Frosty Friday

We've hit the deep freeze, a couple of weeks early. This was the temperature when I walked to work this morning.

When I headed back down the Franklin Avenue hill after work, it was -49 with the wind chill. Kind of a drag right now, but the cold weather means the ice will be forming on the lakes - good news for smowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers (like me).

Morning mist

This morning's mist enshrouds the houseboats on Yellowknife Bay.

Ready for winter . . . I guess

All over Yellowknife, there are signs that winter is imminent: the sky is that dull slate blue we get every fall, the leaves are off the trees, woodpiles are sprouting in front of houses.

The last two weekends have been a round of pre-winter preparation chez nous. I’ve ripped up the garden and the bedding plants, washed and oiled my bike, tucked away my kayak in the garage.

And now we wait. Ice is forming along the shore of Back Bay and there’s a skiff of snow on the ground, but it will be a couple of months before there’s enough of either ice or snow for winter activities to start.

In the meantime, it’s the season for spicy chili, hot beverages and a good book.

UTDC reviewed by the Ultimate Bookhound

The Ultimate Bookhound has posted a review of The Ugly Truck and Dog Contest. Bit of an acid test, since the Bookhound grew up in Yellowknife. It passed muster, however, receiving a 4 out of 5 (= Good. I really enjoyed this, and I recommend it.)

Check it out!

Warm welcome in Whitehorse

Hats off to Whitehorse!

A good-sized group came out to my reading at the public library this evening. They listened politely, laughed at the right times, and answered my questions about the Yukon writing scene. They stayed afterwards and talked about life in Whitehorse and Yellowknife. It was a great time.

Many thanks to Mairi Macrae of the Whitehorse Public Library for organizing the event - everything from securing the room to finding a projector for my Yellowknife slide show to doing the publicity to providing snacks.

And thanks to Roslyn for taking photos!

Last day of summer, 2009

Last Monday Pierre called me at the office at five to five with the request that I get myself home as soon as possible.

"We're having a picnic supper in the boat," says he. "It'll be our last chance this year."

Last Monday was a stunner in Yellowknife. Sunny skies, 24 degrees. The weather's been marginal this summer, and a lot of people were griping about the fact that our entire summer seems to have occurred on a Monday in September, when everyone was back at work.

So shortly after five I hopped on my pink mountain bike and coasted down the Franklin Avenue hill to the Old Town. Turns out Pierre was serious about getting into the boat. I'm usually in charge of the cooler, but while I was wandering around, checking my e-mail and putting my hair in a ponytail, he got everything packed and was sitting in the car in the driveway ready to go while I was still looking for my ball cap.

It was, indeed, a lovely evening on the water. We went about 15 minutes out on Yellowknife Bay, then puttered around some little islands while we dined on snack food. The lake was absolutely calm; it was so warm I was wearing a tank top. We waited until the sun was almost down, and then headed back to town.


Fall hit the following day; it's been cold and rainy ever since.

Reading at the Whitehorse Public Library

I'll be in the Yukon next week, and will be giving a public reading of selections from my book.

Monday, September 21, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Whitehorse Public Library
2071 2nd Avenue
Whitehorse, Yukon

If you're in Whitehorse, come on down!