Today's look back into the archive has a varied theme... just winter happenings UP North. We begin with a shot taken by Kathy (Koski) Mayer back in 2002. These three snowmobilers are taking a break on a bench they found buried in the snow UP here in the Keweenaw. Looks like it's complete with a snowy footrest, too!

Back in 2011, Steve Brimm was out on Lake Fanny Hooe with his friend Amanda, checking out the smooth ice that had formed there. They both took long poles with them (a mop and a hoe) just in case they went through the ice, but found that it was at least three inches thick, so they were fine.

Laurie Bashaw captured a neat shot of the feeding frenzy at her bird feeding station back in 2012. What a beautiful array of colorful Grosbeaks she had visiting her Marquette area home that year.

We jump ahead to just two days ago and enjoy a scene that Barbara Bouwkamp captured out her frosted window, with the sun shining on her Laurium neighborhood. What a perfect winter scene with the sky, the trees and the snowcapped rooftops.

Yes indeed, winter is well upon us here in the Keweenaw. This video was posted on Facebook by Debbie Jarve Photography, recorded on Christmas Eve Day and titled "The calm before the storm, Keweenaw North Shore". And storm it did here UP North, all day long on Christmas Day, blowing and snowing and drifting the roads.

We could have taken that 2002 picture, but it was
back in the 1970's before they plowed the parking
lots at Tahquamenon! We hiked in and couldn't figure
out what those boards were lying in the snow. After
investigation we found they were the backs of the
benches along the trail!

Cool video...let's go for a swim and scrape off the barnacles!
Happy Kwanzaa!

That is a nice looking bunch of bird visitors at the takeout windows today. I hope they had a nicer day than today forecasts to be. Not expected to get above zero today.

I have watched broom ball but never floor mop ball. Before I read the description I figured maybe the ice needed a good cleaning and the Zamboni was not available.