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Friday, March 25, 2011

Races, Renos, Recuperating and Relaxin' - March Break

Hi all - Wow February and March have sailed by and what a few months it has been!

We still have tons of snow but the days are stretching and stretching - now at 12 hours of day light and the sun has HEAT! We feel confident that we have made it through another really long, brutally cold winter!

So here are the updates......

RACES: Mira and Kate have been busy racing with their cross-country skiing. Both girls are really having a blast on skis. Mira has placed a couple of times this year and is pleased with her results. Kate is a dare devil and we are glad that she has to climb the hills before she can head down them - helps to keep the hills in check. Kate is now done her Jack Rabbit program and Mira has another month or so of her squad.

Mount Lorne Loppet

Looking chilly, Mira!

Kate looking relaxed at the start!

Hockey Day in Canada - Whitehorse - Kate in front of the snow sculpture of hockey players.

Cabane à sucre - Rendez-vous in Whitehorse - it was too cold for the real cabana à sucre (maple syrup poured on the snow to make maple syrup taffy)- volunteers had fled to warmer venues and we had to settle for the snow sculptures.

RENOS: Well the renos continue - like a domino effect, every turn opens up a new project. We are now comfortably living, all four of us, in just under 700 sq feet, while the basement gets pulled apart. Interesting wiring and other creative changed done in the past, has prompted us (read Paul) to redo the wiring and the heating! We have made some interesting discoveries as well..... it is a wonder that the walls are as straight as they are! Check it out:

Whiskey bottles found in the supporting wall (prices still on them -$ 4,75 each).

These were all found in one corner of the building! I think the construction folks may have had an issue.

RECUPERATING: I am happy to have February behind me! I am proud to say I am now feeling 100% better... looking forward to starting back at running in the next week or so. Whoo hoo!

February spring flowers - thanks Anna and Larry!

RELAXIN'

When Paul's trip to Vancouver got bumped earlier in the month, we decided to all head to Vangroovy in the quest for Spring. We were expecting hurricane-gale force winds with torrential rains but the weather gods blessed us with showers, sun and Springtime flowers!

Finn, Emie, Mira and Kate in front of a Bill Reid sculpture at the Aquarium.

Bird.

Frog.

Reno man looking relaxed in Stanley Park.

Aliens at the Science World - Finn, Mira, Emie, and Kate.

Fun exemplified.

Vision of health.

Kate and Mira - note: no winter jackets, hats, mitts, boots, snow pants, scarves, .........:)

View from our suite.. Stanley Park and Harbour. Look at that Blue Sky!

Lion in a tree.

Cherry Blossoms in full bloom!

Kate practicing her climbing skills.

Whole fan-damily.

Cheers, all. I hope has found you where every you may be.

Sharon

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Wild Winter Fun

Welcome February in the Yukon....

This is a busy winter month for us up here - Friday and Saturday was Polar Games. Every Grade 5 and 6 student across the territory comes into the big city of Whitehorse for a two day sports festival and dance. They come by bus, car and fly in from Old Crow for the excitement. I got to supervise the dance - great fun. Mira had a wonderful time despite getting curling and bowling as her team sports - last choice and the hour power outage on Friday that put all sports on hold. So Mira is missing from all the photos because she was 'busy'.

Kate enjoying the Yukon Quest.

In terms of Yukon winter activities - the Yukon Quest Dog Race kicked off the fun. This is a 1000 mile (1600 km) dog race that starts this year here in downtown Whitehorse and goes to Fairbanks Alaska. They have a great web site and you can follow the race on line. The dogs were happy and anxious to get the show on the road. Kate, Paul and I rang the bells and cheered them on.

Dogs taking off from downtown Whitehorse.. 1 km down, 1599 kms to go!

Crowds cheering the race on.

Kate and Paul waiting for the next dog team to pass.

The next day, we watch as the Arctic Ultra Marathon took off from Shipyard Park. Participants run, ski or bike 430 miles to Dawson city... It was a brilliantly clear day - blue sky and -20, a perfect day all round. There were even hot air balloons in the sky. Great fun. WE of course cheered on the intrepid runners and headed home to a roaring fire and hot coffee!

Runners, Bikers and Skiers preparing to set off.

Kate

Kate has been burning up the ski trails lately. Really, she prefers the hills - don't they all. She screams down hills as her mother tries to find alternative routes so that she doesn't have to follow the 6 year old down the hill. Scary stuff for mom - great fun for Kate.

Getting reading to scream down another hill...

Whitehorse is also preparing itself for the world or at least Canada next weekend. Next weekend, Hockey Day in Canada is happening right here. There is a buzz in the air and lots of events are planned. The ski teams got into the fun and played hockey in the stadium. The cameras were rolling and footage will used next weekend during the telecasts. Kate did her best to get into the game - by racing down a hill and screaming across the stadium while the game played on.

Hockey on skis

The team photo - like the 'cup'?

Paul got away for a quick trip to Rose Lake with a couple of friends. They went out on snowmobiles and had great weather. They saw a few herds of caribou and some wild horses. Great views!

Paul

En route.

Watson River Valley

Caribou

Wild Horses

So next week - Hockey Day in Canada, Marsh Lake Ski Loppet and much more winter fun.

I hope you are all well. Until next time. Cheers. sharon

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

North of 60 for Christmas 2010

Hi all and a Very Merry Christmas to all...

I hope this note finds you all healthy and happy.

This year's themes include the temperature (all Canadians love the weather as a topic of conversation), teeth and memories of warmer days (see first theme).

We have had a lovely Christmas week or so of pretty constant -30 degree Celsius weather that has forced us inside or at least outside for only short periods. We have been using the Multiplex to its full potential - swimming, running, and skating to deal with the cabin fever.

During this time we have had a great time visiting and catching up with everyone and of course thinking of our fun last year.... There has been a 60 degree differential in temperature!

We got last year's 50s tinsel tree at the Op shop and this year's tree was from outback but we had to brave -37 and cold toes. Looks almost as good doesn't it?

Last year we were at the races with good friends... at the trots. I was the only one trotting this year.

Our addition looks great. We are happy but it is slow going 'cause of the weather and merriment.

Mira and Kate trying to get ready to hit the hay... not looking very sleepy.

Christmas eve excitement... to be followed hours later by...

Christmas morning excitement.

Kate all smiles - Look at those teeth! Upon the Orthodontist's orders - Kate had to have 4 teeth extracted. She was a trooper and the Tooth Fairy was generous.