Flying J's: ᐊᐅᔭᖅ - aujaq

My goal in blogging is to be able to create one of those digital scrapbooks with our pictures and stories in it, to preserve our unique time here. It also serves as a way to keep in touch with family and friends, while revealing an unknown part of Canada to the southern provinces. In the past four weeks, my blogging has been severely lacking...not for lack of want, but simply because Josh had the computer up island and then we had a special guest for a week. Now I have much to catch up on!

The landscape has changed dramatically since I lasted wrote. Normally July is a time of melting, spring run off and sea ice disappearing. Well, the ice has left early this year, leaving the green grass, moss and colorful flowers to appear. Although the temperature has not passed 15 degrees Celsius, the sun is hot and feels wonderful on bare skin. I've worn flip flops once thus far, and am hoping for more opportunities to do so. However, it's been cool and rainy here the past few days.

While Josh was away, the landscape changed dramatically in Iqaluit. The ice on the ocean is now melted, save for a few huge chunks along the shore. Miniature flowers have blossomed everywhere, adding to the delicate and rugged beauty that I find so captivating about the north. The mosquitoes, flies, ground spiders and giant bumblebees abound. Thank goodness Josh returned with two large cans of bug spray. There is a certain joy in the faces of everyone you meet...that summer is here. Summer is a happy time full of fishing, boating, hunting, clamming and tenting by the river. Large white canvas tents have popped up all over the tundra as families’ stake their claim of paradise. The char are swimming upriver to feed, and hundreds of fishing lures tantalize them on their journey as the Inuit and qallunat try to catch supper. We are so enjoying the warmer weather, the delight of soaking up the sun, the beautiful ocean views and exploring the river rocks.