Celebrate Mud Season

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Thanks to Cal Robinson of Edinboro for  sharing the photo.

 

Celebrate the end of a brutal winter and attend the Open House Taste and Tour Maple Syrup weekend in the northwestern Pennsylvania area, March 14 and 15. This year will be the 12^th annual event sponsored by the Northwestern Pennsylvania Maple Syrup Association. This year 15 local sugar houses throughout a multi-county area are participating in the popular activity.

Maple syrup production in the region has played an important role in the history of the area, according to Allen Montgomery of the Edinboro Area Historical Society and Janet Woods of Hurry Hill Maple Farm Museum also in Edinboro. As the sap was collected and boiled, it was a time for families and neighbors to congregate and welcome spring, catch up on local news and just relax. The syrup also provided many farms with extra cash for spring planting.

The Route 6 Alliance is also promoting the region, it's heritage, beauty and resources.

The Alliance wrote in a recent Press Release: “Maple Producers are a key part of the history and heritage along PA Route 6. These skilled craftsmen have passed along traditional production methods and developed an extensive product line that proves that maple syrup is just not for breakfast anymore. Declaring that Pennsylvania has the best maple syrup and products in the country, the PA Route 6 Alliance is recognizing March as Maple Month across Route 6.”

There are a wide range of maple products available at the participating Sugar House; there's maple mustard, barbeque sauce, candies, maple coated nuts, maple cotton candy, even tea and much more. Maple Syrup is a good, organic choice. Ongoing research indicates that maple syrup is a natural and healthy food, according to the International Maple Institute.

“Pure Maple Syrup is a unique and natural product produced exclusively by the concentration of sap from the maple tree. It is a natural sweetner that contains no added sugar, coloring agents, artificial flavorings, preservatives or other additives, and is a superior source of important nutrients and vitamins when compared to other sweetners.”

 

In most years, the sap begins to run in mid to late February. This winter has been late leaving. There's plenty of snow on the ground, although it is melting. It's Mud Season. But there will be plenty of maple syrup and products.

“We are ready and have plenty of syrup and products and some of the sap is beginning to flow,” Bill Phillips the president of the northwestern PA Maple Producers Association, said. “Some years, it has been warm and dry, but it is going to be important for people to dress appropriately for the weather. Boots are going to be important.”

Phillips Sugar House, Fort LeBoeuf Maple, is located in Waterford. They are planning on cooking a lot of pancakes and sausages this year.
UPDATE : The weather forecasts are calling for rain on Saturday the 14th followed by some periods of snow on Sunday the 15th. According to Phillips this is agriculture and we are use to the weather. A Saturday trip to a Sugar Shack, well, take some rain gear.

“Each Sugar House has different activities and demonstrations,” he said. “Visitors can check our Web page to see what events and demonstrations will be held at each Sugar House.”

The Web page for the Association is, PA Maple.

Janet Woods of Hurry Hill Maple Farm Museum is ready to welcome visitors.

 Deep winter snow surrounds Hurry Hill Maple Farm Museum where the decorative keelers await the mild March temperatures that will produce "mud and snow". Photo and caption by Allen Montgomery

“We are as ready as ever,” Woods said. “We have a lot of activities planned at the Museum for children and adults. We'll also have our sampling room open for visitors.”

The Pennsylvania Hardwoods Council will also have their WoodMobile at the Museum open for tours.

The Museum is also open every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of May.

Laura Dengler of How Sweet It Is SugarHouse in Saegertown is also ready to greet visitors all weekend.

“It's been difficult getting into the woods with all the deep snow, but we are ready,” she said.

Dengler gives frequent workshops on backyard sugaring for home use. One of the most recent demonstration on backyard sugaring was held at the recent Lake Erie Maple Expo held several months ago in Albion.

For more information on the Taste and Tour Weekend, Open House.

And Just for the Heck of It

We’re not the only creatures who practice sugar maple tapping. The North American squirrel, Sciurus carolinensusk, also taps during sugaring season by gouging the bark of young maple trees with their two front teeth and drinking the sap that flows.

 

Winter begins It's Departure...Hopefully

Chances are it is going to be a few weeks before anything happens at the picnic table. January and February have been brutally cold with plenty of snow.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The forecasts for this upcoming weekend indicate a warm-up with temperatures rising into the forties and then into the fifties next next.

