WHERE'S SPRING?

We awoke this morning to 40 cm of new snow on the ground. We aren't going anywhere today.

I did plough the driveway and brought in more firewood; two jobs I couldn't avoid.

Our cottage road hasn't been touched and since it is the end o the season it might just stay that way until it melts.

Every time I walk past our trailer I'm sure I hear it say; "Take me south" Not a bad idea.

Until our road looks like our driveway I think we will just stay put and enjoy the fire.

Stay warm and dry everyone.

Thanks for stopping by.

After lunch we took a snowshoe hike down to the birch trees. Mary collected birch twigs and we will enjoy birch tea later this afternoon.

SAWING LOGS

Once the tree is down there is still lots of work. The limbs must be removed and the trunk and large limbs cut into length suitable for the wood stove. This we call "bucking"

Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny day we just had to be at work outside. These trees we cut down two weeks ago and we need to get them bucked and moved over to the path.

It doesn't look like we accomplished much but after an hour of hauling these monsters through deep snow and stacking them on the path we were exhausted.

Still lots of work to do on the next sunny day.

Thanks for stopping by and safe travels everyone.

USE A CHAIN

I've been splitting wood with a hydraulic splitter since we moved here but this year I'm using an axe. Yes, more work, more muscle needed but it's a good workout for this old body. I watched an 80 year old swing an axe and split a truck load of logs this winter. Inspired.

This is my work area, close to the house with easy access. I have two trees down and eight more down on the east side of the house. That should keep me busy for a few weeks.

I got tired of stooping over after every swing to readjust the log.

My solution was to wrap four logs with a chain and bungee cord. It holds everything in place, which reduces my stooping and chasing chunks that fly out of range. Some folks use an old tire, I simply had an old chain handy.

Our roof is now snow free but we still have lots of snow in the bush. Sap is flowing today, folks are making maple syrup. We are splitting wood.

Thanks for stopping by.

Safe travels everyone

BEAUTIFUL BUT...............

Our morning view today as we did our yoga. Beautiful, but we are ready for the white to disappear and let the green shine through. It's been a long winter; -16*C this morning. We have the fire on.

Still lots of birds using our feeders. Here a Downy woodpecker enjoys a breakfast of suet cake.

Same bird different pose.

The chickadees prefer the sunflower seeds.

The Nuthatch enjoys both the suet or the sunflower seeds.

The Red squirrels will eat as many seeds as they can find.

Lots of folks up here have their maple trees tapped but the sap won't be flowing today. By the end of the week the temperatures will rise and everyone should be in full production.

Thanks for keeping an eye on us. Time to go and split wood.

SPRING PLANTING

Even though our propane tank is deep in snow we are thinking spring.

Mary ordered seeds last month and now has containers throughout the house germinating seeds and getting a jump on the growing season.

While Mary plants I split wood and stack it under our shelter for next winter. Owen was a big help last week when we stacked wood together; this week I'm on my own.

Maple syrup season has arrived but we still have several bottles from last year so won't be tapping trees this year.

Still waiting for our new truck to reach the dealership's lot. We could have driven it home from the factory faster.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

FIREWOOD

Up here our lakes remain frozen and we still have lots of snow. Melting has started and our afternoon temperatures are often above freezing. Spring is in the air.

Yesterday we made fire-starters. We take egg cartons fill them with wood chips and pour melted wax over the containers. Break off a section, place it amongst some kindling and you have a guaranteed fire. The chips I got from the mill were damp so we first dried them on the stove.

We've gone through more firewood this winter than any of the previous seven. So glad spring is just around the corner. Most days we have a fire in the morning and by ten the sun is heating the house.  Last night it got down to -19*C and we were warm without the fire.  I do have a truck load of firewood on order but it won't be delivered until June. Looks like I'll be busy all summer splitting wood. Glad Owen can come and help.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

TOBOGGAN RIDES ALL AFTERNOON

Our lane-way is the perfect hill for a toboggan ride and that's what Owen and Kate did Wednesday afternoon.

They spent an hour screaming and laughing on every decent. Kate wasn't one bit terrified and Owen enjoyed every minute as well.

Down at the bottom it was it was time to roll off the toboggan and into the snow. Oh the freedom and joy of being a child.

A walk to the top or ..........................

 a free ride up the hill with big brother pulling and then they did it all over again.

Time for a thank-you kiss.

They had a blast and my only job was to take pictures.

We finished the day with Oma's homemade pizza. Each was prepared with only the ingredients selected by the individual eating it. Delicious, no complaints, done to perfection.

Thanks Owen, Kate and Sherri for a fabulous time together.  Hope we can do this every March Break.

HELPING GRANDPA

Yesterday Owen was a big help to Grandpa. We worked together to cut, split and stack wood. Here Owen hauls out our tools for the day.

Sherri brought me a nifty tool for lifting the logs off the ground which helps keep the log steady and the chainsaw out of the dirt.

Owen's job was to load the sleigh.

Some chunks were a struggle to lift but Owen managed to fill the sleigh all by himself.

He then pulled the load over to the shed where he helped Grandpa stack the firewood to dry for next winter.

Every grandpa needs a helper like Owen.

After lunch we had a lovely "Facebook" chat with Maggie and Sean in Alberta. It's a remarkable age we live in, so easy to connect and see who you are chatting with a thousand miles away.

Today Sherri, Owen and Kate head home and we will miss them terribly. It has been the perfect March Break for us.

I do have more pictures I will post tomorrow.

Safe travels everyone and thanks for stopping by.

MARCH BREAK SNOWSHOE HIKE

Yesterday afternoon was too lovely to stay indoors. After lunch we suited up and strapped on the snowshoes for a hike through our bush.

Even little Kate who is just two has her own snowshoes. Of course Oma had to help get them strapped on properly.

Owen lost a snowshoe before we even got started. You can see he's up to his knee in snow and could sink further if he shifted his weight.

We eventually got everyone organized; Kate in the sleigh, Owen on two snowshoes, and headed out on the trails. That's when my camera battery died so no more pictures on the hike.

I did manage a few shots when everyone returned.

Even got one with Kate smiling.

It was a wonderful afternoon. We were out for more than an hour and returned exhausted. Back inside the kids played quietly while the adults sat and relaxed by the fire; a great way to end the day.

Safe travels everyone.

TYPICAL MORNING

The morning started with cuddles with Grandpa; looks like Grandpa just got out of bed.

Then we moved to the kitchen sink where Owen with Kate's help decided his rocks needed cleaning. For some unknown reason Owen has become fascinated with rocks, where to find them and why they are different. This summer he plans to attend the Bancroft Gemfest and expand his collection of rocks.

Next was some tickle time on the couch.

Kate loved the tickles and made sure she got lots.

Oma made a delicious breakfast of buckwheat pancakes, bacon, and homemade maple syrup which the kids devoured leaving no bacon for grandpa.

Now it's time to dress and head to town. First store the kids want to stop at is ........................... DOLLARAMA!

After lunch it's snowshoe time back in the bush.

Stay safe and warm everyone. It's starting to feel like spring.