Mail CALL.....

Lucky me... today at the post office I had TWO more packages waiting for me to pick them up!!!

The small on on the top was from my friend Keren... She responded to a 'facebook' request that I put out there awhile ago... to send me some TEA...I had run out of my favourite Chai.... and sent me up some for myself and some to share with a friend... she also sent some awesome tea balls... so no more 'bits' in my tea and some tastey apriocots!!! :) Thanks Keren you ROCK!!! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family!!

The second package came from my Mum.... she's a superstar!!  She did the tricks with the duct tape... but this time it was no match to the knife that it came in contact with somewhere along on it's trip north via Canada Post... At least they 'taped' it back up again!

And it didn't seem to bother any of the contents..... mmmmmmm Lindor chocolate!!!

Settling back into Routines... and MAIL CALL!!

Since coming back to Pang... it's been pretty hectic....and I'm not really talking about work (though that has been a bit of 'catch-up' and writing has been involved there..but nothing I can't handle)... the hectic of the 'day-to-day' stuff... like laundry, grocery shopping, and COOKING! These are the things that it's been hard to get back into the routine but because of necessity I've taken care of them... but man I miss just 'showing' up at a dinner table.. and having really good FOOD ready for me to eat!!!  (when's my next trip!? lol....)

The other awesome surprise I got when I returned on Sunday... was I had TWO packages from down south!! (it was like Christmas Thanksgiving came early!?) It was awesome.....

Let's first concentrate on the package with the Canada flag all over it... (first how cool is that packing tape?!)  It came from Brampton by way of my Haliburton roots!  Nancy Douglas and I have known each other a long time...(I'm not sure of the exact dates...)... See she was a year ahead of my throught kindergarten to the end of high school.... we were involved in Girl Guides (although I think her career there was a lot shorter than mine)... I remember figure skating with her too... but the best memories were those from the Haliburton IGA.... I was a 'deli' girl and she was a 'cashier' and we worked many 6pm to 9pm Thursday and Friday shifts in the winters... and endless numbers of Saturdays together!  After talking about

some of the movies I had seen while in Iqaluit, Nancy sent me a Facebook message... "don't buy the Time Travellor's Wife book...it's on it's way in a package".... and WOW.. it wasn't just the book in the package... it was a total FUN box full of goodies!! (one of the things you can't see is the container of Tim's Hot Chocolate..mmmm).... Thanks so much Nancy!!!  YOU ROCK!!!... I'm glad it made it 'un-touched' and intact when i got to open it up!! :)

Thanks again.... luv from the Arctic! Sarah

So you might be asking? Who was the other package from.... the one with like a ZILLION stamps on it?---That would be my AMAZING Mum... (I think she's making up for the years of me going to a summer camp and NOT sending packages... or the years I helped put together 'care' packages for my brothers at university or school....but then when I was in Uni didn't get any... and as I digress.. while I was in Australia she did send me a few awesome packages..and this is like the 4th or 5th package she's shipped to me up here on the top of the world....)

Ok back to the story... I think the Haliburton Post Office tryin to get rid of 'old' stamps instead of just printing a generic amount sticker for the postage? I"m not sure.. (go back and look at that photo... there are like a TON of stamps on there).... Crazy eh?!

Mum has been concerned about people 'getting' into my packages... so she decided to use Duct tape to put together this one.... which was a great idea... the package did arrive without being 'opened'...but it took me at least 23mins.. to get that sucker open... (and that was WITH using a pocket knife!)...  After that drama.... I opened the box lid to FINALLY see THIS:

..Yes, my MUM did 'extra' security... that's duct tape inside as well as bubble wrap.... (thanks mum because everything DID arrive safe!)

Look at all 'these' goodies... some of them were things she had 'ate' while here at the begining of August and felt the need to 'replace'... others like the 'bread knife, tongs, steel wool and things to put under hot pots' were 'essentials' that after her visit she felt I needed... (which life with these items will be so much nicer!)... Also included were a hand-made towel for my kitchen and dish cloth by my cousin Alison Rae and my Aunt Anna included a box of jay cloths.... (long story...)... My 'old' mail from my address in Toronto... (of the things I have still yet to get my address changed--also came... really need to get on that because it has been almost 7months! LOL).... and well some good old junk food!!! Thanks Mum.... your package made my day.......... and I think you alluded to the fact that there is a second package on the way for me....... I wonder what goodies you'll have up your sleeve for me this time.... Luv you, Sarah

Home SWEET Pang!!!

I flew back home today..... and I must say... that seeing THIS....

