Over the past week there have been several Alberta clippers dropping substantial snow here, over 22cm. Snow cover on the ground is about 22 cm deep, providing decent insulation over rural infrastructure such as septic fields and water lines. Freshly covered forest trails will require snowshoes. The downhill ski hill opened on the weekend, and Nordic trails are groomed and active. Snowmobilers are reporting deep slush areas over frozen waterways due to heavy snowfall. The bird feeder is busy with downy and hairy woodpeckers, blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees, and pine and evening grosbeaks. No redpolls, siskins, or purple finches have been sighted yet. Feeling like a pretty typical December going into Christmas week.