Cabin Living North of Seven (3)

Okay, so you know from previous blog entries that I walk the dog, Maya, almost every day, down on the trails below the ridge. I usually walk her on a retractable lead when I'm down there. Especially during the winter when those damn snow machines are sharing the trail with me. They come so fast, I can't take the chance of her running into one head on.

Okay, I want to tell you first off that this picture was NOT taken by me. It is from a National Geographic site. However, if I'd had my camera with me it COULD HAVE BEEN taken by me.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.We we're just moseying on down the trail as usual. Inspecting every track that I can see and Maya is lovin' it and sticking her nose in every hideyhole she thinks may house a mouse or better. She was full out on the lead when she started going a little crazy....hot on a trail. I reigned her in on the leash as I approached the spot. Thank God!

She was on a blood trail. Seemed very fresh to me. There's a small bend in the trail at just about this point. As we followed the blood around the bend I heard a growl and movement in the brush to the side of the trail. And there he was, chowing down on the carcass of a small doe. A wolf! Quite the adrenalin rush!! He growled a little more and then skulked away in the underbrush. I don't think he went very far. But I sure as hell did. I'm just so thankful that I had Maya reigned in on the lead. Who knows what would have happened.

I've been down to that spot several times since and it's truly amazing how nature takes care of itself. All that is left now is the hide, a piece of jawbone and the spine. All the ribs have been broken off and carted away by various animals. The hide looks like its been chewed down and is cleaned up enough that you could pick it up. Which of course I did. My curiosity is overwhelming sometimes.

I'm pretty sure that the victim doe was one of the doe from our property. We have a night camera set up and there has always been  three doe in the pictures....until recently. Now there are suspiciously only two. Big BAD wolf!!! Survival of the fittest I guess.

Well it's now January. So far so good. We have survived some nasty snow storms and we still move on. We're getting closer to having our solar power totally hooked up. An 'expert' is dropping by sometime next week to have a look. Turns out that the solar power company we purchased from has hit the hills. We weren't to sure where to turn for awhile but alas.....help will be arriving. I'll keep you up to date on how that progresses.

And every day that passes brings spring a little closer. Even though there is still lots of snow on the ground and probably lots more to come, there are buds on the trees. Which assures me that spring is indeed on the way!.

Cabin Living North of Seven (2)

She wouldn't leave me alone. Looking at me with those big brown eyes and sighing with boredom. She wanted to go for her daily walk. We can still get through the trails for now, the snow is only about eight inches deep and still very soft and fluffy. She bounded up the trail always wanting to be a hundred yards ahead of me. But I notice that since the snow has gotten deep, she waits for me round every bend. Not sure if she's keeping an eye on me or doesn't want to be too alone herself.

I simply cannot get enough of the the beauty that surrounds us. I dreaded winter's onset, what with the plowing and driving complications. But here I am enjoying it, in spite of myself.

I survey the forest as I walk silently down the path. The dog is busy inspecting every hole in snow where a mouse may have passed. What you can see when you take the time to actually look! Another small path carved in the snow crossed mine. First I thought it was a deer trail and then I noticed evidence of melting. It must have been something with a belly closer to the snow. Perhaps a fox or even beaver making it's way down to the brook for a drink of water.

Aahh those poor people on the highways down south making their way to work at this very minute. Stuck in four lanes of vehicles making their way slowly into the city. I wonder if they ever take the time to actually look at their surroundings.

It's not all perfect here. If we want pizza we have to make sure we bought it at the grocery store. Delivery service is simply not an option. If you have a craving for chocolate you're out of luck. Plan those cravings a week in advance. As a matter of fact, plan anything you can buy a week in advance. The closest Walmart may as well be on another planet. But, I don't have to hear car alarms or sirens and there isn't even one traffic light on my way to work. There is never anyone turning left from the far right lane! I'll have to tranquilize myself next time I visit the city.

The Christmas season is upon us and I have finally put up the Christmas tree and the cabin is decorated with all the trimmings. We have thousands of pine trees all around us however I have elected to use our artificial tree again this year. I'm usually chomping at the bit to start the Christmas season but I have been a little slow this year. We're so isolated and there will be no Christmas parties to attend. We are going to the city on Christmas Eve to gather with all the family. For that, I am excited. I can't wait to see the excitement on the faces of my grandchildren.

I close off for today. I'm barbecuing a meatloaf with squash and potatoes. Wish I could say I was doing it on a wood stove. That would be so apropos!

Cabin Living North of Seven

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.

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.