Roasted squash

The beginnings of Cheesy Butternut Squash Cavatappi Bake, thanks to a gourd provided by a neighbor. They grow amazingly beautiful squash!

Wacky winter returns

Heavy, wet snow with wind followed by 40+ degrees and lots of rain? That's winter in northern NH? This year such a pattern looks to continue tonight and tomorrow. Our latest wind storm dropped several trees, but left no serious damage to treasured oaks, birches, or sugar maples. The young oak in the photo below dodged a major hit from a falling red maple. The oak only lost a small branch low on the trunk.

Softwoods fared even worse in the last wind, which topped 50 miles an hour.

Closing out 2023

Another quiet end to a year on Hardwood Hermitage. 

Another big thaw

Here are two pictures taken exactly 24 hours apart: 12:42 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.  Yesterday we had temps of nearly 60 degrees, about 2 inches of rain, and a good deal of wind. The snow didn't have much of a chance. The overnight low only went down to 37 this morning. We are supposed to get some nice sun for days now. The solar panels will like that after being covered with snow for a while.  Also, notice in the distance the nice grove of birches standing tall. The concern about massive spring pole losses due to heavy snow thankfully turned out much better than initially expected.

Forests and chaos theory

A scientist uses chaos theory to describe how seemingly random disorder governs natural processes. A second wet snow storm -- this one way more intense -- followed by colder temps has created much change in the forest. Unfortunately for many young paper birches, that means death. Springpoles never recover their upright character, making them obvious candidates for firewood piles. Much work will occur as a result of the storm, but nature always has a plan. Other trees, hardier and longer-lived than paper birch (especially oaks and sugar maple), will be better off due to the additional sun and less competition for nutrients. But let's hope for no more heavy snow. It's probable that 25 percent of the property's paper birch will be wiped out because of the storm.

Wet snow and wood

A sloppy 3 1/2 inches of snow fell overnight. Birches northwest of the house look great with the extra white.

Earlier this month we finished our autumn wood processing project. Here's one of the completed areas of stacked and covered wood. We needed 23 tanks in the two saws and 117 1/2 hours of work, but we greatly expanded our supply.

Morning harvests

Of the many great aspects of a northern NH autumn, harvests rank near the top. We pulled about six pounds of carrots out of the ground this morning in a row by the house. We also cut and moved wood, our most important crop. Nature giveth!!