My View from the Top - Mrs. Gomer Hill

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Saturday, January 31, 2009
8:00am 6 degrees, breezy, sunny

The cold air is as clear as it ever gets in January,
and long shadows cut the blinding white snow into
neat sections. The meadows are untracked and undulate
with huge mounds of windpacked fluff, sculpted by recent
gales. Chickadees have paid a visit this morning, flitting through
the little twigs of privet hedge that stick above the snow, and gather-
ing in the lilacs for a brief rest before flying westward into the woods.
Five crows are perched on the tall snowbank down the road, and
swoop down during breaks in traffic to peck at various tidbits
that the plow had kicked up. It is a beautiful day for anything;
don't forget your sunscreen.
Enjoy your day,
Daisy

Friday, January 30, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
21 degrees, overcast, breezy, snowing

Snow is falling at a good rate, the big flakes adding up quickly.
Four inches have accrued since we plowed the yard late yesterday,
and it doesn’t show signs of stopping. (hope I can find some corn for
popping...) I was delighted to find a small flock of starlings in the big maple
tree earlier today, all whistling, chiming, warbling and reciting archaic poetry
in that eclectic and unique song styling of theirs; they were seemingly oblivious
to the rush of snow swirling all about them. As I enjoyed their vocalizations I was
able to inspect many individual flakes that landed on my fleece, and I truly could find
no two even similar, let alone alike. The quote from yesterday’s picture seems very ap-
propriate this morning: “Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at
what they can do when they stick together.” There is a big snow-mobile rally at the county
fairgrounds in Boonville this weekend; looks like they will have plenty of snow for it !
Enjoy your day,
Daisy

Thursday, January 29, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
20 degrees, breezy, partly sunny, snowing

We had snow yesterday, but it didn’t begin to fall really hard until sunset.
The whole state of New York was under a winter storm warning for the
entire day, but the real deal kicked in up here after the official warning had
been lifted. A lake effect advisory has been announced for our area through
tomorrow evening, but as usual, we will wait until the shouting is over before
seeing what has actually happened. We probably got a foot of snow yesterday;
it is very hard to measure as the wind shifted it into piles, with drifts in the yard
measuring from nothing to four feet. The level of snow in the backyard has reach-
ed the windowsills, (just the ones on the first floor... so far.) Most of the forsythia
hedge is entirely under snow, which acts to protect the flower buds from the sub-
zero chills of late. In just three months time, those tight little buds will swell into
masses of sunny yellow trumpets that are a sure sign of spring. In spite of the
almost constant snowfall, I found evidence that winter has turned the corner
yesterday; I moved our potted geraniums from the windowsills upstairs to
trim them, and there were many dozy flies lurking under the saucers. No
ladybugs yet, but the emergence of houseflies from the window casings
is one of the very first harbingers of spring. It won’t be long before
the sills will require daily vacuuming to keep insects at bay.
Where does the time go?
Have a great day,
Daisy

Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 9:30 a.m.
20 degrees, windy, overcast, snowing

A large storm system has swept up from the south and is
dropping snow at a steady rate. The evening sky was split right
in two and it was easy to see that a change was coming as I drove
home from work last night. The celestial dome resembled a big half-moon
cookie, with the lingering light of sunset playing out over the black clouds that
formed a straight-edged boundary between starry and stormy. Snow had not yet
begun to fall at midnight, but when I arose the tire tracks in the yard were leveled by
two inches of new powder. Most schools have remained open because Regents Exams
are being administered statewide today, and it is very hard to reschedule them. I am glad
I don’t have to travel anywhere, as the wind is picking up and I think driving may become
a little challenging. The only activity out there this snowy morning is vehicular, with folks
coming and going on their usual schedules. The birds and beasts seem to have taken
cover until the snow stops; not even the bluejays have poked their bright heads out
of the spruce trees. The meadows present unbroken expanses of trackless snow,
subtly shifting as I watch, sculpted into graceful contours by the southeast wind.
I can’t see myself doing too much out there today, beyond picking up the mail
and taking out the garbage. In fact, I find myself finally filled with winter; after
yearning for it during the long hot months, I believe I now find that I am dream-
ing of summer, complete with sandals and long walks in the balmy twilight hours
after dinner cooked on the grille. I watched a program last night about the long
migration of monarch butterflies from the North Country to Mexico, perhaps
that has fired up my anticipation of warmer days and shorter nights.
In fact, it is all good, and I enjoy the changes immensely.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
10 degrees, breezy, mostly sunny

A little bit of snow fell overnight, just a small token of winter.
When I walked across the road to dump some ashes earlier this
morning, I saw the tracks of a lone coyote walking right up the middle
of the road, fresh and clear; he must have just passed by at first light. I have
seen these single tracks many times on our property in my ski treks of the past
few months, as well as those of a pair trotting side-by-side. It has been a long time
since I have encountered the trail of more than more than two coyotes, so that could
mean a couple of things. Either the coyote hunters have been doing a bang-up job of era-
dicating what they perceive to be evil varmints, or the coyotes have wised up and are hiding
out far from the human invasion. I fervently hope it is the latter. Mother Nature seems to do a
decent job of keeping things in balance, the best she can under difficult circumstances. When
the Master Predator (man) takes things into his own hands, he upsets that delicate equilibrium
by removing a natural and very efficient predator from the food chain. Weak and starving deer
will die a horrible lingering death instead of meeting a swift end at the jaws of a coyote pack.
Small rodent populations will swell if coyotes are not around to keep their numbers down,
and the farmer’s stored grain and summer crops will take a hit from that. If a rogue coyote
were busting into my henhouse and wreaking havoc, I would take measures to protect my
flock. But the wholesale slaughter of one of nature’s most efficient predators is just plain
ignorant. Think about this: what if something higher on the food chain decided that
mankind were just another bunch of evil varmints ? Talk amongst yourselves...
Have a fine day,
Daisy

