Hey everybody, here is yet another freeze-up note for those of you that are following this grande adventure I'm having. This morning's note might need some corrections later in the day due to the fact that I've had a fair bit to drink and it's wayyy past my bedtime. But I thought I'd write about today while it's fresh in my head cause today was one of those truly special days.

It started off as any other day: up at dawn (quarter after nine:), chores done, check my email: there was my first surprise-so many birthday greetings from my friends-and many of them from an old and very dear friend Marie, who I am very happy to be in touch with again. Later on in the day I got my webcam and mic hooked up and skyped with Scott for quite awhile, which was really a nice treat given that I haven't seen his face in two and a half weeks. I'm surprised just how much I miss him. Love you baby. My day went along, chatting with Marie and Scott periodically and getting chores done. The plan was to have two new friends (a beautiful and talented couple travelling Western North America brave enough to spend their first Yukon winter ever in a cabin on this side of the river) over for sushi and drinks and they arrived around 4:30 bearing salmon and a fancy salad. We made fancy drinks (mango rum is the bomb) and I taught Laura how to make maki (yum). We also made tempura yams and more drinks and sat down to a very nice dinner. When we were almost done the dogs started barking their fool heads off and sure enough: three more women arrived from the neighbourhood bearing gifts-all homemade! They brought fresh baked bread, chocolate fudge, strawberry and rhubarb jam, and Debi made me a beautiful willow basket!!!! Also they brought wine and food for the party. Awhile later, another couple arrived with a birthday cake!! And a beautiful gift: a tiny stump of wood inlaid with beautiful blue stone and other beautiful shiny bits-a beautiful piece of art. We drank and yakked (funny, it was mostly about food tonight:) and had a very good time. 8 people is more people than I've had in my house at once. It was actually quite cozy--even when you consider that a whole corner of the front room was taken up by parkas and mitts and hats and snowpants.

So, I had an impromptu surprise party and it was wonderful. i should have taken more pictures. But the couple I did take I'll post tomorrow. Tomorrow might be a busy day-ever tried to do dishes from a dinner party in a laundry tub with no running water? My whole kitchen is just a disaster. lol. It was well worth it though.

Anyways, I'm so wired I might be up for hours yet. But I want to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes and surprises. I'm a lucky girl feeling very rich at the moment with a life full of old friends and new. I love you all!!!

ps.  The chopper didn't come yesterday but it is coming today for sure

pss.  If there's anybody following my blog and reading my notes on Facebook you'll know that I'm just copying and pasting from one to the other each day of freeze-up.  I promise that won't be the case in the future-just this first freeze-up.