Temp went down to -7 C here last night, wind died down to zippo and all was well with the world as the North Knife Lake Philharmonic Orchestra got set up and prepared for one of those once in a lifetime extravaganzas!!!
As the sun peeped over the eastern horizon at about 5:30 a.m. the players began settling into their respective positions and tuning their various instruments. The robins twittered and the pine grosbeaks chirped along with the wondrous warblers and the chipper sparrows. The beaver dams let loose their excess water to ooze slowly over the thin new ice crust that had formed in the -7 temps of overnight.
As the water levels waxed and waned, the new ice tinkled, pinged, crackled and popped accompanied by the various bird songs in nature’s 360 degree surround sound amphitheater. Every 30 seconds or so, the haunting call of the loons joined the symphony in perfect harmony.
A slim coat of water streamed out on to the new ice, mirroring robins in their pretty orange vests, grosbeaks in their bright red, black and white tuxedos, and mingling with the stately reflections of the majestic spruce and tamarack standing at attention down at hidden beach.
During the brief intervals when the players were pausing for their next melody, the muffled rush of Helen’s Falls crept into the crevices of this spellbound mind. As the rising sun wrapped its warming rays around the land, the tinkling and pinging of the ice slowly faded into the distance, and the various birds disappeared to take up the duties of family and getting on with life.
All-in-all, it was a pretty dang fine performance, if I do say so myself. So there you have it folks, a fine lyrical memory from the north to start your day off right.
Have a real good one and God Bless.










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