Are you heading for the Maldives (islands just south of India)?  You can eat at this restaurant at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Resort.  Or, get the room shown below and hope your walls don't spring a leak during the evening.  

Saturday Morning

Awoke this morning, drew the curtains and this is what I saw !  I have been living here for 30 some odd years and have never seen fog sitting on the land like this.  Times they are a-changing.

It is still morning and no fog now.  Perhaps that was a dream.

My shed-men are coming this morning.  After this weekend, I will have a new shed in my backyard - and will be able to move in my garage.  A single car garage IS a single car garage - one car and that is all.  I can't wait!

Meet Lily's new friend, Ginny.  They met this morning just before their walk.

And lucky for them Nancy had some treats in her pocket.

It was a beautiful day for a walk.  We all enjoyed ourselves.

Now, to watch the Olymics Opening Ceremonies.

bears, bears, bears

Conservation officers just shot the 13th bear in Whitehorse.  That's why Lily and I do not walk in the bush around my house this year.  But we will go to Riverdale today to walk with Nancy & Ginny.  No bears sited there yet.

Other things that make local news.  Kentucky Fried Chicken store opened yesterday.  Apparently there was a line up of at least 25 people to make a purchase!!  (Doesn't take much to excite some people).

Snowbirds

Couldn't leave you with one wee picture of the Snowbirds, so here are a few more.  Enjoy.

Wednesday

In case you weren't aware, the Olymics began today with the Canada v Japan football (soccer) game.  Above is Canada's goal which brought the score to 1 ALL.  Unfortunately Japan score one more and Canada didn't.  It ended 2-1.  They lost,  but considering they were playing the team in first place (and Canada sits in 7th place), it wasn't a bad start.

There was an air show on at the airport this afternoon.  The Snowbirds have been in town for a few days now (I did see them fly over my house on Sunday).  The show began with parachuters drifting down to the airport with Canada Flag parachutes.

The traffic along the highway was amazing.  Was I in Vancouver or Toronto during rush hour??  I have never seen it so busy (except during 9-11 when they evacuated downtown Whitehorse).

Then, finally, after two Air North (Yukon's Airline) flights arrived, the Snowbirds were able to use the runway and put on their show.  Excellent as always.

Friday in the Summer

Met the after-work crew for a cool one on the roof the The Edgewater Hotel.  First time I've been up there and it has a stunning view.  The new seating area along the waterfront looks to be about complete now and it also looks to be - a boat; that apparently was the design as the old steamships used to dock there many many many years ago.

Hard getting all three of us together, but we did it on Friday.  Terry is making plans to depart the territory so we don't know how many more gatherings the three of us will have.

The weather cooperated and we did catch up on our lives.  Cheers girls!

Summer

SUMMER WAS LOST, BUT NOW IT FOUND US!!  WELCOME SUMMER !!

Real estate

Just saw this great web site on tv and wanted to share with you.  It is www.thethirtiesgrind.com and what I liked (although I have to admit it is the only thing I have looked at) is real estate comparison - she compares Vancouver prices to other places - mainly in the USA but it sure rang a bell with me as Whitehorse is so so so similar.  Compare the first houses to the last!  Amazing!
Click Here

Change of Plans

Original Plan:  Golf this morning;   Weather Conditions:  Rain;  Alternate Plan:  Coffee and croissants at Nancy's newly reno'd kitchen ... new flooring, newly painted walls, new door and with the change in plans Joan was able to join us along with Gwennie who played with Ginny (the dog) as well as the cats of the house.  Turned out to be a lovely morning despite the inclement weather.

And, just heard on the radio that a local young talent is appearing on YTV's "The Next Star" program on TV.   Episode 1 has aired and the next episodes are on YTV on Mondays.
You can watch a bit of her by clicking on Episode 1 when it flashes in the box on the front page (I cannot see how else to see Episode 1) then slide over to minute 39:15 where Madi Dixon is featured ... CLICK HERE   As you can see, she made it to the Top 12 Finalists.  Congratulations Madi.  If you're interested, you can Google her and see some of her videos on You Tube.

The Birthday Post

Once a year it happens - Brooke has a birthday.  So this year I served her fave food - hot dogs!  Easy enough.  They had a full weekend including the new Mount Sima Adventure Park - new this year.  To see a 10 sec video, click here.

And a miracle happened ... it didn't rain all weekend.  So SR and Brooke and a few of their friends and a few of Lily's friend (4 dogs in all - Ollie, Beanie, Jacks, and Lily) all came over to end the week end with a bar-b-que.  And, the weather held.

So Happy Birthday Brooke.  Hope you enjoyed your Birthday weekend.

P.P.S.  Happy Birthday to Little Jenny - who turned the Big 4-0 on Friday.  Wishing you many many more Jenn!!!

Before I got my hair cut ...

Had to go to the bank first thing this morning.  Looking out the window I saw - what !?! - summer ??? Being sceptical I dawned my long pants and a hoodie over my 3/4 sleeve length shirt.  And a good thing too.  Looks can be deceiving.  It was 8 degrees with a cool wind blowing.  So downtown I drove.  I banked then exiting the bank saw the City of Whitehorse meter man.  Of course, as it was early (just after 9 AM) I didn't put any money in the meter.  Luck was with me though.  No ticket.  Walking through the street of downtown I say Team Venezuela.  Yesterday saw Team Mexico.  The Women's World Fastpitch Championship is currently on in our town.  (The 2012 Women's World Fastpitch Championship will take place in Whitehorse, Yukon which is part of northern Canada.  The city will host teams from sixteen different countries in July 13 to 22, 2012.  The event is hosted by Softball Yukon.)  Here are all the countries participating:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Chinese Taipei
• Czech Republic
• Great Britain
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Puerto Rico
• South Africa
• United States
• Venezuela

(Love how they say "Yukon which is part of northern Canada")Dawson, you may be interested in this.  Here is a website:  Click Here.

 Then driving a little further on I saw all the smokers standing outside the 98 Hotel (our 1Star establishment).  Don't know what time that bar opens but they were already on their smoke break at 9:10 AM.
The wind seemed to be picking up again.  Saw tourists holding onto their hats as they walked.   So drove home listening to James Morrison, a cd I just dug out of my pile of cd's yesterday.  Still love that voice.
Now I'm off to get my hair cut by my "old" hairdresser who is actually way younger than me.  I stopped having her cut my hair for about a year as she was in a boating accident, but that's a story for another time.

Ah yes, my golfing buddies.  Yesterday, not only was the weather 'ify', but the wind was severe.  It blew in from the south and in parts of the territory the downdrafts were almost tornado like.  In fact much of the southern Yukon was without power for a great part of yesterday (and about 500 users without power into today) as the wind not only blew trees onto power lines but the trees were blown right down to the ground, carrying the power lines with them.  Heard on the radio this morning that Whitehorse is in a small pocket that is receiving unseasonably cool, wet conditions and it will be like that for the near future in any case.  All around us - and of course in the remainder of Canada - the temperatures are very summer like - but not here!  Was fresh snow on the mountains this morning.  SNOW !!  IN JULY !!  OUR WARMEST MONTH !!  But we do try to get out onto the fairways twice a week - and take our rain gear, warm sweaters and vests, short sleeved shirts, sunglasses and umbrellas .. in other words, we are ready for any weather, as conditions can change in the time it takes you to say "FORE".  Luckily this morning we had the threatening clouds at our backs and the sun in front.  All in all, good conditions to play.

House for Sale

Went to Lake Laberge on Saturday to help Terry with her garage sale - she also had an open house as her beautiful house on the creek is up for sale.  Above is a view from her dining room.  I have to admit I wasn't much of a help.  The morning started out nice and sunny, so I didn't wear warm clothing - BIG MISTAKE.  It got progressively cooler as the morning went on and by noon I was frozen.  I pumped up the heat in my car on the way home in an attempt to thaw out.  (Take that you southerners in 40 degree humid weather)  If you wish to purchase a beautiful house, here is the link:  CLICK HERE

More Projects

And while I was painting in the house, Sue was painting in the garage.  Here are her new baseboards which we will very shortly install in her house.  It's a good summer for projects.

Another Room Painted

What did I do this weekend??  Well, since I had a gallon of paint which I purchased last week because it was on sale, I decided that rather than store the paint I would use it right away.  So, my dining room was emptied and I painted.  Having painted the living room last month, the dining room was next in line.  Now it is done and that feels good.  The curtains are washed and ironed, the floor is clean and I am now ready for some dining.

Golf Night

OK.  So they caught me searching for my ball in the bush.  It was suppose to be on the green and even thought I visualized it going to the green, it didn't.  That happens!

When we were looking for "E's" ball in the stream, up came this Beaver swimming by.  This is now definitely The Beaver Hole as we often see this guy here. He was fun to watch as he hit the current and was dragged back twenty feet.  But he persevered and swam to shore then walked to where he could swim again.

Thanks to Nancy and her iPhone for these pics!

Executive Summary: Eat your fruits and vegetables! | EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Executive Summary: Eat your fruits and vegetables! | EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Too hot?  Come to Whitehorse.  Forecast high is 11 Celcius today.

Update:  1:00 PM ... Raining and 6 Celcius.

Happy Canada Day everyone!!!!

