During that time, I didn't use the computer to access the Net. Mostly because I was quite busy working around the cabin, preparing things, so I was too tired by night to do anything other than eat and go to bed. Partly because I knew that it would take a while for the Net to get fixed after the Problem. And partly because.... well, that part will have to wait.
Winter wasn't too bad. Winter is sort of mild in my area to begin with. I'm at about 3200 feet elevation, so snow isn't a big problem, although there will be some snow that sticks to the ground for a couple of weeks during the coldest part of winter. The fall rains were generally mild, and my property was well situated so that runoff from the rain or snow isn't a problem.
I tended to my garden, and started some winter vegetables in the small greenhouse. I kept busy with that, and started into my library of self-sufficiency books.
Since there was less to do around the property during the winter, I started working with the bow and arrow set I had purchased a couple years before. They were left over from when Jack was building the cabin. He liked to do a little target practice on Sundays, and he taught me some basic skills. I had bought a good bow set then, and a good supply of quality arrows. I got so I could hit a stationary target, with the occasional bulls-eye.
I thought that using the bow and arrow would be a good skill to have to supplement my food with four-legged critters. I had a rifle, of course, but didn't want to use it except in emergencies (especially during the period right after the Problem) because of the noise. I wanted to keep a low profile at all times. Rifles are loud; arrows are pretty quiet.
I set up a target area near the garage with a couple of old bales of straw that I had. And I spent some quality time with the bow, developing new blisters and then calluses, and some different sore muscles. It was a good skill to develop. I wasn't ready for any hunting trip yet, but I did want to get better at it, so I spent the time.
Things around the cabin were quiet all winter. I kept warm with the high-efficiency wood fireplace, using it for heat and cooking one hot meal a day. At night, the temperatures outside would get around 20-40 degrees (F), but the cabin was well-insulated, and I had some down comforters on the bed. I also had good cold weather clothing: thermal underwear, thick wool socks, insulated boots, a very warm jacket and a fur cap for when I went outside. And the wood stove kept the front room warm in the evenings, and because of its efficiency, there wasn't much smoke coming out the chimney. Got to keep a low profile, you know.