Full Moon, Skates Laced

Gloria sent us this photo of this month's Full Moon shining over Lake of Bays.  She certainly captured the beauty of the night in this picture! Thanks for the share!

Reflecting off the snow, it was bright enough out there you could read by moonlight.  The February full moon is known variably as the Ice Moon or the Full Snow Moon.  Native Americans called it the Hunger Moon. It is still a long time till spring for those who must find sustenance in the winter woods!

It caused a bit of grief for me -- out on the lawn with a group of our great guests to look at the stars!  We were able to get a really good look at Orion and his neighbours though, and yes, there was a test later, and yes, they all passed with flying colours! Now they can find eight different constellations by tracking out from Orion's easy-to-spot belt!  Nine if we count the Andromeda Galaxy...

The recent thaw/freeze cycle, while it did make the snow hard and crusty, has not been without benefit.  We now have large patches of extremely skate-able ice on the bay!  Jacquie sent me this picture of some of her 'gang' out there in the evening getting their Skate on! 

If you are coming north this weekend -- and you should be (what with the Algonquin Outfitters Winter Fun Day, the Algonquin SNowmobile Club Poker Run, the Fundraiser Dinner on Friday for the Dwight Winter Carnival and all the rest) toss your skates into the car.    After all, hockey was never truly meant to be played in a stuffy echoing arena.