Best Ice Fishing Ever

For a day off, Gwyneth and Wade head off for a day of fishing.Good company, good food, good time.

Of course, Carlson catches the fish

ice art

A little sun can produce an ice sculpture like this.

Beauty is everywhere.

Off to Mexico

Well I'm off to Mexico for a week.
Funny I am bushed. The classical definition of this state comes from the history books. When Hudson Bay managers brought their wives over to Canada and dumped them into the middle of the bush, it was quite a shock and they missed home. However the journals tell many stories of these women who a couple years later would refuse to leave their new home. They couldn't imagine leaving chores behind and going out into the real world again. They were afraid.
I have felt this during the summer when I was at camp with my kids and would refuse to take a break in town. I just didn't want to go to town. I was almost afraid of it.
Now I am thinking about things I haven't finished here; emails, websites, even knitting projects, reasons I should stay home. Plus the weather here is nothing to complain about!!
Hugh tells me I need to get out of town, take a break, soak up some sun.
While I am gone, Arthur, our son, will answer the phone and check the phone messages and emails. He will have a schdule and of course will do a fine job.

I can leave town, Yes I can.

Ice Fishing in Red Lake

Gwyneth and friends went ice fishing on Sunday. The weather is mild with plenty of sun and little snow. You don't even need showshoes in the bush. No slush on the lake anywhere. Great for a day out on the lake. Gwyneth and friends let all the lake trout and the large walleye go. They will bring home some small walleye for supper.

Okay, Phil. You win! 20lb (or more) Lake Trout. It bottomed- out our scale.

GO CANADA GO

Real Outdoor Destinations

Real Outdoor Destinations came to Viking Island for a few days last August and also went fishing with Craig on Dolphin and McInnes Lakes. If you have Direct TV, then maybe you would look for our 2 shows on Direct TV.

Schedules in Central Time
Viking Island

WILD TV
Tuesday, March 2 - 7 pm

Thursday, March 4 - 4 am
Friday, March 5 - 7 am

Direct TV, Channel 608 (HUNT)

Monday, March 1 - 11 am

Wednesday, March 3 - 12:30 am

Thursday, March 4 - 8:30 pm

Viking Outpost
WILD TV
Tuesday, March 9 - 7 pm

Thursday, March 11 -4 am

Friday, March 12 - 7 am

Direct TV, Channel 608 (HUNT)
Monday, March 8 - 11 am
Wednesday, March 10 - 12:30 am
Thursday, March 11 - 8:30 pm

For a preview you can check out their Viking ad their Viking Ad

A day at the Beach

The sun is bright, the birds are singing and Rhian and I are playing in the snow. She only asked about the lack of water once.

Drilling for Gold

Again this winter, exploration crews are working hard, drilling to find gold right below the Municipality of Red Lake. A drive down the ice roads, brings you to close to many rigs. The motels are full, there are no apartments for rent, this is a boom town. Meanwhile, sawmills and pulp mills across Canada continue to close leaving whole towns with no industry at all.

Dog Sledding part of Canadian Outdoor Education

In northern Canada, outdoor education is a part of high school. That means kids can sign up for a dog sledding trip. My neice went on a trip in northern Saskatchewan last week. Aima grew up beside Lake Superior and spent her spare time skidooing, dirt biking, kayaking, fishing and hiking in the bush. This trip is a natural for her. She had a great time, stayed warm and enjoyed working with the dogs. The kids learn to work as a team, cope with cold and damp weather, and learn to appreciate the freedom and dangers of the great outdoors.

Some of you will remember Aima, as a 3 year old, hanging out at Viking Island for the entire summer as her mum cooked. At that time she said she would be a mechanic when she grew up.....so we will see...

Florence Checks out Arthur's new house

Florence, Hugh and Craig's mother, is 95 and still out and about.
Today, on a bright sunny warm day, Hugh and Florence went for a tour. First stop was her grandson's house. Florence will have advice for Arthur now that she has been on site. She is impressed that he is not building a big mansion with many rooms, but will have everything he needs plus a gorgeous view of Red Lake.

The Winter Olympics come to Canada

The opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics was last night.... A great show that highlighted CANADA.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY
My favourite part was the beginning, a video of a snowboarder going down a mountain by himself, carving out the pristine snow.... a true Canadian moment. Then he enters the stadium and jumps through the rings.
Later a poet gives us his version of Canada. He is dressed in his everyday clothes and talks about all of us. Here is the ending of his poem with a link at the bottom that gives the whole poem.

We Are More
by Shane Koyczan

" keep exploring... we are more"
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it's true
Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"
so
don't say you've been there done that
unless you've been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you'll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn't pack for the first time
but don't let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what's more
is that we didn't just say it
we made it be.

http://www.vancouversun.com/More+Transcript+opening+ceremony+poem+Shane+Koyczan/2558526/story.html

Rhian and I are enjoying bright snow and fresh snow

This is a sleigh that Arthur, my father in law, made for my kids and now I get to push around my granddaughter. Life is great! This picture was taken at 4 pm. You can see the sun is beginning to set; slowly the days are getting longer.

Ladies Curling Bonspiel in Red Lake

This is the weekend each February when the girls are out to play (and curl a bit). The guys babysit and become the designated driviers. The girls curl until all hours of the night and then dressup for dinner and get a together. All the older women who curled in younger days are there to watch and have a good laugh.
This year's theme was, of course, the Olympics. Gwyneth, the second bagpiper, and her team were from Scotland.

In another week, curling will be part of the winter Olympics and we will all be watching. In Canada, especially in rural parts, curling is a big part of winter, just like golf is in the summer. The Canadian Curling championships begin in the local clubs and you need to win all the way up the line to compete in the nationals and then become part of the Olympics. So most Canadians who curl have met a Canadian Curling champion.

Thinking about Spring

Hugh is thinking about spring as he removes the prop from C-FBYA. He will take it to Winnipeg to be inspected.
Today it is warm (20' F). It has been colder recently but still very little snow. I am anxious to get out to Viking Island but the portage would still be very rough. We are hoping for lots of snow in advance of the skidoo races at the end of the month.