Today March 5 is the Full Moon often called the Worm Moon or the Maple Moon. Earthworms can generally be seen this month once some rain begins to fall and the snow melts. March is also the month when the maple trees are thawing out in the warmer sun and the sap is flowing. March means the Mud Season and it will likely be impressive this spring.

March 8 is also an important date; the day when we move the clocks ahead an hour.  The photo above was taken several years ago. The sun dial has been buried now for quite sometime but it is under the snow somewhere.

The 12th annual Maple Taste and Tour Open House is scheduled for the weekend of March 14 and 15. It is sponsored by the Northwestern Pennsylvania Maple Producers Association. It's a great time to discover more about maple syrup, how it is made, the history of maple syrup, and much more. There will be plenty of various activities for people of all ages at the participating Sugar Houses; plus free samples of maple products and products for purchase. For more information, Taste and Tour.
It's a sign of winter's Exodus and some new, fascinating, but ancient  things to come soon.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers, those native to a particular region, are a critical link to our natural world.  While native wildflowers produce a dazzling display throughout the growing season, their role is essential to our food supply, medicine, folklore, culture and wildlife. In short, the native plants are essential for our very existence.

Native plants are uniquely related to life on our planetl. Some 3,000 plants are or have been used for human food. However, an estimated 90% comes from only 20 plant species. Three in particular provide much of the world’s food supply: rice, wheat and corn. Forunately, these ancient plants have adapted over the centuries to climate and environmental changes, soil and pests. (source http://www.nps.gov/plants/cw/variety.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/plants/cw/variety) It is estimated that every third bite of our food is the result of insects, or pollinators, and economists estimate their value in the trillions of dollars worldwide.

Amazingly, the vast majority of our medicinal prescription drugs originated from plants.  Medical researchers continue to unlock obscure bits of important information about human health as they probe the unique relationships and characteristics of life and human health of which wildflowers are a key element.

Luckily, the ancient plants have also developed amazing relationships with the pollinators.  The flowers provide a food source, nectar and pollen for the pollinators, and in turn, the seeds of the fowers are fertilized and the plant species is guarenteed a future.

Ongoing research seems to indicate that the flowers also provide medicinal beneifits for the pollinators such as helping bees with dangerous mites. New research is planned to determine the best medicinal and food plants should be planted near and around apiaries http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/flower-pharmacies-help-bees-fight-parasites

And Just for the Heck of It.

Ever notice those lumps of galls on a goldenrod?  The galls are where the female gall fly laid her eggs and where the larvae will hatch and spend about a year. The fly’s entire life is spent on the goldenrod.

Summer's really coming this year.

 

February Snowpocalypse

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 February Snowpocalypse...It's been a long, frigid and snowy winter, not just here in northwestern Pennsylvania but throughout most of North America. The snow depth here is over three feet and drifts are, well, over my waist.
You can hear cheering when the temps get above zero.
It's been a brutally cold week, Wind chills have been in the minus twenty to thirty range most of this last week. Actually, most of February has been a deep freeze.

Be sure to check in on neighbors, those who are older and those with health problems. Keep an eye on pets when they are outside. This is serious weather and the upcoming weekend promises more of the same. The upcoming weekend will see more moderate temps, hopefully. Beyond the weekend, well more cold and snow.
Be very careful with space heaters, a leading cause of many winter fires. For some safety tips, BE SAFE.

There are some hopeful signs. Daylight is increasing and March 21, the first day of spring is about a month away.

Maple Syrup Open House Taste and Tour

The Northwestern Pennsylvania Maple Producers Association is sponsoring the 10^th annual Maple Taste and Tour Open House the weekend of March 14 and 15. The association covers five counties including Erie, Crawford, Warren, Mercer and Venango.

Each participating Sugar House will have a wide range of activities, such as horse or tractor driven hay rides, maple demonstrations, information on backyard sugaring and much, much more. Each will also have a wide variety of maple products to sample and for purchase.

It's a fun time for people of all ages and a great family to do activity.

Even if you are not from this region, there are motel and hotel accommodations at special prices.For more information on the individual sugar houses who are participating, directions and activities scheduled, as well as overnight lodging, Taste and Tour.

