All Steamed Up

One of the hardest things to predict in recent years is when the lake might freeze. In the late 80's and much of the 90's, it would usually go by about the middle of December. When asked, we would tell folks either the first or second week of the month was a good bet. This year, it looked like we were on track for that, with snow on the ground, and some decent cold blasts that took us below zero. But as I mentioned the other day, the wind is the last variable to make a difference. It's still making waves, so we are still waiting for ice. And that's what's got us all steamed up....Not that we are mad about this, but rather that the moving waters keep on kicking up clouds of steam, as the lake releases its warmth. On our way to church last Sunday, the skies were clear and the trees full of crystals as we passed by Loon Lake. But looking over the ridge (the north side of the South Rim) we could see huge clouds of steam rising. Last night, the wind was blowing so hard, it sounded more like a fall storm out there than the usual ultra-quiet of winter. We'll keep on waiting....

A bit of fresh snow is falling, and most of the trees still have snow on their branches, so we are frosted up for the upcoming holidays. The ski trails have been packed--including the South Rim! It's early for that to have happened. Once we get a decent amount of fresh snow, it will be time to track the trails. Yahoo for early snow.

Greg is working beyond sundown these days (which of course is easy to do, given that the sunset is about 4:10 in the afternoon) as he puts the bathroom at Spruce cabin back together. The shower is tiled, and soon the floor will be. The boards are painted and ready to go back up on the walls, and the fixtures are ready to be set into place. We found a neat little sink when we were in Bozeman last spring, so we ordered it up for the cabin. I'm sure that store will become a regular stop on our western treks, as Greg searches out new ideas for future remodeling projects. He wishes that there were more hours in the day, as the ideas and opportunities abound when you maintain so many buildings.

Holiday preparations continue here at the lodge. Addie and I did get some cookies made. Most of those have been packed up and are Alaska-bound. Robert appreciates it when we send goodies his way. Once again, he will spend Christmas in the town of Eagle. He must fly in from Fairbanks, and that is weather-dependent. He has several days off from school, so a delay isn't as crucial. He is fortunate to have many good friends there who will make the holiday just as wonderful as if he were back home.

Lately, with Greg so busy, the rest of us have been taking turns going up to feed the donkeys, Moses and Jethro. Those boys have grown some nice wooly coats for the winter. Is that an indication of how the weather is to be? Over the weekend, they displayed their resourcefulness: When Greg went up there one morning, they were not at the gate, nor in the barn. He looked around, and they were standing at the far edge of the pasture, in the spot where the first rays of sunshine would hit when the sun came up. Of course, when they saw Greg open the hay shed gate, they came running over for breakfast. Greg put hay in their usual places, and they started to eat. Then he put some where the sun was spotting the ground. When Moses noticed that, he ran right over, before Jethro could steal the hot spot. Such antics we get to observe in these guys--and their intelligence, too.

The snow is falling a bit harder now. How wonderful it would be to sit here and knit all day, watching those flakes fall from the sky! I did get that chance, last March when I was laid-up with my achilles injury. It's good to be able-bodied again. I'll just keep an eye on those snowflakes as I go about my tasks today, and that will be good, too.