Schneehund

Plowed, blown and shoveled out.

Officially, 8” on Friday, another 5” yesterday and 3" overnight.

I’m calling it snowshoe depth.

My dog is insane about snow……

 

Frozen Pheasant Hunt

Yesterday was a sunny, 17F day that by early afternoon appeared deceptively tropical.

Doggo had been following me around the house giving me the side eye and with only a couple days left to the pheasant season we gave it a try.

At least before my face froze and fingers went numb and confused.

Gusts up to 26 mph served-up a wind chill of 2F.

Ruby is seemingly oblivious….

How's The Weather?

If you live on the peninsula it doesn't take long to figure-out that when you are situated on a narrow landmass, surrounded by water, weather conditions can be both quirky and unpredictable.  

In the summertime the sun could be shining brightly enough to require a hat and your shades; while a mile to the east it is raining cats and dogs and you can see it unfolding before your very eyes.

During dry stretches and hoping with all your might for a good summer soaking you might be tracking a storm front and all of its accompanying rainfall approaching from the the prevailing southwest and as soon as it hits Green Bay, just like Moses parting the Red Sea, the front splits in two dropping all of that precious rainfall on the bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan.  The peninsula landmass remains parched.

Winter is no different except for the results impacted by colder temperatures.  One minute it is sunny and clear; and moments later there is a popup snow squall approaching whiteout conditions that materialized out of nowhere and disappears just as suddenly leaving the sun shining on snow-covered ground.

From last month there was this.....

This happens all the time and woe be unto anyone driving in these conditions. 

Recently, the Missus and I were chatting it up about this local anomaly so this has been on my mind as I am reminded of it by looking out my window and having to delay walking my dog.   These types of weather patterns are called Lake Effect at our latitude and are a consequence of the proximity to large bodies of water. Just talk to the good citizens of Buffalo, NY.  I cannot recall a winter where I haven't read news reports of the entire community digging out from the effects of a very localized snow dump.

You can read all about the science of here in great detail; but the Cliff Notes version goes something like this.  Colder air masses have a tendency to travel from Canada southward and across the Great Lakes region.  The air above these large bodies of water tends to be warmer (relatively-speaking) and contain large amounts of moisture from the lakes.  Then the two air masses collide, clouds are formed, clouds contain precipitation and when the clouds reach the coastal landmass you get snow this time of year and rain during the spring, summer and fall.  

If you live in a coastal community in northern Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, northeast Wisconsin (Door County) or northwest Michigan (Traverse City) Lake Effect can be responsible for a snow dump. 

To be fair, if you are a winter sports enthusiast none of this is a guarantee of snowfall - we haven't had good snowshoeing snow pack for a couple of years or so.  Anecdotally (and totally unscientifically) I've witnessed a scarcity of snow for the gun deer season opener over the last couple of decades.  Nevertheless, the further north you go the more likely you'll have white stuff on the ground and if you live on the coastline you can be witness to periodic spikes in the stuff.

Sometimes it can cover the yard around the house deeply enough to cover the porch with drifts reaching the windows on the machine shed.  

Anything more than four inches summons the plow guy who is on retainer during the snowy months.  

I can clear the walkways, patio and tidy-up with a snowblower.

It's not all bad - especially if you enjoy winter like we do.  Summers on a coastal community are less severely hot than inland communities.  Our micro-climate here on the peninsula is ideally-suited to growing orchard crops; and in the last decade an increasing number of vineyards have materialized.  What's not to like about local fruits, cider and wine?

I suppose the trade-off is that you do have to take the out-of-place blizzard when you least expect it.  Take it from me, it can mess-up your spring turkey hunt in April with an unpredictable snow dump.  It's happened to me more times than I can count...

Afternoon Hunt

Following an overnight trip to the naked city I got home in time to begin defrosting one of the basement chest freezers.  (Back story is all of the fresh venison from this year's hunt has been delivered and I have an empty freezer to facilitate the process).

Anyway, it was sunny and 45+ today so Ruby and I went out for a nice, long hunt.  

Just after I snapped this photo we made a right turn on the trail to return to the house when almost immediately, Mighty Dog flushed one and than a second ring neck.  All alone and unassisted.  I was caught flat-footed and unable to raise my gun immediately.  The first bird was between me and the house - no shot there.  And the second bird landed between us and the road and took-off running.

While the dog was searching for the runner I spied (maybe the first bird) on the ground running the opposite direction.  We don't ground swat game birds.

In any event, the birds got away, the dog was in the game and I was tickled to learn we're still holding birds in the thicker cover.  That's good.

Ruby was pooped from the fresh air and exercise and slept most of the afternoon.

Meanwhile - get a load of that shadow.  One week away from the winter solstice people...

