Carlin Lake Association

What else besides weather?

 

We are already three weeks into February---and, even more surprising to me, two weeks away from the beginning of daily saving time on March 8th.

John Bates, my reliable news source, talks in his column this past Friday about the warm winter we have been experiencing.   And, that column had been written even before this past weekend----with three lovely days of 40-plus temperatures.    It felt great, for the first time in many months, to walk outdoors without hat and gloves, and with my jacket unzipped!

John cites these average figures from Minocqua:   usually in January, the average high is 20 degrees and the average low is one degree.   For January 2020, the numbers were average high temperature of 27.2 degrees, with average low of 14.2 degrees.    

Those of us who were at the lake during January certainly noted that we didn't have that common January week of minus 20 to 30 degrees.  

But, as we know, it's been cold enough for the snow cover to stick around.   John Bates says that by February 17th, last week, three-feet of snow still remained on the ground in northern Vilas County.    Over the weekend, though, we could see snow piles compress visibly, and somehow they no longer looked quite so daunting.    

February has been remarkably snow-free, although driveways and parking lots still are ice and snow-covered.    I  guess we will be ready for whatever March throws at us!

 

"Snow moon"

 

At a concert last night, John and I overheard a little girl trying to explain to her sorta-confused grandma that we are going to have a snow moon this weekend.  

The sky is just clearing now around 4:00, after some snow showers this morning, so we should have another night to enjoy this big and extremely bright and beautiful full moon.   We enjoy the light reflecting off the snow, making it seem to glow all night long.  

John Bates says the "snow moon" is also called the "hunger moon" or "when coyotes are frightened" moon.     Those two names are less positive and "reflect the fact that winter is still alive, snow cover remains deep, and often hunger now commences for animals."   

Most humans were glad this weekend's bigger snows fell south of us, as no one has much enthusiasm to shovel or plow any more snow!

Hope you can get outdoors to see the full moon----and have a good week!

 

Not much news this week, either

 

In what passes for Carlin Lake news for this week:

1) Around Ramona's kitchen table yesterday, nine book women enjoyed Ramona's delicious brunch, followed by an interesting discussion led by Joyce.    Looking ahead to March 5th, the book group will have a potluck brunch at the Papoose Lake ski lodge.

2) I understand that our five men also had a good breakfast morning at The Granary.

3) The sun has been visible both today and yesterday!    That feels like quite a treat, after the twenty-one consecutive days (the weatherman tells us) which have all been overcast. 

4) And, spring is sneaking up.   Yesterday, it still was light enough at 5:30 that I hadn't been reminded to think about something to eat for supper.    And this morning, waking up at 6:30, I was surprised to see the sky was looking light.

5)  It's a pleasure this week to have the roads clear and dry.   No measureable snow is predicted in the near future, so we will enjoy these days of not dragging snow, ice---and gravel---into the garage every day!