It's all relative

This winter we're having above average temps and below average snowfall...but it's all relative.

It snows a little pretty much every day, sometimes even when the sun is shining.  Lake Superior is 40 miles or so away, but any wind out of the north puts us on the edge of lake effect snow.  We have about 12" on the ground, 20 miles north of here they have 40".

But it's the way it is and everyone copes; we're really enjoying living up here.  I went x-country skiing yesterday and the conditions were perfect;  Macy didn't go she had a cold.  Ice fisherman are out on the lake almost everyday, and it's fun to be able to walk out on the lake and get a very different perspective of things.

And I had to throw in a bonus shot, the twins are still frequent visitors.



Cowboy Ribeye

What can I say?  Macy finds 'em, I grill 'em, we eat 'em.  Good news, great beef cut...bad news, you pay for it by the pound.

Twin Beaks

Now that we're up here full time the feeders are maintained on a regular basis.  We're being rewarded with increasing varieties and overall numbers.  The predominate feeder bird right now is the Common Redpoll.  A winter visitor here, they come from their breeding range along the Arctic Circle.  An occasional Hoary Redpoll is mixed in with the large flock of about 50 or so that have become constant feeders.

We also have a large number of American Goldfinch and a constant parade of chickadees, White and Red Breasted Nuthatches.  A new bird at the feeders is the Ruffed Grouse. one visits early every morning.

We've been getting Pileated Woodpeckers at the feeders for quite some time now, but this weekend we had two at the same time.  I've seen as many as three at one time in the woods but never more than one at a time at the feeder before yesterday.  With their large wing span and large patch of white on the underside of their wings they are quite a sight both coming and going.