Wild weather. Woke up to a big dump of heavy snow on Sunday. Kita had to jump over the snow bank at the back door to go do his morning business.




Howling winds made for drifting around the shed.



Then the temp went to +7 and two inches of rain, and howling winds.



Then the temp went to - 17, with howling winds, which is a good thing, for making good ice.



Today I'll have to go check out the driveway for fallen trees after all that wind. Tomorrow or the next day I'll walk across the lake to see if it's safe. Gee, it's times like this that I really miss having a millwrong around.

We had a nice sun rise yesterday morning, then it snowed again. Not too much, just a heavy dusting.









At 7:00 this morning the temp was -6, now at 9:30 it is -15. It is supposed to go to -19 by this afternoon. They are calling for plus temps by Monday and rain. YUCK.

Mrs. Slate and Grasshopper have gone to terrorize the townies. The lake isn't safe yet so Grasshopper had to sled around to Bedrock.

That's it for now, I'm going to enjoy the peace and quiet of a semisolar day.

Woke up yesterday to another four inches of snow. Both yesterday and this morning, the thermometer was nudging -30c.








Razor, I checked out the ice this morning, just for you. It's about nine inches, with the bottom two inches being good ice. The middle five inches are slushy and the top two inches are firmer slush. If I was you, I'd sled across the lake. But if I was me, (smarter than your average millwrong), I'd wait another week.




They are calling for the temps to rise to the single minuses for the next couple of days. They are also calling for up to another twenty-five Cm's of snow by tomorrow night. I should pack down the trail to the A5 road this afternoon. I think that Grasshopper is feeling the itch for another run to the Dollar store.

The day after the latest Alberta clipper. Thanks Jason! We had some wind with this one.













The snow is deeper than a Husky is tall.



Last night we had an ice fog.












Just heard that they are calling for another 5cm's of snow tonight and another 5 tomorrow. Can you ever be too happy?

Saturday morning we had a sun rise, the first in living memory.



We have lots of snow. It just slowly accumulated one flurry at a time. It is insulating the ice, slowing down the freezing. I wish that there was someone around who would put on a life jacket and stick a 2X4 through the back of their sled and check the ice out.



Yesterday we had an Alberta clipper pass by. No wind but we got another foot of snow. We are expecting another clipper tomorrow.










Grasshopper took the Yammie around the lake to Bedrock this morning. She is going to town with Thelma and Louise, so if you are in the dollar store, watch out that you don't get run over.

What's missing from this picture? That's right, the old goat is in winter pasture at Bedrock. It's been snowing a little every day and now the snow is about knee deep.




The plan was for Grasshopper and Kita to take the old goat around to Bedrock for a little visit. Then Mrs. Slate would bring them back to the start of our driveway. Then I would pick them up with the sled. About 45 minutes after they left, I look out the door and who do I see? Kita. He jogged home across the lake. That just proves the old adage about people and their pets resembling each other.



Just another snow pic.

We're busy making ice, that's hice for you down easterners.


Three days ago.




Yesterday.



This morning. The temp got down to -16 last night and the ice was cracking.



Sun set Friday evening.

Happy anniversary Joseph and
Rachel. #7 I think.

Been pretty busy the last couple of days, and I have the sore muscles to prove it. On Friday we took the boat out. The new ramp made that job a lot easier. On Saturday, I put the boat to bed for the winter and then we took the dock out. I wore Razor's wet suit. After the first shock of cold water, it wasn't too bad. I kept Grasshopper too busy to take pictures. Last night we had a winter storm warning, but only got six inches of snow.


The boat in hibernation.



The dock, high and dry.



The old goat is still here.



We'll have to head out the driveway this week to start bulking up for slushy season.



Sis, maybe J and that ski bunny will give you your own BGB soon.

Rich, you are going to be white all over where your going. The sun never shines down there.

Happy 1st birthday Supergirl Athena!

What adage goes with this sun set?




Last evening.




Not much happening on the Little Tomiko. We are in "the hurry up and wait mode", waiting for slushy season. It was -7c last night, but they are calling for +9 on Friday. So, we are just waiting to take the boat and dock out and move the truck to the plowed side of the lake.

18 degrees yesterday! That's positive degrees. Around 70 for you people down south. But, "they" are calling for a chance of snow on Monday. "They" are also calling for a mild winter. Remember that hot dry summer that "they" called for?

We have three whiskey jacks that come to the feeders every morning and evening. This one will always land on my hand. If I am outside and I forget to feed them, this one will find me and remind me.





This one will not land in my hand, but will eat off of my foot. The third one is very skittish and will not feed if we are outside.




Grasshopper is now feeding chickadees from her hand.

Red sky at night,





Sailor's delight.





Don't forget to set your clocks back and change the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors.


Mike, the pine martin is the one who should worry.

While we were getting ready to go to town yesterday morning, Grasshopper heard a commotion in a tree in the back yard. A pine marten was being harassed by blue jays. This time I got the camera.

Welcome Addison Georgina Thibeault, born on Oct 23. and congrats to Leanne and Rich. For more details check put the Itchy Richie link on the right side of this page.





It has rained the last couple of days, washing away our snow. Friday we dropped into Frasertown to pick up my electrician of the year award. While we were there, a lynx strolled through the yard. We watched it for a good five minutes. Again, I didn't bring my camera, so fire me. About a half hour later, a male grouse came out of the bush in all his spring courting glory. He followed a hen around, but I guess that she had a headache. That's all the news from Little Tomiko.

Yes, Sis, that was real snow, about three beautiful inches.

A good frost last Friday morning.








A better frost this morning







A happy dog in his element.







We've been busy lately, helping folks put their solar systems to bed for the winter and helping to close up cabins. One more cabin to do tomorrow and then we can start on getting ourselves ready for slushy season. Slushy season shouldn't start before another 2 - 4 weeks, but every year is different. That's it for now. I think that I'll take a walk out to the Notman road and look for bush chickens. I haven't got any yet and I feel like a good feed of grouse and spaghetti.