November 12, 2018 First Snow, Deer, & A Social Weekend

First snow of the season!

Some of the beautiful pine cones
on trees around our house.

Re-hydrated strawberries on
my hot cereal.

Friday 11/9. I opened a #10 can of freeze-dried strawberries to have on our hot cereal.  Once re-hydrated, they tasted like freshly picked berries!  Yum!

Our first snow of the season began falling a few minutes after noon!  Falling and sticking.  My brother called last night to ask if we had snow yet, as he wanted to come up to his cabin for the weekend.  I assured him we didn't. . .

There is something about watching snow falling that makes it seem even more warm and cozy inside, especially with a fire in the wood stove.  The snowfall only lasted for an hour, leaving less that 1/4" on the ground, but it was white and beautiful.  Soon after, the clouds broke up, the sun was out, and by sunset the sky was clear.  Our high for the day was 38. 

JB drove MAX around the house and the south ridge.  Everything seems to be working fine.  He will do that a few more times in the next couple days, and if all is well, we will put the tracks on.

Saturday 11/10. It is 30 and mostly cloudy this morning.  We are up a bit early for a Saturday as my brother is coming up for breakfast.  JB is making a sausage and onion fritatta.  About five minutes before he arrived, Dinga started barking her "there-really-is-something-out-here" bark.  And, sure enough, I saw a beautiful stag with a huge 4X4 rack!  He was not at all intimidated by Dinga and grazed a few minutes before walking back into the trees.

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and great visit with my brother.  If the weather allows, he plans to make it up again with a friend and snow-shoe into his cabin.

Shortly after he left, we all went on the morning walk.  Then JB drove MAX a ways down our road with the dogs leading the way.  All went well, so we will be getting the tracks on soon.

The clouds had dissipated by noon and we had another brilliant afternoon.  Our high for the day was 42.

Just as I was fixing dinner, I noticed our little herd of deer sauntering along the south ridge.  There have been a lot of them around this past week.

Larry and Elsie drove up for some marbles this evening.  It's been such a busy Summer for them that I think this is the first time we have played since Spring.  We had so much fun, even though the guys won both games - but they were so very close!  Larry told us that the Gridders got a wolf on their game cam by their cabin last week. . .

Sunday 11/11. This Veteran's Day began with 28 and clear skies.  We are definitely into the cold weather now and most of Friday's snow is still on the ground.

Mrs. Gridder emailed the photo of the wolf to me.  It is beautiful and about the size of a malamute.  Maybe that is what the dogs have been in such a snit about for the past week or so.  Their cabin is only about 3/4 mile further west along our south ridge.

It was a nice, quiet, sunny day.  We all went on the morning walk, then attended to little projects outside.  Don't think the wood rat has been able to get back into the hen house, which makes me wonder just where he is.

Another beautiful Fall day with a high of 40.

Monday 11/12. It is 26 and partly cloudy this morning.  JB will be on his way Down There about 9:00 am for a doctor's appointment as his rib and back have been really bothering him this past week.

Thought for the day: I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anyone could ever want to own. Andy Warhol