Happy Thanksgiving!

All is well in the Keweenaw!

It's Baaaack!

Winter arrived over the weekend with snow and frigid temperatures. Here's the view through our windows here in Calumet today.

 

The sun and blue sky came out a few minutes ago and it looks just lovely. I think the Lord must sprinkle a bit of glitter into our Keweenaw snow.

Let's see. . . what else is happening? (1) We're still waiting on our new windows. No rush there, as we're all happy for a break in construction - especially during deer season. Even the window factory in Wisconsin is working with a skeleton crew. (2) We had friends from downstate (Marty and Donna) visit the area over the weekend, and that was tons of fun. We always have a great time with them. (3) Steve is in the woods - waiting for some venison to walk in front of him! (4) Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I'm working on parts of that meal today. We're having my mom over for a nice meal, and her granddog, Cocoa, will be very excited to see her again. 

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sunday Reflections

All is well in the Keweenaw.

'Tis the Season

I knew what I was in for when I married a. . .

This is Steve's motto:

So. . .

because. . .

No problem. We need more venison in the freezer! Love you, honey!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sunday Reflections

Calumet Waterworks Park - Lake Superior Shoreline

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Mommie Dearest

After the book by that title (about Joan Crawford) was published in the 70's, my mother jokingly gave herself that title. Even now, she still sometimes signs her name that way on cards, etc. She was (and is) a dear mother, but definitely not a "mommie dearest" like that abusive Joan Crawford.

Happy Birthday!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sunday Reflections

Steve made it home safely last night! We're complete again.
All is well in the Keweenaw.

Just Us Girls

This is how things are supposed to be:

However, "YOU" had to travel to Saginaw on Tuesday to see his doctor, so it has been "just us girls" around here. We don't like it when Steve is gone. Notice the sad look on Cocoa's face?

We're not complete when Steve is away. This was me this week:

This is me now:

My wonderful hubby is on his way home right now! My heart is happy. Cocoa will be happy when she see the truck pull back into the driveway.

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Not Shoveling. . .

. . . yet! 

It's true that the clouds have been spitting some snowflakes this week, but we only have a thin coating on the lawn. When the news tells you that it's snowing in the U.P., don't automatically think Steve & Julie are digging out in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Having Lake Superior on three sides of this peninsula makes for big snows when the Lake Effect Snow Machine really cranks up during the winter months. That same lake generally keeps the Keweenaw a little warmer and keeps the heavy snow away from us at this time of year. The snow belt areas of the U.P. to our south get much more than we do during these very early season events, but we more than make up for it later! 

Another thing to remember is that the snowfall totals can vary drastically just within the Keweenaw Peninsula itself. For example, the same winter snow event can bring 4 inches to Houghton and Hancock, 6 inches to Calumet, 10 inches up on our property and just an inch or 2 to the shoreline areas of Eagle River, Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor. On one trip we made to this area several years ago, it was snowing heavily on our property all day. As we drove the few miles down the road to Eagle Harbor, the precipitation changed to rain - no sign of snow. We turned around and headed back to the property. Yep, still snowing up there in the higher elevations.

It's pretty interesting to watch the meteorologists on the TV news on channel 6 out of Marquette - especially during the winter months. Channel 6 is watched throughout the U.P., so they have to give forecasts for the entire U.P. They basically give you one forecast for the eastern side of the U.P. and one for the west and then try to break it down further into northwest, southwest, northeast and southeast. Plus, they often have to break the forecast down even further into the lake effect snow belts of the U.P., the banana belt of the U.P. and the higher elevations along the spine of the Keweenaw. 

One of our local meteorologists publishes a seasonal outlook every November. He's the first to admit that such long-range forecasting is difficult, so he tells us not to cancel plans or make plans according to his seasonal forecast. That being said, he thinks the beginning of our winter will bring us average to above average snowfall totals and the second half of our winter will bring us below average snowfall. We'll see!

All is well in the Keweenaw.

UPDATE! Things have changed in the last few hours since I posted what's written above. The temp has risen to 40° and the sun is shining. Here's how the backyard looked yesterday and this morning.

Here's how it looks right now.

Cocoa is stretched out on the lawn sunning herself.

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Hanging On For Dear Life

Despite lots of rain, strong winds and a few snowflakes over the course of the last few weeks, some of our stubborn leaves are still hanging on for dear life. Here are some photos of the trees I can see through my kitchen window.

October 21:

October 29:

November 5:

 

 

November 7:

All is well in the Keweenaw.

Sunday Reflections

All is well in the Keweenaw.