Free at last, free at last. . .

The last of the inspectors didn't leave until after 7PM, but everything is now in order and I can occupy the cabin. "Free at last. . . ." While it seems like a short time ago that I started the finish work, it has been nearly one full year. Well not exactly. I was only working a few days per week, was out of the country for a couple of weeks, had several family members get sick and require my attention, but regardless, the wait was worth it.

Of course, now I have start buying furniture and decorating materials, before its time to go fishing and work in the soon to be new garden beds!

Long time coming

A year ago, I purchased my retirement cabin along with ten acres of surrounding woodlands. The cabin was just a shell with water pump and septic. For some God awful reason, I thought it would be a good experience to do most/all of the finish work myself! While it is satisfying, it has taken most of the past year.

HOWEVER, There seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel and I have scheduled the final inspections for Monday. I'm a bit nervous as I've never done this kind of work before or dealt with permits, rules, regulations, and the like. Oh, I've tried my best to do my homework, and I know its not 100% perfect, but it is my work and that alone is satisfaction enough. Whish me luck!

Baby, It's Cold Outside. . .

Weather reports for the state cautioned an Arctic Cold Front was dropping down into the state and boy is that an understatement! Temperatures dropped down below 0 degreees overnight and promise to stay in the single digits for the next 24-48 hours. Wind Chills will push the temperatures even lower with -10 to -20 being felt.

Before leaving the cabin (and heading back south) I loaded the feeders there, in Bay City and even here in Ann Arbor. The birds, predictors of cold weather were fueling up before the front arrived and continue to home in on the black oil sunflower and suet in order to stay warm.

Fortunately, the cold snap should break before mid-week and we can return to normal activities - bloggin and otherwise.

Can't Help Myself. . .

I don't know why it is, but I can't help myself. Maybe it was too many Saturdays with Walter Lantz' Woody Woodpecker (and Mel Blanc's voice) growing up. This cartoon character made his appearance in the late 1940's and continued on for over 20 years as a staple of Universal Picture's Saturday morning cartoon fests.

Woody is alleged to have been modeled after a Pileated Woodpecker, but I thought it was a Red Headed Woodpecker with a bad feather day. Regardless, whenever the real Woody (make that Pileated) Woodpeckers show up at my suet feeders, I can't help but not drop what I'm doing and watch them.

Being shy and reserved, they are not daily visitors, but will stay on the suet for an hour or more unless they are disturbed. If they haven't had their fill, they was wait until the coast is clear, then return to finish snacking on the suet and peanuts. It's either their cartoon past and the joyful remembrances of Saturday mornings or their striking size that makes it impossible not to observe them every chance available.

In, On, and Along the roads

When I travel "up" to the cabin when its cold and snowy, I anticipate getting to Roscommon county. That's because its usually there that I can reliable see turkeys. I've seen them on the roadsides picking grit, crossing the road, crossing halfway then forgetting what they were doing ending up blocking traffic, and often picking through any plants that show in the snow. I've seen tracks, droppings, and feathers along the roads, but fortunately, no "roadkill" turkey. (I think the locals understand their obligations living in wildlife neighborhoods and the "visitors" are amazed to see turkey flocks!)

Turkeys are much better along the roadways than Deer. Deer will stand watching, then dart in wrong direction every time. Turkeys, on the other hand may stand watching, but the usually remember what they were doing and finish crossing the road taking their own sweet time - no darting for them!

New Year - new starts

Over night, Mother Nature dropped the deepest snow of the season over the area. The storm began above freezing and so the trees and shrubs were covered in a thin sheet of ice that allowed the snow to pile on their branches and limbs. Like all snows this time of the year, the fluffy white flakes reminded me that winter is a time for reflection and resolution - of new starts. Most think of Spring as the time of renewal, but not for me. For me, its Winter because at the beginning of a New Year, its time to make plans for the coming seasons. And so as I sit and wait out the fallen snow, I'll be making my plans for the coming year and season as I dream about my future.

May you each have a blessed New Year and prosper in all that you do.