Winter in Ferry County

Winter, when the earth slumbers deep beneath her white mantle seeking sustenance to replenish her very soul. Nourishment to reawaken her heart for the coming Spring when the trees shake off their snowy caps and let their tiny buds unfurl to become Summer’s canopy. Winter is silence too. Silence to let the earth rest peacefully and restore her strength for the coming season of growth.

Winter up here in the back of the beyond is, in a word, harsh. In two words, long and harsh and not for everyone. But there is a reason we hardy souls choose to live here.  We too, seek quietude and a chance to re-fill the Well of our being. The hustle and hurried pace of Summer can be both exhilarating and draining. Picnics, parties, visiting, traveling, entertaining, boating and swimming, are all good but by summer’s end, we’re looking for some peaceful alone time. Fall brings the Harvest and we’re busy putting up the bounty from our garden and turning Apples, Pears and Plums into pies, jams and preserves. Then it’s the hunt when both men and women Camo up and hope for Deer or Elk to fill their freezers for hot meals on cold days. Success means days of sausage making and mouths water as Bratwurst, Italian sausage, Breakfast sausage and more are made by good friends sharing camaraderie and a tall tale or two. Extra hands make cutting and stacking fire wood a manageable chore. And a necessary one too. Many folks up here use wood as their only source of heat. And those who don’t still have a wood stove not just for ambiance but if the power goes out, neither they nor their plumbing will freeze.

And then slowly, as days grow shorter and the air no longer holds warmth, we start the retreat into our homes, earlier and earlier, week by week. Windows are closed. Blankets added to beds. Lamps are lit and books are carefully placed by our favorite chair. One day as we glance out the window, we see the first snow flakes fall, and we smile. It’s winter in Ferry County.

We’re not reclusive. Oh no, not at all! We venture out on a regular basis to enjoy what winter has brought. From our back door, we can hike, snow shoe, x-country ski and even ice skate on the lake. When those of us who are year round residents pass each other silently on a wooded trail, we nod and give each other a knowing look. We chose this life. We embrace the quiet time. We’re not summer visitors here for vacations in these glorious mountains, though we welcome them with open arms. No. This is the life we chose. All four seasons and Winter is just as special as all the others.

Welcome to our world. Sparky and I invite you to winter up here in the back of the beyond!

Every day is an adventure with our girls! Their pasture features amazing vistas!

Winter chores are never easy but they have their own rewards. Fortune Gold on the right, has the sweetest face ever! And that’s Dawn’s big asset front and center!

Alpaca poop happens and it’s a daily struggle to clean up especially when it freezes before hitting the ground.

To feed or not to feed is NOT a question.  -20 or 105 degrees, caring for the Alpacas is a given!

Keeping the bird feeders full is not an obligation for me. It is pure pleasure. This Stellar Jay and his companion just make my day! Woodpeckers, Flickers, Quail, Black Capped Chickadees. Come one and all for our Buffet Breakfast!

Fresh air and exercise! In winter, we rarely see others on the trail. Such a shame…..well maybe not. We love the quiet intimacy.

New fallen snow covers a multitude of sins.  Didn’t mow? Didn’t rake? Didn’t burn? No problem. It’s all undercover!

Digging out! Extra help is always welcome. Right Gracie and Otto?

Heading over Sherman Pass in winter is both stunning in scenery and somewhat scary too! Isolated and no cell service for us.

40-50 Logging trucks a day right now. All heading over THE Pass. Crazy time of year or them. They have to haul logs before the road restrictions take place and man, do they ever haul!

These 2 Bald Eagles were sitting in a tree just the other side of our dirt road. Dan heard them before he saw them. Eagles are frequent sightings here and that is a Blessing!

The horses juxtaposed against the snow. One of my favorite winter scenes. I could watch them for hours.

It’s winter but believe it or not, it is calving season here in cattle country! Our cattle ranches are crazy busy right now as you can see. So precious to see these newborns on the ground and Mama hovering close by.

The Kettle River will soon be a raging torrent. But for now, we enjoy her ice capped frozen beauty.

Yesterday we hauled a deer block and corn up hill. Feeding deer is legal here and we watch them every day out searching for food.  I broke trail using snow shoes and Sparking carried corn in his back pack. It’s hard knowing how hungry the animals are this time of year.

No jacket? Nope. Breaking trail is very warming!!

It’s not all work and no play around here. Sparky took the fast way down to the house

And here it is! My view each and every day from our kitchen window. Morning, noon and night. Mt. Elizabeth. My center. As old as time. As stunning now as for uncountable generations of the past.

This my friends, is winter in Ferry County!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Wherever your journey leads you today, I wish you eyes to see the beauty in every season!

Journey on!

Hugs and much love from me,

Karen, TJG