Life in the Boreal Forest

Winter has settled in here on the old Permafrost Ranch

It's here, the hawk as it is called.  The hawk of winter.  Winter comes early and leaves late in this part of the Boreal Forest.  It sure changes the pattern of life for the squirrels and birds who frequent the feeders.  As the daylight hours shrink towards the long winters night the snow covered forest grows quieter.  At least that is the way it seems except the cold air really transmits sound quite efficiently.  You can hear the neighbors better, the crunch of footsteps out in the road or drive way.    The cars passing by out on the road or the trains lonely whistle over three miles away, all come through loud and clear.  The barking of dogs at night carries for long distances in the deep cold air that comes with the season.  The old squirrel agrees with me when I say us humans are a noisy bunch.  

Snow Cover

Frosty day at the Feeder

This little one was busy looking for something to eat at the feeder with the snow steadily falling today

New Snow

Grumpy Gus says it's snowing 

I'm still having sleep problems and it's snowing...  Making me a grumpy old squirrel

Bottom fell out of the Thermometer

Frost on the Pumpkin

There is more than frost on it this morning said the old squirrel.  It's down right frozen.  

Termination Dust

First Dusting of Snow Today

It's here, and the Hawk of winter has returned to the Permafrost Ranch.

Midnight Raider

Red Squirrel in the Dark

Caught this little guy on the feeder long after dark.  Our days are growing shorter by the minute, the leaves have mostly fallen and there is a hint of snow in the air.  The hawk returns.

Slip sliding away

Living in the Land of Ice and Snow, has it's disadvantages for sure. I stepped off the front porch this afternoon and really took a bad fall. My left shoulder took the brunt of the fall and my weight. I'm hurting big time this evening.

Snow Fall

We have had a snow drought, this winter and last, but in the last week, we have had plenty of snow fall. It's something we have to deal with, and here in the interior of Alaska once the snow falls, it doesn't leave until breakup. So, now it's up to me to make sure the sheds and even the house roof is cleared. The first picture is the snow fall on the cam2 feeder for 17 Jan 08 and the second is the snow fall last night on the 20 Jan 08.

Thinking of spring and it's snowing

Sigh, spring is so far away here in the Great Land...