The Beginning of Toque Season

There are a few things Canada has that you are not found in the US (or at least not easily).

For chocolate bars it's Eatmore, Coffee Crisp, Cherry Blossums, mint Aero, and Mirage (plus several more that I can't think of off the top of my head).  I can't tell you how much I miss Ketchup chips and Cheezies.  There is no such thing as Shreddies cereal. and also, despite my best efforts, no puffed wheat to be found, which means no puffed wheat squares.  This has been particularly distressing to me since I reinvigorated my baking skills a few years ago.  It also took me several store trips to realize the alternative to Beehive corn syrup is a clear goo called Karo.

Every time I say the word toque in Alaska I am met with head tilts and raised eyebrows.  It seems toques are not a thing here.  I mean, they exist.  I have caught myself saying "nice toque" in an elevator and been met with utter bemusement.  Granted, that does seem like an odd thing to say now that I write it down, but I digress.  Apparently they are just called hats here, which quite honestly, is a disappointingly boring.  Wikidpedia confirms this is pretty much just a Canadian thing.  Sort of like a bunnyhug is just a Saskatchewan word for hoodie.

That said, I returned to Anchorage this week just in time for 21 inches of fresh snow this week.  And so I shall celebrate my toque and it's fuzzy warm glory with this post with a little foray into said snow.

The nice thing about first snow, it it usually hasn't turned into first ice yet.  So that was a plus for a little forest frolicking. 

It didn't escape my notice that the moss or lichen or whatever the fuzzy green stuff that grows on birch is looks like little frozen green snowflakes.  Thought that was kind of cool.

I saw evidence of my little woodpecker family.  I have to confess, the little spotted woodpeckers are one of my favorite feeder visitors.  They don't come often, but when they do, they are saucy!  And easily spooked.  They have certainly done a number on this tree though.

    

Final destination, my little sandbar by the river.  Some other residents have hauled a bench down there, and I have to admit it does make for a pretty picture and welcome spot to hang out for a bit.  And think about silly things like toques, and where they come from (France it would seem).  Fun fact, the traditional chef hat is called a toque.  And German judges wear a toque but pretty sure it looks nothing like the Canadian toque nor a chef cap.  It's nice to have time to ponder random oddities again.