Monday, January 26, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
5 degrees, calm, partly sunny, flurries

Yesterday’s storm never really made it down into Turin,
but friends in the Watertown area report eighteen inches of
new snow arrived in their neighborhood by suppertime. We
are under another lake effect warning until tomorrow morning,
but I wouldn’t be surprised if we got left out of this event as well.
A mere two inches of light powder coats the morning view, fresh and
clean but not much of a hazard. Intermittent flurries mix with part-time
sun to paint a pretty picture, complete with various birds flitting about.
It has been months since I saw any starlings, which is peculiar, as a
small flock hung out here for many winters previously. I really miss
their merry greetings. Blue jays, juncos, grosbeaks, and crows are a
welcome sight on this cold morn, going about their business of stripping
every last seed from the trees and shrubbery around the house. Our three
local ravens have not been around for a week or so, probably preferring the
deep woods for its shelter from wind and more abundant food supply; I can
believe that stores will soon run out for many of our wild friends. Conifers
were heavily laden with seeds this winter, fine for birds and arboreal
mammals, but ground feeders have no access to that rich source
of food. Deep snow combined with a very poor apple crop have
already led deer to emergency rations; we see them munching buds
from low tree branches by the roadside and gathering about round
bales stored in farmers’ fields over the winter to pick up scraps.
How fortunate we are to be able to choose from a wealth
of foodstuffs, just a pantry, cellar, or fridge away.
Have a fine day,
Daisy

Sunday, January 25, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
6 degrees, breezy, mostly cloudy, snowing

We have a lake effect snowstorm perched just to the north of us.
If it drifts even a teensy bit south this light snow will begin to pile up
quickly. We move in and out of sunshine, creating many looks for the
flurry, sometimes sparkling with zillions of tiny rainbows, and then I blink
and the lights have gone out, leaving behind mere snow. Nordic skiing in
the outback has been a little tricky with all of the deep fresh snow, but al-
pine skiers report some of the best downhill conditions in years. It was
very cold last night, and a little critter burrowed into our enclosed back
porch, leaving tiny footprints in the snow that had blown in under
the door. I hope it has departed in the light of day; a mouse
in the woodpile would e an unnecessary surprise.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Saturday, January 24, 2009, 8:00 a.m.
6 degrees, breezy, mostly sunny

Hefty winds last night ushered in arctic air and a little more snow. I think
it is lovely how just a few inches of snow can disguise all of the sand and grime
stirred up by the town crew after they plowed and blew snow from our roadways.
Our morning view is as pure as the driven snow, literally. Yesterday they finished cut-
ting tall frozen cliffs back, and plowed the lesser banks into submission. In many places
the road signs are nearly obscured by snow; several of our old farm trucks have totally
disappeared under the deep cover. I followed a big plowtruck for a while yesterday as
we walked along the road, and was heartened to see that there is at least one vehicle that
will slow down a pack of speeding snowmobiles. Most riders are apparently certain that
my sturdy sedan poses no threat (I guess I am supposed to stop for them if they want to
cross the highway), and they ignore the trail groomer, passing it on blind corners and often
urling insults and trash at it as they go by. Last night a sledder did a u-turn right in the path
of a car; guess he won’t do that again for a while. Darwin may have been right. We took
advantage of the user-friendly weather to walk twice yesterday, once after lunch and
another shorter trek to admire the lovely sunset. Chickadees were very active in the
afternoon sun; a few crows could be heard in the distance but never showed them-
selves. The neighbor’s two labrador retrievers came out to greet us, grinning in
happiness, tails all a-wag, obviously enjoying the milder aspects of the day.
I often wish I had a tail to wag; what a lovely non-verbal expression of joy!
Wouldn’t it be fun to replace hand-shaking with virtual tail-wagging?
More sanitary in flu season, too.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Friday, January 23, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
28 degrees, overcast, calm

I went out to get the weekly newspaper and didn’t feel the need
for a coat on this fine morning. The air is a little damp, but all in all
it is clear that we are on our way back from the deepest darkest part
of the year, headed towards another spring. Now, tomorrow morning
will paint a different picture as we head back into the single digits. One
day at a time, that is the best way to appreciate a North Country winter.
I must fetch some kindling from the barn first thing this morning; the stack
is shrinking and we will need to concentrate on making more next summer.
It is a simple thing to get pine slabs from a nearby sawmill, buzz it into six-
teen inch pieces, and split it with an axe into the handy thin sticks that kindle
the daily fire in our Kalamazoo kitchen range. Sometimes we haul home a load
of hardwood scraps from the nearby bowling pin factory; that makes good quick
hot fires. There are many wonderful sights to capture a visitors’ fancy when they first
come to our farm. Deer at play, the impressive view of the Adirondack mountains, blue-
birds and soaring hawks, all are standard Kodak moments but everyone’s jaw drops in
amazement if they visit late in the summer and see the tall stacks of kindling piled all along
the barn wall, two layers deep in come places. Barrels of chunks and slabs from the pin
mill fill the old pigpen, and the longest wall of the old barn is stacked with two rows
of big wood for the main stove, piled higher than a tall man can reach. That sup-
ply is considerably smaller as well, but we have been toasty warm on the
sub-zero nights we have had so many of this winter. Ah, wood heat !
Have a comfy day,
Daisy

Thursday, January 22, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
20 degrees, breezy, overcast, snowing

