Porcupine enjoying sap

While on a walk yesterday afternoon, a big round ball was seen up in a tree from quite a distance. Getting closer, what was thought to originally be a bear was a porcupine enjoying some nibbles on sugar maple. He was about 50 feet high when this picture was taken. Sugar maples often get nibbled on like this from creatures who can't resist tasting the sweet sap. The porcupine also climbed that high as a means to soak up the sun.

Like porcupines, trees will do what it takes to stay alive. This young red oak, with the house in the background, has grown 8 feet in the nearly four years since the brush cutter rescued it from an ocean of weeds.

We avoided the big coastal storm. Nearest snow was about 100 miles south. But we found this neat Abominable Snow Monster, who makes an appropriate addition to any northern New Hampshire home.

Transitioning paper birches

Young paper birches, which are just about everywhere on Hardwood Hermitage, stand strong against the worst of winter. The first pic shows a grove with today's rising sun in the background. Others in the transition stage to their shiny white glory are seen against snow on the ground.

Moose print

The potato fork marked the spot of what is undoubtedly a moose print.

A birch grove will benefit in the spring from some clearing.

Our spring, which is on the far side of the jut (about 1/3 of mile to walk to from the house) usually keeps pumping out water during the whole winter.

Walking with zero

Zero degrees at first light today. Time for a hike! This big paper birch, although made for cold weather, seemed to be pleading for the sun to make it over the hill.

Way below freezing, but we still have patches of running water flowing down the north slope.

Critter tracks visible everywhere, including on both sides of this yellow birch.

Looking toward the Vermont hills.

Happy 2016

We didn't think all our future kindling cut in the fall would make it up to the house before snow. Here's one of our many piles that will likely be in place until April.

Big oaks and hophornbeams, which have seen many bad winters up here, are preparing for the coldest air of the season so far. We'll be below zero Monday and Tuesday mornings.

Birch groves are also taking the season in style.