The Bees

As mentioned earlier, myself and two others are planning on getting several bee hives this spring. It's a fascinating hobby and or business venture (and somewhat costly). Winter has had something of an upside - time for reading. We bought three different books to read, and have been spending time online with various bee keeping sites as well as watching numerous You Tube videos.

We have been attending various bee workshops and talking with much more experienced bee keepers.

And doing a lot of planning.

One thing discovered is the herb, or to many the weed, Plantain. It is used to make a save to help with bee stings, which are going to happened raising bees. Plantain is a rather common weed throughout most of North America and particularly in the vegetable garden. It's hard to eradicate where it's not wanted because of it's large tap root.

However near the bee yard, I am going to plant a patch of it just so there is access to it promptly. Along with other First Aid helps.

For the bees ( and us), we are also planting a variety of blueberry bushes and a rather large, wild flower bee garden. Along with milkweed for the Monarchs, borage, called the bee herb will be sown.

I've always planted the borage and once it begins to bloom in early summer, the flowers are literally covered with so many bees, you can hear the buzz.

The final post below is about borage from a re-written version of one which I published several years ago, if you want to discover more about this valuable herb.

Please email questions or comments to spinksgreg@gmail.com

Thanks.

And Just For the Heck of It.

Honeybees have an amazing sense of smell. They communicate, find their way home (each hive has a specific odor), and locate food using their 170 odorant receptors.

Borage

         Borage, a little known herb in North America, is a good plant, almost of hero status in the vegetable or flower garden. An attractive herb with blue, star shaped flowers, it attracts many gentle pollinators such as honeybees and bumblebees.

              So many bees can be attracted to this flowering herb, also called the bee plant, one can even hear the buzz. It is an important herb, food source, for the pollinators, a population of insects which have been in serious decline for several years because of a lack of  nutrients, pesticides and habitat.

              The herb, Borage is said to make tomatoes even taste better for some. But with all the bee activity around the flowers, which can open in late spring in many northern areas, it is sure to increase pollination and consequently more vegetables, like tomatoes, squash and peppers.

              Borage, which originates from the Mediterranean region, is a highly regarded herb particularly in Spain. In many regions, the honey produced from fields of Borage is highly regarded for it's taste and light color.

              The herb, Borage, is edible; the leaves and stems can be used in salad and have a mild cucumber flavor. Dried it can be used as a relaxing tea. The brilliant blue flowers can also be used in salads and are often used as a cake garnish or frozen in ice cubes and used to decorate drinks. The leaves can also be dipped in a batter and fried like a fritter for an unusual gourmet delight.

              Borage is an easy herb to grow. The large black seeds can be planted in the spring and they usually sprout rather quickly depending on weather conditions.  The herb is a rapid grower and can produce vibrant blue flowers in the matter of a few weeks.

              Borage has another useful habit. It readily reseeds itself and new sprouts appear the following spring. These sprouts can be readily transplanted to areas where they are needed. Or, as Jack Frost threatens, the plant, which can reach upwards of 24 inches, can be cut down, and placed in an area where it can grow the following year.  The seed will germinated. (I’ve been doing this for several years now, just place the plant on the ground during the fall. Presto, it’s magic, new borage plants readily sprout in the spring)

              Borage is a useful herb to consider in either the vegetable or flower garden. It is easy to grow, rather carefree and provides a stunning display of blue flowers. As many farmers, gardeners, researchers and scientists become increasingly concerned about the decline in our native pollinators, this is one good herb to plant and grow.

             

February Snow Fun - Outdoors and Indoors

This upcoming weekend will bring some brutally cold air into the northwestern Pennsylvania region with temps hardly at zero. Wind chills are expected to be in the -20 to -30 degree range. Some snow is also expected and the same pattern could persist until mid week. Be careful, dress properly and take the necessary safety steps. Be careful of pets and check in on neighbors, old and young, healthy and sick.

Saturday, Valentines Day, there is an ice fishing tournament at Canadohta Lake (it was once called Washington Lake) and a Winter Festival at Pymatuning.

For others, I'd imagine the weekend will be spent indoors, feeding wood stoves and checking out gardening catalogs, watching movies and playing games.

Both gardens, one large and the other a raised bed, are still buried under three feet plus of hard packed snow. It's next to impossible to get anywhere near the fruit trees and berry bushes which need to be pruned. However, we are doing some planning for the upcoming spring.

