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Tuesday, 01 May 2012

  • Posted by bonnieupnorth

    Late April extended weekend break into wine country...


    All  of the ingredients for a great break from Alberta snow the last few days in Davis California with friends..
    Spring flowers, backyard pool,
    bike paths and visiting cat, exploring cemetaries  and wonder about the history & stories of the area.  On Saturday helped with 45 cases done of 2010 vintage from oak barrels & need to sit at least another year in the bottles! Sunday drove up to Napa valley for both champagne tasting and excellant brunch.Love the drplets here on the roses

Friday, 27 April 2012

  • Posted by bonnieupnorth

    It snowed in Alberta again this morning

    So putting on the sunglasses and imagining days to come this is what I find.....irises my favorite spring time flower,  yellow and golden poppies....geraniums  in beds and pots.... my crab apple and Evans cherry tree in bloom....white roses or wild Alberta pink ones.....an extended weekend on the west coast and a morning bike ride has given me hope of warmer days to come!

Monday, 16 April 2012

  • Posted by bonnieupnorth

    Spectacular Snow Patterns

    Man Walks All Day to Create Spectacular Snow Patterns http://inhabitat.com/artist-makes-giant-wintry-crop-circles-just-by-walking-in-the-snow/simon-beck-snow-art2/

    Artist Simon Beck must really love the cold weather! Along the frozen lakes of Savoie, France, he spends days plodding through the snow in raquettes (snowshoes), creating these sensational patterns of snow art. Working for 5-9 hours a day, each final piece is typically the size of three soccer fields! The geometric forms range in mathematical patterns and shapes that create stunning, sometimes 3D, designs when viewed from higher levels.

    How long these magnificent geometric forms survive is completely dependent on the weather. Beck designs and redesigns the patterns as new snow falls, sometimes unable to finish a piece due to significant overnight accumulations.Interestingly enough, he said, 'The main reason for making them was because I can no longer run properly due to problems with my feet, so plodding about on level snow is the least painful way of getting exercise. Gradually, the reason has become photographing them, and I am considering buying a better camera.

    Spectacular art for the sake of exercise!




Sunday, 08 April 2012

  • Posted by bonnieupnorth

    Happy Easter all....Alleluia He is Risen.

    A sunny but snowy Alberta morning here and just a few reminders of personal reasons for gratitude.

    • The color and pockets of beauty in my plants or when scouting with the camera
    • My church family that is truly a community
    • My own family though often scattered...
    • here is my brother Don on a visit from Ontario and the grandaughter who has given me the opportunity of second chance parenting
    • My work mates and challenges that hospital social work brings
    • My swim and writing friends with whom I can coffee and good food or celebrate those decade birthdays
    • Those crazy dogs Dysis and Nanuq even when they escape!

     

Saturday, 07 April 2012

Saturday, 24 March 2012

Saturday, 17 March 2012

  • Posted by bonnieupnorth

    A week away.

     As I sit in my time share unit not far from Mountainside Rec center,  a very familiar setting in Fairmont Hot springs BC the where the family has had a week every two years since the 1980s, I reflect on this past week away. I have tried a few new things this time but it always brings back memories of past family trips. The week has been good with a variety of activities from hikes to  hot pools to a day of x-c skiing at Nipika day lodge to a local Scottish pub in Invermere.

     

    Wish that I could downhill as I hear some fantastic snow on Panorama and local small hill! But did get abit of cross-country Found a spot out side Radium, www.nipika.com Nipika day lodge. that has groomed trails and was only one there on Tuesday. Loved it for many groomed trails, a day lodge and rentals...I was the only one there today and tons of fresh snow. The only detriment is the 14 km windy drive up the logging road and meeting big trucks in slippery snowy conditions..abit of a hairy drive up and don't love big trucks. .

    The roads are pretty slushy and combos of rain and snowy weather and on the return trip included some deer arguing over feeding spots with "eep, eeps" and dashing across the main highway in the town of Radium. Protected because in a national park here but becoming a nuisance in some of the neighbouring town that have necessitated a “ deer cull” strategy.

    Some hand sewing projects

    that have little time to do at home included repairing the lining of my mitts adding new fur trim and made finger puppets for a 3 yr old grand daughter who had her birthday this week.....Hauled out one of the books from Linda McPhee's workshops in the 1980s my mom had given me and alot of my duffle and wool scraps and embroidery threads...very detailed work.

    The mid -March hikes to Hoodoos and an historic guided hike each about 1-2 hrs. — the sign said " Don't go close to the cliff " Believe me I didn't...

    beautiful view of the Hoodoos but slippery and windy at original Fairmont Hot springs. Two walks on the surrounding golf course with and with out snow. This is Geary House an original homestead built I think in the late 1800s. and a large barn built about 1912 still standing In 1909, a room and soak in the hot springs cost $2.00. Ended up this morning going straight from the villa but snow too sticky…more like snow shoeing but some good photo ops like snow on these swings or creek with sulphur water bubbling down.

     

    Good balance of solitude and socializing! Driving down from Edmonton stayed at the in-laws, nice tea and homemade yogurt breakfast just west of Calgary. There is a most friendly year old black lab here named Lizzy...fetched repeated and sniffed for our dogs! Training as hunting dogs and great nose for those hidden objects. Wish I could bring my dogs as some great country but no pets at the facility. Makayla watched them at the house both weekends and Jeffrey mid-week Also had planned that my cousin Bill and his wife Betts from Airdrie to come for the weekend but she had the flu and disappointingly cancelled.

     

    Just love small town newspapers with local issues of deer cull and teacher’s strike and great little coffee shops, like Smoking Waters, with welcoming hosts and lovely muffins, cinnamon buns!  A local Scottish pub and restaurant, McToogles in Inveremere had good local beer, great live music  and that substantial comfort food like Shepherds Pie.

     

    Sunday would like to go to local little church but it is a long drive, like 7-8 hours so am just going to pack up and come home.

     

     

Monday, 27 February 2012

NORTHERN MEANDERINGS..FROM ALBERTA TO NUNAVUT

WHY I BLOG.... A native Edmontonian, my year is split between here & the arctic. Blogging since 2003 and hopefully relieving my friends and family of those group emails, this site is primarily a personal photo blog of these " Northern Meanderings " & at times some other rants. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED are my own & DO NOT necessarily reflect those of my family, church, other social workers, employers, government, two pet huskies, etc.

To find Nunavut & other northern bloggers...

bonnieupnorth

  • Visit bonnieupnorth's Xanga Site
    • Name: Bonnie
    • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 4/21/2004
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About Me

  • Definitely a " northern girl ". I am Canadian, loving life in the north whether home base in Alberta or the arctic. In April 2010 a left hip fracture due to a x-c ski accident on Baffin Island limited mobility for a while. Reminded about the fragility of age and the odd ski pole or cane to prevent falls, have stuck abit closer to home. hospital social work and taking on teaching a relationships class of over 100 university students in fall of 2011 may mean new directions. As a " relief " social worker in the Nunavut... do stints both at Christmas & in the summer, each 3 - 12 weeks - have been in Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, Hall Beach, Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet & Arctic Bay, Kimmirut, Arviat, Repulse Bay and Rankin Inlet. In the city, have both a part time counselling private practise & do social work coverage at one of the local hospitals and sessional university instructor.

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