Wild 36 hours

I'm not even sure how to explain this.

Friday morning I left with Hannah to drive 3+ hours to my son and his fiance's place in Wausau. We were going to drive north to the UP in Michigan that afternoon after the kids were gathered from school.

The first leg was peaceful and quiet. I decided to take Hannah and not both dogs. Charlie has always been a bit nervous in the car and does quite a bit of 'talking' and complaining. I left him at home where a neighbor was going to let him out and later, my grandson Dennis would come and stay at our house. Dennis offered to watch over the place, do chores, and keep Charlie company.

I thought that this would be great socialization for Hannah as well as seeing how well she travelled distances.

Hannah proved to be an easy traveler. It seems the car vibrations put her into a sound sleep. I took periodic stops for leg stretching and peeing. 

I'd seen the weather and apparently we were in for more wild weather at some point on Friday afternoon. I'd have avoided travel any other time, but this was a trip for a small informal wedding to be held at dawn in the U.P. It was crazy enough for me to be curious and not to back out on Jer and Em's wedding. 

As we left Wausau under blue skies, tornado warnings erupted just a few miles south of us in a town called Ringle. We found out just a bit later that 75 homes had been severely damaged.

We headed north as the weather caught up to us and by the time we hit Michigan we were driving in a wild rainstorm through snow country. The rains came down, the fog from the snowpack was intense. If I had been driving I would have quit and looked for a place to stay. 
We made Houghton, MI in the dark and the fog lifted.

At 3am WI time, we were up and the bride to be was getting her hair done.

It was an honor to be asked to be a witness but so far things had been a bit insane.

We piled in two cars and headed out to the proposed site.

The temperature was around 19 F with a fairly fierce wind. This is Esrey Park. Pre-dawn. I climbed the rocks with my head lamp and loved the view. It was the first choice for the 'wedding'. 

[sorry for the poor shots, it was dark!]

After scoping out two other places, we stopped at Hunter's Point Park and sought shelter from the weather while the vows were read.

The 'I do's' were said, the bride was kissed, and we piled back into the heated vehicles.

Jer and Em wanted me to see at least one of the fantastic waterfalls in the area. The rest of the parks and trails were deep in snow so we stopped at Copper Falls Park in Eagle Harbor and walked out on the footbridge to admire the roaring water.

We drove 4.5 hours back to Wausau were I picked up my vehicle and I drove 3 hours back home.

Wild and slightly insane is the best way to describe this adventure. However, it did peak my interest in the Michigan area and the beautiful shoreline of Superior. I can see taking this trip in the future at my own pace and exploring the copper mine museums and the sights of the Upper Peninsula. 

Sunday was spent with my grandson Dennis who helped me finish two fencing projects. He had come up Friday night after the storms went through and cared for Charlie and the animals.

I think Monday should be a day of rest for the dogs and I!

Gone to the dawgs....

We had some digging out to get done. Thankfully Frank did show up late in the afternoon to clear the driveway so I didn't have to go through 8 inches of snow. I let Hannah help me clean the back step. I figured she would have wanted to go in with Charlie but she wanted to follow me around.


She stepped off the back step and went plop face first off the step and into a snow pile. It didn't seem to faze her one bit. She kept attacking the snow I tossed with the shovel. It was a great game for her.

 

After warming back up, we decided to go for a walk to the creek. I needed to tire Hannah out, she was getting rambunctious after being cooped up during the storm.

Hannah followed Charlie who bounded ahead like a snow plow. I thought they would be smart and follow my tracks since the snow was at least 6 inches or more in places.

When we turned back to go back up the hill Hannah raced up along the broken trail. Charlie was more than content not to have her following him so close.

The look I get once in a while from Hannah. I really wonder what she thinks about all of this. Probably not much since dogs live for the moment.

The intended result was what I wanted. Sleepy puppy and sleepy Charlie.

Well 'the kids' were resting up from their afternoon adventure, I thought I'd take a few more shots of the flowers from the old bouquet I still have that is hanging on.

I leave you all with this. Something that should make us chuckle in these strange times.

Snow-bliz-magedon?

These photos were from yesterday. It is snowing and blowing right now and I've been out to check my animals and they are all doing fine. I still have electricity so I think we are good!

 

This is where you can hear the sleet pounding our house while the windblown snow obliterates the view of the shed. I live in a hollow, so imagine what it was like on the ridge in the open!

Sunday was wild. I woke up when I heard thunder, saw lightening, and heard what sounded like glass hitting the house.

It wasn't glass. It was sleet. I've heard of Thundersnow so I posted that we had Thundersleet on the NOAA local site and a lot of folks replied they had the same...at 4:30am.

Here the mule gals choose to rest while eating with their butts to the wind. By afternoon they'd taken snow baths and rolled off the snow blankets they had. Yes, they were warm and dry under that snow. I know because I go out and put my hands on them.

I am pleased to say that Hannah had no qualms about going out with Charlie yesterday to do dog stuff. Eventually the sleet turned to snow, then to rain, then to snow, and then we had a lull in the weather.

During the lull I took the two 'kids' out for a walk. They actually did great in the crystalized snow/sleet that covered everything. 

They ran, they chased and they played. 

They wore themselves out. We headed back home for supper and some quiet time.

With the dogs asleep, I was able to take out stuff from my 'creative' boxes and do some toy photography indoors. 

I was in the mood for dinosaurs. I did use a spray bottle to imitate rain but it just made the T Rex angry, so I used an overlay of rain to keep things from getting out of hand.

Maybe that's how I felt about the weather and why I chose and angry looking T Rex.

😂

This morning our gravel road is impassable even after the town grader came through. The drifts on the roads and around buildings are at least 3 feet or so.

I wonder what the day will bring.

