that is what the weather has been like for most of the last two days. Local flights tried three times before landing yesterday and only one flight got out BUT was at the airport today and it was crowded and sunny out. I swear Rankin must be one of those spots in the north where weather is very changeable in a 24 hr period.

We however are not the only ones experiencing transportation difficulties e.g. Greyhound bus strike in western Canada. On of the RNs had to get home to her family farm just outside of Regina and so because no planes from here yesterday missed the connecting flight from Winnepeg. She explored every alternative from train to alternate air routes with no success so her husband is driving 11 hours to pick her up and for farmers in the middle of calving season not an easy feat!

There are a fair number of us who work in the north and still maintain a home in the south and thus lives in two often vastly different worlds. Jaime www.newnavut.blogspot.com in one of the northern blogs, ( access from the top bar on my site ) asked what would you recommend for those who are considering moving north, with a whole series of replies, but the best one I liked was Clare's comment, you must consider and treat it as your home!

I am in the office with access to the internet but not my photos so for the moment you will have to be content with text and not photos.Took a short video and if I get a chance will down load it. The wireless is very intermittent so even downloading photos takes a while.

These shots are from about 7:30 PM Sunday and I heard the airplane going over. Snow fences abound the edges of town and the snow is very windswept and packed against them. There have been spots of melting and signs of spring and children play with bikes and in puddles on the roads and birds migrate or feed in open spots. These fulmars were over head and calling and these sandpipers small flock were scratching in the brown dirt and open space every time I approached they would fly up and circle and land on the other end of the patch.

This afternoon the sun came out and all is slush and melting but did manage to get out skiing again with Anessa. Both of us are on call ( she is a midwife at the birthing center here ) so toting the radio phones! Warm enough that had to shed a few layers and again the "sik sik's" made their appearances. If you were in the western arctic, where Inuacqtiun is spoken, these ground squirrels are called " hik-hiks".

So when you go for a large coffee and muffin at Tim Horton’s or Second Cup, what is your bill? Probably about $2.50 to $4.00.

Similar cost at this local shop is $6.29, but a delightful stop on a Sunday afternoon.

There was also for those who wanted loose spiced tea, a 2 cup brewer that gave delightful aromas.