amazement

I don't know why I'm continually amazed every time it snows, but I can't say it's a bad feeling to have. It's good to be amazed by things... I think that it keeps you young at heart. Anyway, it's snowing again and our truck is prepared for it this time. We had studded tires put on the other day and now it's handling the road just fine. I'm taking it to get winterized tomorrow, so that we can start plugging it in at night. It's been dipping down into the single digits for the past week, so it's time to get on that. Since the snow has landed, we've seen a lot more people using their snow machines and a lot more moose. I guess the moose don't exactly blend anymore. Everyone's yard also looks a whole lot prettier with a blanket of snow disguising the random, half broken vehicles and unfinished summer projects. All in all, the snow has been good.
Chrissy snowing 15 degrees

Starting the day off right

At around 8:30 this morning I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed to take the dogs out. Snorri caught a glimpse of 2 neighbor dogs passing by and, being the disobedient dog that she is, decided to catch up with them to say good morning. My frustration after catching up with her quickly turned to gratitude when I reached the end of the driveway. This is what I saw. Leave it to dogs to remind you of what's really important in life.

Chrissy
snowy 18 degrees

more snow

It's been snowing hard for two days straight and our backyard looks like a winter wonderland. I find myself smiling every time I look out the window... and so has Gunnar.

Hanging out with the bubs

Gunnar in his new snow booties

Yesterday we noticed that the snow was bothering Gunnar's feet when we were out for a walk, so went and got him some snow boots. I love our dogs, but I am not the kind of dog-lover who enjoys dressing them up for my own personal amusement. With that said, he does look absolutely adorable with them on. We weren't really sure how he was going to do in the snow because he's not really a cold weather dog. They both appear to love it, but Gunnar was getting snow in between the pads on his feet, it would melt, and would then turn to ice. He seems a lot happier now that he has his boots. I guess Snorri has enough fur to keep the snow out.
Chrissy
20 degrees

Cold

Getting cold out there, we walked the dogs about a mile tonight and were feeling it by the time we got home. Thermometer read 21, but its still got a ways to go down before its really considered COLD for here.
The dogs seem to be loving the snow, running around and biting at it all the time. Particularly Gunnar, its the simple things that make him happy. We are very similar.
The battle for our insulation was fought today with a Crossman bb gun, I came out ahead by one. One squirrel down, many more to go. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Still need to get the truck winterized and get some snow tires on it. Moneys tight, but life is good.
Just time to buckle down and save it up so we can get it done before it gets too cold/snowy.
I'm guessing that this snow will be sticking around for the next 8 or so months, doesn't look like its getting any warmer soon and there's more snow in the forecast.
I will push Chrissy to get some photos of the snow around our cabin up on here tomorrow.
-Justin

Beard

Been working on a beard for a little while now, just in time for winter.


I was told last night by a person I had just met that the beard made him think of the Amish (because of the lack of mustache) and that I seemed trustworthy and honest because of it.
I can't imagine any better feedback than that about a beard. I think I'll keep it for a while, though as you can probably see, its in need of some clean up trimming.

Its been snowing here all day today. We woke up this morning to 22 degrees and light snow falling. Once we got up out of bed we could see that the roads and ground were all pretty well covered. The roads were very icy on the way to work, but passable. We need to get some sandbags for the bed of the truck, the tail end was flying around everywhere, even in four wheel drive.
Chrissy and I fell asleep earlier after eating an exciting dinner of pasta shells mixed with peas and corn. About 9:00 we both woke up and debated on getting water tonight or in the morning. We opted to go in the morning and go back to sleep but I just couldn't fall back to sleep. I'm getting tired now though. Its 10:30, 22 degrees and still lightly snowing outside.
Goodnight,
Justin

the sling-shot just isn't cutting it...

the squirrels are eating the insulation in our cabin. this is neither good nor wise- for the squirrel that is.

Birch tree walk with the dogs

It's SNOWING

Justin and I were just driving home and noticed snow in the headlights. I thought it was noteworthy.
28°

Moose Calls

Well I thought for sure that I was going crazy (not an unusual thought for me) these past couple of nights hearing things outside the cabin. Sometimes if the moon is really bright, I like to lay in bed and watch the trees gently sway in the wind. I like to listen to the sound of complete quiet. Well, the night before last as I was enjoying the quiet, I felt the cabin shake a bit. I kind of laughed to myself and thought that it must have been Snorri running in her sleep and shaking the bed..... but no it was not. There were freaking moose rubbing their backs on the stilts that keep our cabin lifted off the ground. MOOSE! It makes sense now why all of that fur is in our driveway every morning. I knew that it had to have been moose fur, but I wasn't sure how or why it was just falling off conveniently outside our door. So...... last night I was awakened by a noise. I sat there wide eyed waiting for it to happen again and, sure enough, there they were- moose calls resonating in our back yard. According to Justin, Bugling is the correct term for moose calls. Anyway I guess what I'm more curious about than anything, is why I haven't heard these noises or felt the cabin shaking before now.? I'll be more tuned in from here on out. Huh?..... moose shaking the house...... never thought I would be saying that. We'll keep you posted.

Chrissy
overcast and 34