Ottertail Country

Ottertail Country
Ottertail South

December 19, 2010

Northcountry news.

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What an event!! December 21st, the winter solstice, also has a full moon and a total lunar eclipse...






Here you can find all the details of the event, along with copious amounts of info on all types of eclipses and other interesting things....





I thought these successive images were really cool....













And guess who recently turned 5? About a month ago, actually.







I missed the party, but Peggy returned with all these good photos.





Aunt Carol, Hailee and Great Grandma Donna.





Hailee and great uncle Jim.





Hailee and uncle Adam.





Oh, and thanks for the make-up kit, Auntie Carol!!!











About a week ago we had the 'big snowstorm'. The 30-40 mile an hour winds provided these really nice snow wave all across the field. Also some major drifts right in front of the garage.





Even though our woodpiles are covered on top, those winds blew snow up into the pile. Not from the ends of the pieces, but right against the sides of them. I took these photos today after digging about two feet into the pile. Still all the wood is encased in snow, even in the very center of the pile.




This is just to the left of the view above. No air space in this wood pile, all air was replaced by wind driven snow. I've never seen snow get into a covered pile like this......





Hailee and Chris were up again this weekend. Never a dull moment....





We've got this pancake routine down pat. Hailee knows where all the ingredients are, she's expert at cracking the eggs, and helps with all phases of the project.











Today I did a little logging. O.K., call it firewooding. I located a couple of standing dead trees, one ironwood, one maple. I cut them and turned them into firewood for the lodge.





That trailer is the handiest thing we've gotten in a long time.

We're still working slowly on packing and moving (me more slowly than Peg), but I believe I will get in gear properly after the holidays. Tomorrow I start my winter vacation and will not return to work until January 3rd!!

Have a good holiday season!


December 16, 2010

Winter weather.

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I'm trying to get into the winter mindset. It seems like we are there for sure now...... -25° on Tuesday, -20° on Wednesday, but only -15° this morning. It got into the 20's today and it felt pretty balmy outside!




These are some file photos, not fresh, but very much like the wintry weather we have been having.

We finalized the house deal two weeks ago today. Peggy has been busy moving things to the chalet, and we just got electricity in there a couple of days ago.





Here is a view of a snowy yard before the boiler came to live at the Ottertail. How soon one forgets what things looked like before a big change.... I have been digging wood out of the pile, it looks like it has been mortared into place. That ridiculous wind last weekend blew snow several feet into the pile, not from the ends of the pieces of wood, but from the side. I can't believe how far into the pile the snow was driven. No airspace in that pile, just wood and snow.....





Mid-winter lodge.



This tree provides great photos any season of the year.





One of those mornings when the hoarfrost clings to everything and the world is one big glistening panorama.








The turkeys don't seem to mind the weather. They must have feet with no nerve receptors in them!











This one is my favorite. Every twig and blade of grass had countless ice crystals covering all surfaces.

I need to get a better start at sorting, tossing, packing and moving. Peggy has set the pace and I seem to be lagging behind. I will have a couple of weeks off work this month, maybe I will turn into the mighty master mover. We'll see. We are still talking about how to use the space in the house, what will go where, etc. I'm glad we don't have to get this done by next weekend!

Only about a week until Christmas, everyone all set for it????







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