Some of you may have noticed that I have added a new skin or a new look to the blog. Was doing some looking under the different xanga skins and one has the opportunity to preview them on your site. Found this one and liked both the blues and the stars. It has taken a little work to still maintain the links to both my photos and northern blog sites ( see on top )

Now I have been blogging on www.xanga.com for about 3 years now and my site is  on the list of northern bloggers. This has resulted is more footprints and viewing from others which I think is great.

The only disadvantage appears to be that to exchange comments one has to be under the same provider. Am reluctant to change sites but have signed up myself on a Google account so I can leave comments on the other sites.

That is as far as I have got to date.

Thinking about changes...this is a photo of my nephew into music and computers when I was visiting in Ontario last week. Take a look at the oak cabinet behind. This comes from my father who was a lawyer in Alberta until mid-70s and each of those drawers is for different legal forms, applications, and affidavits. Looking through them found dates back to the 1950s and one form that has not changed was Canada Post’s change of address notification!

I have been home almost a week now and because it started on Tuesday because of the extra day of travel and ended with a 4 day CISM conference on Saturday, feel like I lost a day in there. Friday night I was still convinced it was Thursday.

Finally when I made it back to the city, a swimming friend picked me up and brought groceries, thankfully, as nothing in the house. My daughter had done a good cleaning job. Still unpacking, on EST, cold improving slightly and at my conference. Not back at swimming yet! My body is still playing catch up with wanting to sleep and waking at odd hours and the cold is hanging on.

Somehow I lost a day this past week, so this a belated Irish Blessing for St. Patricks Day....

 ....but still finding my body is on Eastern time, and then the adjustment to daylight savings, so waking somewhere between 4 and 5 am! The cold seems to be abating abit with some corciden-c and cold fx, but not the red nose, or cough.

Good visit in Mississuaga with my brother and got some shots of a walk with their dog. Not only was it unique to see trees as the cone loaded spruce, less snow and icy paths, but loved the contrasts in the vegetation where the red berries or willow branches were very evident. Surprised also by the discovery of this beaver dam.

Poor Chelsea the 12 yr old beagle got dragged through some deep snow to get these!     

This shot here is of a Inuit toddler at the Nanasivik airport who was very active and under gates and on weigh scales.

I know of one story in which a 4 year old stood eyeing the baggage belt with much interest obviously thinking about getting on it and my ex watching this process said to the boy. “  Look at all the suitcases, many different colors, see that plaid one it is the same as your shirt, and if you crawl onto the baggage belt and go through those doors, you will come out as a suitcase like that! “ The child ran teary eyed to this mother, and explanations were given but it solved the problem!

In the north it is very common occurrence to run into some one you know. And surprisingly found my self in Iqaluit staring at this man until he said Bonnie and I said Craig, another northern blogger!

In Ottawa, I had about a three-hour wait and after making certain everything checked through, put my feet up in this corner and even took off the socks as too hot!

On my way to security heard another call of my name and surprised to run into another one of my friends from Edmonton. We swim together and she was back from England where had been attending a daughters graduation at Oxford. A very chance meeting and visit while waiting for my flight to Toronto and hers to Edmonton.

Most of the flights to Edmonton have been full, probably because it is spring break and many traveling, so as opposed to arriving at 130 AM Monday morning or going stand by, I opted to stay over night in Toronto with family. 

 with overnights in Iqaluit and Toronto.  As I make this journey of transition from one world of the north barren white to the next just a few interesting thoughts and observations. Minus 30 to just above freezing in Ottawa, and increasingly shedding layers of clothing from the vest and sweaters underneath my parka to no longer the need for double layer of cords and long johns. These are the changing landscape out my First Air window from Iqaluit to Ottawa. Just after take off   about 130 pm looking back on the city of Iqaluit, the ice flow edge of Baffin Island/ Hudson bay
and the changing landscape to trees and farm land just north and prior to landing in Ottawa about 3 PM.       

my headaches, am stuffed up, I look like Roudolf with the red nose that never stopped running, hacking cough and just want to curl up in bed.  I don't like being sick... it frustrates me and have been very fortunte in this trip not to be. Notmally about witin the first two weeks I catch whatever bug is going around in the community, but I think perhaps the flu shot and not being located in the haelth center to work has helped. But now inToronto with all the delays in travel it has hit me!

One of the things you learn quickly when in the north is to build room for the unexpexted such as blizzards that delay flights to no water or sewage pickups. It is not the place for tight schedules or personal agendas that have those expectations.

So sitting I in the health center shortly after 2 pm  when I figured I would  have been picked up by the taxi an hour or so ago just proves the point. Packed and ready to go but no show. Did some sketching while waiting and took the shot of these four seals across from the house and finally went next door as my phone is all packed up found out the taxi will not be coming until 4:30 or 5 PM. There was a fire in Iqaluit of First Air cargo shed. So called First air and options are one night in Iqaluit with going the southern route via Ottawa and Toronto and arriving at 130 am Monday or if via Yellowknife not until Monday 930 PM!

This may be my last entry for a few days as I fly to Iqaluit and ottawa tomorrow.  Pretty zapped as I write.Still at the office finishing off files tonight except for a quick trip home for the final house inspection, and coffee at the health center, a gift of a toque with Arctic Bay on it!   All week long have been toting and returning different borrowed items from books and DVDs to the box from the health center with all the dishes from the transient unit.( I look at some of the other northern blogs and recognize exactly the same furniture and lay out of the units! ) to skis back to the school. The plant will go to one of the other workers in the office. There have been some great work shops for youth and elders this week and some sewing projects of tents and parkas at the school as is break time. Do regret not able to participate but did pop in on the sewing as I had to talk to an elder couple who are becomng foster parents.

Well must head out for that final last trek from office to home!    

...I am tired when walking up to the B and B last night I mistook the smoke from the house for northern lights. They do not appear very much here as we are close to the magnetic north pole, but as the pole has been shifting  there has been more frequency in recent years.

...I am sad when going to feed the neighbourhood dogs this morning as  often do with treats, one is missing just a chain and collar left.