Phenology

Clear, windy, highs in the twenties, lows just below zero. A large bald eagle sat perched above the homestead for most of the afternoon watching over me as I worked. Minnesota is home to more nesting pairs of bald eagles that any other state in the lower 48. "Baldys" can grow up to 15 lbs and have a wing span of 96 inches (8ft)! They build the largest nest of any North American bird (up to 13 ft deep and 8 ft wide), eat mainly fish, and can fly up to 40 mph (30 mph with a fish). They are known to be extremely sensitive to human activity so I felt priviledged that have it around for so long. 

Phenology

Clear, lows just below zero, highs in the single digits. Winds out of west. 6-8 inches of new snow fell yesterday evening. Beginning to plan the herb garden. 

Phenology

Windy, highs in upper teens, wind chills near zero. Light lake effect fell under partly sunny skies most of the afternoon as low snow squalls blew off the lake. The white tail deer are concentrated near the shore were snow is not as deep as the hills inland and some vegetation is exposed from last week's thaw. 

Framing walls

I finally feel like I'm on familiar ground again: woodworking.  I've spent the last couple of weeks framing interior walls for the bedroom and bathroom and am proud to report that we officially have rooms!  

I first built the center wall.

  I then framed the door opening and associated wall.  Voila: a bedroom!

Next I framed the walls which enclose the bathroom area.

View as seen from the entry door looking towards the bedroom and living room area.

Gotta be square.

Working wood on a cozy winter afternoon.

Walls done, the next step is the rough-in wiring and kitchen flooring.  I've been spending an evening a week cutting trees and clearing the lake view.  In short, we're moving along; working for a couple hours every day taking care of one small project away at a time...

Phenology

First thaw of the year. With highs in the upper 20's and low thirties, the melt has commenced. The North Shore will surely experience a couple more cold Arctic freezes this winter. However, the sun is now strong enough to melt ice from roofs and roads during the daylight hours. I could literally hear ice crackle and react as I spread salt over it under this afternoon's warm sun . Perhaps the most indicative sign of spring: the first pussy willlow buds (catkins) emerged this weekend.

Phenology

Rattled by the piercing sound of a close wolf howl as the large black male stood at the base of the driveway howling at our dog who was chained outside. I was close enough to see the whites of his eyes. 

Phenology

Return to seasonal temps. Lows just below zero. Highs in the single digits. High pressure to dominant weather for the upcoming week. Close encounters with a pileated woodpeaker and snowshoe hare on the driveway. Growing to nearly the size of a crow, the pileated are the largest woodpecker in North America. 

Phenology

Warmer, highs in the upper twenties by the lake. Strong south eastern wind broke up the ice and drove huge swells ashore on Superior. I could hear the lake roar from inside the cabin. 

Phenology

Cold, high pressure looms over the North while a huge low hammers the south with storms. The first significant ice of the season has formed along the shore of Lake Superior, extending perhaps one mile out. Plentiful deer and snowshoe hare tracks.