take three

Okay, here's another couple of pics. One shows that the local people who work at the school love the cheese-jalapeno dip that I made. The second is from our snowmobile outing this morning and shows a Baffin forest. These particular willows are the largest trees on the island according to the locals. Some are at least ten feet tall!

take two

I tried to post too many pictures last time so I'll try sending pics two at a time.

ptarmigan hunt

Another week closer to Christmas. This week was exam week for most of my classes. They have study hall in the morning and write their exams in the afternoon. It's a pretty good system as students don't really have to attend in the morning but most do to get help reviewing for the afternoon exam. I had grade 8/9 science and math classes until the end of the week but they are now over too as they are busy preparing for the Christmas program next Wednesday. The senior high students are also helping to get things ready for the programs by creating backdrops, setting up the stage, etc. In addition they are going out to do housecleaning in the elders' houses.
Today I went ptarmigan hunting with my friend Kamikee. It was very cold this morning by southern standards, about -20*C with a brisk north wind, so we had to dress warmly. I put more kilometres on my machine today than it had on it when I bought it. Kamikee has amazing eyesight and was able to spot the ptarmigan hiding in the rocks from a moving snowmobile, and that's no mean feat, since the birds are almost all white and blend in against the snow. Altogether we brought home 18 birds. I managed to shoot one, but he did most of the shooting. I've included four pictures this posting; one of Kam and his snowmobile, one of me with some ptarmigan. The third picture is to show that the people on staff here like the hot jalapeno cheese dip as well as many of my friends in the south, and the fourth is of a Baffin forest. Hoping to see many of you during the holidays. Just in case I don't, Merry Christmas!