Saturday, 8:45 AM. –3 degrees, up several degrees from its low. Wind W, calm. Several inches of new snow has fallen, and it continues to fall very lightly. The lake smoke has been heavy but is dissipating. The sky is mostly cloudy and the barometer predicts more of the same.
Our proximity to the open waters of Lake Superior saves us from even colder temperatures (it is currently -12 degrees in Ashland, were the Bay is frozen over), and it will continue to moderate Bayfield’s weather as long as the channel and the Apostle Islands remain ice-free.
Moderated or not, it is still plenty cold, Lucky doing his three-legged hop on our walks (I am sure he would never tolerate doggie “booties”). Keeping the fireplace going almost constantly over the last few days has used up a wood box full of firewood a day, and I will now go back to lighting the fire only in the evenings, or else the wood supply will soon be depleted. The fireplace is less efficient than a stove but welcome nonetheless, and I have always considered a cheery hearth as one of the necessities of winter survival, along with books. I have enough books in my library to last me many winters. Firewood is quite another matter.
Yes I lay in the books for the winter and read about places to visit in the coming year and history of the areas. One of the best books I've read to date for history is La Pointe
ReplyDeleteby Hamilton Nelson Ross. This fellow has
done his research. And lived part of it.
The Voyageur by Grace Lee Nute is also good.