Adventures of the Home Run Swim Team: 2014: A Memorable Winter

Over three foot snow banks lining our sidewalk...

It's March 23rd and there is still over 30 inches of ice on our lake. However, I did see my first robin of the year this morning on the only patch of grass amongst the snow. It was a record breaking year as far as snowfall and cold temperatures. It felt like the winters Tom and I experienced as kids.

Rein measuring up against the snowbank

We have been washing dishes canoe-trip style in our kitchen for the last two months with buckets in the sinks. This was necessary because the pipe to our grey bed had frozen. The frigid temperatures we experienced this winter caused the frost line to stretch down lower than previous years. We also were without oil for about a week shortly after Christmas and over the new year. Ultramar, who we had an auto-fill contract with and had be delivering oil to us for the past six years, failed to deliver by December 9th and still hadn't gotten out by December 29th which was the day we ran out. When we called them during the coldest week of the winter so far, they refused to deliver. After just over a week of using wood and filling the tank with jerry cans of diesel to allow us to keep the furnace going just enough so our pipes wouldn't freeze, we called another company who had a much smaller truck that wouldn't have any problems getting down our road. After an inspection and receiving an estimate of required grades to continue with the new company, we were flush with oil and HEAT once again.

A familiar sight this year

We have had our snowiest winter in about 5 years. We have rejoiced in the snowy days that mother nature has dished out to us. Winter came early and we were skating on the lake November 28th. It was the first time we skated in November during the 10 years we have been here. The snow storms started soon after and they have continued throughout the darker months keeping us primed for all manner of winter sports - shinny hockey, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, fort and ice bar building. When we have a winter like this, I once again truly appreciate what each season brings us and the experiences that come with it.

10 + deer in a sighting - not unusual...

My hockey, downhill skiing, and cross country skiing has gotten better and I have learned a new sport this year - skijoring. My friend and new neighbour, Kelly, has introduced me to this fun activity. You get harnessed up to a dog (in this case, Kona or Ryder - two brothers of a husky cross) and then you skate ski behind them. You go pretty fast and there has been times when you would here me yelling "whoa! whoa! whoaaaaaa!" as Kona caught the scent of a dead porcupine and bee-lined for the source. Kelly yelling after
me to "sit down!" didn't register as I held on for dear life. These brief moments of fear that I was going to be pulled off into the woods or down into a creek beside us hasn't discouraged me, however. I am all game!


One of several deer kills that we came across cross country skiing


Enjoying some sun and a snack break during a cross country ski behind our house

Skiing Davis Lake

Skiing through a rookery of Blue Heron nests

It has been a tough winter for the creatures of many kinds - we have seen many deer out on the lake and have come across a number of deer kills on our cross country treks back behind our house. The ice storm that came through just before Christmas and then the added snow on top has made it difficult for deer, rabbits, and birds to find food. We have been keeping the bird feeder full - the chickadees, juncos, and blue jays have been happy. I watched a deer struggle to get out of a small opening in the ice across the lake from our house - I was skiing by when I discovered. I quickly skied back home to try to contact someone who would be willing to help the deer get out. I called a friend from our local fire department and he did drive out to take a look. By the time he got there - about an hour later - the deer had managed to get itself out and was lying on the ice beside the opening completely exhausted. Tom and Rein walked across after school to check it out. They reported that there were deer prints leading to and from the opening which means that the deer found enough strength to walk away from another near death experience of probably many.

Le Massif - the mighty St. Lawrence in the distance

During the March Break, we headed off on our annual downhill ski trip to Quebec and once again it was a fantastic experience! We rented a Chalet near Le Massif with our friends, Matt and Kelly and their two girls, and Shawn and Julia. Matt & Kelly's youngest, Neko, had broken her collarbone a few weeks before while tobogganing so she was chalet bound. Silka took 3 days off of skiing to stay with Neko. The conditions were fantastic and we got away with no ski injuries this year. However, I end up getting left behind - I cruise along the blue square runs most of the time with a few single black diamond runs sprinkled in. Rein now skis double and triple black runs including glade runs with his dad and Silka is not far behind. The couple of times she did ski with me, she was always ahead of me and told me at the bottom that she loved me but I was too slow. I thought I had a few more years before I would here that! We also had the pleasure of hooking up with Tanya, Andrew and their girls for a couple days. They were at Mont Saint Anne for the week.
This year our love for winter has been restored. The past few icy, snow-less ones were disappointing to say the least.
We have our Maples tapped and we will be boiling sap either this weekend or next. As it boils down in our cast iron cauldron, we will ladle some out and make a toast - "Farewell, old man Winter, and welcome back, Spring!"