The clearing around the property came to an abrupt halt. It had started snowing early in the afternoon, and by morning we had awoke to 14 inches of white fluffy snow. When you have no accumulation of it the day before, and then it falls silently through the night…it’s quite a shock to wake up to! Mountain Man had thought I was wasting my time stacking all that wood he cut into rounds for the wood stove to be collected later. “I don’t know why you’re bothering to pile it?”…“I’m just going to come along later with the trailer and pick it all up anyhow”. I reminded him that morning,…

The chickens have been making a fuss since first light, flying 8 feet up to the top of their coop and walking along the fence tops trying to stay up high, clucking with panic. I knew something was up! I looked at Storm who is inside the cabin, and tilting his head listening to the chickens chattering too. "Whats wrong with the chickens?" I say. He jumps up for the door and I let him out, and tell him to go see the chickens. I watch him run into the coop, and that's when I see the white furry, lanky long thing dart out with Storm right on it's tail.…

The snow started falling the very next day. It was above freezing temperatures so it was big, wet & heavy. It didn't last long, but was enough to put a little white into December. Which had me thinking...it's only 17 days until Yule begins! When I lived in the city, it was easier to keep track of these holidays because everywhere you went reminded you of the upcoming season. With bright lights everywhere, the stores were decorated and holiday music everywhere you go. Out here, there's no reminder of it, and it doesn't feel anywhere near December - other than the darkness. There has been no other time in my…

Our cold weather held for 5 days, for a total accumulation of 6” of lake ice. Then the thermometer rose to 0C (32F) for our overnight temperature. We had hoped for at least another cold week of weather to get that lake ice safe to land on by plane, and to travel across. The mild weather will likely bring snow, and a big load of snow on top of a lake that’s ice is not yet thick enough to travel on, will only insulate it from the cold and keep it from making good solid ice. The downside being, it’ll take much longer to freeze up nice and thick. I…

Two nights ago, the temperature finally dropped to -20C (-4F). Now, I’m used to sleeping with a cold nose and cheeks, but the tops of my shoulders that were above the blankets were going numb from the cold. That’s what woke me up. I opened my eyes and there wasn’t a lick of light, no moon so it was complete blackness. I got up as quietly as I could using my hands to feel my way around the bed and furniture, but the heavy creaks in the floor gave me away. Mountain Man stopped his deep breathing and rolled over, while the dogs stretched and groaned. “Go back to sleep”,…

Frosty Moose The silhouette of the Moose against the frosty window was the first thing that made me smile today. A quick glance at the weather station told me it reached -20C (-4F) overnight. Peering out through the window was another discovery - the lake had froze over...finally! I patiently waited for sunrise at precisely 8:17am (9:17am Eliguk time), and then headed out to take some photos. It's so beautiful, and were so fortunate to witness all these little wilderness miracles. I certainly don't mind the cold, and find so much beauty to warm myself up with. The Winter wonderland is coming! Mountain Man decided to finish cutting trail on…

Up at 2am, up at 4:30am....it's not that I can't sleep, it’s the wind gusts. When the strong winds hit the log cabin walls, they creak and shift and sometimes such a loud snap makes you jump right off the pillow. It makes for really crazy dreams! The temperature is finally dropping at night, and the lake has cooled off, having released the last of its heat with the wild steaming fog banks.  When that fog mixes with the morning sunrise, it’s a thing not to be missed. I will never tire of all the season’s beauty this place holds. Stormy or clear – it’s always a sight to see.…

  Cafe Mocha & Chocolate Chip Cookies Well let's just get all settled with a hot cafe mocha and some chocolate chip cookies (breakfast of this championess). Since I've done days of trail clearing, I figure I'm down a few calories. Maybe it's the chill in the air that has me wanting to bake? I have been hushed a few times from singing Christmas carols. But it's coming, and so was our ice....so we thought! Then it melted. We woke up to a finally chilly morning and the lake had started it's crackling and freezing. It only lasted the morning before a warm wind came up and melted it. Ice…

Routine has been keeping me complacent, and at ease with my whole off grid life. Things were calm and in order. I was getting used to my added chores of hauling the gas cans, filling the generator, gathering wood 3 times a day. Mountain Man couldn’t so much as carry a glass of water. The last week or so I’d come in at dusk from chores and go to the generator to fill it, and alas…it was full. I started noticing that he was getting around more and picking up some of the load around the resort. Then he got up before me 2 days in a row. I didn’t…

Collected seed Well I've done it! If there's an apocalypse - I will not starve. I've effectively got enough seed to carry on for years, and have mastered the harvesting of organic-heirloom seed preservation. Collecting seeds sure makes me feel like a wealthy woman - who needs new shoes when I can create my own strain of lettuce from my own seed? Year after year! Not all plants grown from seed look like their parents. Those that do are called “heritage seeds.” They’re a specialty of some catalogs and, more informally, among backyard gardeners. Bolted lettuce going to seed Learning when seeds are ripe for the picking is like selecting…