Carlin Lake Association

Swan sightings

 

The swans I think of as "ours," the ones we observed over and on Carlin Lake in December, are still apparently confused about where they belong.  They're wintering on open water in the Manitowish Waters area, even in this cold and snowy weather.

Participants on Friday's hike along Statehouse Lake, sponsored free of charge by the Discovery Center, rave on Facebook that they saw 32 swans on their hike.   Wow!  Wish I'd been on that beautiful trail to see that many swans, (shared here with the Center's photos.)

The Discovery Center sponsors a free hike/snowshoe excursion/etc. each Friday morning, at different locations, depending on weather conditions.   That sounds like a good deal to me.   I plan to do a better job of checking their web page ---or the newspaper ---or their program guide, and hope to join some of those Friday hikes.

 

How quiet is it?

 

It's so quiet here in the woods, that our main excitement yesterday was watching and jumping from the thump, as snow slid off our new metal roof.   

It's so quiet that when asked for any news, Judy reports scaring up two grouse and a pileated woodpecker on her snowshoe through the woods.

It's so quiet that Linda has time to chuckle, watching the deer as they come to feed each evening.

It's so quiet that this morning, I watched the eerie fog across the lake fade when the sun came up, just as though I was watching a TV show.

It's a great life!

In the midst of this quietness, it's fun to have Pauline and Bob announce that they've set their wedding date for August 25th.   Pauline says we can wait for further details about this prospect of summer excitement.

 

Morning report

 

Those of us at Carlin this morning are seeing another snowy winter scene.   We didn't receive quite the 10" or so of snow that I mentioned yesterday.  But according to Gail's measurement, we did get over 6" of new snow in the last two days.  

Snow's still in the air right now, but the prediction for measurable snow has passed.   And, in more data from  Gail's snow graphs, we have a foot and half of snow on the ground, and have already measured 60" = 5 feet of total snow this winter.   I can hardly believe that, even though I have been here to watch it happen.

A recent column by John Bates expanded the info that I mentioned yesterday:  that we are already experiencing almost an extra hour of daylight since the winter solstice on December 22nd.  Even better, our days are growing longer by an additional three minutes each day.    

Photos are from Cecil and Linda's front yard yesterday afternoon.   As usual, you can click to see the snow close up.

 

 

Winter in the Woods

 

A lovely snow here this morning---Gail's weather site says we have already received about 3", and the prediction says we may still get as much as 7" more through tonight.   I've been out cross country skiing only once, so am looking forward to that later this week.

In one of John Bates' recent columns, he tells that on average, the coldest days of the winter occur between January 16th and 20th.   Isn't that exactly what happened last week?    

Even though John (not Bates) and I were watching it snow further south for a few days, we noticed the temps recorded on Gail's weather page:   a couple of mornings around 20 below zero, and a couple of days that didn't even reach a high of zero.   

Already it's getting light earlier in the morning and dark later in the evenings.  After retirement, even the winters seem to fly by.   (Ask me again in March if I feel the same way!)

And, a couple more

 

Thanks to Linda Davis, who supplied what I was missing, a lovely picture of the Brewer girls on New Year's Eve, Carol with daughters:  newly-wed Amy and Laurie, who had just accepted a new job by phone in the Ruchs' driveway.  No wonder both girls look happy!

 

Linda also suggests that I never publish my own picture, and sends on this photo of Mary and me, so you can see what I look like (if you were missing that experience.)

Back to New Year's Eve

  (See limited photo editing skills, Clara, Chuck, and Cecil.   Think I can blame my camera again??)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ramona times two:  first with Nikki Taylor and mom Eleanor, and with Ramona's sister Rita and husband Tom.  

And, Char and Mary, dressed to coordinate!

(Tom says three people at the party tried to convince him and Rita to move to Carlin Lake to enjoy this Good Life!)

Four special birthdays

 

 

Eleven Carlin women braved Thursday's wintery weather with a Skyview dinner to celebrate the birthdays of four special friends:  Ramona, Karen, Susan, and Carol.   Carol could be there with us only in spirit, but we sent lots of good wishes her way.

 

A good time was had by all---including several of our husbands who had their own night out, and were joined for dinner at the Carlin Club by owner Jim Luedtke.

 

 

And, I include this last photo to point out that there are photographers less adept than I (this was the clearest photo taken.)   Click to enlarge and pick out the birthday girls front center and right, and maybe figure out who the rest of us are.

Happy belated birthday, and wishes for a good year from all of us, Carol!

 

 

Not as much as predicted

 

But it's still beautiful this morning----maybe 6" or so of new snow in the last couple of days.

It's supposed to stay cold, even below zero tonight, so maybe the snow will stay in place for a while for snowmobiling and cross country skiing.   Hope so!

Winter full moon

 

Clara McCall shares these photos of the glorious full moon we have been watching reflect off the snow this week.  

 

Clara says that she wanted her friends from the city to have a vicarious experience of the beautiful view from the McCall deck in the moonlight.    Those who live full-time in a city aren't used to the dark skies we see, away from artificial lights at night.

Believe it or not, these pictures were taken about 8:30 at night, and you can see across the lake to the opposite shore.

 

Capturing this reality probably takes a better camera than most of us use to point and shoot, but I think these pictures will give those of you away from Carlin an idea how beautiful the moonlight has been this week.

 

 

Thanks very much, Clara!   Very cool pictures!

 

Hearing tomorrow about bill on mining regulations

 

An email I received this morning from the Wisconsin Lakes' Association (WLA, of which the Carlin Lake Association is a member) is copied below.   

Maybe this is something you are interested in?   You may want to attend the hearing tomorrow, or at least, keep yourself informed on continued discussions re: mining regulations for the Northwoods.  It seems a many-sided issue, about providing jobs and/or protecting the environment.  

 

Assembly Jobs Committee to Hold Second Public Hearing on Mining Law Wed, Jan 11 at 10:00am Hurley Inn, 1000 10th Ave North Hurley WI The Assembly Jobs Committee will hold a hearing on its version of the Mining Bill (the Senate is still working on its version of the bill), AB426, on Wednesday in Hurley. The bill was introduced just prior to the holidays, and at the time the committee indicated it would not be holding additional hearings beyond the one held at State Fair Park in Milwaukee. Following the hearing, several Democratic legislators announced they would be holding their own hearing in the northwest, in the region where a mine is proposed. That hearing, scheduled for last Saturday, was cancelled when the Republicans on the Jobs Committee announced that they would, after all, hold a second hearing on the controversial bill. AB426, which would alter the permitting process for iron mining in the state by speeding up the process and softening regulations and standards, was introduced largely at the behest of Gogebic Taconite (GTAC), a subsidiary of a Florida corporation who would like to mine a 4.5 mile stretch of the Penokee Range near Mellen. While proponents say the jobs the project would provide are desperately needed in the region, opponents question whether those jobs are worth the risk of negative impact on the environment both in the area of the GTAC mine, as well as the risk of negative impact in other areas of the state, as the bill would impact permitting for mines statewide. Wisconsin Lakes strongly opposes this bill.   Click here to read the WLA's position paper on the issue.