Winter is the Mother of Invention

This winter has brought an abundant amount of snow that has stuck around for an exceedingly long time.  Yeah, we caught a spring-like 42 degree day on Tuesday (perfect for stacking firewood and scooping dog poop) but there remains plenty of snow base to be enjoyed.

The upshot of this is that there has been plenty of miles put on the snowshoes and by virtue of back and forth, back and forth a semi-groomed and packed trail. 

My pal, New Guy, found this ingenious contraption on the web.

A home-built trail groomer.

If I get a head start on this early in the season, and before the snow gets so deep that I run the risk of stranding the tractor, I could have a decently groomed and packed trail suitable for both snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Shoeing

25 degrees F and sunny.

About a foot of fresh powder on the level.

First time in a couple of years that there's been enough snow on the ground to breakout the snowshoes.

Glorious!

Fresh Powder!

It began with overnight snow and continued throughout the day.

As I tap-out this post it has started-up again.

The plow cleared the driveway and I just finished clearing the walks, patio, Forno, generator, propane tank and edges. 

 

Certainly not a record-setting snowfall.  The tape measure was alongside a snowblower cut on the front walkway. There’s a few spots it was over my boot tops and other spots a half foot.

 

I’m calling it 12 inches on the level.

 

There’s snowshoeing on tap!

Shoeing

Yesterday dawned sunny and 30 degrees - a perfect day to strap-on the snowshoes and go out for a walk.

Truthfully there is no other way to get around for any distance without snowshoes.  If I had to hazard a guess we have about sixteen inches of snow on the level.  With a bit more overnight the benches of the picnic table in the yard are now beneath the snow and I have only a general idea of where the Weber Smokey Joe grill might be.  Like an avalanche victim it has vanished into the snowy depths.

The dogs quickly remembered that the path of least resistance is to try to stay in the trail that the man with the snowshoes is tramping-down.  Of course, if you are a Labrador retriever there are hidden delights to be found by going off trail from time to time.  And they did at their own peril.  Busting trail was tough work and left them exhausted.

click on images for a closer look

 

The objective of the walk was to fetch the memory cards from one of my Moultrie trail cameras and the Bushnell DNR camera that we are hosting for Snapshot Wisconsin.

Upon our return I discovered that my Moultrie operated from January 20 thru January 22 and then stopped taking photos.  Battery life looked OK yesterday so I'll check it again before too long to see what's up.  The DNR camera appeared to have collected more than 250 photos from January 20th to the present.  I'll post some as soon as they've been curated on the Snapshot website.

Stay tuned....

Winter Fun

Busy day today.

By the time you read this I will be at the annual Southeast Wisconsin Woodland Owners Winter Conference.  Registration is significantly ahead of prior years so the committee must've done a bang-up job on the programming.  The change-up this year is no concurrent (breakout) sessions - instead an excellent line-up of woodland and wildlife topics in a TED Talk format style.  I'll report back at a future date with the results.

Following this event I have to race back to the Naked City for the Wauwatosa Curling Club's 2019 Chili Spiel.  This is a social event that is both limited as to the number of curlers - it also features a limited number of chili contestants.  Yours truly is both curling and has entered a couple of gallons of venison chili in the taste-off competition.  I'll report back with those results as well.

In case you're interested here's the recipe...

 

Take a Walk on the Wild Side Venison Chili

This slow cooker features whitetail deer from Tom and Jill’s woodland located on the Door Peninsula.  

No antibiotic-infused feedlot beef here – this is totally free-range organic venison.  

This is a featured favorite of Tom’s deer camp.   With a very mild kick even Goldilocks would tell you – It’s just right!  And when you enjoy this chili you may take comfort knowing that you are doing your part to maintain a healthy balance in both nature and your diet.  

Nothing fancy about this stuff – just damn good chow. 

Go-ahead and take a walk on the wild side – and thank you for your vote of support! 

Ingredients:  

Venison 
Tomatoes 
Pinto beans
Onions 
Celery 
Ground chilies  
Garlic powder   
Cumin  
Oregano 
Paprika 
Salt  
Cayenne pepper   
Masa harina

 

Shed Head

There remain a large number of deer on the landscape including some dandy bucks.

Like this one...

And like this one...

click on an image for a closer look

 

These photos were taken by a trail cameras of two different bucks in two different locations on December 26 and January 5 respectively.  Both these boy deer are sporting their headgear.

I suspect that this may be about to change and before too long my girls and I are going to begin our end of winter chores such as pruning an occasional oak and cleaning out nest boxes for the birds that will return in a few months.  That also means an opportunity for the dogs to engage in the time-honored pursuit of shed antler hunting.

Stay tuned for what turns-up.....

Winter Camouflage

Trail camera selfie from last weekend’s abruptly interrupted turkey hunt.  Winter camouflage smock actually works rather nicely.

