The Most Dangerous Walk

It was COLD on the river over the holiday weekend but we bundled up and spent time hiking through the woods.  This sign was at the head of one trail.  What does it mean?  You can shoot here or walk here - your choice.  Hmmm.  We decided not to take this trail.  The sign brought to mind, however, Richard Connell's short story The Most Dangerous Game.  In this story, a renowned hunter, General Zaroff starts to lose the thrill of his exotic hunts and so buys an island that he stocks with human game; the only game of true competition.  Sanger Rainsford, another expert hunter, falls off his yacht and finds himself the recipient of General Zaroff's hospitality.  I read somewhere that the invention of Paintball was inspired partly by this story.  Anyway, we decided to try another route - out on the point of a lake where the wind was really wicked - brrrrr - but so beautiful.

The Pine Grosbeaks have rejoined us for the winter months - all puffed up to keep themselves warm.

And we found this little thief (a weasel), camouflaged in his winter white coat, stealing food from the bird bucket and taking it up under the grill cover to his own private dinner party.