The snow came in big chunky flakes falling gently from the overcast skies. It came endlessly, it seemed, throughout the day and into the darkest night. Our forest seemed to close in on us creating one giant room decorated by snow angels or Santa's elves. I'm sure the deer were bedded down somewhere protected by the boughs of the cedars or pines. The snow cover was soft like cotton which provided a soundless walk through the woods. Despite the excessive snowfall the stream below the ridge is running fast and strong, for now. I know that as the temperature drops below freezing the water will slow and then still until the spring sun will warm it up to flow again. For now, everything seems to be in a long slumber. Nature's respite I suppose.
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| Ghost Buck |
After many years of enjoying three seasons here, this is our first overwinter at the cabin. City living simply became financially overwhelming. But....that's another story. This story starts here, 30 miles North of Seven. Summer was a whirlwind of building, digging wells, installing septic systems and trying desperately to install solar power. (The hole in the bank account still needs to be repaired.) All has been reasonably successful with the exception of the solar panels. That free power is still just slightly at arm's length. With any luck that will be next summer. No problem, we are running off a generator and batteries and are extremely careful about what we plug in. The cost of gasoline may kill us before anything else. Who knew life would be so much about watts and amps and voltage. I remember when I plugged in my twelve hundred watt hair blower without a second thought. Aaahh those days are over now.It's a lifestyle change, without a doubt. We are totally 'off grid' here, cell phones and internet are our only links to the world out there. What would I do without technology?!? Social networking websites are currently my salvation. I can't leave it behind..not yet anyway.
I think most of our close friends think we've lost it, but for us, this is it. We have to give our dreams a shot on centre stage and this winter will be our dress rehearsal, so to speak.
I'm home now but next week I break into the local job market. I have finally found some work up here where the term 'Microsoft Certified' is a foreign language. The only reason I finally got hired is because my husband's ancestors settled in this area and the locals recognize the surname. So, I must be okay.
Well today ends with successfully plowing ourselves out to the road (where civilization begins,) with the 1939 Ford tractor driven by the 1957 husband who is now napping on the couch. I'll keep you posted on our performance during the winter.
