Happy 2018!

Cold enough for you?  Today is the first day in over a week that the temp is above zero.  It is Tuesday so the hiking group went out as usual.  This time on trails at a member's house.  Don't remember who won the "number of layers" contest.  We are a hardy lot!

On the home front Case has been using oak in the woodstove.  Because of the deep freeze, only the living room gets warm.  We now have fireside dining 3 meals a day.  Luckily we received sturdy, wooden TV tables for Christmas that are being used more than we thought we would.  It's all an adventure! 

Surprise in White

Case and I spent a few days in Iowa with Lucyna and her husband Shane.  Boys did projects. Girls went Christmas shopping.  There is a Tangers Outlet Mall along Route 80 that is less than 10 miles from her house so off we went.  Shopping was productive on all fronts.  Beautiful sunny day with light jackets on. 

Driving home to the northwoods, we met with snow on the side of the road two counties away from our house.  By the time we reached our mailbox, there was 5-6 inches on the level.  It is amazing what a 2016 Dodge Dart can do with snow tires.  We made it to the garage and left snow duty to the next day. 

This fall has been warm.  Usually there is a gradual cool down accompanied with light snows.  Not this year.  We received a surprise in white.

Turtle Log

Since moving here, I have wanted a turtle log of my own.  While kayaking and fishing, I would see turtles sunning themselves on a log peaking out of the water.   Usually at an angle because part of the log would be stuck in the bottom of the lake.  Case was not willing to stick a log in the lake near our shore.  However, nature took care of it after 7 years.  A log that had been floating in the lake settled in a very small cove where it can't float away.  This is a picture from our shore of my very own turtle log with two turtles sunning.  I am happy.

Mammogram and Vocabulary

Last week I went for my annual mammogram.  I was met at the front desk by a "fill in" young man while the usual receptionist was at lunch.  "What can I do for you?"  "I am here for my mammogram appointment."  "Cool."  You know me...I am never at a loss for words.  I was then.  I think I gave a sickly smile.  The generation who are in their twenties have a problem with a lack of vocabulary.  Everything is cool.  A mammogram is not cool.  It is sensible.  It is wise.  It is not cool - however, the machine is not heated.  Perhaps that is what he meant!  And if it isn't cool...it is perfect.  If this age person is asking questions, their reply to someone's answer is "perfect".  Someone teach these young people some other words! 

The results were A-OK.  And I related this incident on the follow up survey by email.  I told the hospital that it wasn't their fault but society's fault.

A Plunge and a Promise

This morning we brought in the boat for the winter.  There was little wind so today was designated the day.  The trailer is hitched to the truck which I drive to the public launch about 10 miles by land.  Case boats over to the launch.  I try to back the trailer into the water which always fails so Case backs it in the water after many attempts while I hold the boat rope.  If he luckily backs it close to the dock, all is good.  We hook it up and drive it home. However, if the trailer is far from the dock which is the usual, then I get into the water to line the boat up to get it on the trailer.  I always wear shorts (47 degrees this AM) and water shoes (don't know the water temp - it was cold).  We head home and warm up.  Our promise to each other driving home was to practice backing up next summer while the boat was off the trailer.  When we do this twice a year, we stink at it.  Backing up a trailer is not a skill nor training, it is a gift, which we don't have.  So we will practice next summer and cross our fingers.

Pine Needles

My walk in the woods today was scented by pine needles which were falling and had fallen.  They can be up to 6 inches long.  It was 70 degrees, overcast, and a strong breeze - perfect for enjoying the autumn smells.

We are still working

...lest you think we just play...

Logs in our driveway waiting to be split and stacked for winter 2018-2019.  If you heat with wood, you need to have the following winter's wood drying for a year before use.  In the last few weeks Case and I felled these trees, cut them into the size to fit in our wood stove, and stacked them here to be split. 

These trees are all birch trees which don't get much wider than this.  All of these trees did not have any leaves on them this year.  That means that the wood will begin to rot and eventually fall on its own.  We look for trees that are between healthy, having leaves and beginning to rot.  We are not clear cutting the Northwoods.  🌳🌳