For almost a week it snowed on and off until we had eight new inches on the ground.

I tramped my trails with snowshoes again to break them open.

I was already having some difficulty getting my van out to Highway 20 so there was nothing for it but to have my 4 kms of road ploughed.  The operator’s dogs were running free behind the tractor so there was all sorts of canine excitement when they arrived.

There had been quite a lot of bare ground beneath the trees, but now the birds could not find food and they were very busy at the feeder.  I still have about 15 redpolls (only some have the red breast.)

Periodically, I have found clumps of small feathers on the snow, and the other day, the perpetrator of the murders also visited the feeder: the northern shrike.  Note the distinctive hooked bill.  Otherwise, they don’t look much like a predator.

Then the snow quit and the temperature dropped to -27C.  For these last 2 days, it has not climbed above -10C, even in the afternoon.  For one day, the sky cleared.  A gleam of sun spotlighted the cottonwoods in front of Finger Peak.

The fresh snow made the world glorious.

On a sadder note, one of our small community’s residents has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.  He is the pilot that has most often flown me to Nuk Tessli these recent years.  He and his wife and son have gone to the States as Canada does not have the technology to help them.  Sid and Cora Blackwell both grew up in this country.  The tourist season is short and intense.  It makes a living, but only with hard work, and these people do not have a lot of spare money.  Sid’s long-time friend Nick Hawes has started a fundraising programme to which we all are of course contributing.  Some of you out there might have flown with Sid.  He has to be the best and safest bush-pilot most of us have ever known.  If you feel like contributing, please click this link. http://www.gofundme.com/fdf6o?utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Emails