The morning air is decidedly clammy and damp, and this
snow is a little bit wet in consistency. It is very different than
what we have been receiving for the past two weeks; this stuff
contains enough moisture to pack into a decent snowball. We will
have a bit of a warmup tonight and tomorrow before plunging back
into the deep freeze for the weekend. It has been nice enough to walk
with the dog these past few days, and his cabin fever seems to have flown
the coop. We may forget that our pets need more to do than lie comfortably
by the fire for days on end, although they enjoy that too. When our little dog
brings his toy more than once a day to play fetch on the slippery floor, that
shows me he has become bored with the cushy life. When the weather is
fine and he has plenty of outdoor time, his toys collect dust from lack of
interest. We had a fine walk yesterday; the sun felt warm even though the
air was chilly. There was little traffic of any kind, and there was much for a
dog’s nose to explore in the freshly cut snowbanks. He had to stop every ten
steps and inhale some new delight that had been previously buried until the town
crew peeled back the frozen layers yesterday. We climbed as high up the bank
as we could to peer down at Horsie Creek, and it is completely covered by
deep snow. Wow, it is snowing fairly hard now; looks like we will have
to bring out the plowtruck for the 25th time this season.
What a winter !
Daisy

Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
8 degrees, breezy, mostly sunny

There are lots of clouds in the sky, but so far the sun has avoided
them for the entire morning, so even though the sky is more than half
full of clouds, it is still mostly sunny. It’s a hard call to make on a morning
such as this, but I guess it’s a glass half-full or half-empty situation. (On those
occasions, I am grateful to have a glass at all. Imagine quaffing half a dewy lager
with no glass) Likewise the sun, as long as it is shining it is a sunny day, yes? When
we left Gomer Hill yesterday to go to the valley, we left behind not only a hefty dose
of flurries but also the huge snowbanks that are slowly turning our hilltop roads into
narrow canyons. Most of the banks are more than six feet tall; the only traffic we
can see are big trucks and school busses; cars are too short to come into our view.
This morning the town snowblower is chewing up the banks, creating sheer cliffs of
snow layered with ice from all those rainstorms. It is a bit like telling the age of a tree
and weather conditions from counting the rings in the stump. Ah, yes, that inch of ice
is from the hard rains of Christmas week, and near the top of the strata is the fat line
of adamantine sugar snow from two weeks ago. Every winter’s banks have a tale to
tell, and this season’s are full of changes so far. After the heavy equipment heads back
down the hill, I will have to take a pick and shovel over to cut terraces into the steep
wall, so I can have access to the meadows and woods across the road. If the banks
were hard to climb before, now they would require mountaineering gear to reach
the summit. It looks like Friday might offer another change to go on the snowbank
tally, with a small chance of freezing rain to offer brief relief from mere snow. You
know what they say about Tug Hill weather: If you don’t like it, just wait a day.
Today is perfect,
and I like it just fine !
Daisy

Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 8:00 a.m.
8 degrees, calm, overcast, snowing

More than a flurry, less than a storm, light flakes fall thickly
and are beginning to add up. So far, a little more than an inch
of new snow smoothes out the morning scene. I was looking out
the window as I cleaned up some dishes, and have seen no living thing
outdoors this morning, neither bird nor beast. Yesterday at work one of
my friends brought a small critter to me which had crawled into her office
and died. It was a pygmy shrew, little more than an inch long, not including
the tail. I had never seen one, other than in books; they are rarely caught in
traps and keep to themselves when outdoors. Fortunately, they breed only in
summer, so it is unlikely that there are any more in the building. It is likely that
this little guy died a natural death from old age, which is less than two years for
this species. To find out more about his interesting shrew, visit this site. The hard
winter has brought many little rodents into our old farmhouse here on Gomer Hill,
but the cats make sure they don’t get too comfy. We have had at least a half dozen
little grey bodies show up on the kitchen floor; in summer, the cats eat their prey
and leave just the gallbladder on the back step. I wonder why they don’t eat
winter-killed mice? Maybe they feel more pride than hunger during the lazy
indoor months, and want us to admire their prowess. For sure, they are
less active when the snow flies. A little breeze has kicked in, and the
snow swirls prettily across the meadows, filling the air with wintry
goodness. We are on our way to the city, and will probably
drive right into sunnier skies once we leave Tug Hill.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Monday, January 19, 2009, 8:00 a.m.
18 degrees, calm-ish, cloudy, snowing

Snow is falling at a good rate, and we have picked up more than an inch
since 7:00. The west wind lurks, and every now and then gives us a little puff
of breeze to remind us of its potential, but mostly the air is still; snow falls straight
to the ground to join its zillions of buddies. So far we have escaped a January thaw,
which has historically all but wiped out much of the snowpack amassed during the pre-
vious two months. There is snow in the picture every day this week, right through Sunday.
Yesterday we walked up the plowed road during a lull in the flurries; I couldn’t believe the
amount of snowmobile traffic that was flying by in a constant stream on the nearby trail. The
noise, the fumes, I am still trying to figure out what the appeal is to this activity. If you are not
first in the pack, aren’t you constantly traveling in a cloud of someone else’s blue exhaust ?
What can be seen of the beautiful countryside when zipping along at 80+ miles per hour ?
As we walked, we saw several small flocks of birds, mostly juncos and evening grosbeaks.
There was a small group of crows that kept pace with us for a little while, calling loudly to
us and each other, their recitation often drowned out by the high whine of the snowmobiles
as they sped along. All in all, not the peaceful and bucolic trek I had envisioned. The dog
certainly enjoyed the outing, as it has been too cold for him this past week. We will
get out for a bit this morning before I leave for work; so far, it is fairly quiet out
there today. Many of you have the day off to honor Martin Luther King;
enjoy your holiday,
Daisy

Sunday, January 18, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
10 degrees, breezy, partly sunny, snowing

