Muddy boots and wet butts...

I have had both in the last 24 hours. But at least it has indicated a renewed enjoyment of the rain. Rain and cloud cover have been a constant since returning up North. A cool wind has also brought upon us that feeling that summer has indeed ended and responsibility begins again.

The rain however is quite welcomed, as is the cool wind. Both creations of mother nature are excellent natural bug repellants, and have made the environment a beautiful place for evening strolls. One deterrant to walking is rumours however.

Last year the replacement janitor in the school used to tell me everyday, "you should be careful Gillian, they saw a polar bear (or wolf) in town. You shouldn't go outside". But this year, I had many people telling me that they have seen many wolves this summer, close to town. So, I think that maybe I should be a bit more cautious, no walks on the airport road after dark I guess.

It might sounds weird to have a fear of wolves, it's just that wolves look almost exactly like Inuit dogs. And in town there are lots of stray dogs, even some without collars so they look identical to wolves. An Inuit man once told me to look at their paws to see if they are dogs or wolves. He said that wolves have wider paws than dogs, but frankly, I don't really want to be close enough to a wolf to actually see that distinct difference between them and their relatives.

So, as I still have some early morning light with me, I think it is good time for a walk. Oh wait before I go I must explain the "wet butt". Since the most common and popular mode of transport around town is not car or truck but by 4-wheeler, it is a regular occurrance to have a wet butt from the rain dampened seat. You get used to it after a while and sometimes it's just easier to walk through the puddles than drive.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!