Winter 2013

Last week I told you all we were under a winter storm warning. Well, the storm left us with 11" of new snow which gives us a total of 26-30 inches on the ground. Winter 2013 turned out to be the best we've had in at least 5 years. In fact, we talked to a local the other day who told us the worst (which really means the best to those of us who love the snow) winter he remembers was 1995, and it has all gone downhill since - the amount of snow that is. But this winter was finally a classic UP winter!

We have a metal roof on our house so the snow slides off for the most part. I'm sitting at my desk and the snow pile is so high, Bear can check up on me. She discovered I'm right here...

...so she makes herself comfortable as I talk goo goo talk to her through the window.

Hey Bear Bear, whatcha up to? 

Who's a good dog?...yous a good dog!... yous a pretty Bear...aren't cha Bear Bear?

After awhile she takes a cat, er...., dog nap.

The day after the snowstorm. 

Of course we went for a snowmobile ride!

Below are random pics of the day. A few I captioned.

I downloaded more than normal this month which gobbled up my allotted internet time, so I have to write this post in a timely fashion.

Happy Steve giving a thumbs-up

We went off the main trails and drove through the fresh untouched powder, but we ran into some narrow trails where the tree branches hung low from the snow.

Steve would get off the sled and shake the snow off the branches as best he could.

Our tracks

Fresh snow ahead

Our helmets iced up so Steve unthawed them by putting them on the engine.

A beautiful end to a beautiful day.

Update on Bear:

She decided that since I wasn't talking goo goo talk anymore, she'd relocate and take her nap near the bird feeder in hopes the ill-mannered Jays would spill some of the stale bread I put out for the birds.

Besides my dwindling internet, I have a busy couple of weeks coming up so it may be two weeks before I'm back on.

Just wanted to let you know!

Take care everyone!

Pond Hockey and the Fun Run

This past Saturday, Steve and I drove down to St. Ignace to watch the UP Pond Hockey Championship Games. If you're interested in the results, you can click here. I took a few pictures and will share them below, but first I want to update you on our weather.

Though last week was a mild week followed by a very cold weekend without new snowfall, snowmobilers have continued to pass by the house on the trail, and we've taken a few rides ourselves. The trails are still in wonderful shape and getting better!

The Chippewa Snow Chasers are having a Fun Run on March 2, and tickets (actually a flyer as you see below) are available at local businesses. In case you are new to Fun Runs, you buy a ticket for $20 each. Inside there is a list of participating businesses - this year 18 total. The object is to snowmobile (taking your car is permitted, but it's funner more enjoyable to ride your snowmobile) to each business and get a stamp on your ticket. You bring your ticket to the Strongs groomer barn March 2, show your ticket and get a card from a deck of cards for each stamp, and hope you get a good hand. Throughout the evening, prizes are given out accordingly. Also, there is a meal which is included in the cost of the ticket. It's a fun time!

We have only one stamp so far and that is the puppy paw on the Pure Country Restaurant box.

Last week we all enjoyed the sunshine.

Today we are under a Winter Storm Warning. It is windy and the Mackinac Bridge 

Authority is escorting high profile vehicles across the Mighty Mack. 

The dogs wander out in the snow, take a look at the passing sledders, then return to their dog beds in the warm garage. Steve is down at the Rudyard groomer barn changing the oil in the groomer, and me, I'm sitting cozy in the house by the wood burner, putting off what I should be doing, and blogging!

On to the Pond Hockey...

Moran Bay in downtown St. Ignace. 

Lake Huron and Round Island are in the distance.

Surrounded by ferry docks.

This boat has a bubbler constantly going to keep the ice away.

Mackinac Island in the background.

There are individual rinks and many teams.

We got a kick out of some of the names of the teams ...

...and their individual tastes in fashion.

This is the box they have to get the puck in.

In the background is a view of downtown St. Ignace and more ferry docks.

Steve retrieving a fly-away puck and throwing it back in the rink.

Game in progress

Random shot of the lighthouse on the point by the Mackinac Grill.

On the other side of the point, there is hopefully a line of discarded Christmas Trees standing tall in the ice like street lights guiding travelers on the ice bridge to Mackinac Island this time of year.

But there isn't. 

You can read more about this year's ice bridge 

at The Quilted Turtle or at Bree's Mackinac Island Blog.

It looks like this is as close as we will get to the island this winter. 

No snowmobile crossing for us!

What Do You See In This Picture?

We have a ton of snow, and even the rain didn't spoil the trails. Sure, the snow has settled since I took this pic last weekend...

...but the snowmobilers are still whizzing by. 

Today I was sitting at my desk, and movement across the trail caught my eye.

If this snowshoe rabbit hadn't been trying to cross the trail to the lettuce I threw under the birdfeeders...

...I never would have seen it!

LES -- Everyday!

The lake effect snow (LES) machine just keeps cranking and I don't think we've seen such a beautiful winter like this (and one that lasts) in a few years now.

Driving into LES...

...and it leaves behind such beauty in it's wake.

Snowmobiles whiz past my window and that makes me happy, and crazy at the same time. I want to be out there, too! But we have been blessed to have so many renters arriving and leaving from the Grizzly Den Log Cabin Rental that it has been busy for Steve and I. The only way to get all of our cleaning supplies to the cabin is by snowmobile and sleigh. So back and forth we go to prepare the cabin for the next renters -- water, clean sheets, towels, etc. But it has been fun meeting new people and watching their faces light up when they see where they will be staying. Everyone is always pleasantly pleased!

This morning we had four snowmobilers leave. They have been here since last Thursday. They had a blast, but last night one of them hit a deer while on his sled. It knocked the rider off! Thank goodness he and his sled are alright, but the guy is real sore today! And we have no idea what happened to the poor deer.

As you can see, snowmobiling is big for businesses up here.

A place to get gas...

...and a place to eat!

And in between getting the cabin ready for renters, we've been able to go on a few rides ourselves. The above picture was taken yesterday afternoon. Beautiful trails!!! And this isn't even a groomed trail.

Speaking of the groomer, I rode in the groomer with Steve this past Friday night to Trout Lake and back.

And another thing all this snow is great for is snowshoeing! It sure is a workout!

Bear, Steve, and Ike

Ike is last. When he gets tuckered out, he thinks he can catch a free ride on the back of our snowshoes which makes us about do a face plant in the snow!

This picture was taken yesterday morning after breakfast as we took our snowshoe walk.

Bear is in the lead, but she looks plum tired. Oh, and FYI, we thought porcupines hibernated, but last week while snowshoeing Bear and Ike smelled, then spotted a porcupine way up high in an old tree. Yikes, I got us out of there fast. I'm not ready for the quilling to begin!!!

Steve thought I needed to be in a picture. Fine with me...I needed a rest!

Rest assured, if you're looking for snow, the UP is the place to be!

We have renters arriving around 5:30 p.m. this evening. They are into cross country skiing. Another great snow activity!

Have a great week everyone!

I hope your team wins tonight!

~Debi

(Now I'm off to make some Super Bowl munchies and snuggle in for those Super Bowl commercials!:)

(Aw, man, that means I'll have to snowshoe twice as far tomorrow.)

P.S. It's snowing again!