Life brings stress. It’s a natural and even healthy part of being human. We do weight-bearing exercise to stress (strengthen) our bones. We do mental exercise to stress (expand) our brains. But, lately, that societal stress…whew. It’s showing up almost everywhere, isn’t it? It’s important to get relief. To find the “wow.” (The good kind.) Here’s how I find mine, in recent photos and captions from far-north Michigan.
As regular readers know, I feed a handful of deer at Camp Many Moons on the shore of Huron Bay (connected to Lake Superior.) They’re getting more bold, as you’ll see in the final photo. I’m feeding them, so..asking for it! I love this because you see the icicles on the roof.
I can’t seem to photograph the little birds who love this suet (black-capped chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, etc.) because they fly away as I approach, but they’re here a lot. The windsock reads “welcome” in Finnish. Behind it, the snow-covered dock that’s “grounded” on the shore for the winter.
I measured 32″ of snow on that dock about a week ago. That snow-cap on the post is about 6″.
Woodpeckers make a racket on my 2nd suet, attached to the porch. (I keep asking myself “What’s that sound?” 😉 ) I get three kinds here: downy, hairy, and pileated. Glad the wooden porch beams don’t have bugs, or they’d be attacking those too! (Sorry for the lousy photo — east-facing porch.)
And, every day, the deer. Actually, several times a day. Three of them. They’ve learned I’m a food source.
When not fiddling with wildlife, I’m tramping around my property to admire the winter scenes. Sometimes, a “wow” moment is quiet. Like this one. Silent thankfulness. So healing, to feel that.
I’m thankful, too, for the people who help keep the private road clear as the snow piles up. It’s becoming a challenge as the banks grow. If we meet each other, somebody needs to back up. Fortunately, there aren’t many people here in winter. (It’s a good thing I like my “alone-time!”)
A neighbor uses his ATV with plow to help clear the road while another neighbor holds back her dog until he passes. That branch has been bending over the road since Thanksgiving, but it isn’t going any lower. (The couple with the ATV are the only full-time residents on this road right now. The rest of us come-and-go.) I also hire a plow truck to come through as needed.
A different neighbor brought his snow-blower to clear my driveway so I could move my car out of it before the plow came. (I ask the plow driver to do my driveway also, and it’s easier if my car isn’t in it.) Look how far it throws. Makes me think of those huge commercial snow-blowers of my childhood, which created six-foot “walls” on the road.
With snow-on-the-ground passing 30″, shoveling is an essential task. First, the path to the door…
…which looks like this from the other end.
Then the path to the propane tank. If it gets low, the propane company needs to reach it for a re-fill. Propane powers the boiler, which warms the water that goes through a network of pipes, which is built into the floor/ foundation, which is the main heat source here. (Got that? 😉 ) Also called “in-floor” or “radiant” heat. I’m grateful to my building partner for talking me into it because the house is quite comfortable.
Then, this — my storage trailer until something better gets built. He says it should be shoveled. The ladders at Camp Many Moons are buried under snow. So I had to borrow a neighbor’s.
The hardest part was getting the ladder in place. The snow was mid-thigh. The ladder and I both sank.
After an hour, a clear roof. Pretty easy, after all…just pushed the snow off with the shovel while standing on the ladder. I didn’t have to get up on the roof. Which is good, since I don’t know if it could handle my weight.
This is the 12-foot trailer jokingly dubbed “The Ponderosa,” which I used as a writing studio for years. I’m not bothering to shovel it off because I can’t figure out how. Just walking to it was a challenge. I wore snowshoes, and the snow was so deep that I lost a shoe and had to dig it out. I did check inside for anything I don’t want to lose if the roof caves in. Its structure is already compromised since it’s so old.
This is his truck, buried in snow while he’s away. We’re keeping an eye on his place for him.
My solar lights don’t get much sun when wearing snow-caps. I put most of them away for winter but kept a few out because I like the glow on the snow at night. Clearly, I need to keep them cleared. 😉
I love icicles but wonder if I need to knock them down. I’m not walking under them, so I guess not.
The Cabin at Many Moons in winter, south side. Yeah. I love it this way.
One thing about days of gray…it’s so marvelous when the sun comes out! I threw on my knee-high boots to get out there. (Boots stay handy at the door all winter long. Several pairs.)
Ay-yup! There they are again. I’m trying to limit my feedings, but my resolve is weakening.
Domestic animals bring me pleasure, too. I love joining my neighbors’ walks with their cocker.
But *this* one takes the cake. She walked right up to my patio door and bonked it — really, an audible “bonk!” — with her nose. Might have been her hoof, I didn’t see, but I did hear, it and took this photo immediately. Oh boy, what have I created here. 😉 I wonder, if I opened the door, if she’d walk right in??
A final treat from winter. Wow. I never get enough of snow-laden balsams.
Oops, gotta add this one more, which just happened as I am finishing this. (You can see the photo above on my computer screen.) Waltzing right by on the porch. Like I said, bold! It’s illegal to feed wild deer in some places, but not here. Even if legal, you have to accept the consequences.I just moved over ten feet to watch her through the bedroom patio door. She’s discovered where I store the corn and alfalfa, inside a secure container. I’m sure I spilled some bits on the porch. Notice the more timid buddy (or mom?) watching from a distance. I can relate to bold-girl. I’m the same way!
Wow! Impressive and beautiful snow! The silence of the woods in winter is magical, but it requires hardy and willing residents to access and maintain the property. Thank you for the photos and dialogue.
For Many Moons 
Wow! Impressive and beautiful snow! The silence of the woods in winter is magical, but it requires hardy and willing residents to access and maintain the property. Thank you for the photos and dialogue.
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Yes, hardiness can be essential. 🙂 Thanks as always for your comments.
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