Thanksgiving in a snowstorm

After the epic adventure in making it to Forked Meadow through the middle of the snowstorm, the next morning found us in a winter wonderland while we started to work on Thanksgiving dinner.

Meanwhile inside we were busy getting ready for dinner.

But outside it was quite a winter wonderland. And the epic amount of snow at the back of the house was starting to form an igloo!

What a magical winter wonderland!!

Forked Meadow Spring

I went up to Forked Meadow to visit my parents and help with some work on the house and on the Bobcat skidsteer. There is still a lot of snow in the shade and the meadows were all full of running water. Spring is arriving at Forked Meadow and across the Sierra Nevada!

I can’t remember seeing this much water before in Forked Meadow. But then again, I’m normally not there in spring.
Full of water. The meadows are looking nice and healthy right now.

On the edge of the marshy part of the meadow.
The water is really flowing along. I think this year we will be constructing some artificial beaver dams to help with soil retention and meadow restoration.
There are some nice ponds this year. There was even a pair of ducks hanging out in one of the ponds. And I heard frogs croaking!

Some of the installed dams and some of the natural dams in the creek.

Snow was in the woods all over the place.

The head of the cut in the middle meadow has advanced a little more uphill. I think we are going to do some significant work in here this year to try and stabilize it more.

Our own personal “Grand Canyon” is starting to fill in thanks to all of the work we’ve done in the area. I think we’ll do more work this year to help it along more. Maybe in a few years, we’ll be able to get some beavers to give us a hand.

This meadow is really swampy right now. Snow is still hanging around in the shadows.

At the upper meadows.

Snow in the woods.

Daffodils by the house.

Who’s my favorite kitty sister? Poofy!

My dad got a new attachment for the skidsteer. It’s a nice grapple that will help with clearing brush on the property.

Forked meadow sure is beautiful.

Christmas in Shaver Lake

Poofy is enjoying her new life as a cabin kitty. After being a farm cat, she became a trailer kitten, and now she’s a cabin kitty where she gets to sleep all day next to the fireplace.
Another beautiful sunset at Shaver Lake. The colors in the trees are really pretty this time of year.
Looking at the sunset from the other direction as the sun sinks low in the west.

I thought I had taken photos of the Christmas tree, the trains, Dmitri and Sul’s adorable daughter, Violet, and my parents but I was enjoying the moment so much that I never got around to taking any additional photos!