On Sunday morning the 30th of October, after a very mild fall that found the changing of the leaves rather confused, we awoke to a sea of white after a night of howling winds and what sounded like real rough weather.

The above is a shot through the French Doors to the Deck. We did not think it would stop falling and it was so wet/heavy that the snow blower was of no use... Shovels and strong backs were used to clear paths to the road and our neighbors to ensure all were safe.

The power grid had come to a crashing silence and it would be 7 and a half long days before we would have power restored. In the days that followed, all that was heard was the loud pulse of the backup generators in our and our immediate neighbors' homes. Checking fuel supplies, reporting on lowest price of fuel, assisting with mechical issues related to power, and generally making sure each other were safe and warm drove us and our neighbors closer together as Winter approached.

When the tally was final, in July... We determined that either immediately or over the months following, we had lost 38 trees including our Twin Birch in the front yard lawn, several medium sized Red Oaks, one of our prized Sugar Maples, Poplar, and many others. With leaves on every tree, the heavy wet snow was just too much for them. We even lost a few Pine trees in the freak storm.

Some weeks later, the hard work had just begun. It would be several months before we were able to slowly begin to trim the fallen trees, move the brush to the various piles we maintain on our property as shelter for small animals, and lastly, cut up the trunks of the trees that provided us with cool shade during the Summer months.

When there is so much work, everyone helps out. Caden here is loading and stacking wood that has been cut then moving it off to the various wood-piles we have so that it can dry. Next year (and likely the following) this wood will provide us light, warmth, and joy by the campfire out back in Fall and early Winter as we gather around with friends (both adult and children) and tell stories and share a laugh over hot cider and cookies in our back clearing.

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