Ice road resupply mission...

This weekend I was more than happy when Barry called to ask if I wanted to go on the ice road with them to Inuvik, where they had to pick up his truck and get some groceries at the same time. Despite what is always a long drive (2.5 hours each way), it is totally worth it, for several reasons: (1) Fending off cabin fever by getting out of town for the day; (2) Having someone cook lunch or dinner for you at a restaurant; (3) Restocking the freezer and fridge; (4) The potential to see something cool along the way.

It definitely was nice to get out of Tuk for the day. Deon didn't feel like coming because he'd already been on the ice road several times this week to go to Inuvik and Aklavik for meetings, so he was more than happy to stay home (and cook supper for when I got back!)

We ate lunch at Tonimoes in Inuvik, which was... okay. At least I didn't have to cook for myself, right? I swear the weekend chefs in that place are not the same as the weekday ones... the food always seems a bit off on the weekends! I'm not sure you can call it a "veggie wrap" if the ends aren't tucked in, and everything falls out the end. Maybe they should rename it the "veggie roll?"

We managed to go to most of the stores in Inuvik, and pick up some foods (and drinks) that are unavailable in Tuk. My treasures included:
-4kg box of chicken breasts ($48.77- the same amount would cost $67.99 in Tuk)
-2 boxes of frozen French onion soup (for our French nights when we don't feel doing a lot of prep- the soup goes nicely with a chicken cordon bleu from the freezer)
-3 twleve packs of (diet) pop ($9.99 vs $15.99 in Tuk)
-1 sirloin tip roast (~$20- nice beef is hard to come by in Tuk!)
-various fresh produce including asparagus, "Grapples" (apples that taste like grapes), fresh cilantro (YAY!)
-1 box of red wine (who cares about class when you can have practicality?)
-2 bottles of Yellowtail Bubbles (which are just begging to be popped open!)

Between my shopping yesterday, and Deon's earlier in the week, I think we're set for a little while now in terms of having some "different" things in the house to eat and drink. Having the new freezer that we ordered from Costco (well, the second one- the first one arrived broken) really helps to allow us to hoard food for when the ice road closes. Before the ice road opened this year, I was starting to get a *little* bored of chicken breasts and pork chops, and my creativity was really wearing thin... Now we've got enough to have variety for the next little while!

Still caking...

After I made the Pooh cake for Marilyn, she posted a picture of it on Facebook. Not long after that I got a few phone calls with more cake orders. The first was for a first birthday party, and the customer wanted a Dora the Explorer cake, with cupcakes featuring Dora's backpack. The customer provided the pan, so all I had to do was decorate it and do the cupcakes. I think it turned out pretty well.





When I was on my way to the store to get the supplies to make the Dora cake, the taxi driver Joanne stopped me and asked if I could make a cake for the next day. I thought, "why not?" I was already making a cake that night anyway. She wanted a Sidney Crosby cake for her son. I decided to make it a Crosby jersey, based on a cake design I found online. Here is how it turned out:

For those who were curious...

Some people asked me to post pictures of the pups that I was babysitting back in November. They kept me on my toes, but they were good company, especially when Deon was out of town during the huge blizzard we had. They look innocent enough...


Gaby and Dodger

A better late than never Happy New Year!

Well I'm back in Tuk after nearly a month down south for the ArcticNet conference in Ottawa, and then some good old vacation time with family and friends. As I mentioned, the first part of the holidays I spent in Ottawa attending a conference, but in my off time, spent time dining, shopping, swimming, touring around, and eating some more with my Mom, who came to stay with me at the Westin. We had a great time, and it was nice to spend time together away from home.

Then I spent some time at home, visiting family and friends, and preparing for Christmas. I had a great time being away from work, and doing all things that aren't work related!

Then Deon proposed. And I said yes.


(This picture is actually from New Years Eve, not the proposal day.)

And then we went back to Tuk after the New Year!

So a very late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my readers!

A New Year, some new cakes...

I had only been back to work for a week when I was requested to make another cake. This one was a Winnie the Pooh cake for a little girl's first birthday. No sooner than I delivered the cake did pictures get posted on Facebook by the buyer, and I had a phone call asking for a replica cake for another birthday party next weekend.

Is a Winnie the Pooh Cake the cake of 2011, like an iPod cake was the cake of 2010?

Oh how your perspective changes...

I literally laughed out loud at lunch today when I heard on the news that Toronto has issued an extreme cold weather alert. Apparently the temperatures might drop to -12C tonight.

I laughed because today it is -43C with the wind chill, -32C without. Tomorrow, the wind chill will be -44C. We don't seem to have an "extreme cold weather alert."

I understand that Toronto's warning is to prepare the shelters for an influx of homeless people needing shelter for the night. I still couldn't help but find it funny that -12 is considered "extreme cold."

On another note, we're now into the season when the weather forecast shows all moons and starry skies for the upcoming week, and the sunrise and sunset are both at 12pm. There's a bit of twilight around the noon hour, but other than that it's night time all-round... and I love it!

p.s. 30 days of photos will continue shortly, I'm having internet issues with my laptop, and currently can only really use it for blogging (with photos) at hotels.

30 days of photos... Day 27

A picture of something I'm afraid of.

I am afraid of the comforter touching my face, because it might give me pimples. Some people suggest that I'm ridiculous, I think one can never be too cautious.

FYI-I'll also get a sore neck unless I'm sleeping on my own pillow.