Sun Snow Showers

February 1, 2007 (12:51pm)
18º F, Sun Snow Showers, SW wind 6 mph.

Good afternoon,

Nothing real exciting happening at FISKLAND today. The sun is out and it is a beautiful, but cold day. Every once in a while there is a snow shower, but that is it. There is probably a ¼" added to the ½" we got overnight. Just enough to clean up the sight out of the window and hid the tire tracks in the snow. The temperature is on the way down, so expect the weatherman is correct in saying that it will be cold tonight and a few more days to come. Think we might have some three-dog nights for a bit.

Got an email from our friend Sue in North Dakota this morning. She too is expecting some more cold weather. I have been tracking her weather and it really has been cold. Since their weather is back on track to end up here again after visiting her. She said they are expecting some -30 F temperatures in the very near future. We are too, but a few days down the line. Our weatherman has been saying we can experience those low temperatures about the middle of the week next week. Maybe history will repeat itself. Had -40 F while teaching in northwestern Wisconsin about 40 years ago. Think I might have to look for my long-johns too. Wonder if Margriet knows where her’s are?

When we pulled into the driveway coming home Tuesday, there were two very large does feeding at the split in the driveway. They didn’t stick around very long, heading west into the woods. Yesterday walking out to get the paper, I noticed they were feeding on the tall weeds along the driveway edge. The menu didn’t look very appetizing to me. While we have a lot of deer tracks around here, we have not seen too many of them on FISKLAND this year. They used to go through the pine plantation and head east from here. Have not seen as big of a "highway" from them this year. Something must have changed to change their eating and travel patten. They appear to be heading west more often this year for some reason.

There are a lot of rabbits this year. Tracks are everywhere. Margriet has a great time watching them out of the window while at the computer. I think the first thing she does after opening her eyes in the morning, is to see if any are outside of the bedroom windows. They are fun and interesting to watch that is for sure. I should get out the shoot gun and see if we could have a meal or two from some of them! Rabbit stew does sound rather good.

This time of year must also have been a rather quiet time in years past. From the paper in 1882:

"Joseph H. Fax has had one set of his pool balls recolored and the chipped balls in the set replaced."

Must be a very slow news week for the newspaper when they are talking about the condition of the billiard balls in the city’s pool hall! Another article from the 1917 paper was more interesting:

"Beginning next Sunday, Kewaunee will enjoy continues electric current as decided by the Light Commission. Kewaunee has had light six days our of seven and now, under the new ruling, the light switch will also respond on the seventh day."

I have no idea as to which day is the seventh, but must have been a large improvement. Actually, Kewaunee produced their own electricity (as did Algoma) until the mid-60's. If I have it right. They sold the electric plant to Wisconsin Public Service at that time and got out of the electric business. Algoma did the same about the same time, but still have their own power distribution system, buy their electricity from WPS, until now. It is some surprising that Algoma still does, as most of the "electric cooperatives" have long since ceased in all forms. Algoma’s old coal-fired power plant was torn down only a few years ago (since I have been here) and the property has been turned into expanding the park along the lakeshore/river bank.

One really sad (or good depending how you look at it) article came from 1932:

"Twelve persons appeared at the Algoma council meeting "Friday night asking for work. Most of them were young married men, they did not want direct city aid, but asked for an opportunity to work and make their own way."

I have no idea of the result of the meeting, but it is rather sad to remember the economic conditions of that time. It was good to see at least some folks wanting to work to earn their own way and not wanting just a handout. Sounds like they were capable of working and had a lot of pride.

Time to get a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><