It seems that real winter is finally waking up. In the last week, we have received about five inches of new snow. The once-meager snowbanks are finally becoming sizable. Greg has been busy plowing his many contract customers, and we are pleased with the additional insulation around the cabins.
We've been anxiously watching the weather reports, hoping that later-season snow would be a reality. The word this week is that we could be in line for two storms. The first warning is current; as I type I am watching the snow fall. I can still see Canada, but just barely. That is a good marker for us to watch. Occasionally, a gust of wind will kick up, sending snow from the rooftop and tree branches. That makes me feel like it's a good, old-fashioned blizzard. I don't think it will end up truly as such, but if the predictions come true, we could end up with another six inches.
The next event is predicted for Wednesday. Though the storm track has yet to be defined, I read a report that somewhere in the Northland, a sizeable amount of snow--up to a foot--will fall. Of course, I automatically wanted it to be us, and sort of felt like I was buying a lottery ticket! The way this winter has gone, it practically takes that same kind of luck. But now it feels as though things are changing.
Yesterday, I prepared my soup, fired up the bread oven, and got the tent warmed up. I noticed the week's accumulation piled on the roof of the tent, so I went about shaking it off. I figured if we were going to be getting a bunch more, we didn't want to stress the aluminum frame. Around the outside of the tent, I noticed heaps of snow lining the base. We only warm up the tent for Saturday afternoons, but thanks to the woodstove, the straw insulating the floor, and that snow around the exterior, we stay pretty warm. I can even imagine going winter camping, if I had a set-up like this to enjoy in the evenings.
The bird feeders are full and very busy. Recently, I've seen our usual friends: chickadees, red-breasted nut hatches, pine grosbeaks, and red polls. A few juncos have re-appeared. And of course, the blue jays and ravens are still out and about. Underneath the feeder, the deer congregate, looking for whatever seeds may have fallen. With the feeders hanging high off the porch eaves, they can't reach them, no matter how much they try.
When I was cleaning at Diamond Willow the other day, a few deer were passing by. Here is a photo of one that I got, right out the window. She jumped a bit when the flash went off on my first attempt. It wasn't enough to scare her away.
It's a beautiful, quiet time here on Gunflint Lake. It rather has the look and feel of early December, with the exception of the length of the days. Two months ago, morning didn't seem to arrive until about 7:45. Now, an hour earlier, there is considerable light coming in my windows. Soon it will be time to switch to Daylight Savings Time again, and then our evenings will stay light longer. That's what I love about late winter---the temps are more moderate, and with all of the daylight, it's a wonderful time to be playing outside. March skiing is coming up, and it's some of my favorite.