!Awoke to sun!  It rained almost all day yesterday to this was a pleasant surprise.  And it was predicted to be sunny all day then rain again tomorrow.  So I drank my coffee, put on my long pants and sweatshirt - sunny yes, but only 4 degrees C - and went outside to mow the lawn before the rain cometh.  As I was mowing, the wind brought in the clouds, not the nice fluffy sunny day clouds, but those with blackened heavy bottoms that threaten rain.  Oh well, I will be in the house for a few hours late this morning to early afternoon watching Euro 2012 trying to decide who I want to win - I like Spain, but it's kind of Italy's turn.  I hope it is a good game!

And being Canada Day, I want to share an APP with you, especially you southerners who do not listen to CBC Radio.  It is the CBC Music app from the iTunes Store.  Not only can you listen to live CBC Radio but they also have Genre Streams which are amazingly good.  I don't have time to make my own playlists (if you can believe that) but I don't have to because I truly enjoy the playlists they have already made.

So there is my Canadian tip for Canada Day.  Hope y'all enjoy yourselves today!

Tuesday Mornings

And this is why I golf.  It is wonderful to be on the course on a lovely summer's day.  Our threesome turned into a twosome - [Get Well Soon, Nancy] and we were sandwiched between Gran and Gramps - they even walked ever so slowly to their cart when they finally finished the hole - and the pushy women behind us - excuse me, your ball landed 10 feet from where I'm putting - but the weather held up, the wind kept the bugs away and we did have a good game.

Look on the Bright Side of Life

Thanks Coca Cola !!!!

Cheers

Ah summer.  We even enjoy the rain.  And yes MJT, summer did start on June 20th at 7:04 your time, 4:04 my time.  Each year, the timing of the solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This year, in the Northern Hemisphere, that was on June 20, 2012, at 7:09 P.M. (EDT).I know it is usually on June 21st - though not always.  So today, June 21st was the first WHOLE day of summer.  My glass is beginning to be half full, as I wore shorts and spent the morning gardening.  No coat, no gloves, no boots.  Love it.

Golf Night

Yes, it is Thursday, which is our golf night.  Started out beautifully - hot hot hot and if I may say a bit humid, but not complaining.  Then on the fourth hole the clouds started to gather in the south east - the skies there turned black then the lightning started to flash.  We seldom get lightning storms in the Yukon, so continued on to hole Five - probably not a good idea as you have to t-off on a hill - the lightning and thunder continued so right after t-off, we decided it was a good idea to get off the course and let the storm pass.  We headed back to the clubhouse, luckily safe and dry.  While we were sipping our cool ones, lightning flashed not even one second in front of us - you know, one-one thousand, two-one thousand  ... It was big and bold and we were certainly glad we were not on the course.  While enjoy our ales the rain started, then it rained harder, then harder, then harder, then hail and we enjoyed it all safely under cover.

Happy First Day of Summer!!!!!!!!
And especially to us northerners, Happy Longest Day!!!!!!

Bear

Per my previous post this is what a bear looks like. And I am doing all of this on my iPad from a hidden APP I found.

Bears

We have a new web site - bear sightings.  Click Here .  Looks like it only sights bears in the Whitehorse area, but for those living in the area, it may be useful.  Just click on "+" to make the map bigger and then click on the bear to see where the bear was and what it was doing.
P.S.  Still working on how to get pictures on with my iPad.

Trial

This is a trial from my iPad. Now to figure out how to put a picture on it as well.

The Weather at 2:30 PM

And this is why we northerners do not have a tan and why our roads are closing due to washouts and mud slides.  And yes, those white spots you see are hail.  

And why I do not seem to be using my deck much this summer.  (Glass still half empty!)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr....

It's June - almost half way through summer - it's threatening rain  [again!] - it's cold, with the windchill [10:30 AM and we're way up to 9 celcius - with the windchill it feels like 5].  Summer is half over and I wore shorts one day - that was Saturday in which I got a sunburn on my right knee and left elbow (???) - owww.  The longest day is coming up - summer solstice this year is actually one day earlier than usual - June 20 @ 11:09PM - and then the days get shorter.  My glass is half empty since I just walked outside 10 minutes ago.

At Last ...

Only we northerners can get excited about watching a truck pass by. This is the first one since last Wednesday. The road opened last night around 7:30 PM to transport trucks with single lane traffic flowing through the most damaged portion of the highway. It will be some time before everything is back to normal on the highway so driving will be very slow in parts, but at least we can now see the light.

Now that's a pothole

A van is trapped in a hole after a road caved in at Fuxing road in Guilin, ChinPicture: China Foto Press / Barcroft Media

Monday afternoon

Boy, how would you like to get behind that - semi's for as far as the eye can see - when your driving up to Whitehorse or destinations farther north??  Here's the latest headlines  (to read the whole story,
Click Here ):

Travellers still stranded in Yukon after weekend floods

Officials still expect the Alaska Highway to open Monday night

CBC News 

Posted: Jun 11, 2012 3:31 PM CT 

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2012 4:18 PM CT

And the Shelves are Bare

This is one of our major grocery stores (the one at which I shop).  