Take a hike

~~~

After a few days of staying indoors except for chores ---> which I did with my wonderful get up of goggles, mask, insulated coveralls, and insulted boots...and pasture checks in said sub freezing temps....

I decided that 18 F [-7.77 in C] was a really warm day and a good one to go exploring. Even Charlie wasn't going to let me outside without his permission.

He does have the bossy characteristics of a Dachshund when he really wants something.

Off we went. As soon as we hit the road, it started snowing. Well, I do have a Subaru and it is meant to deal with my steep driveway and poor weather, so we just continued on. 

We had ice to explore [the good kind that Mother Nature makes].

We went looking for some familiar ice formations.

I took my Infrared Camera so that I could photo the ice and it would show up better against the snowy background.

For anyone interested, this was shot in IR Chrome. Chrome was used during WWII to differentiate between camouflage and real foliage. The filter was developed to make anything with chlorophyll to show up as red or hot pink. Any 'fake' camo would show up easily.

The Infrared filters are for more creative photography. I like to use it in the winter to separate the ice formations from the snow surrounding them.

Here is the view on the last part of the trail through Hemlock trees.

Below is a glimpse of the Kickapoo River which still has a bit of open water showing. I imagine by Saturday or Sunday that will be all ice. However, the river still flows underneath. 

I've walked this trail more times than I can count. Each time I go, I seem to discover something different.

What I discovered this time is that the 'pines' I was walking through are actually Hemlocks. Frankly, I never thought of what kind of pine tree it might be until I was fascinated by the snow falling on the little needles and then the tiny pine cones that reminded me of Tamarack trees.

Chippy accompanied us, however, Charlie wouldn't sit with him at the end of the trail. He was more interested in the coyote tracks in the snow.

Still, the scene was quite beautiful with the falling snow making everything look soft.

The roads were snow covered by the time I drove home. 

Cooler weather

Monday looked like a perfect day to go hiking. Our roads were somewhat plowed and still quite icy under patches of snow. Going down this hill can always be fun in the winter.

The skies were gun metal grey and the forecast was little or no wind but expected flurries. The temperatures were in the low 20's. Awful you'd say for an adventure, but I've been dubbed as the 'Mad Hiker' so Charlie and I went.

We had been cooped up on the farm for 3 days and had to get out. I figured to do an easy trail. It is called the Wintergreen Trail and is one of my favorites for views of the river and for the Hemlocks and pines that grow there.

Our big surprise is that we were the first ones to break trail in the snow. 

Ok.
Charlie broke trail. The snow wasn't quite as deep here as it was at home. Plus, Charlie has been down this trail so many times, he knows it by heart. What a good leader he is!

We took in the bluff view, but not very close as the snow covered up ice on the rocks. Charlie stayed up and away from the edges.

I did too, but grabbed a shot through the snow of ice formations and chunks floating downstream.

We walked among the Hemlock trees and I marveled at the scent and the snowy silence.

Truthfully, it wasn't much of a photographic adventure. We stayed warm and we enjoyed the snowy views along the river.  The shot below shows all the colors that we saw. Brown foliage and grasses, green Hemlock needles, dark tree trunks, along with a green tint in the river, and of course white snow.

We got back to the parking lot and continued past the Visitor's Center where someone had walked on the upper loop. I wanted to get down to the river and look at it. I check this spot in each season. Here is where I generally find the first flowers of Spring to appear.

We hiked back to the parking area and had snacks before we left. The roads were getting much worse and I was glad I decided to take a short hike.

I think by the end of the week, I may just go check out the ice caves and see if this frigid weather has effected them.

I usually try to see the caves in the first week of December and then again at the end of the month and continue through the melt.

They can be a disappointment, or they can be incredible!

Two years ago in January:

With winter this 'cool' how can you not get excited??

I'm still catching up with my week. Hmmm. It has been different.

I did start this project though:

Charlie, snow, and birds

Charlie loves winter. I like and sometimes Love Winter too. He has a thick hound dog coat with many layers and deep fuzz that keeps him quite warm. 

The only times he has had issues with cold was when the temps are below zero [F]. His feet will get cold. 

 Boing Boing Boing through the snow... 6 seconds of Charlie having pure fun following a scent.

I find it amazing that a dog with 3 inch front legs and built like he is has so much power. He is half miniature Dachshund and half Pekinese. It makes more sense for him to be a coach potato. But the hound in him says go-go-go. 

I intended to go for a walk and find amazing snow photos. Instead, I just enjoyed watching Charlie bound through the snow.

We did see quite a bit of activity with the birds during the snow storm.

The Cardinals were so colorful in the pine tree. The shots aren't the best, but I enjoyed trying anyway.

                         


I was surprised to see the house finches too. I didn't see them last year at the feeders so they are a nice colorful addition.

Another surprise was the Mourning Doves! 

I leave you with this from Sunday. 

The Great Vole and Mouse Hunter!

He actually caught a Vole!

He stands super still and cocks his head to listen, then leaps into the snow like a fox would and sometimes ends up with a mouse or vole.

It is amazing to watch.

Hello Winter

with darkness...and cold.

You have a certain appeal for me.

No flying skeeters and No-seeums. Fresh cool air. Cold crisp nights and days. 
Warm blankets and a cuddly dog at night.
Candle light.
Soups.
Stews.

Frigid winds. Leafless trees.

Bitter.

Bright clear sunshine on cold days. Low slanted sunny days.

Ice.

Snow.

Colors of delight in 

the forest

of invasive Barberry plants.

Glistening paths through the woods with a happy dog who also loves cold weather.

The pleasure of seeing the moon in the morning through the naked trees.

...and now in the logged area of the forest...

magical morning light as the sun comes over the hillside.
 

Welcome winter. 

You are a good friend.