We are planning on getting at least two bee hives and are currently working (well planning) on a wildflower garden for them which will be about a ¼ acre and adjacent to the larger vegetable garden. The native plant garden will include milkweed, a native plant needed by the monarchs and good for the bees.

Another project is our worm farm. Luckily, there are two old refrigerators which will be used for the worms and in turn there will be plenty of good garden compost and worms for fishing.

Last year, I really wanted to make my own mustard from our own home grown mustard seed. But, ran out of time. But this year, it's going to happen and have been searching for the best mustard plants/seeds to plant to make a hot and spicy mustard.

Here at Koyote Hill there will be plenty of searching, reading, planning and games all weekend. If you have any comments or insights, we would appreciate hearing from you, Thanks.

As mentioned in the last post, Feb. 22 is usually celebrated as George Washington's Birthday. Washington traveled in northwestern Pennsylvania when he was in the British Army and re-named the “River of Beef” - French Creek.

Today, the creek and it's watershed area are recognized nationally for their environmental importance.

Below is an article to discover more about this amazing waterway. Pictured below is a summer photo taken last year by the French Creek Conservancy. (Enough of snow and ice photos)

          French Creek in northwestern Pennsylvania snakes through scenic rolling hills, aging small villages,  and a patchwork of neat family farms. The journey begins begins  in rural Chautauqua County in western New York before it wanders into Pennsylvania through the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Venango.  After it's 117 mile journey, it meets it's destination, the Allegheny River and eventually the Ohio River, and the Mississippi.

              The waterway is steeped in history because of it's north south route. It was a pivotal transportation route for the Native American peoples between the Ohio River basin and the Great Lakes, and later for the European  explorers who were discovering and trapping the North American wilderness.

              The early French settlers called “River of Beef”, because of the presence of water bison, and erected several supply forts, including one called LeBoeuf, which is located at present day Waterford, Pennsylvania in Erie County. The French built the forts to help firm their grip on the western territories they claimed as par of their colonial empire.

              The French presence did not sit well with the the British. In 1753, 21 year old George Washington, then a British military officer,  canoed the creek upstream to the LeBoeuf Fort to warn the French to leave the territory which the the British governor of Virginia believed belong to the Crown and the British Empire.

              The diplomatic mission failed and the result was the bloody French and Indian War. Washington during that pre-war journey, renamed the River of Beef to French Creek, as recorded in his journal written during December 1753, a name which remains centuries later. It would be decades later, that Washington spent time on another river in December, the Delaware.

              In 1922, a statue of Washington, dressed in a British military uniform was dedicated in Waterford which still remains. It is believed to be one of a few unique statues which depicts America's first president in a British uniform.

              While the creek was important in early American history, it's environmental qualities are almost unsurpassed. Many environmental organizations and religious, civic and educational groups have long recognized the important natural qualities of the waterway and it's importance to the vitality of the entire region.

              French Creek is often called an “old river” by environmental organizations because of the lack of man made disturbances. Many sections of the creek remain much the same as they did centuries ago.

              Mussels are a good indicator of  pristine water quality. Some 26 species of freshwater mussels have been identified in the old river; 13  of these species are ranked on either federal or state rare and endangered lists. Amazingly, some mussel beds are believed to be over 1,000 years old.

              Eighty species of fish have been documented in the old river including some rare and endangered species of darters found nowhere else in Pennsylvania. Numerous species of birds, including a re-emerging bald eagle population, are common sights in the region as well as numerous unusual aquatic insects. Native flora and fauna still flourish along the the river area; some colonies have remained undisturbed for centuries.

              Since French Creek remains a very healthy creek, it has attracted a large number of diversified groups of people. Several times a year there are canoing events down portions of the still pristine creek. These events help to raise environmental awareness as hundreds of people are able to view eagles and the hellbender salamanders, the largest amphibian found in Pennsylvania, numerous song birds and several species of turtles, numerous white tail deer and uncommon colorful and ancient wildflowers.

              The economic impact of the healthy creek is important to the local area, as visitors stop to get gas, groceries or shop in the small businesses, in home based operations from quilt shops to fish bait, in the small towns and isolated crossroads.

              Many who participate in the organized “floats” down the creek, return often with families for a weekend or vacation, filling local campgrounds and visiting the historical sites and museums and historical organizations, which dot the area.

