Wolves billow out howls on the hill

Life is kind of strange for the weeks surrounding the shortest day of the year.  Daily chores and recreation become more difficult.  You get used to performing tasks by headlamp.  Your whole body has to adjust to a more dark and relatively sedentary existence.  My mind is lifted when winter solstice comes around and the days start getting longer.

This time of the year one's pursuits tend to follow the moon.  Walks down the hill to the lake are guided by the brilliance of a moon dog around the full moon.  Atmospheric ice crystals are illuminated through rays of reflected lunar light.

Burst of light over the lake after a winter storm

A recent deer kill a little ways into the woods attracted a dozen or so bald eagles and countless other birds and scavengers to the area.  Turns out they found the gut pile of the hunted deer hanging in my neighbor's yard.  Luna, our six year old mutt, found her way over there and ate the face off of the dangling deer.  Brains were slopped on her head by the time she was fully gorged and decided to come home!

A solid base of snow now blankets the North Shore.   Out on the ski trail the tracks are getting better.  But the other night thirty mile an hour wind gusts swept the previous day's snow accumulation off and left subtle dunes on the trails.

View from the home site

Tonight is setting up to be the coldest, windiest and therefore harshest night that we have lived out here.  Outside temperatures are well below zero with wind chills in deadly territory.  Inside, however, the stove is hot and tea water is awaiting us.

Winter storage

Wolves billow out howls on the hill above the well.  It reminds you where you are.  These predators play a vital top tier level of the regional food chain.  First the deer then the wolf.  

The crows are getting drunk on the fermented Mountain Ash Berries.