Four inches of incredibly light powdery snow fell last night,
stuff so airy-fairy that a shovelfull weighs practically nothing. Yesterday’s
wind-driven hard-edged snow dunes have been smoothed over into soft humps
and vast blankets of white, sparkling in the occasional sunbeams that sporadically appear.
Gusts of wind lift this champagne powder into tall funnels, and tiny tornadoes of snow are
racing across the meadows, messing up the smooth bedcovers. We are having a relative
heat wave, with the morning temperature being the highest we have seen since last Tues-
day. The breeze makes it seem very cold, and if it keeps up I will continue to enjoy my-
self indoors for one more day. I am in no hurry to venture into the deep snow, and am
perfectly happy to wait for it to settle some more. Three big ravens are perched in the
copse around the neighbor’s springbox, occasionally swooping down to the road to
clean up after two deer that crossed the road earlier. Nature’s own unpaid scullery
chars, the ravens, crows, and vultures clean up all of the roadside messes for us;
whether old roadkill or new excrement, it all tastes yummy to them. Before you
go ewwwwwww too loudly, did you enjoy your morning eggs? Now there’s
a brave man, the first to consider something that shoots out of a chicken’s
backdoor as possibly edible. Same goes for clams, oysters, and lobster.
Who knows, that stuff the carrion eaters eat with such gusto might
not be all that bad. Me, I’ll stick with eggs, thanks.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Saturday, January 17, 2009, 8:00 a.m.
0 degrees, windy, mostly sunny

Once again the media got it wrong, for our neighborhood anyway.
Schools closed early yesterday in anticipation of a couple of feet of snow,
but what we really saw was only about four inches of wind-driven stuff delivered
over a period of twenty-four hours. We don’t even have enough new snow to warrant
plowing the yard this morning. That is the very nature of the lake effect snow phenomenon;
it goes where it pleases, and there is no telling exactly where it will bestow its wintry gifts. We
are under a lake effect snow warning until 3:00 this afternoon, and I believe that north of here
this will still apply. Of greater impact is the wind chill advisory, as there have been some pretty
hefty gusts out there this morning. Two blue jays are unfazed by the bluster, and have lent a
bright colorful highlight to the mostly white view. Strong winds have sculpted the snow into
intricate rippled patterns, minutely detailed with countless graduated ridges. It is very pretty
out there, and if the wind dies down I am looking forward to getting up close and personal
with the forest again after nearly a week of pursuing indoor jobs and hobbies. Today is a
perfect day for snowshoes; there has been plenty of snow since last weekend and it still
hasn’t settled into the firm density necessary to provide good skiing. The nearby snow-
mobile trail is off limits for me for the rest of the season; traffic has been very heavy,
even during the week, and skiing on that would be not only unpleasant but down-
right dangerous. By tomorrow, things should have warmed up enough to take
the dog for a long walk; I am sure he is getting a little bored with merely
playing in the yard and barn. No matter what the weather, there is
always something of interest going on outdoors, even if the best
we can manage is to observe the scene from the snug com-
fort of the kitchen window. Take a good look;
what do you see ?
Daisy

Friday, January 16, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
0 degrees, calm, partly sunny, flurries

A dozen plump birds are picking seeds from the maple tree outside my window.
I can only see their silhouettes, as they are backlit by hazy sunshine which obscures
any color or distinguishing characteristics beyond their size and shape. They are probably
evening grosbeaks, with that distinctive conical beak. They could also be the more colorful
pine grosbeaks, but for now I shall have to be content to watch them feed and preen while
retaining an air of anonymity. Earlier, three ravens perched in the same tree and watched
the road, swooping down from time to time to peck at something or other, probably grit
or salt from the town road sander. They were very quiet this morning; yesterday at noon
they made the rounds of the barnyard while keeping up a steady gravelly mumble, loud
enough that it drew my attention from inside the house. I took the dog out for a very short
walk, and at our intrusion they took off towards the deep woods, still muttering among them-
selves as they flew away. It was too cold to walk farther than Horsie Creek, which has been
almost buried by drifts of deep snow. The cold weather has slowed the stream’s flow enough
to permit vast snow bridges, and now the wild things will have to search for drinking water. This
is a rough winter for bird and beast alike, and when the snow melts in the spring I imagine it will
reveal more clean-picked bones than usual. And so the cycle goes: a bad year for deer, a good
year for ravens, vultures, coyotes, and other carrion eaters. It is a real challenge to survive a
North Country winter, and if our ancestors had not discovered fire, farming, and animal hus-
bandry, we might be in the same boat. Take a few moments to fully appreciate the roof
over your head, the hot meal you will likely enjoy at least once today, and the means
to freely move from one place to another in relative comfort and safety.
Life is good !
Daisy

Thursday, January 15, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
3 degrees, calm, partly sunny

It is a beautiful, if chilly, January morn on Gomer Hill.
I headed north to Lowville yesterday and there were very
few people in the P&C supermarket, but they all had one thing
in common; everyone was griping about the weather. I didn’t find
conditions all that daunting. After all, the sun was out, there was ab-
solutely no wind (event he giant wind turbines were motionless), and
although I wouldn’t want to be out in a kayak or sunbathing on a rooftop,
the day was altogether pleasant to my way of thinking. Perhaps the quality
of small talk has suffered from the stress of trying to remain politically cor-
rect when speaking to strangers, and the weather is a topic that can be dis-
respected with alacrity, no repercussions or rebukes from eavesdroppers
looking for a non-PC term to taint their ears. After all, when talking about
the weather it is okay to use the F-word (frosty) or the S-word (snow) or
even the N-word (north wind). So go ahead and talk trash about our North
Country winter; just be careful when talking to me, because I will try to make
you enjoy it. When I returned home at noon, bright sun reflected from all of the
snow and it was very pleasant playing in the yard with the dog and his beanbag.
We hauled kindling from the barn, picked up some branches that had blown
down during Tuesdays storm, and altogether enjoyed ourselves outdoors
on a day when so many people were grumbling about the cold.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
-2 degrees, calm, mostly sunny

