Winter for the Duration

Winter has settled in for the long haul, we suspect.  The snow now does not melt in the Sun.  While the drive has a light scatter of snow that stays, the woods and yard are looking white until Spring.  This provides time for studying online how to work the new trout rod and check out the Beatles on Amazon Prime.  Thoughts of last night’s annual playing of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sims bounce off the cold looking tree trunks.  It black and white images cast spookily against the black and white landscape.  Just like It’s a Wonderful Life, only in black and white does it look right.  Color is a failure as the thoughts of the makers were on how it would cast its images in the gray tones.
Now thoughts turn to spring and Spring Break movies. Where the Boys Are (1960) makes festive these times of dark.  Watched it the other night.  What struck me this time was how limited in scope Spring Break was in the 1960 period, versus the masses of now.  The escape from the snow is a bit over done as the cold after the snow is often worse for those of the North.  Of course, folk of all ages escape the cold North now.  While the students take a month older folk take the rest of Fall to Spring—Snowbirds, they are.

Birds still seem around but not in favor of our offerings.  Working on the problem we are.  If one can come, why not the crowd.  Stuff must be alright if the lone birds come and try some.

Ice

The drives and roads are mostly clear, but it just dropped to 31 and the ice is going to be slippery.

Snow, Snow, Snow

We could have Bing Crosby singing it here.  Looked like three inches with certainly some melting as it fell, so could have been more.  Real wet snow, too.  Lake has become a full winter scene with ice fishing then a full snow cover.  Some peaks over 32 degrees coming, but the snow is likely here to stay.  The good point is that the temperatures might be putting some of that water into the ground for the pines and tamaracks.

Snow here to stay

Well, the roof and drive seem to easily clear of the white stuff, but the lawn is stuck in white cover mode.  The sun has been bright over several days and some thinning of the snow can be found, but some areas look unfazed by the light.  We think winter is here.  The lake iced over some time after the 16th.  No telling if the geese took off but they are not heard honking any more. 

Now next door Fish Hook Lake still has water and geese.  I see on the web that Big Sand and Long have open water.  But, Mud Lake is in winter look.  Only a tiny area where the snow has melted leaving clear ice marks the remains of the sun.

Snow, Sort of

Sort of a snowy day today.  You had to see it in the air to detect it so far.  It was a total melt on any surface.  A small gathering of geese near the short this morning.  They are way short of the numbers that gather prior to the  big move to the South.  We wondered if they were the small group that stays the winter on the open river?  It is still too early to tell.

A Darker Day

Weather turned more dark today.  Light rain has fallen, but heavier rain with embedded or worse snow is forecast.  The longer look shows no snow staying around by the weekend.

Some geese are still around.  Yesterday they were heard gathered and honking down toward the river end of the lake.  The crowd of them is still not looking very large.

Swans Passing By

Some swans passed us by the other day.  They have been making rounds over the past weeks.  While the lake normally has a giant gathering of Canadian geese right now, they seem to have started and stopped their fall pattern.  It is still early for the fall gathering prior to the flight South.  Temperatures have been warm and the weather half rainy.

Fall comes to an end

Autumn Comes

Warm Water

 

In the lake yesterday, we noticed the warm temperatures were quite nice, but not yet to that point of being too warm.  I suspect the larger walleye are heading out and the smaller pan fish are in a safer position.  Minnows seemed plentiful reflecting the spawn earlier this Spring.  Lake levels remain high, but not at the top as rain continues to move us out of the drought category.  One might find a mosquito out during the day, but this is still very connected to mosquitos finding you favorable than them being a pest.  If they like you you might find a few.  If they are not into you they might not be around.  The tiny gnat types are plentiful as the powder pile around and light on at night will show.  The ants seem to benefit from this in their way.  Turtle egg laying season seems over, but the foxes and friends again seem the full ones.

Animal Fest

The loons one the lake seem to have had two young ones this year.  We missed the riding on the back stage, but they slowly swim around the lake each day.

Two swans seem to have a young one too.  They tend to come then go on the lake, so hoping they stay.

Turtles are on the egg laying move of lake.  Some have been seen on the road, but things seem to be going well.

Goose action has been noted.  One group jumped in the  lake as the dog walked by.  One spot of evidence was left on the dock.

Fishing seems to have lightened up.  The number of boats has begun its seasonal decline.

The lake is a nice temperature and when you go it it is hardly noticed.  Water levels remain high.

Ice Out

 

Let us record April 12, 2015 as ice out on Mud Lake.  The ice went very quietly over night.  The ice was very dark at sundown last night.  Unfortunately we heard none of the whale like sounds the ice normally makes when going.  There is some chance it went as late as 8:30 this morning.

Spring?

 

While the lake is near fully iced over, some water is forming around the edges.  Two people were out ice fishing Sunday, indicating the ice is thick enough to walk on.  We do wonder how wet their boots got getting off the edge of the lake.  The snow is basically gone around the lake.  Today’s rain seems to have already taken care of what was left.  There, by the way, has been no moaning noise of the ice going out yet.

The grill had its first use this weekend.  Some wonder Johnsonville brats reopened the grilling season.

Maybe Spring?

 

What will probably turn out to be a false Spring seems posed to begin.  The temperatures will again go into the 40s above this weekend.  The longer range forecast keeps it going that way.  The limited snow should go away quickly.  Given the still freezing temperatures over night, the water should stay and take a chance at going to groundwater.

Cold

 

It hit –30.5 F on Mud Lake, with a known –36 F on the river.  Winter has come back.  Of course, I have still not had my deep winter coat on.  I do wonder if these temperatures are forcing my body to adjust to them more these days.  We met a guy at Walmart hoping it would finally get to –30 as he likes it that way.  I must be adjusting. 

Snow cover is still light.  Odd deer have been spotted in the neighborhood after being seen only in tiny numbers so far this season.  Tiny birds remain rare on the feeder.

And still no fire in the fireplace at the Dairy Queen.  I suppose we will need that heat when it finally gets real cold.

Looks Like Spring

With the Fishing Derby and snowmobile race over, it sure looks like Spring outside.  Mud Lake has ice and will for some time, but the snow cover is thin.  It is nothing like last year.  The roof is mostly green.  The red squirrels piles of pine cones are not snow covered.  I think he ate a few, but the pile looks mostly untouched.  Was talking at church with a guy as to whether to not change the snow blower oil next fall as it is nearly new as it sits.  The wife waned me that lots of winter can be left.  Must be true.

Snow

A nice light blanket of snow fell over night.  It is unfortunately going to go to –25 F tonight.  Winter deepens.