Alaska Highway, between Teslin and Watson Lake may open this p.m. Truck traffic to leave first... per CBC Blog

Let's hope it opens soon. 

Our Poor Roads

Yukon Road Conditions - Update

It's only Sunday and this is what our grocery store shelves look like.  Below is an update on the road conditions:

Parts of the Alaska Highway are now open in Yukon, as crews have been working non-stop to repair the damage done by what a government official is calling an “unprecedented event” of mudslides and washouts all over the territory.

The damage forced road closures, and delivery trucks couldn’t get through onto main highways. Stores all over the territory are running low on supplies as people rushed to stock up.

Allan Nixon, assistant deputy minister of highways, said people can breathe a sigh of relief as some major highways should be open within the next 24 hours.

“I think the best news we’ve got is on the South Alaska Highway. Crews have been working very hard. We think, we’re hopeful that we will be able to get a pioneer trail through that area either late tonight or early tomorrow … So I think, you know, for people who are concerned about supplies and stuff, we can relax,” said Nixon.

Nixon said crews have had some success in clearing the northern part of the Alaska Highway as well. The section of highway between Haines Junction and Destruction Bay is now open to two-lane traffic.

Elsewhere, the South Klondike Highway is also now open to two-lane traffic into Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse. Work is also being done to re-open the Campbell Highway, but that one is not yet open.

Nixon is advising drivers to be careful when using the re-opened roads.

“It’s narrow, people need to drive slowly through the washout zone,” he said. “They’re going to be rough, there’s going to be delays — it’s not going to be like driving the Alaska Highway on a normal day, but traffic will be able to get through.”

.... just in case you're interested ...

Do Not Drive

The Road Report from the Territorial Government:

Emergency road closures or advisories: 

• Several washouts and mudslides have occurred between Watson Lake and Teslin (this is the Alaska Highway - one of two roads south), and Haines Junction and Destruction Bay (unless you take the Top of the World Hwy or go by ferry, this is the only road to Alaska) on the Alaska Highway. Washouts have also occurred between Carcross and Fraser (oops, the road to Skagway, one of 2 ferry access roads) on the South Klondike Highway. Travel within these regions is not advised at this time. 
• Highway 1, the Alaska Highway, is closed between Jct 37 and Teslin (Jct 37 is our only other road to the south)  due to a mud slide and washouts.
  Highway 1, the Alaska Highway, is now open between Haines Junction and Destruction Bay with single lane traffic from km 1638 to km 1643. The highway could close with short notice.
• Highway 2, the South Klondike Highway, is now open with single lane traffic at km 79.8. The highway could close with short notice.
• Highway 4, the Campbell Highway is closed at km 141.5 due to washouts.
• Highway 6, the South Canol Road, is closed untill further notice due to a washout at Murphy Creek.
• Highway 10, the Nahanni Range Road is closed at km 62 due to washouts.
• Aishihik Road is washed out at KM 24.5 due to high water level in the Aishihik River.

And from the front page of the Government's website:

Yukon is currently experiencing road closures. Please check the Flood Risk Report before travelling. Check the report for latest information on flood situation in Yukon including road closures, information for travellers and emergency contact details.

FOR TRAVELLERS: If you are south of Watson Lake travelling north, do not proceed. The road is closed and there are is no accommodation available in Watson Lake. The road will be closed for several days.

The hydrologist reported that an unusual amount of rainfall and snowmelt at the higher elevations are causing the high water.   He said approximately 70 millimetres of rain had fallen in the area over the last week, compared to what would normally be 10 mm in an average year.

Our food is trucked up the Alaska Highway, as is our gas, oil and propane and much of the mail.  Our food stores were starting to empty out on Friday.  They will be in very sad shape by Monday.  Hmmmm.....

Inflation

$171.91

today will buy you what $20 did in 1954.

That's a 759% hike thanks to 58 years of inflation.

Movie Review

Snow White and the Huntsman

There have been so many excellent movies out lately.  Snow White and the Huntsman is one of them.  NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN.  In fact, I may have a nightmare or two tonight.  The movie stays along the Snow White story you heard as a child but this one is made for adults.  I jumped twice - once I had to duck a punch - and this was in a 2D theatre.  I have to say that our theatre has been up-graded.  In the past I missed a lot of the conversations in the movies.  I thought it was because I was "aging".  Well, the theatre finally upgraded their sound system and for the first time in years I heard all the conversations (except for a bit of the dwarfs).  Now they just have to make the seats more comfortable and unstick the floor.  But, back to the movie ... the acting was excellent and there was a twist or two to keep you on your toes.  I highly recommend this film and give it 5 Stars!