Cabin Living North of Seven - Spring -1

Well, we have successfully outwitted, outplayed and outlasted  our first winter up here. We are Survivors!!!

 The calendar says it's now spring. The landscape however, refuses to conform and  snow still lingers in the woods and ice continues to cover the lakes for the most part. However, the smaller streams and rivers are opening up. I haven't personally seen a robin yet but I have seen roadkill. There's been a couple of unfortunate incidents with raccoons on the highway and that is surely evidence of spring.

The whine of the snow machines on the trail has finally been silenced.  When I walk through the woods the bottom of the trees have puddles of earth showing through and here and there I see a blade of grass struggling to overcome it's frosty chains.

Springtime here in the hardwoods is also witness to the annual tradition of tapping the maples for maple syrup. We have good maple syrup weather right now, sunny days and cold, frosty nights. Although this is something I would like to take a stab at I think we will perhaps wait until next spring.

The honking of Canada geese as they fly in the familiar "V" pattern is the true herald of spring; and the closest to my heart. While walking the trail I heard the sound that never fails to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up in excitement. Probably a mile high in the sky flying north were probably close to fifteen hundred Canada geese heading north. I heard them long before I saw them. The geese move slowly northward following the advancing line of melting snow.

I look forward to the first roaring bonfire in the fire pit with my kids and friends to share it with. Aahh I can't wait for summer but I would not give up this wonderful reawakening of the earth that we call spring!

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Everybody waves. I mean everybody.It might be a full hand from the elbow movement or as inconspicuous as the one finger off the steering wheel but it's definitely a wave. It's their way of sayin' 'Howdy!'

Examples:

The Single The Single is the easiest and hence most common example of The Wave.  It is performed by simply lifting the index finger from the steering wheel to salute an oncoming vehicle.




The Quad Getting interesting now…  The Quad takes The Single a couple of steps further to extend all four fingers of the hand in the most visible version of The Wave possible without removing a hand from the steering wheel.




The Universal Recognized the world over as a conventional manner in which to say hello, The Universal involves removing a hand from the steering wheel and simply waving.








I felt kinda funny doing it at first. I mean I don't really know these people, they just happen to live somewhere around here. Coming from the city, it felt kinda strange at first. I mean you don't wave to total strangers on the streets in the city. But here it's rude not too. I can just hear them at the hardware store saying '"That's the lady who doesn't wave...she must be from the city'. And God forbid I don't want to be THAT lady! So I merrily go into town and wave at every oncoming car!

And the DUMP! Now that's an experience. During the winter months it's only open three days a week. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Now most people work during the week so that pretty much leaves Sunday. So the day of rest in the week is pretty busy. Most of them get all dressed up for church at eleven in the morning, load up the garbage in their vehicle and off they go to church. Afterward they drop by the dump in their Sunday best! There is a large Quonset hut there where all the 'good' garbage goes and for a donation you can shop your heart out after church. In the summer months it's actually pretty good cause you get to shop the cottagers garbage too! It's all about encouraging people to reuse instead of tossing it away. It's very 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' experience. Basically you look through the stuff and if you see something you like, you offer a price.Yeah...I'm gettin into it.

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Do the locals really appreciate what they have here? I sometimes have to wonder. Are they immune to the beauty and wonder that surrounds them because it's always been there for them? The young want to grow up fast and move to the big cities. The elders seem to take it all for granted. You see them in local greasy spoon restaurants having breakfast and I overhear comments about the 'hunt' or how the elk are ruining their crops. Which is fine....part of the ambiance, but do they ever just walk out in the forest, explore the woods, smell the roses?

I love to feel the country and listen to it breathe, to listen to the sound of the wind stroking the trees at night, rustling the oaks and bending the pines. There is such an abundance of wonder right here at my fingertips. It just never ends. I especially love the evening when the gray light from the misty day is bleeding through the window; the stars come out and the sky keeps its nightly tryst with the land it loves.

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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!.

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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.