...made me a VERY happy gal!!

 Traveling is always awesome... the people you meet, the things you get to see and do...but coming home... to your OWN bed... SOOOOOOO good!!! 

I spent most of the afternoon and early evening with a friend and her family--- Loved just knitting and chit-chatting... and catching up with a good friend again!!

So good to be back in Pang!!!

Texture in Nature....

I took these yesterday at the Airport.... the snow looked soooo pretty as it was forming ice crystals on the hand rail... Hope you enjoy!!!

Here's a look from far away.........

..close up...but covered!!!

Greetings from Iqaluit!

Here's a cool shot of the whole of Arctic Bay---sorry it's soooo tiny... (I think if you click on it will open up bigger?!)  I took it just before the Taxi came to take me to the Airport...

The ride to the airport...was pretty crazy!... the roads were pretty icey--and there were about 2 or 3 times I thought we were for sure SLIDING into the ditch!!! (we managed to come out of a 'fish' tale once...) The road really was safe for 'one' car--but a few times we passed other vehicles!  Here's a shot of the truck--we were both moving--so it's a tad blurred!  We also passed a water or fuel truck--for that one we STOPPED and waited at the side of the road for it to pass us!

While I was checking in at the airport... all of a sudden this 'little' door opened.. and the airport staff took the baggage out to the fork lift!  So I snapped this photo--have to play tourist once and awhile!

The next two shots are shots from the air.... it was soooooooo pretty the first hours of my flight.. the sun was setting (on the other side of the plane) and casting awesome colour onto the snow below-- the photos didn't quite capture that the way I will always remember it! 

Hope you all have a great night... I am safe and sound in Iqaluit (one more step closer to getting back home!)

Clare also blogged about my visit to Arctic Bay... you can check out what he had to say by clicking....    HERE...Take a moment and check it OUT!

Loved his blog post-- I don't think I need to have any 'caribou' heads put in my bed... I think I will remember to call you the "GODFATHER" of Nunavut Blogging... not the other title!! hehehe

Great meeting you!! and I so enjoyed playing with your daughter...she's quite a jewel...and an awesome kid!  I'll have to email you the shots I took of her---forgot to give them to you before I left!

How Bloggers Interact in Person....

About a month ago, before I started travelling I had this revelation on a Sunday night while reading some of the northern blogs I follow...(ok stay with me need to give you a bit of background!!) This was the revelation...when I booked my trip to Arctic Bay I had choosen to stay at the  Kiggavik Bed and Breakfast. ...From reading Clare's blog--I knew he ran a B&B...and well I forgot that it was Arctic Bay..but then it dawned on me on that Sunday night that I was going to meet Clare and his family, because I had booked myself into his B&B!.. Kind of cool eh?

Clare who has been called the 'grandfather' of all Nunavut bloggers, he's been blogging in Nunavut for a long time(I think it's close to 4 or 5 years)! He also has a SITE that helps 'compile' all the Nunavut bloggers--and runs a competition every year called the "Nunies" where 'best blog', 'best new blog' and 'best post' awards are awarded! I think this will be kind of fun to take part in!!

That's one of the joys about my job and the travelling I get to do...I am meeting Northern Bloggers in person...This is a lot of fun! 

If you EVER get to Arctic Bay.. make sure you make Kiggavik B&B part of your trip plan... it's a beautiful place...the actual HOUSE is amazing... (pictured below) sitting on a hill...over looking the Bay... so pretty... there are lots of windows, and a pretty neat design of the building!  The rooms are spacious...the bed is comfy....and there's even a DESK in the room--so helpful when you are trying to work on a laptop! Now the food?--Clare is the cook and Breakfast has been amazing every morning... and if you want he'll cook up  Lunch and Dinner which are just as good!...

(I'm going to miss Clare's cooking when I head back to Pang---if the weather finally co-operates and allows me to leave!)

All in all, being 'stuck' somewhere when it's as beautiful isn't so bad... and with good food--that's a BONUS!

Here's a shot of Clare and I... and the title is "How Bloggers Interact in Person"...

Thanks for your hospitality... it was great to meet you and your family!! (your kids are adorable!!)

It was great to meet another fellow blogger...in my travels!

PS. Remember when I made THIS post about Clare and his quest to win a trip to Antarctic (you can still go and vote for him).

UPDATED: (the Blog your way to Antarctica competition is now closed--thanks for everyone that had voted prior to Sept 30/09); I have corrected one of the 'names'  Clare is also known as the "godfather" of all Nunavut Bloggers!