There’s a place in the half-light of a winter morning that defines the meaning of happiness…at least for me anyway. Oh how I love to wake up to snow. I love to see the birds feeding in the back yard. The squirrels are nice and fat. The garden is sleeping. The trees are bowing under the weight of the snow. Occasionally a deer wanders in to rest and wait out the storm. It’s a time when I can take a break from yard work and concentrate on art. My studio window has a nice view of our back yard. A Chickadee will occasionally alight on a branch in the bush next to the house and say hi. “Chick-a-dee dee dee!” he says. I say hello and get back to work. Today I’m working on a new wood block of a Pheasant Tail Nymph. It’s nothing fancy, just an illustration of one of my favorite flies to fish with and tie. It’s one of my favorites because it’s about simplicity. All that’s needed is a feather, hook and some thread. Winter is also about fly tying for most fly fishermen. Sure China makes an inexpensive fly in a distant land in some factory where a kid probably isn’t allowed to use the toilet until he or she has made a 100 flies. Ok maybe that’s an exaggeration but what’s the harm in learning a new skill? It’s a good feeling to find a Pheasant tail in the woods, tie a fly with it and hold a beautiful Brook Trout in your hands the following Spring. Winter is also a time to study our birds here in Michigan. Sure it’s fun to bird in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Warblers are a blast to find and photograph. But, I have a little more respect for the birds who stick around and bear the cold Michigan winter with me. And, lets not forget two of my favorite winter time activities….cross country skiing, and recently snow shoeing! If you can find a place to ski I recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure. Dress lightly. One of the biggest mistakes is to overdress and get overheated. Dont worry about getting cold. You’ll be warm in less than 2 minutes. My favorite place to ski is Hidden Lake Gardens. Beginners should stick to the designated trails. Advanced skiers can take the hiking trails which are more of a challenge. It’s not too late to add skis to your Christmas list. I recommend either touring skis or backcountry skies as groomed trails are nonexistent in Lenawee County. Anyway, all this writing is keeping me from my woodcutting. I hope you find some time this winter to learn a new skill that doesnt require any fancy technology. Put down your wii and get out and ski! Enjoy the snow while it lasts.
The Heron 