Sun + Person = Shadow

Anya has discovered her shadow. Funny, since we had not seen the sun in almost four months, shadows are new food for thought for Anya. She keeps pointing out how big her shadow is (with the sun still low in the sky), and Mama's is even bigger!

Shadows, 26.2.2014

Shadows, 26.2.2014

Amazing Mind!

Anya's mind never ceases to astonish me. Her latest passion is building puzzles. After a period of trial, error and lots of persistence, she knows now how to assemble puzzles of up to 24 pieces. She can sit there for more than 30 minutes in full concentration and then present the finished piece proudly! (In the background of the photo: the broom with floor cloth she dropped when she decided it was time for another puzzle).

She also asks a lot of questions about the world: "How come the moon does not fall from the sky?" and "Maybe it is holding on to a handrail?"

Anya assembling puzzle, 15.2.2014

Yukon Quest sled tog teams

The Yukon Quest dog sled race is passing by our home right now. We can sit in our living room, look out the bay window and watch them go by. Thanks to "Live Tracking", we know when to expect a team and can perch ourselves by the window. Anya loves spotting dog teams!

Dog sled team on the river, 4.2.2014

Child in the Wild driving snowmobile

A few days back the snowmobile had invited Anya to go for a ride around the house. Anya accepted. Prior to that, Anya had kept her distance to the machine that she had deemed too loud for comfort. After the trip around the house Anya asked if she could accompany Papa when he goes to pick up firewood. Her request was granted the following afternoon.

I helped Anya get dressed. While she went outside to join Gaetan, I put on my snowsuit. When I followed, I found her standing beside the trail in deep snow, in a safe distance from the snowmobiles that Gaetan had already started, so she would not get run over in case the vehicles moved (Mama's recommended behavior!). 

Anya and I were assigned our own snowmobile. I had fastened a pillow in front of Anya on the handle bar for protection. She was sitting in front of me. On the 10-minute ride, Anya was sitting absolutely still. I could practically see how her senses were wide open to take everything in.

When we arrived back home, Anya's first comment was "again!".

Riding the snowmobile, 19.1.2014

 

Snow-Chores

There are parts of the roof that need to be emptied of snow (the valleys mostly), otherwise the heat that escapes through the roof will melt some snow and the weight of snow and ice on top of it will push melt-water into the house.

Gaetan sweeping snow off the roof (6.1.2014)

Gaetan sweeping snow off the roof (6.1.2014)

Thoughts on minus 50

When spilled water freezes to the floor, when a child cannot roll up her sleeves, because there are too many, when plants are freezing on the window sill, when the propane gas turns to gel and the propane bottle and the generator move inside to warm up, I know the outside temperature is close to minus 50.

While my range of motions shrinks and my lungs wince, the mountain vista is usually breathtaking: clear air, sharply outlined mountains tainted in orange light, and frost covered trees that seem to ignite in silver-cold December sunlight (up on the hills in a distance and out of my reach of course, because we are without sunlight for a total of 3 ½ months).

Mountains in the distance (26.12.2013)

Mountains in orange sunlight (26.12.2013)

Beliefs

As we went to get water, Anya and I came upon a flock of red-polls. In a distance, the small birds were feeding off alder-seeds. Anya wanted to go closer to get a better look at them. I told her that if she did that the birds would fly further away. She was wondering about that, and I shared with her what I know about flight initiation distance and the birds' instincts with regards to us being potential predators.

Later, I started to wonder about the extent to which I convey my beliefs along with what I know. And what do we really know? Science is not static, it evolves, expands its insights constantly. In 100 years from now, some of what we take for "granted scientifically proven facts" will be obsolete.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts on that topic!

Believes in snow angels (December 22, 2013)