This then officially concludes the updating of The Arctic Post. We will keep it up and running for a few more years as it might give information about the Arctic to people unfamiliar with what happens there.

We would like thank everyone that has made our Northern experience an amazing one and hopefully we will be back one day to live in the Arctic once again.

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A few weeks ago we had some furnace problems because an ice dam had formed atop the chimney. The wind was blowing a down draft in it and shutting the furnace off and blowing some carbon monoxide inside the house. After attempting to get some workers to come chip it off, Mario decided to get a ladder and do it ourselves. No one seemed interested in helping us. I spoke with the fire chief and he was very helpful in lending us one of the fire truck’s ladder as we didn’t have one tall enough to reach the chimney. Long story short, Mario went up there chipped the ice off and everything went back to normal, until today that is….

Today was another ice accumulation that caused us to go back out. The plumbing vents were blocked which caused to house to fill with the sweet smell of sewer. We have seen the ice chunks on the vents grow all winter long but they never completely blocked the vents until today. Oh by the way, it’s -20C with 50km/h winds… not a very nice day. This time we had to physically go on the roof because the vents are farther up than the chimney. Everyone that knows me knows that I’m not too fond of heights. Once again, Mario had to go up there. We called the fire chief, borrowed his ladder again, tied a rope to the front deck and Mario climbed up there. After a little scare or two the house smells fine once again. Scroll down for some photos of Mario’s adventure.

Mario going up hoping he won't need to cash in his life insurance on this Good Friday!

Testing the thin rope...

Giving the first ice chunk a good shove.

Aiming it straight for the ladder! (Mario doesn't need it to come back down apparently)

Hopefully he doesn't because it's coming down!

Next! That one was HUGE!

No damage from this one falling.

"How do I get down again? Oh yeah the lad..... uh oh...."

The culprits for our stinky house

The big one!

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Yesterday (Saturday), Glen called me and said that he was going to build an iglu for Kaya and Iva in their “backyard”. He figured that he had good enough snow to build blocks. Since he needed someone to help him cut and carry blocks (aka a slave) he called me. I figured that it would be a good way to spend the afternoon so I agreed. I also took pity on his sockitis (wink, wink). Carly and I got dressed and, dog in tow, we walked across the street and helped him build his first iglu of the season. It was the first one ever for me since last year I didn’t get to partake for some reason. Here are a few photos mostly taken by Carly. Enjoy!

Etienne cutting some blocks in crappy snow.....we didn't use those blocks in the end...

Still cutting blocks....lots of them!

The dogs cheered a lot...read barked really loudly and annoyingly for half an hour

Glen and Kaya cutting as well

Glen the expert iglu builder at work

Having fun destroying the useless blocks....all that work for nothing

Waiting for the last block. Hi Glen!

Reaching out for that last block

Trying to make it fit

Shovelling out a door so that Glen can come out

Door. Ready!

Inside view

The first visitor entering the kid sized masterpiece!

Then Kaya and Siku or Siku and Kaya....not sure who wanted to get in first

Good ol' father/daughter photo! How cute!

Glen finally seeing the light of day.

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Cute little guy (or girl) on a stroll past the house.

Last weekend we had this nice Arctic Fox walking all around the neighborhood. We haven’t seen many in town. I think this was the second time for me. I had also heard that there were a few rabid foxes caught but that was a month ago. The only other wildlife we normally see in town is Arctic Hare so I’m guessing that this fox was on the prowl for a lunch or something. It’s amazing how white the foxes’ pelts become in the winter. It’s a stark contrast with the browns that we saw this summer.

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I know that we had agreed that I wouldn’t make any impulse purchases at the Northern but I couldn’t keep my hands off this amazing deal. I had promised the manager that once he brought the price down to $1.00 I would buy it. He finally did. So here it is….. at a whooping 95% discount. The most amazing remote control in the world….just a bit cumbersome.

Your one and only,
Etienne

P.S. I’m sorry…

My latest purchase!

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I know I don’t write very often on the blog but I figured that I would write a little something today.

I consider myself more like the person that just takes care of the form of the blog and Carly takes care of the contents. Today, I decided that it was time to refresh the look and feel of the blog. A while ago, I found a theme that I liked and modified it to satisfy the criteria I had for this update. I made it wider, changed the background striping (thanks Mike) and made it easier to change the banner photographs. Hopefully they’ll change more often.

Feel free to comment to let us know what you think of this new design and if anything should be changed.

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Our neighbors had visitors over this last week and built an iglu just outside of town. They slept in it on Wednesday night. The weather didn’t cooperate too much during the building process but it turned out pretty good according to them. As I said, I went and visited it this weekend and what I ended up seeing was only half an iglu unfortunately. The weather has been so nice that it partially caved in because of the sun beating on one side and the temperature being so warm. It was above freezing for a few hours. The fact that the dog jumped on top of it might also have something to do with the cave in. I still got to see what it looks like and how the blocks are put together. I was still quite impressed that the still standing structure could be that sturdy even with half of it gone. Hopefully I’ll get to see the actual process of building one sometime!

The entrance to the iglu

The inside of the iglu viewed from the outside...if that makes any sense...

The ceiling.

Kayalaaq standing inside the iglu

Siku running next to the snowmobile on the way back

She was one tired puppy after that run!

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Money was also raised to send kids to a hockey tournament in Rankin Inlet. Buy tickets and get chances to win prizes! The tournament was held over three days and there were 4 teams of mixed ages plus 2 teams of young kids (under 9 years old). Lots of people showed up. I have to say that it’s the first time that I’m in a non climate controlled arena. There were constantly chunks of ice falling from the ceiling onto the ice surface and where the spectators stood. It keeps you on your toes. I had a near hit once on Saturday afternoon. I should probably bring a helmet next time!

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My posts are shorter than Carly’s! LOL That’s it for now…

A lovely heart shaped pancake graciously prepared by Ana

Thanks Mike for the photo!

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I finally got a chance to snap a few photos. They’re not the best but I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to take some more while we’re up here. They were moving very quickly so they are somewhat blurry and not as defined as I wanted them to be. All in all, they did turn out OK. It’s too bad that Carly wasn’t here to see them. (Yes, I do know how to work a keyboard and type up a post when I have to )  Here’s my favorite.

If any other northerners have tips on how to get the best photos, a comment is always appreciated!

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