On a frigid morning like this, I wonder what folks who do not
heat with wood do to keep their homes toasty and snug. Even though
the temperature’s lowest point hit minus twenty last night, it never dipped
below seventy indoors thanks to the big solid chunks of maple we loaded into
the stove before we retired. As we work our way through the winter wood supply,
we set aside what we call B-Z (below zero) pieces; they are perfect for cranking out
plenty of heat when it really counts. The kitchen range usually won’t keep a fire all night
long, as the firebox is pretty small, but we had it humming right along to cook dinner and
then stoked it before bedtime; amazingly, there were a few coals left when we arose. We
were snug under our quilts in the cool rooms upstairs, and awakened in the wee hours by
a loud BAM! like something big flew into the siding. I expected to find a dead owl on the
ground by my window, but there was no evidence that the noise was anything but the
wood of this old house rearranging itself. We received quite a bit of snow yesterday,
accompanied by wicked gusts of wind, and I had to cancel all of my afternoon act-
ivities in town. It is hard to tell how much snow fell, but I would say at least a
foot. There was plenty to move with the plow this morning, that’s for sure.
We are in for a few more very cold days, so tuck in and play safe.
Enjoy your day,
Daisy

Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
20 degrees, breezy, mostly cloudy

We are in for a real change in the weather, with the temperature
falling as much as fifty degrees between tonight and Thursday morning.
Don’t forget to add some dry gas into your vehicles’ fuel supply, and invest
in a little can of de-icer in case your door locks freeze up. Most importantly, take
care of your pets, and make sure their comfort is high on your list of priorities. Even
the hardiest of dogs will need to be protected from temperatures as cold as we will see
this week. Water sources must be kept thawed, and check your dog’s paws for icy buildup
after they have been out. When we used to keep chickens year-round, it was hard to provide
water for them to drink during the deep-freeze of winter, requiring frequent trips to the barn with
our teakettle. I read an article recently that suggests poultry can get all the water they need if fresh
snow is provided for them to peck on, but I believe I would stick with warm water if we still kept
hens. While I enjoy munching on fresh-fallen snow, it isn’t very thirst-quenching. I don’t think we
currently have any cats sheltering in the barn, but will set a plastic basin of tepid water out every
morning just in case. Several years ago we found a small pure white cat nearly dead from dehy-
dration, huddled in a corner of our barn after a week of bitter cold weather. We had seen her
in the area for several summers, hunting in the hedgerows and dashing across the meadows
by moonlight. Once we even accidentally caught her in the Havahart trap intended for rac-
coons. She drank an entire pint of water in one long draught on that frigid winter morn,
and has since become part of the family of cast-offs and foundlings that share our
hearths and hearts. She shows no interest in going outdoors while there is snow
on the ground, and probably can’t believe her luck. Right now she is stretched
out full-length next to the big woodburning stove, with our little dog curled up
next to her, both no doubt dreaming of good hunting in warmer months.
Take care, and bundle up,
Daisy

Monday, January 12, 2009, 8:00 a.m.
13 degrees, calm, partly sunny, flurries

A single shining spear of sunlight thrusts down through the clouds in
the eastern sky, targeting a spot in the Black River Valley where folks
could be temporarily blinded if they gaze outside. We are having some
nice snow this morning, light and fluffy, some of it seeming to fall back up
towards the sky in its slow mosey. The tire tracks and plow marks in the yard
have been smoothed by an inch or so of new powder, and the whole scene is
peaceful and serene on this January morn. I traded my skis for warm socks and
hiking shoes yesterday, and headed up the plowed road with our dog to enjoy the
midday sun. The neighbor’s horses were the only critters we saw during our trek,
and they were snorting cold steam as they stomped about their paddock, shaggy
in their winter coats and coming to see if we were carrying any apples. This is
the first winter in a long time we haven’t had buckets of wild apples stashed in
the cellar to share with our four-legged pals. I like to tuck a few into tree forks
for the deer as I ski through the deep woods, as well as putting a couple in my
pocket when I know we will walk by the horses. There simply were no apples
to gather last fall, a poor harvest indeed. The banks are so tall that we saw no
deer trails; I imagine they only cross the road now where the snowmobile route
has squashed the snow flat. There has been so much snow this season that deer
have been traveling on the trails rather than traversing their traditional forest routes,
and many have been clipped by snowmobiles and left to die from their injuries. Be
careful, especially at night; don’t run faster than your headlights can shine. This would
apply to any vehicle; I have had many near-misses in my car during the past month. Last
night’s moonrise was spectacular! It was huge, red, and kind of wrinkly around the edges
as it cleared the Adirondack range. Atmospheric conditions caused the deep hue and dis-
tortion, and as it rose higher it softened into the more familiar pale yellow sphere shape. Al-
though not technically full, it was close enough to satisfy my yearning to view the January Wolf
Moon that clouds had obscured on Saturday night. (Technically, our moon is full only one night,
but if you have ever watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer you know that if you are a were-
wolf, it theoretically lasts three nights...) Check it out tonight at around 7:00 EST;
although only 97% illuminated, it will still be a great show if the sky is clear.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Sunday, January 11, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
16 degrees, breezy, partly sunny

We received four inches of new snow last night, fine flakes that
settled into a uniform blanket of white over all the wind-sculpted snow
of yesterday. Sharp corners are rounded, and even the steep snowbanks
appear a little less daunting. A real challenge lately has been how to enter into
the meadow across the road to ski. Since the town plow cut the banks back on
Friday, they are as tall as I in most places. Yesterday I found a spot that was a
mere three feet high, but very crusty and hard to dig a ski into for the tricky side-
step to the top. Why not climb without the skis? Because when you get to the top
of the bank, there is not a lot of flat space to stand, and it is very hard to attach skis
while balanced atop a small cliff, with hard pavement six feet below. Once up the
sheer roadside face, the other side is a steep slope filled with frozen chunks and a
concealed ditch, which I always hope has filled in with snow, and isn’t a crevasse
waiting to swallow me up. once in the field the gliding was perfect, much faster
than Friday’s trek through fresh snow. There were several sets of coyote tracks
to investigate, the old ones from Friday as well as the fresher trail of a pair on
the hunt. The sky filled with clouds late in the day, and I was not able to see
the full moon as it rose, which would have been a highlight of my return trip.
The fields look very inviting today, with new snow sparkling in the sun
and interesting clouds forming across the broad expanse of blue sky.
Wherever I end up, I am sure to have a perfect winter experience.
Enjoy your day,
Daisy

