The final purchase.

I wanted to buy myself one last carving...something larger and more of a show piece than the other carvings I have purchased...which btw, number 2. I have a ton of prints and wall hangings, but the carvings have been headed to Mom and Dad's instead of my living room. But...this one is for me. The bear is swimming and is perfectly balanced on one paw.





Here's a fun website I found, a great way to waste some time and test out your artistic abilities. Click on the small grey square to get started. My piece is in the gallery under Jane Cousins.

http://www.thisissand.com

I missed blogging on Canada Day...I missed Canada Day. I had intended to hit the parade again this year and maybe stand in line for a few hours to get some cotton candy, but I didn't. I fell asleep and missed the parade.

I have no idea where I will be spending my next Canada Day...that's the fun of this next adventure. There have been a few negative comments from folks up here about my leaving...but it is the right time and the right decision for me. While I don't know where I am going yet, I'm not concerned. I'm young,(ish), I'm adventuress,(is that a word?) and I can be happy anywhere. Life should be about trying new things and living in new places. Every time I move I learn something about the people and places I live and about myself.

I'm looking forward to the next challenge in my life...maybe this time how to survive life in a city of millions, instead of hundreds. That isn't a hint...just a thought.

Right now I am looking out at the bay, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the sealift ships. My truck will be leaving on one of the first ships in and all going well will arrive in Quebec shortly after I do. I had hoped it would be there before me...but that isn't happening. So I may need to endure a couple days of pedicures and massages while I await the truck. It's a rough life. The only issue is that for every day the boat is late getting in to Iqaluit is another day later it arrives just outside of Montreal. I am hoping that it will arrive within a couple days of me...but as I have discovered living in the North...things will happen on their own schedule. You can't rush the process.

Happy Belated Birthday Canada...but more importantly...early B'day greetings to my Dad. Happy Birthday Dad. Wish I was there to share the cake with you. Love...the son you never had--your eldest daughter.

The boat...I see the boat. Actually, I saw it much earlier this am...but yes ladies and gentlemen...the first tanker of the season is in. We are saved...sealift will start to arrive. And shortly after that...my truck can leave!

Short fast addition to the blog...pics of the tea dolls I bought in Labrador.

What a terrible blogger I am...I just realized I haven't posted any photos since the Aunties were here. Allow me to fix that error...enjoy


Inuksuit (plural for Inukshuk)



Cemetary in Iqaluit


Cool ice formations down by the river.



Fishing on the river a couple weeks ago. I didn't get out till this weekend...let me tell you about the one that got away...


More photos from the river...mid June




And a few more





Touch down in Cape Dorset...my 17th or 18th community. It was a short trip. Flew in to pick someone up, fuel up and then off to Labrador. Looked very nice, wish we had time to explore the town.




Labrador...welcome one and all. A very tiring trip, but well worth it. Not only did the work part go well, I bought two Labardor Tea dolls...and have yet to unpack them and take photos.


Back up in Iqaluit. Fishing trip down in the park. Our attempt at a fire using the local foliage...pretty smokey. The propane bbq wasn't agreeing with us...so we thought we'd try a fire and cook on a rock.


Luckily we finally got the propane to work and didn't need to rely on our skills at tending a fire.


Fishing supplies.


Even A-B-B-Y Abby had a great time, though she got to take her nap earlier than J and I did. This was taken at about 9pm.


Another view of our not so secret fishing spot. There were about a dozen groups and families out around the falls. A good time was had by all even if neither of us actually caught a fish.


One of my latest and almost last purchases...a musk ox. "Alie Kippomee, Pond Inlet. Alie started working in metal because he wanted to try something that would compliment his carving skills. Although there are no musk ox in his home community, Alie has always been fascinated by these unique, Northern animals and decided to try this image in metal." Or so says the card that came with the animal. Fell in love with it when I had F&F at the museum, went back Friday before I left for Labrador and had it put away for me...then picked it up this past Friday. And F&F you will be happy to hear I have found 'my carving'. It is a big beautiful polar bear. When I pick him up in a couple of weeks I'll take some pics and show you. He's on layaway...


Phew...hows that for an update?

Well readers, the time has finally arrived...North of Nain is heading South. Permanently. This decision has been just over six months in the making and has not been an easy decision for me.

There are so many things I love about the North...too many to count, but I'm sure you have seen it in the pictures I take and read it in the countless blog entries from the past 2 1/2 years. I don't hate the North. How could I? It is a wonderful place to be. I do feel though that on a personal level it is time for me to leave.

I am flying out on August 1 to PEI. I hope to relax, unwind and hang out on the beach for a couple weeks, sort through all my belongings that are in storage and then strap a uhaul trailer to my truck and "Head West young man". I'll park my stuff in Calgary and then continue the search for a job.

OMG



I bet I know a few people who would be interested in purchasing this nice toy.

Returned from Labrador today. Overall good trip. Made a couple of nice purchase..pictures later...maybe. Camera has died again. Update on the weekend.

Under the heading of..."It could only happen to me"

The evening in Happy Valley Goose Bay was quiet and uneventful. Attended two receptions and had a lovely supper...Monday the real work starts. I awoke this am and went about my usual routine as best I can in a hotel room...a shower was at the top of the list.

I turn on the water, adjust the temperature, am pleased that there appears to be lots of hot water and in I jump. I pull up on the handle and water begins to spray...EVERYWHERE. The water was coming out of the top where the shower head screws in and out of the actual shower head in bizarre directions. I reach up and attempt to put my handy woman skills to work and screw it back on. It falls off in my hand and now I have a steady stream of water coming out of the shower. I quickly reach down and turn off the water. Now...what to do? Hmmm. I screw it back on. I figure in my head that it had simply been loosened by people adjusting the head and I could easily fix this problem and continue with my shower. Nope. There is a rather large crack in the part that screws on and I don't notice it until I see water hitting up on the ceiling in about three different streams.

I'm resigned at this point to just...shower and get it over with...when I notice that one of the stream coming out of the head is somehow going around me and out the back of the tub. I gently tug on the curtain to close the gap and BAM! The rod falls off the wall and into the tub.

At this point I am now laughing so hard I fear drowning from all the water coming into my mouth. I then showered Indian style (see March posts for explaination of that) out of the facet and deliver the shower head to the front desk shortly after that.

Shower 1 Jennifer 0

My weeks off to a great start...how about yours?