Yuk for weather

Flash freezing may produce great conditions for skating the entire lake.  Hold off the snow, weather gods.

Road still mostly slushy snow, but hills are gravel exposed.

Beavers clearing brush along the causeway.

Surviving the cold

Well, the cold has been brutal for all of Ontario.  Perhaps most affected are the bees.  Extreme cold for extended periods of time can wipe out the colonies.  If the bees don't have the energy to create air currents in the hive, condensation will coat their bodies and eliminate them.

Five of seven hives shown have sounds in the hive.  Fingers crossed for the other two.

At least the bears are not a threat.

Early 2018

Perhaps hard to see, but there are only a few snowmobile tracks on the lake.  The 'brutal' cold seems to have kept people in a warmer environment.

Road to East Bay is being plowed and there have been vehicles moving along the road easily.

About 12 inches of snow on the cottage road.  Lots and lots of moose tracks along the road.

Only one family ventured to our area during the holidays.  Unfortunately they were met with 'brutal' cold.  But they still managed to catch some pike.

The ice next to the cliffs is 12 inches thick and growing.

Thirty years ago, this author never saw a black squirrel in the area.  This morning three were feeding at the bird feeder.  And more were seen along the cottage road.  But, for some reason, there is a lack of song birds in the area.