Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Igloos ...

an igloo ... taken from wikipedia

yes,  I said Igloos .... so what is an igloos you ask and why would i write about them???  well there is this kind of standard running joke that a lot of tourists to Canada expect to see Igloos .... cuz, well ... i think it's because our tourism kinda promotes specific images which give visitors the wrong impression of what and who Canada is ...  Here's what else seem to be on every tourist site or brochure ... Moose, Beavers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police in their red uniforms ... totem poles, and kids playing ice hockey on frozen ponds all year long ...

RCMP this Remembrance Day

and then let's snap back to reality ... the last time i saw a Beaver it was on "Billy the Exterminator" and the beaver he was relocating was in Louisiana ... kinda cool ... and yes we do have them, but they aren't damning up every river ... and hey other parts of the world have them too!

I have never seen a moose up close and personal ... they would be a lot more north than were i am ... but deer, i have seen deer,  but not walking the streets ... it's not like you would visit here, leave your hotel and see a moose crossing the street.  Our RCMP do wear those fine red uniforms ... (I love the boots!)  but only for dress occasions, parades that kinda thing.

Surprisingly most of us live within a couple hours drive from the USA border, and the weather is very very similar to the northern USA  ...  so no year round frozen lakes or igloos ... those you have to go way north to Canada's Central Arctic or Greenland ...

and an igloo ... it's a snow house ... a house made of snow ... sometimes it's a real house ... sometimes it's a small temporary shelter used by hunters ...

So speaking of houses ... ahem .... Mona Lisa Mae is still waiting for her's to be built ... when will i find the time?

Mona Lisa Mae is growing weary of sleeping in a pocket in my purse ... i really do have to make that house.
Well this not so fine post is brought to you by the letter I and our fabulous Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday Meme ... we do love the Jenny ... and her other participants as well ...  check them out for some fab, cool, interesting I posts ...

17 comments:

Gattina said...

I never imagined Canada with an igloo, lol ! that's rather for Alaska or the Northpole ! I have been only once in Canada and that was at the Niagara falls because they are much nicer than on the US side !

a moderate life said...

Jo! I think it is a very fine post! I adore Canada and have spent time in ottawa, toronto, london, peterborough, vancouver and other various stops along the way and it was all beautiful, but the driving in toronto is crazy! I am from new york and even i was scared! I love your little sock monkey. my sister knit a whole sock monkey outfit for our neice for halloween it was precious! I am visiting from alphabet thursday and I am now following your lovely blog! All the best, Alex@amoderatelife

Rinkly Rimes said...

We were on holiday inthe Rockies from Australia (where, of course, kangaroos hop down every main street!!!!!) and we were told we might see bears if we took a certain walk! We didn't even see a rabbit!!!! Not your fault!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Brrr....

We have moose that run around all over the place here like they own it!

They actually can be quite dangerous because they have no fear of humans...

Lovely post...

Unknown said...

I thought igloos were in Alaska. Glad I had it right.

Susan Anderson said...

We love Canada, with or without igloos. You live in a wonderful place!

And Mona Lisa Mae is wonderful, too.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Jo!

I love Canada! I have visited Montreal, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, New Foundland and Toronto! I hope to visit BC one day and Victoria. I never expected to see an igloo there, but I did find lots of wonderful friendly people!

PS: The prize package from Elmer came today! It has a cutting board and glues and an exacto knife and tapes, etc. I'll blog about it soon. Thanks so much! It was a wonderful suprise! It'll be a wonderful motivation to get me scrapbooking my grandson's photos.

♥ Pat

Kathy said...

Fabulous post Jo! Although I do hear it's going to snow sometime next week, it's nowhere near as cold as some folk might think it is up here. I think Mona Lisa Mae looks pretty cozy in your purse pocket ;o)

Judie said...

Over the years that we have been going to Canada, I have seen all those things except for the igloo!
Great post, Jo!

H said...

I have never been to Canada :(, but what I imgine most are mountains and vast open spaces!

Of course, here in England everyone drinks endless cups of tea (YUK) wears a bowler hat and carries an umbrella :)

Tina said...

I have always been fascinated by igloos. The one you pictured looks fab.

Aww I think Mona Lisa Mae looks quite happy there in your purse ;)

Lynn Stevens said...

Jo. I really enjoyed your post! You have never seen a moose? They must all be here in Id. I've seen 3 or 4 in the wild. and bears and Elk and deer, yeah, we have it all here to! No igloos either, although after this next week, there may be a few popping up! Canada is beautiful!
Hope you don't get to much snow!
hugs Lynn

Pondside said...

Funny! When I was a student and working at an information booth on the 401 near Kingston for the summer, I had people drive across the border looking for "Manitoba or Montreal - can't remember which, but it's snowing there". Tourist came with skis on their cars looking for some day skiing, and one memorable woman, swathed in fur in her air-conditioned car, refused to get out because of the cold. Her shivering husband was so glad to step out into the heat! There was nothing I could do to help him out as his wife wouldn't be convinced that the weather was warm.

Lola said...

Have always loved igloos. Such an interesting post - as always!

XOXO Lola;)

Jenny said...

Whenever I hear the word Canada, I immediately think of maple syrup.

I only think of igloos when I think of Alaska.

But perhaps you could consider using sugar cubes to make Mona Lisa Mae her very own igloo...to match the one you live in, of course.

Thanks for a fun link to Alphabe-Thursday!

You make me smile.

A+

Amanda Lee said...

You have A LOT to be thankful for! Twenty minutes, indeed!

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