A couple of weeks ago, I took a walk with Sebastian and Aaron along the stream. While wandering, we noticed some pretty big prints.

I did not have a ruler, so I used my hand to give a size comparison.

Duke, our 90 lb dog, was with us and his prints seemed small in comparison. (We also found some scat of a carnivore.)

I don’t know if this scat is related to the print or not. There were other samples that I wish I would have taken photos of — larger and fuzzy.

So what could it be? A coyote is too small….a wolf?…a mountain lion (Puma concolor schorgeri, also known as cougar)?

It was cold and the three of us didn’t need to find a mountain lion today.

Several weeks later, Chuck and I went on a print-tracking adventure — in search of the big cat.

According to a 2003 study done by UW-Steven’s Point’s Department of Natural Resources, “Despite the lack of direct evidence of cougar presence in Wisconsin, it is likely that they will soon appear in the state, and may already occur here.”

UWSP put together a study on cougar sightings between 1994 and 2003.

The red square around that green dot is where we live.

Notice the green square of probable sightings—our backyard. Now this is getting more exciting.

Chuck and I walked in the same area of the first track sighting. The weather has since rained, snow melted, wet snow frozen and more new snow. It has been several days since any fresh snow, so we knew the tracks wouldn’t be the best. But, we brought along our trusty guide, “Scat and Tracks of the Great Lakes,” and our protector, Duke. Also known as the dog who runs through all tracks so it is hard to identify them.

Stay tuned and I’ll show you what we saw.

These photos were taken over a week ago, but they still need to be enjoyed by all.

One of the most spectacular winter sites is Ice Fog. The consists of water droplets that have frozen into extremely tiny ice crystals. According to Wikipedia it requires temperatures at or below −35 °C (−30 °F), making it common only in and near the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Or in our case, Wisconsin.

Although I’ve seen it three times this winter, it rarely happens in our part of the country. But when it does, it is amazing.

I took this photo during the last ice fog, but I wanted you to see the crystals up close.

I leave for work when it is still dark out, but I knew when I walked outside to do chores that something special was in the air. I tired to get a few photos, but my camera is not that good at photos in the dark.

When Chuck woke up, he was greeted by this beautiful landscape.

When the neighbor’s offered Chuck their older hens for slaughter, he didn’t hesitate. The big question was: what do you do with old chickens? His plan—sausage.

Michael Ruhlman, the author of “RATIO, the simple codes behind the craft of everyday cooking” says this in his chapter on sausage:

“The Noble Sausage

Sausage is one of the culinary glories when it’s made and cooked right—a package of inexpensive trim, some fat, some seasoning that can be unparalleled in its deliciousness, in its ability to satisfy. A technique born of economy that results in the sublime. Truly, my respect for sausage knows no bounds.”

Who would have thought?

We are rediscovering many techniques born out of today’s economy. Our great grandparents would smile as we yearn for their knowledge. We buy local. We pickle, can and freeze.

As I flip through the seed catalog to plan my garden, Chuck heads up the hill to gather more of the neighbor’s chickens. This time—chicken soup. After listening to Lynne Rossetto Kasper on Splendid Table talk about mature chickens, she said, “You have got the chicken that will make a soup, the likes of which, you will be on your knees weeping with joy.” Sounds like it will be good for our souls.

We still learn something new everyday. One thing we learned this weekend is a chicken’s need for a dust bath.

As we were cleaning the coop, we left the door open to the upper coop. The upper coop is divided into two parts, one where the chickens live and another area that is loose dirt and rock.

For the chickens, it was cause for celebration. They all joined together in a dirt bath.

According to some sources on the Web, chickens use dirt baths to prevent lice and mites.

They sure seem to enjoy this. From now on, a dust bath will be part of their regular routine.