Saturday, January 10, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
8 degrees, calm, mostly sunny

A very pretty red-orange sun rose over a frigid scene this morning,
minus seven degrees at dawn. We are already fifteen degrees warmer
now, real proof that the sun has indeed turned the cusp of winter, gaining
a little more power every day. The sky is rich with a variety of cloud forms
scattered across the blue, and we have word that they will be increasing as the
day goes forth, bringing more snow late in the day. Yesterday was cold but sunny,
and I headed out on my own to explore the meadows and swamps within a few miles
of our home. I followed fairly fresh tracks of a lone coyote for quite a while; sometimes
he followed a squirrel as far as a tree, but mostly he traversed back and forth in a method-
ical search of the entire area before finally leaving evidence of a successful kill. Feathers and
blood streaked the snow, and a telltale hole a few feet away showed where a partridge had
been startled from its snug hidey-hole; it must have been too slow taking off, and met a quick
end in the jaws of the coyote. The stiff bones and frozen blood gave me a better idea of how
old the tracks were, actual evidence instead of an educated guess. I had expected to catch
sight of the coyote at some point, but in fact, the tracks were many hours old. Snow in the
meadows was shaped by the wind, sometimes scoured right down to icy crust, and occa-
sionally deposited into deep drifts when I least expected them. Tiny ripples gave the sur-
face the look of a topographic map, and the skiing was mostly a little on the slow side.
More snow had fallen than I had thought; it hadn’t been moved around by wind in the
forest, and there were easily eight inches of new powder, making it more of a trudge
than a glide where the snow was deep. Smaller balsam trees were caked with snow
atop the boughs, disrupted only by birds or squirrels as they briefly touched down.
Last Wednesday’s rain has left a dazzling assortment of clear ice on just about every
surface. Ash keys were coated and dangled like thousands of teardrop diamonds at the
end of their stems. The lowering sun caught the display in a mesmerizing shimmer, and I
stood transfixed for many moments by the sight. Eight cattails were encased in glazing,
looking for all the world like assorted fudgesicles just waiting for a lick or two. When
I drew near home late in the day I thought to check out the area around one of our big
white birch trees where I had seen about twenty juncos in the morning. The ground was
littered with tiny seed hulls and stitched with a crazy pattern of little bird tracks, wandering
in organic paisley shapes as far as the forage was scattered. Our other birch tree has no such
detritus, and not one track underneath. I would have thought that perhaps one tree was male,
and one female, but research shows that the flowers, or catkins, are pollinated by wind and
will produce little nutkins in late August on all trees. Now we have another Gomer Hill mys-
tery to solve; why did only one tree drop seeds yesterday? If there were more white birch
trees in the area, I could do a survey; alas, we planted these two specimens when we
moved here, and I have seen no native ones in our neighborhood. If you have a
birch tree in your yard, drop me a note and let me know if there are seeds
beneath. Try to catch moonrise at around 4:15 EST; this full moon
will be the biggest of 2009, as much as 31,000 miles closer
to Earth than other full moons we'll see this year.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Friday, January 9, 2009, 7:30 a.m.
1 degree, calm, mostly sunny

The temperature has fallen three degrees since I arose,
and may very well dip to zero before the sun comes up in
four minutes. It is a still chill morning, with a couple inches of
powdery fluff resting gently atop the plowed yard. We had quite
a blustery day, and I felt compelled to cancel my afternoon commit-
ments because of wind and lake effect snow. Sure enough, after I made
all of my phone calls the sky cleared and the wind died down, but once things
are cancelled, it is very hard to un-cancel them. Light snow fell off and on all night
long, but it was a tame flurry, not the mighty wind-driven whiteouts that filled that
daylight hours. The town plows did an awesome job of keeping up with the storm,
and have pushed the tall banks back the best they could. It won’t be long before
the giant snow-blower makes an appearance, whacking away at the banks and
widening the roads. It is only January, and they need to make room to for the
heavy snows that are yet to come. What a winter! Here comes the sun, a
blazing orange beauty rising over the Adirondack Mountains, right on
schedule. Today will remain cold but the sun should offer some
warmth for any outdoor activities. Don’t forget your sunscreen !
Have a great day,
Daisy

Thursday, January 8, 2009, 8:00 a.m.
18 degrees, breezy, cloudy, snowing

After a day filled with wicked wintry mix things changed over to all snow by evening.
We have received about eight inches total of heavy wet snow, and what is now
falling will be much easier to move than yesterday’s waterlogged glop.
Here is a cautionary poem for you:

Snow
by George Bilgere

A heavy snow, and men my age
  all over the city
are having heart attacks in their driveways,

dropping their nice new shovels
  with the ergonomic handles
that finally did them no good.

Gray-headed men who meant no harm,
  who abided by the rules and worked hard
for modest rewards, are slipping

softly from their mortgages,
  falling out of their marriages.
How gracefully they swoon—

that lovely, old-fashioned word—
  from dinner parties, grandkids,
vacations in Florida.

They should have known better
  than to shovel snow at their age.
If only they'd heeded

the sensible advice of their wives
  and hired a snow-removal service.
But there's more to life

than merely being sensible. Sometimes
  a man must take up his shovel
and head out alone into the snow.

