Step by Step

 Mark:

The seemingly ever lasting light of early summer has diminished to the much shorter, grayer days of late November.   At 48 degrees north latitude the season's have drastic and dramatic effects on the forest's and lakes.   We've had 15" of snow to date and ice has started to spread across our bay on Fall lake.   Climate change has suppressed the incessant cold that historically accompanies November but the darkness is persistent. The low arc of the sun's path across the horizon even has it's effect on us Wintonites.   Our diets and tastes have changed to richer foods of roasted meat, root vegetables and even an extra splash of cream in my morning coffee and when nobody is looking sometimes a bit of butter too!  

This is the beginning of the month with Raif's huge leaf pile!

Molly: 

 Each month we look back on what has happened as we write this blog. This month was one of many happenings, the most historic being the election. Without rehashing what we have been discussing, reading about, and thinking about, I will just say that we are still here and the border is only 8 miles away. One friend joked that there are only 3 roads into Ely, so if things get really bad we can block those off and keep to ourselves! 

The fall musical "Mary Poppins" was a raging success! Cora was a wonderful Jane - I can proudly say this as I heard it from so many people! I enjoyed watching the talented actors/actressses performing in this joyful musical. One of my favorite numbers was "Step in Time" which is the chimney sweep song. It was a blast to choreograph and really a high energy production number. Cora had a grand surprise for opening night when her friends Scotlyn and Chloe from Prairie Farm came to visit! It was a wonderful reunion for the friends. 

Grandma Pam and Tom came to see the show too, and stayed for a few days to help with the house. Since the weather was still mild, they were able to contribute to some landscaping on the side of the house that used up some of the rocks leftover from the chimney project. The sweeping steps and rock retaining wall ensures that the all of the fill that was brought in won't wash down into the lake. They also helped out with some insulating. It was a big project to undertake in a few days, but they attached it with gusto and our friend Sharee stopped over to check out the results.

Mark made several steps towards completing the house project this month as well. Important changes were insulating the rim joists, installing windows and doors, as well as creating a floating floor system in the basement. This inventive solution for the retrofit over the existing basement slab allowed us to avoid having to pour a new floor. The "turd lifter" (as Mark calls it) is also now sunk into the ground, and ready to be plumbed. Next stage in the basement is to put wood plank flooring down which will change that space in a big way! Partition walls in the first floor are built to create the rooms and closets. We have a spent a few days thinking about the layout of the entry and kitchen trying to decide if our design is really what we want. It is fun to be in the space and making those decisions, rather than just being stuck with what originally was planned even if it doesn't flow they way it should.

Raif had an exciting trip with a group of nordic skiers out to West Yellowstone over the Thanksgiving break. He saved up his money for this trip, then it snowed and dumped 11" of snow in Winton just before he left. Yellowstone had some snow, but we were worried that conditions might be better in Ely for skiing! Turned out that it did snow while he was there, and he had a super trip. Mary Schwinghamer took this picture of the kids ready to travel to Duluth for their ski trip. Notice the snowman that the kids built, which is now melted. 

Cora celebrated her 13th birthday with a little skiing and gingerbread building. It was a sweet trio of friends and they created a lovely little house of candy only to destroy it minutes later so that they could eat it. Crazy!

The family farm finally sold, and there were some more tears over that transition. We traveled to La Farge/Viroqua area over Thanksgiving to be with family. While there we toured the property that my mom is buying only 3 short minutes from her place. A spectacular place with the Kickapoo river running through it and a towering cliff behind. She will continue to live with Tom, but this is an investment in the future. My brother has big plans for this spot...more on that later. It was so special to be with family and dreaming of the future, while reminiscing of the past.

Luke overlooking the river.

Auntie Nell with her nieces Cora and Thea. 

We went for a hike up to the top of the cliff, and little Camille got a ride from her momma Sarah.

Next steps are to button up the house so that Mark can move a stove in to heat as he works on electric, plumbing, drywall, etc...many more steps to take, but every time closer to being in the place. We have begun to talk about how to focus our attention after this overwhelming project is completed. It is helpful to look to the future.