Marine Forecast issued for Lake Ontario. Issued: 10.30 AM EST Tuesday 16 January 2007 for the period ending At 10.30 AM Wednesday with an outlook for the following 24 hours.Forecast: Wind north 15 knots backing to northwest 25 this afternoon then diminishing to north 15 overnight. Scattered flurries. Waves near 1 metre. Outlook..Light to moderate northerlies backing to moderate southwesterlies.

This morning the deck temperature at dawn was -16°B and the ice music has begun. I have been a long time freezing in this year and the snaps and pops of the ice freezing have been missing from this winter so far.

The guys have had to abandon the outside work on raising the docks now, but they are way ahead of where it was possible to expect to be thanks to the warm weather we have had up until now. Today is the first day that winter has taken a full hold on Waupoos and there is no avoiding it. So far ice is only building up in the shelter of the break wall tires, but I anticipate an ice shelf by tomorrow as it is expected to be even colder tonight.

It is times like this that I find a magic to the yard with its silent residents. Unspoilt and quite remote et so close.

Rick deserves kudos for the progress made this fall. Most of the big projects that were temporary for the 2006 season have now been finished with the last of the cottages joining the septic and water. The warehouse has a new roof and the dock raising is going well.

Serendipity and Sweety have been driven from their comfortable carriage home by the marauding golden lab and have taken shelter in the Roberts outside. It must be cold as the blazes in there as there was almost no interior the last time I was aboard in the summer.

Both cats are extremely skittish and on edge making me wonder what else is out prowling in the dead of night. I don't think the fox is a problem and Cooney is quite happy in the rafters although he has been pressed pretty hard by Josh and Rick. I have not seen the coyotes but I have heard them. They will come more once the ice is in place.

Rufus love the cold and refuses to use indoor kitty litter no matter how bad the weather. Toms! He has however taken to sleeping with me most of the time leaving me to fight for my piece of pillow. I am not sure about how I feel about this cat love cconsidering where he like to play. Then again he is all cat dutiful in his cleaning duties.