Let’s be careful out there !
Daisy

Wednesday, January 7, 2009,
8:45 a.m. 28 degrees, breezy, overcast, sleet/rain/snow

In spite of the fact that it seems to be raining right now, that is subject
to change at any moment. About four inches of sugary snow sits in the yard,
a perfect surface in which to play. Area schools are either closed or delayed,
and I imagine a lot of playing will ensue as the day wears on. Snow Ridge, however,
is closed due to weather conditions. (That’s a new one, a ski area closing because of snow...)
I’ll bet sledding down one of those ski hills would be a good time; we used to do it after hours
when the kids were little. Cross country skiing will be speedy in crystalline snow like this, and
I can’t wait to get out before the wind picks up. Yesterday I etched many trails through our
meadows and those of our neighbors as well, and the gliding was excellent. Our little dog
made one round with me, but his pencil feet were poking through the crust; after a while
he was following my tracks in a weary trudge, not the merry romp I had envisioned for
him, so his outing was cut short, and he happily returned to his favorite spot by the wood-
stove. I continued on my way, streaking fast down the hills and bounding back up, a per-
fect fartlek workout. Please add this fun word to your vocabulary; try to use it five times
in a sentence today. It is from the Swedish for speed play and is a training technique that
alternates strenuous intervals with normal effort in a continuous exercise. Fartlek training
helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and also increases stamina and endurance
for all activities. It’s fun, too! I saw lots of different critter tracks on my trek yesterday;
most notable were those of a large dog through the swamp at the edge of our east mea-
dow. Probably some weekend visitors had let their dog wander out of bounds, or perhaps
the local wolf is back in town. They were older tracks, most obscured by blowing snow, but
there were also some very clear prints wandering in a hunting pattern in more sheltered spots.
I also saw the trail of two coyotes, mingled with those of white-footed mice who had popped
out from under the snow to travel aboveground for a bit before diving back down. There is
evidence that these same mice have been using our bluebird nesting boxes, with seed caches
in two and fluffy beds in two more. White footed mice usually show the mark of a tail being
dragged between their small paw prints; that is a distinguishing mark for that species. Deer
had been active in a neighboring field, and had pawed the snow away in several spots to
nibble at roots and rhizomes. There are still a few wet spots and seeps that haven’t frozen
over yet, and there was a convergence of tracks left by all kinds of animals as they stopped
to drink. I had a wonderful time going ‘round in circles, and at the end of the day the sun set
over what looked like the wheel of some crazy game of fox-and-geese, evidence of big
fun on Gomer Hill. If the weather cooperates, I’ll get out and do it again today. Right
now the rain has changed to grauple; it will be interesting to watch this day unfold.
Have a great day,
Daisy

Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
20 degrees, breezy, mostly sunny

A few flurries were falling earlier, but now the sun has pushed
aside the snow clouds and is the dominant feature in the morning
view. It looks like it will be a beautiful day, and then we will be bracing
for another bout of snow and who knows what else. There is just enough
fresh snow on top of crust to make meadow skiing very appealing, and I am
certain I can put aside household tasks and head outdoors for some exercise.
Yesterday at work a conversation arose about how sad everyone was to un-
decorate their holiday trees and haul them to the curb, that they wished they
could keep them up longer. Our balsam is still reigning over the corner of
the dining room, and until the needles start to fall away, there it will stay.
We were late bringing it in this year, and I think we can enjoy its fra-
grant beauty for at least another week, maybe longer. I love linger-
ing by its soft glow for a bit before bedtime every night, recalling
past Christmases spent with loved ones long gone and appre-
ciating the memories of a happy life. I have loved and been
loved in return; what more could anyone want ?
Have a wonderful day,
Daisy

Monday, January 5, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
28 degrees, calm, overcast, flurries

Very fine snow is falling, nearly invisible but felt as tiny frosty kisses
on my cheeks when I was outside earlier. It may be raining at lower
elevations, as a dozen schools are delaying their start times due to icy
buildup; up here in Gomer Hill, we are free of such glazing. There are
long icicles hung from the eaves of the house and barns, created by
yesterday’s warm sun melting the rooftop snowpack, but that is the
only ice I see on this grey morning. We skied several of the loops at the
state trails originating on Carpenter Road, enjoying the warm sun and milder
temperatures that graced our Sunday outing. Although a half foot of snow had
recently fallen, all of the trails were well-traveled and the gliding was very fast;
we only encountered two other people while we skied, both of them old friends
that we hadn’t seen in a while. Small world, eh? We circled two beaver ponds,
one of which was full, the frozen water held back by an impressive tall dam.
The other pond had been drained since last winter, and there was only a
small trickle of a stream bifurcating that disused hollow. All of the trails
were sporting dozens of hare tracks, and a few coyotes had also been
through the area earlier in the day. Streams are still running with open
water, and the ice mushrooms formed over submerged rocks that we had
admired on Thursday were decorated with tall snow hats yesterday. We found
a small bird’s nest hanging waist-high between two thin twigs; I have no clue what
kind of bird made it. When researching bird’s nests last night, I was advised by one
source to wait and see what kind of bird returned to it. While this could certainly be
a valid method, I doubt it would work well in January. We also skied past two very
beautiful thistle seedheads sticking up out of the snow. The stems were bristling with
long sharp thorns, or I would have plucked one to rest on my windowsill as a me-
mento of yesterday’s adventure. It was an absolutely perfect day, one we will
all relive during the steamy dog days of August. Now the snow flurries have
increased in size and frequency, and the breeze is stiffening a bit. Twigs
and branches are starting to whiten up, lending that little wintry
touch of magic to the day that was lacking until now.
Enjoy your day,
Daisy

Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
14 degrees, calm, sunny

What an awesome winter morning ! Blue jays are not
only beautiful as they fly among the spruce trees but they
are talking back and forth with their distinctive chime-like tones,
wonderful music for the new year. This pair of striking birds has been
living in our back yard for several months, and I believe they have become
used to my presence every morning; they no longer flee at my approach, but
continue with whatever task is underway at the moment. They never land on the
ground, so they pay no attention to our cats, who spend a lot of time staring at the
jays. Yesterday we skied in a long circuitous path through our woodlot, checking
for sign of deer and other critters. The day was perfect, a little colder than today
but filled with sunshine and sparkling fresh snow. We stayed right up on top of the
crust that underlies the new snow, and even my friend’s big dog was able to frolic in
the forest without getting bogged down. There were many wet spots leftover form last
week’s rainfall, but we were able to avoid the worst of them. The big creek at the bot-
tom of the gorge is flowing swiftly, not yet frozen over in spite of several sub-zero nights.
We found a few old deer runs, showing faintly underneath eight inches of fresh snow.
There were a couple of individual trails that had been made during the morning snow-
fall, but the only fresh sign we saw from any animal were the big pawprints of our
canine companion. He made frequent stops to bury his muzzle under a log or into
a brushpile to sniff at some buried treasure, so we knew there had been some
kind of recent animal activity, at least in those places. We found no deer beds,
and saw no actual animals on our trek. There were many new blowdowns, some
blocking the trail which we had cleared out last autumn. One giant maple tree broke
right off at the base, and I can see a lot of potential firewood in one convenient place.
Unfortunately, some of the biggest toppled obstacles are spruce or basswood, neither
one suitable for enhancing the home fires. For now, we will just ski around them, creat-
ing new pathways in familiar territory. Sometimes we need to do this in other matters too,
whether avoiding obstacles or just seeking new solutions for life’s challenges in general. We
could have been stalled out by the huge trees blocking our way, or turned back to retrace
our steps and make no forward progress. Instead, we followed a different path, one that
was not in the original plan but which ultimately led to a similar outcome. It’s all good !
Have a great day,
Daisy

Saturday, January 3, 2009, 8:30 a.m.
15 degrees, mostly cloudy, snowing

Beautiful snow is falling gently, with only a hint of gentle breeze
to alter the path of the fat flakes on their way earthward. We are
smack dab in the middle of a lake effect cloud that seems to have
stalled out right above Gomer Hill. There is a little bit of blue sky here
and there, and I can tell where the sun is but can’t actually see it. This
morning we plowed the yard for the twentieth time this season; imagine
the expense if we had to hire someone to do it! We had received about
six inches of powder since yesterday afternoon, and it looks like we will
see a couple more before the skies finally clear. We took a walk up the
plowed road late in the afternoon, as it was warm enough for the dog to
enjoy some exercise outdoors. I think even if I didn’t have the dog to con-
sider, I would still choose to hike some winter days instead of skiing, just for
the cross-training benefits. We walked for a bit along the snowmobile trail, but
sled traffic was very heavy so we turned around. I haven’t seen many deer tracks
by the road lately; they must be deep in the sheltering forest, massed together for
warmth and comfort on these very cold nights. I am going to check out the wood-
lot across the road later today, and see if I can locate some deer sign by the edge
of the gorge. It’s a perfect day for just about anything !
Enjoy your day,
Daisy

Friday, January 2, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
16 degrees, breezy, mostly cloudy, snowing

Lake effect snow is in the forecast for later in the day,
but in my experienced amateur opinion as an eyewitness
weatherman (“I look outside, I witness the weather”; Les Nessman,
WKRP in Cincinnati) I would say it is already here. The west wind
has picked up and snow is increasing in both density and rate; that
spells lake effect to me. The sun looks like it may shine through a
thin spot in the clouds; it is always festive to have snow and sun
simultaneously. Yesterday I skied with a group of friends on the
Douglas Creek/Larch Loop trail the originates on Carpenter Road.
A few folks had already been on the trails by the time we got there,
so we didn’t have to set any tracks; the conditions were perfect. We
left the trail several times to follow critter prints or investigate fallen trees,
and even on fresh snow the going was good. The sky was cobalt blue, and
bright midday sun gave the impression of warmth, even though it was only
four degrees outside. As long as we kept moving, we were toasty warm.
The surface of fresh snow was filled with tracks of squirrels and snowshoe
hares, and several times the distinctive prints of running coyotes crossed the ski
trail. The forest was teeming with life, but we were not very stealthy in our exub-
erant passing; all we saw were the footprints of all who fled at our approach.
Creeks are freezing over once again, with big mushroom-shaped formations
over submerged rocks building up layers that will eventually merge with
the icy crust that appears along the banks. At some points over slower
moving streams the surface is totally iced over, with windowpane crust
clearly showing the bubbling brook beneath. We had a wonderful
trek through the woods, a great way to start a new year !
Have a great day,
Daisy

Thursday, January 1, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
3 degrees, breezy, sunny

After a very cold night the temperature is on the rise. We dipped
down to minus seven, so it is already ten degrees warmer than when
we arose. Tiny frost motes dance on the light breeze, sunny echoes of
yesterday’s lovely snowfall. We walked for a bit during the worst of the
storm, mostly to check out the activity at Horsie Creek. The flow is freezing
up again, with thick ice shelves building up from the edges towards the still-swift
moving water near the center of the stream. There is a fallen tree within sight of
the road that has collected quite a bit of debris behind it, and a small pool fills
the streambed at that point. A well-worn trail shows that deer have been to
that spot to drink throughout the winter, coming down the bank near the
source, before the gorge gets too deep. I have taken many friends to the
gorge across the road at all seasons of the year, and all are amazed at its
very existence. There are literally hundreds of these deep stream-cut gullies
all over Tug Hill; we are very lucky to have one within walking distance of our
back door. It is a beautiful place this time of year, with deer beds melted into
the snowpack along the rim and tall balsams swaying in the wind overhead.
In the summertime, it is a great place to cool off, and a grand adventure
finding a route to the bottom, half walking/half tumbling down into the
cool moss-lined gulf to play in the refreshing water. One of the best
parts of living on Gomer hill is that every season has its particular
points of beauty; one merely has to be awake and aware
to enjoy life here at the top of the world.
Happy new year !
Daisy

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