Freeze, thaw, repeat

March can be the big rollercoaster month. On Tuesday, the most beautiful day of the year so far, we had full sun and a high of 67. Then we had two new inches of snow yesterday, including a major afternoon squall. Today's low:  21 degrees. Monday's forecast: Windy, rainy, 50+ degrees, followed by another round of cold air. 

During Tuesday's warm spell, both saws came out for a test start. They passed with flying colors. Soon, they'll be working hard.

A nearby paper birch grove also seems ready for spring.

A bit warmer

We'll get some highs above freezing early next week, perhaps even 40 on Tuesday. The raised garden bed, however, has quite a few weeks before it's ready for planting.

Here are other recent pics near the house to illustrate the white nature of life for a while.

The Big One

Wow! We had a storm that brought 16 inches of snow. That's the most for one storm in the history of Hardwood Hermitage! The challenge would have been great even with the tractor, but the very cold temps gummed up our diesel fuel. We cleared the driveway with the small red walk-behind blower, a piece of equipment that has really earned its keep over the years! A neighbor helped bring the tractor back to life.

Here are some pics after the big blast of snow. But first, remember: when life hands you lemons, make pineapple upside down cake:

Recent activities

Winter, the time to consider the looming work of spring through fall. That might include some outside time in the snow, or indoor pursuits. Recent examples of work on Hardwood Hermitage include:

Making a chicken pin cushion:

Moving wood from the shed to garage:

Axing and gathering some spring-poled birch for future processing: