Last week started with a thick layer of ice covering pretty much everything. This was garnished with a massive power outage. Though the lack of mosquitoes was nice, no heat or running water was interesting in a shivery, unwashed sort of way.
It turns out birch are among the bendiest of trees. White birch bowed down under the thick ice, but most did not break.
After 36 hours of powerlessness, it was decided to trot onto the lake, drill a hole, and collect a few buckets of water to flush toilets.
The ice was about a foot thick. After getting 2 good buckets full, we hiked back to the bar with our watery burden only to find the power restored. Huzzah!
There is a weather proverb that describes March's unpredictable weather, suggesting that if March starts with harsh, stormy weather (like a lion), it will end with milder, calmer weather (like a lamb). This year, if anyone is caught mumbling this platitude, they will be pelted with snowballs and forced to collect maple sap. March certainly came "In like a lion" with a blizzard, but "Out like a lamb", HA! More like out like a gargoyle (or some other grotesque, decorative creature). The eventful weather has given us all a deeper appreciation for electricity and its applicative benefits, specifically heat and indoor plumbing. While those that had wished for an early ice-out are disappointed, the sugarmen of Knott Lane are ecstatic, if not exhausted, by the ultra productive maples. It will be interesting if all the ice, snow, and rain this spring will arrest the declining lake level or maybe have it go back up. We'll know at ice-out, which looks like it should occur shortly before the first ski show (June 4th at 6:30 PM in front of Water's Edge) this year.
-Nemo loves having electricity again.