              Because the creek remains environmental healthy, fishing is excellent throughout the entire watershed and hundreds of anglers visit the area on a year round basis. There has been trophy muskie and northern pike harvested, as well as, a number of other game fish species, including walleye, perch and bass.

              School districts throughout the region use the area as a living classroom for local students. There are classes in water quality testing and related water issues; classes on the natural environment which focus on stream bank restorations and tree plantings, and wildlife studies and research projects. The regional colleges and universities also cooperate with other groups and individually in research projects.

              Senior citizens groups are actively involved in research, monitoring projects and volunteer work. Frequently, they work together with high school and college students and other civic organizations. The environmental vitality of the watershed has a direct impact on an improved quality of life.

              The region attracts a number of state and national environmental groups which have purchased property and have constructed research facilities. It is not uncommon to see birders from hundreds of miles away observing the wide variety of birds which live in the area, archaeologists and historians, geologists, botanists and biologists.

              For the locals, the creek offers countless possibilities for recreation and simple enjoyment; there are hot summer days and a favorite swimming with an inner tube, or personal fishing hole, hiking trails and camps sites.

              A healthy, clean river means a better quality of life, a renewed vitality for it's people, and can be an economic resource and a national treasure.                     

 

And Just for the Heck of It

Thinking about warm weather and rainbows, again. The 7 colors in a rainbow are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. However, the human eye can see over 100 color variations in a rainbow.

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February: Washington, French Creek, Bison and well, maybe Onenge

Ever since Wojak Day on February 2, the weather has been snowy and very cold. This morning around 8 a.m. when the photo was taken, it was five below and wind chills for the rest of the day will be around ten below. Another good day for homemade, hot and spicy, venison chili.

Today the sun will shine now and then but the rest of the week will remain very cold and snowy.

If your not sure who or what is Wojak, read the post below Hey, Wojak.

The Garden

I guess the photo tells the story. The snow is deep and over my knees. The drifts are waist high. So much for the planned pruning on blueberry bushes and apple trees. Time to settle back and read some of the seed catalogs and make more plans for this springs garden.


February Notes

The Full Snow Moon was on Feb. 3 but of course it wasn't visible here because of falling snow. We do have the first Friday the 13th this month and of course Valentines Day on the 14th. Chinese New Year is Feb. 19. It will be the year 4713!
But perhaps the most significant day this month for northwestern Pennsylvania is Feb. 22, George Washington Day.

Pictured above is the statue of George Washington in Waterford, PA commemorating his arrival back in 1753. From the Fort LeBoeuf Historical  Society : "  Wanting to memorialize Washington's visit, the George Washington Monument was erected in 1922 by the citizens of Waterford, PA at a cost of $13,000. It was situated upon the site of the original Fort LeBoeuf, which was in the middle of High Street between the Eagle Hotel and the historic Judson House. The monument was moved in 1945 to the lot beside the Eagle Hotel. What makes this monument unique? This is the only statue of Washington wearing a British uniform in Pennsylvania."

An Important Visit on an Important Creek

Feb. 22nd is the day George Washington was born. Sure the stores in the malls and downtown's will all have big sales and such and American Flags will be everywhere celebrating our Founding Father and first US president. Certainly, there will be plenty of stories about "yeah, I chopped down the cherry tree."
But there are some more important and noteworthy events. Back in 1753. Washington was a British major in the Virginia militia. He was 21 years old. His commanding officer, Robert Dinnwiddie, sent Washington to ask the French to leave the area now known as northwestern Pennsylvania. The French had built numerous forts in the western regions from Montreal to the Gulf of Mexico and claimed all the territory.
The English, however, claimed the land as theirs.
One major French Fort was located at Lake Erie, Fort Presque Isle and another inland from the lake at what is now called Waterford, Pennsylvania. It was called Fort LeBoeuf.
Washington began his journey in December, 1753. Weather wise it was a very dangerous time to be traveling through unmapped wilderness. Washington and his team were very lucky to survive.
The route chosen was to travel to Fort LeBoeuf up the Riviere aux Boeufs. The waterway was named so by the French because of the large and lumbering animal which reminded the French of beef cattle or boeufs. The animals, however, were native eastern bison, now extinct.
Washington, during the unsuccessful journey which eventually led to the French and Indian Wars, named the creek in a journal he kept, French Creek. Today, the creek is one of the most important environmental waterways in the nation (more on the importance in the next post).
But there were other names before the French dubbed it Riviere aux Boeufs.
From the History Dept. of Allegheny College : " Native Americans also had a name for the stream. What it was for the Allegewi is unknown to us today, and even the Seneca term is somewhat in doubt. Supposedly the Seneca name “In nungash” became corrupted into “Venango.” What did it mean? Cornplanter, the Seneca chief, implied that it referred to a portion or all of an indecent carving on a tree along the bank near a trail junction. The late Professor Frederick F. Seely of Allegheny College suggests the name came from the Seneca word for mink: Onenge. Most likely it came from the Delaware word for the same critter: Winingus. A tavern keeper in Wattsburg stated in 1845 that the meaning of Venango was “crooked,” which aptly describes French Creek."
(http://watershed.allegheny.edu/history)
To be continued next post.

