Their calls echoed across the half-frozen landscape, lonely yet comforting in the waning light. As the sandhill cranes passed closely overhead, gliding in for a landing, their silhouettes seemed almost prehistoric, a giant relic from some ancient past. It was hard to believe these majestic creatures shared a common ancestry with the delicate songbirds that fluttered around the yard.

Spring was teasing us this past week as unusually warm weather cleared out the snowpack here in northeast Wisconsin. The Canadian honkers are returning, as are the sandhill cranes, and my favorites, the little wild ducks.

There was an absolutely adorable pair of hooded mergansers in the small pond on Tuesday morning, just as the sun was coming up. I love the male's bright white crest. (It was the first thing that caught my eye.) They were darting, dashing, and diving, obviously enjoying their morning splash time. They cleared out before our bigger duckies barreled in.

Duncan had the week off from school for spring break, so we spent some time working on the south hill to cut walking paths through the brushy growth again. The autumnberries are acting as nursery plants for the sugar maples and walnuts, protecting them from the sweeping winds, but we have to keep them managed. Some woodchucks decided to move into a section of the path, so we had to reroute around their burrows, too. Better that they dig there than in the middle of the orchards or gardens.

Today, however, is a different story. Blizzard Elsa is moving and shaking through the area, potentially burying some locations in as much as four feet of snow. We are at the southern edge of the storm, so I'm not sure where our snow totals will end up (predictions vary widely). The winds are now driving out of the northeast, so we're pulling moisture off of Lake Michigan, which can rack up some big snow totals.

The cats and chickens have opted to wait out the storm inside, but the duck patrol was determined to spend time in the little pond. They would dart inside to grab a bite to eat, then march out, ducks in a row, around and down to the water. Even they eventually gave in and stayed inside, once we hit white out conditions.

We're as ready as ready can be, with food made up, the solar battery bank charged, water drawn, wood brought in for the fire, and tractor with snow blade on to clear once the storm lets up. Now it's a matter of waiting out the storm and saying some prayers for the folks who have no choice but to be out in it. With as wet and heavy as the snow is, and all the wind, I'm sure some power lines will go down somewhere.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Watch the natural cues. Migrating birds, swelling buds, and shifting winds often tell us more about the season than any forecast (especially with how inaccurate the forecasts have become of late).
• Prepare during the calm. Charge batteries, cook ahead, draw water, and bring in firewood before storms arrive. Quiet preparation brings peace of mind.
• Work with the land, not against it. Paths may need rerouting and plans may change — adapting to what the landscape offers is part of resilience.
• Honor the pause. When the storm hits, let it be a time to rest, read, mend, or reflect instead of pushing against the weather.
• Hold others in mind. A quick check-in with neighbors or a prayer for those working outdoors reminds us we’re all weathering the same world together.

Resilience grows from observation, preparation, and the patience to ride out the storms that inevitably come.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

This week's featured articles...

With super bright auroras in the sky and and ongoing conflicts, I figured it was a good idea to update our articles on EMPs (electromagnetic pulses). These can be natural, from coronal mass ejections (CMEs) of the sun, or manmade. Large ones could cause significant disruptions, like the Carrington Event in 1859, where telegraph lines caught on fire.

First up "What Happens if an EMP Hits? How it Impacts Daily Life"

And the companion article "EMP Protection: How to Protect Electronics and Prepare" - because while some preps may be EMP specific, many are simply good practice for everyday emergencies like power outages or injuries or job loss. Remember, it's all about resilience. We all get knocked down at some point, but we need to keep getting up again.

I'm a little late for Pi Day (3-14), but I think most people still appreciate a good pie. I noticed some good deals on pears lately (I think they're clearing out some from storage), so if you can nab a good deal, you may want to try this pear custard pie with streusel topping.

And, always a favorite, rhubarb custard pie. Enjoy a piece for me while I wait patiently for warmer weather.

Shifting weather fronts can aggravate arthritis pain, so if you're feeling achy, you may want to check out these 16 Home Remedies for Arthritis.

Starting Monday

There's a St Patrick's Day Sale at Perfect Supplements - I'll be sending out more information tomorrow when the sale goes live.