How Cold is Too Cold?

Last week I told you two things, both were apparently lies. The first is that it was our last post before Christmas and here I am writing another one before Christmas. But as many of you know, sometimes you just have to write and today I just felt the need. The second lie was that it was we were going to have a night with a low of -13F. Well, that has now changed to -22F with a high the next day of -11F. But really who cares, once it is that cold does a few more degrees really make a difference?

Frostbite starts in about 5 minutes if your skin is left unprotected. Birds and other forest creatures require a lot more nourishment just to survive.  I did a little research on how cold like that affects birds and deer. Most of the articles said they should be fine if they are healthy, not too old and have plenty of food. If they get wet; all bets are off. The first thing to go are ears and tails. Then it went on to say that the reproductive organ of males are next. Brings a quite literal meaning to freezing your xxxx's off! 

As I write this now at 7:20am on 12/22, the thermometer reads -23F. We have had a fire going all night but despite this the temperature inside the house kept dropping from 68 when we went to bed to 60 when we woke up. It was then that we discovered that the in-floor heat system was not working with an error message saying to check gas and venting. I checked the vents and propane level: and both were good. I did a little research to find out that propane will not freeze until -44F but in extreme cold the pressure in the tank drops dramatically. I reset the system and it now seems to be working again. This unit is not only our only heat source (other than our fireplace), but also our hot water source. Fingers crossed it keeps going!

You really cannot do anything outside in those conditions, so we spent a lot of time inside reading and watching movies. It was during one of these times, I was upstairs reading a book in Barb's large comfy chair that I looked out the window and stopped..... and stared. The view out that window was incredible.

The temperatures over the past few days have been so cold that it has frosted over all the trees. A sight that we have taken for granted. But the view at that window was so incredible that I just had to go for a walk in the woods and field. Bundled up so only my eyes were showing I went for a walk. 

When it is this cold, it is dead quiet. The only noise you hear is the sound of your own footsteps. It reminded me of when I was 13 or so and I had my paper route. Walking the route day after day before sunrise in the snow with nothing but a sack full of papers and the sound of the crunch of the snow with each step. 

On this day I saw no wildlife other than a few magpies and crows flying out of a depression in the field. Even they were silent as they flew away as this bundled mass of man approached. 

I could only take my hands out of my pockets long enough to take two pictures at a time before they started to numb up. What was it that these magpies and crows were so interested in? 

As I got closer, suddenly, two bald eagles arose from the depression. The adult flew directed away from me, but the juvenile gave me enough time to get my phone out of my pocket and take a picture. 

Not the best picture, I wish I would have brought my Lumix. As I dropped into the depression, I saw what was of so much interest to these scavengers. A deer lay at the bottom. It looks like it had been there a day or two providing much needed nourishment to others in this frigid weather. Such goes the circle of life. 

Looking at the carnage I picture the coyote curled up beneath a dense cedar bush awaiting darkness so he could return to his feast. Or the bald eagle, feathers ruffled high in a pine tree, it too thinking about the meal that awaits once the sun crests the eastern horizon. Birds and wildlife require 30% or more food during these colder temperatures to maintain body heat. 

We put out a new bale for the deer which was a challenge in itself. My tractor would not start, the neighbor's tractor would not start so I had to improvise and drag the bale behind the jeep to bring it out where they are now hitting it pretty hard. 

We also put out extra bird food in the feeders and on the ground and they seem to be eating every bit of it up. The turkeys and juncos seem to focus on the food on the ground while the chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers focus on the seed and suet in the trees. And this, a first. A Flicker visited the feeder. We see them a lot in the summer, but this is the first one of the winter. 

The articles go on to say that you should not introduce new food sources until you are able to maintain them for the long term. Luckily, we have plenty of bales and hundreds of pounds of seed. The animals that are not as lucky are those living in the areas that just received 30+ inches of snow. They will have a hard time reaching any food sources. 

Instead of hiding from the cold, my friend Doug and I decided to embrace it by going ice fishing. There was about 18" of ice so we were able to punch through pretty easily. Although they were not jumping out of the holes, we did manage to bring home three for the fry pan. 

Meanwhile, Barb just hanging around anxiously waiting for Christmas.

Not to be outdone, Zoey wanted to get in on the action. Afterward she said it was not nearly as much fun has momma made it look. 

Dakota wanted nothing to do with testing out the new hoist in the workshop. Huh, go figure. 

Barb has also been playing her accordion. She is getting better and better. She used to not even let me the house when she played. Now she practices with me in the house, but I cannot watch her. Unbeknownst to her I recorded her with my phone So at the risk of catching hell and having all my Christmas presents returned, here is a sample. No video, just audio.

We also got out for a jeep ride. Most of the forest service roads are closed so we headed out to two of our favorite local spots. Deerfield Lake and Miner's Brewery!

Barb and I will spend the next couple days indoors watching more Christmas movies. My friend Ray sent this to me the other day, I thought it was hysterical and so appropriate for the end of this post. 

So, this is our last post before Christmas, I promise. Barb and I want to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas, hoping that you can spend it with your friends, family.