And Just for the Heck of It

The story about Washington chopping down a tree and confessing to his father was in an early biography of Washington written by Parson Mason Locke Weems after Washington’s passing. Weems is known as a teller of tall tales, so most people today consider the tree tale a fable. But there were no known eyewitnesses either way. In other words, if Washington cut down the cherry tree in a forest, did it make a sound? (http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/02/10-cool-washington-facts-on-georges-real-birthday/)

 

Hey Wojak? Shadow or No?

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Welcome February today. It's Super Bowl Sunday and much of the nation is getting some severe winter weather. In northwestern Pennsylvania, we are staring eyeball to eyeball with some severe weather conditions as well,  beginning late this afternoon and into Monday. It promises to be very snowy, blustery and cold. Perfect conditions for many winter sports. For some information on snowmobiles, see the post below, Motor Toboggan.

Appropriately, the February Full Moon, called the Full Snow Moon, will be February 3. The storm brewing for the next several days could see another foot of snow or more on the ground to welcome the Full Snow Moon!

February will bring us our first Friday the 13 of 2015. And on the 14 are two popular events; the Canadohta Lake Ice Fishing Tournament and the Pymatuning Winter Fun Days.

More information on the Canadohta Ice Fishing Tournament at 10^th Annual. An update will be posted next weekend here.

More information on Winter Fun Days, Pymatuning.

Then things get even more hectic.

President's Day is the 16; followed by Mardi Gras on the 17th, Ash Wednesday on the 18th and on the 19th Chinese New Years. It is the Year 4713!

Celebrate Wojak Tuesday, February 2nd 

Pictured Ground Hog Day snowstorm last year 2014.

Monday, February 2 is Groundhog Day, 2015. It's a day rich, maybe not in correct long term weather forecasts, but rich in history and mid-winter celebration.

The Native American people in the the Punxsutawney area had a lot lot of respect for the groundhog They held the animal in high esteem. The First People considered the groundhog as the reincarnation of their ancient ancestors.

Even the name Punxsutawney comes from the Deleware word “ponksad-uteny” meaning the land of many sandflies. Even the very word woodchuck comes the Delaware word “Wojak” or ancestral grandfather.

When the German settlers arrived in the region during colonization, they brought their traditions. One of those was Candlemas Day, a day early Christians celebrated as the day when Jesus was presented to the temple and the purification of his mother Mary. (Luke 2:22-39). February 2 was also viewed as the close of the Christmas season (forty days).

It was a mid-winter day to light candles in hopes of an early spring and good planting weather. As with many Christian holidays, there were pagan roots as well. One was the Imbolc Festival when people would see if any animals, such as serpents or badgers, came out of their dens on the day, a sign taken to be an indication of spring's soon-to-be or not-to-be arrival. Centuries later, the Germans looked for hedgehogs on the day to predict the upcoming arrival of spring.

Now when the settlers arrived in the New Land, they needed an animal for their traditions and customs. They found the respected Wojak who was easier to deal with more so than wolves, bears or badgers.

The first official record of the day in America was written by James Morris, a shopkeeper in western Pennsylvania. From his journal entry written on February 4, 1841: “Last Tuesday, the 2^nd, was Candlemas Day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters, and if he sees his shadow he pops back in for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.”

The first official celebration of Ground Hog Day was held on February 2, 1886. The editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit, Clymer Frees wrote: “Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow.”

Happy Wojak Day!

 

Chess and the Coyote

Most every night, one of my closest and best friends, will stop after second shift work. We'll play a few games of chess and have a few beers. One day last week, Ryan went to leave as it was about 3 a.m.. He quickly walked back in the door and simply said, “Put your coat and get out here!”

It was vey cold that night, near zero, and very starry. I heard the coyotes as soon as I shut the door.

We must have stood there for five minutes listening to them, perhaps five or six yelping. They were hardly 100 feet away behind a small pond we call the frog bog.

The next morning I went to see what I could discover. The pack seems to have been chasing rabbits which have been living in brush piles we had build over the years. It reminded me about a story I wrote on “subnivia” several years ago. 

“ At first glance, a woodland winter landscape can have the appearance of a desolate and lifeless place; a dull, cold and somewhat foreboding woods. Sure, the black and white with shades of gray scene may be picturesque, but there are very few signs of life in the colorless woods at first glimpse.

But as a general rule of thumb, first appearances can be very deceiving. In reality, a snow covered woods is a brisk hub of life, much of it hidden from view. But the seemingly empty winter woods is a door to a wide range of discovery opportunities, all free, educational and fun.

Certainly, in most cases, a casual woodland observation will find the tell-tale tracks of life on the snow, squirrels, turkey and deer, for example. Birds are also a common sight in the winter woods as they forage for feed. What are they eating? Where are the deer going? Where are the turkey roosting? Did the squirrel lose the winter food cache?

There is also a hidden world under the snow cover, particularly near fallen snags (dead trees), rocks, and man-made brush piles. This hidden kingdom is inhabited by various insects, spiders and mites, searching for food, as are smaller animals, such as mice and voles, and in certain conditions, larger animals, like the fox or the coyote. This kingdom is officially known as “Subnivia”.

I guess on cold January nights, chess is even played in a cold, dark woods. Enjoy February!

Motor Toboggan - Snow Fun

January 2015 is drawing to a  close soon. It's been a typical First Month so far, snowy, blustery, windy and somewhat unusually icy. It has been near perfect for winter sports and fun outside (see Motor Toboggan below). Driving, however, has been a whole other story. Here at Koyote Hill we did start one new activity, smoking a turkey outside!

Well, we have done it twice now since Christmas. Both were twenty pound birds, soaked in a brine a couple of us concocted after reading recipes, and placed in the smoker using apple wood we gathered for the smoke flavor. Waiting the eight or so hours away, there were chess games (actually a tournament) and wood splitting, and plenty of beer.

Both birds came out fantastic; moist and flavorful. There was hardly enough left overs to even make turkey soup. 

This will likely be a winter tradition for years to come.

We are also about to embark on two other ventures this year which will be revealed within the upcoming weeks. So stay posed or follow the blog. It's going to be a busy, fun year!

Snowmobiles are a lot of fun and hundreds of people in northwestern Pennsylvania enjoy the sport and are members of local clubs. An edited version of the snowmobile story below appeared in the January edition of the Erie Times Publishing Company's Lake Erie Life Style Magazine. It was headlined Being Mobile in the Snow. Check out the magazine with the link above.

                 Motor Toboggon

Hundreds of people, perhaps even thousands, in Erie and Crawford County, anxiously awaited December 15, plenty of cold weather and heavy snow.

“The official opening of our snowmobile trail system maintained by the various snowmobile clubs happens on that day,”  Linda McCarthy of Waterford said. “We want to respect and honor the rights of property owners who are hunters. Hunting season is pretty much over by that day.”

McCarthy, a member of the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club and the Erie Crawford Snowmobile Alliance has been enjoying the winter sport since the late 1960's.

“It's a great winter activity and just a lot of fun,” she said. “When I first started in the late sixties, you had to put so many clothes on to stay warm you could hardly move. Now, with all the better clothing, I can just wear a t-shirt and put my suit on and go.”

There have been plenty of other changes in the sport ever since the first “motor toboggan”. Who exactly was the Thomas Edison of snowmobiles is a rather murky question. There were numerous attempts to make a motorized sled in the early 1920's. However, a lot of credit is given to Carl Eliason who lived in Sayner, Wisconson. He was a trapper, who had a foot problem, making it difficult for him to check his traps in the winter.