This was a first.

Raising a toast to Bundeswehr winter camouflage....

click on the image for a closer look

Snowshoeing the Blizzard

From yesterday - the girls and I ventured out for a walk in the blizzard.  It was the first opportunity I've had to use my snowshoes this winter spring. 

The wind was nasty and the deep snow really took the edge off a couple of ordinarily high-energy Labs.

Me too.

Curling Stone Slapshot

In ice hockey the slapshot is the hardest shot one can perform.   It has four stages which are executed in one fluid motion to make the puck fly into the net.   And as a consequence of the violent motion involved can be less accurate.  It also takes longer to execute; a player usually cannot take a slapshot while under any significant pressure from an opposing player because the opponent could easily interfere during the windup. 
 
The slapshot is most commonly used by a defenceman at the point, especially during a power play, although a forward will sometimes find an opportunity to use it. 
 
In case you've never seen a hockey slapshot made with a forty-pound granite curling stone turn-up the volume. 
 
It is recommended you not do this at home…
 

Friends

'Twas a fine weekend for hanging out at The Platz.

Freshly-fallen snow

Hiking

Cross-country skiing

And there was the food.  And more food.






The First Mate and his wife arrived bearing home-made baked mac and cheese (I have the recipe if  anybody needs it).  All we added was Louisiana smoked pork and crawfish sausage.

And then there was antipasto composto

Followed by olive e pomodori sallati


And risotto con petto d'anatra affumicato e asparagi

And the finale - Crème brûlée






Friends

The Sport That's Sweeping the Nation

In the big city curling season has begun.  That means three Lakefront Brewery products on tap at all times.  Eastside Dark and Riverwest Stein are regulars.  The tapper on the right rotating.  This week it is a yummy German pilsner...

click on images to enlarge

 

Opportunities to engage in adaptive curling are becoming more frequent with the Wauwatosa Curling Club's work with the Veterans Administration in Milwaukee.

Shoeing

Last weekend's snow storm finally brought enough of the white stuff to fetch the snowshoes and gaiters from the basement box of winter sporting supplies.

It's a gift that even the four-legged members of the family can appreciate.  The crunch you hear is the glaze of frozen rain atop the snow...

Frozen

The mini-blizzard that blew thru here in the last 24 hours left (depending upon the location) 1 to 8 inches of the white stuff on the ground.  Yesterday afternoon I strapped-on my snowshoes and the girls and I ventured out for a walk to see what was up.

The first observation is that aside for some bunny tracks in the snow around a rock pile there was no sign of the local wildlife moving about.  Nada.  Everyone was hunkered-down.  (It wasn't until twilight yesterday that we observed four whitetails cruising thru down at the big pond).

The second observation is that the trail cameras were frozen, snow-covered, glazed-over  and were in need of cleaning.  Welcome back to winter.

I'll post some photos in the next several days of critters captured on the two cams that were relocated.

Ice Sinking

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly - Ice Sinking.  Although it is worthy of mention that this incident occurred during the Ice Drinking season.

The recent warm snap even gave my pal Sid pause and he had the presence of mind to fetch his ice drinking shanty and haul it to safe harbor on terra firma.  Not so much this dude.  He waited too long and plunged his fancy Cadillac Escalade through the thinning ice directly off-shore from Waterfront Mary's on Sturgeon Bay.

It took only a minute and a half to deep-six the expensive truck and the shanty to the bottom of the bay.

The driver escaped without physical injury.  Although I sure hope for the sake of his injured ego that this is a covered claim...

Go Pack

Packer Rules - New York Drools.

I got nothing to say except that the Green Bay Packers rock!

Think of the possibilities of visiting a certain bar at a certain time.

But I shall refrain from the details lest I invoke the wrath of the football gods....

Two On Two Stick Spiel

Yesterday was terrific fun - up early and on the road with The Frau and meet-up with four other friends from the Tosa Curling Club at the Kettle Moraine Curling Club's Two On Two Stick Spiel.  Without getting bogged-down in the rules the game is played with rinks of two, six stones (delivered with a stick) and no sweeping until the rock crosses the hog line.  If your opposing team is wheeled - no sweeping at all.  It is an awesome way to spend the day honing your stick-delivery skills (speaking as someone with a hip replacement who cannot get down in the hack with dislocating a perfectly fine five-year-old titanium replacement Stryker hip).  But I digress.

Some highlights from yesterday...

Between-game refreshing adult beverages

click on the beverage to enlarge

Club room

The Frau and I receiving our 14K solid gold medal for fourth place runner-up

And some video.   

If you watch the video feed from the overhead camera the curler just misses knocking-out a scoring red rock in the upper-left view at the other end of the ice sheet.

Great food and fun.  

Cannot help it - in the immortal words of Major Sidney Freedman...