmade jewelry

Christmas cards

Paintings, block prints and sketches

I cannot divulge my purchases here as that would spoil the surprise for the recipients!