Snow daze

Winter update:  Overall, this winter has been much "warmer" (20s-low 30s F) than last year, leading to more snow and fewer painfully cold days.  We have had snowpack on the ground since the first significant (and biggest- 14 inches) snow on December 28, but a few days above freezing here and there melt some of it before another 4-6 inch storm replenishes it (actually, it's snowing right now, although only predicted to be a 2 inch-er).  Every house has a snowblower of course, all running in concert together when it snows, but we are hoping to avoid buying one (another thing to move around) and just tag team the shoveling.  We have the longest driveway in the neighborhood, and I'm sure they think we are nuts out there shoveling instead of snowblowing.  Teddy has been loving the snow this year- he loves to eat it and roll around, especially in fresh powder.  Last week we had a downgraded blizzard that came on quickly at noon on a weekday with very heavy snow resulting in poor road conditions.  The kids here actually got a very rare snow day even though it didn't start until early afternoon!  Our front yard is about chest high with the shoveled and plowed snow now.  Will give an update when the iceberg finally melts for the season.

 Winter hike at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Geese taking advantage of the feed and open water

Since it has been pretty quiet on the adventure front, I haven't had as much exciting material to write about.  We were hoping to try ice fishing sometime this winter, but the ice has been slow to freeze up, and every night on the news someone else falls through the ice on their snowmobile or car (there are ice roads over Lake Winnebago that people use for fishing access and even to cross to go to work- crazy!).  No such thing as safe ice!  Northern Wisconsin definitely has an abundance of winter sport opportunities (aside from downhill skiing- few and far between!), but really, who needs more than playing in the snow and then cuddling by the fireplace like this....

Teddy's DNA swab test is at the lab- can't wait to get some more evidence for his breed ancestry!