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gcrank1
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2026 09:20am
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We have been to the cabin several times through the winter and thus far when the weather was decent but yesterday was like a summer day, 82*f, sunny and glorious.
The other times we ran the furnace to kick the chill out, yesterday no need for that, we opened all the windows, set up the rain barrel, installed the trail cam, ran the tractor for some spring clean up (and charging the bat from the winter), activated the compost toilet and made the list of what to refill the larder with, etc.
We have a ss 3+ water container inside that I empty during freeze up, that got filled with fresh artesian well water.
The LFP was still holding at 13.3 (my notes showed that is after running the ceiling fan for heat circulation for 4 hrs. since last recharge during tail of winter). All elec is as easy as flip a switch.
Next trip in with some food goods and we can stay over any time we want. We routinely keep some canned and dried food there and also have 2 small towns either side within ~8mi with eateries (though we dont like to leave to eat once there).
And 'green up' has begun here 
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2026 11:15am
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Two days ago sunshine and the aspens starting to leaf out. Today spring snow storm....
Wife's fusion surgery went well but way harder on her than the laminectomy last year. She is up walking now but there is a long road ahead before we return to the cabin. We are hoping by mid July if the healing stays on track. Six months to a year before the fusion is solid enough to return to normal every day life.
Until then we'll live the cabin life vicariously through all of you and our camera!
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paulz
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2026 01:21pm
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No real winter here, just earthquakes lol. We had to go back to the house yesterday but all the town hustle and bustle was too much, came back out here.
Won’t clog the other threads but Lfp bats doing fine, some solar coming in and brewing good coffee on the new percolator.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2026 02:10pm
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We are back at home today and prepping the 1200ish gal Koi pond to get the fish out of the basement at weeks end. Poor guys have been wintering there since end of last October!
Our late 1800s vintage country school house home is in the country and at 940sf would be by many accounts 'cabin livin' (but with the mod-cons).
I usually make a pot of cold-brew French Press coffee about every 3-4 days, NO heating required, just a 24hr 'brew' on the kitchen counter and IF I want a hot cuppa I can just nuke a cup. At the cabin I have a small French Press and heat enough water in a perk like yours on the sgl burner lp stove. If we stay over I can make a cold-brew in it too after I finish my morning cup and it would be ready for next morning.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 14 Apr 2026 09:23pm
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We started the month with stage 1 fire restrictions being invoked over much of the state. This is the earliest I recall.
The only good out ome of the very low snowfall is that the mastication of all the dead trees, from the wildfire of 2022 was completed all around us as the contractor was able to work through most of the winter. A normal snowfall season would have had the roads closed.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 15 Apr 2026 06:53am
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Still pretty much snowed in at my place in Northern Ontario. Neighbor offered to snowmobile me in if I wanted to come up this weekend.
Think I'll stay home and fish for a while and let the snow melt before I get back there.
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rpe
Member
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# Posted: 16 Apr 2026 08:39am
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Our lake is starting to open up. Hoping to be able to push through by boat next week to get in while there's still some ice on the lake. There are open areas where the current flows, so we can get within walking distance. It's neat to watch the seasons change so dramatically. Our snowmobile tracks on the ice still visible on slabs of ice that float away with the wind...
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travellerw
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# Posted: 16 Apr 2026 11:46am - Edited by: travellerw
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Sigh, we are predicted to get a foot of snow overnight here. However, next week is supposed to be nice so hopefully that will be the end of winter.
A month ago we went and dug the cabin out so we could start using it earlier this year. I just checked the cameras and the snow piles are still 8-9ft (where I piled it). I'm guessing they won't be gone until June!
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DRP
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# Posted: 16 Apr 2026 04:39pm - Edited by: DRP
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82 here today and very dry, both unusual for this time of year. May 15th is our frost free date.
She's been rebuilding the stairs in the back. The dry weather has made for a pretty dogwood bloom.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2026 08:28am
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That's is tough work!
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shingobeek
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2026 12:36pm
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Northern MN here, we are close but water access so still a couple weeks away from lake thawing, I think. Snow still pretty much all over in the woods....but Spring is coming! Just making my lists for the first trip!
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 17 Apr 2026 05:52pm
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We've had summer temps several days this week here in south central WI, and rain...if you've seen anything on the news about possible record flooding levels it is true. Our home and cabin are on high ground but some roads close by are barricaded off.
Grass has suddenly turned green and is growing quick and today we've seen some trees leaf out between this morning and now.
Went to cabin today, took canned goods and found the 60ish gal rain barrel about 1/3 full. Now it only collects from what comes off that small stretch of metal roofing right above, no gutter work feed. I dont know how much rain there was since I put it all out on the 14th because I cant find my little rain gauge that I took down for winter  , I know I put it someplace safe like I always do. More T-storms tonight so I put out a bucket to catch as a rain gauge and we came home. The forecast is mid 40s for Sat and Sun and mid 50s Mon, I'll go up Mon to check it all out.
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paulz
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# Posted: 21 Apr 2026 12:01pm
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Quoting: DRP She's been rebuilding the stairs in the back. The dry weather has made for a pretty dogwood bloom
Reminds me of the stairs I put up to the guest pad years ago. A fried was having the retaining wall redone at his house and gave me these PT cutoffs.
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DRP
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# Posted: 21 Apr 2026 12:37pm
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Ours are untreated sawmill stuff, not even decay resistant species, just clearing out old treasures to make way for new ones. When I have time I cut branches and small short logs into 4x4 and 6x6 cribbing and dunnage. and stairs.
We had a cold front pass through, a smattering of rain and 30F this morning. Hopefully I won't see a bunch of wilted brown stuff on the way home.
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