In 1924, Eliason began working on his Motor Toboggan and in 1926 recieved a patent for his invention. He produced 30 Motor Toboggans until World War 11 when he sold his patent to the Four Wheel Drive Company (FWD) Company. Eventually, the FWD Company moved their production of the Motor Toboggans to nearby Kitchner, Ontario.

Although production was discontinued in 1964, other companies also introduced snowmobiles and today there are many different varieties of “motor toboggans” for consumers to choose. With snowmobiles on the market for winter enthusiasts, attention quickly turned to other issues.

“I began with the Wales Sno-Drifters Club when we lived in Harborcreek, but when we moved to Waterford, in part because of the snow, we joined the Presque Isle Club,” she said. “ Several years ago the Erie Crawford Snowmobile Alliance was formed to help coordinate and maintain the trail system.”

The Alliance works with all the various clubs in the region in helping to maintain existing trails and create new routes.

“We are responsible riders and respect the property owners who own the land the trails are going through,” she said. “Sometimes when a property is sold, the new owners don't want the in that location, so we have to change the routes. The Alliance also maintains up to date maps of all the trails which cover the region from from the Ohio State line to the New York State line and into Crawford County and Warren County.”

The maps are $5 unless a rider belongs to a club. Club members receive a significant discount, according to McCarthy. Proceeds from the map sale help to fund various trail projects and equipment.

“It's best for people to join a club and be aware of the trail system,” she said. “It's always a good idea to respect the landowner and stay on the designated trail and not to take a sled and drive on property where your not wanted. There are many advantages to joining your local snowmobile club especially for families.”

The Alliance, like many of the clubs, meets on a regular monthly basis.

“Sometimes we get a little slow during the summer months but in general we meet, as do all the clubs once a month,” McCarthy said. “All of the clubs also have safety classes and programs. Safety is a top priority and that is why it is so important to stay on the designated trails. Helmets are also very important. I always wear mine when I am out. It is such a fun sport but it does pay to do it safely. People can learn a lot of safety steps to take by joining a club.”

In addition to the Alliance and the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club other member clubs include: McKean Snowriders, Stateline Sno-Trackers in Conneaut, Ohio, Tionesta Valley SMC, Inc. in Warren County, Tri County Snow Blazers in Warren County, Triangle S SMC in East Springfield, Wales Sno-Drifters Inc., and the Warren County Snowmobile Club. All of the clubs are members of the Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association (PSSA), Region One.

The PSSA was formed by a group of snowmobilers from Marienville in 1969 to counteract legislation which many in the sport felt was unfair. According to PSSA 2013 figues, the top five counties where residents have snowmobiles are: Erie County, 2106, Lancaster County, 1689, Berks County, 1514, York County, 1321, and Bucks County with 914.

Each individual club maintains their own trails in their own area. The clubs have various fund raisers throughout the year which help fund the improvements and new trails.

“There's a lot of work in trail maintenance and we have a “trail boss” for different sections of the fifty miles of trails we take care of throughout the year,” Mark Sonney of the Wales Sno-Drifters Clubs said. “There is always a downed tree or a trail needs to be fixed to protect agricultural land. It can cost the club anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 every year.”

The Wales Sno-Drifters, founded in 1971, has a popular gun raffle every year to help raise the needed money for maintenance. The raffle was held this year on September 20.

“Most of the trails we have are on private property and we need to take care of them and make sure our riders remain on the trail system which extends from Lake Pleasant to the New York State line and then southward to the Spartansburg area and the Tri-County Snow Blazers Club.“

At the end of November the club was gearing up for a new season and anticipating cold and snow.

“We're just hoping that we get a good cold snap to freeze the ground hard before December 15,” Sonney said. “Then let the heavy snow come. Snowmobiles, however, are not permitted to use trails that cross State Game Lands this season until January 18.”

The Tri-County Blazers maintain sixty some miles of Trails in the Corry Spartnsburg area.

“It is a lot of work and we are planning on extending the trail in the future,” member Ryan Peterson said. “We have various fund raisers including a gun raffel to help keep the trails clean and maintained..”

Today, thousands of people in northwestern Pennsylvania safely enjoy the snow and cold on well groomed trails due to the efforts of the various snowmobile clubs active in the region.