We use the Deep Litter Method for cleaning our coop. The idea is to keep adding bedding and just stirring it up weekly to keep the coop clean. There really is very little smell and the birds seem just fine. Normally you would keep the bedding in the coop until spring, but our ducks have made a water mess of the place and when the temperature goes below freezing, the bedding becomes ice. We took advantage of the nice weather and decided to clean out the wet bedding and start new. Chuck set up the waterer so dumping water onto the bedding would not be as easy. I will post a photo of this soon.

The objective is to get it from the coop to the garden.

We transport with a sled, which makes it pretty easy.

The combination of bedding, chicken and duck poop should make some nice compost for this spring’s garden.

The horses keep watching me walk back and forth from the coop to the garden. After reading more about putting this in the garden as compost, I realize I may have to compost it further. Some of the bedding was ready for the garden, but the top layers need a little help. I think I will set up a compost area by the garden and add other materials to help break it down.

When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, I knew it was a day for me and my camera. Every tree, bush and plant had crystals all over it.

I know it really isn’t possible to show you what this looks like, but I will try.

The crystals  almost look like pine needles.

I have never seen crystals as long as these on plants before.

I wished they could stick around for awhile, but I knew as soon as the day warmed up, they would be history.

The weather has warmed up and it feels great to be outside. Today was in the lower 30s. It was cloudy, but warm enough to enjoy a walk in the woods.

We decided to follow a deer trail we call the “super highway.” It passes through our land, across the street, and into a large wooded area.

It is a beautiful trail every direction you look.

Here is a beautiful view from the ridge. The driftless region is full of ridges and rivers.

Here’s a tree rubbed by a buck.

Here is a fallen tree—post mushroom growth.

Mushrooms are beautiful even in the winter.

Now we’ve entered a majestic pine forest.

This mushroom is called Fomes fomentarius, otherwise known as the firestarter mushroom. This is the mushroom found in a pouch on the Iceman (Oetzi) near the boarder of Austria and Italy. He is a well-preserved 5000 year-old Neolithic man. They discovered his body in in 1991 in a glacier.

An inside look at the firestarter mushroom. It is also known as the tinder mushroom.

We climbed another ridge to get another view.

Duke is really enjoying the view. He’s been running up and down the ridges, chasing the scent of the deer. He did try to capture a few turkeys and a possum, but they managed to make their escape.

Here’s Chuck showing the size of this deer rub.

If I were building a nest, I can’t imagine anything better than making one with feathers.

The bird that built this nest sure knows comfort.

I am going to insert the photos for now and will add all of the text later. I just wanted to get this post started. Lots of pictures. If you live in Wisconsin, or anywhere remotely close these days, you’ll understand that it is pretty cold outside. I think it reached about 10 in the valley. But the wind has picked up and the clouds have moved in. I haven’t had a chance to enjoy the outdoors and we needed to take advantage of anything above zero. So Chuck, Duke and I headed out for a nice stroll. We followed the river, crossed a few fence lines and had an enjoyable time. Here are some photos.

I never realized before that this rock formation looks like a face.

We were lucky to have a lot of friends stop by over the long New Year’s weekend. Some of the photos are mine, some I stole from my dear friend Brody Rose’s facebook page. Thanks Brody!

Here is one group of guests taking a farm tour. Baby it is cold outside. I’m not even sure we’ll reach a high of zero. I’m happy everyone was brave enough to take a walk.

Me and Nancy. This is one of Brody’s facebook photos.

Maddy hanging in the snow

This is a really nice horse photo, I’ll have to get the original.

Meeting the ducks. Maddy grabbed one of her feathered friends so people could feel how soft they are.

Getting some fuel before Apples to Apples. I forget who won. I’m sure someone will remind me.

Our friend Todd took a break from his special forces career to spend some time on the farm. Aaron warmed up quickly.

Aaron having fun with more and more presents.

Maddy trying to figure out Todd’s new phone.

Christmas with the siblings.

Aaron enjoying lots of new stuff.

Maddy, Aaron and the dogs.

Cousin Nancy and her friends.